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The Bound Soul (Halcyon #3)

by Joseph Robert Lewis (Goodreads Author)

3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 · rating details · 17 ratings · 7 reviews

A murder in a hotel lobby. A high-speed chase across the entire length of the continent. And a manhunt through the ancient and deadly streets of Alexandria.

Qhora Yupanqui has always feared being alone, and now she is. Exiled from her Incan homeland, deprived of her dashing husband, and separated from her beloved beasts, she must gather her own allies to find a killer and f...more

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Published December 2011 by Joseph Robert Lewis (first published August 21st 2011)

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Nov 08, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Like most I was not fortunate enough to read the first two before this one. Winning it in a Librarything Giveaway it took some time before I got the book and then was able to read it due to my evil email. However, once the book was delivered I found that I was missing something that I would greatly have enjoyed sooner. Normally I am not a steam punk reader. As that genre usually doesn’t fullfill all my needs and leaves me with to many grumpy questions and analogies. However, I was in love as soo...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: african-lit, alternate-history, fantasy, series, steampunk, arc, indie

Really 3.5 out of 5.

I discovered the hidden gem in the steampunk world that is Joseph Robert Lewis’s indie series The Other Earth back when he offered me the first copy in the series for review. The series consists of two trilogies and a set of companion novels. He sent me one of the trilogies for review, and I picked up the fourth book in the series (first in the second trilogy) on one of his frequent 100% off coupon code/giveaway days he has on his site (which you should definitely follow if y...more Really 3.5 out of 5.

I discovered the hidden gem in the steampunk world that is Joseph Robert Lewis’s indie series The Other Earth back when he offered me the first copy in the series for review. The series consists of two trilogies and a set of companion novels. He sent me one of the trilogies for review, and I picked up the fourth book in the series (first in the second trilogy) on one of his frequent 100% off coupon code/giveaway days he has on his site (which you should definitely follow if you’re into the series and want a chance to flesh it out without buying them all at once). All of which is to say, I clearly am a fan of the series. I would certainly hope so. I can’t imagine reading a series beyond book 1 or 2 if you didn’t like it.

In any case, I’ve come to expect two things from Lewis’s writing that make me enjoy it so much: strong world-building and editing and creative stereotype-defining characters. Alas, these weren’t quite so strong in this entry. I think perhaps the book suffers from the classic third book in the trilogy problem that is seen in many many trilogies. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it. I simply found the earlier books to be better.

Part of what I enjoyed about the earlier books was the unique marriages going on, particularly Qhora and Lorenzo’s. They had just finished sorting out their differences, so killing off Enzo felt a bit like an odd choice to me. While I enjoyed the plot of the seireikens and discovering more of the East in this reimagining of the world, I wish that we hadn’t lost the unique pairing of a religious, pacifistish Caucasian man with a fiery, independent Incan woman. I know characters die, but it still took that unique aspect out of the book that I had so enjoyed. In fact, we now verged a bit too close to stereotype, what with a terrorist-style Aegyptian and a revenge-seeking Native.

Similarly, I don’t feel that Aegypt was as creatively built as the other alternate history areas of Marrakesh and Espani. Espani keeps some semblance of its Catholicism with its more conservative culture and following the “three-faced god,” but it still is creative with its vastly different climate of ice and culture that creates. In contrast, Aegypt is still a desert. It is full of undesirables and criminal culture from everywhere. People wear what appears to be the same clothing as one would expect in Egypt today, and women are still oppressed.

In contrast, the fantastical and scientific concepts are still strong. The idea of the seireiken–a sword made from aetherium that steals the soul of those it touches–is a great addition to the world Lewis has built. Similarly, Taziri’s new airship is yet again surprising, in spite of seeing two airships from her before. Another element of fantasy enters that I won’t reveal, because that would ruin the surprise and flair, but that I felt fit in well with the world and was a nice touch. Similarly, the fight scenes are well-written with neither too much description nor too little. Also, although more new characters are added, it never feels overwhelming or hard to keep track of them. Readers with an interest in having differently abled people represented will be pleased to know that one of these new characters is a well-written Little Person.

One other thought, I have to say that I was disappointed in this cover. Qhora does not look like a Native Incan woman to me. She struck me as Caucasian. In fact, it wasn’t until I was reading the book and realized that Turi (the eagle) only rests on Qhora’s arm that I realized this woman is supposed to be her. (Google Image Search “Incan woman” to see what I mean).

Overall then, although this book is not as impressive or thought-provoking as the first two in the series, it still tells an engaging story with lots of action. I’m hopeful that Lewis’s ability demonstrated in the first two books to see multiple possibilities for various cultures and peoples will return to its previous strength in the next books in the series.

Check out my full review. (Link will be live August 6, 2012).(less)

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Sep 01, 2011 Aimeekay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mr. Lewis has done it once again. This novel is the third in his Halcyon series, and it doesn't disappoint. As in the second novel not all the heroes have returned. (Some unfortunately return for far to short a time) Taziri returns once again, with the Halcyon Three no less. Shifrah, the assassin, returns also as well as her ex-lover Salvator, another assassin. This time their adventures take them all the way to Empire of Eran. The skyfire stone is in the ocean, so how come there are assassins...more Mr. Lewis has done it once again. This novel is the third in his Halcyon series, and it doesn't disappoint. As in the second novel not all the heroes have returned. (Some unfortunately return for far to short a time) Taziri returns once again, with the Halcyon Three no less. Shifrah, the assassin, returns also as well as her ex-lover Salvator, another assassin. This time their adventures take them all the way to Empire of Eran. The skyfire stone is in the ocean, so how come there are assassins running all over the place with swords made from its soul stealing metal? Now Qhora needs Taziri's help to find an assassin with an aetherium sword, the only problem is they both need Salvator's money to fund their travels.. The problem is Shifrah and Kenan need the same man to prove their innocence, and if they get in Qhora's way she will kill them too. The real question is can Taziri actually bring this Halcyon home in one piece?
I loved this book just as much as I did the first two in the series. Again if you haven't read either of them, you could still read the third as a stand alone novel and not be lost or utterly confused. (Although after reading this one you will definitely want to read the first two anyway) As with the first two novels every chapter is in a different character's voice, and each chapter moves the story further along. In the third book, like the first and unlike the second, the chapters are again separated into days, which makes the fast pacing of the novel easy to follow. As for the characters they are well rounded and entertaining as well as interesting; the new characters as well as the originals from the previous book.***For those of you planning to read this book regardless of my opinion, the next few lines might be a bit of a spoiler so you might not want to read them****If you become attached to characters that you like, as I do, you might not enjoy the whole basis of the story. since for the story to take place at all one of the main characters from the previous two novels must die. That being said I still think you should read this final book in the trilogy. It is good, even with the loss of the aforementioned main character. The addition of Bastet alone makes up for it and I'm hoping she appears in future Other Earth novels. If you haven't read any of the previous books and are just looking for a good book to read that you can get into and thoroughly enjoy, definitely get this book and the first two in the series you won't regret it.
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Jul 17, 2012 R.L. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternate-history, fiction, fantasy, kindle

This is a very imaginative book, but I found myself tiring of the characters.

Then again, I did sneak a peek at the preview for the next book in the series and it looked kind of interesting.

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Aug 03, 2012 Maria Lawson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Liking this series more and more. Now on to Omar the Immortal.....

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Feb 17, 2012 Andrea rated it 1 of 5 stars

My review: http://hiyokonojinsei.dreamwidth.org/...

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Oct 27, 2012 Willow Webster rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent Book! My new favorite author!

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May 05, 2013 Sophia marked it as to-read

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Shelves: steampunk

Apr 06, 2013 April rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-steam-punk

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Shelves: kindle, steampunk, science-fiction

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Shelves: ebook

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About Joseph Robert Lewis

Joseph Robert Lewis enjoys creating worlds in which history, mythology, and fantasy collide in unpredictable ways. He also likes writing about heroines that his daughters can respect and admire. Joe was born in Annapolis and went to the University of Maryland to study ancient novels, morality plays, and Viking poetry. He lives in Maryland with his wife and children.

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The Bound Soul (Halcyon #3)

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