Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
Started Reading: January 4, 2008
Finished Reading: January 6, 2008
Despite the outstanding reviews I’ve read from Amazon, I would not give this five stars. I’d give it three at most. I think if people are considering this the best book ever, they’re missing out on better stories out there, with a more impressive take on developing stories and character relationships.
I’m saying this as a person who haven’t read the other books. The problem is, while the author jumps right in the middle of a conflict in the story (or the beginning of it), there isn’t really anything to introduce me to the basic information I should know. I do understand some of what’s implied but it just isn’t enough. So Zsadist and Bella met twice before? Why was he so obsessed with her? It would have helped if, like the other flashbacks on Zsadist’s past, the author also gave us a narration of the two times they met and what went on inside both of their minds since there’s very little to base their relationship on.
Since most of the story seems to focus on (1) Zsadist’s past, (2) his relationship with Bella and (3) how Bella affected and changed him, it only satisfied one of those three. The first. I understand how the two developed out of need and sympathy, aside from the obvious lust and attraction they already had for each other, but it’s just a haze about how everything started.
Another aspect of the book I disliked is the mini-plots. There’s a little bit of everything but they didn’t seem to receive proper closures (although I don’t mind the open-ending on Tohr’s story). John was definitely given quite a lot of focus though his impact on Zsadist’s story wasn’t that big. Aside from being a little guy Zsadist helps once in a while. Even that thing with the lessers — the issues between O and U and Omega — had left questions unanswered.
Relationship-wise, Bella and Zsadist make a pretty nice couple, though I regret Zsadist being buffed up in the end. I liked him better when he…weighed less.
Anyway, this is a book I’d recommend to someone who wants to kill time but not to someone looking for something extraordinary.
Tags: J.R. Ward