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The Ties That Bind
Three months ago, seven pillars of light lit up the continents. Seven teenagers rose to fight. The world survived.
Now Jen Monroe is tasked with finding the six other Human-Borns. Still reeling from her traumatic encounter with the monstrous Cregorous, she faces cultural barriers, personality clashes, and a worldwide trek to find those destined to help her. But threats sleep in the shadows, and the humans were not blind to what they witnessed seven teenagers accomplish.
Meanwhile, the very enemy the Human-Borns are fated to encounter lies in wait.
He is patient. He is cunning. He is ruthless.
Soon, these seven teenagers find themselves in a battle they never expected. But in their drive to save those they care about, what might be lost in the process?
Now Jen Monroe is tasked with finding the six other Human-Borns. Still reeling from her traumatic encounter with the monstrous Cregorous, she faces cultural barriers, personality clashes, and a worldwide trek to find those destined to help her. But threats sleep in the shadows, and the humans were not blind to what they witnessed seven teenagers accomplish.
Meanwhile, the very enemy the Human-Borns are fated to encounter lies in wait.
He is patient. He is cunning. He is ruthless.
Soon, these seven teenagers find themselves in a battle they never expected. But in their drive to save those they care about, what might be lost in the process?
630 pages, Paperback
Published February 7, 2023
About the author
Susan L Markloff
9 books31 followers2022 Readers' Favorite Award Winner.
Susan Markloff spent a majority of her childhood pretending to live in other worlds. Coupled with her admiration for fantastical stories, she crafted one of her own. Studying writing at Houghton College, she learned how to hone her skills as an author, writing first drafts of five books during her college career. The Rise of the Raidin is her debut novel and the first in the Human-Born Era series. Susan resides in her hometown of Sellersville, PA with her faithful dog, Pinkerton.
Susan Markloff spent a majority of her childhood pretending to live in other worlds. Coupled with her admiration for fantastical stories, she crafted one of her own. Studying writing at Houghton College, she learned how to hone her skills as an author, writing first drafts of five books during her college career. The Rise of the Raidin is her debut novel and the first in the Human-Born Era series. Susan resides in her hometown of Sellersville, PA with her faithful dog, Pinkerton.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 24, 2024
I loved this book so much! Despite it being a big book, I devoured it in three days. I love Markloff's storytelling and I was ecstatic to return to the world of the HBC's. I live for Alpha Team banter and had so much fun learning about the new characters, and despite this huge cast, I was able to keep every character separate. Every page had something new to discover and I laughed out loud too many times.
July 22, 2023
Hooked from the start. Rejoining Jen and her zaheri for the next chapter in the Human Born Era.
Spoilers: Jen looks for and gathers all of the Human Borns, learns to fight, make new friends and loss of family. Jen learns to lead and is a strong leader.
Spoilers: Jen looks for and gathers all of the Human Borns, learns to fight, make new friends and loss of family. Jen learns to lead and is a strong leader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2023
This book was so much fun!! It’s rare for me to enjoy a sequel more than the original book in a series, but that’s what happened here. We meet so many new characters in this book, each of the 6 humans borns, and their Zaheri, well, most of them. We literally travel around the world, and then to another world, and each set of characters that are added change the group dynamic in some way.
Some of my favorite aspects of this book were:
Skylar and Takeo, any interaction between these two had me grinning or straight out laughing. They’re both idiots, and together they’re even bigger idiots.
Krelien is still one of my favorite characters, because he’s such a hot mess of a person, but also has a ride or die personality for his team, especially Jen.
Cregorous actually feels like a valid threat. He’s a powerful psychopath, who makes my skin crawl anytime we’re in his head space. I’m interested to see how that dynamic plays out through the series. The last couple of chapters really made me sit up and go, oh, he’s a villain villain.
The battle scene in Africa with the bus… just golden. Loved everything about that.
Alaster. Nuff said.
Definitely read this book, you won’t regret it. I am very much looking forward to the next installment in the series, as well as the novellas telling each of the Human Born’s stories. The author recently announced them on social media, and now that I’ve met the characters, I am stoked to read each of their stories and get to know them and their teams a little better.
Some of my favorite aspects of this book were:
Skylar and Takeo, any interaction between these two had me grinning or straight out laughing. They’re both idiots, and together they’re even bigger idiots.
Krelien is still one of my favorite characters, because he’s such a hot mess of a person, but also has a ride or die personality for his team, especially Jen.
Cregorous actually feels like a valid threat. He’s a powerful psychopath, who makes my skin crawl anytime we’re in his head space. I’m interested to see how that dynamic plays out through the series. The last couple of chapters really made me sit up and go, oh, he’s a villain villain.
The battle scene in Africa with the bus… just golden. Loved everything about that.
Alaster. Nuff said.
Definitely read this book, you won’t regret it. I am very much looking forward to the next installment in the series, as well as the novellas telling each of the Human Born’s stories. The author recently announced them on social media, and now that I’ve met the characters, I am stoked to read each of their stories and get to know them and their teams a little better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2023
Okay, it's official: I'm hooked! I am completely, totally hooked on Jennifer Monroe's story, the world of Tillion, and the Human-Born Era! This is the second installment of Susan Markloff's series, and to me it is even better than the first.
I found myself reading more and more urgently as the story unfolded, knowing that the teens and their teams were in a race against time. I was excited to learn more about Agerius and Tillion and even spend some chapters there. Markloff's story makes me feel things, and like my heart goes out to these kids who have the weight of the world on their shoulders, and they're not even real people, they are characters in a book. It's been awhile since I've read such a compelling series in "real time" and I'm a little sad that I can't just finish the story now, I have to wait for the next book to come out! Guess all good things take time 😆
I found myself reading more and more urgently as the story unfolded, knowing that the teens and their teams were in a race against time. I was excited to learn more about Agerius and Tillion and even spend some chapters there. Markloff's story makes me feel things, and like my heart goes out to these kids who have the weight of the world on their shoulders, and they're not even real people, they are characters in a book. It's been awhile since I've read such a compelling series in "real time" and I'm a little sad that I can't just finish the story now, I have to wait for the next book to come out! Guess all good things take time 😆
October 11, 2023
This book was an excellent continuation of The Human-Born Era series. I think I enjoyed this one more that the first book as we met many new characters. I loved jumping back into this world and I can’t wait for the next book. If you like YA fantasies check out this series!
October 11, 2023
4.5/5 Stars - Awesome sequel that takes you across the world (and into a new one)
I finished the 630-page beast, and it was awesome. To give you a quick plot summary, The Ties That Bind, by Susan L. Markloff, is book two in the urban fantasy series, The Human-Born Era. After surviving Cregorous’ attack, Jen Monroe and her Zaheri (team of protectors) set off to find and unite the remaining six human-borns.
Meeting the other human-borns was one of the things I was most excited about in The Ties That Bind. It was really fun to see the whole team get together and do some training/explore their powers. There were a lot of side characters, so things did get a bit chaotic at times, and if it weren’t for the glossary in the back (which I LOVE), I wouldn’t have had a prayer at keeping everyone’s physical description straight. Even so, it was neat to see the relationships between all the Zaheri.
Honestly, all the character relationships/dynamics in Ties were great. Susan told me that while book three is where ships really take off, the groundwork is laid in book two. She was right. Speaking of book three, I really need it after that ending.
Anywho, to wrap this all up, The Ties That Bind was great. It was cool to see the characters travel to so many different countries and meet all these new people. It also had plenty of action and plenty of Krelien antics. I also loved how much depth was added to the worldbuilding and lore of Tillion. It was a great sequel, and I am definitely looking forward to book three. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go binge the first three Human-Born Chronicles.
I finished the 630-page beast, and it was awesome. To give you a quick plot summary, The Ties That Bind, by Susan L. Markloff, is book two in the urban fantasy series, The Human-Born Era. After surviving Cregorous’ attack, Jen Monroe and her Zaheri (team of protectors) set off to find and unite the remaining six human-borns.
Meeting the other human-borns was one of the things I was most excited about in The Ties That Bind. It was really fun to see the whole team get together and do some training/explore their powers. There were a lot of side characters, so things did get a bit chaotic at times, and if it weren’t for the glossary in the back (which I LOVE), I wouldn’t have had a prayer at keeping everyone’s physical description straight. Even so, it was neat to see the relationships between all the Zaheri.
Honestly, all the character relationships/dynamics in Ties were great. Susan told me that while book three is where ships really take off, the groundwork is laid in book two. She was right. Speaking of book three, I really need it after that ending.
Anywho, to wrap this all up, The Ties That Bind was great. It was cool to see the characters travel to so many different countries and meet all these new people. It also had plenty of action and plenty of Krelien antics. I also loved how much depth was added to the worldbuilding and lore of Tillion. It was a great sequel, and I am definitely looking forward to book three. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go binge the first three Human-Born Chronicles.
July 9, 2023
The Ties That Bind is the second installment from The Human Born Era series by Susan L Markloff. I enjoyed the first book The Rise of the Raidin and was looking forward to reading the continuation. Once again I was interested of this magical tale that is full of action and adventure. It was a little intimidating with the size of the book, but quickly found it to be a good read. I liked it.
I am giving The Ties That Bind four stars. I believe fans of young adult paranormal and fantasy fiction will want to give this one a read. I am hoping for a follow up in The Human Born Era to see what could possible happen next with the characters.
I received a hard cover copy of Susan L Markloff's The Ties That Bind from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am giving The Ties That Bind four stars. I believe fans of young adult paranormal and fantasy fiction will want to give this one a read. I am hoping for a follow up in The Human Born Era to see what could possible happen next with the characters.
I received a hard cover copy of Susan L Markloff's The Ties That Bind from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
February 22, 2023
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME
This books is wonderfully chonky and an awesome read with AMAZING characters to fall in love with. It's wonderfully unique and definitely recommended!
This books is wonderfully chonky and an awesome read with AMAZING characters to fall in love with. It's wonderfully unique and definitely recommended!
October 11, 2023
This book was an excellent continuation of The Human-Born Era series. I think I enjoyed this one more that the first book as we met many new characters. I loved jumping back into this world and I can’t wait for the next book. If you like YA fantasies check out this series!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews