Bound to Shadows (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 8) by Keri Arthur

I've been waiting for Bound to Shadows since I finished Deadly Desire back in March.

I love this series. The worldbuilding, the depth of characters, the plots - it's all good.

That being said, the plot in this one felt like we'd done it before. Not what was going on in Riley's life, that part was new and very interesting. The crime portion of the plot just felt familiar.

But there were enough other things going on that it's okay that the plot took a backseat in the action, though.

I've mentioned before that part of what I've enjoyed about this series is watching Riley grow and learn and adapt to the things that life throws her. And life has thrown a lot at her. This book opened up a whole lot of plot points for future books, and I'm anxious to see where Keri Arthur takes things next.

Bound to Shadows was one of those books that, when I finished it, I closed it and just sat there for about fifteen minutes. It affected me in several ways. I'm really glad I re-read Deadly Desire before reading Bound to Shadows, and I'm wondering if I shouldn't start over at book one next year before Moon Sworn comes out. I think I may know what's going to happen, based on the title. But I'm not sure, and it's hard to believe things are going to go there this soon. But, after the events of Bound to Shadows, perhaps it might be time. Or, perhaps it may be necessary.


Here is the blurb for Bound to Shadows:

In the darkness, demons come out to play . . .
and someone must bring their sins to light.

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 . . .

The next book in the series is called Moon Sworn, you can see the cover at Keri Arthur's website. I believe it is due in May, even though I think that's too long to wait.

I'm going to give Bound to Shadows a 9 of 10, and I'm keeping the series at a 10 of 10. I believe that this book gives the author several plot points to move forward with, but I also believe that Bound to Shadows is a transition book, the book that moves the series off into a new direction.

Book Rating, Bound to Shadows: 9 of 10
Series Rating: 10 of 10






1. Full Moon Rising (2006)
2. Kissing Sin (2007)
3. Tempting Evil (2007)
4. Dangerous Games (2007)
5. Embraced by Darkness (2007)
6. The Darkest Kiss (2008)
7. Deadly Desire (March 2009)
8. Bound to Shadows (October 2009)
9. Moon Sworn (May 2010)