Lover Revealed: A Novel Of The Black Dagger Brotherhood

What I really liked about this one is that it had a lot of the story from Butch's perspective, and it is always nice to see a human's view in this vampire world. I wouldn't say it is as captivating as the previous three, but the story is still great. A definite must read!

Lover Revealed, the fourth book in Ward's hugely popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series, is a solid addition to the series. This is Butch's book. Butch O'Neal the hard-assed ex-cop that has all but been adopted by the Brothers, is the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Brotherhood. Unfortunately, because of his mortal status, he still feels at best like an outsider living on the fringes or worse like their pet human. Inexplicably, Butch feels a connection to the brothers and their race. He doesn't want to sit on the sidelines any longer, but rather wants to get in on the turf war with the lessers. Afterall, what does he have to lose? He's in love with a beautiful aristocratic vampire who's way out of his league and wants nothing to do with him. If he can't have Marissa, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers even if it does seem like more of a death wish. When fate rears its ugly head and he falls prey to the darkest force in the war, the phrase 'be careful what you wish for' takes on new meaning for Butch.

I love Butch. Next to the Brothers with their over-the-top names and larger-than-life personalities, Butch helps to keep these stories grounded. Despite his human limitations, he can hold his own against the hyper-real Brothers. In fact, next to the Brothers, hard-drinking loner Butch seems refreshingly real, normal even, in his own screwed up way.

Often, in books such as these, where the hero is the focus, the female lead doesn't get as much development as you would like. Luckily, that is not the case here. As with Beth and Bella and there respective mates, Marissa ends up being a perfect match for Butch, which is a surprise especially since she seemed like such a doormat when they first met (in Dark Lover). I particularly liked how Marissa didn't need saving, but rather took care of herself, over the course of the book. The main thing I didn't like about Marissa is how naive she seemed. I just find it hard to believe that she could have been so sheltered for hundreds of years without rebelling. And how she could go for hundreds of years and be so ignorant about sex is beyond me. I mean really, even being raised in the stuffed shirt glymera, there must have been opportunities (such as the scene at Havers' birthday bash) where she could have, if nothing else, overheard other females gossiping about sex.

The love scenes between Butch and Marissa, while tender and moving, were borderline funny (in a eye-rolling, snicker-inducing way), but still managed to reflect the fact that it takes the two of them a while to get through some emotional hurdles. It is wonderful to see them get over their insecurities in one another's arms.

Of course, you can't talk about Lover Revealed without talking about the blatant sexual undertones in the relationship between Vishous and Butch. I loved this aspect of the book. What V and Butch seem to have is more than friendship but is hard to define, especially for them, in a strict heterosexual way. There are some truly moving moments between them and perhaps the events of this book help to explain the 'attraction' between V and Butch.

As usual, Ward's use of slang and choppy sentences, continues to irk me, and I continue to wonder if she receives product placement commission cheques with all the brand-name dropping she does. But these things don't seem to be enough to turn me off this series. There is something just too addicting about the world of the Brotherhood.

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Hopelessly hooked on Black Dagger men at this point!

Butch's role within the Brotherhood has previously been limited by his obvious physical weakness as a human, though he lives with Vishous at the Brothers' compound & pines for Wrath's former vampire shellan Marissa. This book finds him struggling with his current identity / place in life, caught between human society & the vampire world. So what's a guy to do, well Butch resorts to drinking a fair bit of scotch to mask his self loathing but after being captured & tortured by the Lessers there is definite change in his role with the Brothers & his relationship with Marissa.

This book as is typical of the other Ward Novels successfully weaves in sub-plots that will develop in the later books. Special attention is given to V's & how he relates to Butch, his internal conflict about their relationship & his sense of loneliness when Butch is finally mated to Marissa. Rhevenge is again a character of interest, as is John in his training & dealing with loss of Tohr / Wellsie.

V's story is next & it promises to be a good one!

This is the 4th book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It's Butch and Marissa's book.

This book was fantastic. I must say that the romance between Butch and Marissa was the least important part of the book for me. I absolutely love the relationship between Vishous & Butch more than Marissa. I was constantly hoping somehow they would be together. I love the respect and affection that they both share for each other. And how they don't really shy away from showing each other how much they mean for each other.

I love the transformation Butch takes in this book. ****Spoiler**** How he becomes a warrior and how he becomes the Destroyer. I love that Butch & Vishous will always need to be together- dark and light. I also liked how John Matthew's story is progressing.

My favourite quote from the book was when V says to Butch after they realize that Butch can sense the Lessers and that Butch was scared he was becoming one and V says "your my only friend, you can't be my enemy". I completely broke down. This book was a great read. The big difference from this book and the last 3 was that the stories were mostly about the romance and this one it wasn't as important but the transformation of Butch. The story was fantastic and unpredictable. (Except that I always knew Butch would become a brother) but how he got there was incredible.