The Bound Prince

Captain Samantha Dorsey, of the Bound Virgin, is half human, half Ticara. Since escaping from her father’s control, she has buried much of her Ticara side - except her ability to heal. She has saved the lives of every one of her crew. Desperately low on funds, she has thrown all she has into a scavenger hunt, hoping to win the big cash prize. They have only one item left: a wild beast from a primitive planet. Whilst intoxicated thanks to some foul tasting alcohol, Sam and two of her crew, the two who haven’t passed out from liquor consumption, decide to go down to the planet Qurilixen, which they had previously established did not have any known landing bases. How much more primitive can you get? On the planet they happen across a white tiger, a very rare creature they are sure will win them first place. They manage to capture the tiger and get it aboard the ship, despite their inebriated state and the weight of the animal. They put the tiger in the cage in Sam’s cabin and all fall asleep. Upon waking in the morning, they can’t remember much of what happened the night before, recollecting only strange dreams about capturing a fabulous creature. Only in the cage is a naked man, with the largest equipment any of them had ever seen. Not only that, but he is a warrior prince. He is also someone Samantha cannot stop herself from responding to sexually. What develops between this unlikely pair? Whatever it is, will it be allowed to fully mature, or will it be nipped in the bud before it has a chance to fully reach its potential?

Prince Falke is a cat shifter. Whilst out on a run during the night, trying to clear his head of a traumatic past experience, he happens across the most beautiful woman he has ever seen; she holds him captivated. Also in her presence are two naked men; in and of itself, this is not an uncommon thing. What makes it uncommon is that they are not from his planet and are not shape shifters. Before he knows what has hit him, he is knocked unconscious by tranquilizer darts. Awakening in a cage aboard a space craft, still in tiger form, he is understandably bewildered, wondering what’s going on and why he has been kidnapped – again. At first he suspects it to be the work of his enemies. Then he finds out that taking him was the mistake of three very drunk people, who can no longer remember exactly what happened. Whilst apologetic, particularly when they find out about his status, they are unable to return him to his home planet and are distrustful of him, thus they decide to keep him contained until they are able to send him home. In addition to his confinement, their staring at his, well, lower half, is rather disarming and embarrassing. How will he turn the situation to his advantage? Will he be able to make his time aboard their ship more bearable? Will he act on the attraction he has felt towards Samantha since he first saw her in his tiger form? How will his upbringing, having been taught not to feel or express emotion, affect any possible relationship with Samantha?

This is the first story I have read by Michelle M. Pillow but I now find myself quite addicted. I am especially eager to get my hands on the other stories in this series, as well as the two related series. (I wish I had read the stories in order, this being the third in the Lords of Var series, but what’s done is done and cannot be rectified. This is most definitely a hot futuristic romance and comes straight from the author’s imagination. There is no doubt in my mind as to the originality of all of Ms Pillow’s stories. In addition to being a futuristic romance, this novel contains many other elements, among which feature hybrids, shape shifters and even a touch of a form of mind control. I loved The Bound Prince; it kept me guessing while revealing various unexpected events. The characters are both well-developed and endearing although, at times, you do feel like knocking some sense into them, what with the way they keep their feelings to themselves and make the wrong assumptions about each others actions throughout the story. Sex scenes are varied and saucy, but not explicit in a way that is likely to offend. This is a story that anyone should give a go, even if you haven’t had a taste of futuristic romance.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth