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Twilight of the Gods #2
Witch Bound
Book two of Twilight of the Gods
Raquel Lindgren knows what her future holds. An arranged marriage. A new home in Ragnarok, Iowa, with another clan of refugees from Asgard. She should be happy. But there's a mental block preventing her from tapping in to her true abilities as a witch. And she's more attracted to the best man than she is to the groom…
Fen can't believe he's falling for his best friend's future wife. As a hound, a wolf shifter, his duty lies with the pack. He's seen too many hounds destroyed by love, and he's sworn never to take a mate, never to have children of his own. He can't deny his desire for Raquel, but she deserves more than he can offer her.
Raquel's been raised to trust in magic, her clan and her destiny. But when a vengeful demon threatens to break out of Asgard and destroy the clan, Raquel learns she must trust in love if she is to take the future into her own hands.
For more tales of modern-day Vikings, check out Demon Crossings.
73,000 words
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2013
4 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Eleri Stone
15 books222 followersEleri Stone is a RITA-nominated author of fantasy and paranormal romance. Born and raised in New Jersey, she now lives in Iowa with her husband and their three children. All of her stories have some element of speculative fiction to them and they all end with a happily-ever-after.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 28, 2014
My Rating:4 stars: Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provide by author.
The return trip to Ragnarok, Iowa, takes the reader a bit forward in time (one year maybe) past the conclusion of Ms. Stone’s Demon Crossings. We learned in the first story of the Twilight of the Gods that clan huntsman Christian is bound to marry a witch from outside their clan to replace their retiring one. The start of Witch Bound introduces us to Raquel, Christian’s bride-to-be.
The pair meet in person for the first time, and although there is some mutual attraction, Raquel quickly learns that Christian wants out of the contract, however his sense of duty would never let him renege on the promises made by his parents. In addition, we learn that although Raquel has the potential to be one of the most powerful witches in recent history, she cannot tap into her magic. Both of these circumstances lead to immediate tension and an interesting story!
It is difficult for me to put a finger on exactly why I enjoyed this book and loved its characters so much--I just did! The honest and emotionally-driven dialogues between the three main characters, coupled with their innate good natures allowed me to care for their well-being. Raquel, Christian and Fen are all good people who are struggling with a situation in which they feel there is no way out. Although Raquel came to Ragnarok with hopes of a forever love with Christian, she quickly realizes that love at first sight isn’t realistic. However, she hopes, as does Christian, that maybe love could eventually come to them.
I completely admire Raquel. She has a good heart and a strong sense of right over wrong. She also stands up for herself without being pushy. She won’t let others pressure her into something she knows in her heart maybe not be the right thing to do. Although she is impulsive, everything she does is filled with good intentions.
The attraction between Fen and Raquel is quiet but powerful. It is that unattainable and unrequited type of romance that makes my heart pitter-patter and causes me to cheer so hard to see them together. It was sweet how quickly Fen falls for Raquel -- so unsure of how to deal with his emotions. And Fen is such a good guy. When he realizes his attraction is growing too large for his best friend’s girl, he tries to find a way to distance himself, while still be a friend to Raquel. He cares deeply for both Raquel and Christian, and he wants them both to heal and be happy.
Finally, I really like that Ms. Stone allows Christian to be a good man. He wants what is best for Raquel, even though he doesn't love her. He wants do what is right by her while fulfilling his duties. He realizes Fen is falling for Raquel and struggles to figure out what is best for everyone involved.
I just adore that Witch Bound is NOT a love triangle. It is a story about three good people that are struggling between duty and true desire/love. Raquel and Christian may have made a good couple if circumstances were different. But she and Fen connect from the beginning, and they fell hard for one another. No one is a bad guy!
Meanwhile, there is more going on in Ragnarok than a wedding and love stories. The fault between worlds (Asgard and Earth) is growing increasingly unstable, with more frequent demon escapes. Raquel is expected to fix the shields that protect Ragnarok, but with her magic blocked up, she’s having difficulties. Solving the mystery of why this is occurring, plus a return visit with the Vanir on Asgard (from Demon Crossings), creates a bit of tension and suspense in the mix. I really enjoyed how it all played out. The trip to Asgard wasn't as prolonged as it was in Demon Crossing, and it fit with the story better this second time around.
All in all, I just love the mythology and characters that Ms. Stone has created. Witch Bound is an enjoyable, exciting and well-written story. I adore Fen and Raquel something hard. I felt the flow of the story was much tighter then the first book in the series. In addition, there is just enough left open to leave me wanting the next story now!
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provide by author.
The return trip to Ragnarok, Iowa, takes the reader a bit forward in time (one year maybe) past the conclusion of Ms. Stone’s Demon Crossings. We learned in the first story of the Twilight of the Gods that clan huntsman Christian is bound to marry a witch from outside their clan to replace their retiring one. The start of Witch Bound introduces us to Raquel, Christian’s bride-to-be.
The pair meet in person for the first time, and although there is some mutual attraction, Raquel quickly learns that Christian wants out of the contract, however his sense of duty would never let him renege on the promises made by his parents. In addition, we learn that although Raquel has the potential to be one of the most powerful witches in recent history, she cannot tap into her magic. Both of these circumstances lead to immediate tension and an interesting story!
It is difficult for me to put a finger on exactly why I enjoyed this book and loved its characters so much--I just did! The honest and emotionally-driven dialogues between the three main characters, coupled with their innate good natures allowed me to care for their well-being. Raquel, Christian and Fen are all good people who are struggling with a situation in which they feel there is no way out. Although Raquel came to Ragnarok with hopes of a forever love with Christian, she quickly realizes that love at first sight isn’t realistic. However, she hopes, as does Christian, that maybe love could eventually come to them.
I completely admire Raquel. She has a good heart and a strong sense of right over wrong. She also stands up for herself without being pushy. She won’t let others pressure her into something she knows in her heart maybe not be the right thing to do. Although she is impulsive, everything she does is filled with good intentions.
