The ruthless and brilliant brother Vishous possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time-until a destiny he didn’t choose takes him into a future that does not include her…
You know, I’ve been putting off writing this review for a few weeks now, because I knew it was going to be hard. I’ve been a fan of the Brotherhood from the beginning, was one of the early fans and developed an online acquaintance with JR that got me the privilege of receiving ARCs, which anyone who reads my blog knows has been a huge highlight for me. Lover Unbound is the first of those books that I really found myself reluctant to write a review for. If that tells you anything, and you’re afraid to read more because you’re easily swayed about reading a book, move on now. I’m going to apologize because it’s a little disjointed, but I couldn’t get it all out in a smooth review, as Dear Author and others are so talented at doing. As a side note, there are (almost) no spoilers in this review, which is hard to do, but I don’t like spoilers myself so I’ll leave them out here. I say almost because I’m going to discuss the first three chapters, but I don’t think anything that you can read while standing in the bookstore can be considered a spoiler. If you’re absolutely dying for a major spoiler, leave a comment and I’ll email you.
Lover Unbound is ostensibly about Vishous and Jane, but as is the case with all of JR Ward’s books, we get secondary character’s and their stories. Since Phury’s book is next in the series, he plays a major role in this book. And again, as we’ve seen with past books, we also get story in John’s POV. One thing that is “missing” from this book that I think will make a lot of people happy is any story from the lessers POV. In fact, the lessers play quite a minor role in this book yet at the same time a pivotal one. I can’t say more than that without spoilers, but there you go.
The book opens and Vishous is injured (these are not spoilers because they were in the last book) and is taken to the hospital where his life is saved by Dr. Jane. Fast forward and she’s taken to the Brothers’ complex to care for him (though really because he recognizes her as his). These first chapters are uncomfortable for me because we get a lot of interaction between Butch and Vishous and all those rumours of the homoerotic undertones are pretty much put to rest as rumors and brought out as fact (at least on the side of Vishous and how he feels). No, there’s never been any manlove going on, but the possibility and the desire was there on V’s part. Now, I say this makes me uncomfortable not because I generally object to this in any way–after all, I edit m/m–but because it doesn’t fit for me. I found myself wondering if JR had read all those rumors on the internet and though she never intended V’s character, and Butch and V’s relationship to head that direction, she gave in to the fans’ speculation and that’s where it ended up. In this case, I felt uncomfortable because it didn’t work for me. Other fans might feel differently and I’m sure someone will say so.
Through the course of the book, we learn about V’s background, we see the development of a sexual desire between him and Jane. And this leads me to my next concern with the story. Jane’s character is presented as very strong, independent. That independence has been ingrained in her from childhood because she’s had to rely on only herself. Yet, while we are told she is strongwilled, aloof, and reluctant to form attachments, we are shown a character who is much different, who gives in fairly easily to her feelings, who doesn’t fight too hard to safeguard either her heart or her independence. I was disturbed by the inconsistent nature of Jane’s character and because of that, her relationship with Vishous, the development of which I found to be shallow and short-changed. Perhaps owing to the amount of time that was spent on secondary characters.
I’m not going to speak much about the secondary stories, except to say that I find myself wondering what has changed in the course of JR’s writing of these books. Were the characters always meant to take such extraordinarily tortured paths, where there seems to be no true salvation except with the intervention of the Scribe Virgin? I hope that at some point we see a reinvention of some of these characters, with a little more control of their own worlds, so we aren’t dependent on the Scribe Virgin to save the day (in other words, I’d really like to see the deus ex machina disappear from the plots of future books).
Near the end of the book, there comes such a…completely unexpected moment, that I find myself wondering what the hell? Sometimes, in a book, moments like this work well because you get the sense that there was no other direction or path the book could have taken, and though you don’t like it, you applaud the author for taking that step. In this case, it only caused me to ask why it was necessary. I didn’t understand the reason for the plot to move in this direction, and even when the book ended, I still wasn’t clear on the why of it happening or the how of it fitting into the grand scheme of the books overall.
Despite my feelings of the book’s fundamental flaws, as I was reading (and I read and finished this book in two days, just a few hours so I was hooked) I found myself thinking that JR still has an incredible talent to weave a story, to capture and hold my attention to find out what happens next. It’s what I love about her writing, and what will keep me coming back for more each time.
Though I must be honest and say, if Lover Unbound were my first introduction to the Brotherhood, I wouldn’t come back for more, it won’t stop me from picking up the next book (even if I get kicked off the ARC list for this review, lol) because there’s a lot of story left to come and I still love the brothers and Dark Lover
Lover Unbound releases in a week and you can pre-order it from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. You can find out more about JR Ward and her books at her website.
I thank you for your review, but I think you are way too beholden to Ward and her fans to write an honest one.
Anyone reading a book, movie or play review recognizes that certain features of the plot must be shared, yet you feel the need to defend sharing the information that V gets injured when that was in the excerpt available months ago.
I also think it is a shame that receiving ARCs seemed to be an issue for you in being honest about the book.
Maybe we should have a discussion about the ability of online romance reviewers to be honest when they are getting freebies from authors.
Thank you for your review, otherwise, and for the great website overall.
I guess I’m a little puzzled by your words, Beth, because I don’t think I could have been much more honest. You might have mistaken my reluctance to write the review having to do with getting the ARC but in reality, my reluctance has to do with how much I’ve loved the Brothers in the past. My difficulties have everything to do with how hard it is to write a balanced and fair review for a book I was so eagerly anticipating
But if this is because you think I didn’t write an honest review, then I’m still puzzled, because I thought the review was pretty darn honest, lol.
And here I was just thinking how cool it was you didn’t gush, despite receiving ARCs and the like. Thanks for your review, Angie, and I bet I will have a similar reaction–I’ve felt that deus ex machina thing in almost (?) every one of the earlier books.
Put me in the Grateful for No Lesser POV column. I enjoy the series, but every time I get to one of those scenes I skim ahead til the “real” book picks up again.
The V-Butch storyline – now I can’t wait to see how Ward handles it.
Thanks for the honest review. :hips:
The last couple of paragraphs sum up how I felt about Lover Revealed. Do you think it’s because she’s having to spend so much time developing secondary characters now (plus finding space for the old ones that her fans love)? I was anxious when I heard that JRW extended the series from 6 books to 10 because I always feel that when series arcs are changed like that, it’s bound to affect the individual books negatively. I was glad when I heard she’s working on a new series. I’m hoping it’s like a spin-off, but something that will bring fresh ideas and characters so that she’s not so tied down with what she created in the BDB.
I’m tempted to e-mail you about spoilers, but I just found some out recently and I think they’ll tide me over until release day.
One last thing. You didn’t mention how JRW navigates V’s sexual proclivities in the book. Was it done well?
Thanks for the review, Angie. I almost didn’t read it, but I caved. I hope I can suspend my belief (and that internal editor) long enough to read this book. I also hope I enjoy it…
Hmm. I think this veers into spoiler territory, so I can’t really speak specifically to that, but I’ll try. I found it odd but at this point, I’m not sure if it’s because the whole book didn’t quite fit comfortably for me or if it wasn’t really sold to the reader.
Thanks for your thoughts on the book Angie, and for the care you took to navigate past any spoilers.
Still can’t wait to read it – just love JR’s voice. :cheer:
I have no idea what Ward *intended* with this book, but as a reader, if *felt* to me like a response to reader commentary, much as the last one did for me, too. For example, people have criticized the women for being too weak, so here’s Jane — see, she’s strong and independent. Or maybe not. Readers (including me) felt there was a real homoerotic vibe between V and Butch, and here’s confirmation, but just in case you’re one of those readers who don’t want that to be the case, in the last book it was made explicitly clear that the road will never be taken, so those readers can relax, too. And readers don’t like the lesser scenes, so, voila, they’re gone, gone like the wind, never mind that they’ve been a prominent element of the narrative since book 1.
I’m one of those readers who never felt that the lesser scenes served much of a purpose in their extent and length, but banishing them completely strikes me as a sort of inadvertent admission they weren’t necessary or as a concession to reader preference above authorial vision. Neither option makes me feel very good. And as I said, I have no idea if Ward is giving one little bit of attention to readers as she continues the series, but I think it *feels* that way to me as a reader because — for me, at least — the series isn’t getting stronger for the changes, and the characterizations are suffering in terms of consistency and cogency. I’d rather, for example, read women characters who are consistently less assertive and independent than ones who are advertised as strongly independent but then turn out not to be. I may be annoyed by the first type of characterizations, but if they fit within the structure of the book, then on a craft level they work, even if on an ideological level they aggravate me. And once the craft begins to falter, it doesn’t matter what direction the ideological construction of the characters goes in, because I’ll lose faith as a reader.
I adored Dark Lover — was sucked in thoroughly to Ward’s world in that book — but my enthusiasm for the series has diminished a bit with each book. Will I keep reading them? Probably, at least through Phury’s book, as he’s always been my favorite, and I am intrigued by Rhage, as well. I have terribly mixed feelings about the transition of this series to hardcover, though, because I sincerely wonder what the series will look like after so many books, and with a much higher price tag attached.
Personally I worry that JRW is overly influenced by the opinion of her readers. Which I think could be ultimately be detrimental to the books. People should either stop posting what they want to happen / or she should no longer frequent the sections of her message board where this sort of discussion is taking place.
On the message board there were comments well before Lover Revealed about Vishous and Butch’s relationship. With some posters being quite vociferous over the fact that they would stop buying the books if there were any sort of homosexual/bisexual relationship. Though there were equally (if not more) readers saying it didn’t bother them. So we have the ‘this is Never going to happen again’, that’s ‘Never Ever’ – following their embrace in LR.
Now in LU it’s shown there are feelings from Vishous. I think this is probably JRW’s original angle but she toned it down in LR. I don’t believe you can write to please all your readership, you have to write the story as it comes to you.
Personally I always thought there was a vibe between them and that Vishous was probably bisexual. Why people then assume he can’t be monogamous to Jane – I don’t know.
I wouldn’t say the m/m would never ever happen just that it didn’t happen here. But who knows…
People hated the SV and poof the next book she was not in it really at all but she is back HUGE in this book. Ward’s answer was the SV wasn’t apart of that book, many readers ‘decided’ she was just doing what readers wanted. Now the SV is back, is that cuz readers asked for her?
I think Beth didn’t read past your first paragraph angie, it does sound as if you are ascared to be taken off the ARC list and saying sorry for not liking the book but your review is very honest. The things that bugged me are different than you but I mirror the overall feeling you were left with…
Actually, Sybil, I did read the whole review, and Angie does repeat her concern about being taken off the ARC list in the LAST paragraph of the review.
I appreciate Angie’s response that her disappointment had more to do with her expectations of a series she really likes than worries about Ward.
I personally don’t like the apologetic tone of the review, but I appreciate her writing it the way she felt she needed to.
People should either stop posting what they want to happen / or she should no longer frequent the sections of her message board where this sort of discussion is taking place.
As a reader, I won’t ever stop having or sharing opinions about books, since for me, that’s part of the joy of reading. And as readers, we have no control over whether authors are reading reader comments. I have no doubt that there are authors (some of whom I probably read and enjoy), who do care what readers think and can somehow address reader concerns in a way that either is not obvious to me or doesn’t, for whatever reason, compromise the author’s craft or vision — as I see it, of course.
In the same way there are authors (e.g. Jo Goodman) who can use hackneyed Romance conventions and bring them to vivid life every single time. The limits of the genre do not IMO breed bad books, nor, necessarily, does the desire for monetary success (think of all the fine art produced under the patronage system, for example).
I know there are many who disagree with me, but I think the way Evanovich built out Ranger’s character ended up strengthening the Stephanie Plum series, because I’m addicted to the tension between those two possibilities, and the way they seem almost unresolvable. And by how Stephanie gets to have her cake and eat it too, which so often women in any kind of romantically inclined fiction are prohibited from doing (i.e. Rule #1: thou can only share the nookie with the ONE and ONLY HERO). So yeah, I know readers are fed up with the back and forth, but I actually think it’s added a new dimension to the series. Just as there are readers who feel Ward is getting better with every book.
