Ewan's shock revelation sends Vee's life further into chaos, and she faces an uncertain future in a secret world she never knew existed.
Vee joins the Four Horsemen's hunt for those behind the plot to murder a fae queen, where she discovers society faces bigger dangers than she realised.
One night changes everything and increases Vee's determination to harness her power and step into her new role.
The Four Horsemen now have their missing link and will each do anything to protect and support her, but Vee's determined to show them she can be their equal.
The group are about to find out exactly how powerful Truth is.
LJ Swallow is a paranormal romance and urban fantasy author who is the alter-ego of bestselling contemporary romance author Lisa Swallow.
Giving in to her dark side, LJ spends time creating worlds filled with supernatural creatures who don’t fit the norm, and heroines who are more likely to kick ass than sit on theirs.
ehhhh, it's getting better but I'm still a bit bored.
Bound is the second book of The Four Horseman series. It was an okay book but not a lot happened. I feel like things are going way too slowly for me with these characters. I like how there was a bit more action in this book.. but it's kind of taking forever here people.
Yeah, there are some sparks between her and the guys. Then there's the whole lot of flirting too but other than that.. meh. Vee is just an okay character. I still like Xander the most because it's him. Other than that, I like how she's growing into her own powers (in a way). Since she's the fifth, and basically the truth for them all, she can still absorb their power and make it her own. I honestly thought that was interesting and wanted to know more about it.
I also liked getting to see more of the demons because of how tricky they can be. Overall, it's okay and I seriously hope that the next book will be better.
I loved this installment! Vee is really growing into her true self and making up for lost time. Add in four sexy horsemen to the mix and we have off the charts chemistry and five alarm fires. A must read RH book. Five glittery stars!
Bound is book 2 in the series and picks up where book 1 left off. It took me a moment to remember exactly what happened, but once I had a few reminders! Vee is struggling with what she is and dealing with the new world suddenly open to her. She has her first encounter with incubi and it makes her realize she needs to get a crash course in how to handle her new reality.
During the group's continued search for the demon and Vee's attempt to understand her power, Vee is also struggling with her attraction to the guys. There is a paranormal pull to each of them. The guys feel it too, but fight it because they are unsure. Not only does Vee not understand her power, the guys don't really know what to expect either.
The plot of the story is more world building and relationship building so not as action packed. I think this caused me some struggle to really stay in the story at times.
POV: 1st (dual) Tears: no Trope: reverse harem Triggers: none Series/Standalone: series Cliffhanger: HEA:
See full review on The Book Disciple["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
The Four Horsemen reviews: #1 Legacy ❤❤❤❤❤ here #2 Bound ❤❤❤❤❤ See below! #3 Hunted ❤❤❤❤❤ here #4 Guardians ❤❤❤❤❤ here #5 Chaos ❤❤❤❤❤ here #6 Descent ❤❤❤❤❤ here #7 Reckoning ❤❤❤❤❤ here
This is the second book in this amazing book series, where the author has managed to breathe new life into this very old biblical legend of the four Horsemen. If you haven't already you need to read Legacy before reading this.
Bound continues the story of Verity (Vee) the fifth Horseman (technically Horsewoman) and the four Pony Boys.
Heath aka Death Ewan aka Pestilence Joss aka Famine Xander aka War
Vee has learned that her entire life is lie and the family and friend she thought had just moved away, doesn’t actually exist. Apparently in Vee’s creation (not birth) she was given fake memories, to keep her safely hidden, but now that she’s united with her Pony Boys, they’ve started to fade. When Vee first heard about this she didn’t handle it very well. However, as the story progress she’s getting to terms with it.
Her life has not made any easier by the fact that she knows the other Horsemen are withholding information from her and this leads to frustration on her part. Living with four insanely handsome guys are also taking its toll on Vee. Especially, as she feels attracted to all four, but she can’t be sure how much of it is pure female appreciation of the four smoking hot men or how much, is because of their mystical connection. All she knows is that she’s gravitating towards each of them.
Like that’s not enough, the guys keep treating her as a fragile human, instead of their equal. But when Vee has a traumatic experience on a night out with Ewan and Xander she sets out for revenge and in the process, she activates more power and learn proves that she can handle herself.
