Broken Bonds

The Bonds that Tie #1

by J. Bree

Lorsque ses parents décèdent dans un accident, Oleander découvre qu'elle a des pouvoirs. Des pouvoirs immenses et terrifiants qu'elle veut absolument étouffer et garder secrets. Effrayée par leur puissance, la jeune femme s'enfuit. Mais dans le monde d'Oleander, les femmes possèdent des « Liens ». Ce sont des hommes à qui elles sont destinées et avec lesquels elles doivent vivre. Après l'avoir traquée sans relâche, ces hommes viennent de la retrouver et de la capturer. Elle doit vivre avec eux, même s'ils ont du mal à lui pardonner d'avoir tenté de briser le pacte sacré qui les lie. Mais Oleander avait une autre raison de s'enfuir. Sur ses épaules pèse en effet un lourd fardeau : la jeune femme tient leur destin entre ses mains. Désormais, en étant obligée de vivre avec ses « âmes soeurs », elle met le monde en grand danger...

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Romantasy, Why Choose, Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2021

About the author

J Bree is a dreamer, writer, mother, and cat-wrangler.
The order of priorities changes daily.
She lives on the coast of Western Australia in a city where it rains too much. She spends her days dreaming about all of her book boyfriends, listening to her partner moan about how the lawns are looking, and being a snack bitch to her three kids.

Visit her website at http://www.jbreeauthor.com to sign up for the newsletter or find her on social media.

Reviews

[jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

me, when the trashy romance i wanted to read is actually trashy: 😮😐😒

[Tracy's Book Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've heard good things about this author and I was really excited to start with this new release. However, I think I made a mistake because this wasn't a good showcase of talent. Maybe her other books are better?

I found the writing to be juvenile when it came to the main character. I would have to classify this as YA instead of what I believed would be New Adult. The female lead, Oleander, is 19 but behaves and speaks like a 14 year old. She used the word freaking 179 times. The book is only 218 pages. Oleander also kept using the phrase "I want to die" when she was being dramatic, just like a 14 year old. At 60%, I had to put the book down. I couldn't take it anymore. The overuse of the word and phrase and the fact that the book was going nowhere became a huge challenge. Somehow I managed to push on.

The book is the blurb on repeat for the first 90% of the book. Oleander ran away because she is hiding how powerful she is and believes she will ultimately hurt her bonded. Well, she ends up emotionally hurting them by leaving and now they mistreat over and over. Instead of Oli being up front about why she left, she remains mute on the topic and also treats them horribly. The author created side stories with some friends Oli met but it wasn't enough. Just boring filler. No character or world development. That's when I realized the author had no other material for this book. It's the old: nothing, nothing, nothing and then something big happens at the end and end book! If that's the method for the rest of the books in this series, which I don't know how many that will be, I won't be able to finish.

Like I said, maybe I started with the wrong book. At this point, I can't recommend until I read the next book. Which at this point I'm not super excited about. I'm challenging the author to change my opinion of this book and blow me away with the second.

*For those looking for a similar storyline of a Bond running away because she's afraid of hurting the men, read Ann Denton's: Knightfall. The men figure out her secret and it doesn't take the whole book. There's steam, action and world building.

[SK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a new series to obsess over 😌

Perfect for the fans of Zodiac Academy and for those who enjoy or want to try reverse harem books.

This is so easy to read, follow and enjoy. The story had me gripped from the first line and it continued to be that way throughout the end. The concept of having Bonds, or being Bonded to multiple guys is certainly new to me. It's different from your typical reverse harem where it's all about sex, this one actually has a plot that's worth sticking around. The characters have more to them than just being psychotic and horny. I honestly loved how easy and smooth it is. If anyone wants to try RH, this is the book to pick up.

I did think that the pacing kinda slowed down a bit in the second half but it picked up soon. Despite being a tad slow, it never lost my interest. I honestly didn't even want to put my Kindle down and update my reading progress on here lol.

I love Oli, she's so flawed and real- it makes her more human. Her backstory is equally interesting. North definitely has my heart out of all the guys, yes I know he's a walking red flag but the man can get it 🥵 Gryphon and Gabe are such sweethearts, yes they present a tough exterior but who doesn't love grumps?! Atlas came in and I swooned pretty easily, he's more of a kind and compassionate fella but I hope he gets a bit tougher. I don't like Nox, sorry. He's too immature for someone who's supposed to be a professor. Can't be like Lance Orion.

The cliffhanger was chef's kiss 🤌 I LOVEDDDDD IT!! On to the next one.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

25/7/23 : reread time
4.5 stars
THIS BOOK WAS AN AMAZING KICK START TO THE SERIES!!
I could not put this book down, I had to finish it in one go.
The treatment of Oli had me upset on her behalf. Most of the time I just wanted to give her a hug. I wished that the guys had shown some compassion and understanding. Atlas was a great relief to read about, he will probably be my favourite. I despised how the Draven brothers treated her. The character and world building was immaculate, it's been a while since I enjoyed a PNR like this.
When I finally reached the end I could not believe it ended like that. I can't wait to see what J. Bree has in stall for us in the next book.

[Steph · Rating 1 out of 5]

[2 stars] 1 star, and I'm being generous. I do not understand all the 5-star reviews.
My view on things:
1) My sympathy for Oli started to erode away pretty quickly. I kept waiting for her to get out of there as she kept alluding to, but nothing ever happened. She didn’t even attempt to make an escape plan, even though it was vital to everyone’s survival, allegedly.
2) Oli’s badass character deteriorated over time. instead of being this cursed woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders, she became more and more an abrasive teenager that set my teeth on edge.
3) All the Bonds (men) except Atlas are absolute toxic douche canoes, and I hope their dicks rot off and they die in agony. I get it, they are angry but that does not give them the right to treat her the way they did. They kidnap her, take away most of her autonomy, and still expect her to sleep with them at the end of the day so they can have their full power. HELL NO!!
4) Plot holes: Oli has been captured by the resistance before, they are continuously looking for her. But here she is, at the college campus, using her normal name. everyone knows her because she is the one who ran away and her bonds are practically celebrities. The resistance is kidnapping people all the time from the campus and they still don’t know she’s been there this whole time???? What? These bad guys are a bunch of amateurs!
5) Eww factor: fated mates (just under a different name here) and the power only solidifies when they have sex with each other. Sounds like a good basis for glorified rape culture!
6) Second eww factor: their ages. Oli is 19 and from what is being said it sounds like she should have bonded already with all her guys. She’s 19, how about we hold off on solidifying forever relationships? One of the dickheads says he’s been waiting for over 5 years for this (she would have been 14 at the time). Also one of her bonded is a professor at the college and the other a councilman. Age difference unknown. EWWWW.
7) Third eww factor: The douchebag who’s a professor sleeps with his students all the time. Seriously??
8) That campus sounds like the most toxic place in the world. No-one is nice to each other. Everyone is out to get you and mean girls and boys are the standard personality.
9) It’s actually pretty boring. Nothing really happens other than the guys are total douchebags and Oli doesn’t do anything to get herself out of that toxic situation.

I have more to say but I’m so done with this book. After my rant I realize I can only give it 1 star.

[ELLIAS (elliasreads) · Rating 1 out of 5]

IM GAGGED. From the sheer masculinity that this book has to offer!!!! I mean....WOW!!!

Pretty sure I'm basically straight now. I can only imagine how much more gagged I'd be if the main character was a guy instead of a girl. I mean talk about gagging on-

heh.

Anyways not that I wanted to read a trashy trashy romance book, but this one has a reverse harem!!! It. Could. Have. Been. So. Much. Better!!!!!

Still stale and pale though. A lot of still left to be desired too. If you're a girl who hates other girls, I'd recommend this book to you. Men here only support other masc men. And that's on feminism.

Well.....

Also the fact that this book has a 4.37 score with over 30,000 ratings is insaaaaaanne to me omfg.

1.5 STARS
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |

[Koisty · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 "Fucking" Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 0.5🌶️/5

**Book Fact: the word "fuck" in all its glorious forms appears 466 times in this 423pg book

I am pretty sure I have found my new book obsession! This is popcorn! Or Candy Floss.....You just keep stuffing your face with it and it just melts in your mouth in delicious goodness... I mean this book is the definition of what I need to read to make me giddy as a schoolgirl. I was so enraptured and enthralled by everything that went on in the story. It was so captivating that it literally felt like I had only read 30 pages when I was 250 down. It honestly didn't feel like I was reading...I just got lost in the story and devoured, inhaled and absorbed this book into my soul.

This is a first-person POV Reverse Haram Paranormal Romance. It follows Oli (or Oleander) who, when she was 14, her mom and her Mom's bonds died in a horrific car accident, and due to events that transpired, Oli had to flee for her life, running away from her bonds. This is not something that is normally done in their society so about five years later she is literally tackled by a TacTeam, captured, microchipped and returned to a supercontrolled life managed by her dickhead alpha-hole bonds. Oli cannot tell her bonds why she ran away, and they hold this against her and treat her awfully. She also has to pretend she is powerless because it's hinted that her power will bring about their destruction if discovered.

This is very much a bully romance, and even though it's a reverse harm, nothing really spicy happens in this book, (though I've heard it gets really spicy as the series progresses). This is also one of those cases where I'm willing to look over my gripes in what I don't like in books, because of how much I enjoyed this.

I didn't care that there was a lack of communication between the FMC and MMC's regarding her reasons. I didn't mind that there are vibes that Oli is "Not like the other girls" and I seriously could not be bothered that this screams "Chosen One" because THIS IS JUST SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD

There was so much angst, sexual tension, drama, catty girls being bitches, and men being broody sexy total alpha assholes that are super jealous and way too possessive that I got chills wishing I was Oli and had 5 super hot guys fawning over me constantly....

But that's the ONLY aspect I wish I had from Oli, cause that girl's got problems...She carries a lot of emotional baggage after everything that she has been through. She is such a strong female lead who is badass, sassy and super quick-witted in that she does stand up for herself when she needs to, but she is also super compassionate, caring, self-sacrificing and resilient. My heart bled and broke for her to see how she suffered alone and at the start had no one to help her.

This book is just so easy to read and J Bree has done an amazing job for the start of the series! The way she wove small little nuggets throughout the text to entice you to continue reading. Because you want to know what her powers are, you want to know why she ran away...AND you want to know what the deal is with The Resistance.

I just keep turning pages because it's so fascinating. And appealing. And delicious.
If you want something to just absorb...read this.... and if that doesn't entice you maybe these tropes will...

▶ Enemies Hate to Lovers
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Fated Mates/Bonds
▶ One Bed (with one of them at least)
▶ Touch her you die
▶ Slow burn
▶ kinda Grumpy/Sunshine
▶ Found Family

[Sarxian (meirinasoe) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd give it 0 stars if I could!🤮🤮🤮

Is girl-on-girl hate still in trend these days?
I thought it died down in the 2000s…

Let’s see how the FMC describe other women in this book:

“…or that bitch Giovanna?”

“It kills me how little she thinks of herself thanks to Giovanna” (while it’s her best friend’s bond who betrayed her, not Giovanna)

“Nothing would make me happier than killing that bitch”

“completely insane girls”

“giggling airheads”

“…the rest of her is fucking disgusting. I don’t know how Riley can’t stand touching her because her looks can’t compensate for the shitty personality”

“would mess her up right now”

“I’ll end up hunting her down and ruining her.”

“I need to forget what that bitch’s voice sounds like.”

“…that tanned skank of a woman.”

“How fucking evil bitch she is.”

“something about a girl who’s skating by completely on her looks”

“You are an absolute cunt!”

“Motherfucking cocksucking, cunt of a thing,”

“…we hate Giovanna and want to murder her”

���that nightmare of a girl”

“Fuck that, I want her dead.”

“Amy, who’s name I know because Sage loathes her, and even the sound of her voice has my hackles rising.”

“I don’t know this girl but her shirt is so low that I’m sure Nox is getting a great view of her nipples right now.”

"at least ten other girls here rocking a better rack than mine, and Gabe has probably fucked them all,"

"...in a tiny bikini that makes mine look freaking supersized. To be honest, it’s not even a bikini, she’s wearing some red string that just barely covers her nipples and slit."

"I’m not trying to slut-shame, but it’s just impractical." (LMAO!! YOU SURE???)

"she’s pissed that I've come back and now she has to compete with me."

"I’m higher up the food chain than those little bitches, so far higher, that they’re nothing to me…"


Also:

‘Nox smirks and raises an eyebrow back at him. "She didn't say no. Not once. She came on my hand so no, brother, I didn't rape her.”’

No, he literally just forced himself on her ON-SCREEN while she struggled to pull away from him. Gross.🤮🤮🤮

Sexual arousal ≠ consent
Consent is the presence of a "yes"
and not the absense of a "no"
Why can't smut writers understand how simple it is??

How did this abomination got almost 4.5 stars rating?

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 3 out of 5]

⤅ SPECTACULAR premise, got let down on the execution.

Hello, it's me! Remember me? Used to do quite a few book reviews, haven't so much lately... but I'm getting back into the swing of things now, so hopefully you'll see me around as much as you used to! So let's cut to the chase:

19-year-old Oleander (which is an amazing name, shame she shortens it to Oli) lives in a world where some people get Bonds, basically fated mates. She has five of them, but she ran away from them at age 14 after her parents died in a car crash. When they finally track her down again, they're not pleased - and they're determined to make sure she knows it. But everything she did was for their own good...

✔️ The quickest way to make me get behind a bully romance is have there be an actual REASON for the bullying. Heroine who runs away from the heroes? Totally, sign me up. Her actions meant that I was more willing to tolerate crappy behaviour from the heroes than I otherwise would've been.

