C2’s review of Primal Bonds (Shifters Unbound, book 2) by Jennifer Ashley
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 1 Mar 11
In Primal Bonds, we return to Austin’s Shiftertown and learn more about the inner workings of Shifter clans and the politics involved when Feline, Lupine, and Ursine Shifters live in close quarters. Dogs and cats aren’t usually natural friends and when you throw bears into the mix, well…things can get very interesting, very quickly.
I really enjoyed both books in this series and think they stand alone easily. Ms. Ashley’s Shifters have a very organic feel to them – very much like creatures who spend part of their lives as animals probably would behave with each other, I think. That their existence is tied to magic (they were created by the Fae to serve them) makes them seem more real, in some odd way.
Sean Morrissey is a Feline Shifter and the Guardian of Austin’s Shiftertown. When a Shifter dies, the Guardian must pierce them with the Sword of the Guardian to ensure that their soul leaves the body and enters the Summerland (Shifter Heaven). Since that’s kind of creepy, Shifters tend to give Sean a wide berth, so his chances of finding a mate are not good. Until…
Andrea Gray is a half-Fae Lupine Shifter and has recently relocated from Denver’s Shiftertown to Austin. Before her transfer to Austin’s Shiftertown could be approved, someone in Austin had to mate claim her, so Sean offered and Andrea accepted. She requested the move because another Shifter would not leave her alone, even though she rejected his mate claim – the male can stake his claim on an available female and other males will honor it until or unless the female rejects his claim. Since the male in question is the son of the Shiftertown’s leader, he didn’t take her rejection well. Especially since Andrea’s Fae blood meant she’s very low in status in the pack.
Since her arrival in Austin, Andrea and Sean have been dancing around each other. There has been some flirting, but nothing much has developed and Sean is getting frustrated. When a group of humans shoot into the bar where Andrea works, the bouncer Ursine Shifter is wounded. Sean (with his sword) is also in the bar when the shooting happens. When they take Ronan the bear to the office to do some first aid (bears are tough, you know), Sean finds out that Andrea’s Fae blood has given her a little healing magic. She is able to lessen Ronan’s pain and speed his healing a bit.
After a bit of investigating, it seems that a nearby Shifter clan is working with humans to stir up dissension among and between humans and Shifters and also between different types of Shifters. In the years since Shifters submitted to the Collar that subdues their violent impulses, different types of Shifters have begun to work together toward common goals. Also, since the Collar, some humans have begun to allow Shifters in their shops, restaurants, etc. Apparently, some among the Shifter community would prefer a return to their wilder roots.
During all this intrigue, Sean and Andrea begin to move toward the mating frenzy, but who has time for hours and hours of non-stop sex when their are murderous Shifters and Humans to catch? And what do Andrea’s nightmares mean? Who does the mysterious voice belong to? And what does it all have to do with the Sword of the Guardian? Oh, faithful reader, you know you want to find out the answers.
Grade: B+
Summary:
When half-Fae, half-Shifter Andrea Gray flees an abusive would-be mate, the only way she is allowed to relocate to the Austin Shiftertown is if a Shifter there claims her as mate.Sean Morrissey, the Guardian of his clan and all of Shiftertown, is mateless, lonely, and has a tough job–to send the souls of deceased Shifters into the afterworld. He volunteers to claim her, sight unseen, but doesn’t realize that one look at the gray-eyed, dark-haired Andrea will stir the mating frenzy in him. Even though the mate-claim isn’t finalized, official, or yet blessed, Sean will do anything to get Andrea into his life and keep her there, forever.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in the series:
