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The Books of Binding #2
Ties of Blood and Bone: The Second Book of Binding
Winter Mulcahy’s life is getting better since her brush with death in October. She has a new family and they are helping her to grieve and rebuild her shattered life. She is learning to balance family, medicine, and holding the chaos of living among the preternaturals of Seahaven at bay. She meets a wizard, Alerich Ashimar, with the soul of a poet and the heart of a demon who is desperate to escape the life and choices that have been forced onto him. This man may hold the secret to the tragedies that have plagued House Mulcahy, but time is running out—for them both.
Alerich’s family is bound to a demon in a powerful geas set by his grandmother. Kill every Mulcahy by the upcoming winter solstice and her dead husband will be returned to her. Fail, and Alerich’s father, Magnus, will be forfeited to the demon. Magnus sends Alerich to collect Winter, the last of the Mulcahys, and bring her to the demon’s gate before the rapidly approaching deadline passes.
Alerich is horribly conflicted. He has been trying to mend his estranged relationship with his father, and he doesn’t want his father to die. But, nor does he want to kill this beautiful, kind woman upon whom so many depend. When Alerich does not bring the girl at the appointed time, his father, feeling that Alerich has abandoned and betrayed him, strikes a terrible deal with the demon—something the demon has always wanted in exchange for the power to kill this last Mulcahy and his traitorous son.
Alerich’s family is bound to a demon in a powerful geas set by his grandmother. Kill every Mulcahy by the upcoming winter solstice and her dead husband will be returned to her. Fail, and Alerich’s father, Magnus, will be forfeited to the demon. Magnus sends Alerich to collect Winter, the last of the Mulcahys, and bring her to the demon’s gate before the rapidly approaching deadline passes.
Alerich is horribly conflicted. He has been trying to mend his estranged relationship with his father, and he doesn’t want his father to die. But, nor does he want to kill this beautiful, kind woman upon whom so many depend. When Alerich does not bring the girl at the appointed time, his father, feeling that Alerich has abandoned and betrayed him, strikes a terrible deal with the demon—something the demon has always wanted in exchange for the power to kill this last Mulcahy and his traitorous son.
- GenresFantasyUrban Fantasy
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2018
6 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Lowan
5 books25 followersA. E. Lowan is the pseudonym of three authors who collectively create the dark urban fantasy series, The Books of Binding.
Kristin Vinck
Raised as a Navy brat, Kristin Vinck began writing as a child on the West Coast, learning her love of words at her mother's knee. Kristin won her first writing award for urban fantasy in Seattle at eight-years-old for a story about a city on a boat pulled by dinosaurs. In her teens, Kristin moved from learning at home from her satirist mother to formal writing education at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri. Kristin studied medieval studies and creative writing at Truman State University and now writes from the beauty of the Missouri Ozarks.
Jennifer Vinck
Raised among musicians in Kansas City, Missouri, Jennifer Vinck came to writing from another direction - poetry and song. Poetry was her primary creative endeavor throughout childhood and when Jennifer was twelve-years-old she was asked to write the lyrics for a song used for All Species Day (a precursor of Earth Day) in Kansas City. She auditioned for the creative writing department at the Kansas City Middle School of the Arts and there discovered a new passion - speculative fiction. Jennifer met Kristin on the first day of school at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. They began developing epic and urban fantasy worlds and have been collaborating in fiction and in life ever since. Jennifer studied linguistics and classical languages and literatures at Truman State University and spent many years as a bookseller before moving to the Missouri Ozarks to concentrate on writing.
Jessica Smith
Jessica Smith found her passion for fantastical storytelling where so many young writers do - through the masterpieces of fantasy's renowned matriarchs. As the pile of worlds inhabited by dragon-riders, wizards, and fair folk caused her bookshelves to plea for mercy, the constellation of worlds inside her waiting for their story to be told grew. With enough ideas to fill the state of Texas where she was raised, Jessica first took pencil to paper before she hit double digits. Jessica's love of the complexities of the universe and the intricacies of the human mind led her into study in the medical field. Her passion for writing took her to the internet in search of others who kept whole worlds in their minds. Jessica has been active on many online writing communities over the years, but it was on a fantasy-specific site, Mythic Scribes, where Jessica met Kristin and Jennifer in 2013. Her worlds and theirs collided as a whirlwind of collaboration began. The Books of Binding is the first project that partnership has unleashed on the world.
Our first full-length novel, Faerie Rising: The First Book of Binding released in 2017 and was followed by Ties of Blood and Bone: The Second Book of Binding in 2018. We are currently working on the third novel in our Books of Binding series, Beneath a Stone Sky to release early in 2020.
In addition to our urban fantasy series, we have an epic fantasy series in development.
Please visit our website at www.aelowan.com for free short original fiction and more information on our works in progress.
Kristin Vinck
Raised as a Navy brat, Kristin Vinck began writing as a child on the West Coast, learning her love of words at her mother's knee. Kristin won her first writing award for urban fantasy in Seattle at eight-years-old for a story about a city on a boat pulled by dinosaurs. In her teens, Kristin moved from learning at home from her satirist mother to formal writing education at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri. Kristin studied medieval studies and creative writing at Truman State University and now writes from the beauty of the Missouri Ozarks.
Jennifer Vinck
Raised among musicians in Kansas City, Missouri, Jennifer Vinck came to writing from another direction - poetry and song. Poetry was her primary creative endeavor throughout childhood and when Jennifer was twelve-years-old she was asked to write the lyrics for a song used for All Species Day (a precursor of Earth Day) in Kansas City. She auditioned for the creative writing department at the Kansas City Middle School of the Arts and there discovered a new passion - speculative fiction. Jennifer met Kristin on the first day of school at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. They began developing epic and urban fantasy worlds and have been collaborating in fiction and in life ever since. Jennifer studied linguistics and classical languages and literatures at Truman State University and spent many years as a bookseller before moving to the Missouri Ozarks to concentrate on writing.
Jessica Smith
Jessica Smith found her passion for fantastical storytelling where so many young writers do - through the masterpieces of fantasy's renowned matriarchs. As the pile of worlds inhabited by dragon-riders, wizards, and fair folk caused her bookshelves to plea for mercy, the constellation of worlds inside her waiting for their story to be told grew. With enough ideas to fill the state of Texas where she was raised, Jessica first took pencil to paper before she hit double digits. Jessica's love of the complexities of the universe and the intricacies of the human mind led her into study in the medical field. Her passion for writing took her to the internet in search of others who kept whole worlds in their minds. Jessica has been active on many online writing communities over the years, but it was on a fantasy-specific site, Mythic Scribes, where Jessica met Kristin and Jennifer in 2013. Her worlds and theirs collided as a whirlwind of collaboration began. The Books of Binding is the first project that partnership has unleashed on the world.
Our first full-length novel, Faerie Rising: The First Book of Binding released in 2017 and was followed by Ties of Blood and Bone: The Second Book of Binding in 2018. We are currently working on the third novel in our Books of Binding series, Beneath a Stone Sky to release early in 2020.
In addition to our urban fantasy series, we have an epic fantasy series in development.
Please visit our website at www.aelowan.com for free short original fiction and more information on our works in progress.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 8, 2019
A.E. Lowan’s wonderful urban fantasy series continues with Ties of Blood and Bone. The events from the previous book are still fresh in Winter Mulcahy’s life as new challenges crop up and she continues to nurture the coalition of therians and other preternatural denizens in Seahaven. But life for Winter is never simple as she must balance a new family, her responsibility to the community of therians, vampires, and others in Seahaven, assisting her apprentice, Jessie St. James, to free herself from her abusive parents, and helping to search for a missing rabbit. What Winter doesn’t know is that Magnus Ashimar is hunting her – the last of the Mulcahy line – and is determined to kill her. When Winter meets a fellow wizard, Alerich Ashimar, she finds somebody whom she can love, but when she learns that Alerich has been sent by Magnus to take her so that Magnus can sacrifice her to his demon master Winter must decide who is the real Alerich.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world and characters that A.E. Lowan created in Faerie Rising. Winter Mulcahy is as strong and practical of protagonist as you can want. While she’s not stretching herself as thin as the second book begins, you can still feel the tension and stress that Winter is under as she tries to keep the fragile preternatural community together, often only by the strength of her own will. I love how strong and determined Winter is, while being a skilled diplomat. Her greatest strength is in being able to judge a person’s character and forging alliances.
