Finished Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward. This is the sixth and latest book in her popular Black Dagger Brotherhood vampire series. Warning: There be spoilers ahead.

This one’s about Phury, Zsadist’s twin and a member of the brotherhood. In past books, Phury has been presented as a calm, celibate gentleman. In this one, it’s revealed that he’s spiraling out of control. He’s a drug addict, and he’s also become the Primale — the vamp who has to sleep with 40 female vamps to ensure the survival of the race — which is adding to his stress level. Cormia is the First Mate to the Primale, and she’s fallen in love with Phury. Too bad she thinks he’s in love with Zsadist’s soulmate, Bella …

I could do some more plot summary, but that would take up the rest of the review. Let’s just say there’s a lot going on in this book, and we get point-of-view passages from Phury, Cormia, John Matthew, Quinn, Lash, a lesser, Rhevenge, and Xhex.

Enshrined is a bit different from the other books in this series because the romance isn’t the main focus of the novel. I wouldn’t even classify this one as a romance, but more of an urban fantasy. I know some folks don’t like the UF direction Ward seems to be going in, but I don’t mind it. Ward can juggle multiple plotlines better than almost anyone out there. Somehow, she makes all of her characters damaged and interesting while swtiching back and forth between them and moving the story forward. It’s a skill I wish I had. I actually liked all the different POVs in this one.

I’ve never been a huge John Matthew fan, but I really enjoyed the plot with him, Quinn, and Blaylock. I thought that was the strongest arc in the book, and the reader gets to see the three of them grow up and start realizing their full potential as they’re thrust into the middle of the war with the lessers. However, I did think Ward was repeating herself a little by having Blaylock be in love with Quinn. There were echoes of the Butch/Vischous relationship there, but I think she resolved it nicely.

I also enjoyed reading about Xhex and Rhev, although I have no idea how Ward will redeem Rhev when she gives him his own story. He’s a drug-dealing vamp/sympath with psychiotic urges. But I’m still looking forward to reading more about him.

Then, there’s Phury. I have to say I didn’t care for his character at all. All the brothers drink and smoke excessively in previous books, but Phury being an addict seemed to just suddenly come about. Also, there was no mention in previous books of him having “the wizard” voice in his head. And if the wizard has been with him for decades, why would Phury compare him to something out of Lord of the Rings? The movies only came out a couple of years ago. I thought that was a little strange.

Overall, Phury struck me as very wishy-washy and spent far too much time feeling sorry for himself. Also, I didn’t really buy the romance between Phury and Cormia. Their scenes got a little lost between everything else that was going on, and there just weren’t enough of them to make the romance work for me.

The one thing I did like about Phury was when he went to see the Scribe Virgin and told her that the vamp society needs to evolve and get with the times. That the Chosen (her devotees) should be able to go out into the world and choose their own mates instead of Phury being forced to sleep with/impregnate all of them. Yes! I thought. Finally! Someone realizes the vamp society is sexist and stuck in the Dark Ages and is speaking up about it instead of trying to circumvent the rules. I’m interested to see how that plays out over future books.

There were so many things I liked and didn’t like about Enshrined that I’m going split decision on this one. Thumbs up to the multiple plotlines, especially the Boys arc. Thumbs down to Phury and the light romance.

Up next: Eye of Heaven by Marjorie M. Liu.

Books in my TBR pile: About 11.