Author: Cat Miller
Genre: Fantasy, romance
Published on: July 17, 2012 (first edition), self-published
Things are about to heat up…
Brandi Vaughn wishes she could stand out. She’d do anything to get out from behind the shadow of her socialite family—which now includes Dani, her half sister, recently discovered to be the most powerful vampire known to their kind.
But Brandi is more extraordinary than anyone realizes. The fiery young vamp has a secret elemental power—an inner flame that she must keep under control so as not to reveal herself to the dangerous rogue vampire targeting exceptional talents like hers. But when two desperate followers of the Rogue attempt to kidnap Dani during her wedding ceremony, Brandi lets loose with a pyrotechnic display that doesn’t go unnoticed…
As the vampire nation comes face-to-face with the threat of the Shade army, Brandi is caught in an emotional tug of war between the light and the dark. Torn between the affections of lovers from both factions, she will need to choose who to trust with her heart: a warrior or a rogue.
Things are mostly the same since the ending in Unbound. This second installment in the Forbidden Bond series starts right after the previous book. The main character, Soleil Danielle Vaughn, was a former demi-vamp. She got turned into a full vampire after a member of the vampire warrior class tried to bond with her. The bonding failed, and now that vampire, Darren, is in hiding.
Unforgiven begins when Dani’s bonding ceremony with Chase Deidrick is about to start. They had a tumultuous relationship in the previous book, but in the end, their love prevailed. The vampire society has all but accepted Dani, especially now that she’s a full vampire. Dani is eager to bond herself to Chase. She fears that the bonding might fail again, though.
Before the ceremony can take place, Darren and an accomplice try to abduct Dani. The latter’s half-sister, Brandi, is able to thwart the attempt. In the process, she reveals her new pyrokinetic powers. Unfortunately, Brandi's not quick enough to avoid getting shot by Darren. She almost doesn't manage to escape alive. Vampires in this series heal fast, but gunshots to the chest can still be fatal. Greyson, an ex-trauma surgeon turned vampire warrior, nurses Brandi back to health. When Brandi wakes up, she feels a strong attraction toward Greyson. Days after Dani’s kidnapping attempt, Brandi and Greyson start a relationship. They don't think much of the decades in age difference between them. This is common for vamps, as they age very slowly.
Several months pass. Brandi is now in full health. She’s also running in different circles these days. Brandi used to be a model student and a fan of sports. She’s let go of all that to be more like her socialite sister, Samantha. Now referring to herself as New Brandi, she makes herself a part of high society. Brandi even goes as far as abandoning her old nerdy friends. This comes back to bite her, no pun intended. After a visit to Thirst, a popular vampire club, Brandi's ex-boyfriend attacks her. In the nick of time, a shady vampire shows up to save Brandi. He turns out to be Abel, Darren's old accomplice. Brandi has been dreaming about him, but this is the first time they come face-to-face in months. With Brandi incapacitated, Abel takes her somewhere safe while she recovers.
In the time that has passed, the vampire rogue who’s also been after Dani has gathered an army. They call themselves the Shade. The Rogue wants Dani because he wants to absorb her powers. She’s not just one of the strongest telekinetics. Dani can also control other vampires—a rare gift— and communicate via telepathy. Abel happens to be the Rogue’s right-hand man. He knows that Brandi is a pyro, but has kept quiet because he has feelings for her. Brandi also feels something for him, but she doesn’t want to betray her boyfriend or her people.
Although Brandi, Greyson, and Abel are this book’s main protagonists, other characters from the first book also return. Griffin and Tessa Vaughn’s story arc continues as a subplot. They are Dani’s parents, and they separated two decades ago. Despite Griffin’s claims to love Tessa, he has continued to prove otherwise. She’s become tired of it and has grown closer to the vampire’s medic, Doc Reilly Stevens. Doc saved her life at the start of the book. Tessa’s precognitive talents will drive a large part of the plot in Unforgiven. As for Dani’s college friends (all human), they are still absent. Only one of them makes a surprising reappearance. Kayden Paris, the son of the warrior class’s commander, also plays an important role.
Brandi’s fire-manipulation powers are eventually brought to light. As was inevitable, the Rogue sets his sights on her. Abel continues to keep the secret, but the Shade are growing suspicious of him. There’s a coming war, and apparently only one vampire can influence who wins. Is this vampire the obvious answer—Brandi—or is it someone else? The ending has a couple of twists that will leave you slack-jawed. I wasn’t able to put down this book once I approached the last chapters. They are thrilling enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of vampire fiction, the Forbidden Bond series is among the best in the genre. It won't disappoint. I liked Brandi too, even more than Dani. She has a rich character arc. Brandi tries to reinvent herself and ends up finding who she's really meant to be. It looks like she'll play a bigger role going forward. I'm eager to see what happens.
My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!
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