Digital Reads Reviews
Book Review – Brimstone Bound by Helen Harper @HarperFire
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Blurb
A werewolf killer. A paranormal murder.
How many times can Emma Bellamy cheat death?
I’m one placement away from becoming a fully fledged London detective.
It’s bad enough that my last assignment before I qualify is with Supernatural Squad.
But that’s nothing compared to what happens next.
Brutally murdered by an unknown assailant, I wake up twelve hours later in the morgue
And I’m very much alive.
I don’t know how or why it happened.
I don’t know who killed me.
All I know is that they might try again.
Werewolves are disappearing right, left and centre.
A mysterious vampire seems intent on following me everywhere I go.
And I have to solve my own vicious killing.
Preferably before death comes for me again.
My Review
What was it all about
A trainee detective, Emma, transferred to Supernatural department died and woke up, defeating death exactly 12 hours later in brimstone and fire. Then her mentor was found dead.
So she had two deaths to solve, her own and his. All with the help of the vampire lord. Sounded exciting, didn’t it? It really was.
How it made me feel
I had to be honest here. From the get-go, I was pretty much into this book. In fact, I think I am obsessed with the series, can’t seem to stop reading. Being available in the audio version, this was like a dual treat for me, to listen to it during my chores and before bed. Addicted to the books is what I am.
The Good
The book had the werewolves and vampires with the other members of the supernatural slowly introduced as the series progressed. I enjoyed the world that author Helen Harper created. There was excitement and thrill along with the murder mystery.
The attraction and romance were kept subtle so that the plot line remained undiluted. Love would so take away the intrigue from the murder mystery and development of this new world. I was happy that the author realized that and kept it to something that would happen someday. Not in this book.
Emma, my main character, was shown to have brains; she hardly ever used weapons. I liked the way she was developed over the pages, her confidence gaining strength. Taking on the werewolf clans took some balls (pardon the pun) and she showed that she had them in double, slowly growing (pun unintended this time)
This world had no magic, yet the writing brought out that effect. Emma could come back from the dead was the only odd stuff happening.
The Bad
I would say nothing much as the story had everything that I would want in an urban fantasy, maybe the main character could be made more warrior-like. The motive of Emma’s death could be more realistic, as I was not convinced. But then again, who could argue with a psycho killer? Not me, no siree, kill away.
The narrator was good in book 1, but I thought she was better in book 2 as the much-needed conviction in her narration came about once she got familiarized with the characterization. I would have liked this book to be more adrenaline-filled. But here I was just being very analytical.
The Conclusion
If you love urban fantasy which was also a police procedural, without too much of a convoluted plot line, then this book would own your days and nights. At 225+ odd pages, this was a perfect escape from real life. A new-world oasis. Brimstone Bound brought me out of my slump and at last, made me excited about a book.
Book Links
Book Details
Publication Date:2020
I downloaded the digital version of the book from an online retail, and this is my journey down its pages, straight from the heart. STRICTLY HONEST and UNBIASED.
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4 Responses
Werewolves? Vampires? Aiyyo!!
Hahah I enjoy them quite a bit. hehehe. What can I say? I see myself cast as the heroine in such books. I have this strange longing to be a warrior
More power to you!
Yay go me!!