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Chinatown Demons #1
Bound
Chinatown, San Francisco.
A different place — another time— and where the city’s streets keep secrets, shadowy mysteries SFPD Inspector Spencer Ricci needs to dig through after he finds himself on a case involving a dismembered, mummified man in a restaurant’s locked storage room.
Spencer drags around a lot of baggage, including an ongoing battle with the bottle and a long career as an LAPD detective he’d set fire to in a blaze of booze-soaked mistakes. San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.
For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.
Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
A different place — another time— and where the city’s streets keep secrets, shadowy mysteries SFPD Inspector Spencer Ricci needs to dig through after he finds himself on a case involving a dismembered, mummified man in a restaurant’s locked storage room.
Spencer drags around a lot of baggage, including an ongoing battle with the bottle and a long career as an LAPD detective he’d set fire to in a blaze of booze-soaked mistakes. San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.
For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.
Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2020
74 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Rhys Ford
79 books1,890 followersRhys Ford is an award-winning author with several long-running LGBT+ mystery, thriller, paranormal, and urban fantasy series and is a two-time LAMBDA finalist and a multiple Gold and Silver Medalist by the Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Awards. She is published by Dreamspinner Press, DSP Publications and Rogue Firebird Press.
She shares the house with Harley, a gray tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled former alley cat, and Gojira, a mercurial Tabico as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird named Tengu and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
She shares the house with Harley, a gray tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled former alley cat, and Gojira, a mercurial Tabico as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird named Tengu and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
May 6, 2021
I was out of pages wayyyyy too soon...
Next one please! ;-)
Next one please! ;-)
December 4, 2020
I absolutely loved this, as I do practically everything that Rhys Ford writes, but at the same time I was frustrated by it.
The characters introduced here, Spencer Ricci and Xian Carter, are completely intriguing. Spencer is a recovering alcoholic cop on his last chance at salvaging his career who has family ties to syndicated crime. Xian is a medical examiner, as well as a century old demon. The world that the story is set in, San Francisco Chinatown, is rich and vivid. As are the characters, even the secondaries down to the Chinatown grandmothers who see Xian for what he is, and the street lady who's a witness in Spencer's investigation.
I'm very much loving the way Xian and Spencer are becoming entangled. Spencer can feel it but he doesn't understand it. And while Xian is drawn to Spencer, he knows from experience that nothing can come of his attraction to a human.
But this is also the source of my frustration. Well, not gonna lie, it's pretty much my reaction to every new series that starts out with a bang. I need more. *because I'm not at all greedy, but that's a different issue, LOL* The setting is amazing but there's an awful lot of stuff I need more detail on, where Xian came from, , the background on Spencer and what happened at his previous job, how his family was a part of his *apparent* personal destruction. I realize these are things that will probably come to light as the series comes along but it just feels incomplete this time.
And *grumbles* while it didn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, I'm going to call it a cliffhanger, because WTF Rhys? Come on, how could you end it THERE??? 😭😭
Despite all my whining because I didn't get enough of the story, I absolutely loved what I did get and I'll be first in line for the next book! ❤ Which will hopefully be soon. *side-eyes author*
The characters introduced here, Spencer Ricci and Xian Carter, are completely intriguing. Spencer is a recovering alcoholic cop on his last chance at salvaging his career who has family ties to syndicated crime. Xian is a medical examiner, as well as a century old demon. The world that the story is set in, San Francisco Chinatown, is rich and vivid. As are the characters, even the secondaries down to the Chinatown grandmothers who see Xian for what he is, and the street lady who's a witness in Spencer's investigation.
I'm very much loving the way Xian and Spencer are becoming entangled. Spencer can feel it but he doesn't understand it. And while Xian is drawn to Spencer, he knows from experience that nothing can come of his attraction to a human.
But this is also the source of my frustration. Well, not gonna lie, it's pretty much my reaction to every new series that starts out with a bang. I need more. *because I'm not at all greedy, but that's a different issue, LOL* The setting is amazing but there's an awful lot of stuff I need more detail on, where Xian came from, , the background on Spencer and what happened at his previous job, how his family was a part of his *apparent* personal destruction. I realize these are things that will probably come to light as the series comes along but it just feels incomplete this time.
And *grumbles* while it didn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, I'm going to call it a cliffhanger, because WTF Rhys? Come on, how could you end it THERE??? 😭😭
Despite all my whining because I didn't get enough of the story, I absolutely loved what I did get and I'll be first in line for the next book! ❤ Which will hopefully be soon. *side-eyes author*
December 8, 2020
In this novella Rhys Ford introduces new protagonists and stages the scene so to speak. She gives just enough information to form an opinion on who or what Spencer and Xian are, where they come from but keeps the rest shrouded in mystery to reveal in due course. I liked the tension she created between them and the premise of future working relationship they are going to have. There was not much investigating going on, but the case was unusual enough to hold my interest and the finale though left rather open ended was so intense and marvelously savage! I want to know which way Rhys Ford will take them. Told in dual POV, suspenseful with intriguing premise, no steam but hot attraction, angst and major baggage from both MCs, plenty sarcastic humor, this was a delightful introduction to the hopefully new series!
