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Shadow #1
Shadow Bound
When a demon breaches the barrier between death and life, the salvation of the world depends on the passions of a beautiful banshee just coming into her power and the man willing to use her to avenge the destruction of his family.
322 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 29, 2010
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3302 people want to read
About the author
Erin Kellison
54 books703 followersErin Kellison is the bestselling author of the Indulgence series, the Dragons of Bloodfire series, the Reveler series, and the Shadow series. She writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and fantasy. She loves other worlds and visits them as often as possible via movies and books and her kids' imaginations. When not daydreaming or writing, she's goofing off with her family in sunny Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
July 13, 2016
Well done Erin Kellison on a great novel. This story was nicely fast-pace. The story keeps you constantly riveted, wanting more. Great characterization and story. No matter how well I thought I had things figured out, I would get unexpected results.
This was recommended to me by a friend and would have otherwise most likely been forever overlooked by me. I am so grateful I was shown this book. I starteed reading it one morning and could not put it down. I even skipped lunch, so absorbed in the book as I was.
The story centers primarily around Talia. A woman in her mid-twenties who was simply trying to get a job after receiving her doctorate. However after her roommate is killed and she starts to be hunted by wraiths, everything changes. The other main character is Adam, a powerful man with a lot of money to back his work. His brother is a wraith and Adam starts an organization to stop and kill the wraiths. Researching information, he comes across a key word in Talia's work. "Shadowman." From there is searches for her and tries to get her to join his cause. This is when the real adventure begins.
There are fae, wraiths, private military men, and Death himself! Also, while this is romance, it is not strictly so and is a great read for men and women. In fact, the person who recommended this was a guy and I know of 2 others who have since read it and really liked it just for the story in and of itself. So, if you are looking for a constantly moving book, this is it. There is always something big happening in every chapter. It fits just right. Not too overwhelming and yet very fast.
This was recommended to me by a friend and would have otherwise most likely been forever overlooked by me. I am so grateful I was shown this book. I starteed reading it one morning and could not put it down. I even skipped lunch, so absorbed in the book as I was.
The story centers primarily around Talia. A woman in her mid-twenties who was simply trying to get a job after receiving her doctorate. However after her roommate is killed and she starts to be hunted by wraiths, everything changes. The other main character is Adam, a powerful man with a lot of money to back his work. His brother is a wraith and Adam starts an organization to stop and kill the wraiths. Researching information, he comes across a key word in Talia's work. "Shadowman." From there is searches for her and tries to get her to join his cause. This is when the real adventure begins.
There are fae, wraiths, private military men, and Death himself! Also, while this is romance, it is not strictly so and is a great read for men and women. In fact, the person who recommended this was a guy and I know of 2 others who have since read it and really liked it just for the story in and of itself. So, if you are looking for a constantly moving book, this is it. There is always something big happening in every chapter. It fits just right. Not too overwhelming and yet very fast.
September 1, 2015
3.5 Stars
Shadow Bound is the first book in a new series by Erin Kellison. It is also the authors debut. The press release states it's a fusion of "dark fantasy, science fiction, horror, religion and paranormal romantic suspense" - phew, that's a lot of genres! To me this book leans more towards one: paranormal romantic suspense, the other genres mentioned are a bit misleading.
However, I enjoyed Shadow Bound. I was sucked into this book from the prologue where we meet Shadowman and a mortal woman, Kathleen, who has been ill and close to death for many years. She knows he is there but has never seen him and yet through all this they have fallen in love. Against his better judgement, Shadowman reveals himself to her from the shadows even though he's not meant to until she passes away. They fall into each others arms and this one brief moment together produces a child called Talia.
From here time moves forward twenty six years, to the present day where Talia is at college and living a fairly normal life. Her mother Kathleen died while giving birth and Talia has been living with her aunt. Although Talia knows she's different because of the things she can do with the shadows, she tries to ignore it and lives her life as normally as she can, until one day, without warning, two Wraiths come into her life and kill her room mate.
Talia is a good character, but I didn't feel as though I really got to know her. She's also not particularly kick-arse (until the very last chapter), she's more into running away and hiding. I would have liked to see her grow a bit more, to see her harden to the world and come back fighting a bit sooner than the last few pages. Most of the time she is being protected by Adam.
Adam is a great character and felt I got to know him a lot more than Talia. He's a bit bitter and twisted and at times rather arrogant, but his life over the past six years has been traumatic to say the least. His mother and father were killed by a wraith, which Adam captured and is keeping prisoner in the basement, and to make things worse the Wraith is also his brother, Jacob! Adam's also the head of an organisation which is studying Wraiths and how to kill them. It's a slow process and time is running out. But when Adam meets Talia and finds out what she can do, he thinks he has the weapon that will save the world.
I did feel there were too many names for the same thing. The "Shadows" is also called "Twilight" and Shadowman is also called "Death" and as well as being Death he is also faery, and the Demon who is offering immortality for souls is called "The Death Collector", which is a bit confusing when "Death" is Shadowman. You see my point.
With that aside, the world building is pretty good and I enjoyed Kellison's descriptions of a world filled with Wraiths, which are nasty soul-sucking demons. I did want a little more detail about the Shadows, but I did get a feeling that it is quite an eerie place. A place between this world and heaven, where once you die, Shadowman takes your soul from this life to the afterlife.
Shadow Bound is full of suspense with a smidgin of romance, which I really liked and both go hand in hand very well. Talia and Adam have lots of sexual chemistry, which they try and ignore by looking at the bigger picture, which is - they have a Wraith war to deal with first before succumbing to their feelings - of course, they don't stick to this but I really liked the way their relationship grew. It was lust at first sight on both their parts but I felt as though the author held back with their relationship and took it slowly, nothing was rushed, so the end result was very satisfying and the relationship realistic.
VERDICT:
Shadow Bound is a very promising debut. The ending gave me a flutter of excitement as it sets us up for the second book in the series, Shadow Fall, which I luckily have at hand. I think readers of urban fantasy, paranormal romance and suspense will enjoy this book and I definitely recommend it.
Shadow Bound is the first book in a new series by Erin Kellison. It is also the authors debut. The press release states it's a fusion of "dark fantasy, science fiction, horror, religion and paranormal romantic suspense" - phew, that's a lot of genres! To me this book leans more towards one: paranormal romantic suspense, the other genres mentioned are a bit misleading.
However, I enjoyed Shadow Bound. I was sucked into this book from the prologue where we meet Shadowman and a mortal woman, Kathleen, who has been ill and close to death for many years. She knows he is there but has never seen him and yet through all this they have fallen in love. Against his better judgement, Shadowman reveals himself to her from the shadows even though he's not meant to until she passes away. They fall into each others arms and this one brief moment together produces a child called Talia.
From here time moves forward twenty six years, to the present day where Talia is at college and living a fairly normal life. Her mother Kathleen died while giving birth and Talia has been living with her aunt. Although Talia knows she's different because of the things she can do with the shadows, she tries to ignore it and lives her life as normally as she can, until one day, without warning, two Wraiths come into her life and kill her room mate.
Talia is a good character, but I didn't feel as though I really got to know her. She's also not particularly kick-arse (until the very last chapter), she's more into running away and hiding. I would have liked to see her grow a bit more, to see her harden to the world and come back fighting a bit sooner than the last few pages. Most of the time she is being protected by Adam.
Adam is a great character and felt I got to know him a lot more than Talia. He's a bit bitter and twisted and at times rather arrogant, but his life over the past six years has been traumatic to say the least. His mother and father were killed by a wraith, which Adam captured and is keeping prisoner in the basement, and to make things worse the Wraith is also his brother, Jacob! Adam's also the head of an organisation which is studying Wraiths and how to kill them. It's a slow process and time is running out. But when Adam meets Talia and finds out what she can do, he thinks he has the weapon that will save the world.
I did feel there were too many names for the same thing. The "Shadows" is also called "Twilight" and Shadowman is also called "Death" and as well as being Death he is also faery, and the Demon who is offering immortality for souls is called "The Death Collector", which is a bit confusing when "Death" is Shadowman. You see my point.
With that aside, the world building is pretty good and I enjoyed Kellison's descriptions of a world filled with Wraiths, which are nasty soul-sucking demons. I did want a little more detail about the Shadows, but I did get a feeling that it is quite an eerie place. A place between this world and heaven, where once you die, Shadowman takes your soul from this life to the afterlife.
Shadow Bound is full of suspense with a smidgin of romance, which I really liked and both go hand in hand very well. Talia and Adam have lots of sexual chemistry, which they try and ignore by looking at the bigger picture, which is - they have a Wraith war to deal with first before succumbing to their feelings - of course, they don't stick to this but I really liked the way their relationship grew. It was lust at first sight on both their parts but I felt as though the author held back with their relationship and took it slowly, nothing was rushed, so the end result was very satisfying and the relationship realistic.
VERDICT:
Shadow Bound is a very promising debut. The ending gave me a flutter of excitement as it sets us up for the second book in the series, Shadow Fall, which I luckily have at hand. I think readers of urban fantasy, paranormal romance and suspense will enjoy this book and I definitely recommend it.
June 16, 2014
3.5 stars
The story felt original at the start, but the inclusion of the Fae and other recognizable otherworldly creatures dimmed my excitement. Still, the Shadowman's love story was something special to read; it was bleak and lovely. The heroine is someone who thinks 'outside the box' and I wish the plot would have continued at the H/h's intellectual level rather than ditching their logic for raw meat ion, which arrived too soon for my taste.
The story begins with Talia outwitting the wraiths then briefly introduced to Goth-dressed (or maybe it was Punk) humans in their underground culture aware of the end of days. The Goth return felt too superficial for me to embrace and seemed more a way of window-dressing Talia in some sort of Matrix-chic clothes for cool factor. Tsk tsk. But, hey; I could be wrong, but this wardrobe change didn't feel a good fit, or there wasn't enough Goth story elements for it to be less awkward.
Back to the good - A hero who isn't 'The One' (Matrix reference). This book would make Talia the Neo and the hero is Trinity. Ha! The best parts are at the beginning and within Segue. I would have been perfectly happy remaining in Segue's supernatural and paranormal studies. The action, intellectual prowess were strongest within the institute's setting than later in the story, which became easy to put down and also the point where my interest waned.
I may or may not continue this series. There is a novella about Shadowman, so perhaps my interest may be rekindled. Shadow Bound is the first in the series. Some series do get better.
The story felt original at the start, but the inclusion of the Fae and other recognizable otherworldly creatures dimmed my excitement. Still, the Shadowman's love story was something special to read; it was bleak and lovely. The heroine is someone who thinks 'outside the box' and I wish the plot would have continued at the H/h's intellectual level rather than ditching their logic for raw meat ion, which arrived too soon for my taste.
The story begins with Talia outwitting the wraiths then briefly introduced to Goth-dressed (or maybe it was Punk) humans in their underground culture aware of the end of days. The Goth return felt too superficial for me to embrace and seemed more a way of window-dressing Talia in some sort of Matrix-chic clothes for cool factor. Tsk tsk. But, hey; I could be wrong, but this wardrobe change didn't feel a good fit, or there wasn't enough Goth story elements for it to be less awkward.
Back to the good - A hero who isn't 'The One' (Matrix reference). This book would make Talia the Neo and the hero is Trinity. Ha! The best parts are at the beginning and within Segue. I would have been perfectly happy remaining in Segue's supernatural and paranormal studies. The action, intellectual prowess were strongest within the institute's setting than later in the story, which became easy to put down and also the point where my interest waned.
I may or may not continue this series. There is a novella about Shadowman, so perhaps my interest may be rekindled. Shadow Bound is the first in the series. Some series do get better.
October 17, 2013
I just couldn't get into this book. The main reason is Talia. She's all over the map, emotion-wise, and her motivations never make any sense at all. She's supposed to be smart (not just the Ph.D. but also by randomly providing "insight" or a "unique perspective" that solves the occasional conundrum). Well, it turns out that she's the dumbest smart person to draw breath. She not only has a handful of TSTL moments, but she's forever shutting down emotionally due to some badly drawn conclusion from too little evidence. That is, when she isn't boldly asserting herself for no apparent reason...
But Talia isn't the only character that makes no sense, Adam has to join her in that as he's all over the map, too. He is all ragey when dramatically convenient and then concerned and then aroused and then preoccupied with revenge and then... well, whatever appears convenient to the author, really.
But the last straw was the authorial plot manipulation
I actually read a chapter or two beyond that point, but my heart wasn't in it any more. I'm sorry, but the author treats her characters like they're puppets on a string ready to dance the way she wants them to without providing enough support for me to buy them as people.
But Talia isn't the only character that makes no sense, Adam has to join her in that as he's all over the map, too. He is all ragey when dramatically convenient and then concerned and then aroused and then preoccupied with revenge and then... well, whatever appears convenient to the author, really.
But the last straw was the authorial plot manipulation
I actually read a chapter or two beyond that point, but my heart wasn't in it any more. I'm sorry, but the author treats her characters like they're puppets on a string ready to dance the way she wants them to without providing enough support for me to buy them as people.
January 2, 2011
I'm not sure how to rate this one or review it really. I liked the concept of the book, it was different from other things and while I was reading I didn't find myself knowing everything that was going to happen. It was a unique storyline. However, I did have some problems with it as well. Some things just didn't make sense, there were also some grammatical errors and errors in the plotline that bothered me.
Also, when we learn more about what Talia really is, it is even more confusing than when we didn't know. It's like we kept getting conflicting ideas of what she was and what her abilities were. That was really annoying. One minute she's xyz, the next minute they are calling her qr but she still has xyz's powers. Really strange. And it's hard to really go into detail when I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.
Also, I really disliked the "hero" Adam. First of all, he's a lunatic. Going through rages and such. Then he was whiny and all "woe is me, my life is terrible" I really don't like male characters like that. Call me sexist but I like my male characters to be alpha's. I like them strong and he-manish (not a word, I know). And yes I did just say that but hey I can't help it, whiny men don't do anything for me. Especially when they act like asses one minute then get all angry and try to act tough. Sorry Adam, I just don't like you.
I think I will read the next in the series just to see if I get any clear answers as to what's going on.
Also, when we learn more about what Talia really is, it is even more confusing than when we didn't know. It's like we kept getting conflicting ideas of what she was and what her abilities were. That was really annoying. One minute she's xyz, the next minute they are calling her qr but she still has xyz's powers. Really strange. And it's hard to really go into detail when I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.
Also, I really disliked the "hero" Adam. First of all, he's a lunatic. Going through rages and such. Then he was whiny and all "woe is me, my life is terrible" I really don't like male characters like that. Call me sexist but I like my male characters to be alpha's. I like them strong and he-manish (not a word, I know). And yes I did just say that but hey I can't help it, whiny men don't do anything for me. Especially when they act like asses one minute then get all angry and try to act tough. Sorry Adam, I just don't like you.
I think I will read the next in the series just to see if I get any clear answers as to what's going on.
May 10, 2010
If this book isn’t on your wishlist yet, it needs to be. Go ahead, add it now. I’ll wait.
Shadow Bound is Kellison’s debut novel, and it is one hell of a debut. The story is richly imagined, fast-paced, and engrossing, and the characters are well-developed and utterly believable. It is also a nicely original entry to a genre that’s quickly becoming oversaturated.
Adam Thorne is a driven man. He’s poured most of his inherited family fortune and the last several years into the Segue Institute, a foundation devoted to studying the frightening, vampiric wraiths. Adam’s motivation isn’t all altruism, though; his brother became a wraith, and Adam is determined to find a way to kill him.
Talia O’Brien, a young academic with strange powers, seems to be the answer to Adam’s problems. She can use the darkness to cloak herself so that even wraiths cannot find her. Her mysterious heritage and powers are at the center of the story, and she must accept who she is if she’s to survive.
The story expertly blends the supernatural into a mystery/thriller, and there’s nary a vampire or werewolf in sight. The wraiths are soul-sucking creepy creatures, and a major player in the story is Death himself, called Shadowman here. The Fae are mentioned repeatedly, though they’re not really explained, which leaves a nice set-up for future books in the series.
While the story is gripping, I think my favorite part is the growing romance between Talia and Adam. I love that Kellison doesn’t rush right into it with some kind of tired trope about love at first sight. They’re attracted to each other immediately, but their relationship grows at a believable pace. It’s quick, but at the same time, they’re in a very stressful situation. I think that is so much more convincing than if they immediately fell for each other and didn’t hit any bumps on the road to romance. Talia’s trust issues and reluctance to let herself believe that she is desirable add another nice layer of tension on top of the danger that they’re in.
I feel like I’m not saying enough about this book, but… I can’t say enough about it. I procrastinated on so much schoolwork to read this book, and I stayed up WAY past my bedtime to finish it. As a grad student with a serious aversion to getting less than 8 hours of sleep a night, it’s pretty amazing when I stay up until the wee hours when I have to be at work in the morning. The book comes out in July, so wishlist or preorder it if you want to read an original, excellent urban fantasy.
Shadow Bound is Kellison’s debut novel, and it is one hell of a debut. The story is richly imagined, fast-paced, and engrossing, and the characters are well-developed and utterly believable. It is also a nicely original entry to a genre that’s quickly becoming oversaturated.
Adam Thorne is a driven man. He’s poured most of his inherited family fortune and the last several years into the Segue Institute, a foundation devoted to studying the frightening, vampiric wraiths. Adam’s motivation isn’t all altruism, though; his brother became a wraith, and Adam is determined to find a way to kill him.
Talia O’Brien, a young academic with strange powers, seems to be the answer to Adam’s problems. She can use the darkness to cloak herself so that even wraiths cannot find her. Her mysterious heritage and powers are at the center of the story, and she must accept who she is if she’s to survive.
The story expertly blends the supernatural into a mystery/thriller, and there’s nary a vampire or werewolf in sight. The wraiths are soul-sucking creepy creatures, and a major player in the story is Death himself, called Shadowman here. The Fae are mentioned repeatedly, though they’re not really explained, which leaves a nice set-up for future books in the series.
While the story is gripping, I think my favorite part is the growing romance between Talia and Adam. I love that Kellison doesn’t rush right into it with some kind of tired trope about love at first sight. They’re attracted to each other immediately, but their relationship grows at a believable pace. It’s quick, but at the same time, they’re in a very stressful situation. I think that is so much more convincing than if they immediately fell for each other and didn’t hit any bumps on the road to romance. Talia’s trust issues and reluctance to let herself believe that she is desirable add another nice layer of tension on top of the danger that they’re in.
I feel like I’m not saying enough about this book, but… I can’t say enough about it. I procrastinated on so much schoolwork to read this book, and I stayed up WAY past my bedtime to finish it. As a grad student with a serious aversion to getting less than 8 hours of sleep a night, it’s pretty amazing when I stay up until the wee hours when I have to be at work in the morning. The book comes out in July, so wishlist or preorder it if you want to read an original, excellent urban fantasy.
August 7, 2010
When Death breaks the rules to consumate his love for a mortal woman, they create a child who straddles both worlds and it also results in a breach between Death's twilight shadowworld a ths one which allows 'darkness' into the mortal world.
In the years that follow the darkness spreads across the Earth creating deathless soul eating minions called Wraiths. Adam is a man who has lost his brother to darkness searches for a weapon to stop the Wraiths but finds more than he'd hope in Talia, the woman with the power of shadow.
I liked Shadow Bound a great deal. I found the Talia to be an extremely interesting character and one who transforms during the course of the story from a frightened waif to a strong woman who will do anything to save the brave and stubborn Adam. I also liked the folklore tie-in between Talia's powers and her relation to her father. And I liked that even though 'it was not the right time' with the battle against evil looming, the pair manage to find the love which allows them to move past their fears and hates and ultimately bring Talia to the physical and mental place where she can defeat the enemy.
In the years that follow the darkness spreads across the Earth creating deathless soul eating minions called Wraiths. Adam is a man who has lost his brother to darkness searches for a weapon to stop the Wraiths but finds more than he'd hope in Talia, the woman with the power of shadow.
I liked Shadow Bound a great deal. I found the Talia to be an extremely interesting character and one who transforms during the course of the story from a frightened waif to a strong woman who will do anything to save the brave and stubborn Adam. I also liked the folklore tie-in between Talia's powers and her relation to her father. And I liked that even though 'it was not the right time' with the battle against evil looming, the pair manage to find the love which allows them to move past their fears and hates and ultimately bring Talia to the physical and mental place where she can defeat the enemy.
July 1, 2010
Why I read: Publisher sent for review.
Adam Thorne watched his brother turn into a monster and murder his parents. That horrendous scene started Adam’s life on a path for revenge and answers. His brother Jacob, became a wraith, an extremely strong, immortal being that feeds on other’s souls. Wraiths are multiplying and organizing into a group called the Collective. Adam escaped that day, and miraculously captured his brother. With his extensive funds, he built the Segue Institute, a place where these creatures can be analyzed. With Jacob in a secure prison for the past six years, Adam wants to know how he became a wraith and how to kill him. And he thinks he knows just the person that can help him after reading one word from her dissertation – Shadowman.
On the outside, Talia leads a bright, normal life studying near-death experiences. Having experienced one herself when she was fifteen, and subsequently seeing the Shadowman, she has devoted her life to researching this subject. Hoping to get an Assistant Professor position at Berkley, Talia is ready for this step in her life. But it all comes crashing down when her roommate opens the door only to have her soul sucked out of her by wraiths. Confused and scared, Talia retreats literally into the shadows. Talia is actually half fae, and can call upon the darkness to hide herself, although she can see the action going on around her. This is how she escapes these wraiths and lives on the run for the next two months as more wraiths track her.
Adam, desperate to find Talia, knowing she is a source of information that could be vital on this war against the wraiths tracks her down. Filthy and living on the streets, they both find themselves cornered in an alley with wraith. Together they escape, and Adam takes her back to Segue in hopes of drilling her for information about this Shadowman. But the wraiths want Talia, alive, and will kill everyone around to get to her. The war has just begun.
Shadow Bound wasn’t the book I was expecting – maybe the cover threw me off? The tag line reads Dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. Oh, it is dark (Death is an actual character) and a twist on a fairy tale – but it is very much a romantic suspense book. The paranormal aspect is brought in with wraiths out to rule the world and Talia able to enter Twilight. But it really contains a ton of great action, suspense and thrilling scenes.
It is light on the romance, but I actually think it didn’t need any more. In one regard, Adam and Talia are constantly fighting, on the run and utterly exhausted – no one could find the energy for a physical romantic relationship. Their relationship starts with no trust between them but as they fight together, and they both start sharing vital information, a bond forms. The emphasis in this book is on their relationship – to survive. To fight this war. And what an intriguing war it is. Adam’s brother Jacob, who is a wraith really brings in some creepy scenes as he taunts Adam and Talia from his prison cell.
Adam has a one track mind – to find a way to kill wraiths. He is very stubborn when it comes to this goal. Many times using Talia just for her gift or information she has. He always protects her, and puts her first when it comes to getting out of danger, but I liked that he never forgets what his ultimate plan is. I think I almost would have liked it better if there had not been a declaration of love at the end. I felt their romance was rushed and would have been satisfied without the big HEA.
As the action progresses, not everyone makes it nor can everyone be trusted. Erin Kellison really never lets the pace slow, and for that reason it was really hard to put this book down. Shadow Bound is a high energy, really fun, suspenseful book.
Adam Thorne watched his brother turn into a monster and murder his parents. That horrendous scene started Adam’s life on a path for revenge and answers. His brother Jacob, became a wraith, an extremely strong, immortal being that feeds on other’s souls. Wraiths are multiplying and organizing into a group called the Collective. Adam escaped that day, and miraculously captured his brother. With his extensive funds, he built the Segue Institute, a place where these creatures can be analyzed. With Jacob in a secure prison for the past six years, Adam wants to know how he became a wraith and how to kill him. And he thinks he knows just the person that can help him after reading one word from her dissertation – Shadowman.
On the outside, Talia leads a bright, normal life studying near-death experiences. Having experienced one herself when she was fifteen, and subsequently seeing the Shadowman, she has devoted her life to researching this subject. Hoping to get an Assistant Professor position at Berkley, Talia is ready for this step in her life. But it all comes crashing down when her roommate opens the door only to have her soul sucked out of her by wraiths. Confused and scared, Talia retreats literally into the shadows. Talia is actually half fae, and can call upon the darkness to hide herself, although she can see the action going on around her. This is how she escapes these wraiths and lives on the run for the next two months as more wraiths track her.
Adam, desperate to find Talia, knowing she is a source of information that could be vital on this war against the wraiths tracks her down. Filthy and living on the streets, they both find themselves cornered in an alley with wraith. Together they escape, and Adam takes her back to Segue in hopes of drilling her for information about this Shadowman. But the wraiths want Talia, alive, and will kill everyone around to get to her. The war has just begun.
Shadow Bound wasn’t the book I was expecting – maybe the cover threw me off? The tag line reads Dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. Oh, it is dark (Death is an actual character) and a twist on a fairy tale – but it is very much a romantic suspense book. The paranormal aspect is brought in with wraiths out to rule the world and Talia able to enter Twilight. But it really contains a ton of great action, suspense and thrilling scenes.
It is light on the romance, but I actually think it didn’t need any more. In one regard, Adam and Talia are constantly fighting, on the run and utterly exhausted – no one could find the energy for a physical romantic relationship. Their relationship starts with no trust between them but as they fight together, and they both start sharing vital information, a bond forms. The emphasis in this book is on their relationship – to survive. To fight this war. And what an intriguing war it is. Adam’s brother Jacob, who is a wraith really brings in some creepy scenes as he taunts Adam and Talia from his prison cell.
Adam has a one track mind – to find a way to kill wraiths. He is very stubborn when it comes to this goal. Many times using Talia just for her gift or information she has. He always protects her, and puts her first when it comes to getting out of danger, but I liked that he never forgets what his ultimate plan is. I think I almost would have liked it better if there had not been a declaration of love at the end. I felt their romance was rushed and would have been satisfied without the big HEA.
As the action progresses, not everyone makes it nor can everyone be trusted. Erin Kellison really never lets the pace slow, and for that reason it was really hard to put this book down. Shadow Bound is a high energy, really fun, suspenseful book.
September 28, 2010
Hoo boy.
I saw this on my Nook store the first time I powered it up and messed around with it. It popped up as a free download, and after reading the little description it looked to me like an interesting urban fantasy. Not usually my cup of tea, but they’re sort of the new hotness, so why not give one a try?
I got about five pages in before one of the characters started making sweet, metaphor-laden love to the Grim Reaper and I realized my mistake. This is a paranormal romance, isn’t it? Sigh. I should have expected that, given how “urban fantasy” and “paranormal romance” are interchangeable terms, but in my defense, the cover didn't give it away, either. But hey, it’s free, right? Plus, I still hadn’t read anything like it in quite some time, so I gave it a shot anyway.
Talia O’Brien, a recent PhD in a vague, paranormal-type field of study, is searching for work and navigating the waters of post-academic life. Her plans, however, are violently interrupted by the appearance of soul-sucking creatures called wraiths. She is hunted for months by the beasts, and nearly killed one day before being rescued in the nick of time by one Adam Thorne, the independently wealthy head of the mysterious Segue Institute. Turns out, there are thousands of wraiths prowling the streets, and their numbers are growing. They have even organized under the name of The Collective, and the Segue Institute is dedicated to learning how to stop them from taking everything over. Adam has been searching for Talia ever since reading her dissertation on near-death experiences, convinced that she could help in the upcoming war. But she is more essential than even Adam realizes; born from a dalliance between Death and a mortal woman, her unique Faerie ancestry (and its associated power) may be the only thing that can stop the force behind the wraiths.
So, yeah. Pretty standard supernatural fare. I did like what Kellison did with the Faerie angle, and I particularly appreciated how the various supernatural parts come together (for example, the contrast between the lifeless ghosts and the deathless wraiths). All of that is kind of secondary to the contrived sexual tension between Talia and Adam, though. I don’t understand what’s so appealing about Adam. He’s a complete turd from beginning to end, exhibiting the most crass and overdone manly stereotypes and not evolving as a character in the slightest. He’s rich and handsome! Tall and smells “dark” and “spicy!” Brooding and angsty, with just enough of a dark side to be a bad boy without actually being bad in any real way! Overprotective of our heroine, and noble to the point of genuine stupidity! And let us not discount the virtues of his six-pack. And that’s what it’s written as, because apparently “abs,” “stomach muscles,” or “hot washboard of love” would be too clinical.
In short, everything likeable about this man is skin-deep at best, and yet Talia, an intellectual, independent, dangerous woman, falls in love with him after a week or so. Which passes for careful deliberation, here, since he declares her his soulmate after only a couple of days. I mean, I get it. I know how romances work, and this one works just fine. I’m just saying.
My biggest complaint is how abruptly the writing changes once we get into the steamy confines of this relationship. Despite the setting and story being somewhat run-of-the-mill, Kellison is a pretty good writer. The world-building she does is interesting, and Talia is a neat character, both in the mundane details and in the supernatural powers and legacy she possesses. But as soon as these two start hooking up, the storytelling goes all askew. Suddenly we aren’t dealing with two mysterious adults anymore, but with whiny teenagers in luuurve, both in style and substance. Things start to go downhill around the Ferrari vs. Lamborghini car chase, and bottom out about the time we get to the puzzlingly unnecessary “King and Queen of the Goths” party. And it’s not just the story that gets sidetracked, but the writing, as well. All of the neat stuff Kellison was doing in the beginning gives way to multiple passages on the direction of Adam’s blood flow any time Talia does anything.
If you see what she’s doing, there. Wink wink nudge nudge tee hee BONERS.
Sorry, I don’t know why I can’t take harlequin romance seriously, but it really does defy my attempts to read it with a straight face. Between my various experiences with erotica, pornography, and simple sex scenes in books and movies, I guess I’m just accustomed to a more serious, straightforward form of titillation, be it by what they are showing me or by what they are not showing me. So, when the florid, overblown romantic scenes in a book like this really start going, I find myself reacting in the manner which I imagine women do at male strippers: slight, incidental interest, tempered by a heaping serving of unintentional hilarity. Which is not a problem in itself, but once I got to the second half of the book, I couldn’t help but feel like everything, from story to characters, was really just a crude excuse for creating sexual tension between two ciphers and then having it consummated. And this is romance, so of course, that’s exactly what it was.
I don’t think this is a bad book. In fact, I kind of liked it. But I feel about it like I felt about Twilight: it’s a book that is surgically aimed at its target readers, among which I am most definitely not. This is a must-read for paranormal romance fans, as far as my limited experience with the genre can tell, because the world is interesting and the romance doesn’t lack for heat. If you’re just looking for a good supernatural fantasy, though? Meh. Find something with more meat to it than this one.
I saw this on my Nook store the first time I powered it up and messed around with it. It popped up as a free download, and after reading the little description it looked to me like an interesting urban fantasy. Not usually my cup of tea, but they’re sort of the new hotness, so why not give one a try?
I got about five pages in before one of the characters started making sweet, metaphor-laden love to the Grim Reaper and I realized my mistake. This is a paranormal romance, isn’t it? Sigh. I should have expected that, given how “urban fantasy” and “paranormal romance” are interchangeable terms, but in my defense, the cover didn't give it away, either. But hey, it’s free, right? Plus, I still hadn’t read anything like it in quite some time, so I gave it a shot anyway.
Talia O’Brien, a recent PhD in a vague, paranormal-type field of study, is searching for work and navigating the waters of post-academic life. Her plans, however, are violently interrupted by the appearance of soul-sucking creatures called wraiths. She is hunted for months by the beasts, and nearly killed one day before being rescued in the nick of time by one Adam Thorne, the independently wealthy head of the mysterious Segue Institute. Turns out, there are thousands of wraiths prowling the streets, and their numbers are growing. They have even organized under the name of The Collective, and the Segue Institute is dedicated to learning how to stop them from taking everything over. Adam has been searching for Talia ever since reading her dissertation on near-death experiences, convinced that she could help in the upcoming war. But she is more essential than even Adam realizes; born from a dalliance between Death and a mortal woman, her unique Faerie ancestry (and its associated power) may be the only thing that can stop the force behind the wraiths.
So, yeah. Pretty standard supernatural fare. I did like what Kellison did with the Faerie angle, and I particularly appreciated how the various supernatural parts come together (for example, the contrast between the lifeless ghosts and the deathless wraiths). All of that is kind of secondary to the contrived sexual tension between Talia and Adam, though. I don’t understand what’s so appealing about Adam. He’s a complete turd from beginning to end, exhibiting the most crass and overdone manly stereotypes and not evolving as a character in the slightest. He’s rich and handsome! Tall and smells “dark” and “spicy!” Brooding and angsty, with just enough of a dark side to be a bad boy without actually being bad in any real way! Overprotective of our heroine, and noble to the point of genuine stupidity! And let us not discount the virtues of his six-pack. And that’s what it’s written as, because apparently “abs,” “stomach muscles,” or “hot washboard of love” would be too clinical.
In short, everything likeable about this man is skin-deep at best, and yet Talia, an intellectual, independent, dangerous woman, falls in love with him after a week or so. Which passes for careful deliberation, here, since he declares her his soulmate after only a couple of days. I mean, I get it. I know how romances work, and this one works just fine. I’m just saying.
My biggest complaint is how abruptly the writing changes once we get into the steamy confines of this relationship. Despite the setting and story being somewhat run-of-the-mill, Kellison is a pretty good writer. The world-building she does is interesting, and Talia is a neat character, both in the mundane details and in the supernatural powers and legacy she possesses. But as soon as these two start hooking up, the storytelling goes all askew. Suddenly we aren’t dealing with two mysterious adults anymore, but with whiny teenagers in luuurve, both in style and substance. Things start to go downhill around the Ferrari vs. Lamborghini car chase, and bottom out about the time we get to the puzzlingly unnecessary “King and Queen of the Goths” party. And it’s not just the story that gets sidetracked, but the writing, as well. All of the neat stuff Kellison was doing in the beginning gives way to multiple passages on the direction of Adam’s blood flow any time Talia does anything.
If you see what she’s doing, there. Wink wink nudge nudge tee hee BONERS.
Sorry, I don’t know why I can’t take harlequin romance seriously, but it really does defy my attempts to read it with a straight face. Between my various experiences with erotica, pornography, and simple sex scenes in books and movies, I guess I’m just accustomed to a more serious, straightforward form of titillation, be it by what they are showing me or by what they are not showing me. So, when the florid, overblown romantic scenes in a book like this really start going, I find myself reacting in the manner which I imagine women do at male strippers: slight, incidental interest, tempered by a heaping serving of unintentional hilarity. Which is not a problem in itself, but once I got to the second half of the book, I couldn’t help but feel like everything, from story to characters, was really just a crude excuse for creating sexual tension between two ciphers and then having it consummated. And this is romance, so of course, that’s exactly what it was.
I don’t think this is a bad book. In fact, I kind of liked it. But I feel about it like I felt about Twilight: it’s a book that is surgically aimed at its target readers, among which I am most definitely not. This is a must-read for paranormal romance fans, as far as my limited experience with the genre can tell, because the world is interesting and the romance doesn’t lack for heat. If you’re just looking for a good supernatural fantasy, though? Meh. Find something with more meat to it than this one.
February 9, 2011
Twenty-six years ago, the fae known as Death stepped through the veil between Shadow and loved a woman incandescent of soul, breaking the laws of Shadow to do so and setting into motion events with far reaching repercussion. Chaos has spread like a stain across the country ever since, spawning soul-eating and immortal wraiths with voracious appetites. That's not all that was spawned that night, however.
At twenty-six, Dr. Talia O'Brien has always known she's different, not quite normal, otherworldly, and has yearned for nothing more than peace. Brilliant she may be but fear of her differences keep her insulated from humanity, until a knock on the door and the death of her roommate stripped the blinders from her eyes and forced her to realize there were creatures out there that were hunting for her, and they were even less normal than she was.
Adam Thorne is intensely motivated to find out as much as he can about the wraiths, desperate to discover the way to kill them. Six years ago he watched his older brother Jacob attack and eat his mother, then his father, and only luck prevented Jacob from consuming him too. Since then he's kept the creature that used to be his brother contained in the bowels of the Segue research facility as Adam does everything in his power to find a way to kill him. With only a word...a name - Shadowman - as a clue to stopping the wraiths in general and his brother in particular, he stumbles across a doctoral dissertation on near death experience that gives him the first - the only - other mention of Shadowman he's ever seen. A dissertation by Dr. Talia O' Brien.
Talia's on the run from horrifying monsters, physically and mentally spent when Adam finds her and brings her back to Segue, saving her life. She doesn't trust him. She's not sure what's going on. She doesn't even know the full extent of her powers or why she has them. All she knows is that Adam is a beacon of hope and his cause, while motivated by an unhealthy, if understandable, obsession, may be the only way for Talia to survive what she realizes instinctively is a coming war.
With a breakneck pace and slick, tight plot that is deliciously original and unique, Kellison has jettisoned herself into the ranks of the upper echelon of paranormal romance series. The narrative is smooth, balanced and lyrical of prose and at times and gritty and coarse, drawing the reader along and perfectly setting the tone for each scene, adding an intangible layer of excellence to this sophisticated, polished story.
Talia and Adam are complex characters, flawed and complicated, and often at cross purposes in their motivations, but their interactions are pure, rich, meaty entertainment and I absolutely love the disciplined and deftly crafted development of their characters. Their evolution as individuals and together as a pair felt organic to the story, each step carefully executed, imbuing each of them with depth and personality that makes them shine.
I loved it. I loved everything about it. I loved the plot, which was fresh and well told. I loved the narrative, with the smooth writing style that added the invaluable tone to the plot, enhancing the reading experience. I loved the characters, heroes and villains and everything in between, which supplied the story with such fantastic emotion and a true sense of threat and sacrifice. And romance.
I loved it. Unqualified.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
At twenty-six, Dr. Talia O'Brien has always known she's different, not quite normal, otherworldly, and has yearned for nothing more than peace. Brilliant she may be but fear of her differences keep her insulated from humanity, until a knock on the door and the death of her roommate stripped the blinders from her eyes and forced her to realize there were creatures out there that were hunting for her, and they were even less normal than she was.
Adam Thorne is intensely motivated to find out as much as he can about the wraiths, desperate to discover the way to kill them. Six years ago he watched his older brother Jacob attack and eat his mother, then his father, and only luck prevented Jacob from consuming him too. Since then he's kept the creature that used to be his brother contained in the bowels of the Segue research facility as Adam does everything in his power to find a way to kill him. With only a word...a name - Shadowman - as a clue to stopping the wraiths in general and his brother in particular, he stumbles across a doctoral dissertation on near death experience that gives him the first - the only - other mention of Shadowman he's ever seen. A dissertation by Dr. Talia O' Brien.
Talia's on the run from horrifying monsters, physically and mentally spent when Adam finds her and brings her back to Segue, saving her life. She doesn't trust him. She's not sure what's going on. She doesn't even know the full extent of her powers or why she has them. All she knows is that Adam is a beacon of hope and his cause, while motivated by an unhealthy, if understandable, obsession, may be the only way for Talia to survive what she realizes instinctively is a coming war.
With a breakneck pace and slick, tight plot that is deliciously original and unique, Kellison has jettisoned herself into the ranks of the upper echelon of paranormal romance series. The narrative is smooth, balanced and lyrical of prose and at times and gritty and coarse, drawing the reader along and perfectly setting the tone for each scene, adding an intangible layer of excellence to this sophisticated, polished story.
Talia and Adam are complex characters, flawed and complicated, and often at cross purposes in their motivations, but their interactions are pure, rich, meaty entertainment and I absolutely love the disciplined and deftly crafted development of their characters. Their evolution as individuals and together as a pair felt organic to the story, each step carefully executed, imbuing each of them with depth and personality that makes them shine.
I loved it. I loved everything about it. I loved the plot, which was fresh and well told. I loved the narrative, with the smooth writing style that added the invaluable tone to the plot, enhancing the reading experience. I loved the characters, heroes and villains and everything in between, which supplied the story with such fantastic emotion and a true sense of threat and sacrifice. And romance.
I loved it. Unqualified.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
February 25, 2011
3.5 Stars actually
Original review posted at Layers of Thought.
A dark adult fairy story/urban fantasy that was fun, intelligent, has an element of paranormal romance, and a very creative premise. All based on a legend that includes a visit from an interesting version of death himself.
A Bit About: Talia O’Brien is an odd ball with an unusual history. Lets say she's a blend of two types of beings. She knows she’s different and even looks a tad odd - yet in a pretty sort of way. She’s smart, with a PhD, and also has an unusual gift. It is one that she is not quite comfortable with and not aware of its strengths. Interestingly she manages to hide it from herself and others until things start to get really complicated - and they do!
Thoughts: Not my usual choice of read having a tendency to veer away from genre books like this, I requested it on a whim from Shelf Awareness for fun and interest’s sake (I am exploring speculative fiction). Gleefully, it did not start off with blatant sex or violence – a bad thing in my brain. It became better as I read more. I found the writing to be intelligent and readable, and the story possessed a dark and fairy based theme. I am starting to be very interested in fairies and devour dark themes.
The author has created a well-explained world with no loose elements within her complex yet easy-to-read sentence structure. It was quite a page turner which makes it a perfect escapist read. I also adored the size of this little book with its dense pages. It was easy to handle and carry and I liked that aspect for our latest plane ride. Less to handle in those cramped seats.
My only little complaint was one bit which I will never forget. It’s really sad when you laugh at a sex scene…especially when its supposed to be passionate and consummating. I laughed myself silly while re-reading it to John. I imagine that’s what this type of genre fiction is all about and what makes it fun for most readers. Beyond that I still enjoyed the rest of the story.
The best part of the book was that the ending was unexpected and intriguing, setting the reader up for the next in this planned series but with enough closure so as not to annoy. (The book felt like it was a stand alone). I was sufficiently impressed enough that will be looking to get my hands on the second book which is already released. I really enjoyed this genre paranormal romance and give it 3.5 stars. A fun darkly fluffy escapist read.
Original review posted at Layers of Thought.
A dark adult fairy story/urban fantasy that was fun, intelligent, has an element of paranormal romance, and a very creative premise. All based on a legend that includes a visit from an interesting version of death himself.
A Bit About: Talia O’Brien is an odd ball with an unusual history. Lets say she's a blend of two types of beings. She knows she’s different and even looks a tad odd - yet in a pretty sort of way. She’s smart, with a PhD, and also has an unusual gift. It is one that she is not quite comfortable with and not aware of its strengths. Interestingly she manages to hide it from herself and others until things start to get really complicated - and they do!
Thoughts: Not my usual choice of read having a tendency to veer away from genre books like this, I requested it on a whim from Shelf Awareness for fun and interest’s sake (I am exploring speculative fiction). Gleefully, it did not start off with blatant sex or violence – a bad thing in my brain. It became better as I read more. I found the writing to be intelligent and readable, and the story possessed a dark and fairy based theme. I am starting to be very interested in fairies and devour dark themes.
The author has created a well-explained world with no loose elements within her complex yet easy-to-read sentence structure. It was quite a page turner which makes it a perfect escapist read. I also adored the size of this little book with its dense pages. It was easy to handle and carry and I liked that aspect for our latest plane ride. Less to handle in those cramped seats.
My only little complaint was one bit which I will never forget. It’s really sad when you laugh at a sex scene…especially when its supposed to be passionate and consummating. I laughed myself silly while re-reading it to John. I imagine that’s what this type of genre fiction is all about and what makes it fun for most readers. Beyond that I still enjoyed the rest of the story.
The best part of the book was that the ending was unexpected and intriguing, setting the reader up for the next in this planned series but with enough closure so as not to annoy. (The book felt like it was a stand alone). I was sufficiently impressed enough that will be looking to get my hands on the second book which is already released. I really enjoyed this genre paranormal romance and give it 3.5 stars. A fun darkly fluffy escapist read.
August 19, 2011
Oh. My. God. This book is shockingly good. I freaking heart it.
It's a Paranormal Romance, but - with a difference. It reads more like an Urban Fantasy revolving around the fae, really. A dark, gritty, violent, bloody, the-world-has-gone-to-shit-yet-we-*still*-hopelessly-persevere-and-we-*WILL*-go-down-but-we're-going-to-drag-at-least-*ONE*-bastard-wraith-down-with-us Urban Fantasy. The writing's impeccable. The world-building and story will take your breath away. You shouldn't for a second think that the characterization suffers as a result, though.
Adam is an astoundingly complex man. You'll hate him and you'll love him and then you'll hate him some more. Jesus. He's absolutely fucking REAL. Alpha to the core - and not your standard Paranormal Romance alpha, either. This guy does alpha like Barrons does alpha. Adam strides through life with one goal in mind: finding a way to destroy his monster of a brother. He is pure, compressed rage and is willing to give up everything - including his life (and other people's lives, too, to be brutally honest) - for a means to this end. There's an intense scene where Talia has passed out from exhaustion when *HE* needs her AWAKE RIGHT THEN IF HIS BROTHER IS TO DIE and ... holy crap ... his long-time (also, long-suffering) buddy, Custard, has to talk him out of smacking her across the face until she wakes up. Adam's cold - ruthless - and driven like you won't believe. He's an asshole, but he's nothing short of a believable one, which is great.
Talia's pretty cool, herself, and undergoes an incredible amount of character development throughout the book, to the point where she can stand toe to toe with the force that is Adam, but it's her father, Death - a.k.a. Shadowman - who's the real show-stopper. You don't find out a lot about him - YET!! Book 3 appears to be his!! :D - but the scenes that he does have are breathtakingly powerful. However, Custard totally steals the spotlight in the epilogue, when he trades his place in Heaven for Shadowman's Twilight - OMG, B.R.I.L.L.I.A.N.T. - and wonderfully so, since the next book is his and now I absolutely *CANNOT WAIT* to find out what happens next!! :) :) :)
I'm so glad I won this book, because I'd never have heard of it otherwise. Awesomesauce.
It's a Paranormal Romance, but - with a difference. It reads more like an Urban Fantasy revolving around the fae, really. A dark, gritty, violent, bloody, the-world-has-gone-to-shit-yet-we-*still*-hopelessly-persevere-and-we-*WILL*-go-down-but-we're-going-to-drag-at-least-*ONE*-bastard-wraith-down-with-us Urban Fantasy. The writing's impeccable. The world-building and story will take your breath away. You shouldn't for a second think that the characterization suffers as a result, though.
Adam is an astoundingly complex man. You'll hate him and you'll love him and then you'll hate him some more. Jesus. He's absolutely fucking REAL. Alpha to the core - and not your standard Paranormal Romance alpha, either. This guy does alpha like Barrons does alpha. Adam strides through life with one goal in mind: finding a way to destroy his monster of a brother. He is pure, compressed rage and is willing to give up everything - including his life (and other people's lives, too, to be brutally honest) - for a means to this end. There's an intense scene where Talia has passed out from exhaustion when *HE* needs her AWAKE RIGHT THEN IF HIS BROTHER IS TO DIE and ... holy crap ... his long-time (also, long-suffering) buddy, Custard, has to talk him out of smacking her across the face until she wakes up. Adam's cold - ruthless - and driven like you won't believe. He's an asshole, but he's nothing short of a believable one, which is great.
Talia's pretty cool, herself, and undergoes an incredible amount of character development throughout the book, to the point where she can stand toe to toe with the force that is Adam, but it's her father, Death - a.k.a. Shadowman - who's the real show-stopper. You don't find out a lot about him - YET!! Book 3 appears to be his!! :D - but the scenes that he does have are breathtakingly powerful. However, Custard totally steals the spotlight in the epilogue, when he trades his place in Heaven for Shadowman's Twilight - OMG, B.R.I.L.L.I.A.N.T. - and wonderfully so, since the next book is his and now I absolutely *CANNOT WAIT* to find out what happens next!! :) :) :)
I'm so glad I won this book, because I'd never have heard of it otherwise. Awesomesauce.
June 29, 2010
Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com
SHADOW BOUND is a shockingly good read. I mean, where did this book come from? I barely remember hearing about it before I saw it in my Shelf Awareness email. I actually thought it was a YA book based on the cover (it is definitely adult). Although the cover really does a poor job of capturing this often somber, yet darkly beautiful urban fantasy.
The prologue that sets up the mythology and history for the main character is nearly poetic. I reread it twice before continuing the story. I found my heartbeat actually racing and slowing along with the cadence of the prose. I was a little disappointed that the entire book was written the same way.
The actual story is told from the shifting POV of Talia O’Brien, a brilliant young doctor with a terrible secret, and Adam Thorne, a man consumed by guilt and rage driven to find the answers that will destroy his brother and save the world. I typically prefer female POV’s but in SHADOW BOUND it was Adam’s chapters that were strongest. Talia was so closed off in life, so cautious that at times I found her boring.
What was never boring was the world building. Made up of a combination of Greek mythology, Irish folklore, and traditional fey lore. The villains are the Wraiths, demon spawns who suck the soul from their victims via a Harry Potter-like Dementor’s kiss. They cannot be stopped, they cannot be killed, and their numbers are growing.
Shadow Fall coverSHADOW BOUND is likely to appeal to UF/PNR lovers as well as fans of supernatural thrillers. The writing is evocative and lyrical, especially the prologue, and the mystery of the Wraiths and Talia is original and satisfying. The middle drags a bit, but that’s when the romance really develops so not a bad trade. The next book in the Shadow series is called Shadow Fall and will be released next month on July 27, 2010 and I will definitely be reading it.
Sexual Content: References to sex. A scene of graphic sensuality. References to rape. Several graphic sex scenes.
SHADOW BOUND is a shockingly good read. I mean, where did this book come from? I barely remember hearing about it before I saw it in my Shelf Awareness email. I actually thought it was a YA book based on the cover (it is definitely adult). Although the cover really does a poor job of capturing this often somber, yet darkly beautiful urban fantasy.
The prologue that sets up the mythology and history for the main character is nearly poetic. I reread it twice before continuing the story. I found my heartbeat actually racing and slowing along with the cadence of the prose. I was a little disappointed that the entire book was written the same way.
The actual story is told from the shifting POV of Talia O’Brien, a brilliant young doctor with a terrible secret, and Adam Thorne, a man consumed by guilt and rage driven to find the answers that will destroy his brother and save the world. I typically prefer female POV’s but in SHADOW BOUND it was Adam’s chapters that were strongest. Talia was so closed off in life, so cautious that at times I found her boring.
What was never boring was the world building. Made up of a combination of Greek mythology, Irish folklore, and traditional fey lore. The villains are the Wraiths, demon spawns who suck the soul from their victims via a Harry Potter-like Dementor’s kiss. They cannot be stopped, they cannot be killed, and their numbers are growing.
Shadow Fall coverSHADOW BOUND is likely to appeal to UF/PNR lovers as well as fans of supernatural thrillers. The writing is evocative and lyrical, especially the prologue, and the mystery of the Wraiths and Talia is original and satisfying. The middle drags a bit, but that’s when the romance really develops so not a bad trade. The next book in the Shadow series is called Shadow Fall and will be released next month on July 27, 2010 and I will definitely be reading it.
Sexual Content: References to sex. A scene of graphic sensuality. References to rape. Several graphic sex scenes.
October 14, 2011
I received the first couple books in this series as kindle freebies, which makes it no skin off my nose if they suck- well no skin other than the irritant of time wasted on a sucky book that I could have spent on much more anticipated ones.
More often than not the kindle freebies turn out to be mediocre at best, but this one surprised me right away. I was immediately drawn into the story which begins with Death, the Grim Reaper himself, deciding to cross into the mortal realm out of love for a woman.
Talia, the beget of their time together has known all along she was different. And she's about to find out the creature she saw when she almost lost her life in a car accident years ago,is in fact who she suspected him to be- her father. When a researcher draws her into his world to defeat a madness unleashed upon them at the time Death crossed the boundaries he was never meant to cross, everything finally begins to make sense as she realizes just exactly who she is- and what she's meant to be.
A war is upon them and she's the weapon to bring about the end. If she has the courage to become it.
Okay, the short of it? It's didnt totally suck.
The long? The premise of the world being built here has a lot of promise. Unfortunately I found as I went along the characters lack a certain depth to bring about the chemistry I need to truly dig a story. Adam, the researcher out to avenge his parent's death, felt paper thin to me and so much so, I just couldnt picture him in my mind's eye. I got his motivation, but little else.
Talia? She was too frightened of her true nature and distrustful of Adam for most of the story-and that bugged me.
Still... the whole Grim Reaper being her father thing- and more than that a beautiful fae creature- yeah that I really liked. SO- since I have the next one already, I think I am gonna give the series another shot and give it a read. If the character development doesnt improve however, she may lose me. just sayin
More often than not the kindle freebies turn out to be mediocre at best, but this one surprised me right away. I was immediately drawn into the story which begins with Death, the Grim Reaper himself, deciding to cross into the mortal realm out of love for a woman.
Talia, the beget of their time together has known all along she was different. And she's about to find out the creature she saw when she almost lost her life in a car accident years ago,is in fact who she suspected him to be- her father. When a researcher draws her into his world to defeat a madness unleashed upon them at the time Death crossed the boundaries he was never meant to cross, everything finally begins to make sense as she realizes just exactly who she is- and what she's meant to be.
A war is upon them and she's the weapon to bring about the end. If she has the courage to become it.
Okay, the short of it? It's didnt totally suck.
The long? The premise of the world being built here has a lot of promise. Unfortunately I found as I went along the characters lack a certain depth to bring about the chemistry I need to truly dig a story. Adam, the researcher out to avenge his parent's death, felt paper thin to me and so much so, I just couldnt picture him in my mind's eye. I got his motivation, but little else.
Talia? She was too frightened of her true nature and distrustful of Adam for most of the story-and that bugged me.