The attraction between Fen and Raquel is quiet but powerful. It is that unattainable and unrequited type of romance that makes my heart pitter-patter and causes me to cheer so hard to see them together. It was sweet how quickly Fen falls for Raquel -- so unsure of how to deal with his emotions. And Fen is such a good guy. When he realizes his attraction is growing too large for his best friend’s girl, he tries to find a way to distance himself, while still be a friend to Raquel. He cares deeply for both Raquel and Christian, and he wants them both to heal and be happy.
Finally, I really like that Ms. Stone allows Christian to be a good man. He wants what is best for Raquel, even though he doesn't love her. He wants do what is right by her while fulfilling his duties. He realizes Fen is falling for Raquel and struggles to figure out what is best for everyone involved.
I just adore that Witch Bound is NOT a love triangle. It is a story about three good people that are struggling between duty and true desire/love. Raquel and Christian may have made a good couple if circumstances were different. But she and Fen connect from the beginning, and they fell hard for one another. No one is a bad guy!
Meanwhile, there is more going on in Ragnarok than a wedding and love stories. The fault between worlds (Asgard and Earth) is growing increasingly unstable, with more frequent demon escapes. Raquel is expected to fix the shields that protect Ragnarok, but with her magic blocked up, she’s having difficulties. Solving the mystery of why this is occurring, plus a return visit with the Vanir on Asgard (from Demon Crossings), creates a bit of tension and suspense in the mix. I really enjoyed how it all played out. The trip to Asgard wasn't as prolonged as it was in Demon Crossing, and it fit with the story better this second time around.
All in all, I just love the mythology and characters that Ms. Stone has created. Witch Bound is an enjoyable, exciting and well-written story. I adore Fen and Raquel something hard. I felt the flow of the story was much tighter then the first book in the series. In addition, there is just enough left open to leave me wanting the next story now!
October 17, 2013
First reviewed at Red Hot Books: http://redhotbooks.com/2013/10/review...
Witch Bound is the second book in the Twilight of the Gods series by Eleri Stone. While you could read this one on its own, I suggest going back and reading the first book (which I reviewed as well), Demon Crossings, to help with a bit of the mythology and story line.
Witch Bound revolves around Raquel Lindgren, a witch from another clan, who is supposed to be marrying Christian in a marriage arranged by their parents a long time ago. Raquel shows up in Ragnarok for the wedding and to make her new home there, but finds herself more attracted to Fen, a hound and the intended best man for the wedding. Fen is determined to never take a mate due to the bond that hounds form with the first person they have sex with. He can come up with plenty of reasons why they shouldn’t be together but Raquel is determined to fight for what she wants.
Someone is causing a weakness in the fault that stops demons from coming into their land, and the clan is looking at Raquel to help the older witch Lois, put a stop to it. The only problem is, Raquel cannot tap into her powers and no one informed the clan of this before she came over. There does not seem to be any dispute that she holds an incredible amount of power, but there is some type of block there that only allows her to perform basic magic.
Raquel is stressed out about her upcoming wedding and while hiding out in the bathroom, she overhears Christian saying that he is only marrying her out of obligation. Lois is downright belligerent and doesn’t like the new witch stepping on her toes, and Raquel’s only source of happiness through all this is her friendship with Fen.
While trying to help her work through the block to her magic, Fen starts to fall in love with Raquel even though he knows he can never do anything about it. Once the wall breaks down, her powers come tumbling out and she figures out what is causing the portal to be unstable. In order to stop it, she must cross over with the hunt and free the Vanir who had kept Grace and Hailie safe in Demon Crossings. After they successfully cross over to rescue him, Raquel uses magic to bind herself to the Vanir, a plot point which I suspect will come up in later books. I’m very interested to see the effects of that piece of magic later on.
I loved Fen in Demon Crossings, so I was looking forward to watching him get his happily ever after. Once a hound has sex with a woman they are irrevocably bound to that woman, while the woman doesn’t necessarily feel the same. Fen has watched his fellow pack member torment himself over the woman he bonded with when they were young, and he does not want to experience the same pain. I don’t want to give anything away but I will say that I loved the way their story played out. I know Fen is absolutely against having kids but I think it would be sweet later on to see him with kids.
There are so many stories waiting to be told in this series and I’m looking forward to reading them all!
Witch Bound is the second book in the Twilight of the Gods series by Eleri Stone. While you could read this one on its own, I suggest going back and reading the first book (which I reviewed as well), Demon Crossings, to help with a bit of the mythology and story line.
Witch Bound revolves around Raquel Lindgren, a witch from another clan, who is supposed to be marrying Christian in a marriage arranged by their parents a long time ago. Raquel shows up in Ragnarok for the wedding and to make her new home there, but finds herself more attracted to Fen, a hound and the intended best man for the wedding. Fen is determined to never take a mate due to the bond that hounds form with the first person they have sex with. He can come up with plenty of reasons why they shouldn’t be together but Raquel is determined to fight for what she wants.
Someone is causing a weakness in the fault that stops demons from coming into their land, and the clan is looking at Raquel to help the older witch Lois, put a stop to it. The only problem is, Raquel cannot tap into her powers and no one informed the clan of this before she came over. There does not seem to be any dispute that she holds an incredible amount of power, but there is some type of block there that only allows her to perform basic magic.
Raquel is stressed out about her upcoming wedding and while hiding out in the bathroom, she overhears Christian saying that he is only marrying her out of obligation. Lois is downright belligerent and doesn’t like the new witch stepping on her toes, and Raquel’s only source of happiness through all this is her friendship with Fen.
While trying to help her work through the block to her magic, Fen starts to fall in love with Raquel even though he knows he can never do anything about it. Once the wall breaks down, her powers come tumbling out and she figures out what is causing the portal to be unstable. In order to stop it, she must cross over with the hunt and free the Vanir who had kept Grace and Hailie safe in Demon Crossings. After they successfully cross over to rescue him, Raquel uses magic to bind herself to the Vanir, a plot point which I suspect will come up in later books. I’m very interested to see the effects of that piece of magic later on.