December 4, 2020
3.5 stars
Blood, gore, corpses, monsters, and two enthralling men. Rhys Ford is back with another urban fantasy series!
SFPD inspector Spencer Ricci gets thrown on a creepy case involving an out-of-the-ordinary corpse. The case puts Spencer in touch with Xian Carter, a medical examiner with a cold reputation.
However, cold is the exact opposite of what Spencer and Xian feel for each other.
The initial connection between the two is classic Rhys Ford - it’s immediate and only grows from there. I was all on-board for the hot and heavy looks, and the saucy inner thoughts!
But things aren’t that easy. Spencer has his demons, namely his alcoholism, and Xian is quite literally a demon.
Yes, an actual demon. Albeit a sexy and aloof demon whose pulse surprisingly only races for a grumpy cop.
However, it does complicate matters. Especially in the midst of a crime that gets increasingly weirder.
I enjoyed every squeamish detail of the case. It wouldn’t be a Rhys Ford thriller/mystery without the ick factor. And it was just starting to get really good when it ended.
I forgot that this was a serial, so I was slightly thrown by how quickly book 1 ended, and how unresolved things were left.
That applies to the romance just as much as the mystery - Xian and Spencer don’t really move beyond the initial flirtation in book 1.
Also, the character backstories can probably use more fleshing-out. Readers will get the gist of where the men come from and what drives them, but there’s definitely a lot more to know and more character development to see.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this first part of Spencer and Xian’s story. If you’re okay with a cliffhanger and no resolution to either the mystery or the romance, you’ll want to give ‘Bound’ a read. Otherwise, it might be good to wait until the entire series is released.
In any case, I’m looking forward to reading what happens next!
Blood, gore, corpses, monsters, and two enthralling men. Rhys Ford is back with another urban fantasy series!
SFPD inspector Spencer Ricci gets thrown on a creepy case involving an out-of-the-ordinary corpse. The case puts Spencer in touch with Xian Carter, a medical examiner with a cold reputation.
However, cold is the exact opposite of what Spencer and Xian feel for each other.
The initial connection between the two is classic Rhys Ford - it’s immediate and only grows from there. I was all on-board for the hot and heavy looks, and the saucy inner thoughts!
But things aren’t that easy. Spencer has his demons, namely his alcoholism, and Xian is quite literally a demon.
Yes, an actual demon. Albeit a sexy and aloof demon whose pulse surprisingly only races for a grumpy cop.
However, it does complicate matters. Especially in the midst of a crime that gets increasingly weirder.
I enjoyed every squeamish detail of the case. It wouldn’t be a Rhys Ford thriller/mystery without the ick factor. And it was just starting to get really good when it ended.
I forgot that this was a serial, so I was slightly thrown by how quickly book 1 ended, and how unresolved things were left.
That applies to the romance just as much as the mystery - Xian and Spencer don’t really move beyond the initial flirtation in book 1.
Also, the character backstories can probably use more fleshing-out. Readers will get the gist of where the men come from and what drives them, but there’s definitely a lot more to know and more character development to see.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this first part of Spencer and Xian’s story. If you’re okay with a cliffhanger and no resolution to either the mystery or the romance, you’ll want to give ‘Bound’ a read. Otherwise, it might be good to wait until the entire series is released.
In any case, I’m looking forward to reading what happens next!
January 18, 2021
Look, I really had trouble deciding a rating for this book, because the half of a book you're given is good and intriguing, but did I mention it's basically half (maybe more like 1/3) of an actual book??
I saw lots of cliffhanger warnings and I thought that's fine, I can handle a cliff hanger. This folx, was not a cliffhanger. You are barely into the story and anything happening and then it just...ends.
It really soured whatever feeling I had towards the storyline. The main characters are fine. Personally I'm sort of over tortured bad boy trying to be good, especially in cops. I am really just over cop stories period but that's on me haha.
As for reading the second one, maybe. But if its gonna be a repeat of this book with barely any meat between two meandering buns, I'm out.
I saw lots of cliffhanger warnings and I thought that's fine, I can handle a cliff hanger. This folx, was not a cliffhanger. You are barely into the story and anything happening and then it just...ends.
It really soured whatever feeling I had towards the storyline. The main characters are fine. Personally I'm sort of over tortured bad boy trying to be good, especially in cops. I am really just over cop stories period but that's on me haha.
As for reading the second one, maybe. But if its gonna be a repeat of this book with barely any meat between two meandering buns, I'm out.
December 31, 2020
I hesitate to say this, as I might be in the minority and it might just have been the mood I was in, but whilst this definitely captured my interest and I thought this world had a load of potential, it also felt a bit disjointed and dare I say it....a little like a book outline that hadn't been properly fleshed out yet? I mean I am not sure I can pinpoint exact points in the book now, as its been a couple of weeks since I read it, but I just got this kind of overall feeling/impression a few times whilst reading it. It also ended pretty abruptly with no real resolution to anything.
It interested me enough to pick up the next in the series when it is released to see where it goes...
It interested me enough to pick up the next in the series when it is released to see where it goes...
December 18, 2020
I’m going to start with ARGH! And ACK! And SERIOUSLY!?!
This book was an interesting, engaging, and fast read that hit all my happy buttons. The story combined paranormal/urban fantasy, cops, and the start of a male/male romance all bundled quite nicely into a mystery.
For the paranormal aspect, I thought it was quite delightful to have Xian Carter – a demon – gainfully employed in the coroner’s office. A much welcome variation and delightful concept, Xian is interesting, a bit of an aloof enigma, and has some interesting capabilities.
Xian balances out the tired, worn-out alcoholic investigator trope that is Spencer Ricci. While there is not much to say about Spencer’s character, what will be interesting to watch will be the dance between Xian and Spencer. In this book, the characters become acquainted, there are flutters of interest, tugging’s of desire, but each character is carrying too much baggage to go beyond thoughts. That… was interesting for a romance book and I quite enjoyed it.
Which brings me back to the ARGH! And ACK! And SERIOUSLY!?! Where I’m poking at my e-reader wondering why the story ENDED and WHERE ARE THE NEXT PAGES! Cliff-hanger folks, cliff-hanger. And yes, I want to get my hands on the next installment. I think this will be an interesting series.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
This book was an interesting, engaging, and fast read that hit all my happy buttons. The story combined paranormal/urban fantasy, cops, and the start of a male/male romance all bundled quite nicely into a mystery.
For the paranormal aspect, I thought it was quite delightful to have Xian Carter – a demon – gainfully employed in the coroner’s office. A much welcome variation and delightful concept, Xian is interesting, a bit of an aloof enigma, and has some interesting capabilities.
Xian balances out the tired, worn-out alcoholic investigator trope that is Spencer Ricci. While there is not much to say about Spencer’s character, what will be interesting to watch will be the dance between Xian and Spencer. In this book, the characters become acquainted, there are flutters of interest, tugging’s of desire, but each character is carrying too much baggage to go beyond thoughts. That… was interesting for a romance book and I quite enjoyed it.
Which brings me back to the ARGH! And ACK! And SERIOUSLY!?! Where I’m poking at my e-reader wondering why the story ENDED and WHERE ARE THE NEXT PAGES! Cliff-hanger folks, cliff-hanger. And yes, I want to get my hands on the next installment. I think this will be an interesting series.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 30, 2020
What I Liked
Rhys is a storyteller. She built characters that are out to save humanity, heroes you might say, but with real flaws and hauntings from their pasts. Both main characters are law enforcement people, one detective, one corner, fighting on the same team to figure out the mystery in front of them. But there are also both fighting odd personal feelings that neither of them can explain. Of course, then there is the added dilemma, one is a demon.
I must call out one item that speaks volumes for the author, Rhys Ford. Many authors shoehorn in sex scenes for the sake of getting a sex scene in the book. This one did not have one. There is a developing relationship that the two main characters are grappling with to understand, that I found more delightful than a random sex scene thrown in. BUT, it does increase the anticipation for when it will eventually happen.
Forewarning
This is a serialized novel, think the first book of a series. It does not end in the typical HEA ending, but it is clearly a developing romance. It does NOT end on a cliffhanger but does leave open a few loose threads for Rhys to pick up in the future books.
The Bottom Line...
Personally, I loved the book. I found myself finishing the whole book in 2 days…it was a page-turner! The only reason it took two days was that I HAD to go to work, but with that, I was up to 4 am because I could not put it down. I liked that there will be other novels coming that will expand and tie up the loose ends, I believe it adds more to the storytelling and didn’t rush the romance or the mystery just to get it to fit within a short number of pages.
I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series! Thanks, Rhys!
Disclosure: I did receive a copy of this book from the author directly, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed here are my own. I received no compensation for this review.
Check out the FULL review, as well as Coffee Talk and other Rhys Ford tidbits at Book Gemz: Bound, a Release Day Review at Book Gemz
Rhys is a storyteller. She built characters that are out to save humanity, heroes you might say, but with real flaws and hauntings from their pasts. Both main characters are law enforcement people, one detective, one corner, fighting on the same team to figure out the mystery in front of them. But there are also both fighting odd personal feelings that neither of them can explain. Of course, then there is the added dilemma, one is a demon.