✔️ I'm a massive fan of a heroine who's way more dangerous than her heroes.

✔️ Oleander is a decent heroine. Not stupid, not sweet, pretty much normal.

✔️ The heroes did - just about - feel like distinct people. Some are a lot less defined than others, but in general it's been a week and I still broadly remember all of them.

But:

❌ There is some OW drama. I didn't exactly mind that the heroes weren't celibate while the heroine was gone, because she made it very clear that she was ditching them, but the OW drama continues after she comes back. Mostly it's obvious that they're desperately trying to make her jealous, and I love that she wasn't really getting jealous, but this will probably bother some readers.

❌ Needs to be a lot more worldbuilding. Like, where did Bonds come from? How do you know someone's your Bond? How did the guys know she was their bond from childhood when they'd never met each other before?

Overall, I'm excited for the sequel, but I'm keeping my expectations mid-range.

[⊹ Gabriela | Asternyx ⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I finished this book in one sitting.
IT'S SO ADDICTIVE!

⤏ What to expect:
∘ New Adult Paranormal Romance
∘ Reverse Harem — 5 powerful bonds: Gabe, Gryphon, Atlas, North & Nox
∘ Kick-ass heroine
∘ People with special powers — X-Men vibes
∘ Great worldbuilding — supernatural school setting
∘ Addictive & Fast reading
∘ Rebellion
∘ Mystery
∘ Great pacing - pretty fast
⤏ Tropes:
∘ Slowburn
∘ Fated Mates (rejected)
∘ Hate to Love
∘ Touch her and you die
∘ Forced Proximity
⇢ Trigger Warnings: trauma, violence, bullying, sexual assault, death of loved one

⤏ Summary
This is a NA reverse harem paranormal romance with a nice worldbuilding, an interesting plot and great characters.
Oleander has lived a happy life with her mother and her mates, when an awful accident ruins everything. Not wanting to put her bonds in danger, she decides it's better for everyone if she's alone. But after 5 years on the run, she's captured and returned to them.
They may never forgive her for what she did.

⤏ Plot
When Oli returns to the boys, they are all types of pissed off, even hurt. They don't know why she ran away and she doesn't want to tell them.
It's a little hard for them to forgive her and she doesn't really make things easier. But despite the fact that she's being bullied, she never lets her guard down, because she harbors a dark secret she doesn't want them to know.
She manages to convince them she has no powers, all because her power is said to be too dangerous and if she risks using it, she may bring their destruction.
It was so interesting to see this all go down!

⤏ Worldbuilding
The worldbuilding was so well done! We're not having a bunch of info thrown our way, everything is given to us gradually to help us understand how this world works and what to expect.
People with all different types of special powers, power houses and shady politicians, a supernatural school setting, a new take on the fated mates trope.
All these are mixed in such an unique story that I can't help but fall in love with.

⤏ Characters
∘ Oli
Oli, our main character, became one of my favorite characters. She is a strong female lead, a badass with a sassy attitude, a dirty mouth and a temper.
She's compassionate and even when acting powerless, she knows how to hold her own against everything and everyone, enduring anything they throw her way (her patience - I couldn't) but not letting them push her down. She's smart, calculating and so damn powerful, I can't wait to see what else she's got in store for us.
I have to admit she annoyed me sometimes, mainly because she was being difficult, but even so, I still loved her. In the end, I got to understand her motives and all the sacrifices she made for these men ...
I'm so curious to find out what secrets she's hiding that she deemed worthy of her sacrifice.

∘ The boys
The boys are all special in their own way. I don't have a favorite, yet, but let me introduce them quickly.
- Gabe Ardern
He's the first one I started to like, such a cinnamon roll. He was hurt by what Oli did and even though he didn't show it much, he cared for her. Oh, and he's a shapeshifter ~
- Gryphon Shore
This man is the silent, broody type I love in books. He's unapproachable, but has a soft side and you can't help but swoon for him.
- Atlas Bassinger
... I can tell you I don't like Atlas (sorry not sorry). He was the only one who wasn't mad at Oli or acting hurt for what she did, and was only interested in getting to know her, spend time with her. Honestly? I don't trust him, he gives me some ... vibes, strange vibes.
- North Draven
Oh boy. This man is totally a control freak who gets on my nerves, but he's also an important figure in this world and has a ton of responsibilities, probably the type who can't sleep because of the stress. I still want to slap him for how he treats our dear Oli.
- Nox Draven
My man's got some issues. That scene? No, mister. That we do not approve.
Nox has some dark powers and a bad temper - not a great combination. He's the worst of the bunch and constantly trying to hurt Oli, but honestly, I think he's just ... broken. I suspect he's been through some serious sh*t to make him the way he is.
So yeah, Nox is a jerk but I think, or rather hope, he'll come around.

⤏ Romance
This is a hate to love slow building romance, which is another thing I loved about this book, because nothing feels rushed.
The bonds are gradually forming and this is a 6 book series so I know there will be enough time for them to properly bond. I don't mind the waiting, because I'm sure it's going to be worth it.

⤏ Conclusion
I ADORED this book and is among my favorite reads of 2021. I'll forever recommend it!
It's an action packed Paranormal RH, full of twists and turns with a great female lead, amazing plot and unique worldbuilding.
P.s. It's the second reverse-harem book I read, but I will consider it the first, because the other one was a total fail and I don't even want to think about it.

«⋯ The Bonds That Tie series ⋯»
#1 Broken Bonds — 5🌟
#2 Savage Bonds— 5🌟
#3 Blood Bonds — 4🌟
#4 Forced Bonds — 4🌟
#5 Tragic Bonds — 4🌟
#6 Unbroken Bonds — *tbr

⤏ For more bookish content, you can follow me on Instagram: @gabrielashelf

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give this more than 5 stars? I AM OBSESSED. I DEVOURED THIS STORY RAVENOUSLY. It has been a long time since I’ve been so consumed in a new world. Broken Bonds is such a fresh and engaging take on the fated mates concept- we’ve got a little bit of magic, a lot of danger and suspense, scrumptious love-hate chemistry, a harem full of deliciously protective alpha men, a heroine that I’m madly in love with, and a central mystery that kept me on my toes. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS STORY- my favorite J Bree book to date, and I’m not even a huge PNR person- that’s just how good it is!

I can’t say much about the plot without spoiling anything- and to be honest, after book 1 I have more questions than answers. But our story centers on our heroine Oli- a fugitive bonded who has been on the run by herself after a traumatic experience. We quickly learn that that experience triggered Oli’s powers, which she wants to keep under wraps at all costs for reasons we aren’t privy to, a desperation that caused her to flee and hide from her bonded men- mates destined to love her that she’d yet to meet. Now 19, she’s been captured and returned to her bonded community and is now forced to live among her bonded men- and, of course, they’re a bit grumpy that she’s made them look like a fool by refusing them. And, seems everyone has some secrets. Cue all the steamy love-hate sexual tension and secret pining- it is SO delicious!

J Bree is such a fantastic world builder- she has such a keen ability to create an entire ecosystem of interesting characters, unique circumstances, and dramatic dynamics that draw you in. So it doesn't surprise me that she excels in a PNR story- one that unleashes even more of her creativity and boldness as a world builder since the humanness of her character is no longer a limit. J Bree beautifully does what so many authors struggle with in book 1 in a PNR story- she gives us the perfect balance of context and background without drowning us in explanations and details that drag the story. In fact, J Bree comes in hot and intentionally keeps the details from us- the story picks up fast and furious well in the mix of some bonded drama, and I was addicted from page one. Along the way, she builds and deepens our understanding of the infrastructure and canon of this world- but only when and if we need it. It keeps the story both engaging and focused while building this larger, super interesting and incredibly original bonded community.

J Bree also stays true to what I love most about her writing- her original, flawed, and extremely alluring characters. This is definitely my favorite cast of characters she’s written yet (shh- dont tell Lips or Avery), and I’m enamoured with each and every one. Oli is a fantastic heroine- and I am obsessed with her. Since she’s our only POV, J Bree gives her such dimension- she’s altruistic and humble, persistent and adaptive, incredibly kind and empathetic, and strong willed despite having a bleeding heart vulnerability to her. She’s got some damages, repressed pain and loss and sadness that permeates her character- which makes her such a rich heroine. She’s often at odds with herself, and desperately trying to protect others at tremendous cost to herself. I admire her so fiercely, and I just want her to be loved and be safe. She’s got that bad-a quality that we’ve come to like about J Bree characters, but I found her more nuanced and softer (less Lips, more Avery) than some of the others- and I really appreciated that about her. She’s a more emotionally open character internally, even if she doesn’t express it. I felt myself so connected to her that I found myself crying twice just in the first few chapters- out of sadness she felt and then out of the frustration she felt. And, her 5 bonded mates (North, Nox, Gabe, Gryphon, and Atlas) are the delicious alpha man candy I crave. Each of course has their own particular role and all are mysteries. All have some swoon and some alphahole in them- though in different measures. Be warned that they will frustrate and anger you- these are powerful men set on punishing Oli for what they see as a betrayal, and while they come through for her when it matters, this is not a sweet romance (yet at least). Most of the guys are difficult and stubborn- lots of enemies/bully vibes. But they are all so dreamy in their own way (well minus Nox- I’m still mad at him). Almost all of them have at least one moment where we see the lover they could be- and I can’t wait to get there.

The only downside is that this is a SLOW BURN. Prepare for epic lady blue balls. While these men are super alpha protective and clearly desire her, they also have a lot of pent up anger and frustration at her abandonment- and they want to make her suffer. And while Oli finds her men irresistible, she’s resolved to not complete the bond with them because of the danger she thinks it poses- so, basically the result is a story full of sexual tension with no gratification. A lot of chemistry and brewing steam, but the actual steam minus a glimmer at the end isn’t even YA level. We’ll get there- and it will be explosive, but for now prepare to get all hot and bothered and have to wait for it. I also hope we get future stories that include some chapters from the guys’ POV- I appreciated not having them in this story because it built the mystery and emotional tension, but now I’m desperate to get inside their heads.

I could NOT put this down- I read it one sitting and literally screamed when it ended. Our ending was not only epically entertaining but a huge game changer for these characters, and I am dying to find out what happens next, to see the dynamics shift as the result of the climatic moment in the finale, for our amazing heroine to hopefully find the love and support she deserves. Brava J Bree- this is a masterclass in engaging and emotive storytelling, and I am obsessed.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit of a “bully” reverse harem fantasy romance, which is usually not my kind of thing, but I absolutely devoured it. The audiobook narration is really great too!

[Laurens.Little.Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why was this so addictive??? There wasn’t even any smut 😩

[Milo (if lost, return to hot fictional character) · Rating 4 out of 5]

No because this started out like Chocolate you don’t want to eat but it’s still chocolate, to a goddamn full 6 course dinner, jesus. this was great

[Crystal's Bookish Life]

DNF at 30%

I think this book has a very distinct audience. People who love Zodiac Academy and TikTok fantasy romance recommendations will probably really enjoy this.

But it's not for me. It reads very young and superficial. And look, I can vibe with teen and new adult drama. I love Vampire Diaries foreverrrr. But I just can't get on board with books like this anymore.

If the writing was more polished and less juvenile, if the world and characters had any development at all, I'd probably love this.

But I have zero tolerance for books that lack those things these days.

Basically, this is not a book for me, but I can see how others might like it.

[Lucie V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

✅ Gorgeous cover
✅ Sassy and resilient MC
✅ Assholey but interesting love interests
✅ Reverse harem to be
✅ Angst and hatred (and promise of future groveling, I hope)
✅ Powers
✅ School setting that didn’t annoy me
✅ Pace and plot
✅ Addictiveness
✅🆗 Mean girl / jealousy bullshit
❗️❗️Trigger warning: nonconsensual foreplay, mild bullying, kidnapping, mentions of murder and past torture (nongraphic), controlling behavior from future love interests, death of loved ones (past), abduction

_______________________

Second read/listen: Still as addictive the second time around. 😍

_______________________

I think I just found my new obsession.

This is an addictive and entertaining read.
I know it wasn't perfect, but I'm obsessed and couldn't stop reading it. I'll put this one on the "(trashy) guilty pleasure" shelf.

Better to be hated and alive, better to be in pain than a murderer, better to be alone and safe.

After discovering that her powers are deadly and make her a target for the Resistance, Oleander Fallows is forced to flee the Gifted community and go into hiding, even if it means leaving her newly found Bondeds behind. When she is found and forcefully dragged back five years later, Oleander’s Bonds now hate her for abandoning them. They see her as nothing more than a spoiled, powerless brat, and while they need to keep her close because she is their central Bond, they want to bond with her since it will make them more powerful, and they feel like this is what they are owed. They hate her and make sure to remind her every day, while she is trying to find a way to escape them.

This book is a great start to the series. It is addictive and has a fast pace that makes it very hard to put it down. I love the diverse powers the gifted possess, and how some individuals can even have more than one power. The concept of the bonds is also interesting. Bonded people have a central Bond that ties them all together. There are a few steps to create the bond, and once a bond is in place, it sounds similar to the mate bond we are used to in the paranormal series, but it also makes every member of the bond more powerful.

Of course, since it’s a university setting, there had to be mean girls out for Oli’s blood simply because they were jealous of who her Bonds are. I am not a fan of petty pranks and mean girls bullying each other because they’re jealous over a hot guy, but it wasn’t too bad in this book, and it didn’t feel too juvenile, so all in all, I enjoyed the school setting, even though it’s not usually my cup of tea. The “mean girls” also had to face some consequences for their actions, so it was less frustrating this way.