I loved Fen in Demon Crossings, so I was looking forward to watching him get his happily ever after. Once a hound has sex with a woman they are irrevocably bound to that woman, while the woman doesn’t necessarily feel the same. Fen has watched his fellow pack member torment himself over the woman he bonded with when they were young, and he does not want to experience the same pain. I don’t want to give anything away but I will say that I loved the way their story played out. I know Fen is absolutely against having kids but I think it would be sweet later on to see him with kids.
There are so many stories waiting to be told in this series and I’m looking forward to reading them all!
February 20, 2015
I am not sure how Witch Bound (Twilight of the Gods)ended up on my radar, but I liked it. There is a touch of Norse Myth in the background and I really liked the leading lady Raquel(Rocky) who is a witch (but her powers are potentially great but blocked and unavailable to her) heading into an arranged marriage with stars of the fairy-tale-happily-ever-after variety in her eyes. Even though her intended Christian is gorgeous and charming, she loses her romantic notions about the impending union pretty quickly upon finding out that she is a duty to him and that she is needed for what she can do for her new clan.
While grieving over her broken fantasy, Raquel finds a sympathetic ear in Christian's 'best man', Fen, who is a a shape-shifting Hound who hates the 'curse' of his species - a second class citizen and one who will be Bound forever to a mate if he does the horizontal mambo. I loved Fen and the interactions between him and Rocky, the author does a good job making us see a 'draw' between these two that is on a personal level and making them friends before bringing in the attraction that they 'can not' act upon considering both of their situations.
Witch Bound doesn't end up being quite a love triangle and the author doesn't make any of the characters jerkish or dishonest as they try to sort out the many obstacles in the way to the HEA. I really enjoyed the story and liked the addition of the powerful ancient male 'witch' to the cast (can you say sequel bait:) - I will definitely read more of this series. I started Witch Bound without having read the previous book (which worked just fine for me by the way) but now I just may have to go back and read Demon Crossings (Twilight of the Gods) while I am waiting for the next book.
While grieving over her broken fantasy, Raquel finds a sympathetic ear in Christian's 'best man', Fen, who is a a shape-shifting Hound who hates the 'curse' of his species - a second class citizen and one who will be Bound forever to a mate if he does the horizontal mambo. I loved Fen and the interactions between him and Rocky, the author does a good job making us see a 'draw' between these two that is on a personal level and making them friends before bringing in the attraction that they 'can not' act upon considering both of their situations.
Witch Bound doesn't end up being quite a love triangle and the author doesn't make any of the characters jerkish or dishonest as they try to sort out the many obstacles in the way to the HEA. I really enjoyed the story and liked the addition of the powerful ancient male 'witch' to the cast (can you say sequel bait:) - I will definitely read more of this series. I started Witch Bound without having read the previous book (which worked just fine for me by the way) but now I just may have to go back and read Demon Crossings (Twilight of the Gods) while I am waiting for the next book.
June 23, 2013
Oh, Fen! My soft spot for heroes who are trying SO HARD to do the right thing even if it makes them miserable is alive and kicking. The circumstances that bring Raquel into Fen's world make a relationship between them less than ideal. Throw in that whole " a hound bonds with the first person they have sex with" and you can imagine that things are VERY TANGLED! (and, yes, that means that as an unmated hound, Fen's a virgin. I love that the male has to abstain in this case. Unless he wants a permanent mate, he's staying off the sauce... err, the ladies. You know what I mean, right?!?!)
As difficult as things were, Raquel and Fen's friendship was incredibly sweet. He gave her something to hold onto when she was first brought to Ragnarok and had her romantic imaginings dashed. He tried to help her find a way to break through the block that was capturing her magic. She needed a friend and he stepped up. And when the friendly feelings turned a little deeper, he tried to step aside.
Good thing his wolf wasn't willing to let him screw things up.
Meanwhile, things are heating up in Asgard... well, not actually *heating* up since it's a frozen wasteland, but things are happening. BIG THINGS! I like the direction that events are taking these characters. I LIKE THEM!
Norse mythology with an intriguing twist and characters that make me giddy. I am so loving this world!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
As difficult as things were, Raquel and Fen's friendship was incredibly sweet. He gave her something to hold onto when she was first brought to Ragnarok and had her romantic imaginings dashed. He tried to help her find a way to break through the block that was capturing her magic. She needed a friend and he stepped up. And when the friendly feelings turned a little deeper, he tried to step aside.
Good thing his wolf wasn't willing to let him screw things up.
Meanwhile, things are heating up in Asgard... well, not actually *heating* up since it's a frozen wasteland, but things are happening. BIG THINGS! I like the direction that events are taking these characters. I LIKE THEM!
Norse mythology with an intriguing twist and characters that make me giddy. I am so loving this world!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
July 19, 2018
A lot of (complex) backstory, but it was pretty easy to plow through that; a fun and entertaining read.
September 9, 2014
This review was originally published at Smart Bitches Trashy Books for the RITA Reader Challenge 2014.
Witch Bound contains an arranged marriage, a sort of love triangle, life bonding through sex, a witch coming into her own power and a strange version of Norse mythology. Through the power of great writing, Eleri Stone makes this combination compelling and not full of crazy sauce. I picked up Witch Bound on Tuesday and stayed up late Wednesday night to finish reading it, because I cared that much about Raquel and Fen.
Raquel travels through a magical portal to Ragnarok, Iowa to meet with her future husband who she will be marrying in three weeks as well as becoming the clan witch. The story begins in a way that reminded me of some historical romances and urban fantasy books that I’ve read with a basic set up of the world and Raquel being amazed by how gorgeous, Christian, her new husband is. I appreciated though how the plot focused on the messy feelings that this set up creates, how Christian and Raquel have only known each other through letters and don’t start off easily. This was odd, apparently there was a rule that they couldn’t been in too much contact even though they’d been contracted since they were children, it felt like a major plot contrivance and not logical in the modern world. There are lies on both sides of the arranged marriage about dangers and abilities which brings characters together and pulls them apart.
