by Greg Jingleheimer Terrible, aka G.J. Terral, book 2 of The Binding Tenets Trilogy
Summary:
Those bound by blood leave no lines left uncrossed.
Aemun’s actions months prior ripple beyond Danica’s borders as an oblivious Lin struggles to retain some sense of self. He’s little more than a glorified captive as he waits for the Fentian Scholars to decide—will they abstain from the upcoming war or choose a side?
Then a Ladrican Emissary snatches Mellyr.
Lin escapes Fentis to rescue her. Tylle’s secrets only scratched the surface of the hidden truth, and to make matters worse, he must work out the answers alone this time. Can Lin save Mellyr before he loses himself entirely? Or will he finally become the monster he always feared he was?
Review:
Lin is back, baby. And he’s angrier and more impatient than ever.
Bloodbound is the sequel to Bloodwoven, picking up pretty much exactly where it left off. To Lin’s chagrin, that’s with a bunch of do-nothing scholars who might take a day to figure out what they should have had for lunch a week ago.
I’ve read books where protagonists who are awaiting a decision will do just that. Wait. And guess what – I hate it. Lin, instead of waiting around, takes matters into his own hands. Because the powers that be have decided they’re taking Mellyr, and Lin’s not having any of it.
Lin retakes the stage as the sole POV, just like Bloodwoven, but he doesn’t have as many friends around him this time. No rag-tag bunch of adventurers, not even a dickhead of a boss to accompany him. Most of Bloodbound is Lin by himself, with his own thoughts, figuring things out without any counsel. Which is a terrifying prospect, especially because he has to couple decision-making with the constant threat of Untethered attacks.
One of my unfair misgivings about Bloodwoven was that it didn’t explore the world at large enough for my taste (which wasn’t the point of the novel, BTW) – but in Bloodbound we do get more of that worldbuilding drippy drip that I love so much.
While the central story is still about Lin and his (quite frankly, really horrible) emotional and physical traumas, us readers are slowly being let into the world at large, and how Lin’s circumstance is affecting the state of the world.
What I also absolutely love is a villain with influence. Aemun, the central antagonist introduced in book one, schemes a lot. And his schemes, plans, and actions from Bloodwoven still have weight, and affect the happenings and decisions of Bloodbound. Love it, love it, love it.
There’s effectively no letting up on the action pedal here, also. We’re weaving, wefting, tethering, and threading all over the place. Lin’s powers are growing dangerously high, for both his enemies and himself. We’re left to wonder just how far he’s willing to go before losing himself entirely. But to Lin, saving Mellyr may be worth it.
A truly worthy sequel to Bloodwoven, and, dare I say, even better.
Find out more about Bloodbound!
Also, G.J. has a new fantasy noir novella out now:
The Not So Mundane Mysteries of Norman Melamourne
N.J. (Nick) Alexander
N.J. Alexander is a writer with a business degree. When not writing, he enjoys reading, playing video games, recording podcasts, watching sports, and adventuring for new food. He’s from Massachusetts, USA. Fogbound is his debut novel.
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