Published: April 15th 2013
Genre: NA, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 252
Format: Ebook
Source: Free on Amazon
Twenty-two-year-old Aern is done watching his brother destroy the only thing that matters. He never wanted to take Morgan’s place among council, never wanted to rule their hidden world. But when the key to the prophecy is found, a young girl named Brianna whom Morgan will destroy, Aern knows he has to take action.
What he really wants, is for things to go back to normal. But now he’s kidnapped a girl, and his brother’s men are after him. His only hope is to join with the Division, but they have plans of their own, and it’s the last thing Aern is willing to do.
Emily just wants her sister back. She doesn't care about the prophecy, or realize what’s at stake. But when she goes after Aern, the truth of the matter uncoils, and Brianna isn't the only one who’s in danger.
Suddenly, they’re at the center of a secret war, and unless they can work together, they’ll both have a sacrifice too big to make.
WOW. So I am seriously kicking myself for this whole avoiding NA because I think they're all crappy written erotic romance thing. This book, THIS BOOK, is insane. It is so good. Bound by Prophecy is the realisation of every promise New Adult made it the beginning: it's the same as any YA or Adult book, just in a different age bracket. It's not loaded with sex, problematic relationships, flimsy ladies and macho men. It's perf. Let me tell you why.
The fantasy! It's not entirely unique but what Melissa does with it is. The paranormals in this series have the power of sway. Compulsion, control, whatever you wanna control it - they can touch someone and control them. And what does the main villain do with that power? Well he wants to control the whole human race with it. Obviously. It's the MCs job to stop this guy - his brother - before a pretty terrible prophecy comes to pass and the villain causes the enslavement of one species and the end of another.
The characters! Aern, the MC, is a guy. I dig male POVs for some reason. But Aern is the polar opposite of what I expected from NA. I thought he'd be the Extreme Alpha Male, or the Hot Badass, maybe the Tortured Asshole. He's none of these types, none of the bad boy tropes. He's honest and driven and good. He's a genuine good boy, not a bad boy. (and maybe he's pretty badass and super hot but he's not That Guy.) Holy hell I love him. His protective (over-protective?) streak was something I could quickly identify with. I fell hard.
And Emily, the love interest, turned out to be more than just a love interest! It's a New Adult miracle!! She was integral to the plot, a hella strong character, and I thought her distrust of Aern was pretty realistic in the beginning. Even when she began warming to him, it felt natural.
Here's one of my favourite things about Bound by Prophecy: it doesn't force the romance. There isn't a single kiss until the end of the book. Aern and Emily have chemistry, a connection, but there are more important things going on and they know it. I expected at least one obligatory sex scene but when it didn't come I was pretty shocked - NA without sex? Astounding. Who would have thought a NA book could be anything but erotic? (Literally everyone who got excited for the NA age bracket before it blew up with romance.)
My one gripe? The next book is from a different POV and I need MORE of these babies. Hopefully it won't hinder my Absolute Adoration of this series any, since I'm already fair fond of the next MC (and hoping the love interest is Logan, the only guy in this, aside from Aern, I actually trusted.)
I read this in one sitting, in four hours, and I loved it so much I had to get the second book right away. Bound by Prophecy is an instant favourite. BRB getting all Melissa Wright's other books.
Characters ★★★★★
Setting/world building ★★★★☆
Writing ★★★★☆
Come back on Tuesday to read my review of the next book - Shifting Fate!
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