The partial love triangle comes because Fen, who as a hound bonds for life with the first person he sleeps with and thus has decided to never mate is immediately drawn to Raquel. She connects with him as he listens to her and tries to help her and Christian get to know each other and find ways to make their personalities work better. Fen helps her to find a way to access her power as a witch that she’s been blocked from and trust herself. Christian is a confident, handsome man who can have any woman he wants but his approach with Raquel stumbles, while Fen quickly becomes her friend. Fen on the other hand is quiet and keeps to himself because hounds aren’t fully accepted. At this point, I kept expecting to hear about soulmates and some magical connection between Fen and Raquel but it didn’t happen. Instead the focus was on how powerful the bond that hounds form is and how awful it can be for the hound and the woman who are now tied together. This formed a solid conflict of dealing with the contract for the arranged marriage, the clan’s needs and what those involved actually wanted. This was where the writing shone as Fen and Raquel felt themselves growing closer and tried to protect their feelings and those around them.
“Fen knew she felt the need to prove herself. Like a cracked pot that needed to be glued back together. There was nothing wrong with her so far as he could see. She let other people tie her up with expectations, tie her into knots, just like Christian had always done to win his father’s approval.
She didn’t need to be fixed. Neither had Christian. Maybe the two of them could...help each other see that. They’d marry, heal. Be happy.
Fen very badly wanted them both to be happy.” pg 126 ebook edition
I loved how the relationships developed and that the resolution was full of people being adults, when lies came out, they were talked about soon instead of having them hanging about. The respective families and friends were intriguing too, Ragnarok felt like a real place for all that it was full of people descended from Norse gods.
I do have a few aspects that I didn’t like and that bring the grade down for me. The world building was distracting and felt like it needed a much longer story than a book that’s 73,000 words. This story could have been easily transposed to the Viking era with some magic and it would have been as effective for me as in the present since the main conflicts of magic, duties within a clan and the particular hound magic didn’t feel tied to place. The basis of the world is that the AEsir were sent to Midgard and are living there, but demons come through portals from Asgard, there were other details that I started to skim. The scenes of the hunts and fights were well written, but it felt like far too much when I wanted to focus on these characters I was coming to care about. This is a difficult balance and Stone did a good job, but the world building felt too awkward compared to Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid books or anything by Seanan McGuire. I would read another book of Stone’s and recommend it but it didn’t leave me as satisfied as I would have liked. Another truly petty aspect for me was the name Raquel, which felt out of place for a modern take on Norse legend but I did like her nickname of Rocky.
My final grade is B shading into B+ for the writing, characters, slow build romance, conflict that made sense but a B due to too much world building.
Witch Bound contains an arranged marriage, a sort of love triangle, life bonding through sex, a witch coming into her own power and a strange version of Norse mythology. Through the power of great writing, Eleri Stone makes this combination compelling and not full of crazy sauce. I picked up Witch Bound on Tuesday and stayed up late Wednesday night to finish reading it, because I cared that much about Raquel and Fen.
Raquel travels through a magical portal to Ragnarok, Iowa to meet with her future husband who she will be marrying in three weeks as well as becoming the clan witch. The story begins in a way that reminded me of some historical romances and urban fantasy books that I’ve read with a basic set up of the world and Raquel being amazed by how gorgeous, Christian, her new husband is. I appreciated though how the plot focused on the messy feelings that this set up creates, how Christian and Raquel have only known each other through letters and don’t start off easily. This was odd, apparently there was a rule that they couldn’t been in too much contact even though they’d been contracted since they were children, it felt like a major plot contrivance and not logical in the modern world. There are lies on both sides of the arranged marriage about dangers and abilities which brings characters together and pulls them apart.
The partial love triangle comes because Fen, who as a hound bonds for life with the first person he sleeps with and thus has decided to never mate is immediately drawn to Raquel. She connects with him as he listens to her and tries to help her and Christian get to know each other and find ways to make their personalities work better. Fen helps her to find a way to access her power as a witch that she’s been blocked from and trust herself. Christian is a confident, handsome man who can have any woman he wants but his approach with Raquel stumbles, while Fen quickly becomes her friend. Fen on the other hand is quiet and keeps to himself because hounds aren’t fully accepted. At this point, I kept expecting to hear about soulmates and some magical connection between Fen and Raquel but it didn’t happen. Instead the focus was on how powerful the bond that hounds form is and how awful it can be for the hound and the woman who are now tied together. This formed a solid conflict of dealing with the contract for the arranged marriage, the clan’s needs and what those involved actually wanted. This was where the writing shone as Fen and Raquel felt themselves growing closer and tried to protect their feelings and those around them.
“Fen knew she felt the need to prove herself. Like a cracked pot that needed to be glued back together. There was nothing wrong with her so far as he could see. She let other people tie her up with expectations, tie her into knots, just like Christian had always done to win his father’s approval.
She didn’t need to be fixed. Neither had Christian. Maybe the two of them could...help each other see that. They’d marry, heal. Be happy.
Fen very badly wanted them both to be happy.” pg 126 ebook edition
I loved how the relationships developed and that the resolution was full of people being adults, when lies came out, they were talked about soon instead of having them hanging about. The respective families and friends were intriguing too, Ragnarok felt like a real place for all that it was full of people descended from Norse gods.
