The same odd spots as the first - where the human parts of the plot structure just seem weak. Ignore-able, especially since the fantastical portions are very well done. This series is almost like an example of the uncanny-valley problem (where an animation that looks too close to real while still clearly not being real is very creepy). The clearly not real parts work better than the places that are supposed to be closest to normal. ( )

Sometimes you don't like the characters you are reading about but as a story unfolds you find that changing. That is the case here. Such a tangle they need to unweave in order to survive.
( )

Kori Daniels is facing the consequences of her inadvertent assistance in the activities of the first book in this trilogy when the story begins. Kori is being tortured, starved, and otherwise being abused in Jake Towers' basement having been ordered by Jake not to fight back. She is released only to serve as a lure for a Skilled man named Ian Holt who Jake wants in his syndicate.

Ian has his own reasons for bringing himself to Jake's attention. Ian brother Steven is dying from breaking an oath that was bound by Kori's sister Kenley. Ian wants to get close enough to Kenley to kill her in order to free his brother.

Once he meets Kori his plans undergo a revision. He falls for her because of her courage and strength. Unfortunately, Kori has been ordered to do whatever Ian wants so she can't trust his feelings or her own.

This was an amazingly difficult book to read because Kori had so many awful things happen to her. She is bound to Towers's service in order to protect her sister Kinley but she feels, and is, powerless against the bonds that have been imposed on her by Jake Towers. Ian also has a very difficult time because, for a while, it looks like he will be forced to choose between his brother and Kori. It doesn't look like there is a way to save both of them.

This is the middle book in a trilogy and has the same wonderful world building as the first book. People who have Skills are bound by oath into crime syndicates. They literally cannot break orders given to them by their masters. There is no way out for the most Skilled. As long as they have people the love, harm to those loved ones can be used as a threat to keep the Skilled one in line.

I can't wait to read the third book in this series to see how things are resolved. ( )

Ovaciòn de pie para Rachel Vincent por escribir esta serie maravillosa e impredecible!!! ( )

Fast, fun read with lots of darkness and conflict (and shadow). If there were half stars, I'd give this one 4.5 because it's even better than [b:Blood Bound|12096557|Blood Bound (Unbound, #1)|Rachel Vincent|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1341915288s/12096557.jpg|15080228]. It's got a great story line and many great characters we met in the first book. Can [a:Rachel Vincent|415967|Rachel Vincent|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1262900481p2/415967.jpg] do even better with the next one? I'm looking forward to finding out! ( )