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A review by fairyelle
Blood Bonds by J. Bree
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