Promised: An Urban Fantasy

Bound by Shadows #3

by Ann Gimpel

Magic runs strong in me, but power isn't enough. Actually, these days nothing is enough. I've done a fine job alienating everyone who ever cared about me, from the witches in my Coven to the man I love to my wolfie familiar. Mother's familiar left, winging a path to Faery. My wolf made it abundantly clear he'd have gone with her except the familiar bond doesn't allow that level of latitude.
He howled up a storm about being stuck with me, and then quit talking.
Meanwhile, the babe growing within me is equally silent. He misses Damien's soothing voice, mandolin, and Fae love. I'm under a geas to return my son to Faery the second he's born. Ha! They'll have to find me first. No power words in the universe will make me relinquish my boy. Hecate still rattles around in my mind. I'm done with her. If I hadn't allowed her in, I'd still be in Faery with Damien's arms around me.
Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda. Talk is cheap.
Pregnant. Nowhere to call home. No money. Nothing but my magic. Somehow, it will have to carry us through.

Genres: Urban Fantasy

312 pages, Paperback

Published July 3, 2023

About the author

Ann Gimpel is a USA Today bestselling fantasy and romance author. She's also a clinical psychologist with a Jungian bent. Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Her longer books run the gamut from urban fantasy to paranormal romance. She’s published over 75 books to date, with several more contracted for 2019 and beyond.

Reviews

[Deb Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promised is Ann Gimpel's fantastic finale for her Bound by Shadows trilogy. Promised does a great job addressing all of the questions from the first two books, tying up the loose ends, bringing us the epic battles we have been waiting for and finally giving us a HEA we can be happy with. The storyline is fast-paced and very well written; filled with magic and mayhem, witches, dark forces, Fae, Dark Fae, a magical fetus, wonderful familiars, danger, adventure, epic battles, Fae politics and romance. While the story is told through two POVs, Morgan and Damien, I feel that it is really carried by the two familiars, Zeke and Sita, and the unborn baby, Niall. It is heartwarming, how much say they have. It truly brings the story together for me. The characters, including those I just mentioned, are well developed and engaging. While there are all the old ones, many new characters are introduced as well. I love the Dark Fae and their role in ridding the taint within the witches, and during the final battle with Hecate. Overall, the Bound by Shadows trilogy is an excellent read, and Promised is most definitely a perfect finale to that series!

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rcvd an advanced reader copy from booksirens for giving my two cents. We met Morgan in previous books as the daughter of Hecate, who mind speaks to her trying to get Morgan to free her. Morgan has had enough of hecate meddling with her life. She's had a fight with Damien over the baby, and her familiars are mad at her and on top of that she doesn't know what to do anymore. The covens want to destroy her, the Greeks don't want to help with hecate and she's tired of running anf being alone. Back at the halfway house where she stayed previously, she learns the truth of her friend the cook..there's more to him that what meets the eye. Damien wants Morgan in his life, he knows he's been harsh but the lies have made trusting morgan hard. Things have gotten out of hand. The covens have turned evil and Morgan has to stop them bit how? With the help of resources she didn't think was possible, enemies with band together to add aid for thr common good of getting rid of the evil and on top of that Morgan is very much pregnant. Will Morgan and her friends stop the evil or will it make things worse?

[Shai Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished PROMISED and it’s taking me a bit to return to this reality. To me, that is the sign of a really good book. Or in this case, a really good series as the author carefully wound all threads together into a satisfying conclusion.

PROMISED continues the love story between Morgan and Damien. There are still issues trying to merge their worlds as she is a Witch and he is Fae. Oh and her creator doesn’t want Damien around. It makes for a tale that keeps than and the reader on their toes.

Now to the technical stuff. The pacing and editing in the book continues to be on point. The dialogue is well written. The characters are intriguing to the point that I really hope there is a spin off with some of the secondary characters.

There is violence in this tale along with some not so graphic sex scenes so judge your own comfort with that. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys their paranormal romances mixed with a touch of urban fantasy.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Roxie's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Such a Stunning Magical Paranormal Romance series"

The storylines are exciting and so much fun to read! You will love each unique character. This is definitely a five star Plus trilogy!
Morgan is a strong young witch. She is said to be part of a prophecy. One that features Hecate the goddess of witches. This caused Morgan and her wolf familiar Zeke to be cast out of her coven.
Damien is a sexy Fae who falls in love with Morgan.He vows to keep her safe even from Hecate. Whom Morgan discovered is not all she is cracked up to be.
After Morgan's earth mother is killed Morgan also inherited her falcon familiar Sita. The four of them fight to rid the world of dark witches. Then when Morgan discovered she is pregnant with Damien's child things really get heated. As dangers comes at them from all sides!

You will love this exciting, funny, thrilling and so much fun to read trilogy series!

[Marie-claire Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd in a series. Worth buying all.
Ok so I I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily but I hadn't read the first two.

So based on how much I adore this writer I went n got the first two.

Practically inhaled them! For me as a avid, speed reader a series three books in is Quite a joy. I hate waiting too long when I enjoy the characters n storyline.

This is such a series. Buy buy BUY. How awesome that you have to play catchup.

This is the second series I read from this author and based on my enjoyment I promptly searched for the series I missed to continue our Journey together.

Fans of Anne Bishop, Laurel Hamilton and Patricia Briggs? Run my dearies..this is For You.

This is a paranormal book that also happens to be a Love and Adventure story too.

I will be buying this Writers Hardcovers for a place on my bookshelf.

Yes. SHE is that good.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! A fabulous book 3 to the Bound By Shadows Series. I have fingers, toes crossed with whispered words into the fae Gods to please, please let there be more, but I fear this is a trilogy - one I do not want to say good bye too. A page turner that kept me engaged, entertained and delivered a fantastic satisfying ending to the Morgan (Witch) and Damien (Fae) world. It's not the same ol same ol witch and fae story. I highly recommend you read books 1 and 2, come enter the magical world that Ann Gimpel has created. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #Promised:AnUrbanFantasy #BoundyByShadows #AnnGimpel #AnnGimpelBooksLLC #ProfilicWorks

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promised is an extremely well written ending to the "Bound by Shadows" series. With a well rounded cast of characters including the dark fae joining forces with the fae to help defeat Hecate and to finally unite faery once again. Morgan and Damien's story continues with doubt and mistrust, love and forgiveness, magik and mayhem. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series and with a guaranteed HEA I'm sure you will too. I highly recommend this series. I read an Advanced e-copy and am Voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth it getting through book two! This is in a word epic! Lots of action and unexpected surprises and I think we all get the ending we were hoping for that was left in doubt after book two. The characters got their acts together and people listened, the action was awesome. Definitely a wonderful conclusion to this trilogy!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[LizJ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great series!! Such a satisfying ending!! The journey the author takes us on feels so real! It always amazes me how some authors can suck you into a story and take you for a ride along with the characters, Ann Gimpel is such an author! You have to read this series!! Me...I'm going to look for more of her books!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked most about the conclusion of Damien and Morgan's story... their realization that absolute truth is an ideal that can never be actualized. Honesty is in the eye of who tells the story. Morgan's magic and Damien's strength need to combine in order to defeat those that want to destroy. But forgiveness first has to be addressed, and the errors of the past overcome.

[Sissy Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this is a GREAT finish to a series that brought me many wonderful hours of escape in to this magical world! Morgan and Damien's story was a good one that I highly recommend! I think that it was Fantastic!!! I Loved every Page!!! No Spoilers!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rose Mcclain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic:) I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were awesome & this book was a great finish to the series. There is plenty of action & the story has a nice flow to it. I kinda hope some future books tell how they are doing at a later date. I highly recommend this book & series. I got this book as an advanced copy for a review:)

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely ending to a wonderful series. Morgan and Damien have lots to overcome, and make some new friends along the way. I don't want to spoil anything so I cant' say much or I will. I love the Dark Fae, and the familiars, Zeke and Sita.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome finale of Morgan and Damien's story. The storyline was well written and kept me enthralled in the story. Excellent writing and a very satisfying ending. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy. The characters are so likeable and the animal familiars are wonderful. I'm going to miss them all now that I've finished it. If you're looking for an easy-to-read and enjoyable fantasy story this is for you.

[Crystal M. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and entertaining

A well written story with lots of different mythical creatures. All of the books in the trilogy were an excellent read!

[Carrie L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series


I really enjoyed all three books in this series. The characters have depth and grow in each book. I look forward to ready other books by Ann Gimpel.