A Bond of Venom and Magic by Karen Tomlinson – A Book Review

Posted January 10, 2020 by Booksandblurbs in Fantasy, Reviews, YA/NA / 0 Comments

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A Bond Of Venom and Magic

(The Goddess and The Guardians – Book 1)

by Karen Tomlinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Upper YA, Epic Fantasy
Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

Down & Dirty

High Fantasy takes a dangerous turn in this introductory Upper YA Novel. It’s fast paced, emotional and utterly magical. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

What is it about?

(Blurb from GoodReads)

The Wraith Lord is hunting; his prize, the key to unleashing darkness and Chaos upon the eight Kingdoms.

For Diamond Gillon the war raging in the south seems a remote danger until her home is brutally attacked. Having lost everything she holds dear, Diamond is catapulted into a terrifying new world in which legendary beasts arise, magic is condemned and half blood fae, like her, have no rights. Despite her growing feelings for her saviour, Commander Hugo Casimir, he remains a paradox – not only is he a heartless killer, he is owned by the cruel immortal fae queen; a queen who will murder her own people for magic.

As Diamond’s circumstances become ever more perilous she is drawn deeper into Hugo’s world and discovers the lengths to which he will go to save what he holds dear. Will Hugo become her friend, her protector, or – an enemy not worthy of her trust?

A Bond of Venom and Magic is a tale of two people bound by magic and secrets, but trapped in the complexities of love and betrayal. It is the beginning of an epic journey, one that will test Diamond’s resolve and determination to battle an evil that threatens not only her world but that of Eternity, the land of The Guardians and The Goddess.

Thoughts on A Bond of Venom and Magic

Loved it!

This is the kind of high fantasy I really enjoy! A girl who has been knocked down, a reluctant partner and a world to save. Of course, there is a slew of details lost in that summary, but you get the gist – and it’s great!

We have magic, mayhem, danger and intrigue, not to mention a brewing romance, betrayal and a thousand years of treachery.

Pros:

Well written.
Great World building
Perfect villains, for the stereotype. There is no confusion here, the big bad is big bad – it’s the heroes that have darker layers.

Cons:

Moral choices…. they’ll become clear, but it hurt my heart.

Perspective

Third Person, Multiple POV

Ending Type

Cliffhanger

Rating

PG-13 to Upper YA

Romantic Dynamic

M/F

Character Age Range

17+

My Final Verdict on A Bond of Venom and Magic

4 out of 5 Stars

This book kicks off an epic fantasy that spans realms and even dimensions. Wrapping hearts and minds, it infuses magic and myth to create a new world you will love to explore – along with complex characters that make the hard choices, even when they hurt. Complete series is available on Kindle Unlimited.

Published October 14th, 2016
303 Pages

If you enjoyed this review of A Bond of Venom and Magic, please consider checking out a few of my other articles.

Your Turn

What are you reading today? Have you read this book yet? While the individual books are available, it also features a bundled collection with all four books on Kindle Unlimited.