Ultramarine

I enjoyed re-listening to this one, even though as I've wrote ןn the previous reviews I'm noא into the audio version. I think the narrator is doing a very poor job. You can't distinguish any character from one another (maybe except for Fritz..) but the book is GOOD and so worth reading!

I'll start by saying that guys like Butch and gals like Marissa "aren't my type". He was never one of my favorites. He is too "rough around the edges" in a way I don't find appealing. He had a tough life, his family practically hating him and blaming him for his sister's murder even though he was just a kid and there is no logic in blaming him at all. His father beat him up, his other siblings forgetting him once he was gone. He was a cop and they all call him that but I wonder why he even was into that considering his substance abuse.. But as the main hero in this book I really loved him and learned to appreciate him as a male of worth which he is.

His romance with Marissa was beautiful. I loved how he was with her and how much he wanted her but didn't want to push himself into her arms if she didn't want him. I loved how nearing the end he was willing to give her a choice in something I thought she didn't have even a right to decide for him, but when she tried stopping him from fighting he told her this is who he is and he will do what he can do to help the brotherhood and yeah, he is a warrior, even if he is a human and came to this world recently we get that from the beginning and she should have realized that from the start and not putting so many breaks on him, who he is, who he wants to be.

Without spoilering I'll just say that there is a beautiful conclusion the his "problem" of being human and a way for him and her having their HEA as well as him getting to fight alongside the brothers. 

And Marissa? She is so pure that she was almost boring. There was nothing to her. Her innocence was sweet up until it was awkward. and then something happened that changed her into a different person. Sometimes a kick in the butt does that to you.. for me it was a little bit too quick but it was a good change that made me appreciate her for being someone, not just doing what she is told but also being able to consider others in her time of pain and wanting to help others. She and Butch are the same in this sense. From their pain and good nature they want to help others even if it's in a total different way.

I didn't like the brakes she tried putting on Butch but I also get why she did that, now that she's got him she wasn't willing to let him go no matter what. The one scene she got angry / upset with Wrath felt a little bit too much for her change. But well, I guess he didn't really reacted because he knew she was expressing her worry for Butch. She made one kick ass announcement at the stupid Council meeting that made Rehv almost literally ROFL which shows us how much she's grown from being that scared little girl (400 years, yet.. a little girl and a scared one) to being a woman who knows who she is and what she wants! OH YEAH! go girl power!

The story itself speaks of a prophecy of the Lessers and "The Destroyer" who will take down the Omega. Mr. X which is the most annoying Lesser of them all (I'm lying, every POV I read of the lessers becomes my most hated one ;)) is into this prophecy wanting to be over of the Lessening Society once and for all after being resurrected by the Omega after Mr. O (David) was killed by Bella (OH YEAH to girl power once more :)). He recruits Mr. D who he considers to be "The Destroyer" from reading and re-reading the prophecy. Mr. D. was an annoyance as well..

I don't like these soulless bastards they make no sense to me. They have one goal which is destruction and no real motive. Mr. D. wants to do whatever he wants and Mr. X just wants to find a way to destroy - the Omega, the Vampires, other Lessers. There is no real character to these guys. nothing. They are the reason I can't give this one 5 stars. There is mostly no real need for them in the story and if there is it could have been done in a better way or without reading their POV.

A little bit about other POVs in the book - Havers is being a TOTAL and ABSOLUTE ass, I wanted to write that in the review of the  first book but couldn't - They should have killed him, He has NO function. He is a stupid, chauvinistic, self absorbed bastard. I feel like I didn't curse him enough here. The next book (if I'm remembering right) should bring us another option to using this sorry ass doctor.

We learn a little more about Rehvenge. We also learn a little bit about his head of security Xhex and their relationship. Both of them would have a book in their name and I can't wait to get to them even if I've already read them. Rehv is a lot more than he seems and Xhex also have a very interesting story. 

