Lover Awakened - J.R. Ward

Out of all of Ms. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood vampires, Zsadist is one of the most compelling. From the very first time you meet him in Dark Lover you know, full well, this is a vampire to stay clear of unless you like the idea of dancing with the devil himself. He cares little for women, human or vampire, and has sworn never to drink from a vampire female, using instead the blood of human females to keep himself alive. Though their blood is weaker and it will never be enough to keep him going. Slowly but surely Z has faded away, becoming a gaunt figure, walking death with black eyes and a need to kill.

A former blood slave he still bears the scars from his past, one filled with suffering and humiliation. He has become renown for his fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage, feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion and terror his only passion - until he rescues the female, Bella, from the clutches of the Lessers.

Bella, unfortunately, bears a startling resemblance to a human woman that one of the Lessers once loved and he claims her as his unholy bride, going as far as marking her with his name across her belly. Z's thirst for vengeance against Bella's tormentors drives him to the brink of madness, and she must find a way to help her destined mate overcome the wounds of his past - but they face one other problem. Bella hasn't just attracted Z's attention but that of his twin brother, Phury. A vampire male Z tries his best to encourage Bella to be with despite his desires for her. Who would want him, twisted, warped, scarred and marked as a blood slave, when they could have the beauty that is his brother?

In Lover Awakened Ms. Ward has created a deliciously warped story of what might have been a three way love if the territorial instincts of the male vampires were not so strong. But that strength, that need to drive and protect, is just one of the reasons her vampire books are so popular. What woman wouldn't want their own personal warrior at her side? One willing to protect her, able to accept her for everything she is, even if he might need smacking down from time to time?

If there is a series of vampire novels that screams out for movies, or tv series, it's Ms. Ward's, Black Dagger Brotherhood!

ISBN 0-451-21936-8