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Bound #1
Bound by Duty
Amelia grew up in a world of half-truths. She knows she's an Elder but has no idea what that means. Her father reminds her daily that she must maintain control but he refuses to explain why. Even worse, she's betrothed to the prince of the Immortals and she doesn't even know his name.
Finally breaking free to live a few normal years at a community college, the last thing Amelia expects is to find her best friend in a cheeky Southern girl and to fall for a self-assured human who sees her for who she is and not what she'll be.
As she learns more about herself, Amelia realizes the line between love and duty is a thin one. As her power continues to increase exponentially and her questions are slowly answered, Amelia must make the ultimate choice. The question is, will her head or her heart win the battle?
Finally breaking free to live a few normal years at a community college, the last thing Amelia expects is to find her best friend in a cheeky Southern girl and to fall for a self-assured human who sees her for who she is and not what she'll be.
As she learns more about herself, Amelia realizes the line between love and duty is a thin one. As her power continues to increase exponentially and her questions are slowly answered, Amelia must make the ultimate choice. The question is, will her head or her heart win the battle?
390 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2014
1241 people are currently reading
6287 people want to read
About the author
Stormy Smith
7 books348 followersStormy Smith is the author of the number one bestselling Bound series. She calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.
Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.
Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 432 reviews
July 1, 2015
Bound by Duty was such a fun and unique book that had a new a refreshing plot line and captivating characters. Amelia is an Elder (even though she has no idea what the heck an Elder is). She is engaged to the Prince of Immortals (did I mention that she doesn’t even know his name? Are you interested yet? Don’t lie, I know you are ;)
So to say the least Amelia’s life is full of secrets and an unknown future. I know, I know usually a new adults life has an unknown to them but hers is a very extreme case. So to escape this secretive world she lives in she decides before she has to give into her future of duty, she should live a few normal years of life. So she does just that! She enrolls into a community college where she meets her BFF (Bethany) and falls for a swoon worthy guy. She then needs to make the decision of either give into love or choose her duty.
Amelia was a very likable character from the start; she had a relatable feel to her that is always a plus in my book. I love how the plot line unraveled before you and the mystery of Amelia’s life unwound before your very eyes. I also really liked the love story between Aiden and her BUT there was definitely some insta-love going on which does annoy me when it happens in books.
Some of the events that happen in this book got a bit confusing at times especially when it came to describing the powers Amelia has. I wish they were described better then they were but at least i got an idea of what they were.
The climax of the book was very good and caught me by surprise. It had me on the edge of my seat and I actually had to put the book down for a few minutes to calm myself. The book isn’t without fault though, I liked the writing style but didn’t love it. But other than that it was a solid book that I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a secret society, a sexy guy or two and a story main character.
So yes, if you cannot tell, I really enjoyed this book and give it a 3.8/5 stars!
So to say the least Amelia’s life is full of secrets and an unknown future. I know, I know usually a new adults life has an unknown to them but hers is a very extreme case. So to escape this secretive world she lives in she decides before she has to give into her future of duty, she should live a few normal years of life. So she does just that! She enrolls into a community college where she meets her BFF (Bethany) and falls for a swoon worthy guy. She then needs to make the decision of either give into love or choose her duty.
Amelia was a very likable character from the start; she had a relatable feel to her that is always a plus in my book. I love how the plot line unraveled before you and the mystery of Amelia’s life unwound before your very eyes. I also really liked the love story between Aiden and her BUT there was definitely some insta-love going on which does annoy me when it happens in books.
Some of the events that happen in this book got a bit confusing at times especially when it came to describing the powers Amelia has. I wish they were described better then they were but at least i got an idea of what they were.
The climax of the book was very good and caught me by surprise. It had me on the edge of my seat and I actually had to put the book down for a few minutes to calm myself. The book isn’t without fault though, I liked the writing style but didn’t love it. But other than that it was a solid book that I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a secret society, a sexy guy or two and a story main character.
So yes, if you cannot tell, I really enjoyed this book and give it a 3.8/5 stars!
March 5, 2015
THE BEST URBAN FANTASY I HAVE READ IN A LONG TIME.
This book was filled with surprises! I loved the characters, plot, romance and MAGIC MAGIC MAGIC.
I loved watching the main character learn to enhance her abilities and use them in fights.....or just when her brother/and friends annoyed her.
Such a fantastic book filled with TWO main shocking plot twists but many small ones which I loved.
I NEED THE NEXT BOOK. NOW OMG OMG NOW OMG
This book was filled with surprises! I loved the characters, plot, romance and MAGIC MAGIC MAGIC.
I loved watching the main character learn to enhance her abilities and use them in fights.....or just when her brother/and friends annoyed her.
Such a fantastic book filled with TWO main shocking plot twists but many small ones which I loved.
I NEED THE NEXT BOOK. NOW OMG OMG NOW OMG
October 21, 2016
I was given an eBook of Bound by Duty in exchange for an honest review. But you know that's the only kind I give ;)
So, y'all know I loooove me some PNR (Paranormal Romance) and I am always excited when I find a new (or new-to-me) author. But not everyone can write a good PNR story. Well, Stormy Smith can. Flat out, this girl can write.
Bound by Duty is written exactly how I prefer my PNR books. There is a lot of explanation - because no two author's worlds are the same - but it is mixed into the story in a way that keeps it from being boring.
Amelia, our heroine, is great. As a character she has very relatable family issues - issues that are made even more complicated by their, um, abilities. It is hard to watch her at times, though. Many scenarios have Amelia acting on assumptions that aren't necessarily correct. As awful as it is to watch, what really made my heart hurt as a reader was the memories the book evoked from me. No, I do not have supernatural powers (damn it!), but I have reacted without all of the facts before and I'm left wondering: "What would the reader be yelling at me?" The self-reflection is exactly why I say this book is well written. Amelia makes you think, cringe, cry, and cheer - she becomes very real to the reader.
Aiden starts off as appearing to be a super-fun, flirty counter-part to the closed-off Amelia. But, he becomes so, so much more than. My heart hurt for him on more than one occasion. You just cannot help but <3 him.
Micha and Bethany are fantastic supporting characters. Micha is very interesting. The beginning of the book had me questioning his intentions and motives. As the story progresses you get a much better understanding of who he is and what he really wants. Bethany is the best friend you cannot help but love! However, she is so sweet and understanding, I kept waiting for the bottom to drop out from underneath her. I have a very bad feeling about poor Bethany...
Cole (Amelia's brother) is a character I hope to see more of in the future, but not because he is SO awesome. Nope, it's because I feel that maybe Ms. Smith is holding back from us when it comes to Cole. He is very, well, dry. Yeah, dry is a perfect description. Especially for owning an MMA training facility. I really hope that his character will become more colorful as the books progress.
Overall, I am honored that Stormy gave me the chance to review this book I highly suggest you pick it (and the second book, Bound by Spells) up today. TODAY. Clear your calendar at start reading.
So, y'all know I loooove me some PNR (Paranormal Romance) and I am always excited when I find a new (or new-to-me) author. But not everyone can write a good PNR story. Well, Stormy Smith can. Flat out, this girl can write.
Bound by Duty is written exactly how I prefer my PNR books. There is a lot of explanation - because no two author's worlds are the same - but it is mixed into the story in a way that keeps it from being boring.
Amelia, our heroine, is great. As a character she has very relatable family issues - issues that are made even more complicated by their, um, abilities. It is hard to watch her at times, though. Many scenarios have Amelia acting on assumptions that aren't necessarily correct. As awful as it is to watch, what really made my heart hurt as a reader was the memories the book evoked from me. No, I do not have supernatural powers (damn it!), but I have reacted without all of the facts before and I'm left wondering: "What would the reader be yelling at me?" The self-reflection is exactly why I say this book is well written. Amelia makes you think, cringe, cry, and cheer - she becomes very real to the reader.
Aiden starts off as appearing to be a super-fun, flirty counter-part to the closed-off Amelia. But, he becomes so, so much more than. My heart hurt for him on more than one occasion. You just cannot help but <3 him.
Micha and Bethany are fantastic supporting characters. Micha is very interesting. The beginning of the book had me questioning his intentions and motives. As the story progresses you get a much better understanding of who he is and what he really wants. Bethany is the best friend you cannot help but love! However, she is so sweet and understanding, I kept waiting for the bottom to drop out from underneath her. I have a very bad feeling about poor Bethany...
Cole (Amelia's brother) is a character I hope to see more of in the future, but not because he is SO awesome. Nope, it's because I feel that maybe Ms. Smith is holding back from us when it comes to Cole. He is very, well, dry. Yeah, dry is a perfect description. Especially for owning an MMA training facility. I really hope that his character will become more colorful as the books progress.
Overall, I am honored that Stormy gave me the chance to review this book I highly suggest you pick it (and the second book, Bound by Spells) up today. TODAY. Clear your calendar at start reading.
July 24, 2015
This book was one of my favourite reads this year! a review to follow!
November 5, 2015
I was sent this book by the author for and honest review, so thank you so much, Stormy! This book started out strong, but then lacked in the middle. I did enjoy the ending though. The problem I had with this book was there was SO MANY SECRETS. Every chapter it seemed like someone was keeping a secret from Amelia or she was the one keeping the secret, that got repetitive and aggravating. Another thing that bugged me was all Amelia and her best friend Bethany talked about was boys, NOTHING else. I like more diversity in best friend convos.
July 15, 2014
YEEEESSSSS!!!!!!!!
All my favorite things wrapped up in one book!
Magic.
Monarchy.
Mystery.
Mouth-watering Men.
(Haha. No picture here. Too many men to choose from and researching pictures is distracting me).
Mendacity.
(Yes. I did google a synonym for the word deception so I would be able to keep with my theme of words beginning with the letter "m". Get over it.)
The five "m"s are all here in this book about a college student named Amelia who is desperate for the freedom of choice that her peers all seem to have.
But does Amelia really have a choice? She has magic she cannot control or understand, and she has a destiny that was forced upon her since birth. What she wants is impractical and impossible.
Or is it?
Before I venture to my feelings about the book since I've now read it, let me share one thing.
I LOVED this story.
I loved the power within Amelia. I loved the struggle she faced as her power grew more and more untamed. (Muh ha ha. I love it when things get out of control).
I loved the relationship between Amelia and her brother, Cole. I can't get enough of stories that include sibling relationship whether they be sweet or tenuous. I love that bro/sis bond. It adds a realness to the story even when there are those paranormal elements because I can feel and relate to those emotions so acutely since siblings are so important to me.
Though I gotta admit that I'm worried. Amelia has such a love for Cole. She trusts him and depends on him, but I'm still wary about him at times. He's lied so much that I just can't trust him. I feel like he still isn't telling the truth about everything and that something is going to be revealed in the next book like he's a crazy serial killer or something. Because I swear, there's just this vibe about him that seems off. I could be TOTALLY wrong. Dear God, please let me be wrong. But if not, I hope Stormy will redeem him in some way. Oh gosh, and here I go, plotting out various scenarios on how this series can develop. I'll not bore you with them. I have quite an imagination for the different ways this story could turn.
I loved Amelia's best friend, Bethany. Bethany is such a strong, identifiable character that I feel like if she were to be taken out of this book and put in another one, I would still know it was her. She has such a presence in the book that whether she's talking or simply present in the room, I know it's her. Her behavior is so different from the other characters, so defining, that it can't be anyone but her.