I do have a few aspects that I didn’t like and that bring the grade down for me. The world building was distracting and felt like it needed a much longer story than a book that’s 73,000 words. This story could have been easily transposed to the Viking era with some magic and it would have been as effective for me as in the present since the main conflicts of magic, duties within a clan and the particular hound magic didn’t feel tied to place. The basis of the world is that the AEsir were sent to Midgard and are living there, but demons come through portals from Asgard, there were other details that I started to skim. The scenes of the hunts and fights were well written, but it felt like far too much when I wanted to focus on these characters I was coming to care about. This is a difficult balance and Stone did a good job, but the world building felt too awkward compared to Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid books or anything by Seanan McGuire. I would read another book of Stone’s and recommend it but it didn’t leave me as satisfied as I would have liked. Another truly petty aspect for me was the name Raquel, which felt out of place for a modern take on Norse legend but I did like her nickname of Rocky.
My final grade is B shading into B+ for the writing, characters, slow build romance, conflict that made sense but a B due to too much world building.
August 1, 2013
I really liked this book, I love my shifters, and I love my tortured alphas, and this had BOTH in it We met Fen in the last book, and I had hoped his story would be told next. And to be honest I liked this one better than the first book.
Only male wolves are born in this story, they meet their mates, usually human or supernatural, bite and bond. But this story is so different, only the males bond, females can leave whenever they want, no commitment !! (Well that sucks !!) Once a male bonds, he bonds for the rest of his loooooooooong life. So if a male wolf doesn’t want to bond, (as the trigger is sex, then he stays either a virgin, or shares a female with other males of his pack)
One of Fen’s pack bonded to a female years ago, when they were both young, she met her future husband, and never looked back, poor Brian still pines for her, even though he hates her. Fen also swears never to have kids, as they will be male, and he doesn’t want to see his sons live the same life he has. Then Fen meets his best friend’s fiancée, Raquel. And Bang !!! He feels something he has never felt for another female before. But he is sure it will pass with time, he just needs to avoid her.
Raquel has the potential to be a really powerful witch. But she has a block, whether it was from birth, or a spell, she doesn’t know. But she feels her power behind a wall, and she desperately wants to break it down.
Raquel has been promised to Christian since birth, it’s not a love match, but in time, she hopes that mutual respect for each other, will grow to love. The hunters from Ragnarok are unaware that their new witch isn’t as powerful as they were lead to believe. They have Lois, but they need more power to keep the portals from splitting open, and fire demons from roaming the earth.
The portals are opening more and more, and the hunters are getting worried. Something or someone is helping from the other side !!!!
Raquel feels the same way for Fen, as he does for her. He really has all the best intentions. (Unrequited love is always a page turner for me) But his wolf seems to have bonded to Raquel, and his alpha tendencies are beginning to show.
There are some really tender moments between Raquel and Fen, and some REALLY hot moments, and some funny scenes that had me snorting at the most inappropriate moments.
Oh and what about poor Christian, he has a duty to marry his witch, he is a pleaser, and has spent his entire life trying to make his family proud. So he feels compelled to complete his duty, even though his heart belongs to a certain Raven.
A battle puts Fen in an awkward position, does he put his pack or Raquel first, and it’s a battle Fen is losing more and more. All he thinks about is her, he smells her everywhere, and for the first time ever, Fen wants a bond with his little witch, because as far as he is concerned, she is HIS. And once he and Raquel decide to mate, wellllllllllllllllllllllll ……… HOT HOT HOT
Oh …….. and remember the something or someone helping on the other side to keep the portals open ? We met that person in book one And a twist I did not see coming, it came, and it caught me good.
I really liked this book, and although there wasn’t much sex, it wasn’t missed, as the point to the book, was abstinence, and the duties we try to uphold, even though they aren’t the ones we like. I’m hoping Christian gets his book soon, and he gets his little raven.
Only male wolves are born in this story, they meet their mates, usually human or supernatural, bite and bond. But this story is so different, only the males bond, females can leave whenever they want, no commitment !! (Well that sucks !!) Once a male bonds, he bonds for the rest of his loooooooooong life. So if a male wolf doesn’t want to bond, (as the trigger is sex, then he stays either a virgin, or shares a female with other males of his pack)
One of Fen’s pack bonded to a female years ago, when they were both young, she met her future husband, and never looked back, poor Brian still pines for her, even though he hates her. Fen also swears never to have kids, as they will be male, and he doesn’t want to see his sons live the same life he has. Then Fen meets his best friend’s fiancée, Raquel. And Bang !!! He feels something he has never felt for another female before. But he is sure it will pass with time, he just needs to avoid her.
Raquel has the potential to be a really powerful witch. But she has a block, whether it was from birth, or a spell, she doesn’t know. But she feels her power behind a wall, and she desperately wants to break it down.
Raquel has been promised to Christian since birth, it’s not a love match, but in time, she hopes that mutual respect for each other, will grow to love. The hunters from Ragnarok are unaware that their new witch isn’t as powerful as they were lead to believe. They have Lois, but they need more power to keep the portals from splitting open, and fire demons from roaming the earth.
The portals are opening more and more, and the hunters are getting worried. Something or someone is helping from the other side !!!!
Raquel feels the same way for Fen, as he does for her. He really has all the best intentions. (Unrequited love is always a page turner for me) But his wolf seems to have bonded to Raquel, and his alpha tendencies are beginning to show.
There are some really tender moments between Raquel and Fen, and some REALLY hot moments, and some funny scenes that had me snorting at the most inappropriate moments.
Oh and what about poor Christian, he has a duty to marry his witch, he is a pleaser, and has spent his entire life trying to make his family proud. So he feels compelled to complete his duty, even though his heart belongs to a certain Raven.
A battle puts Fen in an awkward position, does he put his pack or Raquel first, and it’s a battle Fen is losing more and more. All he thinks about is her, he smells her everywhere, and for the first time ever, Fen wants a bond with his little witch, because as far as he is concerned, she is HIS. And once he and Raquel decide to mate, wellllllllllllllllllllllll ……… HOT HOT HOT
Oh …….. and remember the something or someone helping on the other side to keep the portals open ? We met that person in book one And a twist I did not see coming, it came, and it caught me good.
I really liked this book, and although there wasn’t much sex, it wasn’t missed, as the point to the book, was abstinence, and the duties we try to uphold, even though they aren’t the ones we like. I’m hoping Christian gets his book soon, and he gets his little raven.
July 6, 2013
You can aslo find my review on my blog:
http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/07...
This is the second book in Eleri Stone’s Twilight of the Gods Series and for me, was a fresh look at paranormal and I truly enjoyed it!
Nervous and excited, Raquel Lindgren steps through a portal to meet the man she is betrothed to and to meet the new clan she will eventually be the head witch for. Only there’s a few problems….one major one being she hasn’t exactly come into her full powers yet. The powers are there, just simmering beyond the surface and she needs to figure out how to reach into herself and grasp them. Of course, this has to happen at the same time as demons have been attacking through the portal between the worlds she is supposed to help strengthen. Another problem? Her sudden and intense attraction to Fen, the best man and best friend of the groom. What’s a young witch to do when the weight of the clan is on her shoulders and she has a terrible suspicion that she is marrying the wrong man?
For the last 28 years, Fen has come to grips with his decision to remain and unbounded hound…sadly, that means he will forever remain a virgin. You see, once a hound has sex, he’s bonded to that person forever. The down side to that? Something he’s seen time and time again. The partner the hound bonds to decided she no longer wants to be a part of it. Fen has decided that ignoring his desires will always be easier than having a mate who changes her mind….he’d been ok with that…yep, until he laid his eyes on Raquel. He knows there’s no way he can ignore what he feels for her…too bad she’s going to marry his best friend.
Raquel and Fen not only have to deal with their feelings toward each other, they have to deal with attacks from demons from another realm, Raquel’s issue with her powers, battles, injuries and turmoil within the clan. Will it prove to be too much?
This was a fantastic story. I loved the Norse mythology spin on paranormal and thought it was a fresh take on things. I truly appreciated reading legends that are something new and different! Raquel is a great heroine. She realizes her faults and is willing to do what it takes to fix them and become the woman and witch the people need, even if it means putting her own comfort and security aside. She knows to trust her instincts and is strong and loyal. Very admirable qualities. Fen is one of those deliciously dark and distant heroes that had me pining for him from the beginning. What Eleri did with the triangle between Raquel, Fen and Christian (the man she is supposed to marry) was nail-biting perfection. I felt for both Christian and Fen and for quite some time, couldn’t decide who I wanted Raquel to choose. That, to me, is the sign of great writing. Getting the reader to feel for all sides is a talent. Ultimately, I was Team Fen and was drooling over him! Of course, I won’t spoil it for you but I will say the last chapter was freaking AMAZING! A deliciously perfect ending!
I’m sure we will get to see more of Fen, Raquel, Christian and the whole clan because Eleri has hinted at more drama to come for the clan and our favorite members. Thank you, Ms. Stone, for a fresh and exciting read! I will be looking forward for more in the Twilight of the Gods Series!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
http://www.read-love-blog.com/2013/07...
This is the second book in Eleri Stone’s Twilight of the Gods Series and for me, was a fresh look at paranormal and I truly enjoyed it!
Nervous and excited, Raquel Lindgren steps through a portal to meet the man she is betrothed to and to meet the new clan she will eventually be the head witch for. Only there’s a few problems….one major one being she hasn’t exactly come into her full powers yet. The powers are there, just simmering beyond the surface and she needs to figure out how to reach into herself and grasp them. Of course, this has to happen at the same time as demons have been attacking through the portal between the worlds she is supposed to help strengthen. Another problem? Her sudden and intense attraction to Fen, the best man and best friend of the groom. What’s a young witch to do when the weight of the clan is on her shoulders and she has a terrible suspicion that she is marrying the wrong man?
For the last 28 years, Fen has come to grips with his decision to remain and unbounded hound…sadly, that means he will forever remain a virgin. You see, once a hound has sex, he’s bonded to that person forever. The down side to that? Something he’s seen time and time again. The partner the hound bonds to decided she no longer wants to be a part of it. Fen has decided that ignoring his desires will always be easier than having a mate who changes her mind….he’d been ok with that…yep, until he laid his eyes on Raquel. He knows there’s no way he can ignore what he feels for her…too bad she’s going to marry his best friend.
Raquel and Fen not only have to deal with their feelings toward each other, they have to deal with attacks from demons from another realm, Raquel’s issue with her powers, battles, injuries and turmoil within the clan. Will it prove to be too much?
This was a fantastic story. I loved the Norse mythology spin on paranormal and thought it was a fresh take on things. I truly appreciated reading legends that are something new and different! Raquel is a great heroine. She realizes her faults and is willing to do what it takes to fix them and become the woman and witch the people need, even if it means putting her own comfort and security aside. She knows to trust her instincts and is strong and loyal. Very admirable qualities. Fen is one of those deliciously dark and distant heroes that had me pining for him from the beginning. What Eleri did with the triangle between Raquel, Fen and Christian (the man she is supposed to marry) was nail-biting perfection. I felt for both Christian and Fen and for quite some time, couldn’t decide who I wanted Raquel to choose. That, to me, is the sign of great writing. Getting the reader to feel for all sides is a talent. Ultimately, I was Team Fen and was drooling over him! Of course, I won’t spoil it for you but I will say the last chapter was freaking AMAZING! A deliciously perfect ending!
I’m sure we will get to see more of Fen, Raquel, Christian and the whole clan because Eleri has hinted at more drama to come for the clan and our favorite members. Thank you, Ms. Stone, for a fresh and exciting read! I will be looking forward for more in the Twilight of the Gods Series!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 19, 2013
4.25 out of 5 Stars; I read this book in one day. I could not put it down. I was not sure what direction the author was going to take and what Raquel was going to do. She had a lot to deal with…the contract of the arranged marriage and then her feelings for another man. Plus, she was a witch who was supposes to save the town from the demons trying to kill them.
Did I feel connected to the characters? Yes. I loved Raquel. She takes responsibilities for her actions. She is strong and just a good, honest person.
