So much intensity! Honestly, after Thorrn became the hero of The Tenets in the Tattoos I really thought people would cut him some slack, but no! The Bind of Blood and Bonds picks up right where the previous novel ended and things just go from bad to worse.
Thorrn is still the cocky ass he was before, but now he's even worse, raised to sergeant he's got the swagger and the entitlement, but that brings with it a whole slew of other issues. One of those ends up turning the king against him and an example is made of Thorrn. Beaten and with a bruised ego, the trusting idiot begins to doubt and although he learns many lessons that strengthen him, he makes more crucial mistakes because of his openness and his willingness to trust in others who have never truly inspired trustworthiness.
The message in this novel is a really powerful one. It's all about finding the things that you stand by, and then making a stand. It's about facing the doubt and the fear that comes with going against the grain and standing by what you believe in for better or for worse. James also beautifully evokes how when we do, when we really face situations with the conviction that we are doing the right things, good can still come of it even when it feels like you're going against the grain and no one understands you. It is something close to transformation fiction and it was beautiful to read.
If you want an intense, nail-biting fantasy read with a twisty plot you don't know how the characters are going to get out of and a host of flawed, very relatable characters you just want to root for, then give this series a try. It's awesome!
Read my review of The Tenets in the Tattoos here.
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