Liviania‘s review of Unbound (Unbound, Book 1) by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocture 1 Jun 07

This was my first category, ever. Okay, I cracked a Suspense once but I didn’t make it farther than three pages. Therefore it does not count. This was my first category to finish. I really had a fun time with it. Kara is a young woman searching for her twin sister – even braving the strange bar known as the Guardian’s Keep. Outside she is attacked by a dog, which is in turn attacked by another dog . . . when she wakes up she is in the home of the attractive Risk Leidolf.

Hellhound Risk has been ordered to bring Kara back to his employer Lusse so she can steal Kara’s power. Kara does not know she is a witch, although her sister realized they were. He is reluctant to betray Kara after he captures her because he feels a connection. Risk holds onto his humanity rather than giving into his animalistic side. He desperately tries to find a way to save her and his son Venge, who is also under the control of Lusse. He’s the whole package: brains and brawn. Even Jormun, the exiled Norse god, respects his strategizing.

Did I mention the mythology of the story is based on the Norse tradition? Because it is. And that is sexy.

So is Venge. I wanted his story right after I finished, but alas I still have not bought Wild Hunt. (He’s a redhead. I have a weakness for red hair. He had other endearing qualities, but that gave him a foot in the door. He’s a kicked puppy, who wouldn’t like him?) I did buy Guardian’s Keep, which alas features Kelly. TSTL Kelly. She ignores the garm bartender’s warnings, gets a friend killed, and puts herself and her sister in mortal danger. She also tries to convince Kara not to trust Risk despite the fact he’s obviously twenty times smarter than she is. Kelly dragged a good book down.

Unbound was a good choice for my introduction to categories. It had two solid leads, a fast-paced plot, interesting world-building, and a few cool side characters who let the main characters have center stage. I bought Guardian’s Keep instantly because I enjoyed Unbound so much. Many a single title paranormal romance has satisfied me less. Yes, I could have done without Kelly, but she does not show up until the end. Until that point I breezed through the story. Once she appeared she managed to cause minimal trouble, mainly because Kara possessed common sense.

Grade: B-

Risk Leidolf is a hellhound—a legendary, otherworldly creature who is both man and beast. For centuries, he’s been bound to do the bidding of an immortal witch. But after being ordered to destroy novice witch Kara Shane, the man within him rebels. And the beast within him is held at bay—for now.

Fiercely drawn to each other, Risk and Kara soon form a passionate alliance as they set out to find her missing sister—and the key to his salvation. For the power unleashed by the twin witches could free him from the immortal witch’s bondage. But that freedom comes at a steep price. For the fierce battle will put more than one soul at stake…and two hearts on the line.

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