Co-Review: Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost

Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost

Play with fire, pay the price.

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…

Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both… 

My rating: 

Co-review: 

After buddy reading many books together Stephanie @ Bookfever and I decided to do something different and do a co-review as well. This is based on Novel Ink’s co-discussion post. 

Was there anything that stood out with the storyline to you?

Stephanie:

Well, it was a whole lot better than the previous book, Twice Tempted. I don't know what it was about that book but I really was disappointed with it and especially with Vlad. He was so lame. But this book? It was fantastic and the Vlad I know and love is back, baby!

Christina:

I thought it was so good! After the previous book I was really scared about it being another not so great book, but seemed like it was just a fluke and this book really measured up with the others. Storyline was so great, not one dull moment! Loved how the story evolved and the turns it took.

Have to add this because I saw it as the first good sign to me, previous book I used the joker’s image with “Why so serious?” and early on  in the book, Vlad kills one dressed as the joker all while with a smile on his face. I liked that, almost as if he was getting rid of that Vlad from the previous book and getting back to his old self.

What are your thoughts on Leila and Vlad in the book?

Stephanie:

LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! I must admit I was never a big fan of Leila. I liked her but in the two other books I never really liked her much as a main character but this book was so good that I can say that I actually do love her. Everything she goes through - WOW! And Vlad, he was just fantastic. In this book he was (unlike the previous one) the Vlad I know and love from the Night Huntress books. And together they're just one badass power couple!

Christina:

First off, phew! Vlad in the previous book really pissed me off. He was so grumpy and not at all fun, but luckily in this one he came back- Vlad smiling when he’s killing someone who annoys him then everything is right. Leila continues to surprise me, the things she had to go through, don’t know how she did it.

Thought that their relationship really evolved in this, Vlad realized that he can’t shield her from everything, even though he’ll try, but he also came to terms with having her with him because she can actually help fight his enemies. Also helped make Vlad “good” again and not the grumpy Dracula from before.

What was the best moment of a secondary character?

Stephanie:

Marie a.k.a. Majestic, the vodoo queen of New Orleans. I knew right away when Vlad and Leila were in New Orleans that they were going to visit Marie. I've always loved her character in the Night Huntress series and I loved the little showdown between her and Vlad. It was awesome!

Christina:

Hard one. Marie was there and she’s always so fun and evil and this was no exception. Cat and Bones were there, shortly but they were there, just have to mention that and loved that the usual “hate” from Bones towards Vlad was there, “Why the bloody hell did you bring him here?”.  However Maximus… Honestly at times, just like Vlad and Leila, I wasn’t really sure what side he was on or what he was gonna do. A lot because of the end and the moment him and Vlad has which were so cute and just wanted to tell them to kiss and get it over with. Besides that then this: “Twelve guys, no women, and they’re not allowed to leave?” Maximus’s snort was scornful. “Someone’s got lube.”

What's your favorite quote of the book?

Stephanie:

I'm gonna cheat and pick two quotes. One from Leila and one from Vlad

Leila: “Compromise Lesson One: Pull a dick move, and your dick gets denied. Every woman knew that, and now, so did the vampire sitting next to me.” 

Vlad: “You aren’t just my weakness, Leila.” Vlad drew me next to him, one hand sliding along my jaw while the other caressed my back. “You are my destruction, because if I were to lose you, it would finish me.”

Christina:

“Now that we’ve compared the equivalent of our supernatural dicks, why don’t you answer my question?” Vlad said, tone as cold as the fire had been hot.

What were your thoughts on the ending?

Stephanie:

My thoughts were literally like, LOL! People who have read the book will know why. 

Christina:

Just for the fun of it, I’ll have it like there’s two ends, because there’s the end to what’s going on in the book and what they’re working towards and then there’s the end end which is just a few pages of calm after everything.

The end brought us a surprise that basically has you thinking, well guess it isn’t over yet then, actually surprised me how it all turned out and now just eagerly waiting for the next book.

The end end is epic! Funniest thing ever and a huuuge surprise.

What are your overall thoughts?

Stephanie:

What more can I say than I loved Bound by Flames. Jeaniene Frost really did a good job with this one. Especially since I didn't have much high expectations considering I didn't like the previous book. But everything from the characters to the writing to the plot to the steamy scenes were fantastic. Bring on the next book I say!

Christina:

Overall I loved the book. Vlad was back, Leila continues to be awesome, storyline amazing and as always Frost’s writing is the best. I were hoping for it to be good of course, yet scared it was gonna continue like the last and end up maybe being worse maybe, but happy to say that it wasn’t and that was really a big relief. So after finishing all I could think was phew and awesome.

About the author: 

Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, and the upcoming Broken Destiny series. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to twenty different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

For information on Jeaniene's books, reading the first 20% of each book free, book trailers, deleted scenes, creature mythology, and more, please visit: www.jeanienefrost.com