I loved how female Elder are more powerful than male Elders. Don't get me wrong. I'm no feminist. But I do get excited when men get put in their place just a little bit. They think they're so tough. So powerful. Well, hahahaha to you, men. Because in this story, it's the females who have the most power. Amelia isn't a helpless damsel. She is something that no man can ever be. And it's AWESOME!!!!
And most of all, I loved that the plot was constantly thickening, evolving, and moving forward. I was always intrigued, always hungrily trying to figure out the unknown before it was revealed, and always surprised with something new that I hadn't seen coming.
There's another word with the letter "m" that I wish to address and that is...
Micah.
Yes. Yes. I know that there is a guy in the book by the name of Aidan who is the love interest for Amelia. And I'm not saying he shouldn't be the love interest. I'm just saying that I like Micah. I really really like Micah.
And maybe I'm crazy. Maybe I'm an idiot. How much do we know about the guy anyway? Can he be trusted? Or is he playing Amelia? Is he just some boring, proper guy like Amelia has been telling us from practically the start?
I don't know what it is about Micah. That sandy blond hair? The way he ties it with a leather band? His status as a prince? The mystery behind his character?
Or is it the training sessions he had with Amelia? All that time and effort he put into helping her learn about her power and how to use it? She wasn't even his girlfriend! Amelia had Aidan, and Micah had Bethany, yet Micah spent a good chunk of his energy assisting and encouraging Amelia.
Now, maybe we'll learn that he had some evil motive to explain for all his actions...but right now, I see him as noble.
No.
Not noble because he's royalty.
Noble because he's the kind of guy who seems to think about others first. He clearly has feelings for Bethany, yet he sacrificed his time with her to train Amelia. (And I'm hoping it's because he has some secret desire to want to restore the kingdom to peace or whatever, and that his actions are not because he's really trying to steal Amelia's powers or manipulate her for some evil purpose).
Whatever the case, I'm excited to learn more about Micah in the next book.
As for Aidan, that guy is literally so sweet and so loving that it's just really endearing. And I feel so bad for the guy all the time. I completely understand Amelia's actions and outbursts, but Aidan seems to always be the poor sod that gets the brunt of her frustration. She's so hot and cold with him (for good reason), but the guy is put through hell. Seriously. It tears me up inside.
There's still a lot of mystery with the family and whatnot. I feel like I can't trust or believe anyone at this point, and I really really want the next book right now so I know what's gonna happen next. I mean, is everyone a traitor and a liar? Or is this just some vibe I've randomly picked up? These are things I want to know now!
Plus, what about that ending? I mean, where is this all gonna go now?
Gah!
And now to end this review, here's the lovely Beyonce. Why? Because I can. And because Beyonce is awesome and makes me happy. And since I'm not going to get the second book for a very long time, I have to find something to entertain myself, and Beyonce's dancing is very good at doing that.
All my favorite things wrapped up in one book!
Magic.
Monarchy.
Mystery.
Mouth-watering Men.
(Haha. No picture here. Too many men to choose from and researching pictures is distracting me).
Mendacity.
(Yes. I did google a synonym for the word deception so I would be able to keep with my theme of words beginning with the letter "m". Get over it.)
The five "m"s are all here in this book about a college student named Amelia who is desperate for the freedom of choice that her peers all seem to have.
But does Amelia really have a choice? She has magic she cannot control or understand, and she has a destiny that was forced upon her since birth. What she wants is impractical and impossible.
Or is it?
Before I venture to my feelings about the book since I've now read it, let me share one thing.
I LOVED this story.
I loved the power within Amelia. I loved the struggle she faced as her power grew more and more untamed. (Muh ha ha. I love it when things get out of control).
I loved the relationship between Amelia and her brother, Cole. I can't get enough of stories that include sibling relationship whether they be sweet or tenuous. I love that bro/sis bond. It adds a realness to the story even when there are those paranormal elements because I can feel and relate to those emotions so acutely since siblings are so important to me.
Though I gotta admit that I'm worried. Amelia has such a love for Cole. She trusts him and depends on him, but I'm still wary about him at times. He's lied so much that I just can't trust him. I feel like he still isn't telling the truth about everything and that something is going to be revealed in the next book like he's a crazy serial killer or something. Because I swear, there's just this vibe about him that seems off. I could be TOTALLY wrong. Dear God, please let me be wrong. But if not, I hope Stormy will redeem him in some way. Oh gosh, and here I go, plotting out various scenarios on how this series can develop. I'll not bore you with them. I have quite an imagination for the different ways this story could turn.
I loved Amelia's best friend, Bethany. Bethany is such a strong, identifiable character that I feel like if she were to be taken out of this book and put in another one, I would still know it was her. She has such a presence in the book that whether she's talking or simply present in the room, I know it's her. Her behavior is so different from the other characters, so defining, that it can't be anyone but her.
I loved how female Elder are more powerful than male Elders. Don't get me wrong. I'm no feminist. But I do get excited when men get put in their place just a little bit. They think they're so tough. So powerful. Well, hahahaha to you, men. Because in this story, it's the females who have the most power. Amelia isn't a helpless damsel. She is something that no man can ever be. And it's AWESOME!!!!
And most of all, I loved that the plot was constantly thickening, evolving, and moving forward. I was always intrigued, always hungrily trying to figure out the unknown before it was revealed, and always surprised with something new that I hadn't seen coming.
There's another word with the letter "m" that I wish to address and that is...
Micah.
Yes. Yes. I know that there is a guy in the book by the name of Aidan who is the love interest for Amelia. And I'm not saying he shouldn't be the love interest. I'm just saying that I like Micah. I really really like Micah.
And maybe I'm crazy. Maybe I'm an idiot. How much do we know about the guy anyway? Can he be trusted? Or is he playing Amelia? Is he just some boring, proper guy like Amelia has been telling us from practically the start?
I don't know what it is about Micah. That sandy blond hair? The way he ties it with a leather band? His status as a prince? The mystery behind his character?
Or is it the training sessions he had with Amelia? All that time and effort he put into helping her learn about her power and how to use it? She wasn't even his girlfriend! Amelia had Aidan, and Micah had Bethany, yet Micah spent a good chunk of his energy assisting and encouraging Amelia.
Now, maybe we'll learn that he had some evil motive to explain for all his actions...but right now, I see him as noble.
No.
Not noble because he's royalty.
Noble because he's the kind of guy who seems to think about others first. He clearly has feelings for Bethany, yet he sacrificed his time with her to train Amelia. (And I'm hoping it's because he has some secret desire to want to restore the kingdom to peace or whatever, and that his actions are not because he's really trying to steal Amelia's powers or manipulate her for some evil purpose).
Whatever the case, I'm excited to learn more about Micah in the next book.
As for Aidan, that guy is literally so sweet and so loving that it's just really endearing. And I feel so bad for the guy all the time. I completely understand Amelia's actions and outbursts, but Aidan seems to always be the poor sod that gets the brunt of her frustration. She's so hot and cold with him (for good reason), but the guy is put through hell. Seriously. It tears me up inside.
There's still a lot of mystery with the family and whatnot. I feel like I can't trust or believe anyone at this point, and I really really want the next book right now so I know what's gonna happen next. I mean, is everyone a traitor and a liar? Or is this just some vibe I've randomly picked up? These are things I want to know now!
Plus, what about that ending? I mean, where is this all gonna go now?
Gah!
And now to end this review, here's the lovely Beyonce. Why? Because I can. And because Beyonce is awesome and makes me happy. And since I'm not going to get the second book for a very long time, I have to find something to entertain myself, and Beyonce's dancing is very good at doing that.
January 22, 2015
Bound by Duty had so many things going for it that I really liked. Magic, mystery, and hot hot guys. I don't think there's much I can say about this book that Leah hasn't already covered, but I'll give it a try... Bound by Duty isn't a book I would usually pick up, so I'm glad that I had heard such great things about it.
The main character in this book is Amelia. I loved the struggles she faces with her powers and how she handles everything. I love her relationship with her brother Cole. I love strong stories that include amazing sibling bonds. The two other characters in it are Micah and Aidan. I loved both of them so much! I don't know which one of them I liked more. If I had to choose... Probably Aidan. He's so sweet, a little thirsty.
but sweet. I did however hate how Amelia treats him. She's so back and forth with him... Ugh sometimes it go on my nerves. Aidan and Amelia are both so much more than meets the eye. It really doesn't hurt that he says things like this...
"I don't know. Probably because that's what my dad called my mom. I have
some of their old letters and he always called her doll."
SIGH so stinking cute. This book was fast paced with lots of surprises. I can't wait to see where this book goes... because with that ending I have no idea really where it's heading.
Read this review and more on our blog:
http://southernbredsouthernread.blogs...
http://southernbredsouthernread.blogs...
http://southernbredsouthernread.blogs...
The main character in this book is Amelia. I loved the struggles she faces with her powers and how she handles everything. I love her relationship with her brother Cole. I love strong stories that include amazing sibling bonds. The two other characters in it are Micah and Aidan. I loved both of them so much! I don't know which one of them I liked more. If I had to choose... Probably Aidan. He's so sweet, a little thirsty.
but sweet. I did however hate how Amelia treats him. She's so back and forth with him... Ugh sometimes it go on my nerves. Aidan and Amelia are both so much more than meets the eye. It really doesn't hurt that he says things like this...
"I don't know. Probably because that's what my dad called my mom. I have
some of their old letters and he always called her doll."
SIGH so stinking cute. This book was fast paced with lots of surprises. I can't wait to see where this book goes... because with that ending I have no idea really where it's heading.
Read this review and more on our blog:
http://southernbredsouthernread.blogs...
http://southernbredsouthernread.blogs...
http://southernbredsouthernread.blogs...
March 21, 2015
JUST A BIG NOOOO YOU GET ME NOOOO
I should have look carefully on the book description... but i was so captivated by this sentence betrothed to the prince of the Immortals and she doesn't even know his name I mean that sounded a lot like one of my favourite book cruel beauty
okay reasons why I hate this book:
THE PROTAGONIST OHMYGOD SHE'S SOO WEIRD reading in her perspective is utterly tormenting. She's your typical YA protagonist who thinks she's not girly but does the girly things...... LIKE FAINT
Everything about this book is just shallow and typical to the point where I just want to start crying
You got the best friend who's "girly"
You got the dude who smirks and has a lovely dimple that you can't take your eyes off
THE FREAKING INSTA LUST THAT IS SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF ME
he's gorgeous
I feel mysteriously drawn to this stranger, as if i've know him forever
I want to hate him, but I just can't because he look so good
I'm not good for him
and the next thing you know...
they kiss
oh and I almost forgot HE CALLS HER DOLL BECAUSE THATS HOW HIS FATHER CALLS HIS MOTHER.
The term "doll" just creeps me out a lot
LAST AND DEFINITELY THE BEST we have the DUN DUN DUN
I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath.
SO yeah I DNF this book @41% I'm so glad I bought this when it's 0.99 or I'll mentally kill myself.
I should have look carefully on the book description... but i was so captivated by this sentence betrothed to the prince of the Immortals and she doesn't even know his name I mean that sounded a lot like one of my favourite book cruel beauty
okay reasons why I hate this book:
THE PROTAGONIST OHMYGOD SHE'S SOO WEIRD reading in her perspective is utterly tormenting. She's your typical YA protagonist who thinks she's not girly but does the girly things...... LIKE FAINT
Everything about this book is just shallow and typical to the point where I just want to start crying
You got the best friend who's "girly"
You got the dude who smirks and has a lovely dimple that you can't take your eyes off
THE FREAKING INSTA LUST THAT IS SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF ME
he's gorgeous
I feel mysteriously drawn to this stranger, as if i've know him forever
I want to hate him, but I just can't because he look so good
I'm not good for him
and the next thing you know...
they kiss
oh and I almost forgot HE CALLS HER DOLL BECAUSE THATS HOW HIS FATHER CALLS HIS MOTHER.
