Review: Sarah and Shaun for the Win
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 2, 2013
*I received a free copy of this e-book in a giveaway, which did not influence my opinion in any way.I recently came down sick, and my boyfriend wisely gave me an iPad full of Kindle books to entertain me. "Blood Bound" by Sharon Stevenson was on the top of my to-read list--it's been a while since I've read a good demon hunting adventure with no-nonsense protagonists who are old hands at the tricks of the trade. The twins Sarah and Shaun are that duo. Sarah is incredibly confident and a strong heroine (my favorite), while Shaun is endearing and just innocent enough that his amorous situation with the villainous Melissa is hilarious at times. In an urban fantasy genre saturated with YA offerings that are restricted when it comes to pushing the envelope too far, and adult titles with protagonists who are sometimes too jaded to connect with, Blood Bound brings the best of both worlds to the table--the twins are tough but still open to wonder at new experiences, and there's exciting, gripping action mixed with dark graphic material for the more mature reader. Well-depicted characters are a must for me, so I was very pleased and engaged with the twins and their supporting ensemble, most notably Melissa and Dev.Stevenson opens Blood Bound by diving right into a vampire staking hunt, without wasting time hashing out background stories or indulging in tedious detail. Although this technique can make the world feel bare bones in some places, overall, it proves to be a strong stylistic choice, and Stevenson hints that the answers we're longing for await in future entries (And hey, it took my mind off being sick!). The narrative rides its action-packed momentum all the way until the end, and leaves off with a satisfying teaser for the continuation of the series. I, for one, am extremely curious to hear more about the mysterious Council and explore how Sarah and Shaun entered the demon hunting trade in the first place. A riveting, heart-pounding start to an edgy series with memorable protagonists and nasty villains you just love to hate. Eagerly looking forward to the next one!