REVIEW: Bound By Flames (Night Prince #3)

Bound By Flames (Night Prince #3), by Jeaniene Frost
Published January 27, 2015
Publisher: Avon
Format: paperback, purchased
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Play with fire, pay the price.

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…

Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both…

This was everything I needed and so much more. It's been so long since I spent time in the Night Huntress world, and even longer since I spent some quality time with my second favorite hero in it - Vlad (second only to Bones, who will always have my heart). This book... my goodness. There was action and danger and... VLAD. In all his ruthless, sexy, overprotective glory. Oh, and in case you were wondering - yes. Cat and Bones do make an appearance. 

In Bound By Flames, Vlad is still out searching for his arch nemesis, and looking to put him in the ground. Permanently this time. And, now that Leila is a vampire too, she doesn't have things like her mortality to worry him constantly. She can be even more of a help to him. Except, for some reason, Vlad's overprotectiveness is at an all-time high, and it's driving Leila nuts. She wants to use her gifts to find the bad guys, but Vlad only wants her to stay as far away from the action as possible. 

On one hand, I can sympathize with Vlad. The only other woman he married in his very long life killed herself due to the stress of living with a vampire. Now, Vlad is in love again, and this time, it's even stronger and deeper. And, he's terrified he's going to lose Leila like he did his first wife. Fear isn't an emotion Vlad knows what to do with. He's Vlad the Impaler, for crying out loud. Vlad doesn't get afraid. He gets pissed and flammable. 

Leila is just coming into her own. She hasn't been a vampire for long. Nor has she been Vlad's wife for long. But, she seems to have taken to both roles pretty easily. Now that Vlad has fully committed to her, Leila is all in. She wants to be the queen of the castle in every way, not just the domestic ones. She wants to be Vlad's partner in all things, including his efforts to find and kill his greatest enemy. Leila's tough. She has dealt with a lot in her young life, and now that she's found the love of her life, she wants to put herself out there and help fight all the bad things by her husband's side. 

But, that puts Leila too close to the action for Vlad's liking. He goes to extreme lengths to suppress her abilities so that she doesn't have a good excuse to help him. Unfortunately, all the bad guys know what Vlad's weak spot is now. And, it's her. 

Leila goes through A LOT in Bound By Flames. Like, more than I can fathom any person going through. Despite her being a vampire and being able to tolerate a lot more physically than a mere human, the psychological effects from some of that stuff are enough to seriously mess up anyone, vampire or otherwise. When I said this chick was tough, I meant it. Not only does she soldier through and come out the other side, it seems like she comes through stronger and more capable. 

And, Vlad, when faced with the possibility of losing his wife - again - he decides that, maybe having a partner is better than having a prisoner. See? Even a centuries old vampire can change his ways. 

It's the events that come to light during the epic battle at the end that set the stage for the last book in the Night Prince series. And these events are total game changers. 

I am so in love with this series and these characters. I don't ever want them to end.