A Bond of Briars
She is bonded to a spirit who demands her blood.
She serves a mother-in-law who resents her power.
She meets a man who challenges everything she’s ever believed.
After a fatal illness takes Caitrin’s husband, she finds herself obligated to care for her mother-in-law, Meara, at any cost … even if it means traveling to Croìthe, where magic is outlawed. Hounded by the suspicious townsfolk and burdened by Meara’s bitter grief, Caitrin struggles to keep all of her secrets hidden and make a new life in the foreign land.
However, when the charming and charitable Callen Lockhart, a wealthy lord who is at odds with the town, welcomes her without judging her past, Caitrin worries that his generosity will come at a price she is unwilling to pay.
As her bond grows stronger, Caitrin must prove her blood magic isn’t dangerous or suffer the consequences of the truth being discovered.
This book is really quite good! Even if you aren’t normally a fan of dark fantasy it’s worth a read. I felt like I probably wasn’t the “target audience” and I still really enjoyed it. The setting is incredibly well done and I think like me you will find that you want to know what happens with Caitrin.