Review of BONDS OF BLOOD & SPIRIT: UNCIVIL WARS

See full issue for 2017 02-27
 

The Rundown

Following on from the intrigue and drama of Book One; Loyalties, Uncivil Wars offers everything you would expect from a sequel, and then some. Loyalties left me hungry for more; more vampires, more wolves, more shape shifters, and more Diego. Uncivil Wars delivers. The story kicks in six months after the escapades of book one. On the surface, everything is going well within the newly formed Pack of shape-shifting wolves and cats, and fledgling vampire Cole. Cole and Angelina are to be wed, as are Regina and Harry. But on the day of the double wedding, everything is thrown into chaos, when Angelina and the newly introduced character Collette are kidnapped. Who kidnapped them and why forces Diego to answer questions about his past. As the story moves on, it appears he has been keeping secrets for many years.

The book is told in the third person, offering multiple character perspectives, however, there are the odd segments which are told in the first person from Diego’s viewpoint, as he looks back on his past and the decisions he has made. I particularly enjoyed how this was done and felt it gave us added insight into Diego’s troubled background. The plot of Uncivil Wars consists of the unweaving of Diegos’s past, and the desperate trek across the country to rescue Angelina and Collette. At first, it seems they have been kidnapped by Flynn’s henchmen as revenge for the events in Loyalties. However, it soon transpires that a far darker force is at play. The ‘Talutha’ are extremely dangerous, monstrous abominations who take pleasure in torturing their victims before eating them.

In many ways, this is a far darker book, which teeters into horror territory. There is less love making than in the first book, which was preferable for this reviewer, but may be a disappointment to those who appreciated the more erotic nature of book one. There are also lots of new characters introduced into this book, including Jake and Selene, and I did occasionally get a little muddled, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the adventure, or my appreciation for the way it is told. As with the first book, I found the strength of the characters drove the story on to its highly dramatic and I have to say, unexpected ending. Questions are left unanswered which leave the reader desperate for more and eager to read the next installment of this darkly, enigmatic series.


The Recommendation

The next instalment in this darkly, enigmatic shape-shifting series, this book picks up six months after Loyalties ended. Everything seems rosy, with Angelina and Cole set to marry alongside Regina and Harry. Events take a dramatic and sinister turn when two of the pack are kidnapped, and Diego and the team have to work out by whom and for what reason. An altogether darker book that the first, Uncivil Wars both unravels the secrets of the past, and potentially blows apart the futures of all involved. A juicy read for anyone who enjoys well-plotted, character driven fantasies.


The Rating Reviewer Rating: 5 Stars

5 Stars (out of 5): Highly recommended. This book did exactly what it set out to do, with originality, style, and maybe even a twist. It stands out next to popular, traditionally published novels in its genre.

The Pros & Cons

Pros: Characterization, Page Turner, Plot, Steamy Romance, Strong World-Building
Cons: Very Long

The Links

More about Bonds of Blood & Spirit: Uncivil Wars on UBR

The Reviewer

Chantelle Atkins

Visit Chantelle Atkins‘s website.
 

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