What do you think?
Rate this book
Wyrd Blood #3
Blood Binds
Ryker calls it an accident. I call it another betrayal. He didn't want me to leave but didn't fight to keep me by his side. Wronged magically and devastated emotionally, I exile myself to another country, Dorley. Now I perform tricks under a tent, my mystical gifts a common sideshow. Just as I’m accepting my self-inflicted fate, Ryker makes a move that forces me back to the Valley. But an ancient evil is stirring and follows me. With magical stones disappearing, the power I possess within makes me a target. Old hurts have to be put aside and enemies must unite or an evil strong enough to destroy us all will be unleashed.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2019
279 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 2, 2019
Finally!
I slogged through so much nonsense to get to the ending. So much randomness and confused feelings make this series a loose story with a meandering plot. The heroines viewpoint is so narrow and she is so contrary that I had to skim to finish.
Even though book one was promising, this is not a story I will read again.
Read in KU
I slogged through so much nonsense to get to the ending. So much randomness and confused feelings make this series a loose story with a meandering plot. The heroines viewpoint is so narrow and she is so contrary that I had to skim to finish.
Even though book one was promising, this is not a story I will read again.
Read in KU
May 21, 2019
It was a mostly satisfying end to the relationship drama, but so much disappointment in this novel for me. The relationship continues in this silent battle of wills for absolutely NO reason. At one point, Ryker says something like, "you know there's this thing that adults do. it's called talking." I wanted to scream at him, "YES! You haven't been doing ANY the ENTIRE time you've known Bugs!!!" Everyone acts like she's the problem, but he is just as lacking in this equation. The flip from enemies to lovers was sudden. There was very little development of their relationship in real time. We only get hindsight and a couple explanation at the end. There are time jumps that could have benefited from a paragraph indicating what people were doing for months, but no, just a hop forward. so irritating.
The world-building seriously is lacking. All along, I'd hoped things would be explained. Nope. Monsters are introduced, but the reader gets no information about them. It is assumed we know what they are and so the only info we get are the breadcrumbs the characters mention in passing. We also learn in this novel that the planet has TWO moons. Really? Seems like something really cool that could have been introduced in book 1, but I don't recall anything about the planet being described like that. This kind of thing is so irritating.
Overall, I'd have to sum up this book as (surprise!) so irritating.
The world-building seriously is lacking. All along, I'd hoped things would be explained. Nope. Monsters are introduced, but the reader gets no information about them. It is assumed we know what they are and so the only info we get are the breadcrumbs the characters mention in passing. We also learn in this novel that the planet has TWO moons. Really? Seems like something really cool that could have been introduced in book 1, but I don't recall anything about the planet being described like that. This kind of thing is so irritating.
Overall, I'd have to sum up this book as (surprise!) so irritating.
February 18, 2019
Another great story completed
Let's just get this out of the way: I love Donna Augustine! I love her writing style. I love her subject matter. I love the characters she creates: the good, bad and ugly. So writing a review is easy peasy. But, I will try to put my adoration aside and review this with less hearts in my eyes.
This is the third and final book in this series. It's a slow burn HEA so if you're looking for lifelong angst, move along. It's not a standalone, read the first two books.
There was only one thing I did not like about this story and that's the fact that Ryker is a man whore. I'm not sure if he was always a man whore, I'm assuming yes from the comments other characters made, or if Bugs presence ramped up his game due to magic they both had.
That's it. That's the only negative thing about this series i didn't like.
Donna Augustine is a great writer. Her stories are easy to slip into. There (that I've noticed but I'm not an editor) aren't any weird sentences (like the one you're reading) that make you go...'what??' Her characters are solid. I might have mentioned this, but I really just enjoy her books :)
Let's just get this out of the way: I love Donna Augustine! I love her writing style. I love her subject matter. I love the characters she creates: the good, bad and ugly. So writing a review is easy peasy. But, I will try to put my adoration aside and review this with less hearts in my eyes.
This is the third and final book in this series. It's a slow burn HEA so if you're looking for lifelong angst, move along. It's not a standalone, read the first two books.
There was only one thing I did not like about this story and that's the fact that Ryker is a man whore. I'm not sure if he was always a man whore, I'm assuming yes from the comments other characters made, or if Bugs presence ramped up his game due to magic they both had.
That's it. That's the only negative thing about this series i didn't like.
Donna Augustine is a great writer. Her stories are easy to slip into. There (that I've noticed but I'm not an editor) aren't any weird sentences (like the one you're reading) that make you go...'what??' Her characters are solid. I might have mentioned this, but I really just enjoy her books :)
August 14, 2019
I usually enjoy this author's books, but I have to say that I found this trilogy to be pretty awful. I had grown used to the super-old-powerful-emotionally-stunted male character who sleeps with every single woman in whatever compound they live in vs the super-young-emotionally-weak-but-magically-strong female character pairing, but this particular pairing should have come with a trigger warning for domestic abuse. There is a horrible dynamic where Ryker both emotionally and physically (magically?) abuses Bugs on a near-constant basis.
Despite the initial presentation of Bugs' magic as being nearly as strong as Ryker's, it develops that instead her magic is barely a drop in the ocean compared to his. There are also so many contradictions that detract from the story. They can draw on each other's magic and push their magic to the other but when Ryker (on several occasions) hollows her magic out "by accident" he just shrugs it off and doesn't even bother pushing any back to her even though he is still apparently full of magic (and it's not even clear why he even needed to take any of hers, considering how vast his is and the fact that even afterwards, he's totally fine). Compare that to when she takes some from him: only when she has used up all of hers.
The whole character of Dez just seems like a last minute add-in. She serves no purpose whatsoever to the story and hiding her power seems absurd when everyone else has theirs on display pretty much all the time.
Marra's conversion to evil just isn't believable. She is part of a group of kids who grow up in the Ruins, doing everything they can to survive, and have apparently been through so much together (including losing people from their group) and yet when her sister dies in one excursion with Bugs all of a sudden she forgets everything they've all been through together and decides not only to blame Bugs but to kill her (and a bunch of random people too just for practice). Really? And then we randomly find out the Burn had a thing for her? Bizarre. It's almost as strange as the supposed Knife/Dez love [non]story.
Anyway, I struggled reading this trilogy. I started out optimistic with book 1, it lost its shine in book 2, and it lost me completely in book 3.
Despite the initial presentation of Bugs' magic as being nearly as strong as Ryker's, it develops that instead her magic is barely a drop in the ocean compared to his. There are also so many contradictions that detract from the story. They can draw on each other's magic and push their magic to the other but when Ryker (on several occasions) hollows her magic out "by accident" he just shrugs it off and doesn't even bother pushing any back to her even though he is still apparently full of magic (and it's not even clear why he even needed to take any of hers, considering how vast his is and the fact that even afterwards, he's totally fine). Compare that to when she takes some from him: only when she has used up all of hers.
The whole character of Dez just seems like a last minute add-in. She serves no purpose whatsoever to the story and hiding her power seems absurd when everyone else has theirs on display pretty much all the time.
Marra's conversion to evil just isn't believable. She is part of a group of kids who grow up in the Ruins, doing everything they can to survive, and have apparently been through so much together (including losing people from their group) and yet when her sister dies in one excursion with Bugs all of a sudden she forgets everything they've all been through together and decides not only to blame Bugs but to kill her (and a bunch of random people too just for practice). Really? And then we randomly find out the Burn had a thing for her? Bizarre. It's almost as strange as the supposed Knife/Dez love [non]story.
Anyway, I struggled reading this trilogy. I started out optimistic with book 1, it lost its shine in book 2, and it lost me completely in book 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2019
Blood Binds
Donna Augustine
Number 3 in Donna Augustine’s Wryd Blood series is a fitting goodbye complete with a few didn’t see them coming surprises, and fans get a perfect way to tie up all the loose ends, answering all the questions and solving the mysteries surrounding Bugs, her crew and her relationship with Ryker. The world building continues to be top-notch, the characters diverse, over the top and interesting especially Bugs and Ryker, their chemistry, banter and the obstacles she puts them through is world class yet not too angsty. The action amps up and the body count rises as they battle the mysterious evil entity that finally makes an appearance. Fans will be happy to have closure but sad to see this fantastic trilogy ending. Reading out of order is not recommended.
Series Recap:
It’s 910 AC-After the change when magic was unleashed on an unsuspecting world and forever changed it and not for the better. Bugs life has changed and not all for the good since the day Ryker her nemesis, dream man, nightmare found her, she’s lost loved ones and the keep the rest of her pseudo family safe and to keep her sanity she’ll do anything even if it means leaving The Valley and Ryker behind.
