Bound to Shadows by K. Arthur

Have you read the Riley Jenson series by Keri Arthur yet? If you haven’t, you’re really missing out because the latest installment, Bound to Shadows, is freaking fabulous.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive—and highly suspicious—club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.

For Riley, solving multiple cases—in a world going mad with human and vampire passions—would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley’s wolf blood howl—and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years’ experience at fulfilling women’s desires. While she’s busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley’s detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her . . .

Holy cow…where to start.  There is a lot I could say, but then that would be completely cruel since a lot of it would be spoilerish and this is one novel that would be FULL of spoilers for anyone who hasn’t read the series or haven’t caught up yet.

So where to begin…Riley is amazing.  Bound to Shadows takes place about six months after Deadly Desire and Riley is getting back into the groove of things.  She’s working things out with Quinn and everything is good.  Then he shows up right at the beginning of a new case and throws so many wrenches in Riley’s life, that the blurb for Moon Sworn really doesn’t surprise me.  I mean, she so doesn’t want him, but what’s a girl to do when it’s not her choice.  His presence creates so many problems in her life that she has to deal with him. I’m not going to tell you who him is because that’s a spoiler issue, but for anyone who has read Deadly Desire, you know who I’m talking about.

His presence changes a lot of things.  I’ll tell you that right now.  Rhoan and Liander make a huge decision that impacts Riley; we lose a much loved friend; and the beginning of the end rears its ugly head.  There are times I wonder if we would have reached this point without him, but I don’t think we would have.  He is a very pivotal point in the series and Arthur outdoes herself with Bound to Shadows.  The entire novel just sucks you in and takes you on such an emotional roller coaster ride that you really don’t want to get off.  This is one of the reason I love this series so much.

Overall, Bound to Shadows is simply fabulous.  There’s none of the stagnation with a long running series (even though this is only the eighth one) and I get sucked in every time.  The story is fresh, the characters engaging and the romance is amazing.  Seriously, Arthur is one of my all-time favorite authors and her writing supports that with each and every novel.  I will be sad to see the end of Riley with Moon Sworn, but its such a fabulous ride that I know it won’t be the end for me because this is one of those series I will continually keep going back to.  If you haven’t read Bound to Shadows yet, then do so now.  If you haven’t started this series, I don’t know what you’re waiting for.

Read Order:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound by Shadows
Moon Sworn

Also reviewed by:
Book Junkie
SciFiGuy
Magical Musings
The Fiction Vixen
Readaholic

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

4 Comments

  1. I love the Riley Jenson series! Bound to Shadows was such a great book. I can’t believe how Keri Arthur ended it! I didn’t expect it at all and am still in shock. Can’t wait for Moon Sworn!

  2. I’m with Caitlin – I was shocked by the ending of Bound to Shadows – but it was an awesome book. I can’t wait for Moon Sworn – I wonder if Riley is going to get her HEA. :)

  3. Everyone seems to love Bound to Shadows and now you’ve given it a great endorsement. I glad to see that because I’ve collect the whole series up to this one. I’m to start it in the next few weeks. I want to be done before Moon Sworn comes out next year. Okay, now I’m all excited about reading this series — even more than before. Thanks!

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