Karus has lived the past seven years as a shell of the channeler she once was. Now that her memories have returned, she has choices to make that will change the lives of the people she loves and inevitably, all of Arcaynen Isle.
Revich’s unwavering hope that his love would return has been fulfilled, and as he begins to heal from a past without her, a threat looms over his power and life as the Baron of Felgren.
While Karus and Rev navigate their bond and roles in the forest, a dark presence wields more influence over their lives than they could possibly know, tangling into their present and forging a path to their future.
Chelsey Ann Tompkins writes romance in a fantasy setting with some good twists and spice along the way. Though she grew up in a small town in the desert, she found her true home near Seattle where she loves to read on the rainiest days with a good cup of coffee. She lives with her husband and two wildly imaginative children.
“Even the most broken things can find their way back to a life worth living.”
Again, Chelsey takes us on a wild, whirlwind of a ride.
A Baron of Bonds starts with a prologue which gets Rev’s perspective in the immediate aftermath of the Big Thing that happened in A Conduit of Light (hopefully if you’ve read ACoL, you understand what I’m referencing; I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn’t). Chapter 1 then brings us to the present day: a continuation of the events from the epilogue of ACoL.
This story will take you THROUGH it. Not only do we get more of Rev + Karus 4eva <3, we get some more sassy Moira, new channelers, trials!, and a virtually endless supply of cinnamon buns. Oh, did I forget to mention SPICE?! I will not get over a certain tavern scene that had me DYING in giggles. We also get a new character POV! Though those chapters are short and sparse, I was always excited to see more from this new character.
Takeaways: 💕 Lovers reunite 3️⃣ Three POVs 🌶️ Spicy tavern scene (& more!) 😈 Slightly sympathetic villainess 🧚 Sassy faerie bff 🌱 Magical trials 🫖 Lots of tea
Thank you Chelsey Ann Tompkins for an ARC of this book which comes out May 7 (& available on KU)!!!
From the moment I saw you, felt you, I've wanted you. It has never been a choice to love you. Never once did I have to stop and think about whether I did or did not. Your soul has spoken to mine through time and loss, and I have welcomed every second of it."
If you have not read A Conduit of Light yet, I implore you to do so. BUT also if you haven't read it yet, then why are you reading this review right now?
A Baron of Bonds starts off with a prologue from Rev's point of view and we get a good idea of how he felt during book one. I also thought it was a good way to give a bit of a recap for the first book. Much like book one there's a mysterious POV to try and solve and figure out. Who is this mysterious Saelyn, what is her importance? I had all the theories and guesses and I had never been so wrong in my entire life. Chelsey really got me with the mystery in this one.
This one also has spice, quite a bit and tea. Tea that they should really remember to be taking, but what can you do when you are young, in love, and cannot even eat a meal without wanting to take each other. This book was filled with laughter, love, heartbreak, so many things and I will be eagerly awaiting for book three.
Not a perfect 5 star read for me, but it's nearly there. There's just a trope I tend not to like to read that I cannot mention without spoiling the story. I cannot fault it for being there cause if you know then YOU KNOW. I still love this book with my whole being.
Thank you Chelsey for the ARC and I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on it on May 7th!
What did I want from A Baron of Bonds? Well, obviously more heart breaking love confessions from Revich and, boy, did I get that! I just love reading about Karus and Rev's love. I never highlight quotes, but this book made me start doing that!
I gasped out loud and cried, and I even laughed a few times. I cannot wait for the third book! I read this book in one day, and while that was a common occurrence in my teenage years, as an adult with two jobs and a toddler, a book has to be wildly compelling to get me to read 500 pages that fast nowadays!
I had guessed about a mystery in A Conduit of Light, but I missed guessing the secret this time, though I see now all the little breadcrumbs that were left for me. Perhaps I was enjoying myself too much or maybe it was because I stayed up past midnight to read it!
This book was interesting but why the characters were doing it every 10 pages 😭 It became boring for me, I had the impression that there was too much spice and not enough plot. But other than that, the story was captivating and I enjoyed learning more about the Blightress and her story. I look forward to reading the third book.
I just finished Baron of Bonds and I was completely shocked by the book. While book one is a slow burn between our MCs book 2 sets the book a blaze from the beginning, interweaving mystery, lore, intricate world building and love within the pages.
We begin right were book 1 left off with the meeting of the Blightress and our impetuous Karus follows under the Bloghtress’s trickery. Throughout the story the lore unfolds in regard to the blight and the baronship, its power and origins. All while exploring the rekindled relationship between Rev & Karus. All the while the story delves into both characters past giving us a better understanding of their motivations.
If you are looking for a fast paced, spicy, book with intricate world building then check out a Baron of Bonds.
This Story will pull you in. It start right off from where we ended A Conduit of Light. I was so pulled in that I didn't realize that I had read thu the night. You will not get disappointed what so ever. I loved that we still get multiple pov. I was on the edge of my seat multiple times waiting to see what was going to happen. I love that we are starting to get more of the back stories. I can't wait to get my hands on this physical copy when it comes out. I can't wait to see when Chelsey will take this story.
Gosh, Chelsey has done it again. The love between Rev and Karus is desperate and tangible and I can’t get enough. It’s what dreams are made of, but also where danger lies.
In this second book of A Conduit of Light trilogy, we begin right where we left off. We still follow the POVs of Rev and Karus, but gain a new one we haven’t met yet: a young woman named Saelyn who is preparing for her seventeenth birthday and avoiding her name on the wind. Karus and Rev navigate this renewed time and must learn to work and trust together again. But along the way we have the mystery of Saelyn, another form of blight, conduit trials, deadly accidents… oh, and did I mention the Blightress has her sights on Karus, demanding she let her story be told.
BOB is much spicier than book one in frequency, so I’d rate it as medium-high, but the descriptions are lightly graphic and particularly emotion focused. The dedication and desperation in their love and relationship had my heart yearning but there was also an ache I couldn’t quite answer and I could tell Chelsey was preparing us for something big. And something big, it was!
Baron of Bonds is a book full of connection, deep unconditional love, and tangible emotion. The dangerous paths of loving someone so much. The plot focuses mainly on this and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters on a deeper level.
Tropes you may find in Baron are an established and committed relationship, plot twists, hidden identities, lots of spice, trials, deeper lore building, comfort and healing, 🔥 the world for her, unique bonds, chosen one, and quite the cliffhanger!
A Baron of Bonds picks up directly after the end of A Conduit of Light, making a seamless transition into the story. Without spoilers, the story follows Baron Revich and Karus in the aftermath of the events in book 1. The POV swaps work very well in the course of the story. The return to Felgren Forest and Viridis was still so beautiful and atmospheric as you see a different side of a character you previously met.
This is a fantasy romance and A Baron of Bonds really leans harder into the romance side of things. The main characters, Revich and Karus fell in love and reunite after the events at the end of book 1. The tension is beautiful and the spice is SPICING. There was a good balance of spice between closed and open door scenes, but the higher 🌶️ rating is mainly due to the frequency. These two LOVE each other and don't want to be apart! The confessions of love were truly goals - everyone will want their own Rev after reading this one. No other book boyfriend compares!
The new POV was a true highlight and treasure. Saelyn was a wonderful inclusion and the theories and mysteries with her definitely caught me off guard. I was surprised and happily proven wrong in my thoughts!!
"It's not like it's your job to protect me, Rev." "The fuck it isn't."
Well, I thought I knew what was going on until the very last few paragraphs when everything *actually* clicked into place and Chelsey Ann Tompkins shattered my world and had me at work exclaiming "No... No... No...!"
I absolutely love that this series really keeps me on my toes, it's rare that I can't pick something apart and have it all figured out. I'm absolutely dying for book three to be released at this point now. I *have* to know. Plus, who doesn't need this pretty little collection on their shelf as trophies, because we all know book three will be stunning just like the other two.
Read both books released in this series with my bookclub, so if you get the chance to read this with a friend or a group I highly recommend you do. The conversations have been amazing and the memes have been even better! 10/10 would recommend.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've earned a cinnamon roll for this read. IYKYK
I absolutely loved this book! Baron Revich has my entire heart. A Baron of Bonds is the second installment in the A Conduit of Light series and it's just as good, if not better than the first one. The story continues as Baron Revich, Karus, and their conduits and friends fight against the blight that's trying to take over Felgren forest. The Blightress is trying to take her power back, but Karus is determined to protect her home, her family, and her friends.
Throughout the book, Baron Revich and Karus learn to trust each other more and deepen their relationship, both emotionally and physically. *wink* *wink* The romance in this book is well-balanced with love and fun, as well as open-door and closed-door scenes, which keeps it from becoming repetitive. It's tastefully written and keeps the reader engaged.
Chelsey is an amazing writer who creates beautiful worlds and characters that are full of emotion. I can't wait for the third book in the series!
You.guys this series is all that and a bag of chips!
Think whimsy, dark vs light magic, an enchanted library, magical forest, and the sweetest romance all wrapped up in an intricate and fresh world & magic system!
Book one was setting the stage so that book two could come in and dive deep. Deep into history, more magic, the enemy, and magical trials! Rev & Karus's love brings literal lightness to my heart - even when they are going THROUGH IT! The quotes I've highlighted in these books are some of my FAVORITES to read back through over and over again.
