Heart of Darkness (A Bound By Magick Novel) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lauren Dane (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 2011 | Series: A Bound By Magick Novel (Book 1)

Someone is illegally siphoning magic from the font of the Clan. When Meriel Owen, next in line to control the largest organization of witches in the country, discovers that it's the hot owner of a notorious underground club, she strokes an unusual deal that may plunge them all into the heart of darkness.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Bound By Magick is a four book series with stand alone HEA for each couple but there's a multiple book story arc that begins in Heart of Darkness and will conclude in Wild Darkness.

The reading order of the books is:

Heart of Darkness

Chaos Burning

Going Under

Wild Darkness

(there's a prequel set in the same world featuring Nell and William in the What Happens in Vegas...After Dark anthology called Sensual Magic)

From the Back Cover

From national bestselling author Lauren Dane comes a white-hot new series of a dangerous family legacy, and sensual paranormal passions played to the death on the knife-edge of darkness...

Meriel Owen, next in line to control the largest organization of witches in the country, is asked to investigate the owner of a notorious club reportedly siphoning magic from the font of the Clan. It's a direct violation of the Clan Code of Conduct, but one look at Dominic Bright and Meriel's willing to make a deal. One taste of the sexually feral outlaw witch, and she's eager to go further: he's her bond mate, a legal conduit into the world of Clan witches and their magic.


Playing by the rules isn't Dominic's style, but bonding with Meriel--night after explosive night--is. However, Meriel has unwittingly invited someone else into her world: Dominic's mother, a dangerous and poisonously influential magic addict whose lust for death and power corrupts all she touches. Now her shadow is closing in on Meriel, her Clan, and the man Meriel loves, and it's casting them all into the inescapable heart of darkness.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425244512
• ISBN-13: 978-0425244517
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #362,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The story goes like this - While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about "giving that writing thing a serious go" to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back.

Today Lauren is a New York Times bestselling author of over fifty novels and novellas across several genres.

Visit Lauren on the web at www.laurendane.com
E-mail [e-mail]
Blog www.laurendane.com/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurendane
You can write to her at: PO BOX 45175, Seattle, WA 98145

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I was well and truly sucked in! November 1, 2011

By EdynzTrybe

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Please see full review at: readersedyn(dot)blogspot(dot)com

Heart of Darkness was the first Lauren Dane book I have had the pleasure of reading. This book is a paranormal romance filled with mystery, suspense, romance, and numerous magickal components. The story primarily follows witches Meriel Owen and Dominic Bright. Meriel has been groomed practically since birth to take over her mother's position as head of the Owen clan. Dominic has been raised outside of clan affiliation and harbors a deep distrust of anything remotely smelling like an invitation to clan membership ... until he meets Meriel.

The two meet up when Meriel is instructed by her mother to investigate a drain from an outside source on the clan's power source, the font. Attraction is instant for both, but Meriel discovers that Dominic is much more than a potential fling. Ever cautious, Dominic is not exactly receptive toward Meriel's announcement ... Dominic and Meriel are bond-mates. Understanding Dominic's difficulty, Meriel allows Dominic to adjust to her revelation without pressure.

The couple slowly progresses until another unexpected danger looms over their future. Secrets are divulged, lives are endangered and through it all, the Owen clan must take a stand against the threat. But will Dominic be able to set aside his distrust of clan affiliation to aid Meriel and her clan ... a woman he has come to care for? Guess you will have to read this fascinating novel to find out. '

Dane does an outstanding job of world building with Heart of Darkness. Oftentimes the first novel (especially in a planned series) can become cluttered with information, leaving the reader in a haze of confusion.... Also marvelous is the task of not only introducing characters, but including back stories that enhance the reader's ability to get to know the secondary cast on a deeper level than merely "supporting character". The story successfully flows from beginning to end, never letting up on the suspense, romance, and depth of character.

I really enjoyed that Meriel and Dominic's characters have a chance to evolve past the level they begin at in their magickal confidence. Another fascinating aspect was Meriel's growth in roles from support within the clan, to leadership. Her personality comes across initially as intelligent, resourceful, and dedicated toward work and the clan. But underneath the cool exterior of Meriel the lawyer, lurks Meriel the badass witch who will do everything within her magickal power to fiercely protect anything or anyone who belongs to her. And Dominic belongs to her. Together they are an unstoppable force. Dane well and truly sucked me into this fascinating escape into the world of the Owen clan.

Heart of Darkness is the first of the Bound By Magick Novel series. Readers are treated to a glimpse of the next installment of the series giving Simon a much needed nudge to leading role from secondary character in Heart of Darkness. I for one am looking forward to reading more about the Owen clan and learning more about the uber-sexy Lycian, Simon. Heart of Darkness releases on November 1, but can be pre-ordered now by clicking the link at the top. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great start to a new series! November 1, 2011

By RVAbooklover VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I was so excited to win a copy of Lauren Dane's Heart of Darkness! She is one of my favorite authors. I love the way she builds her characters, and HoD was no exception. Strong hero and shero, great secondary characters, and a strong beginning to a brave, new world.

Meriel Owen is the heir apparent to her Clan of witches. Loved everything about this character. No too stupid moments. She is tough as nails, but not a ballbreaker. She is smart about people, and she seems to have an instinctive knowledge about how to best handle conflict with the people in her life. Her mother, Edwina, a definite ball breaker, is the current head of Clan Owen, and is a micro manager times 10. Meriel, we are told and shown, goes along with her mother's edicts when it suits her and when she absolutely must, but is not above avoiding her mom when direct confrontation is not in Meriel's best interests.

From the first time we meet Dominic, we learn he is a bad boy, mostly reformed. What a dream hero. He is cocky, self-assured, a little naughty...*sigh*Dominic has come to Seattle to open a nightclub that caters to both human and Other clientele. He "borrows" magic from the Clan font to set up wards at the club. Bad boy. <g> He likes to be in charge, but is smart enough to know when to ask questions, and take direction. He loves that even though Meriel is a strong woman, she lets him open her doors, hold her jacket, etc. because he likes to. But as GQ and urbane as he is, our boy can more than hold his own in a fight. He is the total package.

Meriel, in her official capacity as a lawyer for Clan Owen, confronts Dominic when the fact he is helping himself to the Clan's magic font comes to light.... Meriel, having grown up in the Clan and surrounded by the magical culture, knows immediately that Dominic is her bond mate. Dominic, having been raised by his foster father to distrust all Clan witches, has no knowledge of the bonding phenomenon, but feels the pull to Meriel. As bond mates, their magic is designed to function better together. Despite the threats to her Clan and her personal safety, she refuses to rush Dom into a decision about accepting the bond, even though the strength of their magick would grow exponentially if they were to bond.

There is very little conflict between Meriel and Dominic. The conflict in the story is external in the form of a threat to the Clan, and to other non-affiliated witches. I liked the way Dom and Meriel worked together, letting each take the lead depending on what skills were needed to solve problems or complete tasks. Meriel and Dominic functioned as a team almost from the beginning.

The romance here is so hawt...and so sweet. These two connect and their bond continues to grow. They support each other, defend each other, love each other...Again, they come across as a team. I loved them separately and together.

Secondary characters abound. We get exactly the right amount of information about all of them, as required to further the story. Dominic's partner, Simon, is next up. I can't wait to read his story!

Heart of Darkness reads as a PNR more than a UF. There is a lot of world building, as we learn the rules of this new venue. The world has enormous potential, as all manner of paranormals inhabit it. I can't wait to see where the journey takes us. A very enjoyable read! Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Potential April 22, 2012

By Tez Miller

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I don't expect every book I read to be worth five stars, but I hope so and keep searching. Lauren Dane is an author with potential who sets the framework for great conflicts. In HEART OF DARKNESS, a bond between witches is not always romantic or sexual. (It's like imprinting in the Twilight Saga.) Edwina Owen is married to Abe, but her bond-mate is Roy. Spellcrafting works best with one's bond-mate's.

How does Abe feel about Edwina and Roy's bond? What if someone or their bond-mate is already in a relationship? What if one's bond-mate is a serial killer? There's enormous potential for conflict in this relationship, yet the author does not explore this. (Tez recommends: In Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series, the heroine's soulmate is a murderer.) Someone remarks that it's a miracle the clan witches aren't all inbred. My thoughts exactly.

Meriel is supposedly intelligent, but often she thinks/talks like a teenager. Dominic, too, for that matter. There are direct references to acting like a sixteen-year-old, a fifteen-year-old, a fourteen-year-old. This isn't cute. Dominic likens Meriel to her socks: silly and fierce. This novel tries to be fierce, but is really just silly. Here are some Dominic quotes:

-"I've got some goo for you too." I'd expect that talk from Peter Griffin, not from a supposed romance hero. Ew.
-"I want you with me, Meriel. Tampons and coffee habit included." Bollocks. We all know romance heroines don't menstruate because that would get in the way of their sex lives.

There are other things that piss me off about this novel, but in the theory of trash and treasure: what works for you may not be right for some. You've been warned.