Blood Tied

Length: 220
POV: Thad, 1st person
Star rating: ★★★★☆

For me, this one didn't have the same impact that book 1 had. While I loved Mason from page one in book 1, I found that Thad's entire personality changed in this book to make him a lot more mysterious and far more erratic than he'd been previously. It made it hard to figure him out and also to keep track of what was going on around him.

I'll admit that two of the biggest secrets and twists in the story were a little obvious to me. From early on, I knew that Thad was being manipulated and in what way. I also knew that there was an item being used that shouldn't have been anywhere near the family and, I confess, I knew the identity of the shadow weaver after the first banshee attack. However, I was still eager to find out if I was right and how all those things worked together.

And while, in any movie or book or TV show that I watch, I'd normally be furious that two main characters failed to share an important piece of information with each other – both in book 1 and here in book 2 – meaning that no one knew how important it was, I can't be angry in this case. Because, for one, us readers are the only ones who know the true importance of that item, because the brothers never figured it out, as it seems completely inconsequential. But, also, I accept the argument Thad puts forward at the end of this book about keeping certain information to himself (after realising it's importance; thank you for that, Flores!) because it keeps his entire family safer. Though they could figure out what was going on better if they shared their information, the logic is sound and reasonable. Especially with everything else that's been going on with the Conclave and the mistrust brewing all over the place.

Again, the characters were interesting. I loved that we still got to see Mason and Drake, Pierce and their father, too. But we also got a whole host of new characters – the feisty Ben, Gerard making an appearance and Aiden the fire fae. They were all interesting in their own right, but some more than others and in ways I hadn't expected.

It was also great to see new creatures, beyond the shadow weaver and vampyren's of the first book. Here, we got to see Fae, Fire Fae, Banshees and even more of the vampyren's. Each added a unique slant to the story and provided even more information that will bring the final pieces together eventually.

I liked the love triangle between Thad, Ben and Aiden, but I do feel that it was heavily slanted in Aiden's favour right from the start. Thad's connection to Ben was obviously unnatural, without either acknowledging it, while Aiden confessed to the small part that his heritage played in putting a spell around Thad on their first meeting. And, I'm sorry to say, that this was one of the reasons I lowered my rating to a 4 – I just didn't believe the love triangle as something that Thad had to deal with. Half the time he forgot Ben even existed. Perhaps if there had been more of an equal pull between both men or we hadn't been given so many hints towards the choice Thad would eventually make, it would have kept up the intrigue for that part of the story a little longer.

I didn't feel the same chemistry between Thad and Ben or Thad and Aiden as Mason and Drake shared in book 1, which seems strange since there's so much more that an older couple, not in their teens, can share in that department. It just felt a little too organised. Magically influence, even, rather than the natural progression of book 1.

With the few small issues mentioned above, I had to deduct some points from my review, despite enjoying the overall story and the continuation of the plot arc from book 1. There was still incredible world building, great characterisation, impressively wonderful writing that sucked me into the story and a whole heck of adventure and hotness to keep the fires burning.

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Favourite Quote

“And while he might in fact be a hotter version of Zachary Quinto, neither his looks nor his attitude were what had given me pause.
This guy was a warlock too.”