Kori Daniels is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she's ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if it means taking it from someone else....
The job? Recruit Ian Holt-or kill him.
Ian's ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he's on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower's top Binder: Kori's little sister.
Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they'll have to choose between love and liberty....
Finished Rachel Vincent's latest in her Unbound trilogy, Shadow Bound! It was a very intriguing read that had me gushing at the romance, which is not something I usually say either! This book has some connections to the first one, Blood Bound, as Kori was a character and friend to Olivia--Liv in that story, she knew Cam as well. This time it's her turn to live out the horrors of being bound to Jake Tower.
By now we know that this world is very different, there are Skilled people in this world that are bound to syndicates, Jake Tower being one of them. He's the one who Kori and her sister are bound to. Kori is being punished for her crimes committed in Blood Bound, in failing to protect Jake since he was shot. But now she is being let out of her prison to take on a job. Recruit Ian Holt.
Ian, though has plans of his own. Plans that involve killing Kori's sister Kenley. Kenley is a Binder, she is the one who binds people into their contracts with Jake. And at some point, Kenley bound Ian's brother who is now dying. And one of the only ways to free someone from the pain and torment that comes with breaking their "binding" or contract to Tower is to kill them.
But Ian's plans fall flat when he starts to fall for Kori. Their romance was the sweet budding kind, even though it was only over the course of two, maybe three days. Pretty sure it was two though. Kori is damaged though, she was tortured and tormented at the hands of Jake's men while in the dungeon. It's hard for her to allow herself to be loved or cared for, to express feelings without fear of punishment. There's a lot of baggage to her, yet Ian still manages to find a way into her heart despite her attempts at keeping him out.
I am not sure how to describe it without letting loose to too many details. But Kori was broken basically, and even though she was forced to recruit Ian to a job he had no intention of taking, feelings started sprouting up between them and I was pretty moved by it all! The way Ian took care to her feelings was deeply touching!
Naturally, we get both Ian and Kori's perspective in this book and I loved knowing what the one was thinking of the other! I think this kind of writing of POV's where we get the heroine and the hero are awesome! I love knowing how they feel for one another instead of always getting just one side to the relationship (which can have it's own benefits too, but I won't get into that!).
The ending to this book was phenomenal! As I said, Liv and Cam made their appearances and did their best not to harm their friend, despite their boss's orders and their being bound. But the ending, lots of things were going down! Rescues, vengeance, murders and the set up to the next book which will end the trilogy! Which is going to involve Kris--Kori and Kenley's brother--plus a new heroine, Sera who is the "secret daughter" to one particular Tower! Already getting miffed about his so called loyalties, but I am sure that will all be explained in a few months when Oath Bound is released! Which I looked forward to reading naturally! If it's a Rachel Vincent book I am so in!
Shadow Bound was an awesome story done supremely exquisite by the talented Vincent! Her Shifters series blew me out of the water and now her Unbound trilogy is keeping me nice and satisfied with her new world of magic users and forbidden loves! It's a must read for any thrill seeker (in reading, naturally!)!
Overall rating 5/5 stars
I've been meaning to start this trilogy. Great Review!
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