Audible Book Review - Spellbound by Larry Corriea

I actually finished Spellbound a little while ago, and just didn't write the review immediately. This was probably because I've read this book at least three times already. Like with Hard Magic, my initial thought was not to use a credit on this book. However, the enjoyment I had with the first book and my genuine, eager love of the series as a whole drove me to pick up the second book with my latest credit. Yes, my next credit will go towards the third book, Warbound, which I reviewed the hard copy version here. Here's a link for the Audible page for the book. Still narrated by Bronson Pinchot, The book was well done and very enjoyable. Again, Corriea mixes history, magic, demons, zombies, and this time even adds a ronin samurai. All without leaving the continental U.S. Correia does a really good job of mixing his story in with the history  of the time period including the Bonus March, the assassination attempt on FDR, and even the Office of the Coordinator of Information (albeit a decade or so early).

Plot: It has been about a year since the Geo-tel was fired. Jake Sullivan has spent that time researching everything he can to find out more about the Power and, more importantly, the Predator that is tracking it. The other Grimnoir have been about their own affairs but everything is put on hold when an assassin wearing a Grimnoir ring tries to blow up president-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In the aftermath the Grimnoir and all other actives have to come to terms with a government and people hostile to them. What's more, they learn of a new government office that has been tasked with "fixing the active problem" and their lead agent, Mr. Crow, has exactly zero morals in carrying out his duty. What's more, Sullivan receives a phone call from a dead man, confirming the presence of the Predator and it appears that the best option is to walk right into the Imperium's embassy and ask for help. Faye, meanwhile, hasn't been able to teleport anywhere as well as she used to, and those that know why are scared that she might destroy them all.

My personal favorites: Like Hard Magic, Spellbound is action packed and character driven. The story does a great job of ramping up the tension and stakes without flying off the rails. Even the final battle has a great set up that builds up to the climatic moment with ease. We also meet one of my all time favorite characters, Toru of the Iron Guard. Hammer, Whisper, and Bowlander are also awesome characters with interesting stories and great hero moments. The action continues to be excellent and the villains are despicable.

Considerations: Like the other books, there is language and violence. And just like the other ones it is not gratuitous or graphic. There are no sensuality in the book. From what I could remember, I would say that this book had less language than Hard Magic.

Now, I've reviewed versions of all three books in the Grimnoir Chronicles trilogy. It is one of my all time favorites and is one that I readily recommend to people. Check it out. The total length was just under 16 and half hours.