Has anyone heard what the situation is about Lassiter and staring at the murial on the ceiling? I wonder if he sees himself in the battle that's depicted there....I know that he has some sort-of penance he's performing on earth to get back into the good graces of the angel army; it would so incredible to have the angel army form an alliance w/the BDB in the war against the lessers. There are so many lessers and only about 10 warriors @ this point. They need help from somewhere, (kind-of like when the elves came to help men in their fight against Saroman's army in the LTR movie).

Just winding towards the end of....what?? oh right Phury's and Cormia's Story. IMHO there were too many other stories jockeying for airtime - Lash turning (new and improved)lesser; John Matthew and his drama and crushing on Zhex; Bella's pregnancy; Rhev had his thing with the princess; Cormia going rogue; and Quinn and Blay; Quinn and his family!! geez! Lassiter, love him! I get the feeling that the times are a changing for the brotherhood. Everybody is moving into D's mansion!! I am glad Tohr is back though, John Matthew could do with the downtime. He has gone through sooo much. Unfortunately I did not get to feel the high level of connectivity to Phury and Cormia as with the other brothers' stories. I am glad though that he and Z had the opportunity to settle their centuries old differences and release the bad feelings they have been harboring for each other. Things got resolved for Phury and I feel satisfied that he will regain his focus and be an outstanding primale and warrior. I adore J R Ward.

Surah, you are right about all the distractions. I found this to be the hardest read but for different reasons. I thought his problem (addiction) is the most human of all the problems encountered so I wish she had spent more time on the problem and resolution than the distractions. I have family members who have had addiction issues so I have seen the fallout. Though she covered it pretty well, it still could have stayed more in the forefront, imo.

Oh yes TwilightTINK I know I forgot something. Phury's addiction definitely needed addressing in a more positive way. I totally understood him needing to dull out his feelings for Bella. That really pushed him over the edge considering the mountain of baggage he was carrying from the old days. The thing is too everybody knew what was going on with him, and Z threatening Rhev to stop selling Phury the red smoke really did not do it for me. Wrath kicking him out of the BH I could get due to the fact that he had become a liability, but help the brother!! They are supposed to have so much love for each other that I was kind of POed at them for neglecting him, true?

Maybe but then too, he was rejecting them and every bit of effort they made to help him. As with any addict, there is no helping them until they are ready to accept help. All the rehab in the world is worth nothing if they aren't ready to receive the message. Phury needed someone to help him accept what he was, someone that he didn't want to lose enough to make the changes, enough to make him see what he had become.

And of course, Cormia was a very strong character here. I really liked their story but would have liked less distraction, as you said Surah.

I totally agree.

Tink!

Phury's story was a tough read, however, his story was one that had to be told. I guess, and this is just my thought, being that the core Brothers, (Wrath, Rhage, Z, Butch, V, and Phury), were set-up w/Shellan's and all, JRW needed one of the books where she could begin setting up future plot lines. It did though make for the 'skimming' many important aspects of Phury's addiction.

I looked at how Zsadist and the BDB treated Phury as done w/love; for I believe they love him very much. So much that they were going to do everything possible to help him to take that first step of helping himself. I'm sure it pained Zsadist and Wrath to no end to have to 'turn their backs' on Phury. I mean Phury isn't just Zsadist's twin, he is the brother of all the BDB: clothes horse w/Butch, accepts Vishous' 'ways', as well as Tohr, Phury was the diffuser of Brother tensions, especially that of Rhage's 'smack' popping, (speaking w/out a filter), very reverent of the old ways ~ he was the Brother that performed Wrath's mating ceremony w/Beth. IMHO, the BDB were gutted w/ Phury's sitch. That's what made their appearance @ Rhev's place in the Adirondacks so touching.

I've been reading these out of order so I didn't feel negatively about the story. Cormia's situation reminded me of that movie "Truman" I think that was all in black in white until they had sex and then everything started turning colorful for them. I enjoyed her reawakening to the land of color and opportunities. She grew the most during this story. Phury unfortunately reminded me of my brother who had a drug addiction and we did have to turn our backs sort of on him until he made the decision to go into rehab. It is not an easy decision and reminded me a lot of what Wrath and Z had to do. People in this state ruin more than themselves and you can't save them for themselves, they have to participate in saving themselves. So I do remember my parents changing the locks on the doors and remember having to refuse his using my car. It's difficult but necessary for their safety as well as others. I think that JRW did a pretty good job of presenting the situation realistically.

Loved the ending when Z started singing opera to him and the brothers joined in welcoming him back. This is a warm acknowledgment of Phury's recovery and their love of him. Kind of got a kick out of Cormia designing the new club for Rhev and really liked her character overall.

I wonder how the club turned out, there is a little of it described in future books, but not in as deep detail as ZeroSum was described, unless I am missing it somewhere. The opera that Zsadist sang, and Phury listened to, was a welcome change in this book. The only thing I enjoy more than books, is music, and getting musical inspirations from books is icing on the cake. I really wasn't feeling all of the rap songs mentioned in this series, but agree the opera really worked, in this book.

I love that Z has the body of the devil and the voice of an angel. That is one of my favorite scenes.