Sophie Jordan

The "heroine" is a widgeon with delusions of a strong will and the "hero" is an over-bearing, judgmental coward. Why am I supposed to care about these idiots? And am I really supposed to be happy they're reproducing?

3.5 Stars | Hot Steam

As a long-time fan of Sophie Jordan’s sensational romances, I couldn’t wait to try the oh-so-tempting first novel in her upcoming Devil’s Rock series, ALL CHAINED UP. Though not as forbidden or illicit as I’d initially expected, but just as entertaining and provocative as I’d hoped it’d be, I devoured this high-octane sizzler of a story over two days, always eager to get back to it whenever life would pull me away.

Darker, dirtier and exponentially sexier than show more anything Jordan has written previously, Briar and Knox’s edgy, intense, emotional and deliciously steamy affair delivers a white-hot, criminal-themed contemporary that thrills without being overly disturbing, gory or gratuitously violent. While the beginning of ALL CHAINED UP is purposefully tense, turbulent and unsettling, including various fights between inmates, moderate police brutality and a scene of near sexual assault, the majority of the novel is more contemporary than criminal, taking place after Knox’s release from prison. On the outside, this blazing couple’s enthralling tale swiftly shifts from nail-biting action to toe-curling passion so wonderfully naughty, rough, raw and appealingly reminiscent of the fabulously filthy sort of lawbreaker lovemaking you might have seen and salivated over on popular shows like Sons of Anarchy or Banshee.

And, while wicked, pent-up, ex-con-epically-hot sex is prevalent in ALL CHAINED UP, romance is central and abundant too. I enjoyed reading Briar and Knox’s fragile and uncertain love grow into something fierce, undeniable and life affirming. Their bond is resilient, powerful and forever, and I was elated when they finally got it right—and then GOT IT ON, AGAIN!

I had so much heated fun reading ALL CHAINED UP and can hardly wait until Reid and Grace’s story, HELL BREAKS LOOSE releases this June! That auspicious title alone has got my pulse racing with anticipation!

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review. show less

I can't believe it took me seven years to circle back around to this book. There is so much great angst! I adore "unrequited" love storylines. While not quite significant enough to land on the abused heroine shelf, I appreciate threads in the plot - her cruel family, and the way her inlaws treated her set her up to be one of my favorite kinds of heroine. And while she is not plain, I appreciated her insecurity in the shadow of her beautiful sister. My only complaint is that the resolution show more was too abrupt. The angst is deliciously teased out but when it's time for him to grovel, it takes literally two pages, with no grovel at all for all the pain she’s suffered, just “duh, I love you” and then the epilogue. But seriously, sooooo much good angst, from the first page, to the (second to) last! show less

As someone who's read fantasy stories all my life, I wondered where all the dragons had gone. Wondered when we would start seeing them pop up again in the YA fantasy genre. I love dragons, have always loved them! Usually we see them in fantasy as the supporting characters, or the beast who carries the hero off to his various victories. Sophie Jordan has given them the starring spotlight they deserve with the start of her Draki series.

This was an amazing read, and despite the fact that I show more would have loved to see the story delve more into the actual lore of the dragon and how the Draki came to be, it was beautifully written. I would love to see this one go to the big screen---the first scene alone would be more than worth it: the gorgeous sunrise, the main character, Jacinda's manifestation into her dragon form, two dragons forbidden flight through the skies, and finally the appearance of danger on the horizon. It would a breathtaking opening to a movie! But as a book, by the third page, my imagination was just soaring.

The family thread of this story had my emotions in a whirlwind. Each member of Jacinda's family had their own side of the story and I literally could not take a side. Jacinda was treated differently among the Draki tribe because she was the only fire-breather in 400 years. She was being matched with the leader of the tribe to make the tribe stronger and while she didn't hate him, they had been friends their whole lives, she resented being forced into it. So when she gets into trouble for breaking a "sacred tenet" and is about to be horribly punished (details aren't given on what that punishment entails until later in the story), her mother sneaks Jucinda and her sister away in the middle of the night. Jucinda's sister, Tamra, is ecstatic at this move. She never manifested and so she was treated like an outcast among the Draki tribe. I completely understood Jucinda's mother's actions and Tamra's eagerness to start fresh somewhere else. While Jucinda is a little relieved to not be under so much pressure and expectation as she was in the tribe, she cannot see how she can be herself anywhere else. She is even more devastated by the fact that her mother intentionally moves them to a dry hot desert, a place that she knows will kill off the Draki in Jucinda. Despite the danger it puts them in, she is not ready to let her Draki side die, it is part of who she is. While I can see each of their sides, the way each acts on her feelings is pretty extreme and not just a little selfish! It doesn't make the story bad, it adds conflict and they definitely have some room for emotional growth throughout the series! I flip-flopped between being sympathetic to and angry with all three of these characters in turn--it made for a good emotional read!

The love story was a very original take on the classic Romeo and Juliet theme: their families are enemies, or in this case, the hunter and the hunted. Will is at odds with his family's "business" of hunting dragons. Still, Jacinda takes a great risk in being around him despite the fact that she knows what he is. She is drawn to him because of their first mysterious meeting and I thought the whole dragon-thing made an excellent metaphor for falling in love for the first time. The whole idea that being near him made her Draki side come alive to the point that she would almost manifest into a dragon every time they kissed gave their relationship a lot of intensity. While I don't want to give too much away, I will say that I found the "big moment" where she opens up to him so incredibly...sweet. :)

Definitely get your hands on a copy of this one and enjoy! show less