At the same time, the other characters are as equally complex and well developed. While Etienne and Cian have less page time in this story, you can still feel their impact on the Mulcahy home. I like that Jessie is stretching her wings (so to speak), though I’d love to have more of her in the story. Alerich’s friends (Thomas and Fitz) and sister (Elspeth) are as fun and interesting even though they are supporting characters. (And honestly, I would love to have Fitz’s enchanted, ever full flask of scotch.) But the character that really stood out for me was Alerich. He is a deeply complex character. As the son of Magnus (who is bound to a demon and under a powerful geas cast by his mother) Alerich struggles to please his father. Alerich has many psychological scars from years of being tortured by the demon and doing his father’s bidding. He wants nothing more than to have fun with his sister and friends but is compelled and bound by duty to his father, and thus to the demon. Alerich is both rebel and dutiful son, who has a kind and gentle soul but has been forced to do horrible things. The dichotomy and conflict within Alerich make him a great character, and a wonderful counterpoint to Winter.
The story in Ties of Blood and Bone does much to answer some of the questions raised in Faerie Rising, by like any great series many of the answers lead to more questions. I look forward to finding the answers in future books in the series.
Ties of Blood and Bone is a compelling narrative of duty and conflict between father and son, a city’s protector and the community, and between families. It is a rich tapestry of strong (though troubled) people, mystery, and action set in one of the best urban fantasy settings I have had the pleasure of reading. I highly recommend this sequel and if you’ve not yet picked up Faerie Rising, I encourage you to pick it up as well. The Book of Binding series is one you will want to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world and characters that A.E. Lowan created in Faerie Rising. Winter Mulcahy is as strong and practical of protagonist as you can want. While she’s not stretching herself as thin as the second book begins, you can still feel the tension and stress that Winter is under as she tries to keep the fragile preternatural community together, often only by the strength of her own will. I love how strong and determined Winter is, while being a skilled diplomat. Her greatest strength is in being able to judge a person’s character and forging alliances.
At the same time, the other characters are as equally complex and well developed. While Etienne and Cian have less page time in this story, you can still feel their impact on the Mulcahy home. I like that Jessie is stretching her wings (so to speak), though I’d love to have more of her in the story. Alerich’s friends (Thomas and Fitz) and sister (Elspeth) are as fun and interesting even though they are supporting characters. (And honestly, I would love to have Fitz’s enchanted, ever full flask of scotch.) But the character that really stood out for me was Alerich. He is a deeply complex character. As the son of Magnus (who is bound to a demon and under a powerful geas cast by his mother) Alerich struggles to please his father. Alerich has many psychological scars from years of being tortured by the demon and doing his father’s bidding. He wants nothing more than to have fun with his sister and friends but is compelled and bound by duty to his father, and thus to the demon. Alerich is both rebel and dutiful son, who has a kind and gentle soul but has been forced to do horrible things. The dichotomy and conflict within Alerich make him a great character, and a wonderful counterpoint to Winter.
The story in Ties of Blood and Bone does much to answer some of the questions raised in Faerie Rising, by like any great series many of the answers lead to more questions. I look forward to finding the answers in future books in the series.
Ties of Blood and Bone is a compelling narrative of duty and conflict between father and son, a city’s protector and the community, and between families. It is a rich tapestry of strong (though troubled) people, mystery, and action set in one of the best urban fantasy settings I have had the pleasure of reading. I highly recommend this sequel and if you’ve not yet picked up Faerie Rising, I encourage you to pick it up as well. The Book of Binding series is one you will want to read.
April 6, 2019
Oh, yeah!! Book one was awesome, but this one blew me away. Winter has her hands full again when a nasty family of wizards who traffick with demons comes to Seahaven. But one of the young wizards, Alarich, is weary of the evil his family thrives on, and Seahaven’s Mulcahy is beautiful, compassionate, kind...everything his family is not. But his father is bent on Winter’s destruction in a generations old feud that has already stripped the Mulcahy family tree bare...or has it?
March 22, 2020
The second volume in a series has a tough job. Nobody reads Volume 2 unless they liked the first one, so the second is always a following act. It has to be at least as good as the first; in some ways, better, for it has to be good enough to pitch the reader forward to Volume 3.
Ties of Blood and Bone succeeds in its task, despite its handicaps. Which are?
Well, first of all, much of the first part of the book is about searching for a bunny. So, there's that.
Not just any bunny, though. The bunny in question is a were-rabbit, which still sounds silly but isn't at all. Team Lowan does a fine job of making each of the therian races not only distinct but fitted into a larger ecosystem, so losses in any area, even among the meek rabbits, is a loss for all. Our protagonist, Winter Mulcahy, understands this thoroughly. She's the protector of that ecosystem.
Which is threatened, of course, this time by a whole family of horrors. Again Lowan does a fine job of adding dimension to the story. Instead of this family merely being demonic and dangerous to the world of Seahaven, they have a direct connection to Winter herself, so personal stakes are added to the general stakes of saving the world.
Plus, there's a romance now. I count this as another handicap, because romances in fantasy are so often done poorly that I pretty much skim through them with little harm to the overall story. Not so here. Winter has multiple relationships going into this book, and the new arrival complicates those but also manages to make them all the more meaningful.
Between the personal relationships and the family conflicts, Lowan more or less spreads gunpowder all over the floor then gleefully starts tossing matches. The result is a series of flare-ups that keep the story moving at a rapid pace toward a genuinely satisfying conflagration. The magic is handled deftly, managing to appear impressive without ever feeling contrived.
Book 2 succeeds. It is its own satisfying chapter, extending and adding resonance to the first, while foreshadowing what is still to come.
Ties of Blood and Bone succeeds in its task, despite its handicaps. Which are?
Well, first of all, much of the first part of the book is about searching for a bunny. So, there's that.
Not just any bunny, though. The bunny in question is a were-rabbit, which still sounds silly but isn't at all. Team Lowan does a fine job of making each of the therian races not only distinct but fitted into a larger ecosystem, so losses in any area, even among the meek rabbits, is a loss for all. Our protagonist, Winter Mulcahy, understands this thoroughly. She's the protector of that ecosystem.
Which is threatened, of course, this time by a whole family of horrors. Again Lowan does a fine job of adding dimension to the story. Instead of this family merely being demonic and dangerous to the world of Seahaven, they have a direct connection to Winter herself, so personal stakes are added to the general stakes of saving the world.
Plus, there's a romance now. I count this as another handicap, because romances in fantasy are so often done poorly that I pretty much skim through them with little harm to the overall story. Not so here. Winter has multiple relationships going into this book, and the new arrival complicates those but also manages to make them all the more meaningful.
Between the personal relationships and the family conflicts, Lowan more or less spreads gunpowder all over the floor then gleefully starts tossing matches. The result is a series of flare-ups that keep the story moving at a rapid pace toward a genuinely satisfying conflagration. The magic is handled deftly, managing to appear impressive without ever feeling contrived.
Book 2 succeeds. It is its own satisfying chapter, extending and adding resonance to the first, while foreshadowing what is still to come.
October 16, 2019
Overview: Winter Mulcahy’s life has improved considerably since her recent brush with death. But when she meets and falls in love with Aldrich, a wizard who has the soul of a poet and the heart of a demon, the couple is already painfully aware that time is running out on them.
Imaginative, dangerous, magical, and everything else you would want to experience in a superlative dark fantasy tale is bound between the pages of A.E. Lowan’s “Ties of Blood and Bone”.
Lowan pens a plotline worthy of a true epic as wizards, witches, and fae come together to battle demons and protect both their world and ours from endless and total corruption. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in Lowan’s plotline with the insertion of such a rich culture, tradition, and history woven into the story. That the author introduces the reader to such an endless diversity of magical folk—dark and light, each with their own backstories and experiences, provides a major talking point, bringing this rich tale to heights reached only by authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin.
Lowan’s lengthy cast of characters provides endless entertainment and interest for the reader. Each cast member is easy to identify, endearing, and vital to the telling of this tale. Those individuals who possess unique magical gifts or traits seem as real as everyday people and everyday figures learn that magic can be found within if one only looks for it. Just as I did, most readers will find themselves strongly identifying with a particular character, not only wishing they had their skills, but dreaming about what their own place would be in this unique and absorbing world that Lowan has created.
This book does contain graphic violence and adult situations that may be a trigger for survivors of violence or sexual abuse. However, I strongly recommend “Ties of Blood and Bone” for anyone (ages 17 and up) looking for the best reads in dark fantasy epics.
Imaginative, dangerous, magical, and everything else you would want to experience in a superlative dark fantasy tale is bound between the pages of A.E. Lowan’s “Ties of Blood and Bone”.
Lowan pens a plotline worthy of a true epic as wizards, witches, and fae come together to battle demons and protect both their world and ours from endless and total corruption. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in Lowan’s plotline with the insertion of such a rich culture, tradition, and history woven into the story. That the author introduces the reader to such an endless diversity of magical folk—dark and light, each with their own backstories and experiences, provides a major talking point, bringing this rich tale to heights reached only by authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin.
Lowan’s lengthy cast of characters provides endless entertainment and interest for the reader. Each cast member is easy to identify, endearing, and vital to the telling of this tale. Those individuals who possess unique magical gifts or traits seem as real as everyday people and everyday figures learn that magic can be found within if one only looks for it. Just as I did, most readers will find themselves strongly identifying with a particular character, not only wishing they had their skills, but dreaming about what their own place would be in this unique and absorbing world that Lowan has created.
This book does contain graphic violence and adult situations that may be a trigger for survivors of violence or sexual abuse. However, I strongly recommend “Ties of Blood and Bone” for anyone (ages 17 and up) looking for the best reads in dark fantasy epics.
August 11, 2022
In this second book in the Faerie Rising series, we return to our heroes' journeys as they fight to recover from the trauma they've faced while preparing for new adventures. Winter meets a new character, Alerich, a wizard whose family legacy is a demonic curse. His father's soul belongs to the demon, unless he sacrifices Winter instead.
It's a powerful premise, and this is a book that delivers entirely on its promises. The second book in a trilogy often drags, but this one certainly outdoes its predecessor. There's less time getting to know the characters and the world, and a much tighter and more focused plot, with a clearly defined (and quite scary) demon antagonist. I really, really enjoyed this one.
Oh, and bonues points for probably the most interesting use of non-human animal-esque races (called Therians) I've ever seen, particularly the tragic fate of the bunny-people.
It's a powerful premise, and this is a book that delivers entirely on its promises. The second book in a trilogy often drags, but this one certainly outdoes its predecessor. There's less time getting to know the characters and the world, and a much tighter and more focused plot, with a clearly defined (and quite scary) demon antagonist. I really, really enjoyed this one.
Oh, and bonues points for probably the most interesting use of non-human animal-esque races (called Therians) I've ever seen, particularly the tragic fate of the bunny-people.
June 23, 2022
This series continues to add complex characters dealing with traumatic backgrounds, and I'm here for it. This book had a stronger plot than the first book, but the characters are just as deep and engaging as ever. Really my only complaint is that there are too many multi-faceted characters - how am I supposed to pick a favorite? What a great problem to have!
April 18, 2024
DNF
This book got so dark so quickly, much darker than book 1. Too much rape and torture for me.
This book got so dark so quickly, much darker than book 1. Too much rape and torture for me.
August 27, 2020
This story takes over a little after the previous story ended, and it introduces a slew of new characters. There's a little bit more romance in this than the previous book, and while it's important to the story, it's not really the focus. It's good to see though, as it's a little point of light where it's otherwise pretty dark.
The story is about how the main character, Winter, needs to die in order for a sorcerer to fulfill a geas laid on them, or a demon will eat their soul. It's a dark story, and while there's some gruesome violence, it mostly happens off-screen, and the reader is only shown the aftermath.
What I'll whine about:
The point of view often shifts from one character to another between paragraphs and without warning. Mostly this is done really well, and it's clear that it's happening, but on a few occasions it misses the mark and ends up getting confusing.
What I'll gush about:
Rabbit shifters. I've known Lowan for a while, and they've often mentioned they have therian rabbits in their story. I've always thought about them as being some kind of cutesy/funny comic relief characters - bunny shifters, you know.
Turns out I'm wrong. Turns out you can make therian rabbits into something bleak and a little bit heart-wrenching.
The setting. The world shown in the story is very rich. There's more preternatural elements than you can shake a stick at. The rabbits mentioned above is just one aspect of it. It's almost all dark, but that doesn't mean there are points of light speckled throughout.
The relationships. I won't be going into details about this, as there are potential spoilers for the previous book here, but let's just say that it's good. There are a lot of aspects that don't seem to be common in the genre.
Finally, major vampire called in as actual babysitter.
The story is about how the main character, Winter, needs to die in order for a sorcerer to fulfill a geas laid on them, or a demon will eat their soul. It's a dark story, and while there's some gruesome violence, it mostly happens off-screen, and the reader is only shown the aftermath.
What I'll whine about:
The point of view often shifts from one character to another between paragraphs and without warning. Mostly this is done really well, and it's clear that it's happening, but on a few occasions it misses the mark and ends up getting confusing.
What I'll gush about:
Rabbit shifters. I've known Lowan for a while, and they've often mentioned they have therian rabbits in their story. I've always thought about them as being some kind of cutesy/funny comic relief characters - bunny shifters, you know.
Turns out I'm wrong. Turns out you can make therian rabbits into something bleak and a little bit heart-wrenching.
The setting. The world shown in the story is very rich. There's more preternatural elements than you can shake a stick at. The rabbits mentioned above is just one aspect of it. It's almost all dark, but that doesn't mean there are points of light speckled throughout.
The relationships. I won't be going into details about this, as there are potential spoilers for the previous book here, but let's just say that it's good. There are a lot of aspects that don't seem to be common in the genre.
Finally, major vampire called in as actual babysitter.
December 15, 2022
I'm at about 3.5 for this one.
The opening chapter is as hard on my stress levels as was the case with the first book in this series, so strong start!
We still follow the wizard Winter Mulcahey and her friends and lovers through rough times, and I like the main plot, but where this book falls through for me a bit is in the supporting tissue, so to speak.
I don't remember ever thinking this of another book, but this one could have benefitted from twenty or maybe even fifty more pages to support the story. There's a lot of meat in this universe and this story, but it doesn't get to stew, so to speak, and the stuff going on parallel to the main plot doesn't get to come out in full flavor, which is a shame.
I want to give points for writing sexual tension really well in this one, though! I usually don't care for descriptions of romance or sex, but this one was good.
I'll be here for the next one in the series.
The opening chapter is as hard on my stress levels as was the case with the first book in this series, so strong start!
We still follow the wizard Winter Mulcahey and her friends and lovers through rough times, and I like the main plot, but where this book falls through for me a bit is in the supporting tissue, so to speak.
I don't remember ever thinking this of another book, but this one could have benefitted from twenty or maybe even fifty more pages to support the story. There's a lot of meat in this universe and this story, but it doesn't get to stew, so to speak, and the stuff going on parallel to the main plot doesn't get to come out in full flavor, which is a shame.
I want to give points for writing sexual tension really well in this one, though! I usually don't care for descriptions of romance or sex, but this one was good.
I'll be here for the next one in the series.
September 10, 2018
I enjoyed Ties of Blood and Bone just as much as the first book Faerie Rising. I love Winter, Cian, and Entienne and was pleasantly surprised by the addition of Alrerich and his friends. The plot was fast-paced and interesting. The overall story took a couple interesting twists that I can't wait to see develop in the next book. The empty Mulcahy house might not be so empty anymore.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews