Nocturnal Book Reviews

First of all, for the kind of novel it is, Bound by Honor is ridiculously overpriced. £8/$12.99 for an ebook published in 2009? You are kidding me, right. So when my interest was piqued I managed to buy a second hand paperback for £3.80 through BetterWorldBooks. Yes, my copy did fall apart when I was reading it, but I didn't feel bad about it...

I would not call this book erotica, mostly it reads like a slightly racy historical romance. Certainly, an author like Bertrice Small will give it a run for the money.


I was led to believe by the synopsis that there will be sizzling sexual attraction between Marian, Robin and Sheriff of Nottingham, - the latter is the reason I wanted to read the novel. I love Nottingham! He is a great historical villain.

Instead there are lukewarm interactions between Robin and Marian, doom and gloom on behalf of the sheriff who tries to save Marian from the leering eye of Prince John and feels self-loathing all the time, and John's pathetic sexually deviant court which of course required Marian to participate. Yawn. All in all it's rather tame.

Marian contracted by the Queen to spy on Prince John doesn't do a very good job of it and mostly plays the role of the victim. Sheriff and Robin over think everything, and the ending is awfully convenient. I think my problem is that there was really no conflict, no tension, no spark, and spoiled as I am by very good erotica I don't like to settle for less and read about glorified sex without emotional depth.

Slightly entertaining, even enjoyable, but I'm hesitant to recommend it.