Audio Book Review: Bound by Duty

Bound by Duty

By:  Stormy Smith

Publish Date:  July 24, 2014, Audiobook January 8, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 9 hrs 33 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  New Adult Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Series:  1st in Bound series

Impression:  Young girl of remarkable power as her power grows. She also grows to feel and experience things of college life, but so much more than she ever expected comes at her sooner than later.

Synopsis:
Amelia grew up in a world of half-truths. She knows she's an Elder but has no idea what that means. Her father reminds her daily that she must maintain control but he refuses to explain why. Even worse, she's betrothed to the prince of the Immortals and she doesn't even know his name.

Finally breaking free to live a few normal years at a community college, the last thing Amelia expects is to find her best friend in a cheeky Southern girl and to fall for a self-assured human who sees her for who she is and not what she'll be.

As she learns more about herself, Amelia realizes the line between love and duty is a thin one. As her power continues to increase exponentially and her questions are slowly answered, Amelia must make the ultimate choice. The question is, will her head or her heart win the battle?

First Sentence:
Her stark white hair fell down around her face.

Purchase At:
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Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Amelia has moved to Brighten to escape her crazy father, obsessed with her learning to control herself and her powers, to go to college and try to live a life of her own experiencing things. Her older brother, Cole, lives near and helps her with anything she needs, even to calm her when her powers start to escalate. Trying to live a 'normal' life, before the Queen calls on her to fulfill her betrothal to the Prince, Amelia finds she wants other things in life. And one of them is a young man named Aidan. Amelia has to decide between protecting her mage kind and accepting she could be used for no good by the Queen, of who whispers say she killed off the other Elders, by marrying the Prince. Or do as she wants, putting herself and others in danger.

Kristin is the narrator for this story. She fits right in to Amelia's part and all the emotions the poor girl feels. Amelia's attitude when she's angered, even if unintentional, comes out in Kristin's voice. All the characters become beyond four-dimensional with Kristin as the voice (three dimensional for the character development, fourth for the voice we hear). Kristin even has a different sound for Amelia when she's thinking in her head, a slight echo-y sound of an empty room. I like it as I know when Amelia is talking or thinking with easy differentiating. Kristin also gives each character a different tone or accent, making listening so easy.

We start with a prologue that gives us a taste of Queen Julia and the Hunter. She is looking for something, some information. Then we learn of the prophecy. I like this book starts right off with telling us the prophecy given and how it's come to be seen. We don't have to figure it out or wait for it. We know, now to see the story of how it'll unfold. Or not.

Amelia does her best at staying her path, to keep Aidan at a distance and do as she's to do. To continue waiting for her betrothal to come to pass. Amelia has high hopes that she could use good with her power as married to the Prince. But the more Amelia learns of the history that's not taught or talked of, held deep as a secret of those who know, Amelia is angered at what has happened to her people. The lose of the Elders and other Mages. Also, the more Amelia spends time with Aidan and her powers call to him, the more she falls for him.

Amelia is divided between what to do. Do what she wants, love who she wants? Or do as she's told to do, follow as she's to do as betrothed to the Prince and let them lead her on? Or...is she strong enough to stand up to the cruel Queen Julia? And help her people come out of the isolation age they've been living in.

The world of the mages has been torn apart, and the young don't know exactly what was done to their kind. The older are keeping the secrets quiet. What Amelia learns of a Mage that was all but destroyed is heartbreaking to learn what happened to the Elders and Mages by Queen Julia. It's interesting the Mages present in the world and their powers, but how they are all isolated as well.

Between Kristin's acting and the story, I was drawn into the story and wanted the words to go by faster. I would have wanted the same as reading, and I know listening is much faster than my reading. I couldn't wait to get more and more. I will be looking for the next book!