Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Guardian, #8)

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Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Guardian #8)

by Keri Arthur (Goodreads Author)

4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 · rating details · 6,087 ratings · 245 reviews

In the darkness, demons come out to play . . .
and someone must bring their sins to light.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. N...more

Paperback, 346 pages

Published October 27th 2009 by Dell (first published August 25th 2009)

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Jan 10, 2011 Mersina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mersina by: Heidi

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Apr 12, 2013 Miraphora rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy, vampiri

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. La Arthur è diabolica. Ha chiuso il romanzo precedente lasciandoci un senso di pace: Quinn è tornato nella vita di Riley e una vera e normale relazione è all'orizzonte. Con tutti gli stravolgimenti di trama che ha fatto in 6 romanzi, avrei dovuto aspettarmi che niente poteva rimanere così semplice a lungo.
L'illusione di normalità, in questa serie, sparisce talmente in fretta che non si ha nemmeno il tempo di metabolizzare ogni cambiamento. Un secondo c'è Kellen, sono felici e innamorati, il sec...more La Arthur è diabolica. Ha chiuso il romanzo precedente lasciandoci un senso di pace: Quinn è tornato nella vita di Riley e una vera e normale relazione è all'orizzonte. Con tutti gli stravolgimenti di trama che ha fatto in 6 romanzi, avrei dovuto aspettarmi che niente poteva rimanere così semplice a lungo.
L'illusione di normalità, in questa serie, sparisce talmente in fretta che non si ha nemmeno il tempo di metabolizzare ogni cambiamento. Un secondo c'è Kellen, sono felici e innamorati, il secondo dopo non c'è più. Poi torna Quinn, e sono felici e innamorati, e poi...poi arriva lo stravolgimento che tutti si aspettavano dal primo romanzo: l'anima gemella.
In questo nuovo episodio si riconferma vincente la soluzione narrativa di creare due indagini parallele, entrambe seguite da Riley. Un aspetto mi ha colpita, in questo caso, è che la brutalità degli omicidi aumenta esponenzialmente. Se nei primi romanzi avevamo tutta la questione legata ai laboratori e agli esperimenti che, a dirla tutta, non erano poi così 'orribili', ad ogni nuovo romanzo la Arthur aumenta sempre di più la violenza, estremizzando gli episodi. Dal semplice omicidio, a omicidi multipli con torture, cadaveri smembrati e sangue a litri. E' come se il culmine emotivo si sia sviluppato assieme a quello 'horror'. Più sangue e omicidi brutali, più tensione in tutto il romanzo. In un certo senso questo aspetto mi ha ricordato i romanzi di Anita Blake, anche se non si raggiungono gli stessi livelli di gore.
Le cattive di questo romanzo sono ben due: due streghe che agiscono in due modi diversi, ma con un unico scopo. Ogni loro azione si svolge in modo tale da deviare i sospetti del lettore, perché ci si lascia annebbiare dalle apparenze. Solo alla fine, alla risoluzione degli omicidi, ogni dubbio viene chiarito. Anche se le streghe e la magia in generale non sono elementi nuovi alla serie, la Arthur ha apportato nuove caratteristiche che ampliano di molto il raggio d'azione della magia. Queste due streghe, infatti, possono bloccare i vampiri e addirittura resuscitare i morti.
Altro nuovo elemento della serie, quindi, sono gli zombie. I morti viventi sono dei cattivi tosti da sconfiggere e Riley suda parecchio per riuscire a salvarsi la pelle.
Attorno alle indagini, come al solito, si svolgono le vicende personali di Riley. Il romanzo si apre con lei e con Quinn ormai felicemente coppia fissa. L'intesa sembra non essere diminuita, anzi, i due fanno scintille al minimo tocco. La felicità che sprizzano da tutti i pori non poteva essere per sempre, ovviamente.
A questo punto entra in scena un personaggio già conosciuto: Kye Murphy, ovvero il licantropo che aveva lavorato come guardia del corpo del capobranco dell'ex branco di Riley e Rhoan. La cosa curiosa è che tra i due nasce subito un rapporto di sfida e di antagonismo che va ad alimentare la tipica reazione dei lupi alla luna piena. Se all'inizio entrambi, Riley e Kye, danno la colpa alla luna per la loro crescente attrazione, ad ogni loro incontro - impepati dal pericolo, dal sangue e dall'adrenalina dell'azione - si scopre che la luna c'entra ma neanche tanto. Riley fa molta fatica a resistere al magnetismo del lupo di Kye e anche lui non riesce a trattenersi dal cercare di dominare Riley.
Quando i due cedono, perché non c'era alcun dubbio su questo, arriva la mazzata che tutti temevamo. Kye e Riley sono anime gemelle. Con questa bomba si chiude il romanzo, lasciando il lettore in preda ad una crisi isterica intensa quanto sconvolta. Non è possibile che questo Kye spunti fuori una seconda volta e come niente fosse sconvolga l'equilibrio romantico della serie. Ora il dubbio riguarda il futuro di Quinn e di Riley, e ci si chiede se Kye entrerà a far parte della vita di Riley. Dopotutto, alla fine del romanzo, Kye è tutto fuorché un personaggio negativo.
A questo punto non ho potuto fare altro se non iniziare l'ultimo romanzo uscito, che tra l'altro mi era arrivato il giorno prima di aver finito il settimo.
L'ombra del cuore si apre con una Riley sempre invischiata in indagini, sangue, pezzi di cadaveri e un Quinn sempre più innamorato. Lo schema base della serie si ripropone anche questa volta, mantenendo lo stesso ritmo narrativo e introducendo gli stessi personaggi, ormai vincenti.
Tuttavia la Arthur ha deciso di dare una scossa alla serie, trasformando in pochissimo tempo il personaggio di Kye. Se nel romanzo precedente ero dubbiosa se farmelo piacere o meno, adesso non posso fare altro che seguire i sentimenti di Riley. Kye è uno psicopatico con manie di controllo. Uno stronzo colossale a cui non importa nulla se non il suo lavoro e l'avere potere totale su chi vuole lui. La Arthur, doppiamente diabolica, ha deciso che né Riley né Kye sono felici di quello che il destino ha riservato loro.
Riley non apprezza Kye e Kye non vuole per nessun motivo rimanere soggiogato da qualcosa e da qualcuno su cui non ha controllo. Il risultato è che l'infelicità si mischia in modo velenoso con l'attrazione tanto che Kye girerà la frittata a suo favore, cercando di usare Riley e di dominarla per darsi una parvenza di controllo.
Una situazione già complicata diventa diabolicamente difficile quando, durante le indagini che portano Riley e Kye sempre più vicini, ogni indizio sembra indicare che Kye non è estraneo agli omicidi.
La cosa strana, che mi ha lasciata un po' male, è che Quinn rimane in disparte durante la lotta di potere tra Riley e Kye, come se la Arthur lo avesse messo da parte in modo forzato. In nessun momento si rischia di avere una scenata di gelosia o uno scatto di violenza da parte del vampiro, e ogni volta è Riley, da sola, che deve gestire il suo odio/amore per Kye. La lotta interiore che deve subire arriva a dei livelli altissimi, talmente alti che ad un certo punto ci si chiede se la fine sia vicina. Quinn ha potere nel momento in cui Riley lo usa come scudo contro Kye. Non vuole perderlo e allo stesso modo non vuole coinvolgerlo per non farlo soffrire. E' un Quinn molto più sensibile di come siamo abituati, sempre spietato - certo - ma innamorato e per questo più 'vittima' di quanto lo sia Riley o lo stesso Kye.
Che Kye non fosse un personaggio positivo, l'avevo capito nel momento in cui la Arthur ficca nella testa di Riley odio e fastidio, ma che potesse raggiungere delle vette di bastardaggine tali da rovinare un personaggio fisso della serie proprio non me lo aspettavo. Non volevo una fine del genere, così negativa e cattiva, ma allo stesso tempo sapevo che o succedeva quello che è successo, altrimenti Kye avrebbe rovinato tutto.
Ora sono costretta ad aspettare l'uscita del non romanzo e spero che la tristezza che ha pervaso la fine di questo romanzo sparisca e che si ritorni allo spirito a cui mi ero abituata.
Voto massimo per entrambi i romanzi. Bellissimi, ricchi di emozione di azione e con un personaggio femminile che migliora sempre di più. Cosa si può volere di più?(less)

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Apr 11, 2012 Jilly rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book because I've loved the rest of the series so much that I've been dying for this book. It finally came and I just couldn't wait. Keri Arthur has become one of my favorite authors and I'm thinking of trying some of her other series'.

We don't have too much in the way of a hero. This is about Riley Jensen and her life as a Directorate agent (something like FBI for nonhumans). She's half werewolf and half vampire, which I know you're thinking isn't possible but she explains it. We al...more

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Jan 12, 2011 Ithlilian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Reading Bound to Shadows reminded me of why I loved this series in the first place. The characters are multidimensional, the heroine is likable, and the mystery is compelling. So many series place character drama over plot development, and some of this series has done just that, but not so in this installment. Those of you looking for soul mate angst and Quinn drama will be sorely disappointed. Those of you, like me, who love a good plot, an exciting storyline, and a detailed mystery, will love...more

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Feb 26, 2010 Wanderer ♔ Wanderlust ♔ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, vampires, werewolves, part-of-a-series, nanoreadmo-2009

At the end of the previous book Riley finally finds her soul mate; too bad he's more foe than friend. I thought making Riley's soul mate someone she despises was an interesting twist by Ms. Arthur so I was anxious to see how things would turn out in this book. I thought Riley and Kye would eventually work things out which would cause problems between Riley and Quinn and that would be the big to-do in this book. Instead, the animosity continues to grow between Riley and Kye and they fight against...more At the end of the previous book Riley finally finds her soul mate; too bad he's more foe than friend. I thought making Riley's soul mate someone she despises was an interesting twist by Ms. Arthur so I was anxious to see how things would turn out in this book. I thought Riley and Kye would eventually work things out which would cause problems between Riley and Quinn and that would be the big to-do in this book. Instead, the animosity continues to grow between Riley and Kye and they fight against the soul mate connection while also occasionally giving in to the physical pull of their bodies (hot and hard sex up against the door jamb anyone?).

As for Rhoan, he's already found his soul mate in Leander and is finally taking a big step towards a more committed relationship: he and Leander want to have a baby. Leander's sister is willing to carry the baby and they ask Riley to donate an egg so the baby will be a part of the Jenson clan too. This is a huge deal for Riley because above all else, her heart's desire has been to have a baby. With things that happened to her in the past, she is unable to carry one. I can't wait to see where Ms. Arthur takes this story line.

We also got to see more of Riley's friend Dia, a woman/clone Riley helped in the past, and Dia's daughter Risa. We find out Risa's father was one of the same creatures Quinn used to be before he became a vampire. Dia asks for Quinn's help with mentoring Risa since the young girl's powers are growing every day. Dia is also psychic and Riley goes to her for some advice about her future and the whole soul mate situation. There's also more of Kade, the were-stallion (*snickers*) who has a corral of mares and new colts to look after. Kade is also a co-worker of Riley's and is the funny sidekick type character. It was nice to have Kade and Riley working together on solving the latest crimes.

I have to say I really, really, really disliked Kye. He's a cold-hearted, selfish and cocky son-of-a-bitch with a dash of crazy. At first I thought he would change because of Riley but as things progressed I started to sense something really wasn't right with him. In the end, we found out what he was really up to. I felt sorry that after all this time and hope, this is the soul mate Riley ended up with. I wondered how Ms. Arthur would resolve this horrible situation and what she did was shocking. Not just what happened with Kye (which looking back on the series, I can see it was heading that way) but what happened with Kade. I was not feeling that particular bit at all.

With that said, I can't wait to read book 9 which is the series finale.
(less)

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Nov 29, 2009 Margay rated it 3 of 5 stars

I like to read a wide range of novels, but paranormal is still relatively new to me, meaning I have only been reading it for the past couple of years as opposed to a lifetime of historical and contemporary romances. So I have a long way to go to catch up with this genre that has taken off like wild fire. Everywhere you turn, it seems, is a book with a vampire, a werewolf, or some other fantastical creature as a main character. But in the world of Riley Jenson, all of those characters collide.

Ril...more I like to read a wide range of novels, but paranormal is still relatively new to me, meaning I have only been reading it for the past couple of years as opposed to a lifetime of historical and contemporary romances. So I have a long way to go to catch up with this genre that has taken off like wild fire. Everywhere you turn, it seems, is a book with a vampire, a werewolf, or some other fantastical creature as a main character. But in the world of Riley Jenson, all of those characters collide.

Riley herself is something of an amalgam - part vampire, part werewolf. Tricky enough on its own, but coupled with the fact that she is in love with a vampire, but the soul mate of a werewolf that she professes not to like it’s a nearly impossible situation. However, it’s one that Riley handles with confidence and finesse. She always seems to know how to get herself out of tough situations, even when, in the height of an investigation, a club owner she’s interrogating puts out some highly tempting – and almost impossible to ignore - vibes on her. Somehow, she manages to maintain control, keep her cool, and stay true to the vamp she loves.

Riley doesn’t live in an ordinary world. She lives in a world where vamps not only walk the earth among humans, the humans themselves – or at least a small group of them – offer themselves up as blood donors for the gratification it gives them. They are affectionately referred to as blood whores. In this world, there is an agency called The Directorate that regulates the activity of these vamps; it is their job to keep them under control and to make sure that they don’t run wild through the human population. A detective, Riley works with the agency to solve crimes and in this case, the crimes are somewhat perplexing: Vamps who are found with their heads sawed off and women who showed no visible causes for death. They simply died.

For someone who’s still feeling their way around the paranormal world, this was quite the immersion into that world. It was written in such a way – with the grit of a crime novel and elements of a romance one – that I never questioned what I was reading. I was sucked right in from the first page and became completely wrapped up in the whole story. And although there were some bits that seemed to reference things that had happened in previous books, I was never lost. The bits never slowed down the pace of the book or made me wonder what was going on. They were just a natural part of the book and flowed right into the rest of the story. I really enjoyed this story and the skill with which Ms. Arthur wrote it. I just might have to go back and read all of the others. Fortunately for me, I love to read.(less)

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Nov 02, 2009 Melindeeloo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance-shapeshifters, paranormal-romance-vampire, urban-fantasy

One more book to go, what's next for Riley? ,
Riley and the very much overworked Guardians have their hands full, vamps are losing their heads and women are mysteriously dying in their bedrooms. And if Riley doesn't have enough on her plate, Riley's despicable wolf soul-mate Kye is back in town to threaten Riley's fragile happiness with Quinn.

Bound to Shadow was a page turning read which kept my interest until the very end, but after I finished reading and started really thinking about it, I cam...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

So maybe I’m just bipolar on this series, because the last book was very “meh” to me, but I absolutely loved this one! I stayed up pretty late just to finish it! There were two things I didn’t like though. 1.) Every book in this series has two murder lines that somehow intermingle with one another. Lacking originality! 2.) Kye was not a bad guy! They kept putting him on blast like it was so rough for Riley. Why? Because he’s good looking, a alpha wolf, obviously loves her, wants to be with her a...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Noodle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: top-reads, paranormal-romance

Finally a book in this series that rises above the sex. The last two instalments were definitely making headway in that department, but hadn't yet hit gold.This one did.

Not so much free-loving for half werewolf-half vampire Riley, but a good background story involving a little more than just sex to keep the romantics happy. Plus the obligatory mystery noir to keep the darkest of readers glued to the pages.

I did catch a glance at a couple of reviews that mentioned this time round we didn't get as...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Marcia rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was greatly disappointed with the way this novel ended. I think that Keri could have done so much with this storyline. Granted, it was her inspiration, but I really think she rushed it and just decided to end it the way she did, maybe because it was just easier to do, than to keep the tension going.

Otherwise, the book was alright. I find she repeats a lot... which is ok here and there, but I don't know. We'll see how the next book goes.

I really thought the book was "decent", but it wasn't a...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Suz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr, urban-fantasy

Perhaps its a good thing that the Guardian series is coming to a close soon.

Bound to Shadows left me feeling like Riley Jensen is a complete anti-hero who, after eight books, I simply can not respect or empathize with at all. God knows I've tried.

SPOILER IN NEXT PARAGRAPH!

Early in the book we are confronted with "he shot my brother so I arched my back so he could better access my clit" and it just got more stupid after that. The pity here is that the murder mystery wasn't too bad, but the relat...more

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Nov 04, 2009 Tiffany Danner rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am a big Keri Arthur fan. The man character Riley has shown great development over the stretch of the last 8 books and I have been pleased with where the series is going. This latest release, book 8, is no different than previous books...offering readers a great story, lots of action, and many developments in the romance area of Riley's life.

I loved the emotional issues and decisions Riley is faced with in Bound to Shadows. Arthur makes her character question her actions and not just give in t...more

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Oct 25, 2009 Sophia (FV) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Beheaded vampires are turning up and The Directorate suspects a serial killer is on the loose. Guardian for the Directorate, Riley Jenson, is assigned to the case and in the course of her investigation a second and possibly related case emerges. Human women are being found dead with no clue as to their cause of death. Riley must discover if the two cases are related and find the killer before tensions between the local population, both human and vampire boil over in outrage.

Fate seems to have it...more Beheaded vampires are turning up and The Directorate suspects a serial killer is on the loose. Guardian for the Directorate, Riley Jenson, is assigned to the case and in the course of her investigation a second and possibly related case emerges. Human women are being found dead with no clue as to their cause of death. Riley must discover if the two cases are related and find the killer before tensions between the local population, both human and vampire boil over in outrage.

Fate seems to have it in for Riley and in the midst of the investigation Riley’s fated soul-mate Kye Murphy comes back into her life further complicating her sometimes chaotic personal relationships. Kye is a ruthless mercenary and she wants nothing to do with him, however through her werewolf nature she is bonded to him and finds it nearly impossible to resist him sexually. She is in love with her vampire lover, Quinn, a millennium old vampire who loves her as well. Riley is dual-natured in that she is half vampire and half werewolf and she is torn between her heart (Quinn) and her soul (Kye).

"I might blame the wolf, but the wolf, like the vampire, wasn’t the sum of me.
And if there were two parts of me at war, then it wasn’t the wolf and the vampire, but rather the heart and the soul."

In Keri Arthur’s world of paranormals, werewolves are sexual beings and she makes no apologies for it. They are what they are by nature and she manages to hold true to that. Being the romantic that I am, at times I've found Riley’s nature and promiscuity difficult to reconcile since traditionally in the world of fictional romance, sex and love are mostly one in the same. However I find Riley Jenson’s character remarkably likeable and at her core she is moral, decent, and true to her personal relationships. I’ve managed to move past my preconceived notions of what I expect an urban fantasy/romance heroine to be and embrace all that she is. I think if I lived in Australia, and lived in her fantasy world of paranormals, I’d want to be Riley’s friend.

A paranormal murder mystery based in a well built urban fantasy world, Bound To Shadows (the eight book in the series) is yet another great addition to Keri Arthur’s, Riley Jenson Guardian series.(less)

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Jan 02, 2013 Dustin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, audio-book, fiction, library-borrowed, urban-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 28, 2010 Casta rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first started reading the "Riley Jenson Guardian" series of novels by Keri Arthur, I accepted that the premise is pretty absurd, and it's a little on the implausible side when it comes to Ms. Jenson's extra-curricular activities. (On the other hand, Arthur has written an open plot conceit for their being lots of teh-hawtt-sexx laced into the books, so she hasn't really gone outside the parameters of the context she's created.)

Of the "Riley Jenson" novels, I actually liked this one a bit m...more

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Nov 23, 2009 Susi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-11, paranormals, romance, shifter, vampires

This is the first book I read in this series and if you take a look at the series list at the end of this post you will realize that it is book #8. But I had no problem at all with following the story or with understanding who is who.

The story is about Riley Jenson, she's part vampire, part werewolf and she won my heart with loving coffee more than anything(ok perhaps that's a bit of an exaggerated) and hating cold weather. That's a girl I can sympathize with. Riley is head strong without being...more This is the first book I read in this series and if you take a look at the series list at the end of this post you will realize that it is book #8. But I had no problem at all with following the story or with understanding who is who.

The story is about Riley Jenson, she's part vampire, part werewolf and she won my heart with loving coffee more than anything(ok perhaps that's a bit of an exaggerated) and hating cold weather. That's a girl I can sympathize with. Riley is head strong without being unemotional and she's not perfect, another thing I can really appreciate. She's deep in love with a vampire, the really good looking Quinn but there's a problem she can't ignore: her werewolf soulmate Kye. And I have to admit this man is high on my most hated characters list. But hating the bad is okay in my opinion. The whole time I wanted to scream: "Kill him now or I'll do it myself." But there's a catch: she can't kill him or she might dies too. That's what happens to soulmates and makes a really frustrating situation. She doesn't loves him, he's a total asshole, she can't get rid of him and there is one thing that makes the mess even bigger: As her soulmate he is like a big sexual chocolate cake in her eyes. Not good combination at all.

The werewolves and shifters in this world are all sexually intense to put it nicely. I found it quite amusing to read them banter back and forth. One of my favorite characters was Kade. He's a stallion (yep, you read that one right) and he has a stable (and yep again) of women. OMFG I want to read more about that. Yeah, I know I'm dirty but I love my smut.
I love that Riley's twin brother has a boyfriend and wondered if there is a book just for these too. They are quite a couple and they stole my heart. So sweet together.

The plot is well developed. I felt like Ms. Marple while I read this book, always trying to guess who the murderer is. The story gripped me and I couldn't stop reading. The characters are likable (I'm excluding Kye here) and I loved the way they interacted. I had a problem with one thing at the end, that I really didn't like but I can't tell you what it was because that would be a spoiler. In spite of that one thing (and Kye), I enjoyed reading this book and I hunger to reading more about Riley. So I need the first 7 books. Can you hear my creditcard groaning? (less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Blake16 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

...Il destino deve avercela con te, non trovi?

Stiamo arrivando all’epilogo di questa fantastica serie, che vede come protagonista uno dei personaggi più riusciti del mondo dell’Urban Fantasy e Paranormal Romance messi assieme.
Non ho parole per descrivere quanto mi piaccia Riley Jenson, un personaggio unico, completo, dalla doppia natura che per più di due anni ci ha tenuto compagnia, rilegandoci in poltrona, con il caldo o con il freddo, con la pioggia o con il sole, rendendoci partecipi in pri...more

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Oct 29, 2009 marlene rated it 3 of 5 stars

this is one of those series that i don't think is particularly good but i keep reading to see where some story lines will end up. plus, some of the secondary characters are great.

This one was lacking Rhoane and Liander. they were in it, but not enough for my tatstes. we did get to see a little more Risa and Dia which was redeeming.

After the last book i was dying to see what would happen with Kye. i honestly did not expect it to go this way. we knew he was twisted, but the extent was - wow. witho...more

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Jun 04, 2010 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 02, 2009 Darcy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, 2012, audio-book, listened-to-at-work, shifters, uf, vampires

This was a great book, and poor Riley had a lot to deal with.

She is finally at a place in her life where she is happy with Quinn and they have come to a good understanding. She also is happy with her pack of 4 with Rhoan and Linader. So of course things have to get shaken up. Her first shake up surprisingly comes from Rhoan and Linader, really causing her to think about her life and what is going on, and what she really wants.

Riley's second and more serious shake up comes in the course of her i...more

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Nov 10, 2009 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's hard to like a book when you don't really like the main character: Riley Jenson. All she seems to do (from the 1st book all the way through the 4th book - Dangerous Games) is complain, complain, and COMPLAIN about how she doesn't want to be a Guardian, and how she thinks her lover Quinn is too narrow-minded when he doesn't want her to have sex indiscrimmiantly. "Oh, boo-hoo, my boyfriend doens't want me to have sex with other men!" And the sex scenes are not even that good: there's no real...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal, shifters-weres, vamps

Best one yet! I think I really liked this one because of Riley's intense desire to be with Quinn and only Quinn. She realizes what she has with him is what her vamp soul truely desires. The crime she has to solve in this book was also very interesting. She has a run in with Kye and of course tries to fight her wolf soul in the process. Kye is a prick. He's a ruthless kill for hire and will stop at nothing in regards to controlling Riley. And too, he kills one of my fave characters in this series...more

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Mar 08, 2012 July rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: home-library

My favorite novel in this series yet. I loved how Riley Jenson has really become a settled vamp/wolf as far as her love life is. Until she find out Kye Murphy is her soul mate and he literaly sucks. Only her wolf wants him. As a woman she cannot stand him, as a vamp the man is violent and revolting to her. She wants nothing to do with him. But her case keeps bringing the two of them together.
Kye is a wolf for hire that kill for money no matter if the person is innocent or not. She cannot stand t...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Angela (Reading Angels) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I adore this series! Keri seems to love to torture poor Riley.

In this book Fate throws Riley another twist. Someone/something is beheading vampires. The council is in an uproar and Riley is getting the heat from it. While trying to solve these murders there are women turning up dead, the rooms smell of lust and passion, yet no lover, the only clue is a mirror that has a weird vibe. What supernatural will she have to fit now? And is it linked to the beheadings?

On top of all this Kye, he dangerous...more

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Nov 05, 2010 C rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, urban-fantasy

I didn't like this one quite as much as the last one or two. It didn't have the same complexity, and I think Keri Arthur forgot to explain the purpose of the plot because I'm still not entirely sure why the killer was killing people. I have my suspicions though, so I guess that's good enough.

Quinn seems like a pushover lately, and I don't like that. I like Kye, but I guess between me, Keri Arthur, and Riley, I'm the only one. I thought the ending of this book was pretty perfect, in terms of emot...more

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Feb 06, 2010 Mandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: keri-arthur

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 11, 2011 Grete rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, favorites

A beheaded vampire is found outside a Melbourne vampire club and an already testy Riley is sent in to investigate. As the body count starts rising, Riley has her work cut out for her to find out who, or what, is behind the murders. With civilities between the local vampire and human population breaking down it’s only a matter of time before violence breaks out. Dante Starke, the owner of the club is a vampire with an aura that makes even a Guardian nervous, but Riley has to get answers. Two huma...more A beheaded vampire is found outside a Melbourne vampire club and an already testy Riley is sent in to investigate. As the body count starts rising, Riley has her work cut out for her to find out who, or what, is behind the murders. With civilities between the local vampire and human population breaking down it’s only a matter of time before violence breaks out. Dante Starke, the owner of the club is a vampire with an aura that makes even a Guardian nervous, but Riley has to get answers. Two human women are found dead in their beds, with no discernible cause of death and Riley feels there is somehow a link. How or why is something she has to figure out, even with the distraction of her hated soul-mate Kye making a reappearance.

I’ve hugely enjoyed the previous books in the Riley Jensen Guardian series. They are easy to read, exciting, erotic and action packed yet Bound to Shadows takes it to the next level. The emotions inherent throughout the book seemed more real, more tangible. Fear, rage, lust, love and sorrow and the latter is what got me in the end. It made me cry. Without spoiling anything, the big kick in the gut was something I knew might happen and something I knew had to happen but the way that whole section was written was just perfect, right to the last word.

Riley is definitely up there as one of my favourite urban fantasy heroines. Conflicted often by her half-vampire, half-wolf soul, she tries to do the best she can for each but also stay true to herself. She’s fierce in everything she does whether it’s loving or fighting and while diplomacy might not be her best trait, she achieves what she needs to sometimes at the cost of herself. Brilliantly and consistently written.

I loved that we saw more of Quinn in this book and the bond that is between him and Riley. They are a great foil for each other and while you learn more of his history and how powerful he can be, I sense that there is a lot more to come and it won’t necessarily sit well with Riley.

I still love the interactions with her twin brother Rhoan and his mate Liander, they make a great couple and the big question they ask Riley, something she never thought would be possible brought a tear to my eye.

I can’t really say much more (and I really want to!) without spoiling it so I will just say this; Bound to Shadows – Read it… just read it.

If you are new to the series then get started as this is book 8, Find ‘Full Moon Rising’ and get going!

This review and others can also be read at http://www.bookthing.co.uk (less)

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Apr 21, 2011 J-J newly convert to eReaders rated it 4 of 5 stars

Really loved this series & in a way i'm kinda gutted i'm on the last book. I am hoping that Riley gets her happy ending, god if anyone deserves it she does (please no spoilers thanks) As she says fate & her don't go hand in hand, No more like fate hates her BIG time. In bound to shadows Riley again has to choose between her lover Quinn & her so call soul mate Kye, I never trusted Kye not one little bit. He's shifty & out for himself & himself only He is, his only concern oh &...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Michelle(Chelle) aka Nightshade - Cake Whisperer rated it 4 of 5 stars

*sighs* I can only say that the ending of this book had me in tears. I love Riley Jensen and the series. The story was fantastic as usual but Ms. Arthur.....I am so mad at you right now. That being said I immediately started reading Moon Sworn when I finished this book.

Riley and the Directorate are hunting down bad guys who seem to be beheading Vampires who are Council Members. There is also a side case with young women that are dying of mysterious causes. Riley and her Scooby gang work together...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Victoria rated it 5 of 5 stars

God this series is killing me. Another fantastic read that really upsets me at the end. Not very often a book does that to me. Kind of knew it was going to happen about midway through but had to suck it up because this fantastic series has total realism to it.
Riley is on another case of vampires being killed and Kye once again shows up. He may be her soul mate but they hate each other. This isn't enough to keep the creep from trying to control that which is his. Amazing but Quinn is handling the...more

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About Keri Arthur

Keri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs

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Books by Keri Arthur

Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian, #1)

Dangerous Games (Riley Jenson Guardian, #4)

Tempting Evil (Riley Jenson Guardian, #3)

The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Guardian, #6)

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Quotes from Bound to Shadows

“That's blackmail on top of attempted murder, Kye. I can officially kill you” — 15 people liked it

“Starke, release me or I’ll kick you in the balls.”
And that would hurt, given the current rock-hard state of that area.” — 6 people liked it

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Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Guardian #8)

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