I must call out one item that speaks volumes for the author, Rhys Ford. Many authors shoehorn in sex scenes for the sake of getting a sex scene in the book. This one did not have one. There is a developing relationship that the two main characters are grappling with to understand, that I found more delightful than a random sex scene thrown in. BUT, it does increase the anticipation for when it will eventually happen.
Forewarning
This is a serialized novel, think the first book of a series. It does not end in the typical HEA ending, but it is clearly a developing romance. It does NOT end on a cliffhanger but does leave open a few loose threads for Rhys to pick up in the future books.
The Bottom Line...
Personally, I loved the book. I found myself finishing the whole book in 2 days…it was a page-turner! The only reason it took two days was that I HAD to go to work, but with that, I was up to 4 am because I could not put it down. I liked that there will be other novels coming that will expand and tie up the loose ends, I believe it adds more to the storytelling and didn’t rush the romance or the mystery just to get it to fit within a short number of pages.
I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series! Thanks, Rhys!
Disclosure: I did receive a copy of this book from the author directly, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed here are my own. I received no compensation for this review.
Check out the FULL review, as well as Coffee Talk and other Rhys Ford tidbits at Book Gemz: Bound, a Release Day Review at Book Gemz
December 1, 2020
With Bound we have a new world for Rhys to play in and it's AMAZING.
Rhys is good as a baseline. With Bound she's lifted the bar and then cleared it with ease.
Demons and other things hunt in the shadows of San Francisco.
Ricci Spencer's hopefully left his demons behind him in LA: he might have but there are new demons in San Francisco and these bite a little more than the bottle did. Called in to deal with mummified corpse he is placed on Dr Xian Carter's radar and the ME stirs up things Spencer thought he'd left behind.
Bound is our introduction to this new world. The only real weakness, and your mileage may very, is that this book is more about introducing the world to us rather than being crime procedural at its base. For me, following through the richness of the world described meant my only real grumble is I have to wait for more.
Solid 5 stars for me and I really want more.
Rhys is good as a baseline. With Bound she's lifted the bar and then cleared it with ease.
Demons and other things hunt in the shadows of San Francisco.
Ricci Spencer's hopefully left his demons behind him in LA: he might have but there are new demons in San Francisco and these bite a little more than the bottle did. Called in to deal with mummified corpse he is placed on Dr Xian Carter's radar and the ME stirs up things Spencer thought he'd left behind.
Bound is our introduction to this new world. The only real weakness, and your mileage may very, is that this book is more about introducing the world to us rather than being crime procedural at its base. For me, following through the richness of the world described meant my only real grumble is I have to wait for more.
Solid 5 stars for me and I really want more.
September 21, 2021
This just ends too quickly. This is definitely just the start of the story. I'm really curious about Xian's background, I'm sure there's still so much to find out there. I love how he's been around for hundreds of years, but he's still active in life and is a coroner. He's got such an interesting, unique job and not one you often see in a novel. I liked how he meets our damaged soul of cop. Spencer Ricci has struggled in his past and has a second chance here with the SFPD. But this case isn't an easy one and it's already had his life in danger.
I liked the start to this and the potential to these two characters. This is really just the beginning of things and there's a lot of information still out there and unknown.
I liked the start to this and the potential to these two characters. This is really just the beginning of things and there's a lot of information still out there and unknown.
March 6, 2021
Fantastic! Loved the descriptions of San Francisco Chinatown. Enjoyed the unfolding criminal investigation. Really liked the characters. Abrupt ending. Desperate for part 2.
April 26, 2021
I'm so confused. The novella feels more like an extended prologue or an in-world short story than a first book of a series
December 12, 2020
Intrigued
Welcome back Rhys Ford! This is an amazing piece. It's imagery is gritty, and powerful. I swear I can hear and smell the grime and rot of the back alleys of San Fran's Chinatown. This is a most intriguing story and characters. I am only sorry it is a cliff hanger. I hope it's not long till the next installment!
Welcome back Rhys Ford! This is an amazing piece. It's imagery is gritty, and powerful. I swear I can hear and smell the grime and rot of the back alleys of San Fran's Chinatown. This is a most intriguing story and characters. I am only sorry it is a cliff hanger. I hope it's not long till the next installment!
December 13, 2020
I'm not as instantly invested in this world as I am in Kai's. But I will read the next one.
Reading Rhys Ford's prose is like parsing an Impressionist painting I'm often too close to. There's a lot of verbal color with less sense than I'm used to, and echoing, a kind of repetition, usually of an action, like a double brush-stroke over the same spot. Sometimes I have to re-read a sentence to be sure what was meant.
The thing is...
Now and then, a description comes together so fast it's like being hit by lightning. I can feel it. Taste it. it's shockingly visceral. That's why I read her work.
