Yoke: The Bound Trilogy Book I

It is rare when an author manages to take a popular topic and twist it into something new, original, and fresh. E.M. Ragland has accomplished just this in the novel YOKE. It transcends YA literature. This allegory blends fiction and nonfiction into one, unforgettable story that will make you look at yourself and the world differently. It is beautifully and delicately written. The characters come alive in this novel of substance. I am anxiously looking forward to the next book in the Bound Series.

I was intrigued by the subject matter of YOKE as opposed to the books about vampires and werewolves that pack the shelves of book stores these days. YOKE opened up a whole new world of fascinating beings that I had never heard of before. There is a tremendous love story here and you cant help being terrified that the forces that conspire against them may prove too much to overcome. This is a battle between good and evil of the most epic proportions involving the most unlikely of heroes. Its a page turner that you wont be able to put down.

I am only half way through this book and I am already anxious for the next book in the series to be published. The characters are well written and the story is fascinating!

loved it waiting on the next book

YOKE is a smart and gripping debut. If you like the TWILIGHT and FALLEN series, you will love this fast-paced read! I found myself obsessing about Raglands modern re-telling of history, prophecy, and divination the way a teenager obsesses about a first love. The apocalyptic division among angels and men is compelling and well-researched, and the romance between Sophie and Joseph is natural and honest. The end of the world never felt so truly imminent. A must-read for women and teens!

As an avid reader of all things creepy and ghoulie, Ive always loved supernatural fiction. But after a while the vampires, werewolves, witches and faeries all start to blend together. That is one of the reasons I loved Yoke. It is a retelling of that same old story: girl meets boy; they fall in love; and then they struggle against the epic forces of the universe that are conspiring to keep them apart. And in this case, those forces are truly EPIC. This fast-paced, action-packed story had me up into the wee hours.

Great book!

Wasnt sure what to make of this story at first, but it kept me engaged. Cant wait for the next book.

Great book so far

As an adult reader who appreciates YA fiction, I can honestly say that the author did a superb job of making me want to keep turning pages. The `angels among us theme was intriguing and had just the right amount of historical reference to maintain an air of believability. By adult fiction standards the dialogue may read a little superficially, but a good story is a good story, and it certainly kept my teen reader--a somewhat reluctant one at that--reading until the wee hours. My only criticism--putting on my Mom Hat here--is that it does flirt with the concept of a jealous God/Creator who may not necessarily represent unconditional love for mankind. The idea is only ancillary to the overall plot, but its there nevertheless. It was also my opinion that one of the more violent moments in the story should have produced a stronger emotional reaction from the main character, Sophie. Instead, the treatment of death came across as somewhat blasé. Overall, a good read capable of capturing the imagination of virtually reader, but especially its intended young adult audience.