SUMMARY:
Totally tired of wanting a man who obviously doesn’t want her and of seeing a constant line of women parading through his room and obviously his bed Bugs has made a decision. If Ryker doesn’t want her she’ll leave The Valley because staying is going to break her heart. She could take being bound to his magic and even his my way or the highway attitude but she knows staying here will kill her. So she’s off to the country of Dorley with Knife and who knows maybe she could even get to like him and maybe he could solve this being a virgin problem.
… six months later still pining for Ryker and performing like a trained seal worming for people it’s plain that Dorley isn’t The Valley and Knife isn’t Ryker and not just because she still wants to jump Ryker’s bones and nope not so much as a flicker of interest toward Knife. No Ryker is also a much better, fairer ruler. So when her BFF, Ruck gets summoned by Ryker back to The Valley, her magic starts glitching and there just happens to be a party there she decides it's a sign that she should go too. Maybe Ryker has missed her, maybe he realizes what he’s missing and maybe she’s still dreaming. But when a monster attacks her she’s the one that needs him because this is the darkest, strongest evil magic she’s ever felt.
Donna Augustine
Number 3 in Donna Augustine’s Wryd Blood series is a fitting goodbye complete with a few didn’t see them coming surprises, and fans get a perfect way to tie up all the loose ends, answering all the questions and solving the mysteries surrounding Bugs, her crew and her relationship with Ryker. The world building continues to be top-notch, the characters diverse, over the top and interesting especially Bugs and Ryker, their chemistry, banter and the obstacles she puts them through is world class yet not too angsty. The action amps up and the body count rises as they battle the mysterious evil entity that finally makes an appearance. Fans will be happy to have closure but sad to see this fantastic trilogy ending. Reading out of order is not recommended.
Series Recap:
It’s 910 AC-After the change when magic was unleashed on an unsuspecting world and forever changed it and not for the better. Bugs life has changed and not all for the good since the day Ryker her nemesis, dream man, nightmare found her, she’s lost loved ones and the keep the rest of her pseudo family safe and to keep her sanity she’ll do anything even if it means leaving The Valley and Ryker behind.
SUMMARY:
Totally tired of wanting a man who obviously doesn’t want her and of seeing a constant line of women parading through his room and obviously his bed Bugs has made a decision. If Ryker doesn’t want her she’ll leave The Valley because staying is going to break her heart. She could take being bound to his magic and even his my way or the highway attitude but she knows staying here will kill her. So she’s off to the country of Dorley with Knife and who knows maybe she could even get to like him and maybe he could solve this being a virgin problem.
… six months later still pining for Ryker and performing like a trained seal worming for people it’s plain that Dorley isn’t The Valley and Knife isn’t Ryker and not just because she still wants to jump Ryker’s bones and nope not so much as a flicker of interest toward Knife. No Ryker is also a much better, fairer ruler. So when her BFF, Ruck gets summoned by Ryker back to The Valley, her magic starts glitching and there just happens to be a party there she decides it's a sign that she should go too. Maybe Ryker has missed her, maybe he realizes what he’s missing and maybe she’s still dreaming. But when a monster attacks her she’s the one that needs him because this is the darkest, strongest evil magic she’s ever felt.
May 30, 2019
Happy Sigh. 😊
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 ⭐️
March 4, 2019
Irritated and letdown
I’ve read all three books in the series. I really liked the first one, despite Bug’s stubborn pride which gets old fast, but the books just went downhill from there.
Spoiler alert:
...
...
This is the third and final book in this series. So why does the book start with the same stupid pride crap where Bugs runs away from her problems emotions? She still acts like a bratty teenager with her hormones in chaos.
I was looking forward to finding out what was her backstory, and when it finally came out, I just felt incredibly disappointed. Major letdown. Then, to throw salt in the wound, at the end of the book, Bugs once again tries to run away because she can’t handle her emotions. There is no character growth, only knee-jerk irrational reactions. I felt both irritated and let down by this book.
I’ve read all three books in the series. I really liked the first one, despite Bug’s stubborn pride which gets old fast, but the books just went downhill from there.
Spoiler alert:
...
...
This is the third and final book in this series. So why does the book start with the same stupid pride crap where Bugs runs away from her problems emotions? She still acts like a bratty teenager with her hormones in chaos.
I was looking forward to finding out what was her backstory, and when it finally came out, I just felt incredibly disappointed. Major letdown. Then, to throw salt in the wound, at the end of the book, Bugs once again tries to run away because she can’t handle her emotions. There is no character growth, only knee-jerk irrational reactions. I felt both irritated and let down by this book.
March 10, 2019
I felt this book was a little rushed. The "if icky they'd talk then they'd KNOW they're in love" trope was tiring and irritating. I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this book, I'm fast losing interest in Augustine's books. Lately they all feel very similar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2020
Eh, it was okay
Not a bad book, but it was full of the usual fantasy tropes that have become a little stale after reading variations of the same thing over, and over, and over again.
The characters were okay, and the ending was a little bland. Can’t have a fantasy without the HEA.
3 stars ⭐️
Not a bad book, but it was full of the usual fantasy tropes that have become a little stale after reading variations of the same thing over, and over, and over again.
The characters were okay, and the ending was a little bland. Can’t have a fantasy without the HEA.
3 stars ⭐️
February 22, 2019
This one was good, but I'm sad to see it end, and I wished that there had been a little more of the hero and heroine together.
March 26, 2019
3.5 Stars
That was a bummer for me.
Bugs was fighting too hard to accept or even see what was right in front of her. Sure, she had insecurities but she just didn't gradually soften up. She remained stubborn throughout the whole book and didn't give in until the very end which was exhausting to read. Donna Augustine's hs have the annoying habit of running away all the time.
Still, Augustine's writing remains excellent throughout the whole book and I can't wait to read more books from her. She creates great sexual tension between her main characters. And can we talk about that really, really, really cute ending? I loved it! That ending resulted in the added half star bc it was just too cute to not consider.
That was a bummer for me.
Bugs was fighting too hard to accept or even see what was right in front of her. Sure, she had insecurities but she just didn't gradually soften up. She remained stubborn throughout the whole book and didn't give in until the very end which was exhausting to read. Donna Augustine's hs have the annoying habit of running away all the time.
Still, Augustine's writing remains excellent throughout the whole book and I can't wait to read more books from her. She creates great sexual tension between her main characters. And can we talk about that really, really, really cute ending? I loved it! That ending resulted in the added half star bc it was just too cute to not consider.
March 6, 2019
I’m bumping this one up a star from what I gave the others in the series—mainly because I’m a sucker for romance and well-written sex scenes, and we FINALLY saw Ryker and Bugs together with this book.
Pros:
I loved the sexual tension. I could barely tolerate it and it made me keep reading. I’m glad that Ruck got his happy ending because he deserved it, too.
Over the course of three books I got really attached to a lot of the characters, and Dez’s death ripped my heart out and tore it to pieces. It’s always a good thing when a book can evoke that kind of emotion.
I know a lot of people have complained about Bugs being immature about things between her and Ryker, but I think it’s believable. I don’t blame her for needing him to spell everything out plainly and need a long time to be able to trust him. She reminds me of a feral cat, needing a lot of time, patience, and coaxing. While it was irritating, I also understood.
Cons:
We never even got to know what Ryker was going to use the stones for or why he was collecting them. Whatever the cave dweller needed protection from was never revealed to us. I was expecting some big war with all the countries or the equivalent of a magical nuke. Asterol was a villain that really came out of left field and i don’t really understand what he had to do with Ryker’s plans in the first two books.
Small inconsistency: her name was spelled Dezz in the second book, but Dez in this book.
There were quite a few typos in this book, which surprised me. The other books were so deliberate with their diction and grammar that I was surprised Augustine had let so many typos litter their way through this book—from saying “Ryder” instead of “Ryker” to missing apostrophes and periods, it was a little distracting.
Bigger inconsistency: it’s well-known in the other two books that Wyrd Bloods need to stay away from each other because co-mingling magic can kill one of them. But Ryker throws a giant party of Wyrd Bloods to meet and mingle? We also never found out what the party was even for, and it seemed pretty out of character for Ryker to have one for no reason.
Another thing we never found out was why he rejected Bugs the first time she stripped for him. I still don’t get it.
The fighting scene with Asterol didn’t feel all that climactic. It just kind of.........happened. I didn’t feel like there was a whole lot of risk there, and I didn’t see why it was necessary for Knife to die. He really came out of nowhere and I don’t see what he accomplished in that fight.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. But it still fell a little short for me.
Pros:
I loved the sexual tension. I could barely tolerate it and it made me keep reading. I’m glad that Ruck got his happy ending because he deserved it, too.
Over the course of three books I got really attached to a lot of the characters, and Dez’s death ripped my heart out and tore it to pieces. It’s always a good thing when a book can evoke that kind of emotion.
I know a lot of people have complained about Bugs being immature about things between her and Ryker, but I think it’s believable. I don’t blame her for needing him to spell everything out plainly and need a long time to be able to trust him. She reminds me of a feral cat, needing a lot of time, patience, and coaxing. While it was irritating, I also understood.
Cons:
We never even got to know what Ryker was going to use the stones for or why he was collecting them. Whatever the cave dweller needed protection from was never revealed to us. I was expecting some big war with all the countries or the equivalent of a magical nuke. Asterol was a villain that really came out of left field and i don’t really understand what he had to do with Ryker’s plans in the first two books.
Small inconsistency: her name was spelled Dezz in the second book, but Dez in this book.
There were quite a few typos in this book, which surprised me. The other books were so deliberate with their diction and grammar that I was surprised Augustine had let so many typos litter their way through this book—from saying “Ryder” instead of “Ryker” to missing apostrophes and periods, it was a little distracting.
Bigger inconsistency: it’s well-known in the other two books that Wyrd Bloods need to stay away from each other because co-mingling magic can kill one of them. But Ryker throws a giant party of Wyrd Bloods to meet and mingle? We also never found out what the party was even for, and it seemed pretty out of character for Ryker to have one for no reason.
Another thing we never found out was why he rejected Bugs the first time she stripped for him. I still don’t get it.
The fighting scene with Asterol didn’t feel all that climactic. It just kind of.........happened. I didn’t feel like there was a whole lot of risk there, and I didn’t see why it was necessary for Knife to die. He really came out of nowhere and I don’t see what he accomplished in that fight.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. But it still fell a little short for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2021
Goodish
This series had so much potential. World building wasn't there, the beginning gave you the hope that the MC survival hardened techniques might cone into play throughout the series playing to one of her main strengths.
Her powers were not exactly the main sparkly show I was expecting. I saw more failure than anything and how out of control she was. When she did get control it was to leave lol.
The slow burn romance and angst kind of irritated me by book 2, I felt that they should of made some kind of headway by then but instead it was a case of them continuously butting heads and repetitive avoidant behaviour. Plus Rykar was constantly in control of Bugs while she railed at him. All. The. Time.
Book 3 seriously had to get better right? Well no...she still did the avoidance thing and then towards the end he said that he hadn't slept with anyone since the merge. The merge right before she left. So even though they were both feeling intensly about each other he gets his rocks off with a parade of women while she remained Virginial. I could feel my eyes rolling to the back of my head. I know it was for the extra angst, but it just made him look like a complete player to me and I wouldn't of touched him with a barge pole.
The most irritating thing ever though was when she was worming at the end to check up on his fidelity. How is that even an ingredient for a long lasting relationship?
The character of her friend who turned into a psycho got wrapped up so quickly and succinctly like a tupperware box really made me so annoyed, how was that even a good way to do it? She barely got a few lines in the first book, we didn't have a clue who she was or what she's like, there was no rounding up of her character.
The series had so much going for it and I really wanted to love it as I love this authors work, I love slow burn, her hilarious takes in some of her books and there was some of that in this series that's where the 3 stars come into it. But I couldn't like the characters except Ruck, switch, burn. That's it and maybe Knife.
This series had so much potential. World building wasn't there, the beginning gave you the hope that the MC survival hardened techniques might cone into play throughout the series playing to one of her main strengths.
Her powers were not exactly the main sparkly show I was expecting. I saw more failure than anything and how out of control she was. When she did get control it was to leave lol.
The slow burn romance and angst kind of irritated me by book 2, I felt that they should of made some kind of headway by then but instead it was a case of them continuously butting heads and repetitive avoidant behaviour. Plus Rykar was constantly in control of Bugs while she railed at him. All. The. Time.
Book 3 seriously had to get better right? Well no...she still did the avoidance thing and then towards the end he said that he hadn't slept with anyone since the merge. The merge right before she left. So even though they were both feeling intensly about each other he gets his rocks off with a parade of women while she remained Virginial. I could feel my eyes rolling to the back of my head. I know it was for the extra angst, but it just made him look like a complete player to me and I wouldn't of touched him with a barge pole.