Reading Rhys Ford's prose is like parsing an Impressionist painting I'm often too close to. There's a lot of verbal color with less sense than I'm used to, and echoing, a kind of repetition, usually of an action, like a double brush-stroke over the same spot. Sometimes I have to re-read a sentence to be sure what was meant.
The thing is...
Now and then, a description comes together so fast it's like being hit by lightning. I can feel it. Taste it. it's shockingly visceral. That's why I read her work.
March 23, 2021
I enjoyed the writing and the two main protagonists, but this is not a complete book. It just abruptly ends at a point that feels like it is in the middle of a chapter in what feels like a third or less of the way into the whole story.
I am not principally opposed to serialization, but I want to know ahead of time if that is what my piece of fiction is. Not finding out by the story abruptly ending in what feels like the middle of a chapter. Getting a third of a novel is just annoying and I feel cheated out of the story I was promised by the blurb.
I am not principally opposed to serialization, but I want to know ahead of time if that is what my piece of fiction is. Not finding out by the story abruptly ending in what feels like the middle of a chapter. Getting a third of a novel is just annoying and I feel cheated out of the story I was promised by the blurb.
September 24, 2021
Just as I was getting into the story. It ended. Huh. I guess I have to read the next one, once it's out.
I feel like I just got a taste of the story. Interesting world-building and I think I have read some stories in the same world, but don't remember for sure.
I just think it was too short to get a real sense of the characters. Like we know Spencer had issues, but no real-time to explore it. I'm also wondering what Xian truly was. I'm just not all that sure what kind of demon he is.
Definitely want to read the next story. Since this is truly just the beginning of the story.
3,5 stars
I feel like I just got a taste of the story. Interesting world-building and I think I have read some stories in the same world, but don't remember for sure.
I just think it was too short to get a real sense of the characters. Like we know Spencer had issues, but no real-time to explore it. I'm also wondering what Xian truly was. I'm just not all that sure what kind of demon he is.
Definitely want to read the next story. Since this is truly just the beginning of the story.
3,5 stars
December 24, 2020
Urban fantasy at its finest! This a great beginning to a series. Full of mystery, murder, suspense, and the paranormal woven into modern day Chinatown. Ricci is the new detective in town, Xian is the mysterious Medical Examiner. Together they are making a great team hunting down the serial killer. The romance hasn’t started yet, but the attraction and pull is there. I’m loving the side character of Brian, the ME assistant who faints at the site of blood. He cracks me up. Warning: cliff hanger. But oh, so worth reading! I want the next book now!
April 12, 2021
These guys met (well, I say guys, but one was a demon, and t'other a cop, so not your normal guys), and there were dead mummies (think yards of écru linen, not parents), and at least one of the MCs received mortal wounds a number of times (frankly, once would have been enough) but still got to exchange meaningful long looks with the other MC (but what did they mean?) and then....
...and then it ended. I have no idea who did what to whom, but––5/10; would definitely read the next book to find out what I've just read.
...and then it ended. I have no idea who did what to whom, but––5/10; would definitely read the next book to find out what I've just read.
November 30, 2020
So good, like always! Rhys just has a magic way with words that I really appreciate. I cannot wait to see where this series goes!
April 5, 2021
That ending!
This was urban fantasy with a hint of romance to come. More along the lines of The Kai Gracen series. It is visceral and graphic in the murder and violence but I liked the characters and the promise of more.
This was urban fantasy with a hint of romance to come. More along the lines of The Kai Gracen series. It is visceral and graphic in the murder and violence but I liked the characters and the promise of more.
December 6, 2020
Oh man...I hate waiting on serials, dang it! But it’s another brilliant story from Ford, so naturally I am instantly hooked. I’ll just have to bear it. Detectives and demons, oh my...
May 10, 2021
I'm intrigued. One thing that really bugged me, though, is how often the characters talk out loud to themselves, once when they weren't even alone.
January 24, 2021
Enjoyed the MCs, & the developing plot, but, it just started to get going & it finished :( hoping there will be a book 2 soon?
December 17, 2020
I love the worlds that Rhys Ford creates. This was a great introduction to a new series. I look forward to reading more.
December 5, 2020
Originally published at Reading Reality
I feel teased. Intrigued, slightly exasperated, and definitely, definitely teased.
I was expecting Bound to be a bit like Dim Sum Asylum, and it kind of is. Bound, like that previous marvelous story, takes place in a slightly off-kilter version of San Francisco. A version of our world where magic definitely exists, although the acceptance of that magic is less in-your-face and more under-the-table in this version of that storied city.
Detective Spencer Ricci certainly starts out this adventure as garden-variety human. Albeit the kind of garden variety that includes a lot of scars, a lot of baggage, a history of alcoholism and a need to make something out of his one last chance at being a cop.
Dr. Xian Carter, on the other hand, is absolutely not original recipe human – or at least not any longer. He might have been, once.
But that once was a century and a half ago. Another continent. Another lifetime. Considering how much has changed since the mid-19th century, another world.
Dr. Xian Carter is a medical examiner for the San Francisco Police Department. He’s the one who gets all the weird and wacky cases. And the case that brings Spencer and Xian together is way past weird and wacky and over the line into downright bizarre.
Somebody found a mummy. Not an honest-to-Bast Egyptian mummy, but a contemporary murder victim. Mummified. It’s Spencer Ricci’s job to figure out who wanted the victim dead. And for that matter, the identity of the desiccated corpse.
It’s up to Xian Carter to learn how, and why and whether this mess means that someone is invading his territory. Because Xian Carter is a demon, and San Francisco belongs to him.
And possibly, so does Spencer Ricci.
Escape Rating A-: Damn, this was good. And DAMN, this was short. As I said at the outset, I feel teased. The case is fascinating, the setup is wild, the chemistry between Spencer and Xian is explosive, and I want more of this world and this story pretty much yesterday.
I wanted to scream “NO!” when this story ended. Because it does end, and it does feel like this piece is complete – but it’s such a tiny piece of such an obviously greater (and great) world. Rhys hints at so much more to discover in this San Francisco, so much tension, so much angst, and SO MUCH MAGIC!
Also magical cats. Not that all cats aren’t at least a bit magical. But seriously, magical cats for the win!
I feel teased. Intrigued, slightly exasperated, and definitely, definitely teased.
I was expecting Bound to be a bit like Dim Sum Asylum, and it kind of is. Bound, like that previous marvelous story, takes place in a slightly off-kilter version of San Francisco. A version of our world where magic definitely exists, although the acceptance of that magic is less in-your-face and more under-the-table in this version of that storied city.
Detective Spencer Ricci certainly starts out this adventure as garden-variety human. Albeit the kind of garden variety that includes a lot of scars, a lot of baggage, a history of alcoholism and a need to make something out of his one last chance at being a cop.
Dr. Xian Carter, on the other hand, is absolutely not original recipe human – or at least not any longer. He might have been, once.
But that once was a century and a half ago. Another continent. Another lifetime. Considering how much has changed since the mid-19th century, another world.
Dr. Xian Carter is a medical examiner for the San Francisco Police Department. He’s the one who gets all the weird and wacky cases. And the case that brings Spencer and Xian together is way past weird and wacky and over the line into downright bizarre.
Somebody found a mummy. Not an honest-to-Bast Egyptian mummy, but a contemporary murder victim. Mummified. It’s Spencer Ricci’s job to figure out who wanted the victim dead. And for that matter, the identity of the desiccated corpse.
It’s up to Xian Carter to learn how, and why and whether this mess means that someone is invading his territory. Because Xian Carter is a demon, and San Francisco belongs to him.
And possibly, so does Spencer Ricci.
Escape Rating A-: Damn, this was good. And DAMN, this was short. As I said at the outset, I feel teased. The case is fascinating, the setup is wild, the chemistry between Spencer and Xian is explosive, and I want more of this world and this story pretty much yesterday.
I wanted to scream “NO!” when this story ended. Because it does end, and it does feel like this piece is complete – but it’s such a tiny piece of such an obviously greater (and great) world. Rhys hints at so much more to discover in this San Francisco, so much tension, so much angst, and SO MUCH MAGIC!
Also magical cats. Not that all cats aren’t at least a bit magical. But seriously, magical cats for the win!
October 24, 2021
I've given this 4 stars with the proviso that the next installment comes out SOON. Because this story ends with a massive cliff-hanger. While it is the start of a good story line, I do wish it had been published as a more complete story. While we get to know Spencer and some of his history, Xian's character and history are still largely giant mysteries. There's just enough story to be a novella, but I'll hold further review til the next installment comes out.
May 12, 2021
I normally like Rhys Ford, but this was a confusing, over-embellished, badly written start of a book that ended with a cliffhanger so abrupt it should have been the end of chapter four.
December 8, 2020
Xian Carter grew up in Hong Kong. Today he��s a forensic pathologist, working for and with the SFPD (aka medical examiner - he does autopsies for a living). He’s also not human. He refers to himself as a demon of sorts, though it’s not clear from his statements exactly what kind of demon he is. He speaks of having been mortal at one time, of having been created, and as having a local “blood brother” (meaning another who was created by the same “parent”). For me the fact that Xian never fully elaborates his paranormality works, since that means my brain didn’t automatically put him into any one specific category. His eyes are light-sensitive, and he’s kind of creepy, but don’t hold that against him. Bottom line -- whatever he is, he’s one of the good guys.
Spencer Ricci just joined the ranks of the SFPD, after a long career as a detective with the LAPD. He has a bad history with booze, so SFPD is both a new start and a last chance. He’s kind of cynical, more than a little down on himself, and he’s determined to do right by both his new city and for himself. His soul and reputation might be tarnished, but he’s still a solid cop trying to seek justice for the murder victims that he investigates.
