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ktmcd26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I am writing this review after I quickly read the whole series and don’t fully know when one book ended and the other began, so this review is more for a series as a whole.
The series has an interesting concept and some interesting scenes, however it suffers from very poor word building an extreme repetition.
The series very much reads as the books were started without a plan for how they are going to end. So things that are set up in the beginning are ignored or essentially re-written later to make way for whatever the author wants later. One of the biggest problems with this is that the world is extremely under developed and I cannot tell you the motivations for a large handful of main characters. Often times this can be ignored if you don’t think about it too hard, but sometimes it is distracting.
The series suffers from the same scenes being replayed over and over again. There seems to be a desire to always have these big dramatic moments, but not enough variety or explanation as to the differences. The repetition can also be seen in the spicy scenes and the wording. If I never read the word Bonded again, I think I will be all right.
I desperately wanted to focus more on the interpersonal connections of the characters and not these big threats.
I also found the immaturity of the MC to be detrimental to the story. I think I would have liked it more if she wasn’t still practically a child.
Half-way through there is also the reveal that many characters have a sentient parasite living inside them. These beings are not well developed, and that’s just no a troupe I enjoy.
The series has an interesting concept and some interesting scenes, however it suffers from very poor word building an extreme repetition.
The series very much reads as the books were started without a plan for how they are going to end. So things that are set up in the beginning are ignored or essentially re-written later to make way for whatever the author wants later. One of the biggest problems with this is that the world is extremely under developed and I cannot tell you the motivations for a large handful of main characters. Often times this can be ignored if you don’t think about it too hard, but sometimes it is distracting.
The series suffers from the same scenes being replayed over and over again. There seems to be a desire to always have these big dramatic moments, but not enough variety or explanation as to the differences. The repetition can also be seen in the spicy scenes and the wording. If I never read the word Bonded again, I think I will be all right.
I desperately wanted to focus more on the interpersonal connections of the characters and not these big threats.
I also found the immaturity of the MC to be detrimental to the story. I think I would have liked it more if she wasn’t still practically a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and War
kmack79's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
litwitchbitch's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, and Death
flor3nce17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse
dkgreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Daaaaaaamn! Didn’t see that ending coming! I’m fully invested in this series at this point, especially after that cliffy. I like getting to know the Bonds/Bonded better and see how their family unit is growing stronger. Oli’s gifts are insane and badass. I desperately need to know Nox’s story, so I hope we dig deeper into that in the next book. Pretty grateful that I stumbled on this series after it was already completed so I can binge the hell out of it, lol!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death
shaykay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Up until this book, we've only been in Oleander's POV. So we have all of these guys bullying her but also being her bonded mates who are biologically her soulmates. I just really wanted more from them since they had so much going on, and in this book, we finally got to see their POVs, and things are getting really intense. Plus, in this one, we are starting to pull away from the school structure and focusing more on the magical/war side of things. It's beginning to be really intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and War
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
4.5
Content Warnings: sexual content, kidnapping, torture, blood, body horror, sexual harassment, bullying, classism, toxic relationships, and toxic friendships.
I am devouring these books. Like serious I can't stop. I love the way J. Bree adds characters and lore in a way that never overwhelms you with info. She really paces it so it all feels natural and seamlessly given to you.
I am devouring these books. Like serious I can't stop. I love the way J. Bree adds characters and lore in a way that never overwhelms you with info. She really paces it so it all feels natural and seamlessly given to you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Classism
countesslemongrab's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I could do with more world building, after three books I would expect to have more of my questions answered about bonds and the dynamics there.
The ending has my jaw in the floor and I’m not sure how to recover
The ending has my jaw in the floor and I’m not sure how to recover
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: War
Minor: Death of parent
sillih28's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
no time for a review this was the worst cliffhanger/plot-twist I've ever had to deal with i have to start the next book immediately
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Alcohol
fairyelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It’s so much better than the last two, way more interesting. We might actually have a plot believe it or not—though there was many long lulls where I was questioning why I thought this book was better, questioning why I was even reading it in the first place and then it picked back up again eventually. Honestly, I think my rating is still far too high because the writing is still not great (though I’d argue it’s gotten better) and the continuity errors prevalent to me as well. There’s also so much wrong with the plot—for example, I literally don’t have a clue as to what the resistance actual plan is?! And it’s not like a mysterious thing that you have to wait for but rather like Bree just didn’t care to share. I’m assuming that part just wasn’t fleshed out. I genuinely don’t know what they’re fighting for. They said something about eliminating all the non-gifted people, yet all I’ve see them do is capture, kill, and torture the gifted—in addition to “brainwashing” them which is literally not explained either?!
On top of this we lack a plot because the bond group is annoying asf and won’t allow Oli to do anything that a normal adult should be able to do.
So we’re stuck without a plan, without a plot, without (very) necessary character development and with our FMC having all her agency taken away. We can’t just have big reveals like the one at the end without a properly executed storyline and it’s a damn shame how good this series COULD be.
The characters are flat too, they do nothing but infuriate me. There’s a serious lack of emotional depth and character development on top of a lack of plot. I do think I do actually believe JBree is simply winging it after the initial Broken Bonds storyline.
This series just reminds me of the way I felt about the Red Queen series—hating it in a sorta loving way? love is a strong word for what I feel though lmao.
I’ve contemplated DNF-ing the series too many times to count but something is holding me against my will with a gun to my head. If the next book isn’t any better and just remains like the other three, I’ll just have to DNF it. Also, hate giving not so good reviews. But I feel it needs to be said as constructive criticism for J. Bree—I’m extremely easy to please so if I have criticisms then it’s something worth considering.
And hey, if you love this book/series I am by no means trying to tear down a book you enjoy (I’m sorta enjoying it too in the most minimal way possible, I guess? I do very much wish I could be in your shoes because I find it not fun for me to verbally destroy people’s writing.
On top of this we lack a plot because the bond group is annoying asf and won’t allow Oli to do anything that a normal adult should be able to do.
So we’re stuck without a plan, without a plot, without (very) necessary character development and with our FMC having all her agency taken away. We can’t just have big reveals like the one at the end without a properly executed storyline and it’s a damn shame how good this series COULD be.
The characters are flat too, they do nothing but infuriate me. There’s a serious lack of emotional depth and character development on top of a lack of plot. I do think I do actually believe JBree is simply winging it after the initial Broken Bonds storyline.
This series just reminds me of the way I felt about the Red Queen series—hating it in a sorta loving way? love is a strong word for what I feel though lmao.
I’ve contemplated DNF-ing the series too many times to count but something is holding me against my will with a gun to my head. If the next book isn’t any better and just remains like the other three, I’ll just have to DNF it. Also, hate giving not so good reviews. But I feel it needs to be said as constructive criticism for J. Bree—I’m extremely easy to please so if I have criticisms then it’s something worth considering.
And hey, if you love this book/series I am by no means trying to tear down a book you enjoy (I’m sorta enjoying it too in the most minimal way possible, I guess? I do very much wish I could be in your shoes because I find it not fun for me to verbally destroy people’s writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Blood, and Murder
There is lots of spice that you I didn’t need and if you somehow don’t know this, it is reverse harem