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Dark Days #0.5
Bound to Me
Mira, the heroine of Jocelynn Drake's New York Times bestselling Dark Days series, has been a nightwalker for centuries, traveling the globe as an enforcer for a secretive, powerful organization. In Bound to Me, for the first time, we travel back into Mira's distant past to see the great love affair that shaped her.
87 pages, ebook
First published April 10, 2012
10 people are currently reading
748 people want to read
About the author
Jocelynn Drake
148 books2,904 followersNew York Times Bestselling author Jocelynn Drake loves a good story, whether she is reading it or writing one of her own. Over the years, her stories have allowed her to explore space, talk to dragons, dodge bullets with assassins, hang with vampires, and fall in love again and again.
This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.
When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.
She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.
This former Kentucky girl has moved up, down, and across the U.S. with her husband. Recently, they’ve settled near the Rockies.
When she is not hammering away at her keyboard or curled up with a book, she can be
walking her dog Ace, or playing video games. She loves Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, and fast cars.
She is the author of the urban fantasy books: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. For gay romance, she has completed The Exit Strategy and Shadow Elite series, and is now working on a spin-off of her MM paranormal series, Lords of Discord. She has also co-authored with Rinda Elliot the following series: Unbreakable Bonds, Ward Security, Pineapple Grove, the Weavers Circle. In addition, she has co-authored with AJ Sherwood the following series: Scales 'N' Spell and Wings 'N' Wands. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 10, 2012
*sniff* I love Valerio.
A very nice short story about Valerio and Mira in the past.
It is such a sweet love story and I cannot understand why are they not together at all?
I don't like secretive Valerio.. there are way too much things in his mind and it is still not saying much.
But I love this.
Thank you for the memories, Jocelynn!
Is it too much to ask for more? :P
A very nice short story about Valerio and Mira in the past.
It is such a sweet love story and I cannot understand why are they not together at all?
I don't like secretive Valerio.. there are way too much things in his mind and it is still not saying much.
But I love this.
Thank you for the memories, Jocelynn!
Is it too much to ask for more? :P
March 17, 2012
*Rating* 4.0
*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Review*
Bound to Me is a short novella at 100 pages. The story takes place prior to the Dark Days series. It features Mira as the nightwalker Fire Starter that most vampires fear, while others like her mentor Jabari and her maker Sadira try to control by using mind tricks and brutality against her.
Mira and Valerio traveled across Europe together for over a century searching for entertainment between assignments for the coven. Mira and Valerio were responsible for eliminating dangerous nightwalkers, warlocks, witches and lycanthropes. In this story, they are sent to Madrid to eliminate a powerful warlock that has been killing the nightwalkers there. Naturally, Mira ends up face to face with the one person she hates the most; Sadira.
Mira and Valerio had a steamy love affair for more than a centry that was proven to be more than real when Valerio gave her the ring she wears on her finger. If you've read the series and wondered why Mira wore a ring, you get your answer in this novella.
If you are a Dark Days fan, or have read any of the books in Drake’s series, this should be enjoyable for you as well. This will also whet the appetite for those who love paranormal romances and hot steamy sex.
As an extra incentive to read this book, Drake and Harper Voyager have added two chapers of her upcoming new release called Angel's Ink. Angel's Ink releases October 2012.
*ARC recvd via Edelweiss* Expected publication: April 10th 2012 by Harper Voyager
*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Review*
Bound to Me is a short novella at 100 pages. The story takes place prior to the Dark Days series. It features Mira as the nightwalker Fire Starter that most vampires fear, while others like her mentor Jabari and her maker Sadira try to control by using mind tricks and brutality against her.
Mira and Valerio traveled across Europe together for over a century searching for entertainment between assignments for the coven. Mira and Valerio were responsible for eliminating dangerous nightwalkers, warlocks, witches and lycanthropes. In this story, they are sent to Madrid to eliminate a powerful warlock that has been killing the nightwalkers there. Naturally, Mira ends up face to face with the one person she hates the most; Sadira.
Mira and Valerio had a steamy love affair for more than a centry that was proven to be more than real when Valerio gave her the ring she wears on her finger. If you've read the series and wondered why Mira wore a ring, you get your answer in this novella.