As for Ward, who knows what she’s doing or not doing. All I know as a reader is that — especially around the development of the female characters — the past couple of books have been very problematic for me. There’s something that happens among the women at the end of Lover Revealed that felt very artificial to me, sort of an in your face ‘see they are a community’ moment. In my perception, of course. Which is my ultimate experience as a reader. In a perverse way, I think the over the top elements — the larger than life male characterizations, as you say — have been this series’ real strength. That I have been able to complain about the women, for example, and still find some satisfaction in the books speaks, I think, to their broad appeal. It will be interesting to look at this series backwards, after Ward has finished all the books, to really chart its movement.
I have been searching for spoilers for Lover Unbound and would love it if you would share some with me.
Thanks,
Vanessa
Spoilers galore — here:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/The_Phade/index.php?
Robin,
I agree – LOL does it sound like I’m contradicting myself here I don’t mean to. I love speculation, I love analyzing plots. You’re right that is part of the joy of reading and part of being in a community of fans that love the same books. It somehow makes the whole experience much more intense.
What I worry about are authors who are overly influenced by the fans who say – if the author does this or doesn’t do this then I won’t buy the book. Whilst I reserve the right to not follow a series if it goes off in a direction I’m not comfortable with. I don’t feel it’s my place to tell the author what they should or shouldn’t be doing.
What I worry about are authors who are overly influenced by the fans who say – if the author does this or doesn’t do this then I won’t buy the book.>
I understand what you mean, Lesley, but I don’t think the reader should shoulder the responsibility for this. I wonder, too, how editors play into the mix in shaping the direction of a series or an author’s choices in crafting each book. We know from the infamous Adele Ashworth virgin widow example that a certain influence may exist in the editorial process.
To me this issue is one of the most frustrating points of what I see as conflict between *genre* and *market*. Genre makes no demands beyond those imposed by formalistic limits, but the market can push well beyond these. Sometimes I think “commercial fiction” is a paradox, or at least a definitional conflict. Is the priority the fiction or its commercial value? And if it’s the commercial value, is responding to reader influence even a guarantee of commercial success? It’s a mighty dilemma, that’s for sure. Personally, I think part of the problem lies in the idea that what sells is really what readers want — or would like. But who’s going to take the time to really figure out if existing publishing models are valid as long as publishing houses stay in the black. And since Romance readers are so incredibly loyal to the genre, despite their disappointment in individual books, I can’t envision the market bottoming out anytime soon — not that I’d want it to, in any case.
Oh, well, I’m not going to apologize for the tone of the review because it was honest, and it was how I felt and isn’t that how a review should be? My “concern” was more of a joke, actually, but in the end I do like her and it’s never fun to write a not-overly positive review for any author, let alone one you “know”, and especially for a series that I’ve professed to love so much. However, rabid fangirl I’m not (well, not unless the author’s name is Nora Roberts). I’m having coffee with JR at RT in the spring so I’ll just turn her upside down and shake an ARC out of her then if nothing else
It’s interesting, this discussion of not listening to what fans say online, because as someone pointed out to me, it’s slightly contradictory to the conversation going on at Smart Bitches, where readers can feel betrayed by the direction an author takes her series because she (or he) wants to, not because of what the fans want.
Is it that readers want to have their cake and eat it to? Don’t listen to your fans…except listen to me. I do think authors need to beware of listening too much, to what readers are saying. Wasn’t it Lisa Valdez who said her ability to write was nearly paralyzed by listening to fan and not-fan feedback? And her follow-up book does seem to have been delayed at length.
But by the same token, I think there are authors who might benefit from hearing fan feedback, at least a little: LKH, Candace Steele (though I think it’s maybe too late for her and wonder if the author isn’t going to have to invent another pseudonym before romance readers will buy her again)…and I think authors should listen to feedback from fans about work that’s not theirs, so they can understand just what the consequences of killing off a main character or completely veering from the essential character traits that they built the books on, before they choose to take that path.
I personally don’t like the apologetic tone of the review, but I appreciate her writing it the way she felt she needed to.
I didn’t read the tone as apologetic. It struck me as someone who is expressing some sadness (perhaps that isn’t the right word) that she didn’t love this book when she’s loved others by this author in the past. More of a reader reaction than an apology. If that makes sense.
It’s interesting, this discussion of not listening to what fans say online, because as someone pointed out to me, it’s slightly contradictory to the conversation going on at Smart Bitches, where readers can feel betrayed by the direction an author takes her series because she (or he) wants to, not because of what the fans want.
In what sense do you think the two discussions are contradictory, Angie? I think they show an ironic consistency in demonstrating the fundamentally capricious and contradictory nature of reader response. What one reader loves another will hate; what one reader praises another will damn. I think we’re rarely fully consistent within ourselves let alone as any definable group, and it seems to me that letting reader reaction guide the writing process will yield fast track pass to Crazytown.
I think authors should listen to feedback from fans about work that’s not theirs, so they can understand just what the consequences of killing off a main character or completely veering from the essential character traits that they built the books on, before they choose to take that path.
Do you think there’s a difference between these two things? In the case of developing character traits, that seems to me to be a Writing 101 issue — characters developed logically and consistently. But killing off a main character, while a craft decision, seems a bit different to me, although I can’t put my finger on exactly why.
I have no opinion on JR Ward’s books, haven’t read them. But I saw Robin’s comment about the Stephanie Plum books and had to respond.
I’m in the minority as well, but I still like the series. I don’t mind the constant back and forth. I don’t necessarily want her to make a choice because I think Joe fulfills Stephanie’s need for security, and Ranger provides excitement. In some senses, it approaches polyamory, just without the label.
To a lesser degree, it does irk me that Stephanie hasn’t gotten even marginally better at her job, but that’s another kettle of fish.
As it stands, I still read the books — I call them “mac and cheese” stories because they’re comforting and I always know exactly what I’m gonna get. There’s something to be said for consistency in a (publishing) world where beloved characters get killed off for reasons that seem highly dubious (at least to me).
Just found out about Casper. *sigh* Now I’m torn about this book.
i am dying for spoilers plz plz plz take pity on me.
fire_blade_666@ntlworld.com
Just found the book at my local BAM and read it in one sitting. I was nervous based on the spoilers I’d seen, but overall it was a good read. I think if anything the romance between V and Jane suffers from a lack of development. I love the secondary characters in the BDB universe, and I want to spend time with them, but on the other hand, it takes away from time spent with the ostensible h/h of the book. I think that is what happened here. It’s too bad because I really liked Jane and I thought she was a good counterpart to V. In fact, in some ways, she seemed like a feminine version of Butch (particularly in the way she can zing a smart-ass response back to V). I actually was glad to have V and Butch talk heart-to-heart about what was between them….thought it added a lot to the story. But I’m sure there will be those that dislike it too.
The love scenes between V and Jane…yowza! *g* I just wish there were more of them.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but it won’t be taking the place of my favorite (Lover Eternal) anytime soon. I do look forward to a re-read though. It’s just so damn fun to spend time with the BDB.
And I’m very sorry, but I just HAVE to insert this smiley. lmao!
:whip2:
From some of your reviews I have read in the past, I can tell that they have all been bery honest. I enjoyed this book a lot, but there are a few others that take my top list.
I think this was a very honest review Angie. You were more indulgent than I was. I adored JR and the Brotherhood, I was so incredibly looking forward to this book, and in the end LU felt like a natural disaster that left me completely devastated and wondering what the hell happened. Almost everything felt off and there are so many inconsistencies in this installment ( while you could have counted the ones in the first four books on the fingers of one hand) I was unable to fully enjoy any of the storylines. I’ve never felt so let down by a book. I could have stand the fact it wasn’t as mind blowing as I was hoping for, but it didn’t even make SENSE. It’s worse for those who had expectations because they know the normal rules of the BDB world, but even if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have thought it was badly written. To say I am crushed is a HUGE understatement.
Hello,
I understand the difficulty in trying to write a review without spoilers and I must say you’ve done it well
I would appreciate it if you could e-mail with major spoilers because I can’t really find them and I haven’t been able to get my hands on the book.