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renpuspita 's review for:
Shadowbound
by Bec McMaster
4 stars
I always said that Australian writer have magic on their writing and Bec McMaster is no exception. I remember when read her Kiss of Steel, and the silly reason why I read it at the first place was because the cover have Paul Marron on it XD. Surprisely, I enjoy it. I also gave it 5 stars (you can read my review here) and since that I follow her London Steampunk because her writing and world building is superb.
I got info for Shadowbound from McMaster's newsletter, when she said that she will going indie. While it irked me that her London Steampunk will continue in indie pub, I decide to give her new series a chance. Did I regret it? Nope, as usual, McMaster still delivers. Shadowbound is not a steampunk, rather a paranormal romance set in historical setting. I'm glad with "no steampunk" element, because it can be overwhelming of sort when read about nano machines and its technology. Shadowbound's big theme is about magic and while McMaster is no Brandon Sanderson when it comes to magic system, her system is still unique even some part like "bond" concept is a recurring theme in the world of PNR. It just need a little more development.
I read some review that Shadowbound is so erotic and have so many sex scenes. Compared to her London Steampunk, I don't think that Shadowbound is erotic. More like steamy. I think the amount of sex scenes are normal, not too much, not so little. I did appraise the way McMaster write about sex, especially about orgasm. Often I read that women SO EASILY have orgasm, even its either her first time as virgin or her first time after years she didn't have sex. The hero always make her FRIKKIN' HAVE ORGASM" No matter that she had hurt or feel uncomfortable, bla bla. Ianthe didn't get her orgasm when first have sex with Lucien, because she's so stressed out with her problem, and I can feel very related. I know that fiction is a fiction, but it feel nice to read something "ordinary", something usual when it comes to sex.
I feel that Lucien in the last part kinda overshadowed by Ianthe. Ianthe is so strong, complex and even she have angst with Lucien, I enjoy read it. The drama and angst are handled perfectly without make me "gag". Also, the problem with Lucien's condition seems is not over yet. I think McMaster save it for her next book.
Not just about Ianthe and Lucien, McMaster give us a story from the "villain" side. Poor Sebastian, he's already suffered so much and until the end, he's still suffer. I already rooted for his and his wife, Cleo's story, but alas, the next is about Adrian Bishop, not Sebastian. Oh, right, I forgot to tell that The Dark Arts series is a series about three brothers, sired by same father but each have different mothers. Lucien is the first (or I think first), Sebastian is the middle child, and Adrian is the last. They sired by Drake, a Prime (like leader of sort) of current magic organization in England, and he's so powerful. In the end, the problem still not solved yet, and this is what make me want to read what next in Dark Arts series.
I'm sad that this series comes in e-book because I want to collect the paperback. Alas, the price is too much, lol! McMaster fans or not, if you love PNR (and I do miss a good PNR nowadays), don't miss this one. I hope McMaster will still writing about PNR, steampunk, anything that have fantasy on it, and not try to jump into NA-YA-conrom wagon. Like some authors I know :/.
I always said that Australian writer have magic on their writing and Bec McMaster is no exception. I remember when read her Kiss of Steel, and the silly reason why I read it at the first place was because the cover have Paul Marron on it XD. Surprisely, I enjoy it. I also gave it 5 stars (you can read my review here) and since that I follow her London Steampunk because her writing and world building is superb.
I got info for Shadowbound from McMaster's newsletter, when she said that she will going indie. While it irked me that her London Steampunk will continue in indie pub, I decide to give her new series a chance. Did I regret it? Nope, as usual, McMaster still delivers. Shadowbound is not a steampunk, rather a paranormal romance set in historical setting. I'm glad with "no steampunk" element, because it can be overwhelming of sort when read about nano machines and its technology. Shadowbound's big theme is about magic and while McMaster is no Brandon Sanderson when it comes to magic system, her system is still unique even some part like "bond" concept is a recurring theme in the world of PNR. It just need a little more development.
I read some review that Shadowbound is so erotic and have so many sex scenes. Compared to her London Steampunk, I don't think that Shadowbound is erotic. More like steamy. I think the amount of sex scenes are normal, not too much, not so little. I did appraise the way McMaster write about sex, especially about orgasm. Often I read that women SO EASILY have orgasm, even its either her first time as virgin or her first time after years she didn't have sex. The hero always make her FRIKKIN' HAVE ORGASM" No matter that she had hurt or feel uncomfortable, bla bla. Ianthe didn't get her orgasm when first have sex with Lucien, because she's so stressed out with her problem, and I can feel very related. I know that fiction is a fiction, but it feel nice to read something "ordinary", something usual when it comes to sex.
I feel that Lucien in the last part kinda overshadowed by Ianthe. Ianthe is so strong, complex and even she have angst with Lucien, I enjoy read it. The drama and angst are handled perfectly without make me "gag". Also, the problem with Lucien's condition seems is not over yet. I think McMaster save it for her next book.
Not just about Ianthe and Lucien, McMaster give us a story from the "villain" side. Poor Sebastian, he's already suffered so much and until the end, he's still suffer. I already rooted for his and his wife, Cleo's story, but alas, the next is about Adrian Bishop, not Sebastian. Oh, right, I forgot to tell that The Dark Arts series is a series about three brothers, sired by same father but each have different mothers. Lucien is the first (or I think first), Sebastian is the middle child, and Adrian is the last. They sired by Drake, a Prime (like leader of sort) of current magic organization in England, and he's so powerful. In the end, the problem still not solved yet, and this is what make me want to read what next in Dark Arts series.
I'm sad that this series comes in e-book because I want to collect the paperback. Alas, the price is too much, lol! McMaster fans or not, if you love PNR (and I do miss a good PNR nowadays), don't miss this one. I hope McMaster will still writing about PNR, steampunk, anything that have fantasy on it, and not try to jump into NA-YA-conrom wagon. Like some authors I know :/.