If you are a Dark Days fan, or have read any of the books in Drake’s series, this should be enjoyable for you as well. This will also whet the appetite for those who love paranormal romances and hot steamy sex.
As an extra incentive to read this book, Drake and Harper Voyager have added two chapers of her upcoming new release called Angel's Ink. Angel's Ink releases October 2012.
*ARC recvd via Edelweiss* Expected publication: April 10th 2012 by Harper Voyager
April 11, 2012
Parting from Mira and the Dark Days universe was bittersweet when I finished Burn the Night. It was a great swan song for the series, but I hated letting go of the characters. Now, Jocelynn Drake is giving us one more chance to say goodbye with this small peek into Mira's past.
The story takes place many years before the events of Nightwalker and shows us a little of Mira's relationship with Valerio. Their history was referenced in the novels, but here we see them together firsthand; we get just a taste of what their years together were like.
They were, in a word, HOT. Of course, there will never be anyone but Danaus for Mira in my eyes, but I sure can see why she has a soft spot for Valerio. I'm not really surprised at the sexual nature of their bond, but it was interesting to see that there were deeper feelings there too.
The story also did a lot of foreshadowing about the dynamic between Mira and Jabari. There's a little plot about a warlock killing vampires. But it really only serves as a way to shed light on Jabari's machinations and to help Mira realize the depth of her relationship with Valerio at the time.
I don't know how much this would mean to someone unfamiliar with the series. But it's a great treat for those of us who miss Mira and her world already. 4 stars.
*ARC provided by Avon
The story takes place many years before the events of Nightwalker and shows us a little of Mira's relationship with Valerio. Their history was referenced in the novels, but here we see them together firsthand; we get just a taste of what their years together were like.
They were, in a word, HOT. Of course, there will never be anyone but Danaus for Mira in my eyes, but I sure can see why she has a soft spot for Valerio. I'm not really surprised at the sexual nature of their bond, but it was interesting to see that there were deeper feelings there too.
The story also did a lot of foreshadowing about the dynamic between Mira and Jabari. There's a little plot about a warlock killing vampires. But it really only serves as a way to shed light on Jabari's machinations and to help Mira realize the depth of her relationship with Valerio at the time.
I don't know how much this would mean to someone unfamiliar with the series. But it's a great treat for those of us who miss Mira and her world already. 4 stars.
*ARC provided by Avon
January 17, 2013
This was a good addition to the "Dark Days" series by Jocelynn Drake. This little novella gave us some slight insight to the relationship between Mira & Valerio. The story was short but it really packed a punch. It was a very quick read and the story was interesting. This novella is one of the reason why I like Ms. Drake's writing style. Her stories are engaging and the characters are really fleshed-out and interesting. She first captured my attention with a short story in an anthology book. The one thing I will say about this book is that I wish the story centered more around Valerio's back story. He's a very captivating vampire and I would have loved to know more about him. It did explain a lot about his and Mira's relationship. There was a sweet and very sexy element to their dynamic story. If you are fan of this series and have not read it yet, pick this one up.
April 11, 2012
Thank you, Jocelynn, for listening to your crazy fans and giving us what we begged for; a look at Mira and Valerio's life together. It was worth the wait and I loved it. Review to come.
April 9, 2012
Originally posted at PaperbackDolls.com
I’m pretty sure my squees of excitement could be heard blocks away at the invite sitting prettily there in my inbox. I actually had no idea that there was a story in the works from Jocelynn Drake, but I’m so glad to have been selected to read an early copy, because quite frankly, I’ve been missing this series something fierce since it’s ending in Burn the Night last year.
For those of you who don’t know, Bound to Me is a short novella of only 100 pages set a couple centuries before Mira’s adventures in the Dark Days series. Available only in ebook from HarperCollins, fans will get one more look back into the past of the Fire Starter.
Finally, we get to see just what it was about one of my favorite sub-characters. I always wondered just what it was that kept Mira looking so fondly towards Valerio, besides his smoking good looks. Caught up in a love affair, Mira travels with Valerio to track down her own kind, among others, and deliver death as the enforcer for the Coven. Though, this arrangement is not without its entertainment as the pair of them travel throughout Europe leaving death in their wake.
In this short, Valerio and Mira go to the home of her maker Sadira, Madrid, to track down a Warlock murdering vampires, but while they’re there, Mira uncovers the real truth behind the Covens request.
Appealing to both new comers to the Dark Days series and longtime readers alike, Bound to Me, is a perfect addition to the rich world Jocelynn Drake has created. While I was both completely heart broken and thrilled that Ms. Drake ended the series when she did, I must admit that visiting Mira again has been nothing less than fabulous.
ETA: Bound to Me will becoming to paperback May 1, 2012: Amazon
I’m pretty sure my squees of excitement could be heard blocks away at the invite sitting prettily there in my inbox. I actually had no idea that there was a story in the works from Jocelynn Drake, but I’m so glad to have been selected to read an early copy, because quite frankly, I’ve been missing this series something fierce since it’s ending in Burn the Night last year.
For those of you who don’t know, Bound to Me is a short novella of only 100 pages set a couple centuries before Mira’s adventures in the Dark Days series. Available only in ebook from HarperCollins, fans will get one more look back into the past of the Fire Starter.
Finally, we get to see just what it was about one of my favorite sub-characters. I always wondered just what it was that kept Mira looking so fondly towards Valerio, besides his smoking good looks. Caught up in a love affair, Mira travels with Valerio to track down her own kind, among others, and deliver death as the enforcer for the Coven. Though, this arrangement is not without its entertainment as the pair of them travel throughout Europe leaving death in their wake.
In this short, Valerio and Mira go to the home of her maker Sadira, Madrid, to track down a Warlock murdering vampires, but while they’re there, Mira uncovers the real truth behind the Covens request.
Appealing to both new comers to the Dark Days series and longtime readers alike, Bound to Me, is a perfect addition to the rich world Jocelynn Drake has created. While I was both completely heart broken and thrilled that Ms. Drake ended the series when she did, I must admit that visiting Mira again has been nothing less than fabulous.
ETA: Bound to Me will becoming to paperback May 1, 2012: Amazon
August 4, 2016
This was only a very thin book, a prequel to the series, and I think one of those prequels you should read when you have read one or a few of the full length books and now and like the main characters already. For me to start with this one; was just not good. I had a hard time getting into the story, and understand what was happening. It started out with Mira and her boyfriend Valerio getting some innocent young people into trouble in London. Before they can finish their evening of mischief, they are called back to Venice, where the vampire headquarters are located. Valerio can fly that distance with Mira safely wrapped in his arms. They are then given a very dangerous mission, and apparently, it was devised to find out Mira’s loyalties, with no regards to other vampires lives at all. Or to Mira herself.
So with this booklet, I find myself in no hurry at all to start the series. But I did buy both Jocelynn Drake’s series, so I will just start with the other one, and if I like her writing style well enough, I will read the Dark Days series eventually.
5 stars out of 10.
So with this booklet, I find myself in no hurry at all to start the series. But I did buy both Jocelynn Drake’s series, so I will just start with the other one, and if I like her writing style well enough, I will read the Dark Days series eventually.
5 stars out of 10.
© 2014 Reviews by Aurian
April 14, 2012
Great to be back in the Dark Days world.
Loved reading of Mira's past. Wonderful peek into her relationship with Valerio. Also shed more light onto the games between Jabari and Sadira.
I recommend for all who have read the novels!
Loved reading of Mira's past. Wonderful peek into her relationship with Valerio. Also shed more light onto the games between Jabari and Sadira.
I recommend for all who have read the novels!
April 13, 2012
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies: http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artm...
April 10, 2012
Valerio still doesn't match anything to Danaus, but I loved seeing Valerio and Mira's past history. Short story yes, but it was still very good.
