Blood Bound (Unbound Series #1)

( 81 )

Overview

By blood, by word, by magicÂ…

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special—a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means ...

See more details below
Paperback (Mass Market Paperback)    
A small-format, low-cost paperback -- usually 4 1/4" x 6 3/4" -- most often used for genres such as mystery, romance, and sci-fi, as well as bestsellers with broad commercial appeal.
$7.99
BN.com price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (10) from $1.99   
  • New (6) from $5.10   
  • Used (4) from $1.99   
Blood Bound (Unbound Series #1)

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$6.29
BN.com price
(Save 10%)$6.99 List Price

More About This Book

Overview

By blood, by word, by magicÂ…

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special—a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every cornerÂ…every touchÂ…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's overÂ…

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
"A high-octane plot with characters you can really care about. Vincent is a welcome addition to the genre."

-#1 New York Times bestseller Kelley Armstrong on Stray

"Compelling and edgy, dark and evocative, Stray is a must read! I loved it from beginning to end."

-New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

"The second installment of Vincent's urban fantasy series (after Stray) features a well-thought-out vision of werecat social structure as well as a heroine who insists on carving her own path, even if it means breaking some of her society's most sacred taboos."

-Library Journal on Rogue

"Vincent continues to impress with the freshness of her approach and voice. Action and intrigue abound, and Faythe is still a delight."

-RT Book Reviews on Prey

Library Journal
Paranormal tracker Liv Warren can find anyone by following the smell of blood. When a friend's child goes missing, Warren joins the hunt to find the girl before she falls into the hands of the criminal underworld—and worse. The first volume in new trilogy by the author of the popular "Shifters" series.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780778312550
  • Publisher: Mira
  • Publication date: 8/23/2011
  • Series: Unbound Series , #1
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • Sales rank: 230,163
  • Product dimensions: 3.96 (w) x 6.70 (h) x 1.24 (d)

Meet the Author

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent loves good chocolate, comfortable jeans, and serial commas. She’s older than she looks and younger than she feels, but is convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan. Now absorbed in the dark, tangled loyalties of her UNBOUND world, as well as the travails of a teenage banshee in her SOUL SCREAMERS world, Rachel can be found online at www.rachelvincent.com or urbanfantasy.blogspot.com.

Read More Show Less

Read an Excerpt

"You sure it's him, Liv?" Booker swiped one hand over his sweaty, stubbly face as we stared at the lit window on the third floor. The apartment building was long and plain, like a cracker box on its side, and the moonless night only smeared the sides of the featureless building into the ambient darkness.

I nodded, shoving both cold–chapped hands into my jacket pockets. It was warm for early March, but still cold for me.

"How sure?"

I closed my eyes and clutched the blood–stiffened swatch of cloth in my right pocket, inhaling deeply through my nose, and the world exploded into a bouquet of scents. Relying on years of training, I sorted through them rapidly, mentally tossing aside those I couldn't use. The metal tang of several huge trash bins. The chemical bite of Booker's cologne. And the pervasive, ambient smells of life east of the river—motor oil, fried food, and sweat.

What was left, with those more obvious smells out of the way, was the trail I'd followed all over town, as much a feel as a true scent, and a virtual match to the blood sample in my pocket.

I am a Tracker. More specifically—and colloquially—I'm a bloodhound. Given a decent, recent sample of your blood, I can find you no matter where you hide. Officially, my range is about eighty miles—on the high end of average. Unofficially…well, let's just say I'm good at what I do. But not too good. Too much Skill will get you noticed. And I know better than to get noticed.

Booker cleared his throat and I opened my eyes to find myself staring up at the lit window again—the only tenant still awake. "Ninety–five percent. It's either him, or a close male relative, and that's the best you're gonna get with a dry blood sample," I said, as water dripped from a gutter somewhere to my left. "Tell Rawlinson I'll send him a bill."

Booker pulled his black ski cap over his ears. "He's not gonna like that,"

"I don't give a shit what he likes." I turned and walked back the way I'd come, listening as my steel–toed work boots echoed in the alley. I was exhausted and pissed off from being woken at two on a Friday morning, yet still pleased for the excuse to charge nearly double my usual rate. Office space in the south fork doesn't come cheap.

