by Rhenna Morgan
Series: Ancient Ink #1
Narrator: Nicole Poole
Length: 9 hours and 31 minutes
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
Narration: 4 cups
For decades, he’s been alone.
Now, she’s here. His fated mate.
His to win. To protect.
To provide for and pleasure.Priest Rahandras has lived with the darkness trapped inside himself for years. Betrayed by his own brother and forced to watch his clan’s brutal annihilation, the only thing Priest wants more than to escape the curse that haunts him—as both man and beast—is to rebuild.
Until the mate he’s longed for walks into his life with an elder from his past. She’s everything he’s wished for, and the key to the clan’s very survival.
Kateri Falsen is a woman of logic and facts. While Priest’s cat can sense her arousal, telling her they’re fated won’t be enough. He’ll have to show her his love: with his words, with his actions, and with his body.
Protecting Kateri from the evil trapped inside him is paramount. But when lost clan members are systematically murdered, he’ll have to choose between exposing his mate to his black magic, or risking her as the next victim.
With my reading mood in full urban fantasy and paranormal mode, I grabbed Guardian’s Bond by Rhenna Morgan when I noticed the narrator was Nicole Poole. This heated paranormal romance with its unique shifter world offered up an interesting start to the Ancient Ink Series.
Guardian’s Bond the first in the Ancient Ink series introduces us to the Volan and promises an exciting series arc. This race of shifters unlike most shifters we know view their animal as a companion. Both their animal form and abilities are gifted to them at the time of their quickening. Priest Rahandras is the spiritual guide of the clan. There are different families and branches each with its own healer, protector, sorcerer etc. When Priest was chosen as leader his brother in a fit of jealousy turned to the dark. During an attempted coup he wiped out almost a generation of the clan. The surviving clans scattered and Priest thought his brother was dead. Now, dreams warn of danger to come and a knock on the door soon alerts him that the threat isn’t over. Now he must assemble the clan and prepare to stop his brother once and for all.
In this first book, Morgan builds the world, while introducing us to key characters and allowing Priest to find his mate. The story is heavy with sensuality and pushed into the erotic genre with heated and detailed scenes. While the scenes were well done, I found myself eager to return to the action, threat, and development of the world. I like my stories to be balanced and this was not.
The worldbuilding was clever in that Kateri and her brother know almost nothing about the Volan until their parents were murdered. Through their spirit walks and training, we learn about their clan. It made for a fast-paced story with virtually no info dumps. I loved events in the big house that Priest owns, and like how tattoos play a part in their clan.
The mythology, the structure of the clan and the different types of companions from owls to panthers was fascinating. I like that each clan member is tested and that Priest in his role acts as their spiritual guide. Native American stories came to mind as I listened and the paranormal elements had a believability to them.
Nicole Poole narrates and as always does a wonderful job with pacing, character voices and setting the tone. She is one of my favorites and as I said, it was her name that pulled me to this story.
Fans of heated shifter paranormal romances with an urban vibe will enjoy Guardian’s Bond. While the sex scenes were too plentiful for my tastes, the overall ARC and characters themselves have me looking forward to the next installment.
[bctt tweet=”Guardian’s Bond by Rhenna Morgan offered a heated and suspenseful start to the Ancient Ink Series #audio narrated by Nicole Poole ” username=”kimbacaffeinate”]
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Olivia-Savannah Roach
It sounds like this is a really good read! I need to read more urban fantasy and it sounds like the mythology ties into this one really well too, which makes me quite happy! Thanks for the review x
Kimberly
Thanks, Oliva. I enjoyed it and I am curious to see how book two fairs.
Daniela Ark
I can always come here for the best paranormal romance series! I NEVER get disappointed! This one.. ADDED TO GR! You should have a “one click” add for me on your reviews Kim [like amazon!] lol
Kimberly
Silly woman… I do. Right at the top, there are one-clicks to Amazon and Audible. Right above the Goodreads button.
JoLee
I have this on my list. Thanks for the heads up in the steam department.
Kimberly
Yay. Yeah, I needed a little more balance but will see how the next one goes.
Megan Riverina Romantics
I put this on my TBR list. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it but it’s definitely caught my attention now. And a great narrator like Nicole Poole is always a plus. I also don’t mind extra spicy books. Thanks for the review!
Kimberly
I hope you love it, Megan!
Tanya @ Rantings of a Reading Addict
I was sold when I saw Nicole Poole narrated. Added to GR list immediately LOL
Kimberly
Exactly.
Darlene
I haven’t seen this one around, and it sounds good! For much of the last year, I binged on mysteries but now I’m on a sci-fi kick!
Kimberly
Yep, I get in moods like that.
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
This one sounds interesting. You have been eating up the UF lately. Is this your favorite genre? I think it must be. Great review. Another one to put on my list! =)
Kimberly
I have oodles of favorite genres but I go through phases. Right now UF and PNR are speaking to me. LOL Next month it could be all romance or suspense thrillers.
The Orangutan Librarian
Sounds really good, even if there were a few too many sex scenes. Great review!
Kimberly
It was and I plan to listen to the next one.
RR
I like the sound of this story’s premise.
Angela Adams
Very intense looking book cover. Thanks for the post.
Kimberly
You’re welcome, Angela.
Lily
ack I like my books balanced as well 🙁 so I definitely understand waiting for something else to happen
Kimberly
Yep, I want the story the sex is the icing on the cake
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Bummer that the sex scenes weren’t really balanced with the rest, but it does sound like a really interesting take on shifters!
Kimberly
It was and I will try the next to see what I think.
Stefanie
It’s been a while since I’ve read a paranormal romance. This one sounds good.
Stefanie
Oh and how do you make your tuna sandwich? Any special way? I want to get a bottle of Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning. That would be good besides their 21 Seasoning Salute in a tuna mix.
Kimberly
Nothing fancy. Onions, a little Hellmann’s Mayo, celery, and carrots, fresh pepper.
Mary Kirkland
This really sounds like a book that I would like. I may have to check this one out.
Melliane
I was never that muh into PNR, a lot more in UF but it looks good so maybe I should try
Sophia Rose
Now that world sounds fascinating, almost like a fantasy read. I’ve been meaning to try her books. I must seek out a Nicole Poole narration since you really like her stuff.
Kimberly
Oh, my goodness yes. Start with Dannika Dark Mageri series.
Lorna
I agree about the sex parts and really that was my only problem with the book. The rest was pretty fascinating. I also bought it when I saw Nicole Poole was narrating. She’s just fantastic.
Kimberly
I am so glad to hear I was not the only one. But yes, Poole is a one-click narrator 🙂
Debbie Haupt
Both the author and narrator are new to me and I agree with you Kim about needing that balance.
I love the concept and the cover is really intriguing
I didn’t notice why it’s called the Ancient Ink series.
Kimberly
It has to do with the tattoos he marks his clan with 🙂
Bookworm Brandee
I like the sound of how the world building is done and the Native American feeling – that’s what I was thinking when I read “spiritual guide” – so that’s all good. Not to mention the different take on the form these people shift into. I, too, like a balance between the story and the sex though so I understand your issues there. But RMorgan is an author I’ve been thinking about trying out and with NPoole narrating, this kinda sounds like a good place to start. 🙂
Kimberly
Yeah, I am going to listen to the next one and see if it had the balance I prefer.
Nick
That cover model is so popular!
I hadn’t heard of this book, but I love the sound of it. I enjoy mythology in books, and I haven’t read an adult paranormal/fantasy book in a long time! Glad you had fun with this!
Kimberly
He is popular and easy on the eyes 🙂
Ailyn Koay
looks cool, but isn’t it like Christine Feehan’s Dark series?
Kimberly
I have not read her so I cannot say.
Nadene
I see you are on an Urban Fantasy kick. Love the sound od this one. So many recommendations for UF, don’t know where to begin.☺
Kimberly
:snort: Yes Nadene right now I want to devour PNR and Fantasy.
verushka
That is a delicious cover! Definitely one to think about adding to the TBR!
Kimberly
Yes, he I mean the cover definitely catches your eye.
hillary
I have recently started getting into the romance genre. I am still figuring out what my taste is so I will hunt me down a copy of this and see how i feel.
Kimberly
I love the romance genre and go through moods. I do love when its mixed with a second genre.