Review: Bound in Black (The Vessel Trilogy) by Juliette Cross
Paranormal Romance
Released: July 21, 2015
Samhain Publishing

Reviewed by Sheena

Genevieve Drake is on a dangerous mission to find the soul collector, Lethe, and enter the deepest, darkest level of the underworld. No one has ever returned alive from the belly of a soul collector, but she will let nothing stop her from going after the precious treasure Lethe stole from her.

As she is tested against demon spawn and foul creatures of the underworld, each triumph strengthens her Vessel power—and drags her closer to a breaking point that could forever doom her to the abyss.

Meanwhile, with the full prophecy hurtling toward completion, the Dominus Daemonum strategize for the day Gen will battle Prince Bamal’s Vessel to the death, when the Great War between heaven and hell will begin.

But Bamal has a secret weapon. When he reveals it—and Thomas reveals his own hidden agenda—Gen may not have the strength to resist the temptation to fall into darkness, forsaking the fate of the world for her broken heart.

Favorite Quote: “Slow down my heart.”  Whenever he used that pet name, I was putty in his hands, and he knew it.

The time is now upon us. Bound in Black is the final book in The Vessel Trilogy that I have been fan girling, dying, late night vigiling, ah…waiting for! The first two books Forged in Fire and Sealed in Sin have set the stage for the final battle between light and dark, good and evil, love and eternal damnation and hot damn it was a thrill ride.

There is a huge spoiler that I am tip-toeing around, however, I will say that Bound in Black begins with a Genevieve who is mad, bad and out to save her man from the clutches of hell.  She is carrying (literally) an explosive secret and is virtually alone but aided by her very own familiar, she takes the necessary steps to plot to reclaim her lover.  Forced to make the most unlikeliest of alliances and bonding herself to the demon Dommiel (who is almost exclusively more foe than friend) Gen gleans the support and information she needs to enter into the clutches of the damned. The race to rescue Jude and getting him back into Gen’s arms and in fighting shape for the prophesied Great War is on!

Find Jude.  Save Jude.  Nothing else mattered…whenever fear crept into my mind about where I was going and the danger I’d encounter, my [Vessel Sense] would instantly sing to me along our bond telling me that all would be well, that I must go…

“You Know there is no guarantee that we’ll get him back,” he said, his tone soft and sympathetic.

“George-” My voice was a sharpened blade.  “Do not for one second start giving me the odds of success.  There is no other option. You know that…”

My stomach flip-flopped when I thought of where I was really going.  As much bravado as I showed to George, I was terrified I’d go into the underworld and never return.  I blinked back the sudden tears stinging behind my eyes.

Aside from the very real possibility of failure, Gen discovers news about her family, particularly her troubled late mother that rocks the fabric of the paranormal world.  I am all for a good plot twist, but I did not see anything regarding Gen’s heritage coming! And I could kiss the author for being bold enough to go for the completely unexpected and well…mind scratching twist of fate.  The result: a story arc with a most clever helix that lends itself to a spin-off series that I can not wait to stick my nose in.

Lucky for the world, Gen’s Vessel Sense was right and she is able to rescue her man and this is where things kick into gear.  Jude is alive and well in body but his mind has been damaged and he is in an amnesic state. Action and battle is in abundance, however, the heart of the story is Jude’s journey back to himself so that he can embrace Gen, his loyal friends and step into his future protected by the unconditional and unselfish love that Gen radiates.  This is a huge endorsement because in the last novel I could have throttled Genevieve for her actions that led to Jude’s predicament to begin with!  Oh no! I am not shy about my raise ire when it comes to smart heroines doing bone head things that royally screw over my beloved heroes!  Lucky for all involved there is a non cliff hanger HEA to save the day!

The fact that he wanted me that he wanted me this much made me pliant and willing to do anything for him.

His head fell back a little, his eyes slipped closed, ad Jude took me the way he wanted.  It wasn’t a mindless thrusting, pistoning like a machine.  No.  It was a sensuous roll of his spine, pounding hard at the end, like the sensual beast that he was.  He nudged his knees wider, stretching my thighs further apart, and pumped with punishing speed…

A rivulet of sweat ran down the valley of his abdomen.

Aside from being deeply sensual and emotional at times to balance the savagery that the Great War promises, Bound in Black is a book about self discovery and perseverance.  Every protagonist (and even a few of the antagonists, ha!) were faced with a past they weren’t proud of and had to make the choice to move on in strength in spite of their weaknesses or succumb to their dark histories and never move forward.  I am all about the deeper meaning and life lessons hidden in these fun tales and the character growth made Bound in Black a strong series closer.  I watched Jude and Gen’s courtship grow from antagonistic baiting, to suffocating stealing sexual tension, to tender love and into a mature sustainable relationship and ending their story at three books feels a little criminal, so I hope like hell to get peripheral glimpses into life after HEA for Gen and Jude in the spin off series, Age of Grey.

The bond that so often pulled us together tightened like twine being wound to a taunt line…The union that was forged before he left, when we became man and wife, strengthened tenfold as I lay beneath him and let him show me with his body how desperately he needed me.

I suppose Bound in Black could be a stand alone.  Cross provides enough insight and story arc information to bring all readers onto the same epic page, however, the joy is in the details of the journey. If you are new to the Vessel Trilogy, you would be remiss to not go back to where it all began and meet pre- PTSD Jude. He. Was. Magnificent.  Just saying…if I had to endure a hot, virile, immortal demon hunter to press against me in dark corners or a dance club…well I’d pick Jude. *wink*

Grade: A

Kindle I Nook I Goodreads l Series l Author’s Site