GraveTells review: A transitory BDB novel, with more painful Vishous than vicious Payne
The title of this book is a little misleading, assuming it is supposed to describe the featured couple or "warrior". Payne is more "unleashed" in her sparring sessions with Wrath in the previous books than she is throughout this entire novel. "Lover unleashed" is more more applicable to V, as he learns to relinquish his vicious self-control... literally, un-leashed from the "predilections" that trapped him in his previous destructive BDSM spiral. Payne's personality is nearly unrecognizable compared to the tenacious & serious, almost savage, amazon she was introduced as in a previous novel. Some of this is understandable, considering how crushing it would be to be faced with permanent paralysis as a warrior, but far too much time is spent on this period of weakness and inactivity for Payne to really grow as a character. Then, when she does finally become mobile and has a chance to be "normal" again, she acts more like a giddy young girl than a 300-year old fighter.
Too much of this book feels transitory for it to be strong enough to stand on its own. For a reader new to the series, I would say absolutely do NOT read this novel first! Obviously, starting at the beginning is best, but most of the other books are strong enough that a new reader could pick them up and enjoy the stories even with the multiple story arcs and ever-growing roster of characters. Lover Unleashed reads as if its the middle film in a trilogy (hello, The Two Towers and Empire Strikes Back!) - it's more a way to get there from here, and to wrap up plotlines while introducing yet another. I don't mind the sideline plots, because sometimes they turn into fantastic drama, but at least give us a little more of the one we all REALLY want to see: Blay & Quinn! How many books is she going to stretch that one out before it comes to some kind of conclusion (oh, and please be the outcome I think we all want!)? What about Muhrder from book 8 (Lover Mine)? A substantial amount of book-time went to setting up that whole "ghost" scenario at his mansion, then revealing who he is on TV, then there's not even a reference to it in this one. I think this is the first time a developing plotline like that has been dropped completely from one book to another. What about Lassiter?
A couple things really bothered me about Payne's abduction toward the end...
1) Her abduction was fishy and too convenient (read: predictable). Considering how well previous story lines have worked out after some of the leading ladies were abducted, Ms. Ward could have made an abduction like this work, but this just had no heat to it... no drive. It felt flat-out unbelievable.
2) Payne was able to resolve the entire abduction situation by just standing there and talking. Really? The big bad glowy she-warrior doesn't even get to fight for herself? She just talks her captor out of something he's believed & fought for all of his life, after which he proceeds to protect her from his own men at his own peril? Uh... no. And B-O-R-I-N-G!
This book is really more about V & Jane than it is about Payne & Manny. Payne & Manny almost feel more like side characters than the featured couple, to the point that this is easily Lover Unbound 2.0. Now I'm not complaining - V is one of my favorite characters in the series, so more face (and body!) time with him is A-okay with me.
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