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Riley Jenson Guardian #8
Bound to Shadows
In the darkness, demons come out to play…and someone must bring their sins to light.
Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive—and highly suspicious—club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.
For Riley, solving multiple cases—in a world going mad with human and vampire passions—would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley’s wolf blood howl—and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years� experience at fulfilling women’s desires. While she’s busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley’s detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her�
Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive—and highly suspicious—club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.
For Riley, solving multiple cases—in a world going mad with human and vampire passions—would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley’s wolf blood howl—and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years� experience at fulfilling women’s desires. While she’s busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley’s detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her�
346 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 25, 2009
154 people are currently reading
4,118 people want to read
About the author
Keri Arthur
107Ìýbooks5,971ÌýfollowersKeri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews
March 4, 2013
Before I say anything, I wish to first warn readers that this is the Eight Book in the series so if you have missed any previous books, there will be spoilers for you ahead.
Meanwhile, about this book. So now that Riley has found her wolf soul mate she is even more torn than usual. We also have our usual Directorate cases to through into the mix. Rhoan and Liander have decided they want kids and approach Riley with the idea of using her eggs since she is Rhoan's twin. Kye, her Wolf Soul mate, is stirring up trouble for her cases once again and has her torn heart from soul, being that she wants things to work with Quinn and hating who fate choose as a soul mate.
So there all the drama wrapped up into one. While the case was lacking a bit more than usual the drama between the various characters was well done. Kade is so easy to like, Liander sweet as always, adorable Rissa, etc. The ending is not quite a cliffhanger but definitely left me wanting to read the final book in this series.
Meanwhile, about this book. So now that Riley has found her wolf soul mate she is even more torn than usual. We also have our usual Directorate cases to through into the mix. Rhoan and Liander have decided they want kids and approach Riley with the idea of using her eggs since she is Rhoan's twin. Kye, her Wolf Soul mate, is stirring up trouble for her cases once again and has her torn heart from soul, being that she wants things to work with Quinn and hating who fate choose as a soul mate.
So there all the drama wrapped up into one. While the case was lacking a bit more than usual the drama between the various characters was well done. Kade is so easy to like, Liander sweet as always, adorable Rissa, etc. The ending is not quite a cliffhanger but definitely left me wanting to read the final book in this series.
February 19, 2010
Perhaps its a good thing that the Guardian series is coming to a close soon.
Bound to Shadows left me feeling like Riley Jensen is a complete anti-hero who, after eight books, I simply can not respect or empathize with at all. God knows I've tried.
SPOILER IN NEXT PARAGRAPH!
Early in the book we are confronted with "he shot my brother so I arched my back so he could better access my clit" and it just got more stupid after that. The pity here is that the murder mystery wasn't too bad, but the relationship aspects of this book left me thinking that Riley really is too stupid to live.
END SPOILER!
I'm giving the book 3 stars because the murder mystery was engaging enough, the other regular characters were pleasant to see again, the world is as rich and engaging as ever. But Riley Jensen is an ongoing disappointment to me and this book is no exception. I have no empathy with the "but he was my soul mate" excuse for tolerating Kye's crap. It translated to "he makes me wet and how ever could I ignore THAT?!?" to me, and with all the trouble she caused everyone around her over it and how long she's put Quinn through the ringer over finding a soul mate - no...I don't really care how this series ends or what becomes of Riley. I think it's a good thing that she can't procreate. She should be removed from the gene pool.
Bound to Shadows left me feeling like Riley Jensen is a complete anti-hero who, after eight books, I simply can not respect or empathize with at all. God knows I've tried.
SPOILER IN NEXT PARAGRAPH!
Early in the book we are confronted with "he shot my brother so I arched my back so he could better access my clit" and it just got more stupid after that. The pity here is that the murder mystery wasn't too bad, but the relationship aspects of this book left me thinking that Riley really is too stupid to live.
END SPOILER!
I'm giving the book 3 stars because the murder mystery was engaging enough, the other regular characters were pleasant to see again, the world is as rich and engaging as ever. But Riley Jensen is an ongoing disappointment to me and this book is no exception. I have no empathy with the "but he was my soul mate" excuse for tolerating Kye's crap. It translated to "he makes me wet and how ever could I ignore THAT?!?" to me, and with all the trouble she caused everyone around her over it and how long she's put Quinn through the ringer over finding a soul mate - no...I don't really care how this series ends or what becomes of Riley. I think it's a good thing that she can't procreate. She should be removed from the gene pool.
November 27, 2015
Ah je me rapproche petit à petit de la fin de la série. Je me demande vraiment comment se profilera le dernier tome mais petit à petit les événements se mettent en place et nous permettent d’en avoir une petite idée. C’était un bon roman mais c’est vrai qu’après s’être un peu calmé côté sexe, on reprend de plus belle ici. Ça ne m’a pas vraiment dérangé en soit mais je sais que c’était un des points que reprennent beaucoup de lecteurs.
Riley continue sa vie tranquillement, gérant son petit ami Quinn et son travail. Mais quand elle rencontre Kye sur une enquête dès le début du livre, tout se complique. Il faut dire qu’après leur séparation, notre jeune héroïne ne s’attendait pas à le voir aussi tôt. Mais si, il est là et bien décidé à reprendre ce qu’il considère comme lui appartenant, ce qui veut bien sûr dire notre petite louve. Et bien qu’elle résiste le plus possible, il est impossible de s’opposer à ce point à son âme sœur, surtout quand celui-ci fait tout pour la posséder. Et il sait comment appuyer sur les points sensibles pour obtenir ce qu’il veut, voire même menacer les proches de Riley. Elle n’a donc pas vraiment de choix en la matière mais ne se gêne pas pour le lui faire comprendre. En plus de cela, notre louve enquête sur des morts très étranges. Des vampires se font décapiter les uns après les autres, sans aucune logique et des jeunes femmes sont retrouvées mortes sans motifs. Notre gardienne est bien décidée à comprendre ce qu’il se passe et à découvrir qui est derrière tout cela. Il est cependant compliqué de faire son travail quand Kye la suit à la trace, faisant tout son possible pour empiéter sur tout ce qu’elle accomplit.
C’était un nouveau bon roman, et il nous permet d’en apprendre encore une fois un peu plus au sujet de Quinn. C’était intéressant de connaître quelques bribes de son passé. C’est très plaisant de voir notre petit couple si amoureux et se suffisant à l’un et l’autre. Riley a beaucoup changé depuis les premiers romans et possède un plus grand contrôle sur elle-même et sa nature. Cependant, l’arrivée de Kye va tout chambouler, j’étais assez surprise de voir à quel point rien ne l’importait à part ses propres choix. Il est mesquin, sarcastique et égoïste� c’est un personnage que l’on déteste assez facilement. C’est vraiment triste de voir comment il traite Riley sans qu’elle ne puisse à y redire. Et en même temps à sa propre manière il tient à elle, le seul souci c’est que c’est aussi une faiblesse et qu’il est bien décidé à la changer même s’il doit tuer tous les gens autour d’elle.
De nouveaux événements se profilent ici dont les conséquences vont se répercuter dans le prochain tome. Je suis assez curieuse de voir ce que ça donnera, et de comprendre comment Riley s’en sortira. On retrouve tous les personnages que l’on connait et c’était un plaisir d’avoir de leurs nouvelles. J’ai été cependant très surprise par la fin que l’auteure nous présente. Un gros changement et un bouleversement détonnant pour chacun. Curieuse d’en apprendre plus.
November 27, 2018
4.5*
Rilettura per me. Ricordavo solo il finale e mi sono goduta immensamente questo libro, prestando attenzione all'evoluzione del rapporto tra Riley e Kye. ±Ê±ð°ù³¦³óé questo è il loro libro e l'autrice è come se avesse preso una pausa da tutto il resto per concentrarsi sulla coppia. E questa volta posso dire che ne sono felice, perché ha fatto un lavoro straordinario. Ho rivalutato Kye, sono riuscita a entrare nei suoi meccanismi e in qualche modo a comprenderlo. Pezzo di storia essenziale e drammatico, gestito divinamente, ne ho adorato ogni parte, anche quella più investigativa.
Forse più introspettivo dei precedenti io l'ho veramente adorato e anche se il finale mi ha devastata posso solo ringraziare l'autrice per il capitolo 13. Non l'avesse scritto starei ancora imprecando dopo il finale del 12. Ora però l'ultimo libro della serie mi chiama, anzi sta proprio urlando, impossibile aspettare
Rilettura per me. Ricordavo solo il finale e mi sono goduta immensamente questo libro, prestando attenzione all'evoluzione del rapporto tra Riley e Kye. ±Ê±ð°ù³¦³óé questo è il loro libro e l'autrice è come se avesse preso una pausa da tutto il resto per concentrarsi sulla coppia. E questa volta posso dire che ne sono felice, perché ha fatto un lavoro straordinario. Ho rivalutato Kye, sono riuscita a entrare nei suoi meccanismi e in qualche modo a comprenderlo. Pezzo di storia essenziale e drammatico, gestito divinamente, ne ho adorato ogni parte, anche quella più investigativa.
Forse più introspettivo dei precedenti io l'ho veramente adorato e anche se il finale mi ha devastata posso solo ringraziare l'autrice per il capitolo 13. Non l'avesse scritto starei ancora imprecando dopo il finale del 12. Ora però l'ultimo libro della serie mi chiama, anzi sta proprio urlando, impossibile aspettare
December 7, 2020
The audio was not enjoyable
December 3, 2021
The eighth and next-to-last installment of the Riley Jenson Guardian series packs quite a punch. Told as usual in the first person, Riley is investigating a series of vampire beheadings and a series of unexplained deaths of women, but the intensity of her story comes from her dual nature--vampire and werewolf--and the consequences in her love life. As she tells us,
The answer here is that Kye takes full advantage of that bond and Riley can't resist her own nature. She tells us that Kye claims her body and soul, but Quinn has her heart. And as we already know, Riley has a very strong sex drive, all the time it looks like, not just at the full moon when all the werewolves fornicate like mad. (For a reality check, look up the mating behavior of real wolves!)
Quinn may be the most understanding lover you've ever seen when it comes to Riley's sexual adventures, many of them described in detail, and Riley keeps assuring him he's her only love in spite of that life-mate bond she has with hated Kye. And it's a serious bond: if a werewolf dies, his life-mate usually doesn't survive the shock.
So as the investigation heats up, with pressure on to prevent further killing and keep peace among increasingly unhappy supernaturals, it's Riley's conflict that propels the story. Along the way we learn about mirror wraiths, who give new meaning to "smoke and mirrors," and emo vamps, who drain emotional energy instead of sucking blood.
Warnings: Kye isn't the only one who inflames Riley's passions against her will. Most of the sex scenes in this novel could be called nonconsensual in that sense. And a character I really liked is killed. With all that, I have to say that the ending works.
The simple fact was, the two parts of me were at war. And no matter which part won, I would lose.Riley, you see, has developed a beautiful romance with Quinn, who himself is only half vampire--the other part being Aedh--but a werewolf eventually meets its fated mate and Riley has just met hers, a despicable werewolf named Kye. Fated mates may be the stuff of romance novels, but what if your fated bond is with someone who checks all the wrong boxes? Killer for hire, out for himself, power mad, insufferable.
And if there were two parts of me at war, then it wasn't the wolf and the vampire, but rather heart and soul.
Right now, locked in this man's embrace, I wasn't sure which part of me would win.
Or which part I wanted to win.
And that was a scary thought.
The answer here is that Kye takes full advantage of that bond and Riley can't resist her own nature. She tells us that Kye claims her body and soul, but Quinn has her heart. And as we already know, Riley has a very strong sex drive, all the time it looks like, not just at the full moon when all the werewolves fornicate like mad. (For a reality check, look up the mating behavior of real wolves!)
Quinn may be the most understanding lover you've ever seen when it comes to Riley's sexual adventures, many of them described in detail, and Riley keeps assuring him he's her only love in spite of that life-mate bond she has with hated Kye. And it's a serious bond: if a werewolf dies, his life-mate usually doesn't survive the shock.
So as the investigation heats up, with pressure on to prevent further killing and keep peace among increasingly unhappy supernaturals, it's Riley's conflict that propels the story. Along the way we learn about mirror wraiths, who give new meaning to "smoke and mirrors," and emo vamps, who drain emotional energy instead of sucking blood.
Warnings: Kye isn't the only one who inflames Riley's passions against her will. Most of the sex scenes in this novel could be called nonconsensual in that sense. And a character I really liked is killed. With all that, I have to say that the ending works.
August 1, 2019
Not Kade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜¡ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ What about all those babies of his?!
I can't believe that Kye shot Kade and Riley shot Kye!!!!
Kye was a bastard from the start and I hate that he took a part of Riley with him when he died. He really deserved it though. I can't believe he was helping the bastard killing the council members!
Thank god for Quinn and Rhoan. They helped Riley need to stay here on this earth!
I can't believe that Kye shot Kade and Riley shot Kye!!!!
Kye was a bastard from the start and I hate that he took a part of Riley with him when he died. He really deserved it though. I can't believe he was helping the bastard killing the council members!
Thank god for Quinn and Rhoan. They helped Riley need to stay here on this earth!
November 5, 2012
"Emotional torture." That's what I said about the last book. Well this one is about a million times more torturous. Really, I don't have words for the scale of emotions that I went through. This book made me frantic and edgy. There was no living with me until the last page was turned.
For the previous book I used the words "harsh and painful" to describe it. Well this one was an abrasion on all the senses. This book was hot and sexy, I felt the shame of feeling attracted to Kye just as much as Riley. Every time the bond of soul mates pulled her to him I seriously screamed. Hope is completely crushed in this book as Kye targets Riley's loved ones. He might not want the bond, but he'll control and have Riley no matter the cost. Readers are going to feel sick.
Arthur continues to build on Riley and Quinn’s relationship. At this point I would probably take a grenade for Quinn. He's amazing. Simply. Amazing. There are some things Riley, and readers, will probably never know about Quinn. But that's OK. We have enough of him right now to know him in the present. Despite the big questions Quinn is clearly all in. Riley is one lucky girl.
The mystery of a string of vampire murders has just the right kind of edge. As vampires and humans become restless and war might very well break out. The killer(s) were obvious from the get go, but readers will play mind games with themselves. It's hard to accept who's behind everything, simply because I wanted to hope. While this works for the mystery, it doesn't work for the "surprise" death. The character who dies is one of my favorites and his death fell flat because just like the killer(s) you could see it from the beginning. It was a necessary thing to kick Riley into action. Just like Riley I'll probably never be able to fully forgive her for her actions.
At this point my head is spinning with the choices that Arthur will make in the final book. It's hard to continue wondering if fate will let Riley have some kind of happy ending, or if things will only get worse. Many readers have already warned me off. My thoughts are nothing can be more painful then Bound to Shadows.
Sexual Content: Seriously you know, steamy read. Not erotica.
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!
Originally reviewed on .
For the previous book I used the words "harsh and painful" to describe it. Well this one was an abrasion on all the senses. This book was hot and sexy, I felt the shame of feeling attracted to Kye just as much as Riley. Every time the bond of soul mates pulled her to him I seriously screamed. Hope is completely crushed in this book as Kye targets Riley's loved ones. He might not want the bond, but he'll control and have Riley no matter the cost. Readers are going to feel sick.
Arthur continues to build on Riley and Quinn’s relationship. At this point I would probably take a grenade for Quinn. He's amazing. Simply. Amazing. There are some things Riley, and readers, will probably never know about Quinn. But that's OK. We have enough of him right now to know him in the present. Despite the big questions Quinn is clearly all in. Riley is one lucky girl.
The mystery of a string of vampire murders has just the right kind of edge. As vampires and humans become restless and war might very well break out. The killer(s) were obvious from the get go, but readers will play mind games with themselves. It's hard to accept who's behind everything, simply because I wanted to hope. While this works for the mystery, it doesn't work for the "surprise" death. The character who dies is one of my favorites and his death fell flat because just like the killer(s) you could see it from the beginning. It was a necessary thing to kick Riley into action. Just like Riley I'll probably never be able to fully forgive her for her actions.
At this point my head is spinning with the choices that Arthur will make in the final book. It's hard to continue wondering if fate will let Riley have some kind of happy ending, or if things will only get worse. Many readers have already warned me off. My thoughts are nothing can be more painful then Bound to Shadows.
Sexual Content: Seriously you know, steamy read. Not erotica.
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!
Originally reviewed on .
October 30, 2009
First let me start by saying I LOVE this series. Each book is a great new mystery with romance and suspense. This installment is my favorite so far. I could not put it down. It had the same characters as usual with a few new characters such as Dante Stark, the sexy vampire club owner who has sexual powers. Riley has a lot of emotional and physical problems in this book, more so than usual. Her wolf soul-mate Kye is back and he's causing big trouble for Riley and her loved ones. Theres a crazy killer attacking old and powerful vampires and theres an uproar between vampires and humans which doesn't make her job any easier.
I seriously LOVED this book. Especially the last few chapters. I'm begging for the next book as I write this and cannot wait to know it's release date. I HIGHLY recommend this series to those who haven't read it. Keri Arthur's writing is face paced and always has great mystery and lusty scenes. Almost everything she writes I give a 5 stars!
I seriously LOVED this book. Especially the last few chapters. I'm begging for the next book as I write this and cannot wait to know it's release date. I HIGHLY recommend this series to those who haven't read it. Keri Arthur's writing is face paced and always has great mystery and lusty scenes. Almost everything she writes I give a 5 stars!
February 20, 2015
One more book to go, what's next for Riley? ,
Riley and the very much overworked Guardians have their hands full, vamps are losing their heads and women are mysteriously dying in their bedrooms. And if Riley doesn't have enough on her plate, Riley's despicable wolf soul-mate Kye is back in town to threaten Riley's fragile happiness with Quinn.
Bound to Shadow was a page turning read which kept my interest until the very end, but after I finished reading and started really thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that Bound to Shadow was a very flawed addition to the series. The Riley in Bound to Shadow, is a much lesser Riley than in the other books. Riley is outmatched by her ruthless soul mate Kye and Riley responds weakly to his manipulations with idle threats which carry very little weight. And where Riley's stories always contain a fair amount of sensuality - even if its just her lusting after anything male - except for a couple of brief interludes with Quinn - most of Riley's sexual encounters in Bound to Shadows are coerced under-duress or flat out forced.
With one more book to go, and after all of the build up of the prophesies and foreshadowing in the previous books, I found the way that things played with Riley's dual mates, cutting short any anguished soul-searching for Riley in the next book to be rather disappointing - even though the result is so telegraphed that it is not that shocking in the context of this book. So the question after reading Bound to Shadows is, with one book left, where does Riley go next when the saga completes in Moon Sworn: A Riley Jenson Guardian Novel?
Riley and the very much overworked Guardians have their hands full, vamps are losing their heads and women are mysteriously dying in their bedrooms. And if Riley doesn't have enough on her plate, Riley's despicable wolf soul-mate Kye is back in town to threaten Riley's fragile happiness with Quinn.
Bound to Shadow was a page turning read which kept my interest until the very end, but after I finished reading and started really thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that Bound to Shadow was a very flawed addition to the series. The Riley in Bound to Shadow, is a much lesser Riley than in the other books. Riley is outmatched by her ruthless soul mate Kye and Riley responds weakly to his manipulations with idle threats which carry very little weight. And where Riley's stories always contain a fair amount of sensuality - even if its just her lusting after anything male - except for a couple of brief interludes with Quinn - most of Riley's sexual encounters in Bound to Shadows are coerced under-duress or flat out forced.
