Customer Reviews

Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson, Guardian, Book 9)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

**Possible spoilers if you have not read the rest of the series**

After what I would call a very emotional and unexpected ending in Bound to Shadows, Moon Sworn picks up with Riley mourning her soul-mate Kye's death at her own hands, and the death of her long time friend Kade. While she has much to live for she is questioning her future as a Guardian and where her life is heading. She longs to realize her dream of having a family and leaving the violent life of a Guardian behind. However, because of the changes that are occurring in her body due to an experimental drug given to her, she is bound to the Directorate indefinitely.

When it becomes apparent that a killer is at work leaving brutally slain bodies of recently released ex-cons around, Riley is back on the job and deep in a mystery. She is once again the bold, vivacious Guardian we've come to know, determined to get the job done. But an enemy from her past is hell bent on revenge and has hatched an elaborate plan to get to her. Riley's life will never be the same and she may lose everything and everyone she loves if she cannot identify and conquer the enemy that seeks to take everything from her.

As this series has progressed the stories have become more and more exciting, always entertaining, and I've become somewhat emotionally invested in the characters and their lives. Knowing this was the last book in the series I was both excited and a little sad to read it. Without spoiling I will say that Moon Sworn gave me everything I was hoping for, for Riley Jenson. Having seen her struggle and grow throughout the series, I've always hoped that someday she would get her happily ever after, but sometimes that comes in ways one would not expect. Moon Sworn offers a thrilling murder mystery as well as a few unexpected surprises for Riley.

There was an aspect to the story that threw me off just a bit. It was the temporary absence of the characters key to Riley's life throughout the course of the series. I realize this is Riley's story and so the book should focus mostly on her, however, being the last book in the series I had hoped for more page time for Quinn, Rhoan, Leander and Jack. They do of course get some page time, but for a period of time it just felt like a there was a flat spot in story without them and I really missed Riley's interaction with these characters.

Quinn and Riley have had a tumultuous relationship and I have not always liked Quinn or his treatment of Riley. But he too has grown with in the series becoming the man and vampire that fully owns Riley's heart. Although I didn't think it was possible for me to like him more than in Bound To Shadows, I fell well and truly hard for him in Moon Sworn.

Now that we have to say good-bye to Riley, I look forward to Keri Arthur's spin-off series featuring Risa, daughter of Dia, another well loved character from the Guardian series.

***I've tried not to rehash the plot, but there are some minor spoilers, so proceed with caution. :)***

This was better than the last book in the series. Although Riley had issues to work through (death of her soulmate - Kye - and a good friend - Kade - in the previous book), she remained strong while she overcame her difficulties. The beginning was a little slow (and the flashbacks to events in the previous book became a little repetitive), but the pace picked up about 1/3 of the way in. The plot was great (after it got going), with a return of the strong, determined Riley from previous books (even in the midst of some serious obstacles thrown in her way). All the issues (pain of losing her soulmate, finally accepting her love for Quinn and committing to their relationship, working out her ambivalence of being a guardian) were resolved here. The series ended in a realistic way, with a happy (and well-deserved) ending for Riley and Quinn. Not a 5-star read due to the slow and somewhat repetitive start, but well worth the read, and a satisfying 4-star ending to the series.

I've been a huge fan of this series since the beginning. I love Riley's no nonsense attitude, she is who she is and isn't going to change no matter what is thrown in her face. I love the mysteries presented in each book and feel that Keri Arthur is one of the best out there at keeping readers interested in what is going on. These books balance plot and character development perfectly, and that is why I am still around at book nine. Unfortunately, Moon Sworn was a total miss for me. There wasn't very much character progression, the mystery was unimportant, and the confrontation was anticlimactic. The book starts out a bit slow because it picks up after the end of the last one, on one hand I wanted Riley to be strong, but on the other hand I appreciate that an author is taking the time to have a character mourn a loss. How often do you really see that in other books? With the breakneck pace at which most UFs progress, it is nice to have a serious moment here or there. The ritual murders are interesting and the mystery is presented well, but everything falls apart after that. All of the sudden Riley is in another body and has to spend hundreds of pages remembering who she is. Then, there is a confrontation with the big bad guy and it's over with a lovely ending. It's just too easy. Where is the compelling page turning edge of your seat plot? Maybe it's just a personal preference issue, and everyone else will like this book, but I felt like it was largely a cop out. Simple mystery, large section of nothing happening, happy ending. I just don't like sitting through a large chunk of a book where the main character has to rehash everything we already know. It's not good enough, and not up to par with the rest of the series. I'm extremely disappointed, and now it's over. The exciting ideas presented in book one were never fully explored, now this book makes me wonder what could have been.

I just recently found the Riley Jensen Guardian series last fall...I quickly read them all and waited for Moon Sworn, impatiently. It was more than I expected and as always I was intrigued by how it would all play out considering how the last book ended, but I was pleasantly surprised with a few twists and turns I was not expecting. I love this series. It is also the first series of theis Genre that I have read and I am hooked. I was sad to see it end, but Riley is deserving of a happily ever after and I am happy that she is getting it although not in the way you would expect! She is a kick ass guardian and stays true to who she is. I love her brutal honesty, her contempt for the Directorate and her passion for her family and the life she longs to have. I will miss Riley, Quinn, Rohan, Liander and even Jack. Great job to Keri Arthur for an amazing series. Loved it! Thank you

Hybrid werewolf-vampire Riley Jenson remains grieving the loss of her Guardian partner Kade and the death of her soulmate Kye Murphy who she killed (see Bound to Shadows). Riley believes it its time for her to quit her Guardian position before someone else close to her dies.

Helping her cope and much more are her brother Rhoan and her millennium old vampire lover. However even as she contemplates retirement with Quinn, she gets no respite from death as her fears of a loved one dying occurs. Someone blows up Quinn's car with the vampire inside his vehicle at the time of ignition. Riley ire explodes too, but when she regains consciousness, she has no idea who she is; at a time when a long feuding adversary stalks her and her loved ones.

The superb final Guardian urban fantasy saga ends with quite a bang that will please the fans of the series. Riley is terrific as goes through a myriad of emotions with no time to mourn her losses. The well written story line reads like two books as the beginning is grieving and more grief; the middle is amnesia; and the end is confrontation with those causing her grief (closing out the beginning). Readers will enjoy Riley's rousing last stand.

Harriet Klausner.

Riley Jenson is a very strong person both body and soul. But the recent events in her life have shaken her and she is beginning to doubt everything and knows things have got to change. She takes a new case to work on even though she is sick of killing. This time its very important that she keep her wits about her, an old enemy has come back and she's in more danger than she imagined.

This is the 9th and last book of the Riley Jenson series. This is one of my favorite series so I'm sad to see it end, but very satisfied with the way things ended. Riley hasn't had a lot of happy, so If anyone deserves a little happiness it's her. I loved this story, it was a great way to end the series. Moon Sworn was a fast paced emotional ride to fill the senses. Darkly intense, suspenseful and as always very sexy.

Anyone who's read this series from the begining knows that Riley Jensen hasn't had an easy life. From the time she was first born she's had to overcome some huge obstacles. This final book in the Riley Jensen series manages to nicely bring closure to every major theme in her story and leaves us excited for any future break off series that may come from this. I loved every second of this book. Riley and Quinn are one of my TOP paranormal couples. I loved all the interaction between the two of them. I'd have to say this is one of the most fulfilling endings to any series I've ever read. Thanks Keri for such an amazing time!

I cried a couple of times while reading this book. At the very beginning and at the very end. I'm so going to miss Riley Jenson. I fell in love with this series immediately and it saddens me that I will never read another story of Riley and her life. But the ending is so great and I'm so happy that Riley finally found happiness, love and all the things she dreamt of.
This is one hell of a read and I highly recommend it. If you've been reading this series you will absolutely love this book. If you haven't started this series you've got to put it on your TBR pile.

I have been a fan of this series since Full Moon Rising. Riley has been through everything imaginable. Some of it was her own doing and some wasn't. She has lost so many people that were dear to her heart and others who weren't. With Bound to Shadows, she lost two very important people to her. She almost died as a result and was left wondering if it would've been best. Still, she came back and started this book off by picking up where BtS left off - mourning her soul mates' death and feeling the pain of letting someone down and not being able to fix it, ever. While she's trying to decide on how the rest of her life will play out, fate steps in to shove her in a new direction. An old enemy has decided it's time for revenge and Riley finds herself a Hanna and in a new town with a new brother. With memory loss, a possible other loss she can't remember, and someone else still trying to kill her or others, time has run out. Still, she works through it and although she doesn't get all her memory back, this time fate helped her. These events helped her to step forward and do what her soul has needed for a while. She takes back the reigns in this book and finally leads her future instead of letting fate. Her and Quinn finally tie the knot and he, as expected, was like a brand new bride giddy and all.

I have loved Keri's writing in this series very much. I feel in love with the storyline and characters in Full Moon Rising and have laughed, cried, gritted my teeth, and held my breath through it all. This final addition to the series was no exception. My only draw back was I wish it was longer or not over. With a sad beginning, Keri brings it back at such a great pace and fills in the plot with plenty of suspense and action for true Riley style. It's a great read and even better if you have read the others. You feel like family almost with how well you know them and this point because you've read about all the other things that have developed these characters to who they are.

This was the best (and last) Riley Jenson book. The storyline was really good and we got a happy ending for the story/series. The only downside...I still want more! Hopefully in her spin off series about Risa we'll get to meet Riley and the gang and see what their futures had/have in store (her spin off has to be at least 20 years later considering Risa is 3 in this book).