Venom Bound: Blood Tethered Book Two Author I.S. Belle
Book Review
5 out of 5 stars!
First and foremost! This is the second installment of the trilogy! First book ended on a cliffhanger and this one picks up right where it left off! Spoilers ahead!
"The visions, the tree—those roots were in them. Kade and Theo. Knotted together in ways they still didn’t understand."
Monster, Kade Renfield, and Golden Boy, Theo Fairgood, are still just that. Playing the parts of "town freak/outcast" and "town idol" while keeping up the public hatred of one another. Yet, somethings off because Felicity's sharp tongue has dulled and Aaron seems to be cowed. But Kade has other things to be concerned about because behind closed doors Theo and him are on a vampire mystery adventure!
An odd friendship has formed between the two and they now know of a deadline! When all this madness is going to reach a big crescendo and one of them may not walk away from this alive or newly undead. Only the closer they get to uncovering things the more obstacles pop up. A major tragedy fueling Theo's resolve to find his sire and answers. Kade trying to understand his newfound visions and remember them. Will they get to the bottom of this before the clock runs out? Who can they trust? And who's Theo's sire that seems to be appearing more and more but only in monster form?!
"Theo sucked on his cigarette distractedly. The exciting part was lighting it—leaning into Kade, watching his face. The actual smoking, he could live without."
I love this line because in all the YA books I've read thus far from Belle there's always something being shared between the two MCs. This one just makes so much sense for the two and I love seeing both of their walls coming down more and more around one another. I absolutely love this trilogy and how Belle has written her vampires!
Theo's still trying to figure out his new norm as a vampire. Which he's come to realize gives him more time to do a lot of things especially at night in the forest whilst everyone is asleep. Being able to forage mushrooms and get more into his secret hobbies and obsessions! I love watching his journey and how Kade has really helped him grow. Though Theo hasn't fully grasped how Kade's influence is helping him. There was a situation that arose that I thought if Theo hadn't had Kade in his life he would be in the same boat as this other person. That "must be perfect" mentality is cracking.
"“Quit trying to turn me into a good student, Fairgood! It’s not gonna work! You’ll drag me into the C-plusses over my dead body.”
“The only dead body here is me,” Theo said."
Kade's life is turning around thanks to Theo, but he won't admit that a loud! No longer trying to self-destruct. Kade gets closer to Theo and helps to try and support him the best he can when something takes place. I loved seeing more of Kade and into the big, compassionate heart that's hidden by barbed wire and barks. The two showing their true selves to each other but no one else. Kade even opening up more to Theo about his past and having some very personal and raw moments. I also respected the times in this installment when Kade actually admitted out loud that he messed up. Ugh! The growth happening in this series is just so healing and fantastic!
This series is YA rating but do read through the CWs. One of the major turning points and plotlines may be a trigger for some. Grief is prominent in this installment and how people deal with it differently. There's no manual for grief or a "right way". Moments of forgetfulness of the simplest things, out of energy or spoons for the day, and more. There's violence, gore, and horror moments. Theo's still in denial about his parents and their form of parenting/"appropriate" punishments. . . Dual POVs helping to showcase and really feel explosive moments. One scene had me clapping for Theo and a decision he made!
"Theo held up one finger.
Kade chuckled. “Never been able to do the one and done thing. When I want something, I want all of it.”"
Uh oh! Are these two finally going to acknowledge the elephant in the room?! I'm actually loving this slow burn that's been building since the first book! Which sorry it does continue in this installment as well. Though the two are skipping so many steps in a relationship when they get a shared dog together! Okay, Sparky came up on her own, but they have split custody of her! I loved how the two figured out ways around Theo burning Kade on contact. The simple, normal, teenage boy, romance moments along with a very powerful scene toward the end of the book that had me tearing up. "He's mine." is dropped in the book!
This book does end with a cliffhanger! New bonds are forming along with old ones turning into something else. I thought I had some things figured out but then Belle yanked the rug out from under me! I have questions and more theories bouncing around in my head! I cannot wait for the final installment though I also don't want to read it because I'm never ready to say goodbye to any of Belle's characters! Kade and Theo have a special place in my heart, and I can relate to both of them a lot! I just want them to have a happy ending!
Enjoy the latest installment of the trilogy with a vampire, a hellhound, a boy who can design amazing clothes, and a town founding legend that isn't totally fictional! Don't forget to give the author some stars! Now excuse me while I find Kade and get some clothes made along with reading "Zombabe" together to figure out Milly's insane story!
Blood Tethered (3 book series) Kindle Edition
Venom Bound (Blood Tethered #2, PAPERBACK) by I S Belle, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
I. S. Belle (@isbelleauthor) • Instagram photos and videos
Comments
Post a Comment