The Bloodbound
Author: Erin Lindsey
Series: Bloodbound 1
Publisher: Ace, September 30, 2014
Format: Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 368 pages
List Price: $7.99 (print)
ISBN: 9780425272688 (print)
Review Copy: Provided by the Publisher
Author: Erin Lindsey
Series: Bloodbound 1
Publisher: Ace, September 30, 2014
Format: Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 368 pages
List Price: $7.99 (print)
ISBN: 9780425272688 (print)
Review Copy: Provided by the Publisher
Of all those in the King of Alden’s retinue, the bloodbinders are the most prized. The magic they wield can forge invaluable weapons, ones that make soldiers like Lady Alix Black unerringly lethal. However, the bloodbinders’ powers can do so much more—and so much worse…
A cunning and impetuous scout, Alix only wishes to serve quietly on the edges of the action. But when the king is betrayed by his own brother and left to die at the hands of attacking Oridian forces, she winds up single-handedly saving her sovereign.
Suddenly, she is head of the king’s personal guard, an honor made all the more dubious by the king’s exile from his own court. Surrounded by enemies, Alix must help him reclaim his crown, all the while attempting to repel the relentless tide of invaders led by the Priest, most feared of Oridia’s lords.
But while Alix’s king commands her duty, both he and a fellow scout lay claim to her heart. And when the time comes, she may need to choose between the two men who need her most…
Stacey's Thoughts
The Bloodbound is great! While I was in high school, I read R.A. Salvatore’s Demon Wars Series and loved it. This book had many of the same qualities that I really crave in a heroic fantasy novel…a strong female character, action, magic, a dash of romance, and is set in another world.
Lady Alix Black serves as a scout in the King’s Army (awesome!) and is very good at her job - the best. Because of her noble birth, she is given a sword that was made with an enchantment and her blood. This means that the sword will only obey her and also enhances her fighting skills. The novel opens up during the Battle of Boswyck, where Erik White, the King is betrayed. Alix defies her orders and joins the fight and ends up saving the King. The King is so pleased that he makes Alix his personal bodyguard. Alix excels at this assignment saving the King many more times in the course of the book. What the King doesn’t realize is that he separates Alix from her friends (the other scouts, a very close group) and her best friend and new love, Liam. Alix loves Liam, but they can never be together because he is a bastard and she is of a noble birth. With King Erik’s brother now trying to steal the throne and an army of Thralls (blood bound soldiers and peasants) are swarming through the country burning and killing, there is constant action and intrigue in this novel and I wasn’t bored. The cast of characters is relatively small, and the tables possibly turn in Erik’s favor when a spy named Saxon enters the story, but can the exiled King trust anything a spy would say? Finally, a plan is hatched to defeat the enemy. It is dangerous and may require more than Alix, Erik, and Liam can sacrifice.
The Bloodbound has romance in it, but it is not overwhelmed with drivel or dramatic trysts. I find this so refreshing. This story isn’t about finding love and hiding away with it, it is about duty and family… doing the right thing for the entire kingdom, not just for the couple in love. I’m excited that this book is the first in a new series, because I would like to go back and visit the country of Alden again soon!
The only improvements I would suggest for The Bloodbound would be the addition of a map (which I hope will be in the final edition of the book) and a guide for the nine gods earlier in the story, since they are important to the characters and are referred to throughout the book.
The Bloodbound is great! While I was in high school, I read R.A. Salvatore’s Demon Wars Series and loved it. This book had many of the same qualities that I really crave in a heroic fantasy novel…a strong female character, action, magic, a dash of romance, and is set in another world.
Lady Alix Black serves as a scout in the King’s Army (awesome!) and is very good at her job - the best. Because of her noble birth, she is given a sword that was made with an enchantment and her blood. This means that the sword will only obey her and also enhances her fighting skills. The novel opens up during the Battle of Boswyck, where Erik White, the King is betrayed. Alix defies her orders and joins the fight and ends up saving the King. The King is so pleased that he makes Alix his personal bodyguard. Alix excels at this assignment saving the King many more times in the course of the book. What the King doesn’t realize is that he separates Alix from her friends (the other scouts, a very close group) and her best friend and new love, Liam. Alix loves Liam, but they can never be together because he is a bastard and she is of a noble birth. With King Erik’s brother now trying to steal the throne and an army of Thralls (blood bound soldiers and peasants) are swarming through the country burning and killing, there is constant action and intrigue in this novel and I wasn’t bored. The cast of characters is relatively small, and the tables possibly turn in Erik’s favor when a spy named Saxon enters the story, but can the exiled King trust anything a spy would say? Finally, a plan is hatched to defeat the enemy. It is dangerous and may require more than Alix, Erik, and Liam can sacrifice.
The Bloodbound has romance in it, but it is not overwhelmed with drivel or dramatic trysts. I find this so refreshing. This story isn’t about finding love and hiding away with it, it is about duty and family… doing the right thing for the entire kingdom, not just for the couple in love. I’m excited that this book is the first in a new series, because I would like to go back and visit the country of Alden again soon!
The only improvements I would suggest for The Bloodbound would be the addition of a map (which I hope will be in the final edition of the book) and a guide for the nine gods earlier in the story, since they are important to the characters and are referred to throughout the book.
About Erin
Erin Lindsey likes her stories the way she likes her chocolate: dark, exotic, and with a hint of bitterness. She has visited fifty countries on four continents, and brought a little something back from each of them to press inside the pages of her books. Erin Lindsey is also the pseudonym for E.L. Tettensor, whose Nicolas Lenoir series is published by Roc.
Website
Erin Lindsey likes her stories the way she likes her chocolate: dark, exotic, and with a hint of bitterness. She has visited fifty countries on four continents, and brought a little something back from each of them to press inside the pages of her books. Erin Lindsey is also the pseudonym for E.L. Tettensor, whose Nicolas Lenoir series is published by Roc.
Website
The Giveaway
What: One entrant will win a copy of The Bloodbound by Erin Lindsey from Ace. US/CANADA ONLY
How: Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US or Canadian mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time on October 4, 2014. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.
*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change without any notice.*
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oooh. this sounds awesome!!! I 've been reading other positive reviews for this book and it's on the top of my want list! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteREALLY looking forward to this. I really loved Darkwalker. She has so much talent and if Darkwalker was her FIRST book, I can't wait to see what she does next!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the kind of heroic fantasy I love to read.
ReplyDeletei cant tell if my first comment posted but this looks fantastic
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy my chocolate dark, exotic, and with a hint of bitterness. I think that alone recommends Erin's book to me. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, this sounds cool. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the cover, its soooo pretty!
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this it sounds very original.
ReplyDeleteThe Bloodbound sounds interesting, although I am not fond of love triangles. Hopefully, duty wins over romance.
ReplyDeleteOoh, love the sound of this new series. Definitely going on the top of my TBR.
ReplyDeleteSounds like such a good book!
ReplyDeleteThis books sounds interesting. I do like the cover too.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading this series.
ReplyDeleteNice review
ReplyDeleteI haven't read much in this genre, mostly due to too much angst among the main characters. This one sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really good as long as the love triangle is very plot minimal and low on angst.
ReplyDeleteApril V.
I can't wait to read this!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all.
ReplyDeleteJoEllen
This sounds like my kind of female-led fantasy! Love the reversal of noble-woman and bastard-man instead of the typical "the prince loves a scullery maid zomg!" or something. Looking forward to seeing this on the bookshelves!
ReplyDeleteI think Bloodbound sounds like a fantastic story and I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDelete