#1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward’s ferociously inventive series continues as the most fearsome member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood discovers just how tempting the night can be… by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful female from the evil Lessening Society.
Bella is instantly entranced by the Brother’s seething power. Except even as their desire for each other begins to overtake them, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against her abductor drives him to the brink of madness. Now Bella must help her lover not only overcome the wounds of his tortured past, but find a future with her…
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My second time reading Zsadist and Bella’s book and I had to remind myself that this was one of the hardest books to read in the series. Not because I didn’t like it. This book I definitely loved a lot. It was because it was Zsadist’s story and his story definitely touched my heart. It also allowed me to get to know Phury who happens to be Zsadist’s twin and how he would do anything for his brother.
J.R. Ward knew this book was going to be one of those books that would touch readers hearts because you learn so much about Zsadist and his past. You realize why other characters are scared of his character, but not Bella. In fact, if you didn’t read the second book in the series, rectify that now and read it. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on what happened at the end of the second book and where the third book is taking the reader. Bella goes through a lot in Lover Awakened and ever since she met Zsadist, she has been fascinated with him and even felt something for him. Unfortunately, the whole entire time Zsadist is denying his feelings for Bella and wants her to realize he’s not the one for her. There’s a constant battle between the two and of course me as the reader, I just want Zsadist happy. He deserves it after finding out about his past. He’s one of my favorite BDB because of his darkness and even his soft side. He does have one, it just takes a while to come out.
Bella is another character I loved because she’s strong-willed even though what happened to her. She also is intimidating because she can handle Zsadist and everything he dishes out, even though he’s confusing. There’s other secondary characters to come into play with the story that definitely caught my attention. Rehvenge is one of them. I loved his story and so glad I get to read where he came into the BDB books again.
Then there’s John, Tohr, Wellsie, Butch, and of course Phury who I mentioned before. Don’t even get me started at the ending of this book. I don’t want to spoil it, but be prepared to have tissues on hand. The first time I read the ending in 2009, I was a complete mess and now in 2018 I’m still a complete mess after reading not one, but two parts in the ending that brought me to big sobs. It’s even worst listening to it in audible version. Thanks Jim Frangione, I had to recover after listening to it. I do love Jim Frangione narrating the BDB books though.
Overall, this book is definitely my top favorite of the series and always will be. I give it 5 ‘amazing’ stars and if you haven’t read Zsadist and Bella’s story, you definitely need to because these two were meant for each other.
Yes, I’m on a Black Dagger Brotherhood binge. The first six books in this series are amazing and hold up even after a decade. Zhadist’s story is one of my favorites. And though he is not my favorite brother, he is in the top three. As with the other books, upon re-reading, I am skipping most of the lesser parts. J.R. Ward really has created a wonderful world and I’m enjoying my revisit.
Z is one of my favorite characters from the BDB. I love that he is able to let go of his heinous past to embrace his love for Bella. It’s a wonderful love story of a broken man saved by a caring and empathetic woman. Happy reading everyone!
This book is incredible! I can read every single one of Mrs.Ward’s books over and over again!Thank you for giving me a series that I can really “sink my teeth into”.
Love love love this book!
I can’t say enough good things about the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
This is one of those series that sucks you in and you just don’t want it to end.
I have read this series more than once. Ms. Ward is one of my top ten favorite authors. I have read her Angle series which is entertaining some contemporary work written as Bird, and the first book of her Bourbon King series…none of them are as good as the BDB series.
“2.5 out of 5 stars … we follow the series into Bella and Z’s (Zsadist) lives. These two had a very strong connection that neither truly understood before their novel begun. Now, in this novel, they learn their “true feelings” for one another while they deal with their pasts, manage the current predicaments they are caught in, and figure out their futures. Yet with the world wanting to tear them apart will they be able to overcome everything AND be able to stay together once everything settles down?
I wish I wasn’t disappointed with this novel. I truly LOVED the relationship that Bella and Zsadist were creating together but WOW …”
Read more of my review and a TEASER here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2019/09/disappointmentville-black-dagger.html
I generally don’t like books about damaged bad boys, and there are so many of them out there. I like the guys to be the strong alpha male that can be there for his woman. However, I really enjoyed this book, Zsadist was so loveable. He is certainly able to protect Bella, he is a true fighter and can literally tear lessers to pieces.
Also, for a large part of the book, he considers sexual acts dirty due to the sexual abuse he suffered as a blood slave. Though he truly loves Bella so much, you can see it in all the ways he acts from the very beginning of the book, when her is working non-stop to try to find her. To the way he won’t let anyone touch her or see her body after he gets her back to the house and how he bathes her with a towel over her privates.
He is so sweet at times and the sex between them was so hot because of his background. Also his relationship with his twin brother Phury is awesome in this book. It is almost tragic in how beautiful it is. I feel for Phury and can’t wait for his story.
I can’t imagine any of the books getting better than this one, but I am really looking forward to John’s, Tor’s, Phury’s, Butch’s, actually all of them.
Out of the BDB series, this was probably my favorite. There’s hope for us all.
Lover Awakened is Zsadist’s story on the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I’ve been a huge follower of JR Ward for years, and Zsadist is my favorite brother 🙂 Huge, sexy vampires who get bonded to their mates? Yes please!
J.R. Ward is an amazing and talented author. The Black Dagger Brotherhood is one of the best series I have ever read.
OMG OMG OMG Can I please give this book more than 5 stars!! I just want to say that Lover Awakened is one of my top 5 favorite books of all times!!! I can’t get enough! It’s one of those books you read straight through and then when you finish it you wish you could delete it from your head so you can enjoy discovering it all over again. I loved Z so much. And as much as I loved Z I loved Bella too. I don’t know how J.R. Ward does it but she somehow writes these books that bring to life this exciting, dark, and sexy world filled with heroes that I fall madly in love with. When you pick up one of the books in this series it looks like a normal book but when you open and read it it wraps around your heart and lives in your mind long after you finish it. This series is just amazing and this book is my favorite of the series!
My God I ached for Z. Zsadist was so tortured, scarred, totally bad, and sexy as hell. The first time I read this book Z crawled into my heart and he has lived there ever since. He was just such an amazing and deep hero. Something that really made me mad in this book and the two books before this one was the way everyone treated Z. All the Brothers including Z’s own twin Phury acted like he was a ruined, nonredeemable, crazy, evil, pos. Everyone always jumped to bad conclusions about him and no one really cared for him. I don’t feel Phury really loved him. To Phury Z was just a burden. It ticked me off so bad the way Phury especially treated him. Z was so left out and all alone. All the flash backs into Z’s past and reading how he felt about himself but my heart just bled for him. I loved Bella because she was strong, brave, loyal, sassy, and she fought for her man. She went through six weeks of hell at the hands of the Lesser David but he didn’t break her. I would have loved her alone just for the way she loved Z. She seen his worth and beauty when everyone else treated him like he was a wild animal.
Together Bella and Z had a beautiful and emotional love story. I loved the way Bella needed only Z. He was her rock, her safety, and her hero! And Bella showed Z that he wasn’t dirty or ugly but strong, sexy, and an male of worth. Their love story is why I read romance novels. The powerful connections I feel for them. The way their story makes me feel when I read it. Like they are real. The happiness their book brings me is why I enjoy reading so much. My God I melted when Z and Bella made love. Z discovering the beauty of love making after what he had been through was so moving. They are one of my top 5 favorite couples ever.
J.R. Ward hooked me on the first book in this series and have read 14+ so far. Characters develop and grow throughout the series so you get to follow the characters you love in early books to later developments in their lives. Am early on in her Fallen Angel series. I usually buy Audible so won’t spend for the novellas, but will pick them up in hard copy or Kindle rather than a using a credit.
Beautiful!!
Also heartwrenching, tragic, funny, erotic, delicious, twisty…did I mention sexy, sensual, suspenseful, anger-inducing, shocking and heart-melting? I’ve heard from more than a few people who have told me they were ‘all in their emotions’ while reading Lover Awakened. They did NOT exaggerate! Zadist’s and Bella’s story had me all over the place! I mean that in the very best way and will most definitely be going back to re-read this one. I believe ‘Awakened’ will go down as my favorite of the series and one of my favorite romance reads overall-it’s just THAT GOOD!! Toodles, I’m on to Book 4!
This entire series of books were terrific! Love the whole series. I hope there are more coming.
One of the very best series out there!! Highly recommend these well written stories and characters!! JR Ward’s is outstanding at building and blending this incredibly sexy, paranormal world!
I absolutely love this book. It tore me inside out and left me crying from joy.
loved it!!
I don’t know why, but out of this entire series this book is my favorite through and through! It will get you to feel something other times makes you wonder what will happen next!
Holy hell awesome.