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The Binding #1
The Binding
Calista Batts lives a sheltered life, until the day she is kidnapped and used in a sacrificial ceremony meant to drain her of a dormant power she knew nothing about. When the magic inside her is unlocked, it nearly kills her, but not before calling three mysterious and powerful men to her side. Inexplicably drawn to the dying woman, they resolve to bind her to themselves- mind, body, and soul- in a desperate attempt to save her life.
Now Calista must learn to control her newfound magic and adjust to this previously hidden world, all while navigating the overwhelming effects of her new bonds.
As feelings intensify, all of them struggle in their own way- Draven, with his uncontrollable bloodlust. Seth, with his desperate need for touch. And Hawthorne, who is burdened by his past and guilt over the sacrifices made to save her. Together, they must harness their collective strength to confront the cult that nearly killed her.
Will they be able to accept their new bonds in time?
The Binding is a paranormal MMFM romance. Please refer to the author's bio for content guidance, as there may be subject matter that is disturbing to some readers.
Now Calista must learn to control her newfound magic and adjust to this previously hidden world, all while navigating the overwhelming effects of her new bonds.
As feelings intensify, all of them struggle in their own way- Draven, with his uncontrollable bloodlust. Seth, with his desperate need for touch. And Hawthorne, who is burdened by his past and guilt over the sacrifices made to save her. Together, they must harness their collective strength to confront the cult that nearly killed her.
Will they be able to accept their new bonds in time?
The Binding is a paranormal MMFM romance. Please refer to the author's bio for content guidance, as there may be subject matter that is disturbing to some readers.
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About the author
Rebecca Rathe
26 books1,044 followersDeliciously dirty, delightfully neurotic, ratchet mess of a daydreamer.
See www.rebeccarathe.com for a full list of books, social media, and trigger warnings.
See www.rebeccarathe.com for a full list of books, social media, and trigger warnings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
September 24, 2023
Disgusting
DNF at 16%. Made no sense. Somehow one of the main male characters literally rapes her. Not dubious consent, she was fully unconscious. Quite literally have read better books in Youtube comments.
DNF at 16%. Made no sense. Somehow one of the main male characters literally rapes her. Not dubious consent, she was fully unconscious. Quite literally have read better books in Youtube comments.
August 31, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️1/2
I still want to bite her, drain her, bathe in her blood. But I also want to fuck her first.
I loved Rebecca’s dip back into paranormal romance! The Binding was a great introduction to her new series. This book has so many of my favorite paranormal characters and tropes - vampires, angels, mages, witches, bindings, soul mates, and magical awakening! Plus, it’s full of mysteries, secrets, and angst.
While the FMC, Calista, is over 30, she has been isolated and gaslighted her entire life. Waking up to forced bonds, a no-longer pure body, and a buried affinity for magic makes her question her whole reality.
I am highly biased in liking her angel mate, Seth, over the others. That touch-starved angel has the perfect golden-retriever vibes with an insatiable drive to be with Calista. I also loved her vampire mate, Draven, that barely-restrained psycho torn between wanting to consume her and becoming a better male to deserve her. Grumpy Daddy mage, Hawthorn… well, he will take some more time to grow on me. I hope he exposes a bit of his softer side. Currently, he’s trailing far behind the others.
This is a fast-burn romance with a significant amount of spice. It includes MF, MM, and MMF scenes. Most are consensual, though there are some non-con scenes.
The Binding ends on a significant cliffhanger. I look forward to seeing what comes next!
Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance
Tropes/Features: Age gap, forced proximity, forced bonding, soul mates, grumpy mage MMC, touch-starved angel MMC, vampire MMC, naïve 33yo virgin FMC, magical awakening, all-in MMC, golden-retriever, amnesia, morally grey MMCs, somno, non-con, virgin sacrifice
Narrator: Multiple 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose MMFM, fast burn, spicy
Book Type/Ending: Book One in The Binding Series, cliffhanger
TW/CW: Available in book and through author’s website
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️1/2
I still want to bite her, drain her, bathe in her blood. But I also want to fuck her first.
I loved Rebecca’s dip back into paranormal romance! The Binding was a great introduction to her new series. This book has so many of my favorite paranormal characters and tropes - vampires, angels, mages, witches, bindings, soul mates, and magical awakening! Plus, it’s full of mysteries, secrets, and angst.
While the FMC, Calista, is over 30, she has been isolated and gaslighted her entire life. Waking up to forced bonds, a no-longer pure body, and a buried affinity for magic makes her question her whole reality.
I am highly biased in liking her angel mate, Seth, over the others. That touch-starved angel has the perfect golden-retriever vibes with an insatiable drive to be with Calista. I also loved her vampire mate, Draven, that barely-restrained psycho torn between wanting to consume her and becoming a better male to deserve her. Grumpy Daddy mage, Hawthorn… well, he will take some more time to grow on me. I hope he exposes a bit of his softer side. Currently, he’s trailing far behind the others.
This is a fast-burn romance with a significant amount of spice. It includes MF, MM, and MMF scenes. Most are consensual, though there are some non-con scenes.
The Binding ends on a significant cliffhanger. I look forward to seeing what comes next!
Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance
Tropes/Features: Age gap, forced proximity, forced bonding, soul mates, grumpy mage MMC, touch-starved angel MMC, vampire MMC, naïve 33yo virgin FMC, magical awakening, all-in MMC, golden-retriever, amnesia, morally grey MMCs, somno, non-con, virgin sacrifice
Narrator: Multiple 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose MMFM, fast burn, spicy
Book Type/Ending: Book One in The Binding Series, cliffhanger
TW/CW: Available in book and through author’s website
April 24, 2024
BIG nope from me. Not only is this plot all over the god damn place with things just popping off out of nowhere with very little description and reasoning behind it. Using actual full blown r@pe as a magic plot solution to a problem just doesn't sit with me,and no it wasn't dub con.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2023
I absolutely love that the FMC is older. That right off the bat, got me even more interested. Draven, Seth, & Big Daddy are amazing characters to add with Calistas amazing personality. I liked the chemistry build up and at the end between Big Daddy and Calista it made it more emotional because of the build up. Great book.
August 27, 2023
I have really enjoyed all of Rebecca Rathe’s previous books, and this one did not disappoint!
I normally don’t read books that aren’t complete as I don’t do very well with cliffhangers, but this one I just could not put down. It was all read in one sitting!
I love how Calista grows from the beginning of the book into a strong woman. The enemies to lovers theme only strengthens her character. I love how she surprises herself with how powerful she is, but she isn’t naïve at all.
Seth, Draven, and Hawthorn are all complete polar opposites, but they complement each other so well.
I was not expecting that ending, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series when they come out.
I normally don’t read books that aren’t complete as I don’t do very well with cliffhangers, but this one I just could not put down. It was all read in one sitting!
I love how Calista grows from the beginning of the book into a strong woman. The enemies to lovers theme only strengthens her character. I love how she surprises herself with how powerful she is, but she isn’t naïve at all.
Seth, Draven, and Hawthorn are all complete polar opposites, but they complement each other so well.
I was not expecting that ending, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series when they come out.
September 16, 2024
What in the hell is this
January 26, 2024
It was an ok book. Nothing too exciting, but not unpleasant either. Just very middle of the road.
Full review available on my blog. Linked through the banner above.
June 6, 2024
This was not for me y’all.
**check your trigger warnings here too***
The smut was very specifically not my cup of tea. What Hawthorne does in the binding—doesn’t even feel necessary to the plot of the story. Feels like it’s just there to be added to the trigger list honestly. His guilt for doing it is brought up later in the story, but he has enough guilt for binding to Calista (and enjoying her company) after he was already married with kids. It just feels wholly unnecessary-and then she does the same to him to unbind them? That entire part of the storyline seemed strange and would have been fine with out it.
The characters were also so flat. I feel like the writing wasn’t terrible, but I could not get past how much of the characters back stories and motivations were missing in this one. Maybe she sheds some light on that in the next books…but I have read books with similar plots that were just more sussed out than this and I was missing that here!
**check your trigger warnings here too***
The smut was very specifically not my cup of tea. What Hawthorne does in the binding—doesn’t even feel necessary to the plot of the story. Feels like it’s just there to be added to the trigger list honestly. His guilt for doing it is brought up later in the story, but he has enough guilt for binding to Calista (and enjoying her company) after he was already married with kids. It just feels wholly unnecessary-and then she does the same to him to unbind them? That entire part of the storyline seemed strange and would have been fine with out it.
The characters were also so flat. I feel like the writing wasn’t terrible, but I could not get past how much of the characters back stories and motivations were missing in this one. Maybe she sheds some light on that in the next books…but I have read books with similar plots that were just more sussed out than this and I was missing that here!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2023
I got to Chapter 21, tried to skim read but my mind would just wander. Eventually, I put down the book and forgot about it and wasn't willing to go back to it.
They let the evil, skeevy "dr" go when they had the opportunity to kill him during the ceremony. Then Hawthorne spends most of the book angry+grumpy that it stopped being justifiable or understandable and became annoying.
While the FMC is older, she is naïve due to how she's been brought up and her denial as to who she is/what she is went on for too long.
Then the book meandered in its storyline. I got bored with the harem build up. I wanted her first to take her power back/get it under control and find the cult/bad guys.
So, DNF.
They let the evil, skeevy "dr" go when they had the opportunity to kill him during the ceremony. Then Hawthorne spends most of the book angry+grumpy that it stopped being justifiable or understandable and became annoying.
While the FMC is older, she is naïve due to how she's been brought up and her denial as to who she is/what she is went on for too long.
Then the book meandered in its storyline. I got bored with the harem build up. I wanted her first to take her power back/get it under control and find the cult/bad guys.
So, DNF.
August 30, 2023
This book had a little bit of everything…witches, a vampire, a ghost, and religious fanatics. I’m a sucker for all of that and this book did not disappoint! I find that not every author can write a vampire that appeals to me. Sometimes they just fall flat or don’t have the edge they should. This one hit the mark, though! The story kept a great pace, and I enjoyed all the banter between the characters and getting everyone’s POV. As usual, Rebecca Rathe knows how to write a delicious reverse harem! I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
August 31, 2023
I have a new favorite book!
A naughty angel, a bloodthirsty vampire, and a broody mage are unexpectedly drawn to save a repressed witch. What follows is the start of a very promising dark paranormal series with why choose spice that will leave you salivating for more.
Rebecca Rathe always delivers, but The Binding feels like a whole new level. It casts the perfect spell that kept me enthralled from the first sentence to the very last word. I'm so excited to see what's in store for these characters next.
A naughty angel, a bloodthirsty vampire, and a broody mage are unexpectedly drawn to save a repressed witch. What follows is the start of a very promising dark paranormal series with why choose spice that will leave you salivating for more.
Rebecca Rathe always delivers, but The Binding feels like a whole new level. It casts the perfect spell that kept me enthralled from the first sentence to the very last word. I'm so excited to see what's in store for these characters next.
January 1, 2024
Last book of the year and what a good one it was.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
So fucking spicy and hot and just GOOD. I love an older FMC. Vampires? Ghosty angels? Mages? Daddy vibes? Mind speaking? Give it all to me. The MM scenes are IT. I throughly enjoyed every moment of this. Starting the second book immediately.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵
🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
So fucking spicy and hot and just GOOD. I love an older FMC. Vampires? Ghosty angels? Mages? Daddy vibes? Mind speaking? Give it all to me. The MM scenes are IT. I throughly enjoyed every moment of this. Starting the second book immediately.
August 27, 2023
Absolutely phenomenal! If you like paranormal, drama, a little enemies to lovers, spice, world building, mystery, drama, and having your heart broken…this is the book for you. The golden retriever, tortured soul, and grumpy personalities of the MMCs were perfectly executed. The growth of the FMC is beautifully done. She is fierce, brave, and incredibly strong. I cannot rave about this book enough and I’m on the edge of my seat for book two!
August 27, 2023
Absolutely fantastic!!! Wow! All Rebecca's books are amazing, but this is now my favorite! I NEED the next book! Calista, Draven, Seth, and Hawthorn are such great characters - so well written! I LOVE this book!!!
August 31, 2023
Rebecca Rathe’s foray back into the paranormal world is exciting and welcomed! The story grips you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go. The dynamic between dark and light with Draven and Seth is perfectly balanced. And then there’s Hawthorne. Oh, Hawthorne.
If you love PNR this one’s definitely for you!
If you love PNR this one’s definitely for you!
January 12, 2024
Where to begin with this one... I guess I brought this on myself when I went ahead with the Stuff Your Kindle day without properly checking each book and guiding me mostly by a summary and a pretty cover. I am almost ashamed that this is my first finished book of 2024. I'm going to see it at the beginning of my 2024 Challenge and feel the shade forever.
I have to be honest about this: I seriously considered dropping this book right from the start. And then several times throughout, but somehow I found myself finishing it up. I am not sure why. Maybe I was hoping for more? I'm not sure. I would advice against it. Not because it was horribly written, because it's not, truly. It's just "meh" written, like neither here nor there.
The first chapters were a drag. A tortured, horrific sequence of events that made me epically cringe and hate all involved. It's just a bunch of descriptive awful things followed by the ramblings of a very passive person moaning about her troubles without doing absolutely anything to improve her situation. Then, as things move along, the characters proved time and again to be bland and written very similarly despite an exacerbation of certain qualities that made them feel caricaturesque at best and lulzy at worst. The spice was nonexistent (despite some very nasty tries to get a rise out of readers) and the main character continued to be uninteresting to the point I really couldn't care less what happened to her, at all.
Calista is the epitome of a doormat. She has been molested by a doctor for most of her life and she is 30 years old and taking his bullshit like a champ. Despite supposedly googling stuff and knowing that what he is doing is not medically supported, she continues to allow it without looking for help from any type of public authority.
I'm not even going to go and discuss each of the three guys' troubled pasts and issues but their magic types do deserve a small mention. The concept of the "shade" that is not a vampire but a feral blood mage, who does no magic and only slurps blood from humans, was beyond silly. Let's stop inventing stuff for the sake of it, really. It's even worse than the sparkling vamps. The "bright", who was like an angel with energy wings, was also lulzy. Regarding the human mage, I was left wondering at one point if he was part-troll, considering the ease with which he crashed people's skulls, broke doors, and generally smashed things to smithereens.
If all of that hasn't managed to put you off reading this book, it might just be your cup of tea.
I have to be honest about this: I seriously considered dropping this book right from the start. And then several times throughout, but somehow I found myself finishing it up. I am not sure why. Maybe I was hoping for more? I'm not sure. I would advice against it. Not because it was horribly written, because it's not, truly. It's just "meh" written, like neither here nor there.
The first chapters were a drag. A tortured, horrific sequence of events that made me epically cringe and hate all involved. It's just a bunch of descriptive awful things followed by the ramblings of a very passive person moaning about her troubles without doing absolutely anything to improve her situation. Then, as things move along, the characters proved time and again to be bland and written very similarly despite an exacerbation of certain qualities that made them feel caricaturesque at best and lulzy at worst. The spice was nonexistent (despite some very nasty tries to get a rise out of readers) and the main character continued to be uninteresting to the point I really couldn't care less what happened to her, at all.
Calista is the epitome of a doormat. She has been molested by a doctor for most of her life and she is 30 years old and taking his bullshit like a champ. Despite supposedly googling stuff and knowing that what he is doing is not medically supported, she continues to allow it without looking for help from any type of public authority.
I'm not even going to go and discuss each of the three guys' troubled pasts and issues but their magic types do deserve a small mention. The concept of the "shade" that is not a vampire but a feral blood mage, who does no magic and only slurps blood from humans, was beyond silly. Let's stop inventing stuff for the sake of it, really. It's even worse than the sparkling vamps. The "bright", who was like an angel with energy wings, was also lulzy. Regarding the human mage, I was left wondering at one point if he was part-troll, considering the ease with which he crashed people's skulls, broke doors, and generally smashed things to smithereens.
If all of that hasn't managed to put you off reading this book, it might just be your cup of tea.
August 25, 2023
*ARC Review
Wow. This book really took me by surprise at how much I truly enjoyed it. At the end I, out loud to my empty kitchen, said "Wow Rebecca, really!?"
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely fell in love with every single leading character in this book and can not wait to sink my teeth (see what I did there?) into the rest of this series, just so we can get to know them better. The spice was A+ and plentiful but only added to the story, which I really loved.
Calista is a broken woman who never really stops fighting for herself and I love that for her. I enjoyed watching her come into her own powers and stop letting these opinioned men walk over her. She loves fast and hard and I love that for her.
Loving Seth as much as I did was a surprise for me, but man did that dirty angel man get under my skin and I fell for the sweet and unabashed way he loves. To, no one who knows me shock, my whole ass heart belongs to Draven and his bloodlust, scarred past and dirty mouth. But it was Hawthorne who broke my heart and never really fixed it. (Looking at you book 2)
It was a lot of fun trying to put the pieces together of this mystery and there were a few parts that I gasped out loud at, when they were revealed (THAT ENDING?!!?)
Wow.... Really Rebecca!?
I am eagerly awaiting the rest of this series!
Wow. This book really took me by surprise at how much I truly enjoyed it. At the end I, out loud to my empty kitchen, said "Wow Rebecca, really!?"
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely fell in love with every single leading character in this book and can not wait to sink my teeth (see what I did there?) into the rest of this series, just so we can get to know them better. The spice was A+ and plentiful but only added to the story, which I really loved.
Calista is a broken woman who never really stops fighting for herself and I love that for her. I enjoyed watching her come into her own powers and stop letting these opinioned men walk over her. She loves fast and hard and I love that for her.
Loving Seth as much as I did was a surprise for me, but man did that dirty angel man get under my skin and I fell for the sweet and unabashed way he loves. To, no one who knows me shock, my whole ass heart belongs to Draven and his bloodlust, scarred past and dirty mouth. But it was Hawthorne who broke my heart and never really fixed it. (Looking at you book 2)
It was a lot of fun trying to put the pieces together of this mystery and there were a few parts that I gasped out loud at, when they were revealed (THAT ENDING?!!?)
Wow.... Really Rebecca!?
I am eagerly awaiting the rest of this series!
October 4, 2024
REBECCA RAHTE AND H.D CARLTON WOULD MAKE A GREAT PAIR
It's not often I go rating books 1 star and when I do It's usually because the book is awful, however until page 58, the book was good and I was actually enjoying it, now imagine my shock when one of the MC's rapes the fmc.
You read that right!
he raped the fmc the day they were introduced and not only that but my girl wasn't conscious Rebecca said it was dub con??? I'm sorry but my girl was in pain and unconscious so please explain how this was dub con, she also had the nerve to use that as some sort of magical way to bring fmc back to life.
How sick do you have to be to sit in your office and think about the mc RAPING the fmc before writing it in graphic detail?
Anyway, ladies unless you like the idea of reading excruciating detail about the fmc getting SAd don't read it, this was disappointing and disgusting and I dnfd at 58 Pages.
It's not often I go rating books 1 star and when I do It's usually because the book is awful, however until page 58, the book was good and I was actually enjoying it, now imagine my shock when one of the MC's rapes the fmc.
You read that right!
he raped the fmc the day they were introduced and not only that but my girl wasn't conscious Rebecca said it was dub con??? I'm sorry but my girl was in pain and unconscious so please explain how this was dub con, she also had the nerve to use that as some sort of magical way to bring fmc back to life.
How sick do you have to be to sit in your office and think about the mc RAPING the fmc before writing it in graphic detail?
Anyway, ladies unless you like the idea of reading excruciating detail about the fmc getting SAd don't read it, this was disappointing and disgusting and I dnfd at 58 Pages.
September 9, 2023
This book, like all of Rebecca’s was simply phenomenal!! I knew going into it I would love it, everything of hers is simply top notch! Her writing style is just superb, her characters always draw me in, her world building is excellent and every 🌶️ scene she writes , it just 🥵, untouchable!! This book was no different.
