Magnus Blackwell’s past is about to catch up with him.An evil force has seized New Orleans. Pestilence, suffering, and darkness cloak the city. The citizens are scared and need their mambo to guide them, but Lexie Arden can’t help anyone. A diabolical presence has taken Lexie’s power and severed her ties with the other side.Magnus Blackwell is fighting demons of his own. Torn between his devotion … demons of his own. Torn between his devotion to Lexie and a spirit from his past, Magnus’s loyalty is put to the test. He must revisit his sins to uncover the key to the hatred ripping the city apart. If he doesn’t, Lexie’s reign as mambo will end.
Their search for answers leads them deep into the darker realms of voodoo—until a desperate Lexie does the unthinkable, and Magnus can do nothing to spare her from her fate.
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After I finished Damned, I immediately dove back into the world of the Magnus Blackwell series to read Bound.
Although I suppose I shouldn’t be, I was a bit surprised that two of the issues I had with Damned were a continued bother to me in Bound.
I still find Will a confusing character. Bound opens to Will once more disliking Magnus, despite having seemingly warmed to him at the end of Damned. He also flip-flops several times between supporting Lexie and her calling above all else, and accusing her of putting her career first to the point of ignoring him and their life. As the book progressed, I found myself liking him less and less.
Like Damned, Bound had the odd phenomenon of feeling like it was going to end multiple times. Unlike Damned, this mostly occurred in the final few chapters, and bothered me, as I felt it made the ending drag on. I experienced a sense of “It’s not done yet?” each time a chapter that would have been a good ending gave way to a new chapter.
A new issue for me in Bound was the unrelenting pace of the story. I had an urge to take breaks while reading to get a respite from everything happening. On top of this, the final few chapters are packed with many different plot threads. I got the sense that the authors found themselves with plot points they weren’t able to work into the story and decided to jam them in at the end. I doubt this is really what happened, it was just how I felt about the ending.
On the positive side, the authors created a fabulous atmosphere of distrust. I found myself wondering if any of the characters could be trusted, if any of them were what they seemed. Turns out, yes, a handful of them were.
I don’t know if all of the information in the book regarding Voodoo is factual, but it certainly seems well researched. Those characters in the book that are “knowledgeable” about Voodoo come across as well-informed and believable.
If the Voodoo information isn’t factual, then the authors have certainly created a great mythos with the Voodoo spirits. If it is factual, then I applaud them for their research and making excellent use of the Voodoo pantheon of characters.
Despite the couple of… let’s call them hiccups… I enjoyed Bound. The story was interesting, and I look forward to future installments. I really want to see Lexie succeed.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book two in the Magnus Blackwell series, and you really SHOULD read book one, Damned, first. It’s not totally necessary to read Blackwell (0.5) but I would recommend you do, it just gives you a better understanding of Blackwell and the sort of person he used to be.
I loved Bound, gave it 5 stars, but here?? Really struggled. I had to keep putting this down, and reading a bit of something else in between, and then coming back to it. And I have no idea why!
Something is holding New Orleans in its grip, something evil. It has also taken Lexi’s power and it has shifted to Blackwell. The key to finding out who and what is doing these things lies deep in Blackwell’s past and Lexi has a difficult decision to make.
I have no idea, not a single flipping clue WHY I struggled with this one, I really don’t. It’s told from both Lexi and Blackwell’s point of view, so we get them both, dealing with whomever is doing this evil to New Orleans.
I just …ARGH!!!…cannot find the words! So, I’m just gonna leave this as is, it didn’t work for me, but someone else will love.
Oh! We find out who that bloody cat is, although the name given to the cat is used for the being that appears out of the cane, and I got a little bit fuddled on that one!
Will I read the next one?? I dunno, possibly.
3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Holy Cow what a book! The writing duo of Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor have gone far beyond this readers expectations and written a phenomenal book/series that will leave you spellbound and craving more.
Bound is Book 2 of the series and continues with Lexi setting up her shop in downtown New Orleans as well as continuing her role as the new Mambo. Of course Magnus is tagging along as her spirit guide. While Lexi is embracing her role as Mambo, there are those that are out to destroy her and take her powers. While the spirit world becomes topsy turvy, people begin to die and spirits start to run amuck in New Orleans. Lexi and Magnus must find a way to right the ship before all is lost. The authors will take you on an amazing journey that will keep you glued to the pages and have you both hopeful and fearful of what’s to come.
I HIGHLY recommend giving the Magnus Blackwell series a go even if you don’t usually go for paranormal or voodoo storylines. Trust me when I say, you won’t regret it. The books are 100% better if read them in order, starting the with prequel titled Blackwell, then book 1 called Damned and of course Bound is next. Then like myself you will be anxiously awaiting Book 3 to find out what happens to Lexi, Magnus and the city of New Orleans next. This is a definitely a 5 star book in a 5 star series.
BOUND is the second full-length instalment in Alexandrea Weis’ contemporary, adult BOUND paranormal, mystery, Voodoo fantasy series focusing on New Orlean’s Voodoo Mambo Lexi Arden, and her spirit guide Magnus Blackwell. BOUND can be read as a stand-alone but for cohesion and back story I recommend reading the series in order.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Lexi and Magnus) BOUND follows Lexi and Magnus on the hunt for a killer. As Lexi slowly begins to lose her capacity as the reigning Mambo, a number of powerful Voodoo priests and priestesses become the victim of a serial killer, not of this world. Lexi begins to investigate the how and why of her missing powers, when a being more dominant and forceful makes Lexi an offer she should have refused. Without her powers, the spirits of the dead begin to descend upon the people of New Orleans, including two ghosts with close connections to Lexi’s spirit guide. Our heroine is determined to uncover the truth but in doing so walks a fine line between good and evil, wherein the darkness begins to override her soul. Not one to follow the rules Lexi will come face to face with a malicious spirit who is willing to do anything to bring Lexi to the dark side.
BOUND is an intriguing story of dark and white magic; of the influential lure of power, and the resulting repercussions of selling one’s soul for the ultimate prize. From priests and priestesses, spirits and ghosts, to Damballah (The Sky Father/ Primordial Creator of Life) and Kalfu (Master of malevolent spirits/ controls the evil aspects of Voodoo), Alexandrea Weis pulls from the Haitian and African history of the practice of Voodoo, the spiritual folkway of those who follow and believe. BOUND is a detailed, complex and enchanting story of mystery, suspense, drama and magic. The premise is entertaining and compelling; the characters are colorful and tenacious. The world building continues to take the reader on a journey through the fantastic as one determined and head-strong woman battles to regain control of the spirits, and the power within.