Review: The Bloodbound by Erin Lindsey

Of all those in the King of Alden’s retinue, the bloodbinders are the most prized. The magic they wield can forge invaluable weapons, ones that make soldiers like Lady Alix Black unerringly lethal. However, the bloodbinders’ powers can do so much more—and so much worse…
A cunning and impetuous scout, Alix only wishes to serve quietly on the edges of the action. But when the king is betrayed by his own brother and left to die at the hands of attacking Oridian forces, she winds up single-handedly saving her sovereign.
Suddenly, she is head of the king’s personal guard, an honor made all the more dubious by the king’s exile from his own court. Surrounded by enemies, Alix must help him reclaim his crown, all the while attempting to repel the relentless tide of invaders led by the Priest, most feared of Oridia’s lords.
But while Alix’s king commands her duty, both he and a fellow scout lay claim to her heart. And when the time comes, she may need to choose between the two men who need her most…

There are some books that are just incredibly fun and addictive reads. For me, The Bloodbound was one of those books. I read this in just over a day, shunning whatever it is I should have been doing. Honestly, as much as I read, I don’t do that very often. I feel like this is a book that encompasses all the elements that are fun, even if familiar. It’s a book that reminds me why I enjoy reading the genre, and why I enjoy certain tropes so much (I don’t think trope is a bad word, they are out there so much because we readers love them!)

I want to be very upfront, this book is a bit different for me in that is has a very strong romance element. Romance is often a thing I struggle with in books even when it is not a prominent part of the plot. I have always stood by the claim that I am by no means anti-romance and that actually enjoy it from time to time. The Bloodhound is proof of exactly that. There is a strong romance aspect, but I remained quite engaged.

There is also a love triangle and I can say it is one of the rare triangles where I was not positive who she would go for, and there was also not a clear favorite for me. I really enjoyed both the male characters that were involved and could have been happy with whoever she chose. I think that made me enjoy it more.

But another thing this book had that I just about always love is a strong female protagonist. Alix is a great character. A very independent, spirited woman that has a strong personal drive. And while she was in the middle of this love triangle, she never let that change her priorities. I always love characters like this, Alix is no exception.

This is a society where there seems to be no gender issues. Women, including upper class ladies, are fully accepted members of the military. There was an equal level of respect for the women, their gender was never brought up, and I fully appreciate that. It is a portrayal where women are afforded equal opportunities and respect in what we might consider non-traditional role for women. Particularly that this included prominent ladies of powerful houses spoke well of how women are viewed because these are women who may have had a choice, they are not there solely because it was the only opportunity available to them.

Overall, I found this be a very enjoyable read. I really liked the main character, she was smart and willful. I also enjoyed the other characters in this book, which is critical since it is very much character driven. Definitely look forward to finding out what is in store next for Alix and her companions.

** Be sure to check out my review and a giveaway for the sequel The Bloodforged on Sept 22. **