BOUND (#1 in The Crystor Series)

I really liked this book. I enjoyed the friendship and romance.

(no rating)
This is book one in The Crystor Series and if the following books are as good as this one it will be a great series. Kira is a teen with few friends and no home life. Kira sees things that well happen before they happen. It is something she thinks is a rain blip, but her most recent one was different she felt it as well as seeing it and she really didn’t know what to do about it. Her mom is into the boyfriend that is into himself. Her best friend Lydia is actually her only friend and she doesn’t want to loose her. Kira is also realizing that there is something different about Lydia. Something she just can’t put her finger on. Kira’s world is going to change and she is going to meet some really interesting people, but all of them aren’t friends and some of them want her and Lydia dead. She is also going to meet Octavion, the mysterious brother her best friend has. He is really something different and it could kill her but she is still drawn to him.
Lydia and Octavion are from a different dimension and royalty. They have been running for their lives for a while now and Lydia is fearful it will all cost her one friend Kira. Her life is almost taken in a battle and Kira is pulled in deeper and has to be told what is going on. After all she is the only one that can save Lydia. Octavion is somewhat of a wizard and his magic can save his sister but will it cost the life of the human girl he has his heart on.
The three have to fight for their lives. Kira has to risk her life for her friends and becoming part of them changes her forever. Evil sisters, Royal blood, curses, all play a part in this story and Kira seems to be part of the solution to all of it. I hated to see this story end. I love the descriptions of all the places that the three are in the story. They are so vivid they come alive in my mind. I felt myself picturing all of this and like I said hated it to end. I can’t wait for the next part of the series. I have to find out what happens between Kira and Octavion. C. K. Bryant your story is wonderful and I look forward to more.
Bella Doerres M. E. 11/18/2012

wonderful, great story loved it!!!

Bound has been on my to-read list for quite a while now and so I was very excited to sit down and finally get the chance to check it out! While it won't be making my favourites list, I still genuinely enjoyed it and it had my attention from the very first page. Bound certainly gets full marks for originality. I thought everything in this book had a very different feel to it which is awesome because for a while there, lots of the YA paranormal books I was coming across just seemed like copies of each other or lacked some extra spark to actually make them stand out!

Our protagonist is Kira and this novel follows her life as things get, well, really weird. Her home life practically falls apart (seriously- her mother ups and leaves!) and she learns some shocking secrets about her best friend. I loved Kira and enjoyed getting to know her. I think she's a very independent character and I loved that she was never afraid to speak her mind or tell somebody to quit doing something that was getting on her nerves or upsetting her. While I wouldn't say she takes everything in her stride, she does handle all the events with grace and bravery which I had to admire her for.

What I loved most about Bound was how intelligent it all was. This was definitely wasn't a light or quick read for me. The plot really has a lot of depth and is well thought out. There are a lot of back stories and every aspect of the story had a history to it which I loved learning about. Bryant has created many interesting characters and I loved finding out more about them. Kira's friend Lydia- and her 'kindred spirit'' Altaria- are simply fascinating to read about. I went back and forth on how I felt about Octavion! I thought he was an interesting guy but not really a great love interest.

This book made me think a lot about what I would do if I had to make some of the decisions Kira was faced with making. The story did drag for me at parts and my interest began to wane for a while but mostly, I really did like it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to fellow paranormal fans! Bound has many interesting concepts, characters, events and creatures. The second book in the series, Broken, is coming out in the next few weeks and I will probably check it out when I have the time!

This book wasn't what I expected when I bought it. I was looking forward to a book on what I thought was about shapeshifters, cause you know me by now and how much I love shapeshifters but this isn't what I expected. There was no shapeshifters (until later but even then the Shapeshifters are only half human, half beast, not the type of shapeshifters I like), no wolves though there was a tiger and it has nothing to do with people on earth... That's right this book had aliens in it, no not green things, they are people like humans but they live on another planet. As one of the characters pointed out by drawing the solar system on the ground with the planets and everything then taking a rock and tossing it far away, which is where their planet is located haha! Despite this I didn't expect I would like it as much as I have and I will tell you this I really want to read the second book WHICH DOESN'T COME OUT UNTIL THE SPRING TIME!!!

