Vowed in Shadows by Jessa Slade

Narrated by Renee Raudman

I’ve been a fan of paranormal romance for the past several years. I’ve listened to countless books, featuring people with numerous special powers. I’ve enjoyed most of them, and have loved a few. Jessa Slade’s Marked Souls series definitely falls into the category of series I love, and Vowed in Shadows, third in the series, is a book I’d recommend to anyone interested in the genre.

Before I actually talk about the book itself, I want to let people know that this is a series that must be read in order. Often, a reader can start in the middle of the series and still have a good grasp of the story. That’s not the case with Vowed in Shadows. If you start with this one, you’ll find yourself utterly confused. Besides, you’ll miss out on the two fabulous books that precede it.

Nim Hamlin is a stripper in a seedy Chicago nightclub. Some would call her an exotic dancer, but Nim won’t have it. She’s determined to embrace everything bad about herself – she wants to own her badness. She’s been a victim all her life. Now, Nim is in control, and she won’t let anyone tell her any different.

Jonah Walker couldn’t be more different from the “Naughty Nymphette” if he tried. He spent his early life in the African jungle, bringing souls to God. Now though, he has an altogether different mission, one he can’t complete without Nim by his side.

Nim isn’t sure what she thinks of all Jonah’s talk of demons possessing people in an attempt to repent for the wrongs they have done. Understandably, she finds it hard to swallow that a demon is actually possessing her, and that it will take over very soon. Nim may be doubtful, but she’s not stupid. Events transpire to convince her that Jonah is not a lunatic, and that the fate of the world rests partly in her hands.

Renee Raudman, a narrator I’ve enjoyed for the past couple of years, narrated the entire Marked Souls series. Her reading is, as always, a pleasure to listen to. I never have trouble knowing who is speaking. Each character is defined either by accent or pitch. Characters of the same gender can be difficult to tell apart at first, but, once I got used to Raudman’s voicing, I was able to follow without a problem.

Raudman makes the bond between Nim and Jonah come alive. I found myself super invested in their relationship even before either of them figured out it was what they wanted. Their conversations are given a certain warmth, a kind of glow, when Raudman reads them. This listener definitely got the idea that these two were meant to be together.

I was especially impressed by Raudman’s voicing of characters with speech impediments. Often, narrators are unable to pull this off. The voice is sometimes too slurred, or the impediment is mentioned, but not heard. Raudman did a wonderful job of letting the listener know that a certain character had difficulty speaking, without making the words unintelligible.

I get a little worried when narrators are expected to voice demons. I’m always afraid something less than desirable is going to come out of their mouths. Luckily, Raudman gave me nothing to worry about. It was obvious when demons were talking as she takes on a kind of gravelly quality that it doesn’t usually possess. However, she doesn’t let it stray into the realm of second or third rate acting. Characters from the demon realm are performed with the same genuine skill as those who dwell on earth.

Both Nim and Jonah have personal issues to overcome before they can fall comfortably into the relationship their souls long for. At times, their lack of communication was a bit annoying. Nim is the consummate hothead. She acts first and thinks about the consequences later. Jonah has a bit of a savior complex, and he’s determined to save Nim from everything. As you might guess, this doesn’t always go over very well. Nim wants independence, and Jonah wants to protect her. They argue quite a bit and usually end up making up in bed.

This book contains a lot of heated sex scenes, as well as graphic violence. In fact, the whole series contains these things. So, if it bothers you, this might not be the right type of listen, but, if you’re into it, I definitely encourage you to meet the Marked Souls head on. I don’t think you’ll be sorry you did.

Shannon

Narration:  A

Book Content:  A

Steam Factor:  For your burning ears only

Violence:  Graphic

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Publisher:  Blackstone Audio