What I did… running away from your Bonded, the people fated to be with you, that isn’t something that happens a lot. Or ever, really. Running away from the people that complete your soul, only a fucking crazy person would do that. I am that crazy person.

Oleander is a great main character. She is flawed, reckless, and sassy, but also selfless and will not hesitate to suffer and sacrifice herself to protect those she loves and her Bonds, even if they treat her like shit.
I love her.
She is quick-witted, strong, and funny. She doesn’t know when to back down, and she will fight until the bitter end for her friends and freedom. I can’t wait to see her develop even more in the next books and hopefully be able to heal from her past traumas, too. I like how she put up a strong façade and ignored what others thought or said about her, but she also let herself feel her loneliness and sadness when she was alone. She didn’t pretend that it didn’t affect her; she simply hid it from the others.

His eyes narrow at me in a glare, and he mumbles, "Cold-hearted fucking bitch."
Yeah, that's totally me. So cold that I ran away from the people fated to love me to try to stop the end of the freaking world as we know it. Total fucking bitch.

North Draven acts as the leader of Oli’s Bonds. He is the oldest and holds a respectable place in the gifted society as a councilman. Oli running away five years ago made him look bad, and the fact that she is finally under his control, but still refuses to bond with them, tests his patience and makes him act like a controlling asshole. Oli hates him, and with good reason, but I can’t help but be kind of attracted by his strong presence and confident aura (and who doesn’t like a gorgeous man in a suit?). I am very eager for him to realize that Oli is so much more than a spoiled brat, and for her to realize that he is not the big evil guy she thinks he is (or at least I hope he is not).

Nox Draven is the worst of the Bonded so far. He’s pissed at Oli for abandoning them, and he wants to get revenge and hurt her back, stopping at nothing to make her feel worthless and powerless. He thinks that he’s owed the bond, even though Oli doesn’t want to complete it, and does not hesitate to push the matter, even when it borders on rape, since a sexual relationship, or at least foreplay and orgasm, is needed to complete the bond. He definitely has some hard work to do and a lot of groveling in his future if he hopes to earn Oli’s forgiveness for his appalling behavior. For now, though, he doesn’t even seem to care about it or want to be forgiven, so I guess he’ll remain the asshole of the gang for a little longer.

Gryphon Shore hides a soft side under his cold attitude. He kept his distance from Oli and didn’t seem to care about her at all, but eventually, he did show a more caring side when she needed it, and spending time with Oli forced him to question what he believed about her. He came to realize that maybe she had a reason to flee 5 years ago, or maybe she was forced to. I like that he took the time to think about it and question Oli when he started having doubts, instead of just focusing on his hatred and his desire for revenge, as Nox did.

Gabe Ardens has the potential to be a real sweetheart, but he needs to learn to say “no” to North and stand up for himself and Oli. He was sweet at times, but whenever there was a confrontation between Oli and the other guys, he just faded into the background and left her alone, so I understand why she remained pissed at him, even when he was not outright mean to her. His choice not to defend her was very frustrating, especially since he’s the one she spent the most time with because of their shared class schedule.

“I don’t give a fuck about their opinions on my Bond. I spoke to them when my bloodwork came back, and they told me you ran. I’m not a dumbass like the rest of them. You ran because you had to. I know it. I’ll be there as soon as I can, and if that isn’t fast enough for you, I’ll come now and start the semester over again.”

Atlas Bassinger is the final bond of Oli, and the best for her so far. He does not live with the other guys and does not really know them. He knows of them because they contacted him once they learned that they all shared the same central bond, but that’s about it. It was a relief to have an outsider in the bond dynamic, especially since he was the only one clever enough to suspect from the start that Oli had a reason to flee, and she wasn't just being a stupid brat. He showed her compassion and was kind and understanding of her past, and I love him for that. He was the kindest and sweetest to her, and it will be good for her to finally have someone who is 100% on her side and willing to stand against the Dravens and their bullshit.

I like that the author took the time to build a strong, beautiful, and meaningful friendship between Oli and Sage. Too often, reverse-harem series only focus on the main character and the love interests, and the female friends are non-existent or bland accessories to the main character. It was refreshing to see a friendship that was relevant to the plot. Sage helps Oli feel less alone and more valued, and Oli makes Sage feel the same way. They both take solace and strength in the other’s presence and unwavering support, and I loved that powerful friendship. They reminded me a little bit of Sunday and Moira in the Mate Games series.

This is a fun and addictive read, with a kickass, resilient, and sassy main character, a wonderful best friend, some lovable love interests, and others much less lovable, but still interesting, and intriguing powers. I definitely recommend it to any reverse harem lover because even if there is no real smut in this one, I know it will get there eventually, and it will be worth the wait, the angst, and the groveling.


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[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin]

DNF - The cover reeled me in.



Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

"Better to be hated and alive, better to be in pain than a murderer, better to be alone and safe."

I loved this! I was hooked from the start. The whole academy setting, the bonds, and Oli’s backstory are so interesting.
I’m also so excited to see how her relationship with her bonds will evolve. I’m so mad at Nox right now, and I can’t imagine how they’ll get closer in the next books, but at the same time I can’t wait to see it happen.
The ending was great. I didn’t expect her to reveal her powers, and I’m diving straight into book 2 because I can’t wait.

—> I think all her bonds have something special, and I already like them all, but after book 1, Atlas is just the BEST. He’s so supportive and never once doubted her. Gryphon is also great. The way he held her and took away her pain.🥹Gabe is getting there, but North and Nox… I don’t know. I think that will take a while.

I also loved the friendship between Oli and Sage, as well as the whole friend group with Sawyer and Felix.

tropes:
~> bully romance
~> reverse harem
~> hate to love (only the beginning)
~> slow burn
~> academy setting
~> fated bonds

favorite quotes:

"Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. This pain is nothing compared to that."

"I don’t give a fuck about their opinions on my Bond. I spoke to them when my bloodwork came back and they told me you ran. I’m not a dumbass like the rest of them, you ran because you had to. I know it. I’ll be there as soon as I can and if that isn’t fast enough for you, I’ll come now and start the semester over again."

"If a guy shoved his phone number into your pocket around me, I'd rip his fucking throat out and yet you're standing there, unbothered and ready for fucking class?"

"Nox just keeps staring at me like I'm the worst thing that has ever happened to him. And, fuck, maybe I am, but at least I won't be the worst thing to ever be unleashed on the entire population of the country."

"How do I tell him that the nightmares are horrible but the least of our problems? If only they were the worst thing I can do."

[giulsxx · Rating 2 out of 5]

➼ 2.75★

“Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. This pain is nothing compared to that.”

read this if you like:
⤷enemies to lovers
⤷ reverse harem
⤷ forced proximity
⤷ alphaholes
⤷ possessive mmcs

well… it’s true that i said i didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out i was fucking lying. I WAS EXPECTING SOMETHING!!!! this book is the definition of confusing. i felt like i was missing a lot of pieces😃 like, you know when it happens that you fall asleep for a couple of minutes while watching a movie, and you miss EVERYTHING during those minutes. in a blink of a crinkling eye, you’ve missed the whole meaning of the movie.
THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW.
i don’t know shit about oli’s past, gift or her personality. i don’t know shit about nox, gryphon, atlas, north and gabe—about their pasts, their lives. what about chapter 22? was it rape? or was it consensual? honestly, i feel like my head is fucking spinning.
if this book was an introduction to something better, then it was a shitty introduction.
but, am i going to read the other books? fuck yes.
i’m too curious for this shit.
oh, and i hope the others are not boring as this one.
onto the next?💀

How do I tell him that the nightmares are horrible but the least of our problems? If only they were the worst thing I can do.

I can live with being hated. I hate myself enough to know just how easy it is to loathe me.

“You’re pretty good yourself, Fallows. So good that I’d run away with you if you decide to leave again.”

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 Stars

Wow. How refreshing to read something that actually takes the time to set the scene and build the relationships between the characters. Especially for something touted reverse harem. I would say more, but I want to dive into book two this second.

[Valkyrie ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I devoured this in less than a day.

J Bree’s writing has something that makes me lose myself in her stories. Even when she gave us the bare minimum of worldbuilding, it was easy to understand what was happening. I love a series where things unravel slowly to be revealed to the reader.

In the end, this is a character driven story. And the reason why this is so addictive.

Olli is an amazing main character. Bree has definitely a type and I couldn’t be more into it. The self sacrificing, resilient girl archetype is like crack to me. And Olli was no exception. I loved the mystery around her powers and why she did what she did, and I can’t wait to find out more.

She ran away from her Bonds and they are mad at her. Which is the premise for the bully romance here. It’s interesting how Bree always plays with the guys believing the main girl is promiscuous while they are man whores themselves. I love that moment when they realize their mistake, why is that so good??

Gabe and Gryphon had a great character development and I can already tell I’m gonna be obsessed with their romance with Olli. Same as Atlas, who gave no fucks except for her.

The scene when she gets her period and Gryphon helps her is one of my favorites 🥺

North has some real controlling issues but I can’t wait to see what happens with him.

Nox is the reason I removed two star. He assaulted Olli and it came out of nowhere. The way it was written made me really uncomfortable. And how she doubted herself hours later made me really mad.

It’s hard not to compare this series to Hannaford Pre, even so more because it’s one of my all times favorite series. And I absolutely love that Bree gave us another amazing girls friendship here. Sage’s sassy, gay brother Sawyer was such a great addition to their friend group. I love how Olli created her own group outside her Bonds.

Time to ignore my responsibilities and read the next book.

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

cannot comprehend what yall are on rating this 5 stars but that was ass and not even worth the energy to type why. just terribly written and horrendously boring with not an ounce of (consensual) smut to redeem it

[molly lou (be back soon!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars 𝜗𝜚⋆

Ok this must have had crack in because i could NOT put this book down?!?! I started this late in the night and finished it when the birds were chirping (yep, literally). I’m going into the next book after I post this and I’m extremely tired (I wonder why) so I have no time to articulate my thoughts prettily, but this should hopefully be coherent.. The writing isn’t note-worthy and the plot was kind of lacking so this definitely won’t be for everyone, but I had such a fun time that I quite frankly didn’t care. I don’t know what that says about me but here we are. That’s when you know a book had you hooked😭.

The love interests/bonds (of which there are 5😮):
The one guy with a brain calls her “sweetness” which kind of ruins the mood but hey, at least least he’s not Nox. Gabe has a penchant for saying the word “bitch”. Gryphon… actually I can’t think of anything bad to say about Gryphon, but I’m sure there’s something. Nox and North however… boy if I catch yous. Nox I hope you perish. Scratch that, if I catch you I’ll MAKE you perish. And North? That stunt with the period? Not cool man. Not cool.

Nonetheless I inhaled this book? Throughout reading I was thinking 4 stars but then Oli just had to be even more of an icon at the end so I simply had to bump this up. I don’t make the rules🤷‍♀️. I may change my rating later though, who knows.

[Kari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please how does this book have so many 5 star reviews when literally nothing happens until the last two chapters?????? I mean really what did we need 400 pages of this for???? And pretty much all of the guys are assholes with no personalities except asshole-ish-ness??? Also the writing was subpar (please learn the difference between your and you’re), the characters didn’t develop at all, and what even was the plot besides them going to school and everyone bullying her?

Also this book did a very good job of romanticizing abuse in nearly every form, from financial to emotional to mental to physical abuse. I’m so glad that it’s become super popular and people gush over all of the characters despite that fact that all of the guys are toxic af. Yes that was sarcasm. I mean please there is a line between bullying and abuse and this book FLEW SO FAR PAST IT.

BUT OKAY MY BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THIS is the only {kind of} smut scene is one where the guy more or less r*pes her but is supposed to be a romantic lead????? Like at that point please just say it’s not NA because I’d rather know I’m walking into a book with no smut than get a r*pe scene instead. And I don’t want to hear any fans saying “oh but it’s a bully romance no it’s part of the whole schtick” because NO IT IS NOT. CONSENT IS CONSENT. I’ve read plenty of bully romances but this was NOT. OKAY.

I really do not understand why this book is so popular. Not only is it problematic as FUCK, but the world building sucks, the characters are one dimensional and personality-less, and again *nothing important happens* in a majority of the book.

Pls wtf was this i’m never reading a book by her again

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a feeling this is going to be one of my new favorite series! 😍

[Gabs · Rating 2 out of 5]

[1.75]

“You should have trusted us… whatever happened in that hospital room that made you run away, you should have run to us instead.”

Mmm, no, thank you.

Honestly, I was so entertained by the book that, at first, I was willing to turn a blind eye to a lot of things and just give it three stars. However, two specific scenes were over my breaking point, so I had no choice but to lower my rating. And because I can't be the only one putting up with this, I decided to list (and complain, of course) some of the many things that are wrong with this story here.



Let's start with the bad stuff because yeah, I need to get it out of my chest.

1. The guys are essentially assholes. I get it, you know? They felt hurt and betrayed by her absence. However, I don't think it's a sufficient excuse for the shitty treatment they gave her. Here are some examples from each of the guys:

🡪 Nox: “I did wonder at how you were surviving out there. I’m assuming you were selling yourself, there’s nothing else you have to offer. I'll have to wait for the test results to come back before I complete the bond and get what I’m owed from you.”

He has to be the jerkest of the four and definitely the one I hate the most. That was just a small sample of all the horrible things he says and does in his vendetta against Oli. In fact, it was one of his actions that contributed to the plummeting of my rating for this book (which I'll comment on later in another point).

Nox feels like your typical Wattpad idiot boy who wants to excuse all of his shitty behavior with trauma and no, I'm not buying it. I honestly can't understand how people love him because in this book he was just a hateful character.



