Finished Lover Eternal

[jmc_bks]

I put the book down with mixed feelings. Until the very end of the book, it was heading for an A grade from me, and was the best 2006 book I've read so far. Loved the scenes with Wellsie, Tohr and John, especially how they just sort of absorb him into their life. Ditto for the stuff with Zsadist. Mary finally opened up and trusted Rhage for more than sex, which was an issue through out the first half of the book. But the ending bothered me.

MAJOR SPOILER ABOUT THE END OF THE BOOK: Mary's cancer worsened very quickly, and Rhage went to the Scribe Virgin to beg for mercy, offered to keep the beast permanently. TSV accepted...except that wasn't enough. She would cure Mary, but erase him and the brotherhood from Mary's memory. He was desperate for her to live, so he agreed. But then TSV didn't wipe Mary's memory. Her reasoning was that she didn't realize that Mary was sterile (due to the cancer treatments she'd undergone in the past) and didn't think it was fair to erase her memory of love since she wouldn't be able to have kids. WTF? I'm projecting my own issues here, but what does child bearing have to do with anything? If the Scribe Virgin had merely been testing Mary and Rhage's love, I could respect that. If TSV changed her mind upon meeting Mary, I could respect that. But flip-flopping because of Mary's inability to have children just bothers me, because it implies that no HEA is ever possible without children.

I think I'm going to have to re-read this book more carefully before I assign any grade to it in my reading journal.

Comments

[sarahf.livejournal.com]

Having only read the ending ;) I'd say that the whole thing was just rushed a bit. She should have given the whole ending another 5-10 pages. But you've got all the other brothers off to find Bella and I think her timeline was a little constricted. But yeah, I think you're right about the children thing.

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

The kid thing is giving me a big "WTF?!" moment. If you're projecting, than I am too.

Uh-oh

[(Anonymous)]

I came over to do a quick 'boo' at your take on Lover Eternal but I soooo didn't look at the spoiler part. From the comments though I think it has something to do with kids and that'll do something to me also. Ah, well, I will hopefully get to start this sometime tonight. *mini-squeee*

CindyS (this is my first time commenting so I don't know if this will come out right - I think I'm okay ;))
Edited - okay, I have to put Anonymous in because my blog doesn't have an "OpenID identity server", you know, whatever that is. Now, I just want one of those cool pictures everyone else has!

Re: Uh-oh

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

The ending didn't spoil the book for me, fortunately, although it did knock the grade down some. Mentally, I've rewritten the ending to avoid the things that bother me.

I don't know what OpenID is. I think the people with pictures are the people who have livejournal accounts...which can be paid for or free, depending on what bells and whistles you want with your posts.

Re: Uh-oh

[coolredwyne.livejournal.com]

hee love this book ;)

I don't think you are projecting but the SV is. The biggest power she has over The Omega is she can 'create' life, where as TO needs a human to make a lesser. And the vampires themselves have a very very hard time bearing a child.

So to the SV - this is the worst thing to have taken away from a person. She can't see taking the love of her life when she has already given up having a child to try and stay alive.

LOL but that is just my take ;).

Re: Uh-oh

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Your analysis makes sense...I completely missed the SV/O life/creation stuff.

Re: Uh-oh

[coolredwyne.livejournal.com]

cool! LOL of course just cuz it makes sense doesn't mean you have to agree with it ;).