The characters were great I find, each had his or her own way of acting about the situation I found. Kira our main heroin was known to be a mouse, but I never saw that in this manga. I never saw her acting like a mouse on a few times but not much to actually have me see her as that. As the story continued you can see she has more of a back bone when she tried to help Lydia when men attacked them. If she was a mouse she would have stayed away but she didn't. Later you find that she grows more and more brave. WHAT I HATED WAS THAT HER MOM LEFT HER, she left her behind and ran off with a man. What kind of mother did that to her daughter who isn't even 18 yet. I wanted to bloody kill that women for doing that to a child.*shakes head* Anyways Lydia is from another planet who came to earth with her brother Octavion to escape from her older sister Shandira, who is trying to kill her. It's never explained why her sister is trying to kill her until the ending but even then it's kind of stupid. I love Lydia's character she is a sweet girl with a side to her that surprises you. She also has a connection to Kira that allows them to communicate between each other using thoughts and she is very protective of Kira, cause she is her only friend. Now with Octavion, how strange is that name it catches your attention right away. Along with his sculpted chest and leather pants and vest, hot, hot and hot (along with every other guy I read about who is just as hot lol). Octavion has a really bad temper, since he transforms into a cat type thing he loses his temper really easily and ends up hurting Kira a few times. Despite that he really is a nice person and cares both for Kira and his sister Lydia at the same time. Though you can see how much he is torn between them on how to protect them both. I really like his character because of how much he struggles with being around Kira and trying not to hurt her because of how much he loves her.

As for the Romance all I can say is this . . .
No seriously Octavion and Kira like each other so fast you don't know what you missed that, that could have happen. Yes, Octavion had feelings for Kira already but Kira just met the guy and she started to like him right away. Even when he pushed her around and hurt her she still develop feelings for him. I for one wouldn't like a guy if he made me break an arm... either way besides that I like that they got together. It's a cute romance and awkward too quite a few times like in most relationships but it just moves so fast. At one point you seriously thought he was going to purpose to her *head desk*. I just hope in the second book the Romance is more controlled and not as fast.

The plot was great, I loved everything that happened. From the moment of Kira learning who Lydia was, to saving Lydia's life at the risk of her own, to Kira interacting with Octavion, even when the bad guys came and there was a big fight to protect Lydia and Kira. I was quite surprised by all the many things on Lydia's and Octavion's planet. About how Royal's can turned into a beast when there is a new moon and that they can't control their hunger when they smell blood from a commoner. I also like the different types of people on that planet. The confrontation with Lydia and her older sister was great. I cried once though because Kira was very badly hurt near the end of the book. I really do like the plot and I'm sure you will too.

I read “Bound” in a matter of days, and enjoyed Christine’s fresh take on YA fantasy. The book was a swashbuckling adventure, full of creativity with characters demonstrating a fierce loyalty and unconquerable spirit. This is the first book of a trilogy, and she has set up an exciting tale that will carry onto her next books.

I really loved this book. It was fresh and interesting and had me engaged from the first. I didn't want to put it down even to eat breakfast. The problem is that her sequel isn't out yet, and I'm already jonesing for a Kira fix.

I would have loved to have Kira go back to school long enough to climb that rope. I would have enjoyed the looks on those girls' faces when she monkeyed right up there. I would have loved to see a little more interaction in Kira's home too.

I wanted to smack Kira's mom when she left her daughter with next to nothing and no explanation. Who does that? It's amazing Kira turned out so well-adjusted coming from a mom like that. It isn't amazing that we didn't hear anything about Kira's dad with a flake like that for a wife.

I was amazed that with all the violence inherent in Octavion, she took to him like a giant softy stuffed tiger. I suppose, though, that she had nothing else to cling to. If they don't end up together after he can control himself and treat her right, I'm going to barf.

The action was fast paced and I could smell the blood (copious amounts of it). I've never seen so many injuries to one person! OW! It's a good thing she can heal herself so far.

I loved that they had an interesting skill set and the limitations to match. It bugs the heck out of me when it doesn't appear that a 'superhero' has limitations.

C K's world-building is stellar. I enjoyed the descriptions of Lydia and Octavion's world and look forward to seeing more of it. I enjoyed the ice cave setting and the meadow was lovely.

I'd love to hear more of what Shandira was up to. I know that family politics in powerful families often left siblings doing horribly under-handed things to each other in search of the crown. Why are Lydia and Octavion so amazed at her sudden defection? She's got to have given some kind of indication.

I can't wait to see how Kira blooms into her new powers. Will she miss her home world? Will she ever be queen? Will the people there accept her?