The most irritating thing ever though was when she was worming at the end to check up on his fidelity. How is that even an ingredient for a long lasting relationship?
The character of her friend who turned into a psycho got wrapped up so quickly and succinctly like a tupperware box really made me so annoyed, how was that even a good way to do it? She barely got a few lines in the first book, we didn't have a clue who she was or what she's like, there was no rounding up of her character.
The series had so much going for it and I really wanted to love it as I love this authors work, I love slow burn, her hilarious takes in some of her books and there was some of that in this series that's where the 3 stars come into it. But I couldn't like the characters except Ruck, switch, burn. That's it and maybe Knife.
January 16, 2020
This series overall was pretty good, but so similar to her other series through and through. In this one, Bugs is trying to deal with the fact that her and Ryker's magics have been merged together and she can't get over her unrequited feelings for him. She goes away for a few months, there's a nice time jump, and when she returns, her life is once again threatened. It's kind of overkill on how many times Bugs gets to almost being dead and then having to be magically healed, or it definitely is when considering Ryker is never injured. Like, it could be because of his age but we're never actually given an age- a whole other idea to be kind of uncomfy about since his friend is 80 and I think we're supposed to assume that he's older.
I get the whole will-they-won't-they appeal, and it's great for a book or two, but once you get to the third and I've spent so long wondering when they're going to get together, the events of this book just let me down. I thought it was going to be the whole cliche I wanted to be with you but I didn't think you do type thing, instead Ryker was just being a jerk and then finally decided he was interested in Bugs when she was about to die again. It just didn't feel deep enough for the amount of build-up that there has been.
There were so many events in the book that bored me, or were difficult to follow. It's a good series, I think I would still recommend it because it has its benefits, this one just didn't hit as well as the other two did for me.
This review and all my others can be found at: http://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot.com/
February 18, 2019
Brilliant
This was the last book in the Wyrd Blood series and it was everything I hoped for. This series had everything you could want: magic, monsters, vulnerability, heartbreak and romance. The characters are so well done and you truly feel something for them. Bugs was a wonderful lead. She was so strong and feisty but achingly vulnerable and terrified of being hurt which is something you can really understand and sympathise with. I loved her relationship with Ryker however sometimes you just want to grab them both and force them to communicate!!!!! The tension between them was wonderful and a real page turner. Ruck as usual was one of my favourite characters, his unwavering devotion and loyalty to Bugs was something beautiful. Nice action throughout with many twists and turns,any of which I did not see coming a mile away.
I have read all of Donna Augustine’s books and this series definitely lived up to and exceeded all expectations. If you have not tried them yet I highly recommend you do.
This was the last book in the Wyrd Blood series and it was everything I hoped for. This series had everything you could want: magic, monsters, vulnerability, heartbreak and romance. The characters are so well done and you truly feel something for them. Bugs was a wonderful lead. She was so strong and feisty but achingly vulnerable and terrified of being hurt which is something you can really understand and sympathise with. I loved her relationship with Ryker however sometimes you just want to grab them both and force them to communicate!!!!! The tension between them was wonderful and a real page turner. Ruck as usual was one of my favourite characters, his unwavering devotion and loyalty to Bugs was something beautiful. Nice action throughout with many twists and turns,any of which I did not see coming a mile away.
I have read all of Donna Augustine’s books and this series definitely lived up to and exceeded all expectations. If you have not tried them yet I highly recommend you do.
March 4, 2019
Bugs likes to fight with Ryker and when he steals her magic again by mistake it’s the last straw and she leaves for Dorley. Knife would love to make Bugs his, but she is still carrying a candle for Ryker even if she can’t admit it out loud. An evil force is following Bugs and she’s not sure how she will survive it, let alone keep it from destroying everyone and everything around.
Praise to Augustine for another exceptional book. Everyone has favorites, but I know that when I am reading a book and can’t keep the smile off my face that it’s truly a good read. Her female characters are always strong, and occasionally stubborn making them easy to relate to and her male characters usually have a strong ego and tend to lean towards “their way or no way” attitudes. Her supporting characters are nothing to sneeze at either, with quirks all their own. I hope this won’t be the last in an amazing series!
Praise to Augustine for another exceptional book. Everyone has favorites, but I know that when I am reading a book and can’t keep the smile off my face that it’s truly a good read. Her female characters are always strong, and occasionally stubborn making them easy to relate to and her male characters usually have a strong ego and tend to lean towards “their way or no way” attitudes. Her supporting characters are nothing to sneeze at either, with quirks all their own. I hope this won’t be the last in an amazing series!