I normally have issues when a girl tells a man how she feels before the guy tells her. I am old fashioned that way. I like the man to chase the girl. However, you never get the feeling that Raquel is desperate when she tells the man she loves how she feels before he expresses it to her. You understand why she has to tell him when she does.
When I met Fen in the first book in the series, Demon Crossing, I felt like he was a “blah” character and honestly was a little disappointed when I found out the second book was going to be about him. Well, Fen redeemed himself. Within the first few pages, I was questioning whether this was the same Fen from Demon Crossings. Honestly, I had to check.
In Demons Crossings, I did not have a good visual of Fen either. Not sure exactly how pictured him, but in Witch Bound, I picture him to look like Adam Levine. Not sure what the author had in mind when she wrote his character, but now I am curious. Anyway, I fell for Fen in this book. I understood why Fen acted the way he did.. a little passive about his love for Raquel. I think Fen’s narrative was written very well in this book.
Pace of the story: Very good.
Positives: I feel like the main characters were more likable in this book. Even though there was a lot of information about the demons and witches, I information flowed with the story. I liked the whole story about the arranged marriage with Raquel and Christian.
Negatives: The men, except for Fen, can be kind of jerky. I want there to be an alpha in the third book that is all about “fight for my woman.”
Do I recommend: I liked this one a lot.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed the sequel a lot more than the first one in the series. So glad I picked up this series. I like when the second book is better than the first. I still want to know more about Vanir.
Book Format Read: A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Did I feel connected to the characters? Yes. I loved Raquel. She takes responsibilities for her actions. She is strong and just a good, honest person.
I normally have issues when a girl tells a man how she feels before the guy tells her. I am old fashioned that way. I like the man to chase the girl. However, you never get the feeling that Raquel is desperate when she tells the man she loves how she feels before he expresses it to her. You understand why she has to tell him when she does.
When I met Fen in the first book in the series, Demon Crossing, I felt like he was a “blah” character and honestly was a little disappointed when I found out the second book was going to be about him. Well, Fen redeemed himself. Within the first few pages, I was questioning whether this was the same Fen from Demon Crossings. Honestly, I had to check.
In Demons Crossings, I did not have a good visual of Fen either. Not sure exactly how pictured him, but in Witch Bound, I picture him to look like Adam Levine. Not sure what the author had in mind when she wrote his character, but now I am curious. Anyway, I fell for Fen in this book. I understood why Fen acted the way he did.. a little passive about his love for Raquel. I think Fen’s narrative was written very well in this book.
Pace of the story: Very good.
Positives: I feel like the main characters were more likable in this book. Even though there was a lot of information about the demons and witches, I information flowed with the story. I liked the whole story about the arranged marriage with Raquel and Christian.
Negatives: The men, except for Fen, can be kind of jerky. I want there to be an alpha in the third book that is all about “fight for my woman.”
Do I recommend: I liked this one a lot.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed the sequel a lot more than the first one in the series. So glad I picked up this series. I like when the second book is better than the first. I still want to know more about Vanir.
Book Format Read: A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2013
Book Review- Witch Bound by Eleri Stone
This is the second book in the Twilight of the Gods series. I have not read the first book but I intend to after reading this one. The plot included a world centered around Norse god Odin and the place he made for his people among the humans. The story takes place in an Iowa town where Raquel is sent to become the clan witch. She has been expected to do this since before she was born. Her parents have arranged a marriage for her with Christian, a hunter for the clan. Raquel is a powerful witch but is unable to tap into her power. She has a block that she is not able to get through. She worries that the arrangement will be void if the clan finds out.
However, she has more problems. The current clan witch is out to prove that Raquel is not as strong or knowledgeable as she claims. Christian is only fulfilling the contract out of duty, not for any feelings he has for Raquel. The fault which lies near the clan in Iowa allowing the clan to reach Asgard is weakening and demons are passing through more frequently than they should. The hunt is happening more often than the moon usually allows. And finally, there is Fen. He is a hound that helps with the hunt when demons pass through the portal made by the weakened fault.
The moment Raquel passed through the portal and ended up in Iowa as her new home, her eyes fell on Christian filled with hope and excitement. They also fell on Fen and a sudden tingle traveled through her. This attraction will come to play as the plot unfolds.
I really liked this story. The plot included modern day Vikings and the connection between these Vikings and Odin, the Norse god. It was something different from what I normally read. I loved the characters and how they struggled with the places they find themselves. Raquel has to decide if honor is more important than love, even if the one she loves doesn’t want her. She also has to discover why her powers are blocked and what will happen when she breaks through the barrier. This story had it all; arranged marriages, demons, magic, witches, werehounds, sword fights, jealousy, death, heart break and finally love. I would recommend this book to anyone. Loved it… I would give it 5 out of 5.
This is the second book in the Twilight of the Gods series. I have not read the first book but I intend to after reading this one. The plot included a world centered around Norse god Odin and the place he made for his people among the humans. The story takes place in an Iowa town where Raquel is sent to become the clan witch. She has been expected to do this since before she was born. Her parents have arranged a marriage for her with Christian, a hunter for the clan. Raquel is a powerful witch but is unable to tap into her power. She has a block that she is not able to get through. She worries that the arrangement will be void if the clan finds out.
However, she has more problems. The current clan witch is out to prove that Raquel is not as strong or knowledgeable as she claims. Christian is only fulfilling the contract out of duty, not for any feelings he has for Raquel. The fault which lies near the clan in Iowa allowing the clan to reach Asgard is weakening and demons are passing through more frequently than they should. The hunt is happening more often than the moon usually allows. And finally, there is Fen. He is a hound that helps with the hunt when demons pass through the portal made by the weakened fault.
The moment Raquel passed through the portal and ended up in Iowa as her new home, her eyes fell on Christian filled with hope and excitement. They also fell on Fen and a sudden tingle traveled through her. This attraction will come to play as the plot unfolds.
