Lover At Last by JR Ward

Why I read it:  I received a review copy from the publisher.  I read and enjoyed the first few books in the series and I own all the rest.  But, I stopped reading the series at Phury's book - it was sooo long and the series was heading away from PNR and more into urban fantasy territory.  I have been hearing about Qhuinn and Blaylock for a while now though and I was so excited that a mainstream publisher was printing an m/m romance.  That, in itself would have been enough to make me want to read it.  I caught up on the series using cheatsheets put together by Decadence at Book Thingo.  Fair warning, my opinion may be is no doubt coloured by not having read all the books in the series.

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young- just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

What worked for me (and what didn't): This is a long book - nearly 600 pages - but if you expect wall to wall Qhuinn and Blay you will be disappointed.  There are various plot threads advanced - a little bit from Beth and Wrath, some from Xcor and Layla, Layla and Qhuinn, Assail and a new lady by the name of Sola, Trez and iAm, the lessers, Wrath's reign, changes to the laws - it's all happening.    In amongst it, is the romantic culmination of Qhuinn's and Blay's story.  

Assail was, for me, a totally new character and I found him quite intriguing.  He is a mercenary businessman and a drug dealer but I expect Ward intends to turn his character around a la Revhenge.  Similarly, it is obvious that there are plans for Xcor and Layla and I suspect that in the end, he will be in the fold as well, somehow.  I don't know how she's going to do it though.

I think fans of the series will enjoy the progression of the overarching storyline - albeit slowly - apart from the epilogue, the book takes place in just 2 weeks.  

It is difficult to talk about the book without giving away spoilers.  If I was writing this review next year, well after the release of the novel, I would possibly be less discreet, but as it is, I feel I have to be careful not to give too much away. 

The main reason I read the book was because of Qhuinn and Blay.  They are the "Sam and Alyssa" (or perhaps, the "Jules and Robin"?) (Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter's series) of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  Readers have been aware for a long time that they belong together, but they have had to navigate a torturous path to true love. 

If you're a fan of the "Big Mis" trope, this book will work better for you than it did for me.  Me, I find it difficult to understand why people can't just have a straight out conversation.  So many times throughout the book, the couple's problems could have been resolved by some simple words, but so many times, things were left unsaid or what was said was misconstrued and the couple remained at cross purposes.

There are plenty of sexytimes in the book and I don't think the book can be regarded as "tame".  I don't think Ward pulled her punches because the main characters were men.  On the other hand, I don't think Ward writes excellent m/m sex.  There was an element of romance missing from the sex - it was aggressive, rough and fast for the most part - although they have a minuscule refractory period so things got started again almost immediately most of the time.  I was left feeling that there was little to mark that the sex was between two men - which is perhaps a bit cryptic - there were definitely 2 penises peni cocks involved.  And good golly good gravy, there was NO LUBE (or should that be lhube?).   Absolutely I can understand no condoms - vampires don't get STDs but lube is essential  - or, if it isn't then that needs to be explained in the text (and if so, ew). Added to the no lube, there was no preparation before anal penetration.  None. Ever.   (Is that too spoilerish? Sorry, it has to be said.)

I have had a couple of spoilerific email discussions with fellow reviewers who haven't read as much m/m as me.  I think that for those readers who have read little or no m/m romance, the sex scenes are likely to work better, because those with limited m/m exposure may have a different comfort zone (I know I did, when I first started reading m/m).  So, what bothered me may be just Ward catering to her audience?

I felt the term "virginity" was egregiously misused and I was really bothered by all the "manning up" and "not being a girl" and the slut shaming (which was particularly prevalent in the Trez storyline).

What else? I did feel there were lost opportunities here.  The inherent conflict in having a gay member of the fighting brotherhood, the way that vampire society only tolerates homosexuality if it is on the downlow - those things were largely left unexplored.  

There was also a big event (there was more than one but I'm talking - somewhat mysteriously I admit - about one in particular) which happened to Qhuinn and the set up was (for me) a little lacking in detail and the impact, which should have been huge, just fizzled out.  

I would have enjoyed the story a lot more if the last 30 pages or so had've taken place in the middle of the book or earlier and other stuff got explored more thereafter.  (Is that cryptic enough for you? :D)

I have to say that my tolerance for extra "h's" in text is now at an all time low.  What was originally fresh and fun now just looks kind of silly.  Perhaps I'm merely a "grumpy old woman."

Kudos to Ward (and her editors for not asking her to change it) for using "biceps" 100% correctly throughout the book.  It is a sad thing when good grammar stands out so much, but there you have it.

I think fans of the series will enjoy the story more than I did.  But, I also think some fans who have been waiting for a long time for Qhuinn and Blay to get together will end up feeling a bit shortchanged.

The very best thing about this book is that an m/m romance is finally front and centre in a big, traditionally published book.  I hope it happens more and more often.

Grade:  C/C-

Lover At Last releases worldwide on March 26.