I enjoyed this second instalment in the series more than the first. It feels like now that the main introductions are over, the story can really get into its stride. I am so pleased that Lisa has chosen to include different POV’s in this book, it really helped me gain some more insight and it’s generally just something I value a lot in the books I read.
The one thing I don’t like is, that Vee is causing a ripple in the group dynamic by keeping secrets with one and deliberately not sharing it with all. I can’t help but think that this may lead to some unwanted tension and unforeseen consequences further down the line, when Truth is not being completely honest. But then again, I might just be expecting the worst whilst secretly hoping for the best.
Full disclosure: the book contains steamy content but I think LJ Swallow manages to walk the line and keep it from being sleazy. The sex scenes are well written and suit the moments, it doesn't seem forced and the words are well chosen.
Well book 2 and the guys still haven't sat down and explained much of anything about the supernatural world in full. Instead they hit Verity with partial knowledge, and hope for the best. It's the guys who are secret keepers and seem to taunt her with it. Some want to tell her others want to keep it from her. All it does is serve as an annoyance for the reader and put Verity at risk. All 5 of them are in a constant state of denial where it concerns being together. "He/she/they are so hot, and I'm irresistibly drawn to them, but I can't. It wouldn't be right" blah blah blah. Yes, I understand some of this is "needed" for the suspense but 2+ books of it is a bit like banging your head on the wall. At this point I am not in love with this series nor do I hate it. I like the characters, mostly, despite the secrets and relationship angst. I like the idea behind the series. I think if the characters grow and flesh out a bit more I could really like the rest of the series.
So you get a lot more in this book than you did in the first. But this one was still just meh for me. And just like the first book this one took too long to get me interested. Which sucks because I'm super invested in finding out more about the guys. Like I know a lot from these past two books. But I feel the stuff you know is really superficial stuff. I want the nitty gritty! The dirty shit. I want to understand these guys and why they act the way they do. But the story is just taking too long to get on, in my opinion.
I have to mention that we get the first little glimpse of smut in this one and even though it wasn't much it was still hot hot hot. :D
And just like the first book, this one held my attention just enough to make me want to know what happens in the next book. So we'll see what happens in book three.
Bound continues the story of Verity, the newest Horsemen (woman). The 5th. It's wonderful! Vee has discovered that her whole life is a lie, that she is a lie. All of her memories are false and fading fast. Apparently, she agreed to this situation, but has no memory. She should be traumatized by this revelation, but she's not. Sure, she's unsettled, but she's more frustrated. Frustrated that the other Horsemen won't tell her everything that they know, frustrated that they are treating her as fragile when she wants to be their equal, and frustrated because she desires all four men. Entering into the world of demons is more difficult than she even imagined and she's determined to master her powers quickly so that she's not at the mercy of the demons. Being the 5th is a challenge.
This is a complex and fascinating Reverse Harem series. I still believe that the modern take on the Horsemen concept is briliant. Throw in the new 5th and the attraction that the 4 hold for her and the fact that they each share a piece of the others, so that they are all interwoven and it becomes so much more complicated. Vee can no longer trust her memories, can she trust that these men care about her beyond their programming? Does it matter when the attraction is so powerful that it can't be ignored? All of this builds tension. The release of desire is inevitable. Whether it's fighting with Xander, sexy times in the kitchen with Ewan, cuddling with Joss or simply talking with Heath the anticipation is building. I love that as confused and overwhelmed as Vee was at times, that she is quickly owning her new life. She manages to put Xander in his place regularly and even after being traumatized, she didn't quit. She had her cry, then set about learning to protect herself and get her own revenge. She will not only be their equal, she will make them all stronger, if they can quit fighting against what is meant to be!
This was a fast paced, well-written book. There's so much action packed in between these pages, backstory, character building, more demon activity. It's so good, and this one has a very mysterious cliffhanger that will leave you screaming for more.
A fantastic sequel, and one that hooked me instantly. I love how Vee is adapting and reacting to her new reality; she is growing stronger and more confident, and it's welcome character progression. And these guys! Seriously, they are unbelievably awesome and so in tune with her needs. And the chemistry and connection between them is smoking hot and it jumps off the pages. I've read Lisa's contemporary romances, so I know she writes fantastic romance so I was expecting no less. I enjoyed how the romance is ramping up and I'm so glad Heath was her first. I also love Ewan and Joss but I really can't stand Xander and I think I want to punch him more than Vee does at times. The story develops nicely in this one too and I like the intrigue and suspense. On to book 3!
I liked this less then the first one. As we get farther into the story I find myself less tolerant of the characters. I need more concrete development and direction in the story to love it. We do get a little traction on their love triangle but not enough for it to be settled. I'm not a fan of cliffhangers so the constant unfinished storyline is annoying. Not sure I'll read the next door. Often when authors string me along it has the opposite effect... I find myself uninterested.
Book three had me skipping to BOOK SEVEN. (which was crime #1. 7 books about the same fuckers and Ms Swallow just wasn't that engaging. I've read better Four Horseman series - that are reverse harem - and I've not even finished that. THIS? I want to say take my review with caution cause this is more a serial than a series. So yeah.
First off, eyyy, another author going by LJ; high five! *gives myself the high five*
Good start, I suppose; it could’ve been worse. The characters were decent enough, not that terrible; that may change in the future, though. I could, however, do without all the guys instantly liking the main girl, though; it made me think of Ouran High for a moment. Seriously, though, why do they all lust for her? It’s a bit annoying.
This is the second book in The Four Horsemen Series, and Book 1, Legacy must be read first.
Last we heard in Legacy, Verity, or Vee as we now call her, didn’t handle hearing the truth about her background too well, but, it’s not taking her too long to calm down and start processing. Life doesn’t operate on one plane anymore, and there’s more than just humans walking around in society.
Also, sharing the house with four blokes that are ethereally handsome just isn’t Vee’s ‘normal’, and initially, she thinks her reaction when she’s close to the four of them at once is the physical attraction of a female to four 'insanely’ hot guys, but it seems to be more than that, there’s flashes of some reaction she can’t yet understand. Not only that, they’re expecting her to hit the ground running, but their explanations are distinctly lacking, and there’s no fifth horse man handbook to be seen anywhere either!
Bound is also where we finally get to hear from the guys. How are each of them handling the partnership that Vee is meant to have as part of a demon slaying team. Well, hot men attracted to a gorgeous woman who has no sense of her own self worth – I’m waiting for some meltdown somewhere. And each of them acknowledge the sexual tension they can feel when they’re with her. Only the rules are ... there’s no rulebook, so each of them are doing the best the can to navigate the way forward.
As they try to find out what the demons are up to, why the lines of previous alliances are crossed, and why the Fae Queen was attacked in her own home, it all comes down to this: she’s the centre of their strength, or she is their strength. The End.
Until they all realise there’s more to it than that. 4.5 Stars.
I left book 1 feeling kind of meh about it, and that feeling didn't improve as much after I read book 2 as I hoped it would, though it did improve some. This book still had distracting grammar issues, though maybe not as many as in book 1 (I may have just gotten used to reading over them tbh), and I'm familiar with British English as well as US English, so that's not the issue. The book still had inconsistencies regarding whether the MC is able to lie. Does she just prefer not to? It seemed like book 1 said that she couldn't do it at all that she could sense when others lie, but the author seems to remember those things only when it's convenient. The MC tells little lies to the guys and doesn't always acknowledge (even just in her head) when the guys lie to her (*cough* Xander *cough*).
I enjoyed the book more as the MC's relationships with the guys progressed. I love that the guys have distinct personalities. I'm a bit tired of the MC not knowing what's going on tbh. I really wish they would give her more physical self-defense lessons instead of just hoping she'll eventually figure her magic out. Briefly telling her where to strike to kill different creatures isn't going to cut it.
So far I'm reasonably entertained, but I just realized this series has 7 books in it (maybe more that aren't out yet?), and I'm not sure I'll be able to hold out through the whole series. They're relatively short books, but I still kind of wanted to groan when I saw there were 7. That's probably not a good sign.
Book 1 was a bit of a disappointment, so book 2 has been an improvement on the story. More action, more romance, characters are established so it leaves more room for story development. I was surprised and somewhat alarmed that the author did not include a trigger warning at the beginning of her book about rape. It's not graphic or in detail, but even her way of skirting the topic could be enough to upset someone. It made me squirm, and I'm a bit more relaxed with my reading than some.
Unfortunately by the end, the conflict has amped up, but nothing seems resolved. Vee grows more comfortable in her situation or "harem" of men that she's connected to, but the big mystery in the story is no closer to being resolved which leaves more emptiness for the reader. And there's a massive cliffhanger. I enjoyed reading the banter and challenge between Vee and Xander the most. By now, Swallow differentiated the personalities of each of the guys and she does a good job separating each one to make it interesting. It's not bad for a Reverse Harem and I appreciate that the attraction between the guys and Vee is somewhat out of their hands. It's not a decision they can really make; they're just drawn to each other. But it's not enough to change my mind about not enjoying Reverse Harems.
YES all the stars for my pony boys..Xander, Heath, Ewan and Joss. Lisa very quickly hit my fave authors list with her previous works and with this RH novella series she is definitely staying there. Bound picks up where legacy finished off. Vee is still learning to navigate her "new normal" which to be fair has got to be a crazy ride..I mean she's truth people..TRUTH the 5th horseman err woman. She is bound to the the other four in ways they are only just discovering, lucky girl. Last time around we got a little Heath and Vee action,just a smidge this time it's on for Ewan..fanning myself because wow that boy knows a thing or two. The story steps it up as they set out to discover who is pulling the strings on the recent attacks and Vee finds herself in a nightclub with a succubus no less. And that ending..cliff hanger yes but I don't mind because LJ is releasing these books in such quick succession it's not really a hardship to wait. I don't want to give away too much but suffice it to say I am more than a little excited about the 3rd installment of my book boyfriends..I mean the Four Horsemen. Lisa I think I love you ..you have me totally hooked on these guys..and Vee of course. 5 stars for book 2
Bound is the second book in The Four Horsemen series and I really enjoyed this book a lot more than the first. I felt that the story is starting to really get into it's stride now and that the characters are developing and growing. Whilst I did enjoy the first book I did not feel that the characters were as well developed and I didn't particularly have any feelings of like or dislike towards them. Bound has changed my mind on that and Vee is becoming a character that I can see I'm really going to love. She's showing her strength and making decisions, she's also not letting herself be bullied around. Of the four horsemen, I think that Ewan may be my favourite. I really like how all four of the horsemen are together again in this book and that we get to learn more about Xander, although did feel that Heath was kind of pushed to the back in this book so am hoping in book three we will get more interactions with all four of them and Vee together. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series as I've really enjoyed how this story is picking up and can't wait to see what happens next.
Lisa continues on the series with yet another hit. . . I don't think there is anything this woman CAN'T DO!
Soooo, the story continues on from the first book and she's reeling over what she has been told by Ewan's truth bomb. Book 2 is about gaining experience in her powers, understanding them more and getting her head around who she along with an evil cliffhanger at the end. . . And when I say evil. . .I mean, evil of Lisa to put one in there haha.
It has just the right amount of action and you see Vee getting closer to one of the boys and lots of tense moments with Xander. I loved how much he was in this book. I am IN LOVE with Xander and I have added him to my ever growing list of book boyfriends hahaha.
I also loved that Lisa gave us his POV because it gave us a much better insight into what is going on in his head and how he feels about her. The sexual tension between them is incredible and I can't wait for the day the line snaps and he gives into his feelings.
I absolutely can't wait for the next one. . . the wait so far has been torture! I don't know how much longer I can go without my horsemen fix
OK so my only bug bear is the females narrators male voices. Usually I dislike the males narrators female voice...but I'm so use to the female narrator doing a males husky and very male voice. it's a surprise to hear a male sound like he's a grumpy 80 year old smoker, or a young teen, or just not underwhelming. anyway that is my only issue, she plays Vee's voice very well and I can get over her male version of for a voice. the story itself is slow burning reverse harem romance, with a strong woman finding here way in a world she just found out about, while also coming to terms people want her dead, and she is something big...although what she doesn't know yet. A 5th member of the horsemen, and she's a woman who sparks needs more than casual can satisfy....it gets steamy and well I was sad when it cut off at one point when I thought we were about get back to being steamy 🧐😏👀...then suddenly in bed and waking up 🙄😮💨😒....besides the short books ending with a slight cliffhanger....a ok book.
