Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Sometimes the worst scars are the ones you can’t see.

World War III broke out 130 years ago when humans found out that my people—magi—and shifters were real. They’ve been imprisoning and enslaving our two species since. But now humans need our help protecting the world from the strange monsters they let cross the veil between realms.

Eighteen years ago, my world changed. Suddenly I was allowed freedoms I’d never had before, but I was still at the Non-Human Specialties Operations’ beck and call. Which is how I found myself on a team with my best friend, five shifters, and a human.

Now, I have to figure out a way to work with others—with shifters. I’ve never been one to trust easily, and I don’t see that changing, but this shifter pride has a way of getting past my walls. Unfortunately, all that means is now I have even more people I need to protect against the evils of this world, and I really don’t know how I’m gonna do it.

All three species have been at odds for more than a century, but maybe Cosmo—a lion shifter—and I can put aside our differences to work together and keep everyone safe. And if I’m secretly crushing on the guy, well, I think I’ll keep that to myself.

Book Review

Two magi, a pride led by a lion alpha, enough snark and sarcasm to keep me laughing, action, adventure, suspense and battles galore, plus the beginning of a love story for the ages is ‘The Scars That Bind Us’, book one in ‘The Magi Accounts’ by Michele Notaro. In my opinion these books must be read in order as there is simply too much backstory, history, and an underlying linking plot thread to do anything else. Because of this my reviews will not repeat information. Trust me when I say you’re going to want to follow along straight from the beginning.

 

It was over a hundred years ago that humans discovered the existence of shifters and magi. Since humans have a history of non-tolerance for anything different, World War III began and lasted over a decade with the death toll reaching billions. Within the United States a civil war waged simultaneously as the western half of the country was outraged at how humans were treating the shifters and magi, while the other half simply wanted to rule over them. When the world war ended with the Great Peace Treaty, the west coast had broken from the whole and created their own nation where all were equal and is known as the People’s Liberation Union; the Midwest was essentially destroyed by bombs leaving what became known as the Great Divide; and the east coast continued its intolerance, hatred, and subjugation of everyone who was different, aka non-human, and known simply as US.

 

In the last century the US has done everything in its power to subjugate magi and shifters, with magi being on the very bottom rung of society. They can’t own a home, a car, and most of them are forced to work for the NHSO – Non-Human Specialties Operations. Almost twenty years ago, a group of witches – humans who use blood and sacrifice to create magic – ripped a tear in the veil between earth and the Tarago realm unleashing monsters known as Taragorians. These monsters somewhat resemble dragons although they can’t fly. They are big, they can shoot fire from their mouths, and they are constantly looking for weaknesses in the veil so they can feed on humans, shifters, and magi. Their hides are impenetrable to anything except shifter claws and teeth, and only magi can close veil tears. You’d think that this would elevate magi and shifter standings, but no. Instead, they are forced to work for TRD – Taragorian Response Department.

 

“All magi could perform simple cantrips, like a light source or a quick and dirty shield, but for the big spells, every mage needed a focus. Most magi used something like a branch and made it into a wand or staff. Magi made their focus their own by inscribing sigils all over it to help power their spells. A focus was irrevocably linked to its mage. And that was where dyads came in, where my Jude came in. Some magi, like me, were lucky enough to gain a living focus—also known as another mage. It wasn’t common, but sometimes a spell was used to bond two magi together to form a dyad. Every dyad pair had one weaver—the mage that weaved the spells together—and one focus. These living focuses had their own energy, a hundred times stronger, or even more, than a non-living focus. Not only were they alive, but they had their own magic running in their veins, and on top of that, the deep connection the two magi formed, the love the focus shared with their weaver brought its own energy into the mix. So the older they got, the more powerful they became because of these connections. Jude was my focus, and I, his weaver. Together we worked bigger, better spells. He was covered in sigils that I’d tattooed on his skin while using my magic to connect with them.” ~ Madeo

 

Madeo and Jude are magi, very unique magi, as they share a dyad bond. Madeo was three days old when he was bonded to Jude and they’ve been together ever since. They are compound bred, meaning their mothers were forced to breed with their fathers to produce children with high magical abilities, and then these children are taken away from the mothers at a very young age and raised by guards and teachers. To the rest of the world the magi send their children to special magic schools where they’re taught how to weave spells. This isn’t the truth as these children are raised in a horrifically abusive environment where they are beaten and punished at the whim of the human guards. Because of their bond and the strength they both bring to the pairing, Madeo and Jude were trained as combat magi since they were very young, and have been working as such since they were fifteen and sixteen, respectively.

 

In order to save a young mage, Logan, from having to be on a TRD team, Madeo and Jude agree to work on a team for the first time in years. Up until now they’ve been backup to the teams, but now they’re being placed on a team with a human captain and five shifters. All shifters in this world are feline of some kind whether lion, tiger, cheetah, leopard, etc. Madeo and Jude don’t have good experiences with shifters having suffered at their hands, too. They don’t expect the kind of pride that they get with Cosmo Ono-Nai, alpha and lion shifter.

 

I think it comes as no surprise that because of their upbringing and what they’ve suffered at the hands of humans and shifters, Madeo and Jude don’t trust easily. Jude is a little more easy-going than Madeo, but Mads, or Madman as some humans call him, is full of snark, sarcasm, and trusts no one except Jude. He doesn’t know how to handle Cosmo and his pride who offer friendship and caring. The fact that Mads is outrageously attracted to Cos from day one isn’t helping his anxiety.

 

Because breaches didn’t happen continuously, the TRD teams are also used to investigate crimes. It’s supposed to be any crimes involving non-humans, but basically the TRD only emphasizes crimes against humans, so the disappearance of a large number of shifters goes unnoticed until Mads and Cos stumble on it. What they discover turns out to be a sinister plot that I suspect is going to follow them throughout the series. In the process of rescuing Cos, Mads inadvertently bonded the two of them together, and I can’t wait to see what will happen going forward.

 

I apologize that this review is so much history and backstory but I think it needs to be understood. I was hooked from the very beginning and this author has written wonderful characters that I’m hoping to see a lot more of. Madeo and Cosmo’s relationship is slow and sweet. The battle scenes with Taragorians are excitement galore. Madeo and Jude’s dyad bond is beyond incredible. And, their pet cats (literally) are fabulous. I mean, who wouldn’t fall in love with Doctor Dorito Daggertooth, Mrs. Mango Mushyface, and Princess Poppy Puffikins of Purrito Palace.

 

‘The Scars That Bind Us’ is everything I could have hoped for in a series introduction. I’m dying to see more of all these characters and see where the author plans on taking me.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 405 pages/115K words
Heat Level
Publication Date	22-February-2022
Price	$5.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Scars-That-Bind-Us-Accounts-ebook/dp/B09L57W5KN