Lover Enshrined

Starred review from April 21, 2008
Wards's terrific latest picks up the Black Dagger Brotherhood of vampires where Lover Unbound
left off. Phury, a sworn Brother who has also become the Primale, is wrestling with a destiny he doesn't want, an addiction he can't handle and an insurmountable feeling of inadequacy that bleeds over into his love for Cormia, his Chosen First Mate. He holes up at the Brotherhood's rural New York base. The Omega, bent on destroying the vampire race, is meanwhile growing ever stronger, and his long-held plan to destroy the Brothers, via the Lessening Society, is coming to fruition. Younger Brotherhood trainees John Matthew, Qhuinn and Blaylock are learning what it means to come of age and are immersed in their own drama with Qhuinn's malicious cousin, Lash. The stories all reach a shared climax, leading to explosive revelations that set up the next book beautifully. Focusing less on Phury and Cormia and more on the Omega's plot amps the tension on all sides. A subplot involving Rhevenge, John Matthew and the female symphath Xhex is particularly exciting, with Ward diving into varied subspecies, sexual predilections and questions of identity. Ward has outdone herself with this latest Brotherhood novel.

June 1, 2008
Phury has long been the self-sacrificing Brother. He maimed himself body and soul to save his twin. Now hes taken Vischous place as the Primale, the one meant to replenish the dwindling number of Brothers and Chosen for the race. But his inner demons threaten to ruin it all. His place among the Brotherhood. His role as Primale. His relationship with his First Mate, Cormia. His greatest challenge, however, is proving to himself he truly is the hero hes always tried to be. Wards fans have come to expect stories jam-packed with complex, ongoing story lines, and her newest is no exception. With major series-turning events, the subplots weigh in more than ever, at times suggestingthat there can be too much of a good thing. But in the end the indulgence is worth it. Along with the happy endings, more darkness comes to pass, showing the war between the vampires and the lessers is far from over, whichhappily means more Black Dagger Brotherhood storiesto come.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)