Then again I am reading the Four Psychos by Kristy Cunning and that's about the 4 horsemen and similar 5th....and man that is so good...so it's hard to compete against that....
Bound picks up where Legacy leaves off. Vee is still reeling from the revelation that she has learned. That she is something more and that she has always been. Questions arise, what is real, what dangers does she face, what is after her, how will she know who is human and not, can she defend herself and what does she do with building attraction to all the other Horsemen? When an incident happens at a night club, Vee is more determined than ever to learn all that she can to defend herself and others. She is also weakening in her fight against the attraction she feels for Joss, Heath, Xander and Ewan. Each one tests and helps her in their own way. I have to say Xander I am still on the fence about, at times I don't like him but other times you catch a glimpse behind War's hard exterior. I really enjoyed Bound, we are left with a cliffhanger that sets up Hunted perfectly. Overall Bound was a great addition to the Four Horsemen Series and I would recommend this for any RH paranormal fan.
Bound is book 2 of the Four Horsemen. we learn more about Verity's past or lack thereof. We get to spend more time with Xander. The tension between those two grows and grows, but neither will back down or give in.
We also get to spend quite a bit of time with Ewan (my favorite) which made me happy after the ending to book 1. He's there for her when she needs it and makes sure she gets to deal with the situation the way she needs to (nope, can't tell... spoiler).
Vee gets to use her powers and a shocking discovery is made. I was happy she was able to do what she does (still not telling) because it wouldn't sit right if all she was there to do was amplify the others power. Vee is too independent for that BS.
Can't wait for book 3 and see where it takes us!!!
Verity spends her day working for a telecommunication company where she basically keeps to her self and does her work. She struggles with social cues sometimes because she is honest to a fault and just because someone asks your opinion doesn’t mean they want the truth. One-night Vee is on her way home, it’s dark and raining when she accidentally hits a man. She is shocked when it turns out to be a new employee from work. Vee is suddenly pulled into a mysterious world that she isn’t even sure could possibly exist.
The characters have a magnetism to one another that keeps the sparks flying between them. Book one seems to lay the foundation for the rest of the series which promises to be worth the time to read.
**WARNING! CLIFFHANGER!** This book picks up where book one left off, and ends on a cliffhanger- of the “what now?” sort.
Verity is getting used to her new identity as the fifth horseman- but she has no idea how to channel her powers. With the help of the four, she is determined to figure out who she is and what she can do.
This is another quick read in this series- and actually a little shorter than the page count because there is an “extra” short story at the end.
We learn a little more about the world Verity now inhabits, as well as her abilities, but she is still learning a lot… and although we see a little romantic action in this volume, it’s limited.
An enjoyable serialized RH paranormal romance/fantasy for fans of the genre.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and voluntarily decided to review it
I was so excited when I got this as I loved the first book, and the second book does not disappoint! We get to know more about Verity, where she comes from and what she can do. We also learn more about the guys, and we can see their relationships developing and growing.
Packed full with excitement, drama, twists and turns I was so sad when the book finished as I have to wait for the next one. In all seriousness, this is a fantastically well written story, I am hooked on this series and would highly recommend it to anyone.
Vee and The Horsemen's story continues in Bound effortlessly. The dynamic between Vee and the guys is very well developed and Lisa creates a fantastic world to get lost in.
Vee, at first, struggles with life due to the revelation that was given at the end of Legacy. She attempts normalcy when their is no way it can be described as normal anymore. I LOVED how Vee comes into her powers and things begin to heat up between her and the Horsemen.
I can't say how much I loved the Horsemen's perspective in the book. It gives an additional layer that flows so well with the story. I definitely recommend this book and will be ready for the third to release.