🡪 North: “Having you here where I can keep an eye on you is a means of freedom for you. The alternative is to chain you by the throat to the floor in my cellar. I won't be pleased to do that but make no mistake, Fallows, I will keep you here.”

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome, Asshole #2.

The worst part about North, aside from the fact that he shares the same jerk gene as his brother, is that the guy is so controlling it's disgusting. It literally feels like he's the lord and father of all, which makes his bond with Oli somewhat repulsive. I mean, he controls where she goes, who she is with, where she studies, what she eats, where she sleeps, absolutely everything. It was creeping me out.

“I find that it really is North here, storming into the apartment with an entire fucking TacTeam because I dared to break his stupid rules… by sleeping in Atlas’ apartment, two blocks away from the dorms.”

Why are these guys walking red flags?



To put the icing on the cake, there was a scene where North literally refused to stop at a drugstore to buy what Oli needed for her period. How did that go? Ah yes, the protagonist staining her dress with blood, dying of pain, and with the girls in her dorm making fun of her for having an "abortion".



Trust me, I wish I was making all of this up but that's actually in the book.

🡪 Gabriel: “And I’d rather die than sit around and watch you work your way through the freshman class. If your Bonds aren’t good enough for you, then you’re going to be alone and miserable, I’ll make sure of that.”

Gabe's behavior just irritated me, especially since he didn't miss an opportunity to call her a bitch. The good news, on the other hand, is that there comes a point in the book where things get better between him and the main character. We even get some cute scenes. Does that excuse his previous bullshit behavior? Not at all, but at least it leaves the potential to like him in future books.

🡪 Gryphon: “I'm going to need you to be really honest right now, Oleander. The girls downstairs are saying this is a botched abortion. I checked your GPS tracker and I know that it can't be unless you did it in a bathroom stall by yourself over lunchtime. So, what's going on?”

Perhaps this character is the hardest to comment on because, luckily, he never insulted Oli for abandoning them. He was more dedicated to ignoring her and pretending she didn't exist, which is more understandable and acceptable. And yes, you can tell from that how low my bar was at that point.

However, Gryphon also bothered me because he didn't stop a single one of the abuses that the others were doing against the protagonist. He didn't stop the insults or ill-treatment and even checked the GPS that North ordered to put against the protagonist's will. That's why he's not spared the burn here, but I'm interested enough to see what happens with him in the next few books.



2. Possible "accepted" sexual assault. And that's how we got to the wonderful scene where I knew I couldn't give this book any more stars.

“I want my power. I want what you owe me. I have waited five years for this. I'd been waiting five years before then. An entire decade I've been waiting to have my full power, and you're just going to come here and say no to us all? I don't fucking think so, Poison.”

This whole thing was so fucked up I don't even know where to start.

The scene wasn't exactly a rape, but it also doesn't imply that it was entirely consensual. In fact, it felt a lot like reading about a sexual assault that the protagonist hasn't even had time to process yet. I mean, this guy (Nox) literally overstepped her boundaries and then tried to excuse it by saying that she never said no to him (even when he knew he had been manipulating her).

Yep, it's as disgusting as it sounds.

“Fucking pathetic, Poison, you can't even bond right. You're nothing but a liability.”



3. The protagonist normalized the bad treatment she received. There's no better example than this:

“He did help me, he helped me more than he knows. It wasn’t just the pain I was feeling that he helped with, I was starting to feel like I couldn’t keep going here, but he changed that with a single act of kindness. I guess I do sort of owe him something.”

WHAT!?

Are you telling me that they made her life miserable on purpose and yet she felt indebted because one of them was minimally decent to her!?



Yeah, I think that's all I'm going to say here because I no longer have the motivation or energy to comment on all the other wrong things I read. But don't fret, there was also some good stuff that actually made me want to keep reading the series (aside from my friend Chiara bullying me into it).

1. A funny and healthy friendship between two girls. Self explanatory. We all love reading about supporting, nice friends.

Oh, and there's also Sawyer. He was hilarious.

“We need to swap dick stories because there are a lot of rumors about him and I need to know which ones are true.”

2. Lots of secrets and mysteries. J. Bree was a genius planting seeds here and there. We are in the protagonist's head and yet we know almost as little about her as her bonds do. However, it's clear that a lot is going on and we're barely touching the top of the iceberg.

3. Addictive as hell. When I tell you I couldn't put the book down, I'm serious. At this point, I don't even know if I read the book or if the book read me. And yes, I was enjoying it despite the guys' bullshit until I read Nox's wonderful scene and North's act of chivalry.

Anyway, this is perfect to get out of a reading slump, for sure.

4. Atlas. Even if he seems too good to be true, I can't help but like him. Do I suspect him? Of course! But I'm a simple girl and if you give me "he's an asshole to everyone but her", then I'll take it.

“Oh yeah? Well, unlike you, I'm not afraid to tell the others to fuck off and keep my Bond to myself. I don't care what's happened in the past, that shit is over with. She's mine and you've chosen for her to not be yours.”



One out of five is still better than zero out of five, so I'll keep reading the series and hope for the best.

Quick update: I'm already reading Savage Bonds and yay, it's getting soooo much better.

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started like I was already supposed to know this world. I actually had to go back and check it's book one. There were some major info gaps and stuff that was just thrown in as ofc, we talked about this, even though we did in fact, not.

So we have our main girl who is 19, she has been running for 5 years from her bonds (which are 5 men). I just want to say, I know none of the guy's ages and almost nothing about them. I also don't love that she was 14 when she 'found' her bonds.

Now I'm ok with no info dumping but to have the first history snippets of the world be at 50% was asking for a lot. Luckily this book is short, and I liked some of the things enough to keep me reading till about 65% where things were turned up x2.

AND WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?

There is one questionable smut scene, just so you are prepared.
I loved the sleepovers with one special someone.
I would not have minded a FF bond with her girlfriend but I guess I'll be happy as long as she ends up with the cute guy.

This flew by for me and I want the second like yesterday but I'm on hold atm on Libby :(
------------------------------------------
I blame Cha for this one 😌 (love you bb)

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

5th Read: 1/04/2025

4th Read: 25/01/2024

3rd Read (Audiobook): 28/10/22
I honestly think I've started a habit now where I will just reread this series every 2 months for the rest of my life. I have no idea how I still got the exact same amount of joy reading this the 3rd time round as I did from my first time in March.
I listened to the audiobook this time and it was sooo good. It made for a whole new experience again and I'm looking forward to completing the series this way. *sigh* so sad that when I finish this reread there will be no more books in the series 😭

2nd Read: 4/8/22
I didn't expect to be reading this again so soon, but here I am ... loving it even more than the first time round (which I didn't think was possible). It was fun to read with a little bit more knowledge of everyone's powers and not to look at all the boys as assholes. I could read this series over and over and over again ♡

First Read: 17/3/22
Omg! Absolute favourite book of the year (possibly ever). Between the uniquie plot, Oli and her boys and the beautiful cover I'm sooo in love.

[Rebecca (life's chaotic catching up) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What I did..... running away from your Bonded, the people fated to be with you, that isn't something that happens a lot. Or ever really. Running away from the people that complete your soul, only a fucking crazy person would do that."

4.5 stars!
NO, bc I finished this book in one day and already started book 2!!! I ran in to walls while walking in my house bc I could not put this book down to even go to the kitchen! The way this entire premise and the mystery surrounding what is happening to the fmc, Oleander, has me in an absolute spiral. I honestly knew very little going into this other than its popular and it's a why choose (although that feels like it's oversimplifying it bc it's more layered than just why choose) I would rec going in blind if you can bc it was so much fun this way and there is still sooo much I don't know and that is what is really driving me to be so invested in the story. Is it master writing? No. Is it perfect? No. BUT it's just so much FUN and I already know I want to reread this book asp. But if you have already read it or haven't and still want to know a little, my breakdown is below.

Oleander/Oli-If you know me at all, you know that the fmc is everything for me. I need a good fmc and this book has a GREAT one! She is sassy and strong but also internally broken and doing her best to keep her shit together and I really love her so much. She is such a mystery; I really need to know the depths of her gift and what happened to her and why she ran!

Gabe-He can be a brat and he seems a little privileged but I also think he really is heartbroken over Oli running but he still pines for her obviously. He has some work to do before he wins me over but I can see myself loving him in the future. He has potential.

Atlas-AAAHH THIS SWEET MAN!! I LOVE HIM!! The way he was in Oli's corner from the very beginning! He is so sweet and protective and hot! BUT..... he is almost too perfect, and I wonder if this perfection will last.

Gryphon-Whew! Right now, this is my guy!  He is so hot and he already knows that Oli is hiding something, he seems to be super intuitive when it comes to her and I am digging his vibe so much! ALSO, he healed her period pain and slept with her in her cot!!!! SWOON!!!!

The Dravens/North and Nox-They can both kick rocks honestly, what a pair of absolute asshats. North I can see I may grow to love if he makes amends at some point bc he has that hot bossy thing going on but I HATE NOX so much. What he did to Oli is unacceptable, and I am furious that crossed that line.

Some quotes I loved!

"It excruciating. A living nightmare. Sitting with four of the five men who are supposed to be drawn to me, to someday love me the most in the world, while they stare at me with utter contempt."

"If a guy shoved his phone number into your pocket around me, I'd rip his fucking throat out and yet you are standing there, unbothered and ready for fucking class?"

"Don't try to distract me, Bond. There's no way you were leaving me behind, not on purpose."

"What in the Harry Potter bullshit is this?!"

"I think you made a mistake and instead of owning up to it and making amends, you've doubled down on it. You should have trusted us.... whatever happened un that hospital room that made you run away, you should have run to us instead."

"Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. This pain is nothing compared to that."

[veerali · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm completely solddd. from start to finish, this book had me hooked, and i couldn't put it down. but let me warn you, this is not your average read. j bree has put her whole thrussy into this book, and it's unlike anything i've ever read before. i'll admit, at first, i was a little hesitant to dive into this book, but once i started reading, i couldn't stop. my eyes are hurting a little bit from reading this book in one sitting. but i have absolutely no regrets. i was completely immersed in the story, and i couldn't put it down until i reached the very end. and even then, i was left wanting more 🫶🏼

this novel features a why choose romance with common themes including transitioning from hate to love, the formation of a found family, the presence of a bully, forced proximity between characters, the concept of fated mates or bonds, and a slow-burning romantic development.

ᝰ.ᐟ plot summary:
the story follows oli, who has faced unimaginable tragedy at a young age. at just fourteen years old, her whole world is turned upside down when her mother and her mother's bonded died in a tragic car accident. as if that wasn't enough, oli is forced to flee for her life and leave behind everything she has ever known. in a society where running away from bonds is not allowed, oli's actions are seen as a violation of the norms. five years later, she is finally tracked down by a tacteam, captured, and microchipped with a tracker. she is then returned to a life that is controlled by her bonds, who are nothing but cruel and heartless to her. what makes matters worse is that oli can't reveal the truth behind her escape to her bonds. she is forced to keep her secrets locked away, and this only adds to the tension and resentment that her bonds hold towards her. as the story unravels, it becomes clear that oli's power is not just any ordinary power. it is hinted that her power will bring destruction and danger to her bonds.

꒰ 🖇 ⊹ ׁ݂ “We would've given you the world. There wasn't a thing on this Earth you could've asked for that we would've refused you.”


ᝰ.ᐟ characters:

𖣠 oleander fallows
her stubborn attitude and short-tempered nature captured my attention. she is unapologetically herself and unafraid to speak her mind, even if it means getting into trouble. her fierce determination and unwavering sense of self made her a true badass 🧎🏻‍♀️

𖣠 gryphon shore
this man is a grumpy and pookie bear 😭 the way he helped oli with her period cramps and kept checking on her every day 🫶🏼

𖣠 north draven
north holds a position as a councilman in their country. this man has got some serious issues. he's such a dickhead and controlling freak. the amount of times he called oli an attention seeker made me want to punch his gut, ugh.

𖣠 gabriel ardern
gabe, who happens to be oli's classmate, is also a member of their college's football team. he is such a baby girl. i really disliked him first but as the story progressed, i couldn't help but swoon for him 🦋

𖣠 nox draven
nox is north's brother and a professor in oli's college. his character was truly despicable and i hated him with a passion. the worst character i have ever come across in this book. his actions towards oli were unforgivable and he truly was a dick 🤺🤺🤺

𖣠 atlas bassinger
like oli, he's a college student, but he resides on the east coast of the country. he and oli engage in long distance conversations for a period of time. ATLAS DO YOU WANNA GET WIFED UP?! the way he was so patient with oli omgggg 🦋🦋🦋 ugh, he's such a husband material like gimmeee 😩

atlas > gryphon > gabe > north > nox


ᝰ.ᐟ side characters:

𖣠 sage:
what sets sage apart from other characters is her strong and unwavering friendship with oli. their bond is so pure and genuine, it's impossible not to feel warm and fuzzy inside when reading about their adventures and conversations. their banter is witty and heartfelt, and it's clear that they would do anything for each other. sage's character development throughout the book is also incredible.

𖣠 sawyer:
sawyer is sage's older brother. what i loved most that he was always there for his sister, offering her support and love when she needed it the most. sawyer's character development throughout the book was also impressive. he starts off as a ignorant and reserved towards oli, but as the story progresses, he becomes more friendly towards her.

𖣠 felix:
he only has eyes for sage. they both would make such a cute couple 🫶🏼

overall, i have nothing but love for this book. it has everything i look for in a great read: compelling characters, a gripping plot, and beautiful writing.