Calista, the FMC, is a 33 year old witch, and a powerful one at that, with long line of strong witches in her family tree! Tragedy struck at a very young age, when she had to go under the care of her aunt, who thought witch craft was evil and of the devil. So she kept Calistas powers a secret. And sought the help of a “doctor” to help. But he had ulterior motives for helping. He prescribed meds to help suppress her powers. Once his sinister plan is put into place, i ritual/sacrifice is attempted to drain all of Calistas powers. But during the ritual, three men, three very different men, feel a pull, an urge, to go to Calista an help her. This is where we meet Seth, Draven and Hawthorne. They arrive where the ritual is being held right in time, they take Down the
men, an get to work on saving Calista, who is near death, they all have to bond to her, each by separate means.
I was immediately in love with Seth, a “bright”, he’s kind hearted, nurturing , an just over all a big ole sweet heart! Draven, a “shade” is a vampire, he’s mysterious, an an can be quite smug, I also immediately fell for him. Hawthorne is a mage, he takes the longest to warm up to, as he puts up a front , he’s grouchy, growly an angry, but underneath he’s just as soft , an we see that side of him come to light closer to the end of the book!
There is is so my mystery, suspense, tension, angst, sex, lots of sex, and a ton of supernatural goodness! We see Calista grow into her powers through out the book, when truths are discovered an revealed , she finally learns the truth of why she didn’t know of her magical abilities her whole life.
This book was overall engaging ,super exciting , and definitely hot! I love me some mm, and Draven & Seth together, are breathtaking. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the both of them to get together with Calista , an was giddy when we finally got it!
I was absolutely floored come the last of the book and that cliffy! I screamed out “ NO FREAKING WAY” but oh it was definitely “yes way” and I can’t wait for book two! This new development is a big ole shocker!
Calista, the FMC, is a 33 year old witch, and a powerful one at that, with long line of strong witches in her family tree! Tragedy struck at a very young age, when she had to go under the care of her aunt, who thought witch craft was evil and of the devil. So she kept Calistas powers a secret. And sought the help of a “doctor” to help. But he had ulterior motives for helping. He prescribed meds to help suppress her powers. Once his sinister plan is put into place, i ritual/sacrifice is attempted to drain all of Calistas powers. But during the ritual, three men, three very different men, feel a pull, an urge, to go to Calista an help her. This is where we meet Seth, Draven and Hawthorne. They arrive where the ritual is being held right in time, they take Down the
men, an get to work on saving Calista, who is near death, they all have to bond to her, each by separate means.
I was immediately in love with Seth, a “bright”, he’s kind hearted, nurturing , an just over all a big ole sweet heart! Draven, a “shade” is a vampire, he’s mysterious, an an can be quite smug, I also immediately fell for him. Hawthorne is a mage, he takes the longest to warm up to, as he puts up a front , he’s grouchy, growly an angry, but underneath he’s just as soft , an we see that side of him come to light closer to the end of the book!
There is is so my mystery, suspense, tension, angst, sex, lots of sex, and a ton of supernatural goodness! We see Calista grow into her powers through out the book, when truths are discovered an revealed , she finally learns the truth of why she didn’t know of her magical abilities her whole life.
This book was overall engaging ,super exciting , and definitely hot! I love me some mm, and Draven & Seth together, are breathtaking. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the both of them to get together with Calista , an was giddy when we finally got it!
I was absolutely floored come the last of the book and that cliffy! I screamed out “ NO FREAKING WAY” but oh it was definitely “yes way” and I can’t wait for book two! This new development is a big ole shocker!
August 28, 2023
This book was so fun! I love the way Rebecca writes her characters because they become so real.
Calista is a girl who's past is extremely twisted and dark. Was raised believing one thing by her aunt who thought it was for the best and a doctor who is even darker than the devil he is trying to remove from the world.
When Calista is about to be sacrificed, she calls upon her three monster heroes: Hawthorne, Draven & Seth. A mage, a shade & a bright. They help understand her past, understand who she is and how to take down the evil that tried to kill her.
This is a reverse harem in the most delicious way. Hawthorne is so reserved, Seth is caring and Draven is like the fucking energizer bunny who never starts. Can I switch places w/ Calista?
This is MFMM w/ sword crossing, with bondage, and blood play. Please read trigger warnings. This book has some dark themes, religious themes, tortures, death and more.
Calista is a girl who's past is extremely twisted and dark. Was raised believing one thing by her aunt who thought it was for the best and a doctor who is even darker than the devil he is trying to remove from the world.
When Calista is about to be sacrificed, she calls upon her three monster heroes: Hawthorne, Draven & Seth. A mage, a shade & a bright. They help understand her past, understand who she is and how to take down the evil that tried to kill her.
This is a reverse harem in the most delicious way. Hawthorne is so reserved, Seth is caring and Draven is like the fucking energizer bunny who never starts. Can I switch places w/ Calista?
This is MFMM w/ sword crossing, with bondage, and blood play. Please read trigger warnings. This book has some dark themes, religious themes, tortures, death and more.
September 4, 2023
The Binding is the first book in The Binding series. This does end on a cliffhanger and does contain subject matter that may be triggering for some readers.
You have
*Whychoose
*multi-creature harem (An Angel, Vampire, Mage)
*MMFM (with MF, MM, & MMF scenes)
*Age Gap
*FMC over 30
*forced proximity
* Morally Grey
* fast burn
This was sooo freaking good!!! While it rough and twisted beginning, Calista gradually got stronger and I loved her so much for that. I do love when the harem has completely polar opposite energy about them. Honestly, that is, without words, my absolute favorite thing in whychoose stories. Hawthorne, Draven & Seth were just that. The world building, storytelling, and characters were just incredible. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this story. Can't wait for the next book!!
You have
*Whychoose
*multi-creature harem (An Angel, Vampire, Mage)
*MMFM (with MF, MM, & MMF scenes)
*Age Gap
*FMC over 30
*forced proximity
* Morally Grey
* fast burn
This was sooo freaking good!!! While it rough and twisted beginning, Calista gradually got stronger and I loved her so much for that. I do love when the harem has completely polar opposite energy about them. Honestly, that is, without words, my absolute favorite thing in whychoose stories. Hawthorne, Draven & Seth were just that. The world building, storytelling, and characters were just incredible. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this story. Can't wait for the next book!!
August 28, 2023
If Rebecca Rathe writes it, I'm going to read it and love it. The Binding is a dramatic, emotional, smutty, magical, witty, and unique paranormal romance with amazing characters.
The FMC Calista is over 30, innocent, sheltered, and stubborn.
Hawthorne is a grumpy daddy that is very protective. Draven is slightly sadistic with a sweet side (mostly for her) and a dark/sad past. And Seth is a golden retriever that wants everyone to be happy.
The three men feel a pull to Calista and a need to help her. They each form a different bond with her to save her. Their unconventionally created family then has a lot of work to do to figure out how to work/be together in order to keep themselves and others safe from a growing danger.
This book had everything I could want in a paranormal why choose. The characters and the dialogue were amazing. I can't wait to see what happens next.
The FMC Calista is over 30, innocent, sheltered, and stubborn.
Hawthorne is a grumpy daddy that is very protective. Draven is slightly sadistic with a sweet side (mostly for her) and a dark/sad past. And Seth is a golden retriever that wants everyone to be happy.
The three men feel a pull to Calista and a need to help her. They each form a different bond with her to save her. Their unconventionally created family then has a lot of work to do to figure out how to work/be together in order to keep themselves and others safe from a growing danger.
This book had everything I could want in a paranormal why choose. The characters and the dialogue were amazing. I can't wait to see what happens next.
August 29, 2023
I have yet to find a Rebecca Rathe book that I have not enjoyed. The Binding was one I couldn't wait for. And like all her others, it didn't disappoint! It is a paranormal enemies to lovers why choose/reverse harem. The charcters are older. The FMC, Calista is in her 30's. She is sheltered and because of this, innocent to many things. Hawthorne is a bit of a surly grump. Then there is Draven who is a bit unhinged (in a good way) and Seth, who balances them out. I really enjoyed seeing how all three develop their seperate bonds with Calista and how they all work together/function as a group. The story sucked me in from the blurb and left me wanting more. Definitely the sign of a great book!
August 26, 2023
First I want to say, I absolutely love Rebecca and everything she writes. Even the paranormal stuff though not typically my forte.
However, this book was phenomenal! It was paranormal yes but certain *parts* were completely normal, which made the book 1000x more enjoyable.
Seth, Draven, and Hawthorne were amazing. I think Seth was my favorite if the boys. With his just go with the flow attitude. I wasn't a big fan of Hawthorne for most the book but he grew on me too. And I always have a soft spot for guys named Draven.
I also loved Calista. As I've said, I love everything by Rebecca.
That ending too though. Can't wait to read the remainder of the story to come! And 👀 at the epilogue.
However, this book was phenomenal! It was paranormal yes but certain *parts* were completely normal, which made the book 1000x more enjoyable.
Seth, Draven, and Hawthorne were amazing. I think Seth was my favorite if the boys. With his just go with the flow attitude. I wasn't a big fan of Hawthorne for most the book but he grew on me too. And I always have a soft spot for guys named Draven.
I also loved Calista. As I've said, I love everything by Rebecca.
That ending too though. Can't wait to read the remainder of the story to come! And 👀 at the epilogue.
January 3, 2024
Loved this read, it was super interesting and was captivated for 24 hours to finish. I know its good when I physically cannot put it down & I'm fixated on the next page. I still don't know what exactly Calista is and where her power comes from. Maybe a mage? Since her mom wasn't as powerful where does the power stem from? Anyway, I'll stop the rant here because the more I think about it -the more questions I have.
I held my breath for the ended because of the cliff hanger, Will definitely be reading the second book for sure!
I held my breath for the ended because of the cliff hanger, Will definitely be reading the second book for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2023
Heat level: 4/5. This is book 1 of 3 and it ends on such a cliffhanger, I need the next one asap! The FMC is a 33 year old virgin who makes up for lost time with two supernatural beings ravaging her at every possible moment with mind-blowing sex. And the grumpy MMC fights her attraction to her for most of the book. It has a fanatical religious cult trying to take over the world while draining any magical people of their power. There is sword crossing, MM action, voyeurism/exhibitionism, and edging just to name a few of the delicious things packed in this awesome book.
September 12, 2024
I read this one as a part of a book club, and I LOVED IT!
Check your triggers because what triggers you may sp!ce up someone else.
Calista, sheltered 30 year old virgin with bound magic. Hawthorne, powerful mage hiding from the world. Seth, a touch starved angel. Draven, misunderstood s€xy vampire.
Book one ends on a cliffhanger, but the series is now complete. MMFM with swords crossing! Happy reading!
Check your triggers because what triggers you may sp!ce up someone else.
Calista, sheltered 30 year old virgin with bound magic. Hawthorne, powerful mage hiding from the world. Seth, a touch starved angel. Draven, misunderstood s€xy vampire.
Book one ends on a cliffhanger, but the series is now complete. MMFM with swords crossing! Happy reading!
September 4, 2023
First of all can we just start off about how stunning the freaking cover is? It reminds me of day of the dead( which is my favorite holiday), so of course I couldnt wait to read it. The story in my opinion was just as stunning as the cover. It held all my favorite things I look for in a book from the RH to the feels. Perfect book to get into the Halloween season.
December 20, 2023
Absolutely Amazing!!! I’ve never read any of Rebecca’s books before this one and I’m absolutely hooked! I cannot wait to read the next two. If you love paranormal, drama, spice, enemies to lovers, and heartbreak this is the book for you!!! The main character Calista is strong, and brave! This book will keep you saying “just one more chapter!”
August 29, 2023
This Paranormal why choose romance is one of kind!! The FMC might of seemed sheltered but quickly turns fierce! The plot is not like any book I read and the spice is just 🤌🏻The guys personalities just fit together. The grumpy daddy, the bad boy, and the good guy. I’m just ready for book 2 because the cliff hanger has my mind wondering what happened next! Rebecca you did it again!!!!!!
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