November 4, 2018
Mira aka Fire Starter: young Dark One (only a couple hundred years); her maker abused her for a hundred years, until rescued by Jabari; she can control fires, and most Dark Ones are afraid of her; companion/lover of Valerio;
Valerio: 1,000+ year old Dark One; an Enforcer – to control Dark Ones, and to keep Dark Ones a secret from humans;
Jabari: one of the five Council; protector/trainer of Mira; mind control/mind wipe; what is his true motivation where Mira is concerned;
Sadira: powerful; manipulative; made Mira, wants control of her power; a degree of mind control over her, and others to torture her, and watched –
An Introduction to these characters… Mira and Valerio are lovers, he appreciates he love of life, her joy in things… though they tell us that there is no forever for such long lived creatures, but there is a long lasting love… hmmm, how will this look in future books…
Story begins with Mira at a ball (1700’s), flirting with a young Lord – enticing him into the gardens, where she takes his blood until he passes out – and then Valerio is there, having done the same with a young lady – and they stage them entwined in one another – where they will be found and compromised, their lives changed forever…
Then they are sent to Madrid to remove a warlock who is killing Dark Ones… and it ends up to be Jabari testing Mira… she passes (leaving the haven/mind control of Sadira), rescuing Valerio, killing the warlock…
She returns to Venice to confront Jabari – who enters her mind, removes her memories… and she knows Valerio know more of what has happened, but cannot tell her, cannot protect her… but they are together for now…
:
Valerio: 1,000+ year old Dark One; an Enforcer – to control Dark Ones, and to keep Dark Ones a secret from humans;
Jabari: one of the five Council; protector/trainer of Mira; mind control/mind wipe; what is his true motivation where Mira is concerned;
Sadira: powerful; manipulative; made Mira, wants control of her power; a degree of mind control over her, and others to torture her, and watched –
An Introduction to these characters… Mira and Valerio are lovers, he appreciates he love of life, her joy in things… though they tell us that there is no forever for such long lived creatures, but there is a long lasting love… hmmm, how will this look in future books…
Story begins with Mira at a ball (1700’s), flirting with a young Lord – enticing him into the gardens, where she takes his blood until he passes out – and then Valerio is there, having done the same with a young lady – and they stage them entwined in one another – where they will be found and compromised, their lives changed forever…
Then they are sent to Madrid to remove a warlock who is killing Dark Ones… and it ends up to be Jabari testing Mira… she passes (leaving the haven/mind control of Sadira), rescuing Valerio, killing the warlock…
She returns to Venice to confront Jabari – who enters her mind, removes her memories… and she knows Valerio know more of what has happened, but cannot tell her, cannot protect her… but they are together for now…
:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2017
Complete story arc
It seems rarer these that that a novella has a complete story arc... So many are "but the next book" teasers. This is an excellent stand alone that is enhanced by knowing more of the full series, but is a satisfying story on it's own. And, hey, it still makes you want to read more! Shows what a skilled author with integrity can do.
It seems rarer these that that a novella has a complete story arc... So many are "but the next book" teasers. This is an excellent stand alone that is enhanced by knowing more of the full series, but is a satisfying story on it's own. And, hey, it still makes you want to read more! Shows what a skilled author with integrity can do.
December 14, 2023
I was totally unable to enjoy this book. I didn't relate to the characters, I didn't even LIKE them. I was bored and icked out by the main characters, not my thing. I see I read .6 some years ago and it took me forever to actually read. I wasn't impressed with that one either, so I give up. Moving on.
December 27, 2019
It was good but wish for more
December 4, 2021
I thought this series was pretty interesting and original but it did seem to go on a little long. I enjoyed the whole series.
August 2, 2020
An interesting read where you get to see the character in a different light before the time of the books
It was nice to see a different side to her as she seemed more softer and showed her emotions
It was nice to see a different side to her as she seemed more softer and showed her emotions
November 23, 2017
This review is courtesy of BTH Reviews
I own a paperback copy of the novella "Bound to Me." I read this because I wanted to start the series over from the beginning.
"Bound to Me" was an enjoyable read. I plan to re-read Nightwalker and continue with this series.
The story is about Mira and Valerio in the 19th century. It's set in London, then Spain. The author tells the story from Mira's first person point of view, past tense.
In "Bound to Me," Mira has to figure out who or what is killing nightwalkers in her maker's territory. She doesn't want to go there because she doesn't want to see her maker.
The Positives
The descriptions were very clear and easy to visualize. I felt like I was seeing everything in my head exactly the way it was happening. Jocelynn Drake excels at writing action scenes.
I also thought the characterization was good for a novella. Early on, I learned enough about Mira and Valerio to care about what happened to them.
The Negatives
Mira notices things that people wouldn't normally notice about themselves or comment on. It's a point of view problem, resulting from the story being told in first person. For example, she comments on the "long expanse of my legs." Who would say that about themselves? Either Mira is extremely vain or the author wants us to know her legs are long. It makes me conscious of the author because I have to wonder about these things. The leg quote isn't the only time Mira did this.
clarification...
It's just like if I said to you, "I brushed my wavy, brown hair this morning." If you already know me, I don't need to tell you what my hair is like. If you don't already know me, you probably wouldn't care anyway, unless it has some bearing on the conversation. So, it's unlikely that I would even mention what my hair looks like, unless it is totally different from before. Telling you about it stands out, because it's like I want you to know this not-so-important detail. Which begs the question: why do I want you to know? The answer to that question in a story is obvious: the author is trying to put a picture of the character into your mind. That's not problematic, in itself. It's only when the character is commenting on it in an unnatural or awkward way that it's a problem. If Mira wanted us to know her legs were long, for whatever reason, she probably wouldn't phrase it like she did. That, to me, is the author talking, not the character.
anyway...
There is also inconsistency about whether Mira loves Valerio. On page 20, she says, "feared that deeper feelings were starting to form." On page 29, she says, "for all the love that I felt for him." Either she's starting to have feelings or already loves him. Which is it?
I felt like there was a gap between this story and the first book in the series. What happens to Valerio? I am going to have to read Nightwalker again soon to see if I am forgetting something. Even the other prequel doesn't help my understanding of his story.
Recommended?
Yes. "Bound to Me" was fun to read. It mixes some romance with lots of violence and danger. It's worth reading if you haven't already. Although I didn't like how the character made strange observations about herself, which made me overly aware of the author, I did enjoy the plot, pace, and characterization.
5/5 Stars (A)
I own a paperback copy of the novella "Bound to Me." I read this because I wanted to start the series over from the beginning.
"Bound to Me" was an enjoyable read. I plan to re-read Nightwalker and continue with this series.
The story is about Mira and Valerio in the 19th century. It's set in London, then Spain. The author tells the story from Mira's first person point of view, past tense.
In "Bound to Me," Mira has to figure out who or what is killing nightwalkers in her maker's territory. She doesn't want to go there because she doesn't want to see her maker.
The Positives
The descriptions were very clear and easy to visualize. I felt like I was seeing everything in my head exactly the way it was happening. Jocelynn Drake excels at writing action scenes.
I also thought the characterization was good for a novella. Early on, I learned enough about Mira and Valerio to care about what happened to them.
The Negatives
Mira notices things that people wouldn't normally notice about themselves or comment on. It's a point of view problem, resulting from the story being told in first person. For example, she comments on the "long expanse of my legs." Who would say that about themselves? Either Mira is extremely vain or the author wants us to know her legs are long. It makes me conscious of the author because I have to wonder about these things. The leg quote isn't the only time Mira did this.
clarification...
It's just like if I said to you, "I brushed my wavy, brown hair this morning." If you already know me, I don't need to tell you what my hair is like. If you don't already know me, you probably wouldn't care anyway, unless it has some bearing on the conversation. So, it's unlikely that I would even mention what my hair looks like, unless it is totally different from before. Telling you about it stands out, because it's like I want you to know this not-so-important detail. Which begs the question: why do I want you to know? The answer to that question in a story is obvious: the author is trying to put a picture of the character into your mind. That's not problematic, in itself. It's only when the character is commenting on it in an unnatural or awkward way that it's a problem. If Mira wanted us to know her legs were long, for whatever reason, she probably wouldn't phrase it like she did. That, to me, is the author talking, not the character.
anyway...
There is also inconsistency about whether Mira loves Valerio. On page 20, she says, "feared that deeper feelings were starting to form." On page 29, she says, "for all the love that I felt for him." Either she's starting to have feelings or already loves him. Which is it?
I felt like there was a gap between this story and the first book in the series. What happens to Valerio? I am going to have to read Nightwalker again soon to see if I am forgetting something. Even the other prequel doesn't help my understanding of his story.
Recommended?
Yes. "Bound to Me" was fun to read. It mixes some romance with lots of violence and danger. It's worth reading if you haven't already. Although I didn't like how the character made strange observations about herself, which made me overly aware of the author, I did enjoy the plot, pace, and characterization.
5/5 Stars (A)
May 9, 2012
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2012/05/review-...
Favorite Quote: “You are bound to me. Not because I am your maker. Not because I have the power to control you. You are bound to me by love. Time will pass and we will drift apart, as all our kind does, but we will forever have our hearts bound to each other by deep love and respect.”
Mira, the heroine of Jocelynn Drake’s New York Times bestselling Dark Days series, has been a nightwalker for centuries, traveling the globe as an enforcer for a secretive, powerful organization. In Bound to Me, for the first time, we travel back into Mira’s distant past to see the great love affair that shaped her. (Goodreads)
I am a long time fan of Ms. Drakes Nightwalker series. After Burn The Night released, I wasn’t expecting to see anymore of my beloved Mira and was thrilled when I was offered this novella, Bound To Me, which talks of Mira’s younger days and her Valerio. While we only caught bits and pieces of Mira’s complicated relationship with him through the series, we always knew in the back of our minds that theirs was a love affair that affected Mira to the point where she never removed a small silver ring that he gave her many years ago.
The novella starts out with Mira and Valero playing subtle power games with mortals while enforcing the laws of the coven in London. Mira soon learns when she and Valero are summoned back to the coven that she was under strict orders not to set foot in London, something that Valero neglected to tell her. As she awaits her punishment from her mentor, Jabari, she is informed that she and Valero will travel to Madrid and see what is killing nightwalkers there. Mira has no urge to go to Madrid as it is the home of her maker, Sadira, whom she left years ago. Once Mira and Valero arrive in Madrid, they soon realize that once again Jabari is once again playing games with Mira’s life and destiny.
Ms. Drake does a wonderful job of showing a younger more playful Mira of the past and the beginning events that led to her disillusionment towards her mentor and the entire coven. I enjoyed not only seeing more of Mira and a small but indulgent mystery, but also the smoking hot relationship with Valero. We always knew it was a sexual one but seeing evidence of the deeper feelings they felt for one another explains much about the Mira we grew to love in the full series.
Bound To Me will appeal to both old readers and those just discovering the series. I am sad the series has ended but thrilled Ms. Drake gives us one last goodbye.
Overall Rating: B
Favorite Quote: “You are bound to me. Not because I am your maker. Not because I have the power to control you. You are bound to me by love. Time will pass and we will drift apart, as all our kind does, but we will forever have our hearts bound to each other by deep love and respect.”
Mira, the heroine of Jocelynn Drake’s New York Times bestselling Dark Days series, has been a nightwalker for centuries, traveling the globe as an enforcer for a secretive, powerful organization. In Bound to Me, for the first time, we travel back into Mira’s distant past to see the great love affair that shaped her. (Goodreads)
I am a long time fan of Ms. Drakes Nightwalker series. After Burn The Night released, I wasn’t expecting to see anymore of my beloved Mira and was thrilled when I was offered this novella, Bound To Me, which talks of Mira’s younger days and her Valerio. While we only caught bits and pieces of Mira’s complicated relationship with him through the series, we always knew in the back of our minds that theirs was a love affair that affected Mira to the point where she never removed a small silver ring that he gave her many years ago.
The novella starts out with Mira and Valero playing subtle power games with mortals while enforcing the laws of the coven in London. Mira soon learns when she and Valero are summoned back to the coven that she was under strict orders not to set foot in London, something that Valero neglected to tell her. As she awaits her punishment from her mentor, Jabari, she is informed that she and Valero will travel to Madrid and see what is killing nightwalkers there. Mira has no urge to go to Madrid as it is the home of her maker, Sadira, whom she left years ago. Once Mira and Valero arrive in Madrid, they soon realize that once again Jabari is once again playing games with Mira’s life and destiny.
Ms. Drake does a wonderful job of showing a younger more playful Mira of the past and the beginning events that led to her disillusionment towards her mentor and the entire coven. I enjoyed not only seeing more of Mira and a small but indulgent mystery, but also the smoking hot relationship with Valero. We always knew it was a sexual one but seeing evidence of the deeper feelings they felt for one another explains much about the Mira we grew to love in the full series.
Bound To Me will appeal to both old readers and those just discovering the series. I am sad the series has ended but thrilled Ms. Drake gives us one last goodbye.
Overall Rating: B
February 2, 2017
Kat Mandu says...
In the introductory short story, Bound To Me, author Jocelynn Drake takes us back into Mira’s distant past. Here we meet a much younger Mira, and although she still has the same fiery spirit, she’s less guarded with those that romantically touch her heart.
Oh, Mira, how long it’s been since I’ve read your many adventures. As you may have guessed, Mira is a vampire who has lived for centuries. This sassy vamp has earned herself a reputation, especially since she’s able to control fire, which is an element most vampires fear. I love the Fire Starter’s temper and strength, not to mention her insatiable lust and the respect she both has and gains from her fellow Nightwalkers.
The story line of Bound to Me was great, as I had always slightly wondered about Valerio and his love affair with her before the start of the Dark Days series. He’s in quite a few of the books and although he’s not particularly her lover, they do share some fond memories and sinful scenes. I was not let down by this story.
Jocelynn Drake has such a beautiful writing style. The best way I can describe it is like melted chocolate – smooth, flowing, rich, and decadent. It is enticing and seductive and just so detailed that readers can picture everything that is happening. It’s one of the first things that drew me in about this series. It’s just such a lush visual after each and every page.
In the introductory short story, Bound To Me, author Jocelynn Drake takes us back into Mira’s distant past. Here we meet a much younger Mira, and although she still has the same fiery spirit, she’s less guarded with those that romantically touch her heart.
Oh, Mira, how long it’s been since I’ve read your many adventures. As you may have guessed, Mira is a vampire who has lived for centuries. This sassy vamp has earned herself a reputation, especially since she’s able to control fire, which is an element most vampires fear. I love the Fire Starter’s temper and strength, not to mention her insatiable lust and the respect she both has and gains from her fellow Nightwalkers.
The story line of Bound to Me was great, as I had always slightly wondered about Valerio and his love affair with her before the start of the Dark Days series. He’s in quite a few of the books and although he’s not particularly her lover, they do share some fond memories and sinful scenes. I was not let down by this story.
Jocelynn Drake has such a beautiful writing style. The best way I can describe it is like melted chocolate – smooth, flowing, rich, and decadent. It is enticing and seductive and just so detailed that readers can picture everything that is happening. It’s one of the first things that drew me in about this series. It’s just such a lush visual after each and every page.
May 31, 2012
Full review at Talk Supe
This is my first Jocelynn Drake story and I haven't heard of this series or any of the characters so I can't make any comparisons or references to her novels. With that said, this Dark Days story was enough to whet my appetite for the series. This novella is the Mira and Valerio's love story or at least it provides a snippet of their shared past.
As per Ms. Drake's note, this novella came to be because her fans requested that she writes something about Mira and Valerios. The fan mail might have been massive for her to finally indulge her followers. Not only that, it's a good indication that there is so much going on in the "present" to warrant such a request. Which makes me wonder, who is Danaus and what is Mira and Valerios relationship now? If Mira and Valerios are kaput, why is she still wearing his ring and what does her current beau feel about it?
This is my first Jocelynn Drake story and I haven't heard of this series or any of the characters so I can't make any comparisons or references to her novels. With that said, this Dark Days story was enough to whet my appetite for the series. This novella is the Mira and Valerio's love story or at least it provides a snippet of their shared past.
As per Ms. Drake's note, this novella came to be because her fans requested that she writes something about Mira and Valerios. The fan mail might have been massive for her to finally indulge her followers. Not only that, it's a good indication that there is so much going on in the "present" to warrant such a request. Which makes me wonder, who is Danaus and what is Mira and Valerios relationship now? If Mira and Valerios are kaput, why is she still wearing his ring and what does her current beau feel about it?
September 24, 2013
I read this prequel with the idea if I liked the story, I would continue to the series. I liked some of it and have decided to not go forward with the series. I love this author, but I think this particular series is a little too dark for me. There's one thing that bugs me ... I read a lot of vampire books and I love them all, but I don't recall reading one where the H/h took such delight in the kill. In most books, they kill to survive, but they don't revel in the blood as much as these two do. I'm sure if I read the series, I would get accustomed to their way of thinking and perhaps, at some point, understand their warped minds, but personally, I don't want to accept their way of thinking or understand them. There are way too many books out there for me that have a positive influence and I don't need this one. I will continue with her other books, but this series just isn't for me.
December 2, 2013
Jocelynn Drake has such a beautiful writing style. The best way I can describe it is like melted chocolate - smooth, flowing, rich, and decadent. It is enticing and seductive and just so detailed that readers can picture everything that is happening.
Oh, Mira, how long it's been since I've read your many adventures. I love the Fire Starter's temper and strength. Her will for lust and respect among her fellow Nightwalkers. This story line was great, as I had always slightly wondered about Valerio and his affair with her before the start of the Dark Days series. I was not let down by this story.
Oh, Mira, how long it's been since I've read your many adventures. I love the Fire Starter's temper and strength. Her will for lust and respect among her fellow Nightwalkers. This story line was great, as I had always slightly wondered about Valerio and his affair with her before the start of the Dark Days series. I was not let down by this story.
February 12, 2013
This was literally perfect. I wish this would have been a full length novel. When I saw this novella, I actually squealed and immediately went and bought it. I had wanted a peak into Valerio and Mira's past, because I just loved the two of them so much, so this was such a gift. I loved Mira and Valerio together, I think they were perfect for each other and honestly would have preferred him to Danaus as the main love interest. As I said, this was perfect and I just adore the author so much for making it. /gushing over
March 31, 2013
This is a prequel short story for the Dark Days series. It shows Mira and Valerio when they were an item a couple hundred years ago, during the time when Jabari was using Mira as his personal enforcer. You see Mira and Valerio in London playing games with the noble class, then in front of the coven, then in Madrid where Mira's hated creator lives. In Madrid, she and Valerio take on a very powerful warlock. This short story adds some personal history to Mira's deep faith in and friendship with Valerio.
June 13, 2013
Reading this...just made me want to read an entire book involving Mira and Valerio's exploits. If ever there was a reason for Jocelynn Drake to return to writing the Dark Days books, this short story is it and should be the jumping off point. If you've already read the Dark Days series, you'll enjoy this novella. If you haven't read it, it's still an entertaining short story. Side note: it very cleverly attached a two chapter preview of Drake's new series to the back of this novella and...I will say I'm definitely intrigued by it.
May 5, 2021
Relectura.
Para mí siguen siendo 4 estrellas.
En su momento me encantó añadir al universo de Dark Days esta historia. Me provocó sentimientos encontrados pero desde luego, me encantó. Si quieres saber algo más del pasado de Mira y Valerio es una lectura imprescindible. Demasiado corta para mi gusto, te deja con la miel en los labios, pero más vale eso que nada.
Un poquito de dolor por lo de siempre. Que se mencione de esa manera Madrid y España. En fin... Corramos un estúpido velo 🙄
Para mí siguen siendo 4 estrellas.
En su momento me encantó añadir al universo de Dark Days esta historia. Me provocó sentimientos encontrados pero desde luego, me encantó. Si quieres saber algo más del pasado de Mira y Valerio es una lectura imprescindible. Demasiado corta para mi gusto, te deja con la miel en los labios, pero más vale eso que nada.
Un poquito de dolor por lo de siempre. Que se mencione de esa manera Madrid y España. En fin... Corramos un estúpido velo 🙄
May 17, 2012
I like this novella better than "The Dead, the Damned and the Forgotten". This novella felt more fleshed out than the previous novella. The story was a complete mission for Mira and Valerio and again you get to see a different side of Mira. There is a two chapter preview of Angel's Ink, Jocelynn's next series.
May 21, 2013
My Rating System
3 stars - A good book that I enjoyed reading
4 stars – Struck a chord with me, made me think or question
5 stars – Something about the book haunted me or stayed with me long after I finished it. Unforgettable.
This gave insight into Mira's background. Not a 'must read,' but in order to get the full experience, it certainly helps.
3 stars - A good book that I enjoyed reading
4 stars – Struck a chord with me, made me think or question
5 stars – Something about the book haunted me or stayed with me long after I finished it. Unforgettable.
This gave insight into Mira's background. Not a 'must read,' but in order to get the full experience, it certainly helps.
October 1, 2014
This short prequel novella to the Dark Days series gives us a glimpse of a time in Mira's life which the series itself never got the opportunity to explore: her long relationship with Valerio. A great addition to the wonderful universe Jocelynn Drake created, I really enjoyed meeting these characters again and getting some more insight into their backgrounds.
April 29, 2012
I loved this short story. I love Mira and I was always fond of Valerio. It was so nice to see the connection that they had with each other. Great story and definite read if you have read the other nightwalker books.
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