The term "doll" just creeps me out a lot
LAST AND DEFINITELY THE BEST we have the DUN DUN DUN
I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath.
SO yeah I DNF this book @41% I'm so glad I bought this when it's 0.99 or I'll mentally kill myself.
August 29, 2016
After growing up in a world filled with half-truths, Amelia is still confused and lost. She knows she is an “Elder” but what does that mean? It isn’t like the title came with an instruction manual or that anyone bothered to enlighten her. Yes, she has some magical powers, yes, they are a little out of control at times and yes, she seems to getting more coming online with each passing day.
If you were at teen kept in the dark, what would you do? Amelia took the high road and went to college where she found her first best friend and a young man who loved her for herself, the person, not “The Elder.” She also discovers she is betrothed to the Prince of the Immortals, lovely, huh? No name, no picture, only the word “duty.” What if you love someone dearly and your heart knows he belongs with you? How do you choose between love and duty when you don’t know enough to make such a monumental decision? Would she be risking the safety of everyone she loves for the life she wants?
Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith is a little jog off the normal path many fantasy tales take. Fabulous characters, brilliant dialogue and a writing style that brings each scene to life, I have to say, the fact that Amelia KNEW she was different was a nice change. Keeping her in the dark, wow, kind of brutal, but it does give a new layer to the plot!
Fresh, fantastic and full of surprises, I say read it!
I received this copy from Stormy Smith in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Bound - Book 1
Publisher: Perfect Storm Publishing, LLC (July 23, 2014)
Publication Date: July 23, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 391 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
If you were at teen kept in the dark, what would you do? Amelia took the high road and went to college where she found her first best friend and a young man who loved her for herself, the person, not “The Elder.” She also discovers she is betrothed to the Prince of the Immortals, lovely, huh? No name, no picture, only the word “duty.” What if you love someone dearly and your heart knows he belongs with you? How do you choose between love and duty when you don’t know enough to make such a monumental decision? Would she be risking the safety of everyone she loves for the life she wants?
Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith is a little jog off the normal path many fantasy tales take. Fabulous characters, brilliant dialogue and a writing style that brings each scene to life, I have to say, the fact that Amelia KNEW she was different was a nice change. Keeping her in the dark, wow, kind of brutal, but it does give a new layer to the plot!
Fresh, fantastic and full of surprises, I say read it!
I received this copy from Stormy Smith in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Bound - Book 1
Publisher: Perfect Storm Publishing, LLC (July 23, 2014)
Publication Date: July 23, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 391 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 8, 2015
4 STARS - REALLY REALLY ENJOYED IT
I really, really enjoyed this ALOT. If I had problems, they are generally very small and inconsequential. I enjoyed the story and characters. I connected with the characters. I just generally had really great reading experience.
A really great paranormal romance. I had problems with the main character. I felt like she didn't think her decisions through alot, but overall, a great story I would recommend to fans of YA/NA paranormal romance (and it's not explicit!). I CANNOT WAIT for the sequel because DAMN THAT ENDING.
I really, really enjoyed this ALOT. If I had problems, they are generally very small and inconsequential. I enjoyed the story and characters. I connected with the characters. I just generally had really great reading experience.
A really great paranormal romance. I had problems with the main character. I felt like she didn't think her decisions through alot, but overall, a great story I would recommend to fans of YA/NA paranormal romance (and it's not explicit!). I CANNOT WAIT for the sequel because DAMN THAT ENDING.
May 19, 2015
3.75 stars
This DEFINITELY was an enjoyable read and I have a book talk on it if you want to check it out! Here is the link: https://youtu.be/QKmhG94doEg
This DEFINITELY was an enjoyable read and I have a book talk on it if you want to check it out! Here is the link: https://youtu.be/QKmhG94doEg
July 24, 2014
OMG!!! I loved this book and was heartbroken at its end...I can't wait to see what the next installment brings! I don’t know when…but there has to be one…and my one-clicker is soooooo ready!!!
Anyone who follows my reviews should know I read A LOT of dirty books ;) However, I love a good YA book now and again and this one is it! Add in the fact that it is paranormal and I had a true winner just handed to me! Thank you Stormy for allowing me a chance to review this for you <3
Amelia has hidden her powers in shame her whole life, felt unloved by her father and abandon by her brother. Always knowing she was different and that she was betrothed at birth to the son of the evil queen of the immortals that she has never laid eyes on. Her father refuses to talk about any of it leaving her completely unprepared for what is coming. Though she has finally left her father's home to seek a life of her own her magic has other plans…as do other immortals. Her whole life has been full of secrets and half truths which are being exposed rapidly as her power grows and she has more trouble controlling it. With so much being thrown at her all at once…those she loves being put in danger…and choices taken out of her hands what is a girl to do? Does she choose duty or love? Can she find out all the secrets and make a difference or is she destined to be the pawn of an evil queen?
I loved Amelia from the get go…though she is shy and reserved most of the time her honesty and no-nonsense attitude is entertaining, though it gets her in trouble a time or two. I admired her strength but felt so bad for her at times I just wanted to hug her.
Aiden….*swooooooon*… I love, love, loved him!!! Quiet, intense, edgy, and absolute yumminess wrapped up in a shielded and slightly broken package. There is so much more to him than meets the eye and I can't wait to find out if I am right…but I am not giving any spoilers :P
Micha…Didn't really trust him in the beginning, got a bad vibe. Loved him in the middle, though I had a few questioning moments but OMG…you won't believe his role in this story! Again, I feel there is so much more to him and am dying to see his story unfold.
This story was so well-written and easy to follow you will get sucked right in. I mean really I was all for going to bed but instead ended up reading until the wee hours of the morning because I had to know what happened! Stormy Smith has done an outstanding job and it blows me away this is her debut novel!!! Though I will warn you, this is not a total cliff hanger, but not a HEA either. There is no doubt you will be slightly heartbroken and itching for the next to find out what happens! This is a perfect read for ANYONE! Wrought with deceit, revelations, love, hatred, pain, magic, shifters, and an evil enemy this story is clean but emotionally draining. If you are a paranormal lover I cannot express to you enough how much you need to go and one-click this gem!
Anyone who follows my reviews should know I read A LOT of dirty books ;) However, I love a good YA book now and again and this one is it! Add in the fact that it is paranormal and I had a true winner just handed to me! Thank you Stormy for allowing me a chance to review this for you <3
Amelia has hidden her powers in shame her whole life, felt unloved by her father and abandon by her brother. Always knowing she was different and that she was betrothed at birth to the son of the evil queen of the immortals that she has never laid eyes on. Her father refuses to talk about any of it leaving her completely unprepared for what is coming. Though she has finally left her father's home to seek a life of her own her magic has other plans…as do other immortals. Her whole life has been full of secrets and half truths which are being exposed rapidly as her power grows and she has more trouble controlling it. With so much being thrown at her all at once…those she loves being put in danger…and choices taken out of her hands what is a girl to do? Does she choose duty or love? Can she find out all the secrets and make a difference or is she destined to be the pawn of an evil queen?
I loved Amelia from the get go…though she is shy and reserved most of the time her honesty and no-nonsense attitude is entertaining, though it gets her in trouble a time or two. I admired her strength but felt so bad for her at times I just wanted to hug her.
Aiden….*swooooooon*… I love, love, loved him!!! Quiet, intense, edgy, and absolute yumminess wrapped up in a shielded and slightly broken package. There is so much more to him than meets the eye and I can't wait to find out if I am right…but I am not giving any spoilers :P
Micha…Didn't really trust him in the beginning, got a bad vibe. Loved him in the middle, though I had a few questioning moments but OMG…you won't believe his role in this story! Again, I feel there is so much more to him and am dying to see his story unfold.
This story was so well-written and easy to follow you will get sucked right in. I mean really I was all for going to bed but instead ended up reading until the wee hours of the morning because I had to know what happened! Stormy Smith has done an outstanding job and it blows me away this is her debut novel!!! Though I will warn you, this is not a total cliff hanger, but not a HEA either. There is no doubt you will be slightly heartbroken and itching for the next to find out what happens! This is a perfect read for ANYONE! Wrought with deceit, revelations, love, hatred, pain, magic, shifters, and an evil enemy this story is clean but emotionally draining. If you are a paranormal lover I cannot express to you enough how much you need to go and one-click this gem!
December 14, 2015
Originally posted @ Miranda's Book Blog
I'm sitting here asking myself how can I express what this book has done to me, ahh I LOVED IT!! This is the BEST book that I have read this year!! This magical story evoked feelings within me that only a FEW books have been able to do EVER!
Right away I love Stormy's writing style. I'm not sure how to explain it but she has a way of making me feel at-home so to speak when reading her work. I guess what I mean to say is while reading Bound By Duty I felt that inane sense of familiarity and comfort. It's the whole reason why I fell in love with reading, and not many authors can invoke those feelings within me. Early on within the first 150 pages or say I knew that this story would go down in my favorites of all time!
First off I must say that there will not be any spoilers here. Trust me, I read the summary and made sure to NOT include anything that isn't already there for you to read. In the summary it mentions that Amelia is betrothed to a prince she'd never met. Add to that it also mentions that she doesn't even know his name. Now fast forward to the story, she meets two guys. One is Micah, he starts dating Amelia's best friend Bethany. The other is Aidan. Right away both Amelia and Aidan have some serious chemistry. I loved the sexual tension!
“Now I was falling faster than a comet plummeting to the earth, just waiting to create a giant explosion. Just like a comet, I had no idea exactly how much damage I would leave in my wake.”
Now I know I'm veering off, let me get back on track here. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? That either Micah or Aidan is the prince she's betrothed to? Of course I'm not going to tell you how it goes down, but ahh the suspense while reading!
One of my favorite characters is Bethany. She's a secondary character. I just love her southern flair and complete loyalty to her bestie Amelia! Of course I can't forget her sense of humor, she will have you laughing! Honestly as I continued on with the book I'd love to read a novella or spin off with Bethany as the protagonist!
This book pretty much has it all.
Strong character development - check
Magic (mages, shifters oh and an evil queen!) - check
Romance that will make your toes curl - check
Tons of mystery - check
Overall I don't think I will be able to eat, sleep or do anything until I get my hands on the next book! All I can say is OMG OMG OMG...I NEED Bound By Magic like yesterday!!
I'm sitting here asking myself how can I express what this book has done to me, ahh I LOVED IT!! This is the BEST book that I have read this year!! This magical story evoked feelings within me that only a FEW books have been able to do EVER!
Right away I love Stormy's writing style. I'm not sure how to explain it but she has a way of making me feel at-home so to speak when reading her work. I guess what I mean to say is while reading Bound By Duty I felt that inane sense of familiarity and comfort. It's the whole reason why I fell in love with reading, and not many authors can invoke those feelings within me. Early on within the first 150 pages or say I knew that this story would go down in my favorites of all time!
First off I must say that there will not be any spoilers here. Trust me, I read the summary and made sure to NOT include anything that isn't already there for you to read. In the summary it mentions that Amelia is betrothed to a prince she'd never met. Add to that it also mentions that she doesn't even know his name. Now fast forward to the story, she meets two guys. One is Micah, he starts dating Amelia's best friend Bethany. The other is Aidan. Right away both Amelia and Aidan have some serious chemistry. I loved the sexual tension!
“Now I was falling faster than a comet plummeting to the earth, just waiting to create a giant explosion. Just like a comet, I had no idea exactly how much damage I would leave in my wake.”
Now I know I'm veering off, let me get back on track here. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? That either Micah or Aidan is the prince she's betrothed to? Of course I'm not going to tell you how it goes down, but ahh the suspense while reading!
One of my favorite characters is Bethany. She's a secondary character. I just love her southern flair and complete loyalty to her bestie Amelia! Of course I can't forget her sense of humor, she will have you laughing! Honestly as I continued on with the book I'd love to read a novella or spin off with Bethany as the protagonist!
This book pretty much has it all.
Strong character development - check
Magic (mages, shifters oh and an evil queen!) - check
Romance that will make your toes curl - check
Tons of mystery - check
Overall I don't think I will be able to eat, sleep or do anything until I get my hands on the next book! All I can say is OMG OMG OMG...I NEED Bound By Magic like yesterday!!
May 19, 2014
Oh the emotions! This is one of the books where you get hit in the face with them all. Happy, sad, heart-fluttering, throw-your-kindle angry, laugh out loud, tears... I was seriously put through the ringer with this one.
Overall though, it is a beautiful coming of age novel.
I would honestly hate to be in Amelia's shoes throughout this book. That poor girl has so much to deal with, without really knowing much of anything.
I loved watching her grow as a person and with her abilities through the book. Sure there were times I wanted to smack her for being...well a teenager. Whiny, impulsive, overreacting... I could go on, but really, she's a teenager. And she has been lied to (or just in the dark) for most of her life. I totally understand her reactions.
But about half way through the book, you see a shift in her. And I just wanted to stand up and cheer.
And you have the supporting characters too: Aidan, Bethany, Micah, Cole. All are so well built into the story. I found myself caring just as much about them as I did Amelia.
Plus, they bring in some much needed comic relief during the tough scenes. Especially from Bethany... like this gem: "...watched my best friend light up like a damn glow stick..." Yeah, I laughed out loud at that point.
And then you have Aidan. Oh sweet baby Aidan. Definitely a swoon worthy man. And when you really find out about him, you just want to give him the biggest hug. I loved that he was so persistent with Amelia. If he hadn't, I'm sure things would be mighty different with the story.
And let's not forget some of his awe-worthy quotes.
"I don't know. Probably because that's what my dad called my mom. I have some of their old letters and he always called her doll." - Seriously, when you read that part, tell me you didn't AWE out loud!?!?
And my absolute favorite/heart breaking moment...
"Pick me, Amelia. Please pick me. Be the one who finally picks me."
**holds heart out** Here Stormy, just take it. Take my heart that you are planning on smashing to pieces with this series.
This book hasn't even been released yet and here I am, sitting on the edge of my seat for the next one.
**I read this book as a beta reader/part of our writing group. That being said, this review is completely and totally honest.**
Overall though, it is a beautiful coming of age novel.
I would honestly hate to be in Amelia's shoes throughout this book. That poor girl has so much to deal with, without really knowing much of anything.
I loved watching her grow as a person and with her abilities through the book. Sure there were times I wanted to smack her for being...well a teenager. Whiny, impulsive, overreacting... I could go on, but really, she's a teenager. And she has been lied to (or just in the dark) for most of her life. I totally understand her reactions.
But about half way through the book, you see a shift in her. And I just wanted to stand up and cheer.
And you have the supporting characters too: Aidan, Bethany, Micah, Cole. All are so well built into the story. I found myself caring just as much about them as I did Amelia.
Plus, they bring in some much needed comic relief during the tough scenes. Especially from Bethany... like this gem: "...watched my best friend light up like a damn glow stick..." Yeah, I laughed out loud at that point.
And then you have Aidan. Oh sweet baby Aidan. Definitely a swoon worthy man. And when you really find out about him, you just want to give him the biggest hug. I loved that he was so persistent with Amelia. If he hadn't, I'm sure things would be mighty different with the story.
And let's not forget some of his awe-worthy quotes.
"I don't know. Probably because that's what my dad called my mom. I have some of their old letters and he always called her doll." - Seriously, when you read that part, tell me you didn't AWE out loud!?!?
And my absolute favorite/heart breaking moment...
"Pick me, Amelia. Please pick me. Be the one who finally picks me."
**holds heart out** Here Stormy, just take it. Take my heart that you are planning on smashing to pieces with this series.
This book hasn't even been released yet and here I am, sitting on the edge of my seat for the next one.
**I read this book as a beta reader/part of our writing group. That being said, this review is completely and totally honest.**
October 7, 2015
This was a Kindle freebie and I have been stressed at work and unable to concentrate on reading anything even remotely serious so I thought I would give it a try.
Uh, this wasn't terrible but I certainly wasn't impressed. I didn't even remotely care about the characters until over 60% into the book.
That's not a great sign.
There is just SO MUCH ANGST.
From the moment we meet the love interest the MC is all
"oh I have feelings for him, but this can't happen"
And then switches to
"consequences be damned, I want to see where this goes"
Which is immediately followed by
"oh my gosh, what am I doing, this is a bad idea, I can't do this, my life isn't my own"
And then again we have
"But I don't feel complete without him"
And of course a dash of
"We can't. I'm dangerous for him and it won't end well. Must walk away now"
If there hadn't been so much of the back and forth I might have actually cared and become invested in their story, but there was never time to accept them as together before she was walking away again. It was just annoying more than anything.
And THE SEEEEECRETS.
Oh gods, so many secrets that by the time truths started to come out it was too little too late and I just didn't care anymore. In fact, I saw most of them coming from a mile away .
In fact that's pretty much how I felt about the whole book.
Uh, this wasn't terrible but I certainly wasn't impressed. I didn't even remotely care about the characters until over 60% into the book.
That's not a great sign.
There is just SO MUCH ANGST.
From the moment we meet the love interest the MC is all
"oh I have feelings for him, but this can't happen"
And then switches to
"consequences be damned, I want to see where this goes"
Which is immediately followed by
"oh my gosh, what am I doing, this is a bad idea, I can't do this, my life isn't my own"
And then again we have
"But I don't feel complete without him"
And of course a dash of
"We can't. I'm dangerous for him and it won't end well. Must walk away now"
If there hadn't been so much of the back and forth I might have actually cared and become invested in their story, but there was never time to accept them as together before she was walking away again. It was just annoying more than anything.
And THE SEEEEECRETS.
Oh gods, so many secrets that by the time truths started to come out it was too little too late and I just didn't care anymore. In fact, I saw most of them coming from a mile away .
In fact that's pretty much how I felt about the whole book.
December 24, 2015
Two thumbs up to Stormy Smith for an enjoyable read containing anamages (people who can turn into animals ... yep, like werewolfs). I will not pick up a book if it contains vampires, werewolfs, etc., because unfortunately, my brain doesn't buy into those fantasy characters. I picked up this book knowing it contained magic and magical beings, but that was all I knew. At the first howl, I thought to myself (and I even updated my status below) "ohhh nooo, werewolfs... and dreading reading further" but, in this story, some people just have the ability to shift into different animal forms and they did not make up a huge portion of the story. I was able to work them into my brain and process everything without a fantasmic (I think I just made that word up) overload. I might be in the minority with this opinion, but, oh well, nothing I can do about it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It has a Switched by Amanda Hocking feel to it - a young girl who finds out that she destined for the throne of a magical society unknown to humans, with powers she doesn't know how to use, figures out whether she'll choose her old life or her new life that awaits her, and the consequences that will come along with either one of those options.
I just wish there was more story in book one. I know it is popular to end a book like you're just ending a chapter, but I prefer it when most of the loose ends get tied up in pretty bows for you, even if they're only to get untied at the beginning of the next book. This book left most of the loose ends loose, so you immediately want to jump into book two (which I understand, but don't prefer).
My biggest complaint is, it is explained to the reader that magical beings emit a color depending on their abilities and humans cannot see it, but towards the end of the book, Bethany was able to see Micah and Amelia's magical colors. Also, there was another inconsistency that irked me ... I just can't think of what it was at the moment. I'll update this later if/when I remember.
I didn't feel like I was able to connect to Aiden as much as I wanted to. It was sort of insta-love between him and Amelia, but Stormy explains that
I really like the roles her father, mother, and brother play in the story. My favorite character would really have to be Cole's dog, though, I do wish I had a best friend like Bethany :)
Read for August 2015 Mega Month Challenge.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It has a Switched by Amanda Hocking feel to it - a young girl who finds out that she destined for the throne of a magical society unknown to humans, with powers she doesn't know how to use, figures out whether she'll choose her old life or her new life that awaits her, and the consequences that will come along with either one of those options.
I just wish there was more story in book one. I know it is popular to end a book like you're just ending a chapter, but I prefer it when most of the loose ends get tied up in pretty bows for you, even if they're only to get untied at the beginning of the next book. This book left most of the loose ends loose, so you immediately want to jump into book two (which I understand, but don't prefer).
My biggest complaint is, it is explained to the reader that magical beings emit a color depending on their abilities and humans cannot see it, but towards the end of the book, Bethany was able to see Micah and Amelia's magical colors. Also, there was another inconsistency that irked me ... I just can't think of what it was at the moment. I'll update this later if/when I remember.
I didn't feel like I was able to connect to Aiden as much as I wanted to. It was sort of insta-love between him and Amelia, but Stormy explains that
I really like the roles her father, mother, and brother play in the story. My favorite character would really have to be Cole's dog, though, I do wish I had a best friend like Bethany :)
Read for August 2015 Mega Month Challenge.
July 10, 2016
Check out my review of Bound by Duty by Stormy Smith at Books Equal Awesomeness!
This book was AMAZING! The romance was awesome, the plot was great, and the main character wasn't annoying! I loved Aidan and how much Aidan and Amelia love each other and how they are practically perfect for each other. The plot was beautifully constructed and each part of the plot made PERFECT sense to me! This is one BEAUTIFUL paranormal romance book series that I have a full intention of finishing!
This book was AMAZING! The romance was awesome, the plot was great, and the main character wasn't annoying! I loved Aidan and how much Aidan and Amelia love each other and how they are practically perfect for each other. The plot was beautifully constructed and each part of the plot made PERFECT sense to me! This is one BEAUTIFUL paranormal romance book series that I have a full intention of finishing!
July 19, 2015
Magic? Mystery? Romance?
Obviously, I was very intrigued by this book, and I couldn't wait to read it! The book started off a little slow for me. I think it was because there was a lot of dialogue about the magic and supernatural aspect of the book, but it wasn't explained. I was mentioned numerous times, but we didn't learn what all the magic lingo meant until a little bit into the book. Once things started to make sense, I got really into the book. The supernatural world that Stormy Smith built in this book was extremely intriguing, and I loved learning about it and Amelia's powers. I am excited to see Amelia develop her powers more in the next book.
Amelia was under a lot of pressure, and I definitely felt bad for the girl. I know there were times when I wanted to shake Amelia and tell her to stop being so hesitant, but then I had to take a step back and remember what she was going through. Amelia had a lot on her plate in the magic realm, and falling in love with a forbidden boy definitely did not make it any easier. I did like Amelia a lot, and I think she has potential to become a great character as the series progresses. She was extremely stressed in this book, so I couldn't really fault her for the things she does. Amelia was told this:
"The queen must be stopped and you are our only hope."
I am a year older than Amelia, and I know I definitely would not be able to handle that type of pressure.
The forbidden romance in this book gave me all the feels. I want Aidan and Amelia together so badly that it hurts my heart. I loved Aidan so much. He was perfect for Amelia. He never pressured her into anything, and he was always there to support her even when she wouldn't tell him what was going on. Aidan was witty and charming. He definitely is a new book boyfriend for me. I have faith that this forbidden romance will work out.
I also really liked Bethany, Amelia's best friend. A lot of side characters can be annoying in books, because I feel like they take away from the plot. However, Bethany was different. What was great about Bethany's character was that she was adorable and hilarious. I always loved it whenever she was in a scene. Cole, Amelia's brother, was awesome as well. He was fiercely loyal to Amelia, and super hot. I definitely liked him. Micah was the character I loved to hate. I went from hating him, to loving him, to hating him again. I have decided that I love to hate his character.
THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK KILLED ME. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT ENDED LIKE THAT. I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I definitely was shedding tears at the ending.
This book was a lot of fun to read. It had magic, mystery, romance, action, and humor. Sometimes the dialogue was a little lack luster, but as a whole the dialogue was well written. I am so happy that I had the chance to read this book. I enjoyed it so much and I cannot wait to read the next book! I want Aidan back. I also want him and Amelia to make their relationship work.
4.5 / 5 Fangs
Cliffhanger: Yes
MrsDaemon
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
Facebook
Obviously, I was very intrigued by this book, and I couldn't wait to read it! The book started off a little slow for me. I think it was because there was a lot of dialogue about the magic and supernatural aspect of the book, but it wasn't explained. I was mentioned numerous times, but we didn't learn what all the magic lingo meant until a little bit into the book. Once things started to make sense, I got really into the book. The supernatural world that Stormy Smith built in this book was extremely intriguing, and I loved learning about it and Amelia's powers. I am excited to see Amelia develop her powers more in the next book.
Amelia was under a lot of pressure, and I definitely felt bad for the girl. I know there were times when I wanted to shake Amelia and tell her to stop being so hesitant, but then I had to take a step back and remember what she was going through. Amelia had a lot on her plate in the magic realm, and falling in love with a forbidden boy definitely did not make it any easier. I did like Amelia a lot, and I think she has potential to become a great character as the series progresses. She was extremely stressed in this book, so I couldn't really fault her for the things she does. Amelia was told this:
"The queen must be stopped and you are our only hope."
I am a year older than Amelia, and I know I definitely would not be able to handle that type of pressure.
The forbidden romance in this book gave me all the feels. I want Aidan and Amelia together so badly that it hurts my heart. I loved Aidan so much. He was perfect for Amelia. He never pressured her into anything, and he was always there to support her even when she wouldn't tell him what was going on. Aidan was witty and charming. He definitely is a new book boyfriend for me. I have faith that this forbidden romance will work out.
I also really liked Bethany, Amelia's best friend. A lot of side characters can be annoying in books, because I feel like they take away from the plot. However, Bethany was different. What was great about Bethany's character was that she was adorable and hilarious. I always loved it whenever she was in a scene. Cole, Amelia's brother, was awesome as well. He was fiercely loyal to Amelia, and super hot. I definitely liked him. Micah was the character I loved to hate. I went from hating him, to loving him, to hating him again. I have decided that I love to hate his character.
THE ENDING OF THIS BOOK KILLED ME. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT ENDED LIKE THAT. I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I definitely was shedding tears at the ending.
This book was a lot of fun to read. It had magic, mystery, romance, action, and humor. Sometimes the dialogue was a little lack luster, but as a whole the dialogue was well written. I am so happy that I had the chance to read this book. I enjoyed it so much and I cannot wait to read the next book! I want Aidan back. I also want him and Amelia to make their relationship work.
4.5 / 5 Fangs
Cliffhanger: Yes
MrsDaemon
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
July 26, 2015
4.5 stars -- Woosh!! Well, that finished with some tears (and in my case a round of bawling). This is another one of those books I got to read super early, so now I have to wait FOREVER for the next one in the series!!! But yes, you may feel free to be jealous of me. ;)
I'm probably going to reread it, b/c I was trying to concentrate on giving line edit feedback, and I had family visiting, so I didn't feel like I got the full absorption experience. But even still, this was a fantastic ride. I remember reading a blog post (or something) from Ms. Smith about how the story was initially inspired by taking some elements from Rachel Higginson's Reckless Magic, and then saying "but what if *this* happened". And I could totally see some of those *initial* similarities, but then it just went in a whole new direction! But at the same time, if you enjoyed Ms. Higginson's Star-crossed series, then I HIGHLY recommend this book. More magic. More sassy characters. A completely different but also heart-wrenching love story....
It's funny, b/c the love story wasn't as big a part of this book as I had initially been expecting. It was enough to make me love the interactions between Aidan and Amelia (and enough to break my heart all over the place), but in the end the book focused more on Amelia's "coming of age" (or "coming into magic"). I can't even imagine what it would be like to have all this power, and have barely ANYONE to teach you about it.... And yet Amelia never became too whiny or annoying....when she had a break down, you were kind of sitting beside her going "you tell them!" Which is probably why I fell in love with Bethany so much -- she was everything Amelia needed in her first best friend. Seriously, that girl killed me. <3 her so much.
I'm on the fence with Amelia's brother Cole. I loved how much he cared and took care of Amelia, but I was just as frustrated with him for thinking he always knew what was best. I also wasn't really expecting him to be such a big part of the story, but I really loved that Amelia at least had *some* family to turn to. Will be interesting to see what role he (and Derreck) play in the next books.
On a totally silly and Lenore-specific squee note, I pretty much died of awesome overload when she could communicate with Charlie and Onyx in some way. I mean seriously authors -- I read so many paranormals with magical beings, and this is probably only the 2nd time they have been able to communicate in some way with animals. It's kind of a stupid thing to be excited about, but I seriously just about lost my shit reading those little parts. I'm pretty sure my husband just wants me to shut up about it already....;)
I will say that either there was some fabulous foreshadowing, or I am an epically smart reader that has the same brain waves as Ms. Smith, b/c I totally called the Micah and Aidan twists!!! Go me!! In fact, I feel like I have way more theories about what is going on than even Amelia...she needs to start thinking like me, b/c come on!! Although I think I would love to know more in the next book about why everyone was so dismissive of Aidan intially (ie didn't detect anything). Could be some interesting stuff there....
And there goes my long babbly review. *shakes head* What you should take out of this: this book comes out in July, if you enjoy any kind of magical paranormal, then put this on your list. A great debut.
I'm probably going to reread it, b/c I was trying to concentrate on giving line edit feedback, and I had family visiting, so I didn't feel like I got the full absorption experience. But even still, this was a fantastic ride. I remember reading a blog post (or something) from Ms. Smith about how the story was initially inspired by taking some elements from Rachel Higginson's Reckless Magic, and then saying "but what if *this* happened". And I could totally see some of those *initial* similarities, but then it just went in a whole new direction! But at the same time, if you enjoyed Ms. Higginson's Star-crossed series, then I HIGHLY recommend this book. More magic. More sassy characters. A completely different but also heart-wrenching love story....
It's funny, b/c the love story wasn't as big a part of this book as I had initially been expecting. It was enough to make me love the interactions between Aidan and Amelia (and enough to break my heart all over the place), but in the end the book focused more on Amelia's "coming of age" (or "coming into magic"). I can't even imagine what it would be like to have all this power, and have barely ANYONE to teach you about it.... And yet Amelia never became too whiny or annoying....when she had a break down, you were kind of sitting beside her going "you tell them!" Which is probably why I fell in love with Bethany so much -- she was everything Amelia needed in her first best friend. Seriously, that girl killed me. <3 her so much.
I'm on the fence with Amelia's brother Cole. I loved how much he cared and took care of Amelia, but I was just as frustrated with him for thinking he always knew what was best. I also wasn't really expecting him to be such a big part of the story, but I really loved that Amelia at least had *some* family to turn to. Will be interesting to see what role he (and Derreck) play in the next books.
On a totally silly and Lenore-specific squee note, I pretty much died of awesome overload when she could communicate with Charlie and Onyx in some way. I mean seriously authors -- I read so many paranormals with magical beings, and this is probably only the 2nd time they have been able to communicate in some way with animals. It's kind of a stupid thing to be excited about, but I seriously just about lost my shit reading those little parts. I'm pretty sure my husband just wants me to shut up about it already....;)
I will say that either there was some fabulous foreshadowing, or I am an epically smart reader that has the same brain waves as Ms. Smith, b/c I totally called the Micah and Aidan twists!!! Go me!! In fact, I feel like I have way more theories about what is going on than even Amelia...she needs to start thinking like me, b/c come on!! Although I think I would love to know more in the next book about why everyone was so dismissive of Aidan intially (ie didn't detect anything). Could be some interesting stuff there....
And there goes my long babbly review. *shakes head* What you should take out of this: this book comes out in July, if you enjoy any kind of magical paranormal, then put this on your list. A great debut.
June 29, 2015
First I want to say how impressed I am that this was the first book this author published. The writing was fluid and enthralling, I would have thought she was an old pro.
I have fallen off the review wagon here lately but I feel this book deserves some justice!
Amelia runs off to college away from her dysfunctional home life in search of answers. What really happened to her mother? Why is her dad bat shit crazy & psychologically abusive towards her? Why would her brother leave her alone with her dad all these years? Why do must she desperately hide the magic that runs through her?
Freshman year brings her closer to her older brother for the first time in years. She also gets friend true to the core and a potential love interest. Suddenly, finding answers doesn't seem so appealing. How about some normalcy for a change?
But you always want what you can't have right? Amelia's magic decides it has a mind of it's own and makes it presence known to everyone. It's strong power draws in friends, lovers, and enemies. But who falls into which category? How far does betrayal run?
I loved this book! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars were all the hissy fits Amelia kept throwing. I know she was frustrated and tired of all the secrecy. However her dramatics only hurt her each time including the one she threw with the queen that blew up in her face! Ironic!
I am diving straight into book 2. I need to know who is foe & who is friend. There are only a couple of people I feel have cemented themselves in each category. We will see.
I have fallen off the review wagon here lately but I feel this book deserves some justice!
Amelia runs off to college away from her dysfunctional home life in search of answers. What really happened to her mother? Why is her dad bat shit crazy & psychologically abusive towards her? Why would her brother leave her alone with her dad all these years? Why do must she desperately hide the magic that runs through her?
Freshman year brings her closer to her older brother for the first time in years. She also gets friend true to the core and a potential love interest. Suddenly, finding answers doesn't seem so appealing. How about some normalcy for a change?
But you always want what you can't have right? Amelia's magic decides it has a mind of it's own and makes it presence known to everyone. It's strong power draws in friends, lovers, and enemies. But who falls into which category? How far does betrayal run?
I loved this book! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars were all the hissy fits Amelia kept throwing. I know she was frustrated and tired of all the secrecy. However her dramatics only hurt her each time including the one she threw with the queen that blew up in her face! Ironic!
I am diving straight into book 2. I need to know who is foe & who is friend. There are only a couple of people I feel have cemented themselves in each category. We will see.
July 4, 2014
So, as another commenter said, I can see how she got SOME inspiration from Rachel's Higginson's Star Crossed series, but that is where it ends. Also, because I am so in love with that series, this one was just what my little heart needed to get over the ending of that series. With that said, I love this book, I got the ARC and didn't put it down until it I was done, and I found myself cursing the author (jokingly, of course) at the end because I DIDN'T WANT it to END yet! Ahhhh, now I have to wait, such is the frustrating deliciousness that is a first book in a series. I'm going to have to go ahead and read it over and over until the next one comes out, just because I'm going to miss all my new friends. Alright, let's get down to the good stuff.
The heroine is Amelia, and she has been stifled her whole life, and at the mercy of the decisions of the men in her life. Can't blame her for wanting to make her own decisions and be in charge or her own life for once! So with spunky side-kick Bethany, she enters the world of dating, with a hunky guy who is just too human for those in her life. As her frustration builds, her magic build until she just has to release it. Noticing her struggles, Bethany's boyfriend comes to the rescue...I won't go any further than that.
Suffice it to say that things escalate, and Amelia slowly unravels the mystery of who she really is and her importance in the life of her people. She is bound by duty, but will she choose duty? Or will she choose love? Hmmm, guess we'll have to find out!
The heroine is Amelia, and she has been stifled her whole life, and at the mercy of the decisions of the men in her life. Can't blame her for wanting to make her own decisions and be in charge or her own life for once! So with spunky side-kick Bethany, she enters the world of dating, with a hunky guy who is just too human for those in her life. As her frustration builds, her magic build until she just has to release it. Noticing her struggles, Bethany's boyfriend comes to the rescue...I won't go any further than that.
Suffice it to say that things escalate, and Amelia slowly unravels the mystery of who she really is and her importance in the life of her people. She is bound by duty, but will she choose duty? Or will she choose love? Hmmm, guess we'll have to find out!
September 10, 2015
THIS BOOK!!!!!!! I was skeptical at first because I thought:
Haven't I read enough magic books?
What if this book is exactly like what I have already read?
What if there is an annoying love triangle?
Obviously I should not trust my gut because I bought this book on a whim because it was on SALE (I love a good deal on a book). This book was perfect! Aidan is so so so so sweet and honestly I felt like crying after everything that went down. This book follows Amelia who is an Elder but has been forced to conceal her gift by her father (you will understand why in the book). Amelia finally decides to break out of her shell by going to college near where her brother lives. She is trying to balance a new best friend, maybe boyfriend, and brother all the while trying to get out of a forced engagement that was made before she was born.
This book went by really fast and I really felt for what Amelia was going through since she honestly had no one to turn to for her (magic) issues. This book made me feel a wide range of emotions and I felt like I grew with Amelia as she discovered who she was and what she would risk for those she loves. I cannot wait for the next book!!!
Haven't I read enough magic books?
What if this book is exactly like what I have already read?
What if there is an annoying love triangle?
Obviously I should not trust my gut because I bought this book on a whim because it was on SALE (I love a good deal on a book). This book was perfect! Aidan is so so so so sweet and honestly I felt like crying after everything that went down. This book follows Amelia who is an Elder but has been forced to conceal her gift by her father (you will understand why in the book). Amelia finally decides to break out of her shell by going to college near where her brother lives. She is trying to balance a new best friend, maybe boyfriend, and brother all the while trying to get out of a forced engagement that was made before she was born.
This book went by really fast and I really felt for what Amelia was going through since she honestly had no one to turn to for her (magic) issues. This book made me feel a wide range of emotions and I felt like I grew with Amelia as she discovered who she was and what she would risk for those she loves. I cannot wait for the next book!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2017
Wow, just wow - Stormy has delivered a HIT! I devoured this book & thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! She has gifted me with a new series that I'm going to LOVE through and through! Anyone that knows me understands that I love everything Reckless Magic, and although I can see *some* Rachel Higginson influence in Stormy's writing, I want to assure you that Bound by Duty is totally different. I love the major and minor characters, their interactions, and the development of the story! I cannot wait to see what this series is going to have in store for me!
So here I sit with this book not even formally released yet and now I have to wait what is going to seem like an eternity for the next book! Hurry up, Stormy!!! I need the next one, like tomorrow!
So here I sit with this book not even formally released yet and now I have to wait what is going to seem like an eternity for the next book! Hurry up, Stormy!!! I need the next one, like tomorrow!
July 15, 2014
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As the debut novel for Stormy Smith, I have to say she did an amazing job! Hook, line and sinker. This book had me from the very beginning, I couldnt put it down.
The characters were fun to get to know. The story was full of emotions, roller coaster rides, love, heartache, humor...I just loved it from beginning to end.
Stormy is a very talented writer. She has a way of throwing you right into the story. I 100% recommend this book!
As the debut novel for Stormy Smith, I have to say she did an amazing job! Hook, line and sinker. This book had me from the very beginning, I couldnt put it down.
The characters were fun to get to know. The story was full of emotions, roller coaster rides, love, heartache, humor...I just loved it from beginning to end.
Stormy is a very talented writer. She has a way of throwing you right into the story. I 100% recommend this book!
July 29, 2014
This was awesome and great and did not end happy! I need the next book now! My poor Aidan needs someone to pick him. Well write me in cause I pick him. The stupid queen is ruining everything, and why did Amelia not think this through a little better? Probably because she's 18 with not enough experience with life. I seriously need the next book!
June 16, 2015
In those last few chapters I just couldn't stop reading. I can't wait to read Bound by Spells now!
October 23, 2015
2 STARS FOR "BOUND BY DUTY" BY STORMY SMITH
This book, and the author, has a lot of potential, but sadly, this book just didn't do it for me. I couldn't connect with Amelia, the main character, on a level where I was able to care what happened to her. By extension - I didn't care much for her friends, either. Amelia gave off an impression of being childish and wishy-washy with her thoughts and feelings. It was probably the authors intention to present the MC with the power of essentially choosing "duty" or "love" after being so powerless all her life but it didn't make her any less difficult to sympathize with. She still has a lot of growing up to do, despite the fact that she's described as "mature".
She felt very hypocritical in how she treated others yet expected better treatment from others. There were multiple instances where she'd blow up over people withholding information from her, yet has no qualms about keeping her own secrets and important details.
Aside from her relationship with Cole, I wasn't convinced by any of Amelia's connections to any of the other characters. Her best friend, Bethany, seemed to only be there for three things: to facilitate Amelia's meetings with Micah, to remind the reader that yes, Bethany really is Southern, and to push the romance between Amelia and Aidan. All of their conversations revolved around the boys in their lives, further emphasizing this.
I also had a huge problem with something that Amelia does early on in the book. When Amelia and Bethany head to a party, Bethany darts off to go talk to Micah, this cute guy she's had her eye on. Despite Amelia's insistence that she should talk to him, Amelia gets a bad vibe from this guy.
In fact, even before Micah has a single line of dialogue, Amelia has two instances of expressing distrust of this guy. But after a quick conversation with Aidan that overwhelms her, Amelia leaves the party and just tells her friend that she'll come pick her up later. Yet there's this thought stream later on:
I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I have a problem with Amelia thinking "there's something really weird about this guy" and leaving her friend all alone with him.
Amelia's romance with Aidan felt contrived and too quick to be all that believable. Very insta-love, like. The author got into the pattern of summarizing events instead of showing them to us. For example, Amelia instantly feels this connection to him when they meet at the party. Despite this, Amelia pretends to be annoyed whenever the two of them see each other in class. Smith then tells us that over the week this annoyance turned into amusement, where they learned about each other and their respective pasts. At this point in the book, we have no clue who Aidan is as a person.
They developed feelings for each other so quickly and I still have no idea, quite frankly, what Aidan sees in Amelia. For half the book she's rejecting him and pushing him away. He knows nothing about her. It makes their relationship look very superficial, based only off attraction. Combine this with the fact that Amelia is wishy-washy. One moment she's telling herself that she wants to be with him, and then in the next chapter she's distancing herself, saying that they can't be together.
Their relationship was giving me whiplash.
I also wish we got to hear more about Rynna. We learn that she was Amelia's mother's best friend, and took care of the family once Amelia's mom died. But we don't know anything about her aside from the implications of a romance between her and Derreck. What kind of life was she sacrificing to do this?
Bound by Duty had a lot of potential, but it fell kinda flat for me. While Amelia was a disappointment, I did like the idea of her feeling suffocated by the wants and expectations of the people around her. I wish that had been developed more. Also, thank goodness for no traditional love triangle! (Even though she, Aidan, and Micah quite literally form a triangle in the book) It's actually pretty light on the physical aspect of the romance, so readers don't have to fear buying an explicit book. No sex at all.
My destiny was set, based on power I barely understood. Power that could be used to cause more harm to our people. Maybe I could stop the queen; maybe nights like tonight were just the beginning. I hadn't chosen this, but it had chosen me.
This book, and the author, has a lot of potential, but sadly, this book just didn't do it for me. I couldn't connect with Amelia, the main character, on a level where I was able to care what happened to her. By extension - I didn't care much for her friends, either. Amelia gave off an impression of being childish and wishy-washy with her thoughts and feelings. It was probably the authors intention to present the MC with the power of essentially choosing "duty" or "love" after being so powerless all her life but it didn't make her any less difficult to sympathize with. She still has a lot of growing up to do, despite the fact that she's described as "mature".
She felt very hypocritical in how she treated others yet expected better treatment from others. There were multiple instances where she'd blow up over people withholding information from her, yet has no qualms about keeping her own secrets and important details.
"No, Amelia, I didn't say anything," he said with a scowl. "But, it wasn't because I knew then, I didn't know until today. Just tonight after I left you and talked to my people, that's when I knew. I wasn't withholding information, like some people." He narrowed his eyes, glaring as I rolled my own.
"Whatever. Either way, I saw Melinda at the last second before we got away shift into a huge, dark red wolf.
Aside from her relationship with Cole, I wasn't convinced by any of Amelia's connections to any of the other characters. Her best friend, Bethany, seemed to only be there for three things: to facilitate Amelia's meetings with Micah, to remind the reader that yes, Bethany really is Southern, and to push the romance between Amelia and Aidan. All of their conversations revolved around the boys in their lives, further emphasizing this.
I also had a huge problem with something that Amelia does early on in the book. When Amelia and Bethany head to a party, Bethany darts off to go talk to Micah, this cute guy she's had her eye on. Despite Amelia's insistence that she should talk to him, Amelia gets a bad vibe from this guy.
Instead, I found myself locking eyes with Micah. An internal warning bell went off and I recoiled, quickly turning away from them. I'd learned long ago that my instincts knew far more than my brain. I just wish I could pinpoint what it was about that guy that was setting me off.
In fact, even before Micah has a single line of dialogue, Amelia has two instances of expressing distrust of this guy. But after a quick conversation with Aidan that overwhelms her, Amelia leaves the party and just tells her friend that she'll come pick her up later. Yet there's this thought stream later on:
She was an early riser and already cheery at this ungodly hour, even though she'd been out late last night and had been dropped off by none other than Micah himself. I had heard their futile attempt at whispering as I stared at the ceiling hoping for sleep.
I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I have a problem with Amelia thinking "there's something really weird about this guy" and leaving her friend all alone with him.
Amelia's romance with Aidan felt contrived and too quick to be all that believable. Very insta-love, like. The author got into the pattern of summarizing events instead of showing them to us. For example, Amelia instantly feels this connection to him when they meet at the party. Despite this, Amelia pretends to be annoyed whenever the two of them see each other in class. Smith then tells us that over the week this annoyance turned into amusement, where they learned about each other and their respective pasts. At this point in the book, we have no clue who Aidan is as a person.
They developed feelings for each other so quickly and I still have no idea, quite frankly, what Aidan sees in Amelia. For half the book she's rejecting him and pushing him away. He knows nothing about her. It makes their relationship look very superficial, based only off attraction. Combine this with the fact that Amelia is wishy-washy. One moment she's telling herself that she wants to be with him, and then in the next chapter she's distancing herself, saying that they can't be together.
Their relationship was giving me whiplash.
I also wish we got to hear more about Rynna. We learn that she was Amelia's mother's best friend, and took care of the family once Amelia's mom died. But we don't know anything about her aside from the implications of a romance between her and Derreck. What kind of life was she sacrificing to do this?
Bound by Duty had a lot of potential, but it fell kinda flat for me. While Amelia was a disappointment, I did like the idea of her feeling suffocated by the wants and expectations of the people around her. I wish that had been developed more. Also, thank goodness for no traditional love triangle! (Even though she, Aidan, and Micah quite literally form a triangle in the book) It's actually pretty light on the physical aspect of the romance, so readers don't have to fear buying an explicit book. No sex at all.
July 6, 2014
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Please note that 2 stars = "it was okay". I mostly couldn't deal with the heroine, but the plot was decent and the editing good (see the very bottom of my review).
If you completely overlook the fact that the heroine hardly does any reading/homework or manage to keep yourself from wondering where in the world she gets off spending money on coffee 2 times a day as a broke college student living off campus with her own car, you'll be set to start reading this book. So, let's start with characters:
Amelia (Ame) - the heroine
Amelia is a sheltered, somewhat neglected 17/18 year old leaving home for the first time. She's fairly whiney and selfish and expects everything to be handed to her on a silver platter. Instead of trying to figure things out for herself, she demands that others answer the tough questions for her, not ever thinking of them or their sacrifices. So, basically she's immature and scared of the future. Fine, I can accept that, especially given she's got these crazy powers and has gone thus far in her life without any decent explanations. Still, she's inclined to throw tantrums at every chance she gets, and when that involves incredibly strong magical powers the she can't control? Yeah...no bueno. Her verbal attacks on everyone that comes in to contact with her didn't inspire any warm fuzzy feelings from me, either. Lastly, Amelia repeatedly, one would almost say routinely, accuses people of lying to her. However she's the one who shuts them out and won't listen to them when they're trying to talk to her. Yet, for some odd reason, she feels that absolutely everyone must listen to her whenever she opens her mouth. ARRG.
Bethany - the best friend
I liked the BFF vibe she gave off, but I felt she could have used more depth. For the most part, the Southernness was there, though I'm not entirely sure she would have used 'chica'. She responds well to the crazy situations she's forced in to, which is good, but (again) makes her more of a puppet than a real character.
Micah - the mysterious BFF's boyfriend
His more formal speech is accounted for, which was nice. Unfortunately he sounds pretty much like everyone else, so I'm not sure that's the author was going for. He seems like a great guy, but as with the previous character, there's not a lot said about his background. I can totally buy that since he's dating the BFF, not the main character. That said, I was able to put the pieces together about him much earlier, though I have to say Ame left way more than enough clues to figure it out.
Aidan - the even more mysterious love interest
What is there to say about this guy? He seems sweet, funny, caring, etc with the nice, realistic vulnerability about him. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot going on with regards to anything besides his devotion to Ame.
Cole - the big brother
I so do love the big brother stereotype. Cole fits it perfectly. Not only does he look out for her physically, mentally, and emotionally, he provides for her financially (which is good since she's got all these expenses). I could have used more about Cole, but since Ame's focus isn't on her brother, I get that this wouldn't be included. Maybe in the next book, or as she matures this will become a bigger issue.
Rynna - the nanny
She might as well not exist as a character. Even though Rynna pretty much raised Ame, we know nothing about her and Amelia doesn't seem to give a crap about her or her past. I'm not sure how Ame got through 18 years without discussing anything about Rynna's past, but it seemed strange to me.
(Non spoiler name) - the mysterious relative
This character only plays a small role in this book, though I have a feeling they will come in to play later on. My biggest question about this character is the cell phone thing. If you're off the grid, and have been for the past...I dunno, 20 years?...I don't think you're supposed to have a cell phone. Maybe I'm just being too picky...
One thing I did really enjoy about the book is the lack of l33t speak. That is to say, they all texted like real people instead of morons.
So basically...
This book has lots of magic, some romance, and a lot of mystery. This is the first book in the series and I have high hopes for both the plot and the author. I thought the plot moved at a steady, albeit slowish, pace and there was a fair amount of action sprinkled in. The heroine is your typical moody, stubborn teen, so this would probably be enjoyed by your average YA fan.
Notes:
(I can't remember what page this is on, but in the beginning of the book)
Sobbing isn't an emotion (vs anger and fear)
p 102 "His eyebrow rose and Aidan leaned in closer to me.." it almost sounds like two different guys...
what's the timeline in this thing? This Queen has been around since the Fertile Crescent and is just now murdering everyone?
p 184 "It was the first time in my life I'd made a decision that completely went against everything I'd been raised to be, a decision that was for no one else's good by my own." Wait, didn't you choose to go to public school? And I thought that's what going to college was about - so you could have 3 years to yourself?!
p 201 "...it seemed like no one was who they seemed to be lately and I wanted to force the truth from him." WHO exactly isn't who they seem to be?? You're the one lying to everyone!
p 338 (& 347) "...and embrace her role as my son's fiancé" should have another 'e' at the end. Males = fiancé vs. females = fiancée
If you completely overlook the fact that the heroine hardly does any reading/homework or manage to keep yourself from wondering where in the world she gets off spending money on coffee 2 times a day as a broke college student living off campus with her own car, you'll be set to start reading this book. So, let's start with characters:
Amelia (Ame) - the heroine
Amelia is a sheltered, somewhat neglected 17/18 year old leaving home for the first time. She's fairly whiney and selfish and expects everything to be handed to her on a silver platter. Instead of trying to figure things out for herself, she demands that others answer the tough questions for her, not ever thinking of them or their sacrifices. So, basically she's immature and scared of the future. Fine, I can accept that, especially given she's got these crazy powers and has gone thus far in her life without any decent explanations. Still, she's inclined to throw tantrums at every chance she gets, and when that involves incredibly strong magical powers the she can't control? Yeah...no bueno. Her verbal attacks on everyone that comes in to contact with her didn't inspire any warm fuzzy feelings from me, either. Lastly, Amelia repeatedly, one would almost say routinely, accuses people of lying to her. However she's the one who shuts them out and won't listen to them when they're trying to talk to her. Yet, for some odd reason, she feels that absolutely everyone must listen to her whenever she opens her mouth. ARRG.
Bethany - the best friend
I liked the BFF vibe she gave off, but I felt she could have used more depth. For the most part, the Southernness was there, though I'm not entirely sure she would have used 'chica'. She responds well to the crazy situations she's forced in to, which is good, but (again) makes her more of a puppet than a real character.
Micah - the mysterious BFF's boyfriend
His more formal speech is accounted for, which was nice. Unfortunately he sounds pretty much like everyone else, so I'm not sure that's the author was going for. He seems like a great guy, but as with the previous character, there's not a lot said about his background. I can totally buy that since he's dating the BFF, not the main character. That said, I was able to put the pieces together about him much earlier, though I have to say Ame left way more than enough clues to figure it out.
Aidan - the even more mysterious love interest
What is there to say about this guy? He seems sweet, funny, caring, etc with the nice, realistic vulnerability about him. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot going on with regards to anything besides his devotion to Ame.
Cole - the big brother
I so do love the big brother stereotype. Cole fits it perfectly. Not only does he look out for her physically, mentally, and emotionally, he provides for her financially (which is good since she's got all these expenses). I could have used more about Cole, but since Ame's focus isn't on her brother, I get that this wouldn't be included. Maybe in the next book, or as she matures this will become a bigger issue.
Rynna - the nanny
She might as well not exist as a character. Even though Rynna pretty much raised Ame, we know nothing about her and Amelia doesn't seem to give a crap about her or her past. I'm not sure how Ame got through 18 years without discussing anything about Rynna's past, but it seemed strange to me.
(Non spoiler name) - the mysterious relative
This character only plays a small role in this book, though I have a feeling they will come in to play later on. My biggest question about this character is the cell phone thing. If you're off the grid, and have been for the past...I dunno, 20 years?...I don't think you're supposed to have a cell phone. Maybe I'm just being too picky...
One thing I did really enjoy about the book is the lack of l33t speak. That is to say, they all texted like real people instead of morons.
So basically...
This book has lots of magic, some romance, and a lot of mystery. This is the first book in the series and I have high hopes for both the plot and the author. I thought the plot moved at a steady, albeit slowish, pace and there was a fair amount of action sprinkled in. The heroine is your typical moody, stubborn teen, so this would probably be enjoyed by your average YA fan.
Notes:
(I can't remember what page this is on, but in the beginning of the book)
Sobbing isn't an emotion (vs anger and fear)
p 102 "His eyebrow rose and Aidan leaned in closer to me.." it almost sounds like two different guys...
what's the timeline in this thing? This Queen has been around since the Fertile Crescent and is just now murdering everyone?
p 184 "It was the first time in my life I'd made a decision that completely went against everything I'd been raised to be, a decision that was for no one else's good by my own." Wait, didn't you choose to go to public school? And I thought that's what going to college was about - so you could have 3 years to yourself?!
p 201 "...it seemed like no one was who they seemed to be lately and I wanted to force the truth from him." WHO exactly isn't who they seem to be?? You're the one lying to everyone!
p 338 (& 347) "...and embrace her role as my son's fiancé" should have another 'e' at the end. Males = fiancé vs. females = fiancée
July 15, 2014
I quite enjoyed this. A new idea, and very intriguing ^.^
First off: I was given this in exchange for an honest review (thank you so very much for asking me Stormy) but with that said I am going to be completely honest, and yeah :)
Song Choice: "Without You" by Dillon Francis, "Joy" by Ellie Goulding, "Beautiful Lie" by 30 Seconds to Mars, "Steal His Heart" by Emily and the Woods
First thoughts: So I really enjoyed the concept of this book, when Stormy messaged me about the ARC review, I saw the synopsis and I was like, hell yes!!! Let's do it! And I am so in love with the idea, it was so awesome, i thinks he did a wonderful job of creating a new "universe" with such interesting paranormals as I am going to call them, as a general term, but they are Magis (magii? whats the plural form here ;) okay whatever moving on) I enjoyed that it was a CLEAN NA (when i say that i mean no funny business ;), but its got characters that are in college hence NA). I thought for a debut author, this was very, very amazing ^.^ so before I get carried away in first thoughts as I do lets move on!!!
Thoughts on Plot:
Original, definitely. While I felt that the ideas were a little out of order...um how do I say this right. All the information was there but i feel like we were missing a lot it too. That doesn't make sense let me try again. Okay so I was under the impression that Amelia mostly knew what was going on, but she didn't. So she knew a little and what she knew, we know (obviously Becca, jeez). The point was that we learn with her, but things are so messed up, people are lying all the time its hard to know who is telling the truth, who we are supposed to trust. I think there were a lot, alot of players brought into this book but we still didn't get a clear view of who the real good guys are, maybe that was what Stormy was going for, which would be awesome, but usually in things like this there is a group that we are hoping to root for. I think with this being the first in a series that we are just being introduced to everything so there is time to expand on it which I am eagerly looking forward too, so yeah Stormy *cracks whip* get working on book two ;). Alright now that i am done torturing the author, back to the plot. I thought the pace was a little off for the beginning but it got into the right swing after a while and damn, damn, damn I want more. I so want more. I liked the ideas that were presented, I liked that Stormy went in different directions then i would think the book would go.
Characters:
First I am going to do something I haven't done in a while and don't do very often....CASTING!!! YAY!!
Amelia:
Micah:
Aiden:
Now onto them!! (there were other characters but I felt this were the "main" players
Amelia:
Unfortunately I think for me this is where I had a hard time. :/ I wouldn't say she is a bad character at all, but her and my personalities clashed....alot. She is one of those people they don't really seem to have a filter, and I don't know in very character form, it was almost like she didn't realize what she was saying until she had already said it. Does that make any sense? Yeah so while she is allowed tantrums because hell she is having a lot dropped on her, but I think that I was in disbelief how quickly she got mad sometimes, it was just too soon in my opinion, but hey she had a lot on her shoulders. I think though she is a very loyal character, that is very completely selfless.
Micah:
So I don't trust the blonde men in books. Why? Because im psycho that is pretty much why. I didn't quite trust Micah throughout the book but I did start accepting his presence, much i think like Amelia did. In the end though I think he did truly care about Amelia and especially Bethany.
Aiden:
Damn, holy hot damn. I really, really liked him. He has a few secrets of his own, his past isn't happy but he falls and falls hard for Amelia. I liked that he had moments where he was all like, "me, man, you, woman, rrawwww" (aka alpha male-ish), but he was also very sensitive and lays it all out on the line for Amelia, I think to be honest he was my favorite character <3
I should admit I have a weird (VERY WEIRD) sort of ...crush on Rhi....please don't judge me.
There are side characters, like Cole, Bethany, Julia, I don't want to get into them specifically but i think they were really well developed characters with their own personalities and traits. Though I am a little suspicious of Cole, still. I realize that i am weird. I know.
The ending: :| <-- thats my, cliffies aren't nice and I want more now. like now, now. (so yes i will continue on with this series.
For more Becca-ness check meh out here: http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...
First off: I was given this in exchange for an honest review (thank you so very much for asking me Stormy) but with that said I am going to be completely honest, and yeah :)
Song Choice: "Without You" by Dillon Francis, "Joy" by Ellie Goulding, "Beautiful Lie" by 30 Seconds to Mars, "Steal His Heart" by Emily and the Woods
First thoughts: So I really enjoyed the concept of this book, when Stormy messaged me about the ARC review, I saw the synopsis and I was like, hell yes!!! Let's do it! And I am so in love with the idea, it was so awesome, i thinks he did a wonderful job of creating a new "universe" with such interesting paranormals as I am going to call them, as a general term, but they are Magis (magii? whats the plural form here ;) okay whatever moving on) I enjoyed that it was a CLEAN NA (when i say that i mean no funny business ;), but its got characters that are in college hence NA). I thought for a debut author, this was very, very amazing ^.^ so before I get carried away in first thoughts as I do lets move on!!!
Thoughts on Plot:
Original, definitely. While I felt that the ideas were a little out of order...um how do I say this right. All the information was there but i feel like we were missing a lot it too. That doesn't make sense let me try again. Okay so I was under the impression that Amelia mostly knew what was going on, but she didn't. So she knew a little and what she knew, we know (obviously Becca, jeez). The point was that we learn with her, but things are so messed up, people are lying all the time its hard to know who is telling the truth, who we are supposed to trust. I think there were a lot, alot of players brought into this book but we still didn't get a clear view of who the real good guys are, maybe that was what Stormy was going for, which would be awesome, but usually in things like this there is a group that we are hoping to root for. I think with this being the first in a series that we are just being introduced to everything so there is time to expand on it which I am eagerly looking forward too, so yeah Stormy *cracks whip* get working on book two ;). Alright now that i am done torturing the author, back to the plot. I thought the pace was a little off for the beginning but it got into the right swing after a while and damn, damn, damn I want more. I so want more. I liked the ideas that were presented, I liked that Stormy went in different directions then i would think the book would go.
Characters:
First I am going to do something I haven't done in a while and don't do very often....CASTING!!! YAY!!
Amelia:
Micah:
Aiden:
Now onto them!! (there were other characters but I felt this were the "main" players
Amelia:
Unfortunately I think for me this is where I had a hard time. :/ I wouldn't say she is a bad character at all, but her and my personalities clashed....alot. She is one of those people they don't really seem to have a filter, and I don't know in very character form, it was almost like she didn't realize what she was saying until she had already said it. Does that make any sense? Yeah so while she is allowed tantrums because hell she is having a lot dropped on her, but I think that I was in disbelief how quickly she got mad sometimes, it was just too soon in my opinion, but hey she had a lot on her shoulders. I think though she is a very loyal character, that is very completely selfless.
Micah:
So I don't trust the blonde men in books. Why? Because im psycho that is pretty much why. I didn't quite trust Micah throughout the book but I did start accepting his presence, much i think like Amelia did. In the end though I think he did truly care about Amelia and especially Bethany.
Aiden:
Damn, holy hot damn. I really, really liked him. He has a few secrets of his own, his past isn't happy but he falls and falls hard for Amelia. I liked that he had moments where he was all like, "me, man, you, woman, rrawwww" (aka alpha male-ish), but he was also very sensitive and lays it all out on the line for Amelia, I think to be honest he was my favorite character <3
I should admit I have a weird (VERY WEIRD) sort of ...crush on Rhi....please don't judge me.
There are side characters, like Cole, Bethany, Julia, I don't want to get into them specifically but i think they were really well developed characters with their own personalities and traits. Though I am a little suspicious of Cole, still. I realize that i am weird. I know.
The ending: :| <-- thats my, cliffies aren't nice and I want more now. like now, now. (so yes i will continue on with this series.
For more Becca-ness check meh out here: http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...
May 25, 2016
This book was a very enjoyable fantasy full of romance. action, and magic. Not one single element in this book was over-done. There was just the right amount of everything in this story. It was fun to read and the story-line really drew me in. It was an original take on magical powers. The beginning of the story starts off in a way that sets up the rest of the story very well. It was exciting to read the whole way through and one of those books that kept me up late reading. I didn't want to put it down.
I fell in love with the characters. Each and every one of them were interesting in their own way. It's not too often that I like all the characters of a book, especially the girls, sometimes they can be so whiney. I think that for the most part that what Amelia has learned about her life and what she has to deal with and go through that she was a trooper. She was pretty fearless as well. I loved Aidan! I think he would have been EXACTLY the type of guy I would have fallen for when I was in school. He just has that slick charm about him that pulls you in. All the characters just had a wonderful way of pulling me into the story and routing for each and every one of them. Ok, except the Queen of course. By the end of the book I felt compassion for some of these characters and what they had to deal with. I felt their pain.
There were quite a few surprises and twists and turns in this book-with the characters and the plot line. An amazing plot line by the way. This book was wonderful first book to a series and a great set up for the second book. I am so extremely excited to see how this series progresses. I have high hopes. There is still so much of this story to be told and so many more magical and amazing moments to be had. This book was just the beginning of the adventure. There is so much more in store and I am dying to get my hands on the rest of this series and dive in. This was just getting good. The second book is going to be an adventure from the front to back. Warning: If you pick up the first book you will be hooked and need the next two books immediately. I don't want to wait to read the rest of this series but unfortunately I have to at the moment. You can be rest assured though that the second I have a spare moment to read what I want I will find every way in my power to get the next two books and sit down and binge-read then. They all just pulled me into the story even more. By the end of the book I felt compassion for some of the characters and what they had to deal with.
The only pet peeve that I had with this book was the editing mistakes. There was quite a bit of them. I just don't understand how some of these mistakes were not caught or overlooked. Now, before you judge the book for this, I was given a copy to review in exchange for an honest review. I don't know if maybe the copy I was given was an unedited version. It could be possible. It didn't say that on the book but could be possible. I was willing to overlook these mistakes however, because of how wonderful the story was and in no way did I let this effect my review. I promise you that these mistakes don't take anything away from the story and you should still read it either way. If you don't you will totally be missing out on such a wonderful reading experience and miss out on a promising series that I know is only going to get better with each book. This first book was just the appetizer to the main course!
The writing style was wonderful. The descriptive writing was enough to let me see everything that was going on with out being overdone. There are still descriptions that stand out in my mind. That's how you know when it's written well. I have a clear picture of each and every one of these characters, and the setting.
The ending of this book left me wanting more. I was so sad that it ended that fast. I wish this would have been one of those books that were 600-700 pages. I don't think it would have been overdone or drawn out and I would have gobbled up each and every word and still been hungry for more. It is one of those books that you will read very fast. I am too excited for more. This is one series that I don't want to leave unfinished and I hope to read the rest of before the year ends. Hopefully a lot sooner than that though. If you love magic, don't miss this one. It's truly magical. :-)
I'm not one for spoilers so I don't want to say much more without giving away the whole concept for the book so I'm going to end it here. I really hope what I said will be enough to have you pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.
I fell in love with the characters. Each and every one of them were interesting in their own way. It's not too often that I like all the characters of a book, especially the girls, sometimes they can be so whiney. I think that for the most part that what Amelia has learned about her life and what she has to deal with and go through that she was a trooper. She was pretty fearless as well. I loved Aidan! I think he would have been EXACTLY the type of guy I would have fallen for when I was in school. He just has that slick charm about him that pulls you in. All the characters just had a wonderful way of pulling me into the story and routing for each and every one of them. Ok, except the Queen of course. By the end of the book I felt compassion for some of these characters and what they had to deal with. I felt their pain.
There were quite a few surprises and twists and turns in this book-with the characters and the plot line. An amazing plot line by the way. This book was wonderful first book to a series and a great set up for the second book. I am so extremely excited to see how this series progresses. I have high hopes. There is still so much of this story to be told and so many more magical and amazing moments to be had. This book was just the beginning of the adventure. There is so much more in store and I am dying to get my hands on the rest of this series and dive in. This was just getting good. The second book is going to be an adventure from the front to back. Warning: If you pick up the first book you will be hooked and need the next two books immediately. I don't want to wait to read the rest of this series but unfortunately I have to at the moment. You can be rest assured though that the second I have a spare moment to read what I want I will find every way in my power to get the next two books and sit down and binge-read then. They all just pulled me into the story even more. By the end of the book I felt compassion for some of the characters and what they had to deal with.
The only pet peeve that I had with this book was the editing mistakes. There was quite a bit of them. I just don't understand how some of these mistakes were not caught or overlooked. Now, before you judge the book for this, I was given a copy to review in exchange for an honest review. I don't know if maybe the copy I was given was an unedited version. It could be possible. It didn't say that on the book but could be possible. I was willing to overlook these mistakes however, because of how wonderful the story was and in no way did I let this effect my review. I promise you that these mistakes don't take anything away from the story and you should still read it either way. If you don't you will totally be missing out on such a wonderful reading experience and miss out on a promising series that I know is only going to get better with each book. This first book was just the appetizer to the main course!
The writing style was wonderful. The descriptive writing was enough to let me see everything that was going on with out being overdone. There are still descriptions that stand out in my mind. That's how you know when it's written well. I have a clear picture of each and every one of these characters, and the setting.
The ending of this book left me wanting more. I was so sad that it ended that fast. I wish this would have been one of those books that were 600-700 pages. I don't think it would have been overdone or drawn out and I would have gobbled up each and every word and still been hungry for more. It is one of those books that you will read very fast. I am too excited for more. This is one series that I don't want to leave unfinished and I hope to read the rest of before the year ends. Hopefully a lot sooner than that though. If you love magic, don't miss this one. It's truly magical. :-)
I'm not one for spoilers so I don't want to say much more without giving away the whole concept for the book so I'm going to end it here. I really hope what I said will be enough to have you pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.
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