Write fast, C K!!! I want ANSWERS!!!

I wish I could pinpoint why this book couldn't hold my attention. The sentence structures are fine, there weren't any typos, and there were curious hints of "otherworldly" things and quite a lot of action right at the beginning. Yet for some reason the narrative was flat and in 35 pages I just never connected with any of the characters.

My best guess is that the author perhaps is telling more than showing the story. I wish I could be more specific than that.

There isn't anything specifically wrong with Bound, and this isn't meant to be a negative review - so I would certainly tell readers to take a chance on this writer and come to their own conclusions.

Bound By Christine Bryant is a young adult parnaormal romance and the first in The Crystor Trilogy. I have actually had the privelege of reading Bound more than once and can honestly say that I grew to love the characters even more the second time I read it.
Bound starts off with Kira, an average girl who struggles with fitting in, lacks the physical strength to climb that blasted rope in gym and is counting down the days to graduation. She has issues with her mom and her step dad, and finds peace only when she is with her best friend Lydia.
Lydia convinces Kira to go on a photo shoot with her in the mountains and that is when Kira's normal everyday life gets shot to pieces and nothing is the same again. It is when Kira discovers there is more, much more to her best friend of two years. The kinds of things that take Kira by surprise and test the strength of her friendship with Lydia.
Then there is the discovery of Lydia's older brother, Octavian. He is incredibly handsome, super protective and brooding. He confuses Kira with his upredicatable attitude and she doesn't know whatquite to make of him. Then he asks her to make a choice that will forever alter her life and lead her on the path of discovering life beyond the world she knows. To discover mythical creatures, beautiful worlds, evil villians, new found abilities and adventures she never dreamed existed. These things come at a price though. She must leave all she has ever known behind, and never look back, because more than just Kira's life depends on it.
Can Kira make the choice necessary and is she willing to give up what she knows for the hope and promise of something more? As things heat up between her and Octavian, and she finds how deep the bonds of friendship can really go, she learns she is being hunted and she must turn to the two people who would show her what love, family and freindship are all about . All leading up to a climatic ending you won't expect that will leave you begging for more.
But in order for you to find out all the juicy details you have to read Bound! It isn't your regular paranormal romance, there are great surprises waiting inside to be revealed. Christine's imagination is phenomenal and her descriptions are so clear you feel at times you can reach out and feel the cold water rush by, or see the brilliant sky and hear the wind rustle gently in your ear. Not to mention the way she describes her characters. They take on a three dementional life of their own.
I love how Kira learns she is not someone to be easily manipulated or pushed around as she once believed. I think the strength and courage she displays allows one to look into themselves to see where they can make weak things strong within themselves.
I love the bonds of friendship that Lydia and Kira hold strong. That they are willing to move beyond what is expected to create something extraordianary. I love Lydia's loyalty and selflessness to Kira. She always looks for ways to help Kira be who she really is but could never see for herself.
And Octavian is wonderful to read. He is strong and powerful and sometimes callous until he starts to realize his behavior has consequenses. Octavian then fights the warrior inside himself to find the compassion he once possessed. He learns that he can open himself up and not be guarded all the time. I love the changes in him as he remembers who he once was as he strives to bring parts of himself back to balance in with the protective warrior he was forced to become.
I felt the plot has surprising twists and turns that leave you wondering what is going to happen next. I thought it was well played out and that subplots that ran through it supported the over all direction of the story line. I felt that the characters were well developed and grew as they learned and recongnized things about themselves to help them be stronger. I felt that the world of Kira, Lydia and Octavian was beautifully written .

In the beginning of Bound, we meet average teenager Kira. Everything seems pretty normal in her life. She’s trying to survive high school and trying to live with a mother who constantly reminds her how weak she is. Then one day, Kira and her best friend, Lydia, go on a photo shoot for a school project. As innocent as this sounds, this is the mere moment where everything in Kira’s like is turned upside down. Everything thing she thought she knew and believed in the world is turned inside out. On that fateful day, Kira finds out the truth about Lydia: she is not from this world and she may not be entirely human. Kira must accept Lydia’s secrets and join her and her brother, Octavion, in fighting for their lives from the evil Shandira. As Kira is thrusted into Lydia and Octavion’s world, she must face the reality of the sacrifices she must make. Even if this means losing her best friend, losing the one she loves or possibly her own life.