Spencer has just been called to a really weird case. A mostly-mummified body has been found in the back room of a Chinatown eatery. How and when did this person wind up dead? How did the body get into its current condition? Who put the body in a restaurant (not to mention why)? And most important to those of us who like to eat, are mummies something the health inspector looks for when they check restaurants’ storage areas?
Xian is the medical examiner paged to the seen. It’s the first time he’s worked with Spencer. Spencer isn’t quite sure what to make of Xian. Xian has a rep for being standoffish, but Spencer’s also been told that if anyone can help him get to the bottom of things, it’s Xian. The two get off on a bit of a rough start since Carter wasn’t as prompt on the scene as Spencer would have liked. Carter earns some respect by telling him he’d been delayed with a 4-body traffic fatality and “Had I known that everyone else on call was going to tap out because they didn’t want to deal with a surly inspector and failed burrito of human jerky he’d found I’d have come straight over”. Human-ness aside, I got the impression that Spencer and Carter are actually a lot alike.
It doesn’t take long for Spencer’s investigation to hit some hurdles. The first hurdle being that his partner disappears. He’s new to San Fran, new to the SFPD, and now is on his own. Then, to complicate things even further, Spencer gets attacked and nearly killed. Carter comes along at just the right time to keep Spencer from being the morgue’s next guest.
The story gets wound up in kind of a cliffhanger, which is not typical for Rhys. The ending reminds me of Chinese food – enough to be satisfying for now, even though you’re going to be craving more very soon. This whole story kind of had the feeling of being a prologue to something bigger. Knowing Rhys, something bigger and better is definitely yet to come.
Spencer Ricci just joined the ranks of the SFPD, after a long career as a detective with the LAPD. He has a bad history with booze, so SFPD is both a new start and a last chance. He’s kind of cynical, more than a little down on himself, and he’s determined to do right by both his new city and for himself. His soul and reputation might be tarnished, but he’s still a solid cop trying to seek justice for the murder victims that he investigates.
Spencer has just been called to a really weird case. A mostly-mummified body has been found in the back room of a Chinatown eatery. How and when did this person wind up dead? How did the body get into its current condition? Who put the body in a restaurant (not to mention why)? And most important to those of us who like to eat, are mummies something the health inspector looks for when they check restaurants’ storage areas?
Xian is the medical examiner paged to the seen. It’s the first time he’s worked with Spencer. Spencer isn’t quite sure what to make of Xian. Xian has a rep for being standoffish, but Spencer’s also been told that if anyone can help him get to the bottom of things, it’s Xian. The two get off on a bit of a rough start since Carter wasn’t as prompt on the scene as Spencer would have liked. Carter earns some respect by telling him he’d been delayed with a 4-body traffic fatality and “Had I known that everyone else on call was going to tap out because they didn’t want to deal with a surly inspector and failed burrito of human jerky he’d found I’d have come straight over”. Human-ness aside, I got the impression that Spencer and Carter are actually a lot alike.
It doesn’t take long for Spencer’s investigation to hit some hurdles. The first hurdle being that his partner disappears. He’s new to San Fran, new to the SFPD, and now is on his own. Then, to complicate things even further, Spencer gets attacked and nearly killed. Carter comes along at just the right time to keep Spencer from being the morgue’s next guest.
The story gets wound up in kind of a cliffhanger, which is not typical for Rhys. The ending reminds me of Chinese food – enough to be satisfying for now, even though you’re going to be craving more very soon. This whole story kind of had the feeling of being a prologue to something bigger. Knowing Rhys, something bigger and better is definitely yet to come.
January 17, 2021
As a number of other readers have pointed out, things are unresolved at the end of this "episode" of what is apparently a serial. Spencer is getting a second start in San Francisco after ruining his police career in Los Angeles. Spencer is trying to stay sober now, as his alcoholism had caused his job performance to suffer, and then he'd totally blown his career in LA somehow.
Dr. Xian Carter is blond-haired and blue-eyed, but his mother was a prostitute in Hong Kong over a century ago. I thought of him looking kind of like a bishonen anime character, like Yohji of "Weiss Kreuz." Apparently it's popular in some anime and manga to have blond or red-haired characters. He thinks of himself as a demon, and other Asian characters in the story who perceive him for what he is also think of him as a demon. He seemed more of a standard sort of vampire to me. (For whatever value of "standard" that would be. lol)
So this world and these characters are introduced, and now I want to find out what happens next. Although as usual in a Rhys Ford story, the action gets gory in places, there were also flashes of humor. I especially found Xian's reactions to his assistant Brian to be hilarious. That first rebuke did a lot to humanize Xian, ironically enough.
