Bound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn

Bound by the Hinterlands by Bree M. Lewandowski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cressida’s life hasn’t been anything grand or special. Her mother passed away, so it’s just been her and her sickly father, who’s super controlling and not very affectionate. He abusive and mean, but he’s all she has so she care for him. Knowing his death is coming soon, she’s been trying to plan for life without him. Not blessed with beauty or any talents, she knows that life is going to be hard. Even with her father’s last name, a woman just doesn’t have the same rights as men do. She’ll be on her own and she’s twenty-five. She’ll have to be a maid, a cook, or something similar once he passes. It will be hard work and her life will be simple, but what else can she ask for? A small amount of freedom is really all she wants. Her father has other plans though. Calling in a debt from a Baron, her father arranges a marriage with Caravahl of the Hinterlands. With no say she accepts her fate, she’s married off, and she’s whisked right away to the Hinterlands. Stories of the land give children nightmares and now she must live there. Going from a small amount of freedom to a marriage and running a house was not where she saw her life heading. At all! But she starts to fall in love with the people and the land around her. Danger threatens it all though. There is a darkness to the Hinterland forest. The land is sinister and hard. It’s hard to work there and it’s even harder to live there. It’s cold. The forest is a poison. The area is just creepy! But it’s her new home and she plans to be a helpmate to her new husband and help when and where she can. As secrets threaten the land and all people in and around it, the last thing they need is a visit from last minute quests. Arriving right after their super quick marriage and their fast journey home, everyone is rushing around to prepare for their unexpected company. How do you prepare for a guest who likes to cause problems though? Purposely messing with people is just part of court. Infuriating her husband seems to be their goal, but as she spends more time with him she sees another side to Caravahl. He actually loves his country and people. He’s a man of honor. Will he risk it all to save her from the darkness? His kingdom, his life, and even his heart? Can he share the truth with her? Will she find her footing in this new life that was thrust upon her or will the weight of it all crush her heart and soul? Will she run in fear once she learns the truth? This book was very interesting. It took me a minute to get into it because I was having a very busy week, but once I did I didn’t want to put it down. I knew something was going to happen soon and I just had to know what!! I ended up enjoying it and the characters. Of course there are sad parts, tense parts, and funny parts but the story gets better and better as you read. I can’t wait to read some more from this author in the future!!

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