Katya Anders was supposed to be a monster, cursed by fate to an eternity of solitude. So the soulmark that suddenly appeared on her wrist must be a mistake… right?
It has to be—especially when her soulmate, Matteo, is both incompatible with, and superior to her, in every way: personality, reputation, bloodlines, magical abilities. Pursuing a relationship with him is not only socially unacceptable… it’s potentially fatal. Logically, Katya knows she should stay away from him. But doing so becomes impossible when an old Venetian folktale turns out to be more real than fiction. Forced to work together, can Katya and Matteo defy their very natures, overcome the restrictions of Vaettir society, and learn to trust their soulbond in time to save Venice, and each other, from the forces of Hell?
In The Bonds between Us by Emily Ruhl, we experience the power of destiny, the strength of love in overcoming all odds, and the realization that we are defined, not by who we are meant to be, but rather by who we choose to be.
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In The Bonds Between Us, the first book in the Web of Wyrd Trilogy by author Emily Ruhl, Katya is a young woman who lives in Venice and can control ice. She belongs to the lowest order of Vaettir, fantasy beings whose powers utilize natural elements, and her people, the Daskis, are viewed as criminals, often hunted by higher-ranking Vaettir. Katya finds she has somehow been linked to a dangerously incompatible Vaettir through a soulbond—a magical true-love connection. Matteo is handsome, earnest, and instantly attracted to her even though Katya feels the romance is a bad idea. Then all Hell breaks loose as the Devil arrives in Venice to claim his share of an old contract broken years ago. The couple and their friends hatch a risky scheme to change the Devil’s deal.
What a gloriously fun read! Emily Ruhl has written a great fantasy book with tremendous highs and lows of emotion as a semi-doomed (but ultimately triumphant) love story is paired with some kick-butt action-adventure. The Bonds Between Us brings beautiful, poetic Venice to life and also showcases a strong, fast-paced plot as the serene city is constantly interrupted by the sinister and the macabre. The story hooked me instantly and I immediately knew I wanted to go on reading it. When it was done, I wanted to read it again. The romance has superb chemistry—I could feel every step of Matteo and Katya falling for each other—and a perfect ensemble cast, including magnificent, often chilling villains, rounds out an awesome story. I was very pleased by the possibilities in this fantasy world and I look forward to more Web of Wyrd books to come.
A woman with elemental powers finds love while taking on the devil in this debut romantic fantasy.
Writer Katya Anders moved to Venice, Italy, three years ago. She lives with her best friend, Nina, and after a tragic upbringing in the United States, Kat finally feels as if she belongs. But while researching local myths for her next book, she gets the sense that Venice hides something. “People were afraid,” she notices, “and they obviously had been for a very long time.” One day, she bumps into a musician named Matteo with “expressive chocolate eyes.” She feels instantly bonded with him, and they agree to meet the next day at the San Nicolò festival. At home, she discovers a tattoolike mark on her wrist with red and blue strands intertwined. This is a “soulmark,” which should be impossible for her to possess. Kat is secretly a Daski, born to a human and a frost jotun from Norse myth. Her people have been denied soul mates by the fate-controlling Norns. Nina, a hopeless romantic and an Undine (water elemental), helps Kat prepare for the date nevertheless. Matteo woos Kat with a lovely night out and also possesses the soulmark. Then, near a stone bridge on the island of Torcello, a portal opens. The devil emerges, demanding the souls of seven children. Ruhl’s series opener focuses on Kat and Matteo’s romance while offering a detailed fantasy backdrop featuring the Vaettir, or Norse supernatural beings. Research helps the couple and their cohorts, including Matteo’s hotheaded brother, Leo, learn about a woman’s deal with the devil two centuries ago that still haunts Venice. Tension builds as readers wait for Kat’s special “kedja” necklace to break, which will unlock her dangerous ice powers. That Matteo is a fire-powered “Salamander” adds to the impossible odds of their happiness together. The cast expands to include arrow-shooting twins Arun and Janara and even Hela, “goddess of the Underworld,” who promises to cause the protagonist and her circle further trouble. Kat and Matteo’s romance is explored with the youthful enthusiasm inherent to new love. The audience will be interested to see if the author rocks their boat in the sequel.
A well-crafted fantasy marked by tenderness and optimism.
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