February 18, 2019
This is a fantastic series and this third book is wonderful. It is full of twists and turns, heartache, love and conflict. Bugs is a great character, she is so capable and strong but at the same time so vulnerable. Ryker is her other half but these two just never seem to sort themselves out! In this book though we really get to see the other side of him and it makes you like him even more!! But one of the best things in this book are the supporting characters..Ruck, Switch, Dex, Knife, Burn and Sneak all have so much to say in this book and it just helps it all come to life! I could not put this book down once I started...it kept me fully captivated and invested all the way through. Highly recommended!!
March 3, 2019
Love when the final book in a series gives true closure to all the questions I've had nagging me since I read the first book. Blood Binds definitely delivers in that area!
Bugs continues to be loyal to her friends even at personal cost to herself. This loyalty leads to a twist I did not see coming. Gotta say it brought a sting of tears that wanted to fall a couple of times. You may be tougher than me, but keep a hanky or two handy.
Bugs and Ryker's association is taken up a notch in this story and runs through all the feels. Misunderstandings, lack of communication, stubborn stands to save face...Man, I just wanted to bounce their heads together sometimes. All of it builds to a Delicious climax worth the angst.
Bugs continues to be loyal to her friends even at personal cost to herself. This loyalty leads to a twist I did not see coming. Gotta say it brought a sting of tears that wanted to fall a couple of times. You may be tougher than me, but keep a hanky or two handy.
Bugs and Ryker's association is taken up a notch in this story and runs through all the feels. Misunderstandings, lack of communication, stubborn stands to save face...Man, I just wanted to bounce their heads together sometimes. All of it builds to a Delicious climax worth the angst.
January 17, 2024
This was just an ok series for me.
I liked that even though Bugs was captured she was not treated poorly. Her friendship with others was also a positive.
My 2 main complaints were her lack of growth. I would have liked to see her becoming more of a traction versus running ad hoc into every situation.
The other was the lack of Bugs ever recognizing Ryker's ongoing jealous actions toward her. As the reader we see all the little things that imply his attraction to her, but she never sees it, even by the end of the book.
I would still recommend this series just with lowered expectations. It was engaging and easy to read.
I liked that even though Bugs was captured she was not treated poorly. Her friendship with others was also a positive.
My 2 main complaints were her lack of growth. I would have liked to see her becoming more of a traction versus running ad hoc into every situation.
The other was the lack of Bugs ever recognizing Ryker's ongoing jealous actions toward her. As the reader we see all the little things that imply his attraction to her, but she never sees it, even by the end of the book.
I would still recommend this series just with lowered expectations. It was engaging and easy to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2019
I have been waiting - not so - patiently for the conclusion to this epic story and Donna Augustine did NOT disappoint!! I have enjoyed watching the character development throughout the three books and absolutely loved how much Bugs has grown. Her relationship with Ryker has had me glued to the pages since the beginning and I absolutely devoured this last book.
The storyline was so good and I loved the new developments and the twists I didn’t see coming.
Absolutely wonderful read and fantastic conclusion to a great series.
The storyline was so good and I loved the new developments and the twists I didn’t see coming.
Absolutely wonderful read and fantastic conclusion to a great series.
December 27, 2019
Enjoyable trilogy
After reading the first book I was hooked however I must admit the main characters were a lil annoying. Bugs and Ryker had the slowest burn romance I have ever read. Ryker loved his women and Bugs just loved him. I found this really annoying to say the least with her also spying and stalking him. Hence I didn't read the second book but wish I had because I missed loads of essential information. Some characters die but there is a HEA. Sexual content. Highly recommended but read all three books in the trilogy. .
After reading the first book I was hooked however I must admit the main characters were a lil annoying. Bugs and Ryker had the slowest burn romance I have ever read. Ryker loved his women and Bugs just loved him. I found this really annoying to say the least with her also spying and stalking him. Hence I didn't read the second book but wish I had because I missed loads of essential information. Some characters die but there is a HEA. Sexual content. Highly recommended but read all three books in the trilogy. .
September 6, 2025
Final Thoughts on Bugs: I still can’t fully warm up to her. Her behaviour just rubs me the wrong way. I prefer badass heroines, not ones who keep thinking of fleeing when something is wrong.
She reminds me of Dahlia and Ollie from The Wilds and Ollie Wit series, characters who also constantly evade their romantic interests rather than confronting them head-on.
That said, if you enjoyed those series, you may like this one as well. It hits the same notes from start to finish. Focus more on romance and less on world-building or action.😐
She reminds me of Dahlia and Ollie from The Wilds and Ollie Wit series, characters who also constantly evade their romantic interests rather than confronting them head-on.
That said, if you enjoyed those series, you may like this one as well. It hits the same notes from start to finish. Focus more on romance and less on world-building or action.😐
February 20, 2019
So sad this series is over. It is one of my all time favorite fantasy/romance series. Bugs is such a great mix of cynicism, innocence, and goodness. And there were so many other interesting, funny, well developed characters- Ryker, Ruck, Burn, Knife, etc. Donna Augustine has become one of my favorite authors. Any book she puts out is an automatic read for me. At least I have the second Wild One book to look forward to!
April 17, 2019
I liked this book, and the series was pretty unique- I just felt that the series ended abruptly. I feel like there were either a lot of questions that were left unanswered, or they were solved a lot easier than I thought they would be considering all the buildup from the first two books.
Maybe I'm a little biased because I just loved the tension between Bugs and Ryker that I wanted it to extend into another book. Looking forward to more from Donna Augustine!
Maybe I'm a little biased because I just loved the tension between Bugs and Ryker that I wanted it to extend into another book. Looking forward to more from Donna Augustine!
June 17, 2019
Good.... but....
I really enjoyed this book. It has all the romance, angst and adventure the first two books inspired, and threw it into overdrive. My only problem? The last two chapters. For all the build up and turmoil, the romance was solved far too quickly. Way, way too fast. It felt like it do the emotional upheaval justice. Aside from that minor complaint, thus entire series was fantastic.
I really enjoyed this book. It has all the romance, angst and adventure the first two books inspired, and threw it into overdrive. My only problem? The last two chapters. For all the build up and turmoil, the romance was solved far too quickly. Way, way too fast. It felt like it do the emotional upheaval justice. Aside from that minor complaint, thus entire series was fantastic.
July 9, 2019
You can tell when Donna Augustine is over writing a series. It becomes apparent in her writing/story telling. Which is frustrating as a reader because her first and second books are typically so awesome, but just about any book thereafter is most likely doomed. I wonder if the pattern would change if she wrote with someone else. In regards to the story, things were going great until about halfway through the book were I became as bored as the characters did.
November 3, 2021
3 because I finished it. Minor spoiler.
2 books of Ryker and Bugs talking at each other and not to each other. So surely there will be some growth in the 3rd, right? Nope. Book 3 is almost over before they actually have an adult conversation. I finished it barely as I wanted to see it to the end. The 2 main characters are just like this author's The Nowhere Witch's 2 main characters. Frustrating beyond entertainment. I don't think I'll read this author again.
2 books of Ryker and Bugs talking at each other and not to each other. So surely there will be some growth in the 3rd, right? Nope. Book 3 is almost over before they actually have an adult conversation. I finished it barely as I wanted to see it to the end. The 2 main characters are just like this author's The Nowhere Witch's 2 main characters. Frustrating beyond entertainment. I don't think I'll read this author again.
February 18, 2019
When I saw that this book was out I stopped the book I was reading to start it and read it in a few hours. It was a great ending to the series. I just sorry it was the end,this was the first series I read by this author and have since read several of her other books and am never disappointed. I will miss Bug but have a feeling I will be reading these book again
February 23, 2019
I didn't want it to end!
I loved this series. I wish it could go on and on. I loved the character's the imagery, the world the author created. I'll render"Worm it" until I die. I hope everyone reads this series and the Wilds series too. They are so good and so memorable. I really love this author's whorks.
I loved this series. I wish it could go on and on. I loved the character's the imagery, the world the author created. I'll render"Worm it" until I die. I hope everyone reads this series and the Wilds series too. They are so good and so memorable. I really love this author's whorks.
February 24, 2019
“Wow” seems inadequate to describe this book - it closes a great trilogy in a whirlwind of action, missteps, love, and betrayal, so maybe “freaking wow”? I loved it, made my knees all weak more then once, held my breath, and huge sighs. Thanks for the adventure, this cast of characters have really endeared themselves to me, loved the journey!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews