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renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
4.5
4,5 stars
All I can said is....what a ride... what an emotional roller coaster ride! The book start with a BANG and end with a BOOM. Warning first, its kinda end in cliffhanger of sort and this book can't be read as stand alone. Better to start with the first book, Kindling the Moon.
CW/TW first, contain very detailed graphic violence. Your mileage may varies, but consider I've warned you :P.
What I said with the book start with a bang, it's quite literal. Something malice make Earthbounds demon's knack (aka supernatural ability) amped up, and its come to Arcadia "Cady" Bell, sassy magician, and her Earthbound boyfriend, Lon Butler to solve it. But what make Binding the Shadow for me is way way better compared to the two previous installation is I feel that Bennett already find her writing tempo and ho boy, she didn't give Cady a rest. Problem after problem come to our girl, it make me feel almost sorry for her. But, despite all her predicaments, Cady still going forward. Sure she have her mental breakdown, but I like that its make her feel humane. I mean, you can't go all badass and asskickin' everyone. Human have limits, and so do Cady. Cady is not sure of what she is -with her Moonchild ability- and to add cherry on top of her problem her mothers might be alive and want to continue her megalomaniac plot.
The family drama with Lon's in laws might be too drama for some, but I quite surprised to see that I kinda enjoyed it. It's not that I liked to see Cady squirming when she met Lon's mother in laws from his previous marriage with his ex, Yvonne, but what I like is the dynamic. Rose sure can be intimidating, but I'm glad her other daughter, Adella is very welcome to Cady. In the end, the in laws come to Cady side and they know that Yvonne is beyond saving. Poor Jupe, though. He's still hyper and motormouth, but it's apparent he want his mother to back to him. Bennett show that sometimes it's us who choose what kinda of people that we want as a family and Jupe clearly want Cady to be his family.
I won't tired to said that I really loved Cady-Lon relationship. You can said Lon is quite a "catch" for Cady. He's hot for a 40 something guy (despite his pirate mustache, heh), successful photographer and have a knack that come in handy. But what make me like him is, he's so supportive of Cady. Sure he grunt, angry when Cady seems to danger herself again, but he support her. I like that even Cady is a UF heroine protag, she didn't push Lon and go "nah, I can solve everything. By myself." She let Lon help her, and she help him back. A very healthy and sexy romantic relationship is what I loved the most and Bennett sure can deliver.
Like I said with the book end with a boom, yep, Binding the Shadows have cliffhanger. This book also have one petpeeve of mine with Spoiler despite all the danger, Cady find herself...pregnant. Huff, sometimes I don't get the pregnant thingie. To make the problem worse? LOL , but this is one pet peeve that I willing to let it pass. The mystery of the substance that make demon's knack amped up might not be too mysterious, since the plus point of this book is how Cady's relationship with people around her work. Also, did I mention that Priya is back. And he's a boy. Also snarky. I like this version of Priya though, lol.
With the end left hanging like that, of course I will proceed into book 4. Good thing, I already have my copy ;).
All I can said is....what a ride... what an emotional roller coaster ride! The book start with a BANG and end with a BOOM. Warning first, its kinda end in cliffhanger of sort and this book can't be read as stand alone. Better to start with the first book, Kindling the Moon.
CW/TW first, contain very detailed graphic violence. Your mileage may varies, but consider I've warned you :P.
What I said with the book start with a bang, it's quite literal. Something malice make Earthbounds demon's knack (aka supernatural ability) amped up, and its come to Arcadia "Cady" Bell, sassy magician, and her Earthbound boyfriend, Lon Butler to solve it. But what make Binding the Shadow for me is way way better compared to the two previous installation is I feel that Bennett already find her writing tempo and ho boy, she didn't give Cady a rest. Problem after problem come to our girl, it make me feel almost sorry for her. But, despite all her predicaments, Cady still going forward. Sure she have her mental breakdown, but I like that its make her feel humane. I mean, you can't go all badass and asskickin' everyone. Human have limits, and so do Cady. Cady is not sure of what she is -with her Moonchild ability- and to add cherry on top of her problem her mothers might be alive and want to continue her megalomaniac plot.
The family drama with Lon's in laws might be too drama for some, but I quite surprised to see that I kinda enjoyed it. It's not that I liked to see Cady squirming when she met Lon's mother in laws from his previous marriage with his ex, Yvonne, but what I like is the dynamic. Rose sure can be intimidating, but I'm glad her other daughter, Adella is very welcome to Cady. In the end, the in laws come to Cady side and they know that Yvonne is beyond saving. Poor Jupe, though. He's still hyper and motormouth, but it's apparent he want his mother to back to him. Bennett show that sometimes it's us who choose what kinda of people that we want as a family and Jupe clearly want Cady to be his family.
I won't tired to said that I really loved Cady-Lon relationship. You can said Lon is quite a "catch" for Cady. He's hot for a 40 something guy (despite his pirate mustache, heh), successful photographer and have a knack that come in handy. But what make me like him is, he's so supportive of Cady. Sure he grunt, angry when Cady seems to danger herself again, but he support her. I like that even Cady is a UF heroine protag, she didn't push Lon and go "nah, I can solve everything. By myself." She let Lon help her, and she help him back. A very healthy and sexy romantic relationship is what I loved the most and Bennett sure can deliver.
Like I said with the book end with a boom, yep, Binding the Shadows have cliffhanger. This book also have one petpeeve of mine with Spoiler despite all the danger, Cady find herself...pregnant. Huff, sometimes I don't get the pregnant thingie. To make the problem worse? LOL , but this is one pet peeve that I willing to let it pass. The mystery of the substance that make demon's knack amped up might not be too mysterious, since the plus point of this book is how Cady's relationship with people around her work. Also, did I mention that Priya is back. And he's a boy. Also snarky. I like this version of Priya though, lol.
With the end left hanging like that, of course I will proceed into book 4. Good thing, I already have my copy ;).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
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