Bound by Prophecy Review, Author Interview, and Giveaway!

Hey guys! I back again. I have another review for you guys, and an interview that's pretty awesome. Happy Friday to all!

Bound by Prophecy by Melissa Wright

YA Fantasy 

Amazon Buy Link
My Rating: 8.5/10

Twenty-two-year-old Aern is done watching his brother destroy the only thing that matters. He never wanted to take Morgan's place among council, never wanted to rule their hidden world. But when the key to the prophecy is found, a young girl named Brianna whom Morgan will destroy, Aern knows he has to take action. What he really wants is for things to go back to normal. But now he’s kidnapped a girl, and his brother’s men are after him. His only hope is to join with the Division, but they have plans of their own, and it’s the last thing Aern is willing to do. Emily just wants her sister back. She doesn't care about the prophecy, or know what’s at stake. But when she goes after Aern, the truth of the matter uncoils, and Brianna isn't the only one who’s in danger. Suddenly, they’re at the center of a secret war, and unless they can work together, they’ll both have a sacrifice too big to make.

Sorry if you all are getting fed up with my list type reviews, but I think now it is more than appropriate to give Bound the rating I did. Let's start.

• I watch action movies all the time, but Bound has proven to be more interesting than all of them. Just the beginning starts out with an adrenaline pumping scene. But the good part is the book is formed for people who not only need action packed scenes to keep the interested, but those who want something a little more complex will also enjoy this.
• Bound had a mix of several different genres and elements, so I was wrapped up in it quite easily.
• I don't know if this a fault on the author's part, but although some of the main characters were in their twenties, I keep seeing them as teenagers. They weren't immature or anything, but that's the way I perceived it.
• The book created a new world. I felt like I was slipping into a new place, like Narnia or something. I was excited to open up the book and return to the friends, ahem, characters I had missed. Also the plot was the most exciting thing that happened to me this week,
  

Bound by Prophecy was way too awesome for words. I hope I described it well (I didn't know how to do it without spoiling the whole thing.)

I'm done talking. Read the book. 

An Interview with the Author, Melissa Wright

Hi Melissa. This interview is going to be about the publishing process. How are you? Great, thanks for having me! 1. To start, did you have people, such as friends or family, reading your book as you wrote or did you let them see it when you finished? If you waited till the end, how was it finally sharing your work? I have a couple of beta readers who receive bits of the story as I go. It’s nice to have that feedback in the five or six months it takes me to finish one up. After the full draft is ready, it goes to a few more betas so they can give me an idea on how it reads all the way through. When it’s your own work, it’s really hard to get a feel for what the reader is missing because the story is in your head and you know the whys and what-fors. They are for the most part friends, family, and peers, so the real test is sending it to the editor. When she gives me the thumbs up, then it’s a little less nerve-racking to share it with the world. 2. What was your first bit of criticism and how did you take it? When you've worked for so long on something and you really want people to love it the way you do, it’s hard to see the occasional particularly spiteful review. But this book has received a wonderful response overall, so it’s easier to take the non-harsh comments like I wish it were longer or I’d like to have learned more about their origins and use it to improve the next one. Because of reader feedback, I do plan on delving further into the ancestors in book two, which was probably something I would have only added minor plot details to before. 3. What was it like getting the cover designed? Was it everything you thought it would be? The cover for Bound by Prophecy was designed by Gene Mollica. I’d had a crush on his cover art for a long time and he’d created the characters for some of my favorite authors (see Trapped by Kevin Hearne), so it was pretty cool to have him design for my own book. After we discussed the story and characters and chose models and wardrobe for the photo shoot, I’ll admit I got a little giddy. I absolutely love the result, down to the little details like Aern's ring and the sun on Emily’s face. Probably my favorite part is the way their hands are not-quite intertwined, which speaks of their relationship in the story. I can’t wait to see the cover for book two. 4. What was the hardest part about writing your book? I am incredibly busy outside of writing, so right now finding time is my main difficulty. I've thought about this a lot, though, and it seems likely that because I have so much time tothink about wanting to write and not actually being able to, the story has time to fully form in my head. That’s a good thing, because when I sit down, the words are there waiting for me and writing becomes the easy part. 5. Any regrets?I’d previously published three novels and a short story in the Frey Saga, so most of my publishing regrets have been turned into learning experiences. There are always little questions like maybe I should have gone another direction with a background character, or maybe I should have ended with more implication for the next book’s plot, but now that I've got a great team in place, I feel pretty good about letting those doubts go to work on the rest of the series. 6. What was the thing you worried most about while in the process of publishing this book? Honestly, I want people to like it. lol I never realized how obsessive and needy I could be until I started writing. It’s so easy to get completely caught up in this world you've created, in your characters, and to want to share them and have them be important to someone else. Or to everyone else. But the good news is, once the book is out I’m generally working on the next one, and so that becomes my new world. But yeah, I hope you love it. 7. Lastly, why should we read BOUND? See question 6. (jk) I think Bound by Prophecy is fun because of Aern. I had my doubts about writing from the male point of view, but I’m so glad I did. He was a blast to create and his relationship with Emily feels like the perfect counterpart to his laid-back style. Throw them into a nasty situation, and you've got a fast paced conflict they both want to win. Thanks so much for answering these questions Melissa & also letting me read Bound by Prophecy! Thank you! These are great questions, I can tell you're familiar with the process ;)  Ha-ha. If only she knew.

a Rafflecopter giveaway