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Review – Bound

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Bound

by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

BoundSeries: Magnus Blackwell, Book 2
Genres: Adult, Supernatural, Ghosts, Occult, Voodoo
Release Date: April 17, 2018
Pages: 360
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Magnus Blackwell’s past is about to catch up with him.

An evil force has seized New Orleans. Pestilence, suffering, and darkness cloak the city. The citizens are scared and need their mambo to guide them, but Lexie Arden can’t help anyone. A diabolical presence has taken Lexie’s power and severed her ties with the other side.

Magnus Blackwell is fighting demons of his own. Torn between his devotion to Lexie and a spirit from his past, Magnus’s loyalty is put to the test. He must revisit his sins to uncover the key to the hatred ripping the city apart. If he doesn’t, Lexie’s reign as mambo will end.

Their search for answers leads them deep into the darker realms of voodoo—until a desperate Lexie does the unthinkable, and Magnus can do nothing to spare her from her fate.


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Review

After I finished Damned, I immediately dove back into the world of the Magnus Blackwell series to read Bound.

Although I suppose I shouldn’t be, I was a bit surprised that two of the issues I had with Damned were a continued bother to me in Bound.

I still find Will a confusing character. Bound opens to Will once more disliking Magnus, despite having seemingly warmed to him at the end of Damned. He also flip-flops several times between supporting Lexie and her calling above all else, and accusing her of putting her career first to the point of ignoring him and their life. As the book progressed, I found myself liking him less and less.

Like DamnedBound had the odd phenomenon of feeling like it was going to end multiple times. Unlike Damned, this mostly occurred in the final few chapters, and bothered me, as I felt it made the ending drag on. I experienced a sense of “It’s not done yet?” each time a chapter that would have been a good ending gave way to a new chapter.

A new issue for me in Bound was the unrelenting pace of the story. I had an urge to take breaks while reading to get a respite from everything happening. On top of this, the final few chapters are packed with many different plot threads. I got the sense that the authors found themselves with plot points they weren’t able to work into the story and decided to jam them in at the end. I doubt this is really what happened, it was just how I felt about the ending.

On the positive side, the authors created a fabulous atmosphere of distrust. I found myself wondering if any of the characters could be trusted, if any of them were what they seemed. Turns out, yes, a handful of them were.

I don’t know if all of the information in the book regarding Voodoo is factual, but it certainly seems well researched. Those characters in the book that are “knowledgeable” about Voodoo come across as well-informed and believable.

If the Voodoo information isn’t factual, then the authors have certainly created a great mythos with the Voodoo spirits. If it is factual, then I applaud them for their research and making excellent use of the Voodoo pantheon of characters.

Despite the couple of… let’s call them hiccups… I enjoyed Bound. The story was interesting, and I look forward to future installments. I really want to see Lexie succeed.


About the Authors

Lucas AstorLucas Astor is from New York, has resided in Central America and the Middle East, and traveled through Europe. He lives a very private, virtually reclusive lifestyle, preferring to spend time with a close-knit group of friends than be in the spotlight.

He is an author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face.

Photography, making wine, and helping endangered species are just some of his interests. Lucas is an expert archer and enjoys jazz, blues, and classical music.

One of his favorite quotes is:  “It’s better to be silent than be a fool.”  ~Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)

Alexandrea WeisAlexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Having been brought up in the motion picture industry, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her award-winning novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story memorable. A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.

Author links: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter


Disclaimer: This review is based on a complimentary eBook I received from Xpresso Book Tours. The complimentary receipt of this book has in no way affected my review or rating.

Xpresso Book Tours

One Comment

  1. Thanks for hosting today! This sounds like an intriguing and unique read! 🙂

    May 23, 2018
    |Reply

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