A lovely reveiw :)

Alexandra Ivy's characterization of these lovers is excellent. Hunters like Jaelyn endure brutal training and are bound by a strict code that governs their lives. It's literally beaten into them that intimacy and choosing a mate are forbidden. Jaelyn has many emotional scars from her difficult life, but she also has a conscience. The tough-as-nails, lethal killer is vulnerable. Ariyal has his own skeletons related to his past enslavement to the sadistic Morgana le Fey. He's also an extremely appealing hero: He has stunning bronze eyes, amazing strength and abilities and a magical, sensual aura that wraps around a reader. Together, Ariyal and Jaelyn wield significant power, and their sexual chemistry simmers and boils off the page. Witty, sarcastic banter adds good fun to an enemies-turned-lovers theme. A subplot involves the über-seductive vampire Santiago (I loved this guy), who is tasked with finding the missing Cassandra, a powerful werewolf prophet whose trail is extremely illusive. Santiago is assisted by Nefri, an extraordinary, immortal vampire with a fascinating background. I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series to see what Alexandra Ivy has in store for these two! Alexandra Ivy embeds snippets of Arthurian legend in an imaginative, complex paranormal world. A variety of intriguing characters — including, mages, vampires, werewolves, fey, demons, spirits, wizards, trolls, ogres and, let's not forget, some nasty zombies resurrected by a necromancer (oh my!) — help advance the fast-paced plot. And there is Levet, an endearing miniature gargoyle with a French accent, who is a favorite recurring character in the series. Much to Ariyal's chagrin, Levet wheedles his way into Jaelyn's heart, which isn't easily won. Witty sarcasm provides laugh-out-loud dialogue and introspection that lightens even the darker scenes. Magic enhances ancient weaponry used in a number of well-choreographed action and battle sequences. Bound by Darkness is an exciting page-turner, and I found Alexandra Ivy's world extremely creative and clever. Ariyal and Jaelyn face nasty antagonists and dark evil, but at the end of the day readers are not left wanting for a special HEA. Bound by Darkness is the eighth book in the Guardians of Eternity series and the first Alexandra Ivy story I have read. I think this book could be enjoyed as a stand-alone, as the author provides considerable background development and explanation of the world's vernacular. This reader is definitely looking forward to reading more about the Guardians of Eternity. Lea Franczak lives in Toronto with her family, which includes three dogs and one cantankerous geriatric cat. She has been blogging and reviewing since 2008 and is one of the administrators at Book Lovers Inc. She is also an active member at Goodreads.