With one more book to go, and after all of the build up of the prophesies and foreshadowing in the previous books, I found the way that things played with Riley's dual mates, cutting short any anguished soul-searching for Riley in the next book to be rather disappointing - even though the result is so telegraphed that it is not that shocking in the context of this book. So the question after reading Bound to Shadows is, with one book left, where does Riley go next when the saga completes in Moon Sworn: A Riley Jenson Guardian Novel?
October 30, 2009
this is one of those series that i don't think is particularly good but i keep reading to see where some story lines will end up. plus, some of the secondary characters are great.
This one was lacking Rhoane and Liander. they were in it, but not enough for my tatstes. we did get to see a little more Risa and Dia which was redeeming.
After the last book i was dying to see what would happen with Kye. i honestly did not expect it to go this way. we knew he was twisted, but the extent was - wow. without spoiling things i can say i was surprised but thrilled how everything played out. then again i am team quinn.
the murder mystery aspect of the story was just awful. after awhile i started skimming through those parts. i read enough to keep track of what was going on but it was so out there. it seemed like a mess just to throw kye into the game.
This one was lacking Rhoane and Liander. they were in it, but not enough for my tatstes. we did get to see a little more Risa and Dia which was redeeming.
After the last book i was dying to see what would happen with Kye. i honestly did not expect it to go this way. we knew he was twisted, but the extent was - wow. without spoiling things i can say i was surprised but thrilled how everything played out. then again i am team quinn.
the murder mystery aspect of the story was just awful. after awhile i started skimming through those parts. i read enough to keep track of what was going on but it was so out there. it seemed like a mess just to throw kye into the game.
March 24, 2016
Il legame viscerale tra Riley e Kye mi ha ucciso.
Il 31 maggio è uscito l'ottavo capitolo, intitolato L'ombra del cuore e, proprio come immaginavo, non l'ho letto: l'ho divorato! Copertina rosa per un libro che di rosa non ha assolutamente nulla, ma che è ricolmo di azione, morte, sangue e sesso.
Spendo poche parole per parlare della parte investigativa del romanzo, che come sempre è impeccabile e incuriosisce a tal punto che anch'io riflettevo insieme a Riley per trovare i collegamenti tra gli omicidi e scovare gli assassini, ma quando ho iniziato a ipotizzare chi fosse uno dei due...
Dunque, prima di proseguire, dovete sapere che sono stata male quando ho comprato il libro, mentre lo leggevo e sto male tuttora. Questo perché ho letto gli spoiler e so come va a finire la serie. Perciò continuare a commentare non è molto facile per me, abbiate pazienza.
Non l'avevo previsto, davvero.
Non l'avevo neanche lontanamente ipotizzato che potesse accadere.
Ma è accaduto.
E' accaduto, ed è per questo che sto soffrendo da pazzi.
±Ê±ð°ù³¦³óé mi sono totalmente, irrimediabilmente legata a Kye.
Kye, che è così subdolo, meschino e insensibile.
Kye, che è un killer a sangue freddo.
Kye, che non esita a sparare di striscio a un tuo caro per ricattarti.
Kye, che è pronto a uccidere senza batter ciglio per avere ciò che vuole.
Kye, che vuole il controllo di ogni cosa.
Kye.
Più leggevo, più sentivo che il mio legame con lui si rafforzava e assottigliava il mio amore per Quinn, proprio come succedeva a Riley. Lo cercavo in ogni rigo, mi chiedevo dove fosse mentre lei era da un'altra parte. E quando ho capito, è stata la fine. Ogni pagina era una tortura quasi fisica, perché Riley non capiva, ma io sì. Certo, io sapevo qual era il loro destino, ma non ero preparata a questo. No di certo. Non ho mai provato un dolore così intenso, se non per la morte dei personaggi dei miei romanzi.
Non di altri.
Non posso parlare di Quinn - se non di quando mi ha fatto rabbrividire di desiderio e amore nel covo di Vinny - perché in questo libro c'è stato solo Kye per me, e nessun altro.
Ma quando anche lei ha fatto due più due, capendo che Kye era , mi sono detta che ero pronta per . Che doveva accadere, che lo sapevo da sempre e che non potevo cambiare la storia. Ma, Dio, non sono riuscita a leggere il penultimo capitolo: ho lasciato il libro sul tavolo per un giorno intero, per poi riaprirlo la notte, prima di andare a dormire.
Non l'avessi mai fatto.
Ero pronta per , sì, ma non per . Assolutamente no. Il mio dolore per si è trasformato quindi in odio profondo per questo lupo. E un legame basato su attrazione e rancore così intensi non è facile da scacciare.
Ecco perché Black Moon � L'ombra del cuore è il romanzo più bello che io abbia mai letto, e da cui difficilmente riuscirò a riprendermi.
� �
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April 11, 2012
I read this book because I've loved the rest of the series so much that I've been dying for this book. It finally came and I just couldn't wait. Keri Arthur has become one of my favorite authors and I'm thinking of trying some of her other series'.
We don't have too much in the way of a hero. This is about Riley Jensen and her life as a Directorate agent (something like FBI for nonhumans). She's half werewolf and half vampire, which I know you're thinking isn't possible but she explains it. We also delve into her personal life in the form of family and love.
In this book, Riley is again tossed into a mystery when Vampires are being beheaded and woman are dying of what appears to be nothing. As Riley has discovered, two cases like this tend to mean a link and she starts piecing the puzzles together with the help of her Directorate team-mates.
I would say in the past Arthur gave us more in the way of Riley's friends and family. Rhoan (brother), Liander (brothers soulmate), Cole (colleague), and Sal (colleague) are barely in the book. You would think that alone would upset me. But it doesn't because their brief time in the book seems natural for the most part as Riley barely had time to stop in pursuit of bad guy and trying to fend of a soulmate that seems psychotic.
Arthur has; as always; made this fast paced, mysterious, hot, sweet and sad all in one book. She did a wonderful job that leave me telling those who like vampire/werewolf stories that you should read this because it is one of the best I've read in a while.
We don't have too much in the way of a hero. This is about Riley Jensen and her life as a Directorate agent (something like FBI for nonhumans). She's half werewolf and half vampire, which I know you're thinking isn't possible but she explains it. We also delve into her personal life in the form of family and love.
In this book, Riley is again tossed into a mystery when Vampires are being beheaded and woman are dying of what appears to be nothing. As Riley has discovered, two cases like this tend to mean a link and she starts piecing the puzzles together with the help of her Directorate team-mates.
I would say in the past Arthur gave us more in the way of Riley's friends and family. Rhoan (brother), Liander (brothers soulmate), Cole (colleague), and Sal (colleague) are barely in the book. You would think that alone would upset me. But it doesn't because their brief time in the book seems natural for the most part as Riley barely had time to stop in pursuit of bad guy and trying to fend of a soulmate that seems psychotic.
Arthur has; as always; made this fast paced, mysterious, hot, sweet and sad all in one book. She did a wonderful job that leave me telling those who like vampire/werewolf stories that you should read this because it is one of the best I've read in a while.
January 11, 2022
Un asesino de vampiros ha aparecido en la ciudad, y Riley debe descubrir como, quien y porque, antes de que inicie una guerra entre vampiros y humanos, pero ademas de eso, tambien han descubierto algunas mujeres misteriosamante fallecidas en sus camas. Y en su vida personal, Quinn se ha estado quedando con ellos cada vez mas y mas, Rohan quiere tener hijos usando sus ovulos congelados y Kye regreso a para obligarla a que este con el y solo con el.
Riley tendra que enfrentar, lo que es quizas, uno de los momentos mas dificiles de su vida y decidir si realmente puede luchar contra su atraccion hacia Kye sin que este destruya su vida, mientras lucha por encontrar y capturar al culpable de los asesinatos.
Quizas es el libro con mas drama-romantico de toda la serie, la forma como el autor describe la lucha interna de la prota contra la atraccion hacia Kye, y lo dificil que le resulta entenderlo, es buenisima.
Ahora, la forma como el misterio se desenvuelve no fue realmente muy interesante, yo diria que era bastante basico, pero no por eso fue menos entretenido. Es una lastima que el autor no logro que el personaje de Kye se reivindicara en ningun momento, y que realmente no supieramos nada de el, ni siquiera las razones para su desesperacion de tener el control de todo y de vencer todo y a todos.
Pero bueno, ahora vamos con el ultimo libro de la serie, que espero nos de una buena resolucion de estos protas y que no nos deje con muchas interrogantes.
Riley tendra que enfrentar, lo que es quizas, uno de los momentos mas dificiles de su vida y decidir si realmente puede luchar contra su atraccion hacia Kye sin que este destruya su vida, mientras lucha por encontrar y capturar al culpable de los asesinatos.
Quizas es el libro con mas drama-romantico de toda la serie, la forma como el autor describe la lucha interna de la prota contra la atraccion hacia Kye, y lo dificil que le resulta entenderlo, es buenisima.
Ahora, la forma como el misterio se desenvuelve no fue realmente muy interesante, yo diria que era bastante basico, pero no por eso fue menos entretenido. Es una lastima que el autor no logro que el personaje de Kye se reivindicara en ningun momento, y que realmente no supieramos nada de el, ni siquiera las razones para su desesperacion de tener el control de todo y de vencer todo y a todos.
Pero bueno, ahora vamos con el ultimo libro de la serie, que espero nos de una buena resolucion de estos protas y que no nos deje con muchas interrogantes.
August 19, 2010
Riley Jenson is a Guardian - a supernatural enforcer - and half-werewolf, half-vampire. As a dhampire, she's one of the few daytime Guardians the Directorate has (whose ranks are filled mostly with vampires), and she's acquired some unusual extra skills along the way - like being able to commune with the spirits of murdered people, and being able to shift into a seagull. She's smart, sassy, a strong fighter, has an incredibly sexy and ancient vampire boyfriend called Quinn, and is finding it more and more easy to be monogamous with him. After all they've been through, Riley and Quinn have finally reached a stage where they're not fighting each other anymore, but are trying to make it work.
The big proverbial wrench in the works is Kye, a werewolf and cold-hearted assassin, who also happens to be Riley's soul mate - her werewolf soul mate, anyway. It's destiny, fate, an unavoidable pull, but Riley doesn't want Kye any more than he wants to be out of control around her. A double murder case puts him in her orbit once more, and the biggest problem Riley has is how much of herself she'll lose to him and his demands in exchange for the information he has that could save the next victims' lives.
There are actually, at one point, three cases on the go here, but one of them was partially solved early on and never referred to again. Here's the thing: the first three books (which formed a trilogy in terms of an on-going plot line) were excellent, I loved them. Then Quinn was absent for a few books and I struggled to maintain my interest, because without him I realised how little I cared for the stories. When he returned, it got better but by then I'd realised how shaky the actual mysteries/murder investigations were, and become shall we say disillusioned.
I don't read thrillers or crime novels, it's a genre that doesn't appeal to me - I have read a John Grisham and a Patricia Cornwell, and both bored the crap out of me sufficiently to put me off, aside from other flaws. I find the sketchy character development lame or painful, or both, and the mystery dull and flawed. What helps with the Riley Jenson series is that I've come a long way with Riley, and I know her well enough not to be constantly annoyed by her - though I find myself somewhat nostalgic for her earlier, carefree days.
The push-and-pull relationship between Riley and Kye invigorates the story, and creates one of the biggest dilemmas of the series - one whose fatal ending is rather predictable, because there's no other way out. Kye is a character who can never change who and what he is, will never be likeable or honest or at all deserving of Riley. You can hardly blame her for feeling betrayed by her werewolf half. She has yearned so long for her soul mate; but I confess I'm glad she got someone so crappy, just as she was owning up to the honest love she has for Quinn, because really it creates less of a dilemma. The answer of who she should be with is obvious. Quinn wasn't always as good to her as he could have been, but he's a character who has changed - or rather, stopped blocking Riley out because of past tragedy that has nothing to do with her. The resolution of Riley's relationships in this volume is what makes it a satisfying read.
My biggest grumble is, as with previous books in the series, the mystery side of the story, which struggles to hold my attention and often confuses me to the point of distraction. Since there's usually more than one crime going on at once, it's often hard to tell which case they're referring to, and I can't always keep up with the surnames involved. Also, there are often holes, details that are forgotten or just not referred to again - in this case, one of the big ones was the third, minor case of a vampire draining children at Luna Park. The culprit is found and dealt with, but reveals a bigger problem - one that isn't investigated further.
What gets me about crime investigations as frame and substance of a book like this, is that everything else gets side-lined. You never get to delve into the characters or the world quite like you'd like to. And that's one of the strengths of this series: it's present-day, alternate world was highly original at the time the first book came out, and is still relatively unique and very interesting. I suppose you could compare it to the world of Sookie Stackhouse, but it takes the concept much further.
The other big disappointment for me with this series is that, while it is set in Melbourne, you would hardly ever know it. Aside from a couple of references to places - suburbs, well-known streets, (which I used to live near), there's nothing at all "Australian" about these books, and to me, homesick as I am, that's a big shame. It also makes me ask: "where is our pride?!" Why do we let ourselves be Americanised so easily? Is it really just because, like Canadians, we aren't obsessively patriotic and xenophobic? A topic for another day, perhaps.
I've said this is Paranormal Romance, but truly it's more Urban Fantasy - having read a lot of Paranormal Romance by now, the differences seem pretty clear, but it's still being shelved in Romance. The romance side of things is minimal - there's sex, but it's cursory or angry or mindless. There's some violence, not as much in this book as in others but still plenty. I would still recommend the series, especially the first three (if you don't like those three, you certainly won't care for the rest), and I'll keep reading, but my disappointment has too often outweighed my enjoyment for me to be overly enthusiastic.
The big proverbial wrench in the works is Kye, a werewolf and cold-hearted assassin, who also happens to be Riley's soul mate - her werewolf soul mate, anyway. It's destiny, fate, an unavoidable pull, but Riley doesn't want Kye any more than he wants to be out of control around her. A double murder case puts him in her orbit once more, and the biggest problem Riley has is how much of herself she'll lose to him and his demands in exchange for the information he has that could save the next victims' lives.
There are actually, at one point, three cases on the go here, but one of them was partially solved early on and never referred to again. Here's the thing: the first three books (which formed a trilogy in terms of an on-going plot line) were excellent, I loved them. Then Quinn was absent for a few books and I struggled to maintain my interest, because without him I realised how little I cared for the stories. When he returned, it got better but by then I'd realised how shaky the actual mysteries/murder investigations were, and become shall we say disillusioned.
I don't read thrillers or crime novels, it's a genre that doesn't appeal to me - I have read a John Grisham and a Patricia Cornwell, and both bored the crap out of me sufficiently to put me off, aside from other flaws. I find the sketchy character development lame or painful, or both, and the mystery dull and flawed. What helps with the Riley Jenson series is that I've come a long way with Riley, and I know her well enough not to be constantly annoyed by her - though I find myself somewhat nostalgic for her earlier, carefree days.
The push-and-pull relationship between Riley and Kye invigorates the story, and creates one of the biggest dilemmas of the series - one whose fatal ending is rather predictable, because there's no other way out. Kye is a character who can never change who and what he is, will never be likeable or honest or at all deserving of Riley. You can hardly blame her for feeling betrayed by her werewolf half. She has yearned so long for her soul mate; but I confess I'm glad she got someone so crappy, just as she was owning up to the honest love she has for Quinn, because really it creates less of a dilemma. The answer of who she should be with is obvious. Quinn wasn't always as good to her as he could have been, but he's a character who has changed - or rather, stopped blocking Riley out because of past tragedy that has nothing to do with her. The resolution of Riley's relationships in this volume is what makes it a satisfying read.
My biggest grumble is, as with previous books in the series, the mystery side of the story, which struggles to hold my attention and often confuses me to the point of distraction. Since there's usually more than one crime going on at once, it's often hard to tell which case they're referring to, and I can't always keep up with the surnames involved. Also, there are often holes, details that are forgotten or just not referred to again - in this case, one of the big ones was the third, minor case of a vampire draining children at Luna Park. The culprit is found and dealt with, but reveals a bigger problem - one that isn't investigated further.
What gets me about crime investigations as frame and substance of a book like this, is that everything else gets side-lined. You never get to delve into the characters or the world quite like you'd like to. And that's one of the strengths of this series: it's present-day, alternate world was highly original at the time the first book came out, and is still relatively unique and very interesting. I suppose you could compare it to the world of Sookie Stackhouse, but it takes the concept much further.
The other big disappointment for me with this series is that, while it is set in Melbourne, you would hardly ever know it. Aside from a couple of references to places - suburbs, well-known streets, (which I used to live near), there's nothing at all "Australian" about these books, and to me, homesick as I am, that's a big shame. It also makes me ask: "where is our pride?!" Why do we let ourselves be Americanised so easily? Is it really just because, like Canadians, we aren't obsessively patriotic and xenophobic? A topic for another day, perhaps.
I've said this is Paranormal Romance, but truly it's more Urban Fantasy - having read a lot of Paranormal Romance by now, the differences seem pretty clear, but it's still being shelved in Romance. The romance side of things is minimal - there's sex, but it's cursory or angry or mindless. There's some violence, not as much in this book as in others but still plenty. I would still recommend the series, especially the first three (if you don't like those three, you certainly won't care for the rest), and I'll keep reading, but my disappointment has too often outweighed my enjoyment for me to be overly enthusiastic.
May 2, 2022
the death at the end though â€� ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ I did had to knock a star off for the end of the case Riley was working getting a bit rapey though
November 28, 2012
What a surprise that Riley has to solve a rash of murders. As usual, only her unique skills can save the day. In this book, she meets Dante Starke, a vampire with a sexual glamour that gets her pulse racing. Something about him, however, frightens her and she tries to stay out of his way until her investigation points to happenings in his club. And guess who else is back? Kye, the maddening soul-mate. I still don't understand how she is the only wolf in all of goddess' creation that doesn't like her soul mate. That's like the same odds as winning the lottery but totally not as awesome. So Quinn is finally growing on me. He's always there when Riley needs him. I can't help but feel, however, that he's getting the short end of the soul mate stick. I mean, how can you not have an inferiority complex when the woman you love has a soul mate and it isn't you? I don't care how Riley spins it either, there's no way she can ever give Quinn her 100%.
Yes - this is my favorite book so far in the series but I will definitely say that I would not have gone the way that Keri Arthur did with the ending.
So while the author did not end the book the way I would have, I still give it 5 stars because it was indeed an emotional roller coaster.
Yes - this is my favorite book so far in the series but I will definitely say that I would not have gone the way that Keri Arthur did with the ending.
So while the author did not end the book the way I would have, I still give it 5 stars because it was indeed an emotional roller coaster.
October 9, 2011
I'm a big fan of Keri Arthur and the Riley Jenson series and Bound to Shadows was probably one of my favourite books in the series so far. Although I'm looking forward to reading the next and final book Moon Sworn I'm actually quite sad that the series is coming to a close, I'll miss Riley and her gang when it's all over. This review won't have spoilers for Bound to Shadows but please be aware that this is book 8 in the series so it will include spoilers for previous books.
Since Riley discovered her wolf soul mate Kye her love life has become even more complicated than ever before. She is madly in love with vampire Quinn but her wolf side pines for Kye even though Riley can't stand him. So far she has been able to avoid spending much time with Kye but now he is back and seems determined to claim Riley whether she wants him to or not. The attraction between them is strong but it is more of a love to hate kind of thing than a genuine love match, Riley is terrified that it will cause problems between her and Quinn but she is powerless to avoid Kye - her wolf just won't let that happen. I've gone through periods of loving and loathing Quinn throughout the series but he has changed a lot over the later books and I really want him and Riley to get a happy ending. It's about time that poor Riley had some kind of luck with men, lets face it she has had some disastrous relationships in the past!
Bound to Shadows managed to surprise me several times, the plot was strong and I enjoyed the mystery of who was behind the deaths of the vampires. I enjoyed watching Riley try to deal with her attraction to Kye and still keep things on track with Quinn. Keri Arthur doesn't hold back and isn't afraid to take her characters to dark places. I actually shed tears while reading this one but I'm not going to tell you why, I'll just say I was gutted by something that happened towards the end of the book. I love reading about Riley's twin Rhoan and his partner Liander so it was good to see more of them both in this installment, in fact they made a very important announcement and I can't wait to see the results of this in the next book. Bound to Shadows is a great read and I'd highly recommend this series if you haven't already discovered it.
Since Riley discovered her wolf soul mate Kye her love life has become even more complicated than ever before. She is madly in love with vampire Quinn but her wolf side pines for Kye even though Riley can't stand him. So far she has been able to avoid spending much time with Kye but now he is back and seems determined to claim Riley whether she wants him to or not. The attraction between them is strong but it is more of a love to hate kind of thing than a genuine love match, Riley is terrified that it will cause problems between her and Quinn but she is powerless to avoid Kye - her wolf just won't let that happen. I've gone through periods of loving and loathing Quinn throughout the series but he has changed a lot over the later books and I really want him and Riley to get a happy ending. It's about time that poor Riley had some kind of luck with men, lets face it she has had some disastrous relationships in the past!
Bound to Shadows managed to surprise me several times, the plot was strong and I enjoyed the mystery of who was behind the deaths of the vampires. I enjoyed watching Riley try to deal with her attraction to Kye and still keep things on track with Quinn. Keri Arthur doesn't hold back and isn't afraid to take her characters to dark places. I actually shed tears while reading this one but I'm not going to tell you why, I'll just say I was gutted by something that happened towards the end of the book. I love reading about Riley's twin Rhoan and his partner Liander so it was good to see more of them both in this installment, in fact they made a very important announcement and I can't wait to see the results of this in the next book. Bound to Shadows is a great read and I'd highly recommend this series if you haven't already discovered it.
November 3, 2016
Reviewed by Bek at naughtyeditions.com
Ok so you all know I’m Australian and I love to tout Australian authors and their books. The author who started the how paranormal/Urban fantasy for me is MS Arthur and I’m proud that she’s Australian.
I’ve been hanging out for this book because the series has been building and building to the finale. One page in and I was sucked right back into the Riley universe. In this book we see a more mature Riley who has reached a point where she is finally coming to terms with her dual natures. She is in a settled relationship and is more able to concentrate on her work without being side tracked. As we discovered in the last instalment, Riley has found her wolf soul mate and I really enjoyed that the conflict in the book was part of her work which her soul mate just happened to be front and centre of.
It’s hard to not give out spoilers but this next little bit might have one. You know what; I really think the way Kye was portrayed was right. I have had heated discussions with friends about this but, c’mon people, he’s an enforcer of types. He’s not going to be Mr New Age Man, Mr Sensitive and Sweet. He is going to be seriously cold and calculating. He is going to try and take advantage whenever and where ever he can. I would have been disappointed if he was suddenly transformed into a likeable character.
The ending sucker punched me and yes there was tear or ten but I have to give props to Ms Arthur for not being afraid to kill off a likeable semi main character.
There is no stagnation of the series even though it is now into book eight. There are other authors out there who seem to putter and die around this point but Ms Arthur constantly raises the bar with each book. While I know the next book, Moon Sworn is the final one, I feel happy and safe in the knowledge that Ms Arthur has other series on the boil. I am a diehard Keri Arthur fan, to the point I have at least two copies of every book just so I don’t run short when I lend one out to a friend, and can’t wait to see what she writes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2017
Fantastic book, Riley has some difficult choices, and yeah, it was just so fantastic to read!
January 10, 2011
A very strong 4 out of 5
I want to scream!!! For the fact that I have read all 8 books and there is no more to read for now. And what a way to end the book.
I am so glad Kye is dead and gone. But I am soooo very pissed off with Riley. It is partly her fault that Kade is now dead. She hesitated and now Kade is dead.
There are no words for me to use to express the happiness that Kye is dead. LoL he was a bad guy and he threatened to kill the people Riley loved. That in its self should have made her kill him from get go. Yes they are soul mates bla bla bla but the guy threatened to kill your brother, his partner, plus Quinn the guy you love. Anyway…�
Really do look forward to the next book to see where it takes them all.
I want to scream!!! For the fact that I have read all 8 books and there is no more to read for now. And what a way to end the book.
I am so glad Kye is dead and gone. But I am soooo very pissed off with Riley. It is partly her fault that Kade is now dead. She hesitated and now Kade is dead.
There are no words for me to use to express the happiness that Kye is dead. LoL he was a bad guy and he threatened to kill the people Riley loved. That in its self should have made her kill him from get go. Yes they are soul mates bla bla bla but the guy threatened to kill your brother, his partner, plus Quinn the guy you love. Anyway…�
Really do look forward to the next book to see where it takes them all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2009
Well, Riley sure had her hands full in this story!
Geesh! Poor thing was constantly on the move, in constant turmoil, and fighting her every instinct to leave Kye.
Kye. Kye, Kye, Kye. I have no love for Kye. At first when we found he was her mate, I wanted to like him, I wanted Riley to get her dream of her Wolf Mate who loved her and accepted her fate in life.
I was teary at the end.
I hate when characters I have grown to love die.
I can't wait to read the next installment. I know we are coming to the end of the series.
Geesh! Poor thing was constantly on the move, in constant turmoil, and fighting her every instinct to leave Kye.
Kye. Kye, Kye, Kye. I have no love for Kye. At first when we found he was her mate, I wanted to like him, I wanted Riley to get her dream of her Wolf Mate who loved her and accepted her fate in life.
I was teary at the end.
I hate when characters I have grown to love die.
I can't wait to read the next installment. I know we are coming to the end of the series.
February 21, 2014
Riley Jenson yet again kicks butt in her unique way! As a fan of this series I have to say I wasn't disappointed!! I really feel for Riley as she torn between the vamp she loves and the wolf who she really dislikes that has turned out to be her soul mate. Fate doesn't seem to be too kind to her.... But that's not the worst of it her soul mate is more than just a bit dangerous.... He's a hired killer who seems intent on tearing her world apart!
March 12, 2011
This book broke my heart completely. I felt like when Riley saw Kye kill Kade part of my heart shattered then for her to have to kill Kye her wolf soulmate. My heart broke the rest away right along with Riley. She wanted to find her wolf soulmate so bad and it turned out to be a nightmare for her. I hope Quinn can help pull her through this dark time for her.
November 19, 2009
Wow another fantastic book in the Riley Jenson Saga! I could not put this suspenseful and sexy paranormal romance down! Once again Ms.Arthur doesn't fail to deliver a smart, edgy, climatic story while skillfully weaving in a randy and emotion filled romance. Don't miss out on this wonderful tale!
January 23, 2020
Just, WOW! Best of the series so far. I'm still speechless and full of emotion. Tears are literally streaming down my face.
The next book has some serious shoes to fill.
The next book has some serious shoes to fill.
July 26, 2021
Riley and Kye have a final showdown and Riley has a big decision to make. Loving this series and can’t wait to pick up the final book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2024
The second last book in the series. Did not expect that ending and not sure where the book is going to go from here.
It was a bit of a sad ending as Kade was one of my favourite characters. She definitely did the right thing in killing Kye but it would be devestating.
It was a bit of a sad ending as Kade was one of my favourite characters. She definitely did the right thing in killing Kye but it would be devestating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2024
Well that was an interesting ending. Riley did what she had to do after Kade died. But where will the author take her character in the next book
November 22, 2011
Best of the series so far � but it comes with a price�
I will tell you straight off that the Riley Jensen Guardian series has never been one of my favs. I read the first four a while ago, and couldn’t continue because I felt like it was more “filler� than a series that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go until there are no more books. This is not to say it’s not a good series, it is, but that unfortunately for me it’s simply not a must read series. Anyways, with a smaller than usual TBR bookshelf, and no time or money to hit up the bookstore, I noticed three additional Riley Jensen books I hadn’t read sitting there and I essentially said: “why not!�. Sometimes a break in a series and then coming back to it a later date can do wonders for my appreciation of said series. In this case, it was true, and as of today, I am officially up-to-date and I have to say that Bound to Shadows is by FAR the best of the series and for the first time has made me curious about the next installment in the series!
I will warn that, if you are not familiar with the series, or haven’t read past the first couple books, some of the details may be considered spoilers or confusing to you! This is after all book number 8, and some details are rather unavoidable! So just a heads up!!!
At this point, we readers know that Riley is half werewolf / half vampire, has a twin brother Rhoan, is a victim of experimental drug use that so far has given her some interesting abilities (welcome our newest Seagull shifter, haha), has also reunited and is totally in love with Quinn (this makes me totally happy � one of my favourite characters), is still a pain in the rear guardian who is heavily relied on by the Jack/Directorate, and in this particular novel has discovered her wolf soul mate who is not who she expected and not someone she likes at all.
Every Riley book usually has some kind of murder - or eight - to solve. This one is no different. Not only are relatively high-powered vamps getting their heads taken off, but human women are finding themselves dead without an obvious cause of death. And if you have read this series, by now we should all know that A) there are NEVER any coincidences, and B) the cases always seem to be somehow linked � this case not being any different. Of course Riley is the lead guardian on this case, and there are definitely some surprises in store for readers! What I personally felt made this book different from previous books � especially since I sometimes find these books a little redundant and repetitive at times � is the emotion and tone of THIS book! This book was more heart wrenching than any of the others. It was shocking, hilarious, sad, frustrating, sincere, and a whole lot more. And for the first time as a reader of this series, I felt a pull towards Riley and her character. She wasn’t all about satisfying her wolf’s sexual urges, and definitely had many different mental struggles, the worst which is yet to come� That being said, those last fifty pages were killer � and for the first time made me happy to have given the series a second chance and read up to that point!
While I normally would give a little more information on the story, I fear I may say too much! And while the emotions do run much higher and generally there is a seriousness to this book unrivaled by the other installments, that doesn’t mean there still isn’t that great witty dialogue between Riley and the other characters, or that there aren’t any awesome action sequences with Riley! The woman still kicks butt, what can I say, and I am so happy she is where she is with Quinn. Those two are so good together!
Suffice to say, if you love this series, then you will NOT be disappointed. And if you are looking for a good series, give this one a try. I will say that the books get better as the series go on. Riley grows a lot in the series in my opinion and that is a VERY GOOD THING! Enjoy!
I will tell you straight off that the Riley Jensen Guardian series has never been one of my favs. I read the first four a while ago, and couldn’t continue because I felt like it was more “filler� than a series that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go until there are no more books. This is not to say it’s not a good series, it is, but that unfortunately for me it’s simply not a must read series. Anyways, with a smaller than usual TBR bookshelf, and no time or money to hit up the bookstore, I noticed three additional Riley Jensen books I hadn’t read sitting there and I essentially said: “why not!�. Sometimes a break in a series and then coming back to it a later date can do wonders for my appreciation of said series. In this case, it was true, and as of today, I am officially up-to-date and I have to say that Bound to Shadows is by FAR the best of the series and for the first time has made me curious about the next installment in the series!
I will warn that, if you are not familiar with the series, or haven’t read past the first couple books, some of the details may be considered spoilers or confusing to you! This is after all book number 8, and some details are rather unavoidable! So just a heads up!!!
At this point, we readers know that Riley is half werewolf / half vampire, has a twin brother Rhoan, is a victim of experimental drug use that so far has given her some interesting abilities (welcome our newest Seagull shifter, haha), has also reunited and is totally in love with Quinn (this makes me totally happy � one of my favourite characters), is still a pain in the rear guardian who is heavily relied on by the Jack/Directorate, and in this particular novel has discovered her wolf soul mate who is not who she expected and not someone she likes at all.
Every Riley book usually has some kind of murder - or eight - to solve. This one is no different. Not only are relatively high-powered vamps getting their heads taken off, but human women are finding themselves dead without an obvious cause of death. And if you have read this series, by now we should all know that A) there are NEVER any coincidences, and B) the cases always seem to be somehow linked � this case not being any different. Of course Riley is the lead guardian on this case, and there are definitely some surprises in store for readers! What I personally felt made this book different from previous books � especially since I sometimes find these books a little redundant and repetitive at times � is the emotion and tone of THIS book! This book was more heart wrenching than any of the others. It was shocking, hilarious, sad, frustrating, sincere, and a whole lot more. And for the first time as a reader of this series, I felt a pull towards Riley and her character. She wasn’t all about satisfying her wolf’s sexual urges, and definitely had many different mental struggles, the worst which is yet to come� That being said, those last fifty pages were killer � and for the first time made me happy to have given the series a second chance and read up to that point!
While I normally would give a little more information on the story, I fear I may say too much! And while the emotions do run much higher and generally there is a seriousness to this book unrivaled by the other installments, that doesn’t mean there still isn’t that great witty dialogue between Riley and the other characters, or that there aren’t any awesome action sequences with Riley! The woman still kicks butt, what can I say, and I am so happy she is where she is with Quinn. Those two are so good together!
Suffice to say, if you love this series, then you will NOT be disappointed. And if you are looking for a good series, give this one a try. I will say that the books get better as the series go on. Riley grows a lot in the series in my opinion and that is a VERY GOOD THING! Enjoy!
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