Still... the whole Grim Reaper being her father thing- and more than that a beautiful fae creature- yeah that I really liked. SO- since I have the next one already, I think I am gonna give the series another shot and give it a read. If the character development doesnt improve however, she may lose me. just sayin
October 2, 2010
The edition I read included a note from the editor that explains she was enraptured by the opening when she read it in a contest, subsequently requested the full manuscript, and all followed from there.
I kind of despised the prologue. That said, try reading that far. The prologue is probably a decent litmus test for whether you'll enjoy the rest of this book.
The prologue has a terminally ill woman able to perceive Death, who is masculine, and of all the mortals he has ever seen, he falls in love with her. I couldn't find any reason for this, personally, but apparently this is enough for him to break the boundary between his world and the mortal one in order to sleep with her. If you find this tremendously romantic and intriguingly dark, read on! If you think this is foolish and inexplicable, stop now.
Said woman lives for nine more months, just long enough to bring a kid into the world. And here we have the heroine of our tale. Talia's a decent sort, but far from a charismatic character; she spooks easily and despite having a doctorate, doesn't seem particularly intelligent to me. (Not stupid, but not academic enough in her mentality.) Her love interest, Adam, is a wealthy and somewhat high-handed guy in an obsessed quest driven by his brother's transformation into an evil undead wraith.
The wraiths are threatening the world as we know it, and it's up to this secluded group of researchers (funded by Adam, joined by Talia -- who studied near-death experiences) to stop them. From there it's a fairly standard world-saving mission combined with a woman discovering her unique powers and the passion she feels for a man.
Decently written, but not up my alley at all. In some ways I appreciated that it was darker than your typical paranormal romance, but it never managed to make it to truly horrific (in a good way) levels for me, and also didn't offer any interesting moral subtleties. I'm passing on the rest of the series.
I kind of despised the prologue. That said, try reading that far. The prologue is probably a decent litmus test for whether you'll enjoy the rest of this book.
The prologue has a terminally ill woman able to perceive Death, who is masculine, and of all the mortals he has ever seen, he falls in love with her. I couldn't find any reason for this, personally, but apparently this is enough for him to break the boundary between his world and the mortal one in order to sleep with her. If you find this tremendously romantic and intriguingly dark, read on! If you think this is foolish and inexplicable, stop now.
Said woman lives for nine more months, just long enough to bring a kid into the world. And here we have the heroine of our tale. Talia's a decent sort, but far from a charismatic character; she spooks easily and despite having a doctorate, doesn't seem particularly intelligent to me. (Not stupid, but not academic enough in her mentality.) Her love interest, Adam, is a wealthy and somewhat high-handed guy in an obsessed quest driven by his brother's transformation into an evil undead wraith.
The wraiths are threatening the world as we know it, and it's up to this secluded group of researchers (funded by Adam, joined by Talia -- who studied near-death experiences) to stop them. From there it's a fairly standard world-saving mission combined with a woman discovering her unique powers and the passion she feels for a man.
Decently written, but not up my alley at all. In some ways I appreciated that it was darker than your typical paranormal romance, but it never managed to make it to truly horrific (in a good way) levels for me, and also didn't offer any interesting moral subtleties. I'm passing on the rest of the series.
September 16, 2011
I did like the concept behind this book. I also give credit to the author for, although extending this into a series, still making the first book a stand alone.
Prologue was great, epilogue was great. That left the middle, which swerved wildly between good and dismal.
Talia, poor embattled Talia, a mix of shadow and human, had her ups and downs as a character. Adam, the human romantic lead, was a disaster. The author wanted to make him a tough, sensitive alpha dog but instead he came off as a controlling asshole caring only about himself and his plight to the point where I was ready for him to die.
That's why certain events in the book's last quarter made no sense. Talia's sudden "yes, yes, yes, I love him" was completely "huh, what?"
And the whole "gee, wow, look at the Goth kids in NYC" episode was hilarious. That part read like a suburban housewife from 1985 had suddenly discovered NYC's club scene. "Oh my, hubby, look, that girl is wearing leather." Ouch.
Like I said, due to the concept, I really wanted to like this book more, but the weak character development, sloppy editing (hey, toss a book aside yet on the next page it's still on the lap) and lame secondary characters overwhelmed the great concept.
Sad.
Prologue was great, epilogue was great. That left the middle, which swerved wildly between good and dismal.
Talia, poor embattled Talia, a mix of shadow and human, had her ups and downs as a character. Adam, the human romantic lead, was a disaster. The author wanted to make him a tough, sensitive alpha dog but instead he came off as a controlling asshole caring only about himself and his plight to the point where I was ready for him to die.
That's why certain events in the book's last quarter made no sense. Talia's sudden "yes, yes, yes, I love him" was completely "huh, what?"
And the whole "gee, wow, look at the Goth kids in NYC" episode was hilarious. That part read like a suburban housewife from 1985 had suddenly discovered NYC's club scene. "Oh my, hubby, look, that girl is wearing leather." Ouch.
Like I said, due to the concept, I really wanted to like this book more, but the weak character development, sloppy editing (hey, toss a book aside yet on the next page it's still on the lap) and lame secondary characters overwhelmed the great concept.
Sad.
July 22, 2010
Shadow Bound is based on a very different point of view towards the world of the Fae and their existence. This story starts out strong and dark with a primary character known as Shadowman. Shadowman is also known to some as Death or the Grim Reaper. He lives in the Shadows, the world between ours and heaven. The atmosphere is immediately seductive and darkly intense, thus setting the pace for Shadow Bound.
The romance between Talia and Adam was palpable to me, with each having their own personal demons to deal with before they can decide on each other. Talia is the type of heroine you can grow with through the story and Adam was such a strong and stead-fast hero that you can't help but fall for him.
If your looking for something different in the world of Fae with a healthy dose of suspense peppered with villains that are truly treacherous and deadly, and a romance that will fill you with hope, I highly recommend Shadow Bound. I can't wait to dive into Shadow Fall this coming weekend!
The romance between Talia and Adam was palpable to me, with each having their own personal demons to deal with before they can decide on each other. Talia is the type of heroine you can grow with through the story and Adam was such a strong and stead-fast hero that you can't help but fall for him.
If your looking for something different in the world of Fae with a healthy dose of suspense peppered with villains that are truly treacherous and deadly, and a romance that will fill you with hope, I highly recommend Shadow Bound. I can't wait to dive into Shadow Fall this coming weekend!
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August 23, 2011
4 stars for imagination. Started very good, but then fizzled [at least in my estimation]. My thoughts: the author got so wrapped up in tying the story up nicely, it lost its' interest factor [for me - the audience].
Great imagination. A whole world created within this story. Quite a few characters, but most lacked depth. The romance factor [this is a romance - huh?], was minimal. I do think this book could appeal to a YA audience - maybe a bit older. Does have sex, but not graphic.
Adam [the main male character] was good, but not enough of him, not enough depth.
A good effort, but not sure if I'll read another. I was expecting more.
If you like a little bit of romance, an intelligent, imaginative tale, but mediocre character development, then this may suit you.
Happy Reading!
Great imagination. A whole world created within this story. Quite a few characters, but most lacked depth. The romance factor [this is a romance - huh?], was minimal. I do think this book could appeal to a YA audience - maybe a bit older. Does have sex, but not graphic.
Adam [the main male character] was good, but not enough of him, not enough depth.
A good effort, but not sure if I'll read another. I was expecting more.
If you like a little bit of romance, an intelligent, imaginative tale, but mediocre character development, then this may suit you.
Happy Reading!
June 21, 2010
Adam Thorne is on a mission to find a way to kill his wraith brother, Jacob. It's one of the main reason's he created the Segue Institute. But when he learns of the intriguing Dr. Talia O'Brien he believes her knowledge and ability will lead him to the answers he's look for.
This was an excellent story. Original, fast, full of action with an eerie but, fascinating story line. I wasn't a fan of Talia's at first, but in the end I found both her and Adam to be very interesting characters. Shadow Bound is a haunting tale where fantasy and the paranormal are woven together beautifully. Both the romance and action will keep you turning the page.
This was an excellent story. Original, fast, full of action with an eerie but, fascinating story line. I wasn't a fan of Talia's at first, but in the end I found both her and Adam to be very interesting characters. Shadow Bound is a haunting tale where fantasy and the paranormal are woven together beautifully. Both the romance and action will keep you turning the page.
September 11, 2010
Frankly I was scared by the "guaranteed read", but I have to agree. A little fae, a little vampirish, some romance, an epic task, great ending. All in all, a great read.
April 13, 2020
B- at AAR, so 3.5 stars In paranormal romance, vampires, werewolves and shapeshifters seem to dominate. I enjoy these books, but I also find myself intrigued by other paranormal stories. In her debut novel Erin Kellison explores other themes and takes readers into a sometimes creepy world as she explores the fae, mortality, souls and a world growing ever more filled with creatures who have given up their souls and now feed upon others. Though not a perfect read, it is an enjoyable one.
As the book opens, an otherworldly man is falling in love with a very frail woman. Under the rules of his realm, he cannot be with her and yet he longs for her. As he breaks the rules, consequences in the form of an evil creature enter our world, setting the stage for what will come a generation later.
In the present-day, wraiths have started to establish a foothold in our world. These wraiths were once human, but they have lost their identities, becoming soul stealers who steal the souls of victims by kissing them. Adam Thorne’s parents were killed by a wraith, and he started the Segue Institute to study these creatures and learn how they became wraiths, as well as how to destroy them. Unable to kill the wraith who murdered his parents, Adam keeps him imprisoned deep within Segue until he can learn how to finally destory him.
In his studies, Adam comes across a reference in a paper by doctoral student Talia O’Brien which matches something the wraith at Segue screamed about in one of his rants. Convinced that this reference may hold the key to further discovery, Adam sets out to recruit Talia for Segue. It appears he may do so by force if he must. Adam discovers Talia in hiding in the aftermath of a wraith attack that left her roommate dead. The two manage to escape pursuit and get back to Segue. Talia wishes to leave, but Adam is desperate for her knowledge and convinces her to at least stay briefly. While I understood Adam’s desperation, he also has a tendency to be a little too high-handed at first.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
As the book opens, an otherworldly man is falling in love with a very frail woman. Under the rules of his realm, he cannot be with her and yet he longs for her. As he breaks the rules, consequences in the form of an evil creature enter our world, setting the stage for what will come a generation later.
In the present-day, wraiths have started to establish a foothold in our world. These wraiths were once human, but they have lost their identities, becoming soul stealers who steal the souls of victims by kissing them. Adam Thorne’s parents were killed by a wraith, and he started the Segue Institute to study these creatures and learn how they became wraiths, as well as how to destroy them. Unable to kill the wraith who murdered his parents, Adam keeps him imprisoned deep within Segue until he can learn how to finally destory him.
In his studies, Adam comes across a reference in a paper by doctoral student Talia O’Brien which matches something the wraith at Segue screamed about in one of his rants. Convinced that this reference may hold the key to further discovery, Adam sets out to recruit Talia for Segue. It appears he may do so by force if he must. Adam discovers Talia in hiding in the aftermath of a wraith attack that left her roommate dead. The two manage to escape pursuit and get back to Segue. Talia wishes to leave, but Adam is desperate for her knowledge and convinces her to at least stay briefly. While I understood Adam’s desperation, he also has a tendency to be a little too high-handed at first.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
February 22, 2012
Recently, I picked up what I thought was a brand new book — the first in a brand new series from a brand new writer on my Nook …
As I figured out after finishing it, it wasn’t new at all …
It’s actually a couple years old, but I enjoyed it none-the-less, and am very excited to know I’m not gonna have to wait to read more about this awesome new world I’ve learned about …
The world of shadows … of Twilight … a world between life and death …
Shadow Bound, by Erin Kellison was the first in her Shadow series …
Here’s the synopsis …
Death
Some people will do anything to avoid it. Even trade their immortal souls for endless existence.
Wraiths
Secretly, inexorably, they are infiltrating our world, sucking the essence out of unsuspecting victims with their hideous parody of a kiss.
Segue
Adam Thorne founded the Institute to study and destroy his monster of a brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand of a woman on the run. There is something hauntingly different about Talia O’Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping into Shadow.
Twilight
This is the place between life and what comes after – a dark forest of fantasy, filled with beauty, peril, mystery. And Talia is about to open the door.
Sounds interesting … huh?
Well it was …
As the mystery of what Talia was hiding unfolded — which was she was part fae and the daughter of Death, himself, she and Adam discovered more and more about her role in destroying the Wraiths ….
They also fell in love…
But as in all great novels, there’s no room for love when you’re on the verge of a war against immortal and evil beings — especially when their commanders a demon …
This book was a great and very quick read. It was definitely one of those books you have a hard time putting down and there were many twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
I, loving a great romance, really enjoyed the relationship between Talia and Adam. The progression was written wonderfully, even given the short period of time the book took place in. It was very believable.
And it led to some great sex scenes, for those of you who are into that. They weren’t really, really graphic like some of the novels we read, but were still very hot!
The action sequences were also very well written and I had no problem envisioning them as I read the story … I find sometimes, there’s so much going on in action scenes that it’s sort of confusing if they aren’t written well. That was not the case in this book at all.
The only problem I had with this book was the description of the shadows — In the book, Talia can use shadows as a form of protection … it basically makes her invisible. It was bit of new concept for me and I couldn’t get a clear picture of what it was like in my head.
Regardless of that one tiny complaint, I really loved this book and totally recommend it, but even more exciting was the excerpt of the second book at the end …
As it seems, one of my favorite side characters from the Shadow Bound is featured as a main character in the second installment, Shadow Fall, which I’m currently reading.
Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion. I have not been paid to review this book.
As I figured out after finishing it, it wasn’t new at all …
It’s actually a couple years old, but I enjoyed it none-the-less, and am very excited to know I’m not gonna have to wait to read more about this awesome new world I’ve learned about …
The world of shadows … of Twilight … a world between life and death …
Shadow Bound, by Erin Kellison was the first in her Shadow series …
Here’s the synopsis …
Death
Some people will do anything to avoid it. Even trade their immortal souls for endless existence.
Wraiths
Secretly, inexorably, they are infiltrating our world, sucking the essence out of unsuspecting victims with their hideous parody of a kiss.
Segue
Adam Thorne founded the Institute to study and destroy his monster of a brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand of a woman on the run. There is something hauntingly different about Talia O’Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping into Shadow.
Twilight
This is the place between life and what comes after – a dark forest of fantasy, filled with beauty, peril, mystery. And Talia is about to open the door.
Sounds interesting … huh?
Well it was …
As the mystery of what Talia was hiding unfolded — which was she was part fae and the daughter of Death, himself, she and Adam discovered more and more about her role in destroying the Wraiths ….
They also fell in love…
But as in all great novels, there’s no room for love when you’re on the verge of a war against immortal and evil beings — especially when their commanders a demon …
This book was a great and very quick read. It was definitely one of those books you have a hard time putting down and there were many twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
I, loving a great romance, really enjoyed the relationship between Talia and Adam. The progression was written wonderfully, even given the short period of time the book took place in. It was very believable.
And it led to some great sex scenes, for those of you who are into that. They weren’t really, really graphic like some of the novels we read, but were still very hot!
The action sequences were also very well written and I had no problem envisioning them as I read the story … I find sometimes, there’s so much going on in action scenes that it’s sort of confusing if they aren’t written well. That was not the case in this book at all.
The only problem I had with this book was the description of the shadows — In the book, Talia can use shadows as a form of protection … it basically makes her invisible. It was bit of new concept for me and I couldn’t get a clear picture of what it was like in my head.
Regardless of that one tiny complaint, I really loved this book and totally recommend it, but even more exciting was the excerpt of the second book at the end …
As it seems, one of my favorite side characters from the Shadow Bound is featured as a main character in the second installment, Shadow Fall, which I’m currently reading.
Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion. I have not been paid to review this book.
September 28, 2010
Shadow Bound is Erin Kellison’s debut novel, and I must admit that it's quite the stunning debut! In a genre that is quickly becoming filled with vampires and werewolves, Kellison was able to create a completely different world. The concept may have been done before, but the sheer brilliance of the story line makes this book stand out from anything else I've read this year. Shadow Bound is fast-paced, engrossing, and the characters are extremely well-developed and true to life. My Nook did not leave my lap the entire day my friends. I read this one straight on through!
Adam Thorne is our hero, and his description led me to believe that he is quite the looker! The reader quickly discovers that Adam has poured his inherited life savings into The Segue Institute in an effort to study the wraith behavior. Able to steal a person's soul by "kissing" them, these wraiths are nigh unstoppable. Adam is driven by a deep vengeance, vowing to unlock the secrets of the wraith and kill the monstrosity that is his brother by any means possible. I quickly fell in love with Adam and his quest. He is the perfect example of how the darkness inside us can keep us from realizing what we really want.
Talia O’Brien, our female protagonist, is another mystery that Adam must solve. He believes her to be the key to his so far fruitless quest, but only if he can get his feelings for her under control. (Enter portions of book I warned about above!) As a character, Talia really caught my attention. Although she begins the book a bit rough around the edges, she quickly harnesses her energy into creating a better person. She learns to control her fear, and use it to her benefit. Watching Talia change and handle what was thrown her way was probably my favorite part of the story.
Speaking of the story line, Kellison shows her expertise at blending the supernatural with a thriller. The result is a book that will have you emotionally torn and on the edge of your seat! I was most impressed by the slow buildup of the characters and their personalities. Even the romance between Adam and Talia was believable, despite the speed at which it had to develop. The action in the story dictates that these two have very little time to get to know one another. Still, I was amazed at how invested I was in Adam and Talia's struggle, and I wouldn't have had their relationship any other way!
Overall, Shadow Bound is a well written and admittedly refreshing read in such an oversaturated genre. I'd recommend it 100% to lovers of both the paranormal and thrillers. I'm eager to throw myself wholeheartedly back into Adam and Talia's world and see where they take me. The ending leaves so much possibility for the second book that I simply cannot wait to get my hands on a copy!
Adam Thorne is our hero, and his description led me to believe that he is quite the looker! The reader quickly discovers that Adam has poured his inherited life savings into The Segue Institute in an effort to study the wraith behavior. Able to steal a person's soul by "kissing" them, these wraiths are nigh unstoppable. Adam is driven by a deep vengeance, vowing to unlock the secrets of the wraith and kill the monstrosity that is his brother by any means possible. I quickly fell in love with Adam and his quest. He is the perfect example of how the darkness inside us can keep us from realizing what we really want.
Talia O’Brien, our female protagonist, is another mystery that Adam must solve. He believes her to be the key to his so far fruitless quest, but only if he can get his feelings for her under control. (Enter portions of book I warned about above!) As a character, Talia really caught my attention. Although she begins the book a bit rough around the edges, she quickly harnesses her energy into creating a better person. She learns to control her fear, and use it to her benefit. Watching Talia change and handle what was thrown her way was probably my favorite part of the story.
Speaking of the story line, Kellison shows her expertise at blending the supernatural with a thriller. The result is a book that will have you emotionally torn and on the edge of your seat! I was most impressed by the slow buildup of the characters and their personalities. Even the romance between Adam and Talia was believable, despite the speed at which it had to develop. The action in the story dictates that these two have very little time to get to know one another. Still, I was amazed at how invested I was in Adam and Talia's struggle, and I wouldn't have had their relationship any other way!
Overall, Shadow Bound is a well written and admittedly refreshing read in such an oversaturated genre. I'd recommend it 100% to lovers of both the paranormal and thrillers. I'm eager to throw myself wholeheartedly back into Adam and Talia's world and see where they take me. The ending leaves so much possibility for the second book that I simply cannot wait to get my hands on a copy!
June 24, 2012
Ok Im the worst I have had this series on my Kindle for like ever and just never gave myself the time to sit and read it. After receiving an advanced reading Copy of the Fire Kissed (book 4) coming out in July, I MADE THE TIME!!! And Im so glad that I did. I really don’t enjoy Fae based books, I can’t tell you why cause I haven’t figured it out myself yet BUT HOLY COW I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!
OK let’s be honest I hate weak woman leads in books so when I was first introduced to Talia I sensed that the strength she needed to survive was there buried deep down, so while reading I was like “COME ON YOU CAN DO IT!!” By the end I was extremely excited about the strong woman she becomes after meeting Adam. Now Adam to me …..well I didn’t like him. I understood his life was all about revenge and rage for so long but not till the end did I root for him. But maybe that was the point, you couldn’t root for him till he wanted life for himself. I LOVE SHADOWMAN!!!! There is something about that character that pulls at my heart and I want to just give him a hug.
Over all, I enjoyed this book immensely. The way Erin writes had me mesmerized and I couldn’t put it down I literally read the book in 4 hours. Erin’s writing is extremely eloquent and flows so beautifully that I didn’t even realized I hadn’t left my bed in 4 hours. I absolutely love the world Erin has created in the shadow series, after I get some food and let my family know I’m still alive I’m reading book 2.
Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for any one that is looking for a different kind of Fae story with a world that takes you and sucks you into its shadows.
Charity Costa Emissary of Literal Addiction
OK let’s be honest I hate weak woman leads in books so when I was first introduced to Talia I sensed that the strength she needed to survive was there buried deep down, so while reading I was like “COME ON YOU CAN DO IT!!” By the end I was extremely excited about the strong woman she becomes after meeting Adam. Now Adam to me …..well I didn’t like him. I understood his life was all about revenge and rage for so long but not till the end did I root for him. But maybe that was the point, you couldn’t root for him till he wanted life for himself. I LOVE SHADOWMAN!!!! There is something about that character that pulls at my heart and I want to just give him a hug.
Over all, I enjoyed this book immensely. The way Erin writes had me mesmerized and I couldn’t put it down I literally read the book in 4 hours. Erin’s writing is extremely eloquent and flows so beautifully that I didn’t even realized I hadn’t left my bed in 4 hours. I absolutely love the world Erin has created in the shadow series, after I get some food and let my family know I’m still alive I’m reading book 2.
Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for any one that is looking for a different kind of Fae story with a world that takes you and sucks you into its shadows.
Charity Costa Emissary of Literal Addiction
July 1, 2020
I received this book almost 10 years ago. I'm not sure why I waited so long to finally read it. The start of the story is intriguing as we learn about a creature sort of known as death who finds himself enamored of an artist who is dying. Their forbidden interlude sets off a chain of events that cause chaos in the world. Rules broken means that others can also break more rules.
I found this book riveting because Thalia is a survivor who knows there are monsters out there. She thinks she is all alone until a secret agency finds her and brings her into their institute explains how they understand the mystical world. Adam, rich business man, runs this agency and he has ulterior motives. This conspiracy within a conspiracy plot brimming with betrayal makes this story emotion charged. It is not exactly a hot mess. More like drama after drama due to selfish people who just want power.
The world building is slim. The reader is in the same boat as Thalia, trying to piece information together. Learning about how people become demon possessed is a heartbreak for Adam. Learning how these demons came into the world devastates Thalia. The sins of a father are fierce. Still, learning what Thalia is and what she can do to combat these demons is interesting. This book moves along at a good pace and generates more suspense and questions. By the end of the book, Thalia and Adam understand more what is going on, but they seem to be helpless in their current vulnerable state. The book ends with a good hook for the reader to want to read the next book. Fortunately these books are all written and I can dive into the next two. Recommended for readers who enjoy the TV show Supernatural, with a female lead.
I found this book riveting because Thalia is a survivor who knows there are monsters out there. She thinks she is all alone until a secret agency finds her and brings her into their institute explains how they understand the mystical world. Adam, rich business man, runs this agency and he has ulterior motives. This conspiracy within a conspiracy plot brimming with betrayal makes this story emotion charged. It is not exactly a hot mess. More like drama after drama due to selfish people who just want power.
The world building is slim. The reader is in the same boat as Thalia, trying to piece information together. Learning about how people become demon possessed is a heartbreak for Adam. Learning how these demons came into the world devastates Thalia. The sins of a father are fierce. Still, learning what Thalia is and what she can do to combat these demons is interesting. This book moves along at a good pace and generates more suspense and questions. By the end of the book, Thalia and Adam understand more what is going on, but they seem to be helpless in their current vulnerable state. The book ends with a good hook for the reader to want to read the next book. Fortunately these books are all written and I can dive into the next two. Recommended for readers who enjoy the TV show Supernatural, with a female lead.
July 17, 2012
Shadow Bound
3 Stars
Synopsis
Talia O'Brien, the daughter of Death, is on the run from Wraiths, creatures who live off human souls. Adam Thorne, a millionaire determined to destroy the monster his brother has become, is convinced that Talia hold the key to killing him. Talia has no one to turn to and must decide whether to place her fate in Adam's hands.
Review
Original premise and the world building has potential. Nevertheless, neither the world nor the characters are sufficiently developed and there are numerous inconsistencies and plot holes.
Talia is not pro-active enough. She reacts to events rather than taking the initiative and goes from fearing herself and her abilities to embracing her dark side and slaying wraiths with no emotional growth or internal deliberation. Adam comes across as cold, calculating and manipulative. He is obsessed with destroying his brother and is consumed by a dark rage that suddenly disappears before his objective is attained. Their romance is lacking heat and intensity.
In terms of the writing, there are moments when it is absorbing and others when it became boring and uninspired. Moreover, the action scenes are poorly written and it is difficult to follow the movements and their results. The terminology is confusing as well. For instance, is Talia a Banshee, a Harpy or simply a half-fae?
Finally, the secondary characters are not that interesting and there is no ongoing conflict that would give me the incentive to continue reading.
3 Stars
Synopsis
Talia O'Brien, the daughter of Death, is on the run from Wraiths, creatures who live off human souls. Adam Thorne, a millionaire determined to destroy the monster his brother has become, is convinced that Talia hold the key to killing him. Talia has no one to turn to and must decide whether to place her fate in Adam's hands.
Review
Original premise and the world building has potential. Nevertheless, neither the world nor the characters are sufficiently developed and there are numerous inconsistencies and plot holes.
Talia is not pro-active enough. She reacts to events rather than taking the initiative and goes from fearing herself and her abilities to embracing her dark side and slaying wraiths with no emotional growth or internal deliberation. Adam comes across as cold, calculating and manipulative. He is obsessed with destroying his brother and is consumed by a dark rage that suddenly disappears before his objective is attained. Their romance is lacking heat and intensity.
In terms of the writing, there are moments when it is absorbing and others when it became boring and uninspired. Moreover, the action scenes are poorly written and it is difficult to follow the movements and their results. The terminology is confusing as well. For instance, is Talia a Banshee, a Harpy or simply a half-fae?
Finally, the secondary characters are not that interesting and there is no ongoing conflict that would give me the incentive to continue reading.
June 24, 2010
Immediately upon starting this book I was thrilled to find that Kellison gives the paranormal genre something new. I thought this would be a young adult novel (covers can be deceiving) but there are some romantic scenes that place it out of that genre quickly. The romance isn’t overly drawn out and heavy, which is great for those of us who don’t read books labeled “romance” unless the word paranormal is preceding it.
All of the elements mentioned in the book description: Death, Wraiths, Segue, and Twilight, are featured prominently in the book and all of these elements are what makes this book so different from others of the genre. While the story takes place in the world we are used to, Talia, our heroine, is able to slip out of it and into the shadows. Something else has slipped into our world as well and it takes someone like Talia to stand up to it. Most humans are unaware, though there are those who’ve been paying attention, like our hero Adam, and luckily for Talia they are there to help her. We follow along with Talia’s story intertwined with Adam’s and see things from their very different point of views. Scene’s with Talia’s father are few, but they are the scene stealers of the book, his presence is too demanding to ignore and I would love to read more about him in another book. The only drawback is that the story was over too quickly for me. I could have read another 100 pages on the ending to the story and devoured it all up.
All of the elements mentioned in the book description: Death, Wraiths, Segue, and Twilight, are featured prominently in the book and all of these elements are what makes this book so different from others of the genre. While the story takes place in the world we are used to, Talia, our heroine, is able to slip out of it and into the shadows. Something else has slipped into our world as well and it takes someone like Talia to stand up to it. Most humans are unaware, though there are those who’ve been paying attention, like our hero Adam, and luckily for Talia they are there to help her. We follow along with Talia’s story intertwined with Adam’s and see things from their very different point of views. Scene’s with Talia’s father are few, but they are the scene stealers of the book, his presence is too demanding to ignore and I would love to read more about him in another book. The only drawback is that the story was over too quickly for me. I could have read another 100 pages on the ending to the story and devoured it all up.
July 30, 2010
There are many books I've enjoyed because of the characters, despite flaws in world building, storyline, or skill with language. This book is the opposite.
The prologue is beautiful, the world building is fantastic - good with details and nuance, but not to the extent that it slows down the pace, and the author has a compelling voice. The next book in the series seems like it will spend less time in the mortal realm and more time in the Twilight/Between/Fae realm.
On the other hand, Talia O'Brien, daughter of a human mother and a Fae sometimes called Death or the Shadowman, reminds me a lot of Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion. In other words, she's constantly running from her own abilities. Her consort, Adam Thorne, has an almost creepily fetish-y obsession with her through much of the book, although what annoyed me most about him is that he's an arrogant bonehead. Secondary characters are all very loosely sketched.
While I didn't love this book, I recognize that it's the author's debut novel. The world she's built seems promising enough to me that I'm looking forward to trying the next in the series.
The prologue is beautiful, the world building is fantastic - good with details and nuance, but not to the extent that it slows down the pace, and the author has a compelling voice. The next book in the series seems like it will spend less time in the mortal realm and more time in the Twilight/Between/Fae realm.
On the other hand, Talia O'Brien, daughter of a human mother and a Fae sometimes called Death or the Shadowman, reminds me a lot of Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion. In other words, she's constantly running from her own abilities. Her consort, Adam Thorne, has an almost creepily fetish-y obsession with her through much of the book, although what annoyed me most about him is that he's an arrogant bonehead. Secondary characters are all very loosely sketched.
While I didn't love this book, I recognize that it's the author's debut novel. The world she's built seems promising enough to me that I'm looking forward to trying the next in the series.
September 5, 2010
Don't be fooled by the cover - there is nothing Young Adult about this book. It's a dark urban fantasy featuring fairies, and it includes a couple hot sex scenes. Some publisher was an idiot putting a teen face on this cover - it doesn't even look like the heroine, who should be 25 years old, white blond curly hair, and uptilted black eyes. Said heroine is named Talia, the daughter of the fairy Death and a mortal. She has special powers that help her kill the otherwise indescructable wraiths, who are humans turned into evil, souless creatures. Adam is the hero, and has dedicated his adult life to finding a way to kill wraiths after his brother turned into one. This author is not squeamish about killing off good characters - even strong secondary characters are not safe. It's a rollercoaster read with exceptionally honest emotions. I BELIEVED that Talia would feel and act as the author described given her knowledge about each situation. An excellent start to a series. If you are an urban fantasy fan, this one is worth the time.
September 19, 2010
Talia is the daughter of death & half human. She can wrap herself in shadows & stay hidden, though if she loses focus she fears the demon will come & cause devastation & death.
After reading a dissertation that Talia wrote on near death experiences Adam is convinced she may have the answers to his own problem of his brother who is a Wraith & cannot die.
Wraith numbers are escalating & are called the collective, they are actively hunting Talia to take her alive, while her friends around her are fed on in the crossfire. Talia is very scared & vulnerable throughout, especially when everyone is looking to her for answers & she realises that there is more to being the daughter of death then she first thought.
The premise of this novel is superb, the writing so imaginative, there are no generic cardboard characters in this novel, I especially loved Adam as he is so flawed but strong at the same time. Really enjoyable novel.
I am looking forward to finding out what happens to Custo in the next book it's called Shadow Fall
After reading a dissertation that Talia wrote on near death experiences Adam is convinced she may have the answers to his own problem of his brother who is a Wraith & cannot die.
Wraith numbers are escalating & are called the collective, they are actively hunting Talia to take her alive, while her friends around her are fed on in the crossfire. Talia is very scared & vulnerable throughout, especially when everyone is looking to her for answers & she realises that there is more to being the daughter of death then she first thought.
The premise of this novel is superb, the writing so imaginative, there are no generic cardboard characters in this novel, I especially loved Adam as he is so flawed but strong at the same time. Really enjoyable novel.
I am looking forward to finding out what happens to Custo in the next book it's called Shadow Fall
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