I finally learned that "char siu" sauce is the sauce that barbequed spare ribs are marinated in. I tried it at home on little strips of pork. However, our favorite local Chinese restaurant, named Hong Kong, coincidentally, does a much better job of it than I did with sauce from a bottle. I had to agree with my mother's very valid point there. However, when it's cold and dark by 5:00 p.m., I don't feel like going out for takeout. Maybe we'll switch to getting a meal there at lunchtime until it's light out later, and warmer out.
Anyway...from Jae Kim's cooking in the Cole McGinnis "Dirty" series to the food described in Dim Sum Asylum to the food made in Ramen Assassin, somehow I always get cravings to try whatever dish. Except when Cole thinks about how he doesn't want eyeballs in his soup. Right there with you, Cole.
But I've wandered far off track. More of this world, please. Thank you.
Dr. Xian Carter is blond-haired and blue-eyed, but his mother was a prostitute in Hong Kong over a century ago. I thought of him looking kind of like a bishonen anime character, like Yohji of "Weiss Kreuz." Apparently it's popular in some anime and manga to have blond or red-haired characters. He thinks of himself as a demon, and other Asian characters in the story who perceive him for what he is also think of him as a demon. He seemed more of a standard sort of vampire to me. (For whatever value of "standard" that would be. lol)
So this world and these characters are introduced, and now I want to find out what happens next. Although as usual in a Rhys Ford story, the action gets gory in places, there were also flashes of humor. I especially found Xian's reactions to his assistant Brian to be hilarious. That first rebuke did a lot to humanize Xian, ironically enough.
I finally learned that "char siu" sauce is the sauce that barbequed spare ribs are marinated in. I tried it at home on little strips of pork. However, our favorite local Chinese restaurant, named Hong Kong, coincidentally, does a much better job of it than I did with sauce from a bottle. I had to agree with my mother's very valid point there. However, when it's cold and dark by 5:00 p.m., I don't feel like going out for takeout. Maybe we'll switch to getting a meal there at lunchtime until it's light out later, and warmer out.
Anyway...from Jae Kim's cooking in the Cole McGinnis "Dirty" series to the food described in Dim Sum Asylum to the food made in Ramen Assassin, somehow I always get cravings to try whatever dish. Except when Cole thinks about how he doesn't want eyeballs in his soup. Right there with you, Cole.
But I've wandered far off track. More of this world, please. Thank you.
December 4, 2020
Inspector Spencer Ricci of the SFPD is on the case of a body found mummified in the store room of a restaurant. No clues as to who this is or who placed the body there. He's already dealing with a drunk, half of the time missing partner, and now this weird case. Off to the morgue to see if he can get answers there.
Dr. Xian Carter is the medical examiner working this case. He's said to get all the weird cases but that's ok because he's a little weird himself. Xian is over a 100 years old and a demon. No one better to be on this case than him.
Xian and Spencer are instantly attracted to each other but nothing comes of it. Spencer finds himself in a precarious position and wakes up in Xian's apartment with very little memory of what happened. Xian's brother Jiro pops in for a short introduction and then he's gone again. When a second body is found in similar circumstances, Spencer finds himself back at the morgue looking for answers. Xian is unable to give very many answers to Spencer. When Spencer leaves the morgue, to go get some rest, he finds himself in a second precarious position eerily like the first. This one ending with Xian saving him again.
This is a good start to a fantasy/paranormal/murder mystery. Spencer and Xian both have their demons to bare. There is good chemistry between the characters. There is a start to the world building and a smidge of creature introduction. This book ends on a cliffhanger just as the real action starts. I really liked the book but I'm not fond of cliffhangers. I feel like there should have been some resolution to this story and further books could be about other cases. I truly hope that this one case isn't spread over more books than the needed sequel. Will definitely buy the next book to see how this plays out.
Dr. Xian Carter is the medical examiner working this case. He's said to get all the weird cases but that's ok because he's a little weird himself. Xian is over a 100 years old and a demon. No one better to be on this case than him.
Xian and Spencer are instantly attracted to each other but nothing comes of it. Spencer finds himself in a precarious position and wakes up in Xian's apartment with very little memory of what happened. Xian's brother Jiro pops in for a short introduction and then he's gone again. When a second body is found in similar circumstances, Spencer finds himself back at the morgue looking for answers. Xian is unable to give very many answers to Spencer. When Spencer leaves the morgue, to go get some rest, he finds himself in a second precarious position eerily like the first. This one ending with Xian saving him again.
This is a good start to a fantasy/paranormal/murder mystery. Spencer and Xian both have their demons to bare. There is good chemistry between the characters. There is a start to the world building and a smidge of creature introduction. This book ends on a cliffhanger just as the real action starts. I really liked the book but I'm not fond of cliffhangers. I feel like there should have been some resolution to this story and further books could be about other cases. I truly hope that this one case isn't spread over more books than the needed sequel. Will definitely buy the next book to see how this plays out.
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