Today’s review is from team member Judith, she blogs at http://judithbarrowblog.com/2015/
Judith chose to read and review Bound by Blood by Margo Bond Collins
My Rating 3 out of 5 stars
The cover of this novella is creepy; it says all that the reader needs to know about the genre. This is a horror story – vampires and all. I need to be honest here and admit this is not my kind of book but I chose to review it and so have read it as I would any other kind of genre.
I felt the story was more plot driven than character revealing. Although the protagonist, Lili,a doctor who works for the CDC, was portrayed as courageous and determined to do everything to save humanity, I still felt there was something lacking. Something that didn’t quite make her into a rounded character for me.
The descriptions of the virus in each scene were vivid. But I struggled to get a sense of place – of the hospital the story is set in.
The book’s strength is the dialogue. Sharp and to the point, much of the back story of all three main characters, Lili, Will, the doctor – colleague and ex lover, Harry Iverson – uncle of one of the children at the hospital and a detective, is revealed through their speech. And the internal dialogue of the protagonist shows the struggle she is experiencing against the virus.
When I finished my review I looked back on other reviews of BOUND by Blood, just to make sure I was being as fair as I could be. I have to say I am in the minority; there are readers who thoroughly enjoyed this novella. In one of them I read this sentence -“There are graphically violent situations in this book that involve children, so sensitive readers should steer clear”. So there we are – proof that I’m a sensitive soul.
Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Rosie Amber 
Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs.
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I always look back at the reviews written before, too, Judith. I written more than one 3* for books that for a books that have mostly 4/5* glowing ones, but I think when you’re actually reading a book to review you look at it differently. I think it’s a good exercise to review outside your genre, too; recently I read a chick lit book and kept thinking “yes, but would I mind about stuff like this if I was a chick lit reader?”, so I tried to do it from both points of view!
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I think this is a very well written and fair review considering it’s not a book you might normally choose Judith. It’s never easy doing that but you’ve brought up the good and bad points from your perspective which is what is useful for any potential reader.
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Thank you Terry and Georgia reading a book with the intention of writing a review does open your eyes and your mind to the words and the story being read. Thank you Judith for trying a genre which is not your first reading choice.
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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Reblogged this on MARSocial Author Business Enhancement Interviews.
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Straightforward and honest, Judith.
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