After Thor throwing a disappearance act on the Brotherhood John is left shattered. He is nearing the change which shift his emotional grid as well. Nearing the end he finally finds 2 new friends - Blay and Quinn but also gaining an enemy - Lash - which is THE most annoying vampire in the series, like the Lessers all he wants is mayhem he is just stupid and arrogant. I think right after Thor disappeared the Brotherhood didn't get how much of an effect it would leave on John but once he started deteriorating Wrath started making sure he would stay in line but mostly included. That being said I do think that John would have lost his sanity without his friendship with Blay and Quinn. It's nice having Wrath, Beth, Z and others by his side but I think that having someone resembling him in age and stage in life is what he missed in life. I loved Z's part in helping John out. I think this book really shows his other side, no matter how much cruel act is on there is so much love and care that mostly stays hidden but when it shows I just fall for him all-over-again. awwww

Last but not least - Vishous - Butch's best friend or as they call each other - room mates - is having a rough time of his own. His visions dried off and he is re-dreaming the same nightmare day after day. It comes to the point were Wrath wants to pull him out of rotation and there is NO WAY V is going to survive THAT as well. He is so happy for Butch but in a way he is mourning the loss of him. Their relationship mean more to him than even he realized before. We also learn a little about his perversions in the apartment he keeps in the city. Next book is of him. He was never my favorite brother but once you really read about him and who he is, what he's been through you see him in a total different light (no pan intended ;)) can't wait listening to the next one.

Recommended. Especially since we got two characters I wasn't a fan of and became a fan after reading / listening to their love story. 

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As I've done with the Lords of the Underworld, I'll do here as well. If you are reading this for the first time, then you must be confused with who's who. I think it took me about 3 books to get everyone straight hehe Now, after reading several of these kinda series I'm better at it. and to tell you the truth, here you only have 6 warriors which isn't bad and you don't get TMI on them where you get confused, basically Ward tries to describe them and give a little about each one. 

So here is a little about each Warrior (Copied from J.R.Ward's Website) including in which book they are the main Hero - Enjoy!

Wrath (Dark Lover #1, The King #12)

The last purebred vampire on the planet and the vampire race's king. Essentially blind, he is the leader who is not willing to lead until he is forced to care for a half-breed he falls in love with.

Rhage (Lover Eternal #2)

The strongest of the brothers and the best fighter. Cursed by the Scribe Virgin, he is possessed by a dark side which is a danger to everyone. Ultimately, though, he is gentled by a very special human woman.

Zsadist (Lover Awakened #3, Father Mine #6.5)

The most lethal of the brothers. A former blood slave who was mercilessly tortured during the first hundred years of his life, Z is the one who has fallen farthest from grace. But he is utterly worthy of redemption.

Twin brother - Phury.

Phury (Lover Enshrined #6)

the loyal one, the one who sacrifices himself for others. Phury is Zsadist's twin brother and a celibate who cannot truly live because of everything his biological brother has lost. Used to giving rather than receiving, he needs love coming back at him to bring him alive.

Vishous (Lover Unbound #5)

the most intelligent and the one who is specially gifted. His curse is his ability to prognosticate: he sees the future, though not the 'when' of events so he is tortured by his inability to save those he loves from danger. His love puts him at odds with a secret about himself he did not know and could never have guessed.

Tohrment (Lover Reborn #10)

The steady one, the calm one. He is the one whose betrayal by fate will cut the deepest.

Butch O'Neal (Lover Revealed #4)

Butch O’Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex–homicide cop, he’s the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world. He’s got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who’s way out of his league. If he can’t have Marissa, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers.

John Matthew (Lover Mine #8)

John is actually Darius incarnate only he can't remember he WAS Darius, that's part of the deal the Scribe Virgin had offered him, he also can't speak, that's another thing he had to give away in order to be able to get to know his daughter, Beth, even if he won't remember her as being his daughter. He is one of the new recruits to the Brotherhood. 

As you can guess from the number of Warriors to the number of books - there are a few more warriors who weren't mentioned in the first book as ones. The mentioned above are the "core" brotherhood plus any knew ones that have been mentioned in this book and the previous ones. I'm adding the rest of them. Notice I'm adding the spoiler tag since some of the characters aren't mentioned yet and some are but we don't know what would become of them.