Oath Bound by Rachel Vincent

Title: Oath Bound (An Unbound Novel, #3)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Harlequin Mira (30th April 2013)
Blurb:

The Tower Syndicate will fall…

THE SECRET DAUGHTER of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage – including a rare Skill – and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.

If he can figure out how…

Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He’s fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he’s never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get…

And if they can survive

Neither is used to trusting. But there’s something between them that can’t be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can’t figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is…

Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:

In OATH BOUND Rachel Vincent brings to a conclusion her adult series UNBOUND. Like the previous two books, OATH BOUND introduces us to two new main characters and narrators – although there is a link to the previous books, and we get to see some of the characters from them again. OATH BOUND tells the story of Sera the eldest daughter of the late Tower Syndicate boss, and Kristopher who is trying to rescue those caught under the oaths of the syndicates.

On the whole I really enjoyed OATH BOUND. Vincent did her usual brilliant job with both the characters and the pacing of the novel. I liked both Sera and Kristopher as main characters, and I think Vincent did a good job with the chemistry between them. The events in OATH BOUND are probably the darkest in the UNBOUND series – thing are getting serious. There is a lot at stake in this book.

I enjoyed being reunited with some of the characters from both BLOOD BOUND (review) and SHADOW BOUND (review), although to be honest Liv and Cam’s appearance in the book is more of a cameo than anything else. I think Vincent did a good job writing the relationship between the Daniels siblings, it felt like they were a tight-knit group. OATH BOUND builds upon the events of the previous two books, and we get to see more of Noelle’s manipulations. I’m not totally sure what I think of her as a character as she doesn’t come across in a particularly sympathetic light in this book.

The plot of the book is pretty typical for the series; it’s hard to tell who to trust, and Vincent always surprises me with an interesting twist. One of the things I wasn’t too sure about was the ending of the book. Obviously I won’t go into too much detail as I don’t want to spoil the ending for you, but it just felt a little neat and easy for me.

OATH BOUND brings Rachel Vincent’s UNBOUND series to an interesting conclusion. If you enjoyed Vincent’s young adult SOUL SCREAMERS and are looking to try her adult books or her other adult series SHIFTERS, then you will enjoy this series too. Vincent really does write a great urban fantasy series, with interesting believable characters.