And the ending of book two made me sob and yell, and wish that Chelsey was in front of me so could ask her why she chose to do this to my heart!
I am lucky to be an ARC reader. And hope if you pick this series up (yes it's in KU) you'll come into my DMs so we can chat about them. ofor both books!
It’s so good! Starts right off, fast paced, leaping in from A Conduit of Light. I sat for two days and read it through because I could not put it down! Each chapter grabs you! She writes in a way that makes you feel like you are standing right there beside the characters. It’s an incredible story of Love! Sometimes scary, a few times extra spicy. I finished it yesterday, but my mind keeps pulling me back to the story today. When a book does that, you know it’s been a good one!! I highly recommend A Baron of Bonds, and Chelsey Ann, please hurry the heck up with the 3rd book please!! 😎 Ya’ll go get this one!!
Chelsey Ann Tompkins! You have done it again! I am literally feeling so many emotions right now! I have read books that make me feel lots of emotions but A Barron of Bonds and a Conduit of Light are on a whole different level! You are truly a gifted masterful storyteller and I cannot wait for the winter when I get to read more!!!!! Wow is all I can say without giving too much away! Plus I am beyond speechless! Amazing Job! Thank you for sharing your amazing gift of storytelling!
This was a 4.25/5 star read for me! It started out a little bit slow for me but started to pick up speed about 20 percent in. Once I hit 60 percent through, I absolutely flew through the rest of it! It was so good and I really enjoyed it. The ending was just WHAT?????!!!!!!!!!! Chelsey, how dare you write an ending like that and not have the next book out?! The ending was definitely not what I expected and has me wanting book three now! Please read this series! I would highly recommend!
I’m just gonna say that ending had me absolutely screaming! Also I just love this series it’s beautiful, it’s spicy, and it’s just a good story period the end. Cannot wait for the ending of this trilogy!
Once again, Ms. Tompkins leaves us wanting more. Her story telling grabs you and takes you on an emotional ride. But leaves you asking questions and desperate for the answers that we will find in the next book. Well done, I can't wait to see how Karus and Rev’s story goes next.
This second book left me guessing even more than the first. Also I could not help but fall for Rev. The way he loves Karus is everything. I am so glad there is not long to wait for the next book.
The characters in this series have really become like a family to me. I just want them to be happy and safe 😩 But apparently all i’ll get is a cliffhanger hahaha Still really good and the spice on this one *chefs kiss*
So we get to know more of the Blightress background in this book. I loved how part of the story takes place outside the forest, and we get to see what is happening with other characters affected by events from the first book. This has been a fascinating story and I can't wait to see how it ends.
This one was ok, but suffered a bit from middle-trilogy slump, and did far too much of substituting smut for plot.
And, like, I'm not anti-smut. I mean, some of the wild shit I've read this year... woo-mama.
But it was just too much and took up too many pages for a book that didn't seem to really have all that much in forward plot momentum.
Also, it's not even particularly good smut. Like, if you're gonna give me smut then give me smut. Not this, "he slid his fingers inside her" and then fade to black nonsense. Like, damn. All the pounding and smacking - not even sexy.
Ok, so, to the plot - as I said, it felt like we didn't really move forward that much, but I was surprised by the reveal of who Saelyn was. I was convinced for, like, half the book we were getting And, honestly, I think I would've preferred that.
And that ending. Ugh.
I definitely plan on finishing out the story, and have already started the next book... but I'm struggling a bit, tbh. I'm not as invested as I was in the first book, though I'm invested enough to want to finish it.
I really enjoyed reading more about Karus and Rev. This world the author created is magical and entertaining. I can't wait for the next one to come out!
Another amazing book... watching Karus and Revs love and strength grow together is beautiful and gaining more of an understanding of the ways of Felgren... that bit of time travel and twist at the end had me like.. whattttt... now to read the last one...
4.5 stars! If you want a romantasy book unlike any other- stop looking! I was so lucky to be an ARC reader again, for this second book in this trilogy. I read A Conduit of Light last fall and it was actually incredible for a DEBUT novel. It was incredible even if it WASNT a debut!
There isn’t much I can say about the plot without spoiling book 1… but Chelsea BROUGHT the spice in this book! Wow! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I love the main characters sooo much. The world building is very good too! There a little twist again, I definitely didn’t guess it. I really loved the twist… I can’t wait to read the next book to see where it all leads!
I just have missed the plot in here ?? This was not a continuation of learning about the world and the blight and the magic system. This was porn. Smut. There was nothing wholesome or new about this book I am so shocked I didn’t DNF. Seriously what was meant to be the plot ?!?