"Warren!" a deep voice barked from behind me, and I groaned beneath my breath. I turned slowly to see Adam Rawlinson step out from behind a rusty Dumpster, his dark hair, skin, and expensive wool coat blending into the thick shadows. No telling how long he'd been there. Watching. Listening.

Travelers—shadow–walkers—were notorious for shit like that. They can step into a shadow in their own homes and step out of another shadow across town a split–second later. You never know they're coming until they're already there. It's a convenient Skill—except when it's annoying as hell.

"Hey, Adam. Kinda late for a stroll, isn't it?" Especially considering that his home address was at least two tax brackets above the inner–city grime now clinging to the soles of his dress shoes. "What? You don't trust me?"

Rawlinson scowled, his frown exaggerated by deep shadows. "Ninety–five percent isn't good enough, Liv."

I shrugged, my arms crossed over my dark jacket. "You're not going to get a hundred percent certainty without a better blood sample or his full name to flesh out the scent."

He nodded; I wasn't telling him anything new. "But you'd know for sure if you had a current sample to compare it to, right? Something fresh?"

"I don't get my hands dirty anymore. You know that." I follow the blood scent, and I can Track by name if I have to. But that's where my job ends—no reason for me to be there when the action starts. My life was messy enough without adding blood spatter.

"Booker's here for the takedown. I just need you to get close enough for a positive ID," Rawlinson insisted. "We don't know his name, and we're not going to get a better blood sample. I played hell getting that one out of the evidence room as it is. This is personal, Liv."

Damn it. Booker was working without a partner and Adam Rawlinson had come out to see the show. This one was off the books. "Is this about Alisha?" Raw–linson's daughter had been killed in a carjacking the week before. He'd shown up for work the next day like nothing had happened. Like her death meant nothing to him.

Here was proof to the contrary. I was almost relieved.

His gaze never wavered. "The cops had a near miss, and one of them winged the bastard last night. The sample's from the passenger's seat he bled all over."

I exhaled, watching him closely. "Why do I get the feeling you're not going to turn this asshole in?" Raw–linson's operation had a rock–solid reputation. Official bounty–hunting in cooperation with bail bondsmen and the proper authorities, all on the up–and–up. He would turn in the target, collect a check for freelance services from the city, then pay the rest of his crew. Which used to include me.

But this timeÂ…

"Because you're a very smart girl." He started walking toward the building, and I followed reluctantly. "You know, I'd love to have you back on the crew full time."

"That's because your new Tracker couldn't find his own dick in the dark." I hesitated, and the night was quiet, but for our footsteps on cracked asphalt. "You know better than to start shit east of the river without a work order, Adam. What if someone sees you?"

"That's why you're here." He met my gaze, and I had to respect his honesty, even if it pissed me off. "Everyone knows you're working for Ruben Cavazos, so no one will think to report this, if you're with us."

"I work for myself!" And myself had to pay rent on a shitty apartment and a tiny office, repairs on a car saddled with more used parts than Frankenstein's monster, and interest and principle on student loans for a degree I'd never once put to use. "I freelance for Cavazos just like I freelance for you." And everyone knew that black hats paid better than white knights. "Having me with you isn't going to keep your feet cool while you walk through flames, Adam. You need to let the police handle this."

"We both know there's nothing they can do."

But that wasn't true. They could do plenty—but they wouldn't. Not as long as the courts refused to recognize Tracking as a legal form of identification and discovery. The world knew about us—the Skilled had been dragged into the spotlight almost thirty years ago—but the government had yet to officially recognize our existence. We were the biggest open secret in history. We had no rights and no protection under the law, beyond those afforded us as natural–born citizens.

What that meant in legal circles was that no government office could officially hire Binders to draft or seal contracts. Nor could they use evidence gathered via Trackers, like me. Everything involving the dozen or so Skilled abilities had to be unofficial consultations and contract work. And completely off the books.

What that meant in criminal circles was the gradual formation of the single most profitable—and ruthless— black market system in history. Because the government didn't officially recognize our Skills, they couldn't regulate or police them, which left a huge gap at the top of the power pyramid. A gap that had been filled by various Skilled crime syndicates across the world, but most notably—and locally—by rival black market kingpins Jake Tower and Ruben Cavazos, who—together—controlled more than two thirds of the city.

Think of my city like a giant peace sign, divided by the river. Everything east of the river is controlled by Cavazos, everything west of the river by Tower. And on the south side, cradled by the fork in the river, you can live, eat, and breathe without lining the pockets of either organization—but you'll do it at a much higher price, because those in the know who can will pay to avoid picking a side.

"Okay, look. Now that you've found him, you should just watch him until he makes a mistake, then go after him legally. Stick to what you're good at, Adam. Anything else would just be dripping blood into the shark tank."

"Wait for him to make a mistake?" Rawlinson demanded softly, and I nodded, already feeling guilty for the suggestion. "How long will that take, if it even happens? Coming in here once, with you, to take care of business—that's one thing. But if we loiter, just waiting for this bastard to commit another crime… Well, that's just not an option on the east side, is it?" His gaze pled with me, and I resisted the overwhelming urge to stare at the ground. "She was my daughter, Warren," Rawlinson said, and the rare glimpse of his raw pain, made me groan on the inside, even as I spoke the question I shouldn't have asked.

"What do you want me to do? Go in and prick his finger?" My hand clenched around the stiff cloth in my pocket.

"I don't care how you ID him. Just get close enough to tell for sure, and we'll handle the rest."

"That's going to cost you." Sympathizing with his pain didn't change my bottom line—freelancers don't get benefits, and I was currently without healthcare, a dangerous position to be in, considering my line of work.

"Fine. Bill me."

Against my better judgment, I led the way into the dark, quiet building with Rawlinson and Booker at my back. Most of the apartments were empty. Rumor had it the city planned to knock the eyesore down as soon as they managed to relocate the last six tenants—and convince Cavazos to sell the building. They probably had no idea there was a squatter on the third floor.

We crept silently up the stairs, the stiff bit of cloth clutched in my right hand, my fingers rubbing over and over the rough spot. I could feel him, so long as I was touching his blood. I could smell his sweat and taste his fear, both manifestations of the smear of psychic energy people leave behind with every drop of their blood.

For me, it's a little harder, working from only a name, but it can be done. And it's easiest with both a name and fresh blood. But that rarely happens. UnSkilled criminals are much more careful than the unSkilled general population, and in hiding from police forensics labs, they're inadvertently hiding from Trackers.

Even stupid criminals don't want to be found.

The door between the stairwell and the third floor hall was long gone, so we could see the light pouring from the crack beneath his door the moment we stepped onto the landing. The energy signature was stronger here, but no clearer. I was going to have to see the bastard to confirm his ID.

Damn it.

I snuck down the hall silently with Booker and Raw–linson on my heels until we stood in front of the lit apartment. I gestured for them to give me some space, and they stood to either side of the door, backs pressed against the grimy walls, out of sight from the occupant, unless he actually stepped into the hall.

Then I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

When I'd worked for Rawlinson, I'd done both the Tracking and the takedown, and back then, I would have looked the part—harmless, vapid young woman who needed jumper cables, or a telephone, or a big, strong arm to open a jar of pickles. Anything to get close enough to Taser the target and collect a paycheck.

It's amazing what a few years' experience and the threat of mortal injury with no health insurance can do to change your perspective. Especially with the clock ticking in my ear and the certainty that I had no time to be incapacitated by injury.

Footsteps clomped toward me from inside the apartment and the door squealed open to reveal a tall, thick man with two days' growth on his chin and suspicion shining in his eyes. He was armed—the hand held behind his right thigh was a dead giveaway—probably with the gun that had killed Alisha Rawlinson.

"Hey, sorry to bother you so late, but—" I let my right arm fly, and my fist smashed into his nose.

The target gave a wet gurgle of surprise and pain, and swung his arm up, too stunned to actually aim his pistol as blood poured from his ruined face. I ducked below the gun and smashed his wrist into the door facing as hard as I could. Bone crunched. The target screamed again and his fist opened. The gun thumped to the floor and Booker kicked it down the hall.

I stepped back and let him take over, wiping the target's blood from my face with the tissue Rawlinson offered. "It's him." I handed the tissue back as Booker pounded the target into unconsciousness in the doorway. The rest of this floor was empty, and even if one of the few tenants heard something, they wouldn't come out to investigate. Not on this side of town. Not in the middle of the night.

Not if they had any wish to see daylight.

"Thank you, Liv," Rawlinson said, as Booker dragged the unconscious man into his apartment.

"Don't thank me. Pay me." I peeled off my blood–stained jacket and handed it to him. "And if this doesn't come clean, you owe me one just like it." Then I took off toward the stairwell without looking back, trying to ignore the repetitive thud of fist hitting flesh, echoing in the hall behind me.

On the street again, I exhaled, then glanced back at the building behind me. Silence, except for my own footsteps and the highway traffic two blocks away. True to his word, Rawlinson was keeping things quiet.

I crossed the road in a hurry, digging in my pocket for my keys, but froze when I spotted my car—and the man leaning against the hood. He was built of shadows, untouched by the streetlight on the corner, but I'd know that silhouette anywhere.

"Hey, Liv." Cameron Caballero stood, and the last six years without him suddenly seemed surreal, like I'd dreamed the whole thing, and now I'd finally woken up to the truth. To how my life should have gone.

But then a car engine started, stalled, then restarted in the distance, and my life—the gritty reality—snapped back into place like emotional whiplash, leaving me gasping for breath.

Him showing up like this again wasn't fair. But "fair" had never been less relevant.

"Not tonight, Cam." Mentally steeling myself, I clomped toward him and my car, assuming he'd move when I tried to unlock my door. But instead of sliding out of the way, he stood, inches away now, intentionally invading my personal space. I could step back, but that would be acknowledging that being so close to him still affected me. Or I could stand my ground and make him back down.

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 81 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(40)

4 Star

(25)

3 Star

(15)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 81 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 15, 2013

    Amazing!

    Thought i wouldnt enjoy this book but in fact i lost sleep over this amazing tale! It had me laughing all the way and cursing out loud a truely amazing must read :)

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 7, 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends Book 1)

    Loved it

    Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great plot, good writing and a story that will make you want to read more.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted January 20, 2013

    As a big fan of the Shifter series, I was very excited to find t

    As a big fan of the Shifter series, I was very excited to find that Rachel Vincent had a new series. Blood Bound is a great book, one that is hard to put down. The characters are interesting, the plot is ingenious, and the twists were just right. I think it would have been stronger if the POV hadn't shifted between the two main characters, but it was a good way to reveal the story since everyone was hiding secrets and harboring a decade's worth of back story. I'm certainly going to keep reading this series! 

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 6, 2012

    As a dedicated fan of Vincent other series it was a no question

    As a dedicated fan of Vincent other series it was a no question that Blood Bound would be a must read. This debut reminded me a lot of Faith in the Shifters series; with a history of romance between the main characters it is easily to jump right into the story without a lot of detail. As the story progresses readers will learn the ins and outs of the characters while experiencing their powerful and intense journey. Blood Bound is an adult paranormal romance, and in comparison to her shifters series is seems to hold back, so of the intensity that I have come to expect. That being said I must also note the the potential is obvious, and I look for more in Shadow Bound. Unfortunately, I after concluding I discovered that book two is about Kori, rather than Liv and Cam, but after one book under belt I look for the comfort to display in the installments to come.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 13, 2013

    It's been  little while since I have read any of Rachel Vincent'

    It's been  little while since I have read any of Rachel Vincent's books, and I have been sitting on this one for a while. I am so glad that I finally had the chance to read it. It. Is. Amazing. I loved Rachel Vincent's Shifter series and I can say that I am going to be itching to get the rest of this one as well. The story is about Liv and Cam. They are two very special Skilled people. Skilled people are people with a special skill that normal humans do not have, kind of like the movie Push. Both Cam and Liv are called Trackers because they have to ability to find people using either their name or their blood. The range that their skills work vary, but since they are typically hired while the person is still in their range, everything works out. Well Liv and Cam were in love, so much so that Cam thought they would someday be husband and wife. Then one day Liv walks out on him with no explanation at all.

    The story takes place six years later. Cam has been keeping track of where Liv is and Liv has been trying to survive. The city they both live in is divided into three territories. One ruled by the gangster/criminal Jake Tower. Another ruled by the gangster/criminal Reuben Cavazos. The third is considered free, but you have to pay a lot of money to be able to remain unaffiliated. Liv has gotten herself mixed up with the Cavazos side of town, trying not to become someone she doesn't want to be. When Cam shows up on one of her jobs begging her to visit with an old friend, she knows that this is going to be nothing but bad news. She had no clue how bad it was really going to get. 

    Read more reviews at Identity Discovery Blog.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 1, 2013

    more from this reviewer

    I really enjoyed this new book from Rachel Vincent. The new worl

    I really enjoyed this new book from Rachel Vincent. The new world brings in a group of complex characters in a mafia type setting. Only this is even more difficult to get out of than even the mafia. You are bound by blood and cannot go against orders upon pain of a slow death.

    I was not a huge fan of the first person dialog from two different questions. I would prefer stories that have more than one point of view to be written in third person. At the beginning of each chapter you had to take a second to figure out who was talking. That is really my only complaint about the book, and it is not a big complaint. I love Rachel Vincent's work. Someone else wrote that she can do no wrong and I am inclined to agree.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 30, 2013

    Great new story line

    Love love love

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 24, 2012

    At chapter one I was filled with the joy of reading a new to me

    At chapter one I was filled with the joy of reading a new to me book. Hmmm…seems like a strong heroine, oooh humans with powers. By chapter five I had lost that new book glow and was looking for reasons to continue because this book couldn’t end quickly enough. By chapter ten, ambivalence had settled in for the remainder of the read.

    I wanted to care about the characters but never found them engaging enough. They seemed to be too self-serving and manipulative for my taste. Secrets? Ok, I get that but this?!?!? They were galloping into domination country, with all dominants. Also there was way too much drama. I could hear the music where just they unveiled the killer - several times! (*shudder*) I was dizzy from the ever changing POV's.

    So what did I like? Actually the plot was intriguing enough to make me want to read it and it is what kept me going. Other than the characterization the mechanics of the story were just fine. I’m undecided if I would continue with this series because the first of a series can be forgiven.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted January 30, 2012

    Awesome start to a new series!

    This series is a little different than some of the others I've read recently. The rules in this world are more complex and involved than in some other series, but for all that I found them fairly simple to follow. In this world, there are normal people without special abilities (known as Skills) and then there are the Skilled. The skilled are human and have one of about 12 different talents (not all of which have been identified to us) and those talents come in various forms and levels of abilities (for instance, a Tracker may be able to track a person by name or through blood and maybe within a few miles or as far away as 100 miles). However, the government has not "recognized" Skills as a legitimate thing so these abilities are not allowed in court or police cases, are not "admitted to", and are not controlled in any way - leaving the less savory in the world to create mafia type organizations that magically "Bind" (another Skill) Skilled people to a specific organization.

    This story follows Cameron and Liz, two Skilled people who had a prior relationship that was ended suddenly 6 years ago by Liz without any explanation to Cam. Now they end up working together to help a mutual friend solve the murder of her husband. Both Cam and Liz are hiding several things from the other and those secrets are huge on both sides.

    I found the story intriguing and I enjoyed both characters. The story took several twists and turns and we discovered many of the secrets at the same time as the characters. The mystery part of the story (the who done it and why part of the murder case) kept the reader guessing and the action was pretty constant. The POV in the book changed almost every chapter and, while I had no problems with that, I can see where a more casual reader might. Generally, the change in POV becomes obvious in a few sentences (or less).

    I am looking forward to the next book, although I'm not sure where the author is planning to go with the story for Liz and Cam. The next installment (according to the write ups) follows a different character for the love interest portion, but the ending of this book for Cam and Liz was not complete. There is still a stiuation anging with them and I would really like to know where it goes and how it affects their relationship. I hope that's covered in the next book!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 15, 2012

    Amazing!

    I cant wait for the next book. Rachel vincent provided a whole new world to think about.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 15, 2011

    This Book was awesome

    I bought this book and read it all in two days. The characters were well thought out and was mysterious and kept you guessing. I highly recommed this book to anyone. I have read my books by this author but this is one of my favorite books.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted November 27, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    An interesting new world

    Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent is about Olivia, who is a blood tracker. She can find people pretty much anywhere if she has just a drop of their blood. As a child Olivia was unknowingly bound by blood to her childhood friends. In the present she is bound to Cavazos, a not very nice guy who runs half of the city. She works for him as a tracker. The story begins with Olivia meeting up with one of her childhood friends, who make a request Olivia cannot refuse. An old flame, Cam, also gets involved to help Olivia track down a killer. As the story unfolds, we see that things are not always what they seem. There were so many twists and turns in this story that it keeps you on the edge, wanting to read more to find out what was going to happen.

    I really like that we got two different points of view in this book. We got to see through Olivia's eyes and also Cam's, though there really needed to be better transition between the two. It was really confusing at times not knowing who was talking, and then I would have to go back and re-read a paragraph or two when I realized the POV had changed.

    The world the author created was wonderful. It is unlike anything I've read in a long time. She was able to creat this dark, complex world using Skilled humans¿no shifters, vampires, etc. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted November 23, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    3.5 Stars! Too many rules...

    I want to start off by saying that Blood Bound presents an interesting world to readers.
    Humans are either Skilled or Unskilled, and Olivia, the main character, is a skilled tracker.
    She can track people by the scent of their blood and she can track people by their name, but she is better at blood tracking.
    The plot is way too complicated to explain, but it involves a group of old friends with various skills, her former boyfriend, and two syndicates/mobsters that control the city. These syndicates manipulate Skilled people into working for them. The recruits have to sign a contract, which binds them to the mobster for several years, and in the process they also sign over part of their free will. To make a long story short, these oaths dictate what a person can and cannot do, and it makes for a very convoluted plot where each character tries to find loopholes around his or her bindings, etc...
    It's like a complicated math problem, you don't ever want to solve again.
    And even though everything seems to be resolved at the end, the main characters end up in the same position as they were in at the beginning. What happened to character development?!
    Since everything is so complicated, the author Rachel Vincent has to keep repeating the rules and reasoning behind every action of her characters.
    Also, Vincent switches POV between Olivia and Cam, her former boyfriend, about every other chapter, which frustrated me.
    The tone and mannerisms are exactly the same for each character, so I had a hard time discerning the two.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 18, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Wow!!

    Fascinating and captivating; these are two words that first come to mind when describing Blood Bound. I loved the concept of the story. Four friends made a pact when they were kids, not knowing that one of them was a Binder. Now they are bound to each other, and one of them only has to ask and the others are rendered helpless to deny them. Helpless as in their bodies begin systemically shutting down organ by organ until they either fulfill their oath or they die. Some choice .and that's only a fraction of the story. The town is basically divided into two territories. One side is controlled by Jake Tower and the other by Ruben Cavazos. Both are powerful adversaries and they hire the best binders, trackers, seers, shadow travelers and jammers money can buy. I can't imagine living in a world where I should never tell anyone my full name, or avoiding hospitals in order to never leave behind a drop of my blood for fear of being tracked and bound. I struggled a bit in the beginning trying to learn some of the terms in the magical world Rachel Vincent created, but once I got the hang of it, I was sucked in. The POV changes every chapter, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that at first, but I really loved hearing the inner monologue of both lead characters. I do love a male POV and Cam does not disappoint. He is so charming and appealing. He and Liv have perfect chemistry: "I realized that I'd rather die with you than live with someone else." The ending came entirely too soon and left me hanging in a way that has me pining for Shadow Bound (Unbound #2). I look forward to reading more of Rachel Vincent's work!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 13, 2011

    Rachel Vincent does not disappoint!

    This book had me sucked in from the first few pages and kept me there until the very end. I can't wait to read the next one!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 24, 2011

    Great read

    Awesome book

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 17, 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    Raised by Wolves
    Moon Called (Mercy Thompson Series #1)

    Fantastic!!

    A great story line, well written, the characters are gripping, a lot of twists. I didn't want to put it down, and I actually gasped a couple of times.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 5, 2011

    Highly Recommended

    If you love Rachel's Shifter series, you'll love Blood Bound. It has the same twisted and crazy plots set in an entirely different world. It not only has one awesome lead, but two. I loved reading both points of view because it gave me so much more insight into the characters. Definitely an awesome book and I can't wait until Shadow Bound comes out!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 5, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Great first book in a new series

    Wow - I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this first installment. I thought the previous Shifter series by Rachel Vincent was just "ok." This book however was much better. A truly unique plot with interesting characters. Lots of obstacles but nothing that seemed too contrived. I look forward to seeing what happens next for Liv, Cam and the whole group.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted August 31, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Great start to a new series!

    This book was fantastic. My only complaint is that Barnes & Noble has classifed this book as a romance novel. I never understood why Rachel Vincent's Shifter series was considered romance, and perhaps they shelved this book there as it is the same author....Anyway, this book most definitely falls in the urban fantasy category. So for those of you who might be put off of this series because it is categorized as romance, fear not. It is worth the read.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 81 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)