This book was most appealing because of C.K. Bryant’s unique writing and the story she brought to life within Bound. I’ve read many books that deal with vampires, werewolves, angels and demons, but Bound is different. The whole paranormal aspect of this book cannot be found in many books. The originality of this was very refreshing. She builds a world that is literally not of this Earth. It is magically mysterious with complexity, but not hard to understand. It’s a beautiful world filled with unknown enemies, kingdoms far and wide and curses that can never be lifted. It is a place even I would love to go. Some aspects of the story are reminiscent to vampires and werewolves, such as the cravings for raw flesh and the shape-shifting, but in no way are they related. The powers of some of the characters in the book will have you amazed! I most enjoyed the fact that Kira is not the one with super natural powers, but her best friend. She is given normalcy from the start and then suddenly this gets ripped right out. She learns of Lydia’s and Octavion’s world throughout the book, as much as they are willing to share with Kira. C.K. Bryant does a great job of bringing Lydia and Octavion’s world to life and bringing their identities to full circle, gradually trickling information within the story. I found this most intriguing because each trickle of information is another added layer of the world. I never found one single boring moment in the book. Each page mentioned about Lydia and Octavion’s world captivated me, especially Lydia’s kindred spirit and Octavion’s shape-shifting curse. All that and more took my interest from the very start. C.K. Bryant wrote such an exciting paranormal, that I couldn’t help be invested in the lives of Kira, Lydia and Octavion. I got sucked in so easily with the perfect pacing of the story and the smooth writing. I had no trouble breezing through this book without hesitation. I must say that I just fell in love with this book. I enjoyed this book so much, I didn’t want it to end. Bound had me gripped from start to finish.



My favorite character is Kira. At first, I had my doubts about her. I thought of her to be weak too, not because of the way she acted. It was the way she talked about herself. Kira believed her mother when she said she was a mouse, an underfoot, and I believed her as well. Kira couldn’t help think of herself this way and it made me want to take her by the shoulders and shake her from this way of thinking. Kira had almost convinced herself that she was a weakling and if she continued on this path, I would have been convinced too. What made me change my mind that Kira was the polar opposite of weak and what made her my favorite character was the courage she showed when Lydia needed her. The more she spent time with Lydia and Octavion, her strength shined through. Kira is brave and selfless, sacrificing herself over and over throughout the book. Kira’s tolerance of pain made be bow down to her. I have never seen someone so willing to do everything to save the people she cared about. Her strength and courage had me rooting for her page after page. Kira had changed from the beginning and her transformation from the first page to the last took my breath away. By the end of book, I had tears in my eyes. I kept questioning myself, how much can one person take? I was so deathly afraid that Kira’s fire would burn out and her life would falter. 


I loved Kira and Lydia’s friendship. Their bond was unbelievably amazing physically, mentally and emotionally. Their friendship literally knew no bounds. Both were ready to sacrifice their lives for one another. Both were ready and willing to fight through the end. I found their friendship touching and heartbreaking too. The strength of their bond is something I have never ever read before.

Then there was Octavion. I will admit that sometimes he is overbearing, over protective, rough and has the worst temper known to man. But honestly, this makes him much more appealing and that much sexier and down right yummy. He doesn’t choose to be this way, he just is and he cannot help how he is. He cares so much about Lydia and Kira, he had me awed at his fight for them. Although he is those things I mentioned, Octavion is completely selfless, loving and tough to the bones. Although I did find Octavion and Kira’s love to be quite fast forward than I would like, I still enjoyed them together. They’re not your normal couple. They are funny, quirky and sweet with each other. Each is stubborn and set on keep one another safe. I think they are both perfect for each other in that Kira brings out the best in Octavion and he brings out the strength and courage Kira thought she never had. Octavion has my heart in his clutches (or should I say claws) and I’d be glad for my heart to happily stay there right where Octavion is. :]



Overall, this book was mesmerizing and thrilling. It’s filled with newfound identities, discovery, up-roaring excitement, unwavering friendship and love that is beyond this world. C.K. Bryant will have you right where she wants you the minute you finish reading the last page.



I cannot wait for book two. I’ll be ready to dive back into this world any day. I say pick this one up! It’s a must read <3



I have to warn you, the ending of the book really has you pulling your hair for more, more, more!

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars



*Many thanks to C.K. Bryant for sending me an ebook copy of Bound. 
She has no influence over my opinion/review of this book. It is solely my own.