Review: Bound and Determined by Grace A. Johnson

Bound and Determined by Grace A. Johnson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

There’s just something special about series with long-standing characters, and it’s even more special when the series expands to include literal epics about said characters. And that’s what this book is – the long-awaited, epic installment of the Daughters of the Seven Seas that includes all the amazing, dramatic pirate action!

Characters: Let’s just start off here with our old favorites, Rina and Xavier. Of course, Rina is one of my favorite characters – girl is a legend – and I loved seeing her again! I especially enjoyed watching her grow and change throughout all the trials (which were heartbreaking, to say the least), but so much of Rina’s humanity was uncloaked during this book. And seeing her as a mother was also so precious. Then there was Xavier, who truly came into his own here. The author did a great job digging more into his character, and my only complaint is that I needed more of him! Then came the newer characters – Keaton and Daisy. (Although Keaton was in the earlier books, he wasn’t an MC.) Daisy was such a broken, hurt girl, and I just needed to protect her! However, even though her struggles and situation are far different from mine, she was still relatable. I loved her determination to find her sister, no matter the cost. Oh, and that reminds me, Lissy! Such a sweet girl. And then there was Keaton. Dear Keaton. I personally had a lot of issues with his character throughout the first part of the book (especially how he treated Daisy), but by the end of the book, I had accepted him more or less. And then there were all the sides characters – can I just mention Julius? That guy needs a book of his own. And the rest of the side characters added to the story and rounded out the cast.

Plot/Writing Style/Setting: Overall, since this book is so massively long, it reads exactly like a historical. Sometimes a bit wandering, and I didn’t know where things were going, but perfectly paced for this genre. Even though it was so long, I didn’t feel like it dragged on. There was just so much going on, and while there are lots of words – thousands and thousands – the author just sucks you into the story, and you just keep reading! As for the writing style … wow, there were such beautiful lines and moments. Again, the writing truly fit the historical genre so well – poetic and descriptive and lush. So lovely. And then the setting – yay for pirate ships and islands and all sorts of interesting settings! The author did a wonderful job of descriptions, not overloading the reader with too much, but giving us plenty to envision what was happening.

Romance: This is the section where things got a little dicey for me. I personally don’t mind a few kisses/hugs etc., and some of the romance scenes truly were quite sweet. (Yay for Rina and Xavier being happy.) But I will say some of the romance went beyond what I would choose, and the way Keaton treated Daisy was definitely not okay in some situations. So if you’re sensitive to romantic content, just beware. However, there was nothing explicit.

Theme: There were all sorts of lovely themes woven throughout this book! Dependence on the Lord, grace, and mercy were just a few of the themes that worked through each of these characters’ lives. I love when authors are not afraid of speaking the truth, and those are some of the most powerful scenes in this book. There were a few instances where I disagree theologically with the author, but that didn’t really upset my view of the book.

Overall, this was one epic pirate adventure. Although some parts are not an easy read, this book contains much that historical Christian fiction readers will love! (Do beware there are heavy aspects of this book; the author has so graciously provided a detailed list of all the thing addressed.)





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