I really liked this story. The plot included modern day Vikings and the connection between these Vikings and Odin, the Norse god. It was something different from what I normally read. I loved the characters and how they struggled with the places they find themselves. Raquel has to decide if honor is more important than love, even if the one she loves doesn’t want her. She also has to discover why her powers are blocked and what will happen when she breaks through the barrier. This story had it all; arranged marriages, demons, magic, witches, werehounds, sword fights, jealousy, death, heart break and finally love. I would recommend this book to anyone. Loved it… I would give it 5 out of 5.
May 24, 2013
Witch Bound was a really good read, and I loved it! Exciting and different with a mix of magic and Viking lore to give it that little something to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd. I hadn't read the first book in the Twilight of the Gods Series, but you can be sure I'll be looking for it now. The author did a fabulous job writing this book, and has gained a very devoted fan in me!
Raquel is just someone that I had no trouble liking, she is strong and talented and not afraid to do whatever she has to in order to help the people in her new town. She is incredibly gifted magically, but has a kind of block keeping her from using her magic fully. Fen is a Hound, and has sworn to never take a mate because he's seen how badly a poor mating can turn out. Needless to say he resists falling for Raquel as best he can. I love a story that makes me really wonder if a couple are going to be able to make it against the odds the way this one did.
This was the best book I had read in a while. It was unique, not a lot of paranormal romance deals with Viking lore the way this one does, and interesting enough kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could to find out how it all would end. The characters were very likeable and there are even a couple side characters that I'd like to see get their own story. Even though this book is the second in the series you could read it and not be too lost, but as usual I recommend reading the first book first. Overall great read!
***Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley for my honest review***
Raquel is just someone that I had no trouble liking, she is strong and talented and not afraid to do whatever she has to in order to help the people in her new town. She is incredibly gifted magically, but has a kind of block keeping her from using her magic fully. Fen is a Hound, and has sworn to never take a mate because he's seen how badly a poor mating can turn out. Needless to say he resists falling for Raquel as best he can. I love a story that makes me really wonder if a couple are going to be able to make it against the odds the way this one did.
This was the best book I had read in a while. It was unique, not a lot of paranormal romance deals with Viking lore the way this one does, and interesting enough kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could to find out how it all would end. The characters were very likeable and there are even a couple side characters that I'd like to see get their own story. Even though this book is the second in the series you could read it and not be too lost, but as usual I recommend reading the first book first. Overall great read!
***Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley for my honest review***
June 30, 2013
Although this novel is the second in this fantasy series, it stands alone well enough that I didn't feel lost. I will certainly go back and read the first one now, so that I can wallow in the details that were hinted at in this book.
Now, I'd call this fantasy with a historical (mythology) bent, with the added bonus of a neatly set-up love triangle. It's also the story of a young woman coming into her self and her power, so as such the novel has an uplifting quality to is as well.
Witch Bound is well-written and compelling. I loved the magic system and mythological details that were sewn into the story line. The romance bits weren't half-bad either. Especially the chemistry between the the ones who weren't supposed to be attracted to each other.
It's a must read!
Now, I'd call this fantasy with a historical (mythology) bent, with the added bonus of a neatly set-up love triangle. It's also the story of a young woman coming into her self and her power, so as such the novel has an uplifting quality to is as well.
Witch Bound is well-written and compelling. I loved the magic system and mythological details that were sewn into the story line. The romance bits weren't half-bad either. Especially the chemistry between the the ones who weren't supposed to be attracted to each other.
It's a must read!
June 28, 2013
Stayed up late finishing this one. Excellent blend of paranormal and romance. Cool Norse-magic--demons, other dimensions, both Hounds and crow shape-shifters, runes--set in Ragnarok, Iowa. I was intrigued by Fen's character in book one Demon Crossings (which I also loved) and happy to see him get his own book. His romance with Raquel was both tender and hot--he'd never kissed anyone before Raquel *swoon*. Hope there's more coming in this series as there are a ton of interesting secondary characters: Christian, Elin, Rane, Kamis...
June 30, 2013
Great fantasy romance. I particularly like the legend and lore built into the novel, and the system of magic in the world is compelling and intriguing. As was the built-in love triangle. I really like the way Norse-like mythology was an integral part of the plotting.
I haven't read the first book in the series, but this novel felt like it stood on it's own so that wasn't an issue. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, paranormal and magic with sides of danger and light romance.
I haven't read the first book in the series, but this novel felt like it stood on it's own so that wasn't an issue. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, paranormal and magic with sides of danger and light romance.
July 2, 2013
"5 out of 5 stars!! This is a romance about a girl who is still coming into her own while being thrown into situation after situation she never expected to be in, especially when one of those situations happens to be falling for her groom's best man!"
Read more of this review and two teasers here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2013/07/idolizing-in-twilight-of-gods-series.html
Read more of this review and two teasers here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2013/07/idolizing-in-twilight-of-gods-series.html
June 29, 2013
I really enjoy this book. The heroine is really terrific. She's strong and very likable. This series is very interesting. There's a mixture of Viking myth with magic. It's a refreshing take on the paranormal genre....
May 27, 2014
Captured my imagination from 1st page and couldn't stop read, Great complex characters, sexy romance between two characters who liked each other & were friends as well as lusted after each other, great world-building. Look forward to more.
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id...
August 28, 2015
Second of the series that illuminates more of the lore binding the two worlds, the guardians & more specific roles & functions of other members in the clan.
Interesting conflict of arranged marriages & yearnings of the heart.
Interesting conflict of arranged marriages & yearnings of the heart.
Want to read
May 30, 2013* Received as ARC provided by Carina Press and NetGalley.
May 10, 2014
Solid B-. I read this for Smart Bitches, Trashy Book's RITA Reader Challenge. So I shall reread and get my thoughts together formally in a bit.
June 21, 2014
Really enjoyed this. Great world building and romance.
Read
January 12, 2016Miniseries: Twilight of the Gods
October 17, 2013
Excellent addition to the series. ~looks around for book 3~
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews