I picked this from the Library, after reading the first few pages as a sample. I was intriguing by the premise and expected it to be interesting, but your typical YA angst.
It was a bit more. Allen delves deeper into slavery and elitism, oppression and rebellion. She very much demonstrates the idea that Winners Write History, and what that means for the Losers of the conflict. The character developed is solid, and the romance isn’t obnoxious or overshadowing of conflict. And the Jae, she isn’t perfect or all-powerful. She isn’t always good. She is a hurt, abused, slave who finds herself in possession of unheard of power – and finds herself tempted to use it for revenge. The plot is fast-paced and well-done, despite relying on a few forced spots or coincidences to move things forward. The world building is complex enough to enjoy, but not so convoluted as to lose the reader.
It must be noted this is Allen’s first published book. It lacks the polish and finesse of more experience writers. However, her second book comes out in December, and I am certain as time goes and she gains experience, we will seem fantastic stories come from her mind. I look forward to reading them. ( )

I'd been looking forward to the release date of Bound by Blood and Sand for a long time. Which might be part of the issue because, while I enjoyed it immensely, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I think I was simply anticipating more action, when the primary purpose of this first novel was introducing the world, developing Jae and Elan, and creating their path towards rebellion and further adventure. Nonetheless, I've come to love desert fantasies and Allen's heartbreaking debut was no exception.

Jae is a Closest, a member of the slave race branded as traitors and cursed to serve. The curse compels them to follow orders given by the Highest without question and to never tell a lie. Living at an isolated desert estate, Jae's reality is meager and demeaning as she and her fellow Closest struggle to maintain a household with increasingly less water to sustain it. In a world that relies on a mystical Well to provide its peoples with water, what happens when the Well begins to fail? The estate is visited by the son of the land's ruler in order to assess the best course of action for preserving the lifestyles of the wealthy and important in light of the Well's continued failure. Jae's past and future has always been bleak and certain, but what happens when she accidentally awakens a deep magic within herself? One that has the potential to either save or utterly destroy the world that has enslaved and abused her?

The world of Bound by Blood and Sand was fascinating and a mix of magical and what felt like alarmingly realistic water politics. I, personally, was enamoured with the idea of a heroine that didn't really have any interest in saving anyone other than the few fellow slaves she cares deeply for. Why should she feel compassion or any sense of duty towards a class that has long thought of her own as traitorous and subhuman? I enjoyed having a rightfully embittered heroine who had to struggle with her desire to simply destroy everything in her wake. Despite having found portions of the story slow, I am looking forward to the next installment when Jae gets to venture out of her desert home and explore the world. Also really looking forward to (hopefully) meeting Elan's sister. ( )

Jae is one of the Closest, a slave caste cursed to obey the Avowed, their overlords. There's no way that Jae should have magical powers... but she does. Faced with the threat of death from the dwindling, magically controlled water supply, can Jae free herself and save her people?

This is not a perfect book, but it is a compelling one. I read it over the weekend, and whenever I had to put it down, I found myself thinking about it and wishing I could be reading it. It reminds me a little of Rae Carson's books, though without quite the same level of detail. It doesn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, but it's obvious that there's more story to come. If fantasy in a desert setting appeals to you, give this one a try. I really liked it. ( )