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The Beautifully Broken Saga #1
A Bond with the Dark
Lasayah Thorne is a 30 something witch who has had a hard life. After beating cancer herself and then the death of her mother at the hands of cancer, she finds herself having seductive dreams about a vampire who, when he bites her, she bursts into flames. And she loves the way it burns her.
A mysterious stranger leads her on a path to danger and fatal consequences, but one that Sayah must follow due to her unbidden quest to be the undoing of all the world’s evil.
The only problem is that she falls in love with some of that evil, and her new life shows her that not all dark things are all darkness.
If her destiny is to be the undoing of all things evil, why do the dreams tell her a tale of love so deep that it consumes her? And when the time comes, will she choose the love that ends her, or the love that revives her?
A mysterious stranger leads her on a path to danger and fatal consequences, but one that Sayah must follow due to her unbidden quest to be the undoing of all the world’s evil.
The only problem is that she falls in love with some of that evil, and her new life shows her that not all dark things are all darkness.
If her destiny is to be the undoing of all things evil, why do the dreams tell her a tale of love so deep that it consumes her? And when the time comes, will she choose the love that ends her, or the love that revives her?
482 pages, Paperback
Published June 25, 2024
45 people are currently reading
2790 people want to read
About the author
Inara Gage
7 books54 followersInara Gage is an indie author who lives in the foothills of Colorado with her son, Gauge, her mastador, Khaleesi, kitty Nox, and her bunny tWitch. Ms. Gage has a master's degree in business administration with a graduate certificate in marketing. She has three published works: two in The Sorenya Chronicles: A Witch's Aura and Aura's Dilemma. The first book in The Beautifully Broken Saga: A Bond with the Dark Book I releases this summer. When she is not writing her fantastical stories, she is busy reading ALL the books and playing video games with her kid!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
November 7, 2024
⭐3.1
⚚ Plot:
'A Bond with the Dark' navigates familiar supernatural themes while establishing its own identity through original lore, an innovative magic system, and intricate conflicts.
⚚ Writing:
While contemporary in style, the most alluring aspect of the prose is in the evocatively woven descriptions that vividly depict the scenery and amplify the novel's gothic ambiance. The narration features multiple points of view and remains character-driven throughout. However, during some sections, the dialogue is dense with exposition, which can feel a little overwhelming. Initial chapters lack momentum, though those who persevere will discover that the book intensifies significantly.
⚚ Characters:
The protagonists, both in their thirties, adorned with tattoos and alternative fashion, complement the gothic themes underpinning the narrative. While the romance unfolds rather rapidly, it is fraught with complications and external challenges. Sayah's refusal to heed her intuition may initially seem naive, but her backstory and Dominic’s emotional complexity ultimately enhance their dynamic. Additionally, an array of secondary characters, each with contrasting motives and abilities, enrich the storyline and introduce further obstacles.
⚚ Impact:
Central to the narrative is Sayah’s resilience and tenacity, highlighting themes of survival and personal strength. A rollercoaster of high-stakes action, introducing formidable adversaries that pose significant threats even to the most powerful characters, contributing to an exhilarating reading experience.
⚚ Overall:
For fans of supernatural romance, this novel presents the first installment of a journey with potential, particularly for those willing to overlook a slow start.
⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚
Genre:
⚔ Supernatural romance
Tropes & Themes:
⚔ Vampires
⚔ Witches
⚔ Demons
⚔ Chosen one
⚔ Instant attraction
⚔ Love triangle
⚔ Supernatural entities
⚔ Mature protagonists
⚔ Magical Gifts
Spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
⚚ Plot:
'A Bond with the Dark' navigates familiar supernatural themes while establishing its own identity through original lore, an innovative magic system, and intricate conflicts.
⚚ Writing:
While contemporary in style, the most alluring aspect of the prose is in the evocatively woven descriptions that vividly depict the scenery and amplify the novel's gothic ambiance. The narration features multiple points of view and remains character-driven throughout. However, during some sections, the dialogue is dense with exposition, which can feel a little overwhelming. Initial chapters lack momentum, though those who persevere will discover that the book intensifies significantly.
⚚ Characters:
The protagonists, both in their thirties, adorned with tattoos and alternative fashion, complement the gothic themes underpinning the narrative. While the romance unfolds rather rapidly, it is fraught with complications and external challenges. Sayah's refusal to heed her intuition may initially seem naive, but her backstory and Dominic’s emotional complexity ultimately enhance their dynamic. Additionally, an array of secondary characters, each with contrasting motives and abilities, enrich the storyline and introduce further obstacles.
⚚ Impact:
Central to the narrative is Sayah’s resilience and tenacity, highlighting themes of survival and personal strength. A rollercoaster of high-stakes action, introducing formidable adversaries that pose significant threats even to the most powerful characters, contributing to an exhilarating reading experience.
⚚ Overall:
For fans of supernatural romance, this novel presents the first installment of a journey with potential, particularly for those willing to overlook a slow start.
⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚ ⚔ ⚚
Genre:
⚔ Supernatural romance
Tropes & Themes:
⚔ Vampires
⚔ Witches
⚔ Demons
⚔ Chosen one
⚔ Instant attraction
⚔ Love triangle
⚔ Supernatural entities
⚔ Mature protagonists
⚔ Magical Gifts
Spice:
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2024
Update: When I originally wrote this review it was just a DNF with no star rating... but due to the immaturity of the author's street team group chat who took it upon themselves to threaten to strangle me if they ever saw me in person... this will now be a 1 star. You're all grown adults, act like it.
Also note to the author, you shouldn't be fostering such a toxic community around yourself... it's not a good look.
DNF at 29%.
This book was already on thin ice for mentioning Twilight in a story with vampires (can we stop this? The movies came out 16 years ago). Then the author hit me with this atrocious paragraph:
"Going into this, I never knew I’d fall for the witch. But here I am, thinking of her non-stop and counting the minutes until I see her again. The memory of her scent lingers with me even now—a hint of strawberries and wildflowers mixed with summer rain and springtime thunder. I can taste the shape of her; I can hear her in my bones. Thinking of the way her thick thighs bounce when she walks and how succulent her ass looked in those jeans."
Also, the FMC is insufferable. She whines about how much of a walking red flag Dom is, how there is something off with him, and appears to not be very interested, then immediately puts all that aside and continues to go out on dates with him.
Also note to the author, you shouldn't be fostering such a toxic community around yourself... it's not a good look.
DNF at 29%.
This book was already on thin ice for mentioning Twilight in a story with vampires (can we stop this? The movies came out 16 years ago). Then the author hit me with this atrocious paragraph:
"Going into this, I never knew I’d fall for the witch. But here I am, thinking of her non-stop and counting the minutes until I see her again. The memory of her scent lingers with me even now—a hint of strawberries and wildflowers mixed with summer rain and springtime thunder. I can taste the shape of her; I can hear her in my bones. Thinking of the way her thick thighs bounce when she walks and how succulent her ass looked in those jeans."
Also, the FMC is insufferable. She whines about how much of a walking red flag Dom is, how there is something off with him, and appears to not be very interested, then immediately puts all that aside and continues to go out on dates with him.
dnf
July 14, 2024This is a DNF for me at 29%.
Full disclosure, English is my second language, so I makes mistakes and sometimes I have to look stuff up. This is relevant later.
I'm going to start out by telling you what I liked about this book to begin on a good note.
1.The FMC, Sayah, is not the stereotypical FMC - she has a child, is a single mother, and has survived a bout of cancer. Thumbs up strong female character, who has endured much in life and overcome a lot of hardships - I love it!
2 The witch is not magic in the traditional sense with magical powers, but is more like a wiccan witch. Cool, more relatable than a magic-flinging, wand-using witch.
3. Instead of vampire hypnotism it's called ' veilweaving ', which is cool.
Now to what I didn't like.*rants incoming*
1. Lack of self-preservation. Sayah has no self-preservation or regard for her own life and it's annoying af. She's approached by this guy at a bar, Dominic the vampire love interest, and has a conversation and drink with him, and they end up exchanging numbers. But really his eyes are described as lethal several times during this conversation plus he seems dangerous, and he makes you uneasy. So giving him your number probably isn't the best idea. And then the day after you give him your address? Lady, have you seen the percentages of men killing women? And you let him know where you live? You say you are protective of you son but you don't act like it: you let a man you sense is dangerous and he talks you into knowing where you live? I'm facepalming hard at this point. You gut keeps telling you he's dangerous yet you keep going out with him.
2. Lack of consistency. Yes, Dominic, is mysterious, but can his eye-color stay the same please? That abovementioned conversation his eyes had the consistency of a mood ring. First, they are described as "his dark eyes look lethal, but then again, they are as poignant as a ballet dancer."what is that even?. Second they're "green like gunmetal, quick-witted, sharp, and lethal". Third they are described as "mountain-colored", is that grey like the rock, or is it the trees covering the mountain, and if so is it a seasonal color? I don't want to have to use that much brain-power figuring out what color mountains are and what is meant by "poignant as a ballet dancer"!
Remember my earlier disclosure? English is my second language, and I've learned more from reading books than from being in a classroom. Dictionaries are the best and are a frequent companion: they and the books I've read have expanded my vocabulary greatly and this brings me to the final dnf nail in the coffin for this book:
3. Lack of use of a dictionary. I love it when an author uses a thesaurus to bring a multitude of words in descriptions, one word can bring one nuance while synonym can give a subtle change to a scene, feeling, etc. But when a thesaurus is used please read the description on that word so you are sure it means what you want it to mean. But it wasn't just misunderstood meanings of words that made me quit this book in frustration, it was also how some words were just plain wrong in the context they were in. The same thing happened with phrases and idioms. I suspect, the author took liberties in an attempt to stand out from other writers. It fell flat. Sure I could have looked past it if it happened occasionally, but having to turn to a dictionary or the Internet, to figure out what a word, phrase, or idiom means is irritating, and having to do that in every other paragraph is something that takes the enjoyment out of the story.
It can't be that bad you may say, so let me give you some examples to showcase the mounting frustration I felt:
- " Let nature take its course " makes me think of letting something die on its own, but I have never ever heard/read it in the context of wanting to have a relationship, taking things slow andsee where things go *insert referenced idiom*
-" He gives me the terrors " - creeps.. he 'gives you the creeps'...If Dominic inspires terror in you, giving him your number, address, and time is probably an extremely bad idea
- Sayah had a falling out with her one and only sister so she doesn't " lay claim to her ". Well I hope not. She's not an object and are we not done with objectifying women? Especially a family member. This just rubbed me the wrong way.
- This is guesswork on my part but I think the author dressed up 'sublime' to make the sentence " That sounds subliminal " look fancy. 'Subliminal' does not in any shape or form make sense in that context, 'sublime' does though.
- A 'reverie' is synonym for a daydream ergo it cannot be used in the context with sleeping-sleeping. That makes " the beat of my heart is rhythmic against the black backdrop of our reverie " a very awkward sentence.Bonus: this quote is the second time it's been used
- the use of "cuspids". By context I knew what was meant, but I'm a curious B so Googled this new and unknown word. It pops up as a synonym to canine teeth side-by-side with "vampire teeth and vampire fangs"! Whyovercomplicate things?!
Sorrynot really for the ranting, I just wanted to give some highlights into my reasoning for not finishing this book. Please dear author, a book is build on words, so sit down with a dictionary when writing your future books, and find a better way to express your prose. Or for the love of all that is holy, get a better editor.
Despite not finishing I want to thank Netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest opinion, rant and all.
Full disclosure, English is my second language, so I makes mistakes and sometimes I have to look stuff up. This is relevant later.
I'm going to start out by telling you what I liked about this book to begin on a good note.
1.The FMC, Sayah, is not the stereotypical FMC - she has a child, is a single mother, and has survived a bout of cancer. Thumbs up strong female character, who has endured much in life and overcome a lot of hardships - I love it!
2 The witch is not magic in the traditional sense with magical powers, but is more like a wiccan witch. Cool, more relatable than a magic-flinging, wand-using witch.
3. Instead of vampire hypnotism it's called ' veilweaving ', which is cool.
Now to what I didn't like.*rants incoming*
1. Lack of self-preservation. Sayah has no self-preservation or regard for her own life and it's annoying af. She's approached by this guy at a bar, Dominic the vampire love interest, and has a conversation and drink with him, and they end up exchanging numbers. But really his eyes are described as lethal several times during this conversation plus he seems dangerous, and he makes you uneasy. So giving him your number probably isn't the best idea. And then the day after you give him your address? Lady, have you seen the percentages of men killing women? And you let him know where you live? You say you are protective of you son but you don't act like it: you let a man you sense is dangerous and he talks you into knowing where you live? I'm facepalming hard at this point. You gut keeps telling you he's dangerous yet you keep going out with him.
2. Lack of consistency. Yes, Dominic, is mysterious, but can his eye-color stay the same please? That abovementioned conversation his eyes had the consistency of a mood ring. First, they are described as "his dark eyes look lethal, but then again, they are as poignant as a ballet dancer."
Remember my earlier disclosure? English is my second language, and I've learned more from reading books than from being in a classroom. Dictionaries are the best and are a frequent companion: they and the books I've read have expanded my vocabulary greatly and this brings me to the final dnf nail in the coffin for this book:
3. Lack of use of a dictionary. I love it when an author uses a thesaurus to bring a multitude of words in descriptions, one word can bring one nuance while synonym can give a subtle change to a scene, feeling, etc. But when a thesaurus is used please read the description on that word so you are sure it means what you want it to mean. But it wasn't just misunderstood meanings of words that made me quit this book in frustration, it was also how some words were just plain wrong in the context they were in. The same thing happened with phrases and idioms. I suspect, the author took liberties in an attempt to stand out from other writers. It fell flat. Sure I could have looked past it if it happened occasionally, but having to turn to a dictionary or the Internet, to figure out what a word, phrase, or idiom means is irritating, and having to do that in every other paragraph is something that takes the enjoyment out of the story.
It can't be that bad you may say, so let me give you some examples to showcase the mounting frustration I felt:
- " Let nature take its course " makes me think of letting something die on its own, but I have never ever heard/read it in the context of wanting to have a relationship, taking things slow and
-" He gives me the terrors " - creeps.. he 'gives you the creeps'...
- Sayah had a falling out with her one and only sister so she doesn't " lay claim to her ". Well I hope not. She's not an object and are we not done with objectifying women? Especially a family member. This just rubbed me the wrong way.
- This is guesswork on my part but I think the author dressed up 'sublime' to make the sentence " That sounds subliminal " look fancy. 'Subliminal' does not in any shape or form make sense in that context, 'sublime' does though.
- A 'reverie' is synonym for a daydream ergo it cannot be used in the context with sleeping-sleeping. That makes " the beat of my heart is rhythmic against the black backdrop of our reverie " a very awkward sentence.
- the use of "cuspids". By context I knew what was meant, but I'm a curious B so Googled this new and unknown word. It pops up as a synonym to canine teeth side-by-side with "vampire teeth and vampire fangs"! Why
Sorry
Despite not finishing I want to thank Netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest opinion, rant and all.
August 16, 2024
DNF at the start of chapter 15
This book is like the author wrote a watpad fan fic of herself in a Twilight/vampire diaries/fae story mash up. It reads like a YA novel with 30 year olds instead of teenagers. I don't want to discredit how much work can go into writing a book or even a fan fic and the premise of the story was decent, but the story and world building were bad enough that I couldnt force myself to continue and I have a lot of thoughts about this.
The first thing I have to say is that the opening chapter was extremely lack luster. Her mom and step dad just burned to death, and I'm getting microwave dinner emotions from her. And she seems to know about this so-called curse in the first chapter and then a few chapters later with her aunts she knows nothing about it??? She knows about and practices magic and is a witch, yet she knows nothing about it at the same time? And her aunts say they have a generational curse on the witches in their family, yet they dont come from a long line of witches, and the aunts only took up magic in high school. "Every witch with a child in the Cartwright line seems to die by fire" make it make sense...
I also can not get behind the female lead at all. She is overly complicated, yet one dimensional. From what I have found on the authors profile and social media, it seems as though the author wrote herself in as the main character. Same age/description, same child, same ambitions (writing). I feel like doing this doesn't allow for generalizations that readers can not connect to. It doesn't help that the main character is given (and I hope these arent things that the author has also pulled from her own life because no one should have to go through any of that) a million different tragedies in her life. It's all just dumped on us right away at the beginning of the book
-mom and step dad burned to death
-mom and dad divorced
-sister estranged
- cancer
- baby dies
- SA
- abusive relationship
- another child almost dies
- her own divorce
- She doesn't drink because her parents were alcoholic yet she is an alcoholic because of her bad marriage?
It's like the author made all these bad things happen to her instead of giving her an actual personality. Like I literally could not list off a single personality trait about her after 15 chapters. Turned me off from the character right away. Half of these things do not have anything to do with the plot or the story. That is one of my biggest pet peeves is when specific details are put into a storyline that do not matter what so ever.
Which leads to my next point. The writing is super inconsistant. There are too many details about things that don't matter and not enough about things that do. It took until chapter 10 for anything to happen that actually advances the plot, and then they are just literally going to talk to people. I don't need half a chapter detailing a magical ritual they do that sends her mom off but has nothing to do with the plot. The beginning of the book drags on because there is so much unimportant crap that could have been cut out. There are so many other places that details could have been added. You dont find out until chapter 13 how old they are. Like I said, it reads like a YA book but with adults, so they could have been anywhere from 20 to 50 for all I knew. I am also still not sure how the humans, witches, vamps, and fae interact in this world. Can they be both vamp and witch (seems like vamp mom is)? Is being a witch a genetic thing or like a quality anyone can have? They never come right out and say who knows about what and what the rules of this world are. Also, they go talk to a fae girl named Nyxara, but we never find out why they go to her/her shop specifically. And she seems to know them but they don't know her??? And she's being watched by a camera, yet the fae realm doesn't have technology like cars and stuff???
The characters keep mentioning how dangerous the grimspawn are but they never show that. Stop telling me and show me!!! A fight scene, a flashback, anything! There is literally no action at all in the entire 14 chapters that I read. So boring.
Ok, that was a lot... now a few specific rapid-fire things that bothered me
- she doesnt want to tell her son about the grandparents dying over the phone, yet she wants to wait days to tell him in person? Like girl, just go over to your exs house and tell him in person. Also, he just goes to school without seeing you after this happens? Not realistic.
-Why is the prophecy so straightforward with like the girl's name and all? Litterally makes no sense. Takes away an actual plot point of trying to figure out who the phoenix is.
-calling her mom "Mama" as a 30 year old woman? What, are we in the 1920s?
- the sister is so bad, there is no emotion when she called to say the parents died? Not even angry to say dont call me? Wierd.
- Their flirting makes me want to gag "I like you. " "I like you too. " I'm taking you to dinner."
- "I lick his tongue with mine" is probably the worst way i've ever heard a makeout described
- the aunts mentioned something about her mom being "the secret sister." What?
- Why are the friends groping her??? "When groping commences—a solid squeeze to my right boob by Claire—I decide it’s time to go"... WHAT?
- dom: I got rid of my english accent cuz im ✨️quirky✨️
- the vamp family is basically knock off cullens
- Jasantha??? Laureya??? What are these names?
- No 10 year old says, "Are THE aunts at the house"
This book is like the author wrote a watpad fan fic of herself in a Twilight/vampire diaries/fae story mash up. It reads like a YA novel with 30 year olds instead of teenagers. I don't want to discredit how much work can go into writing a book or even a fan fic and the premise of the story was decent, but the story and world building were bad enough that I couldnt force myself to continue and I have a lot of thoughts about this.
The first thing I have to say is that the opening chapter was extremely lack luster. Her mom and step dad just burned to death, and I'm getting microwave dinner emotions from her. And she seems to know about this so-called curse in the first chapter and then a few chapters later with her aunts she knows nothing about it??? She knows about and practices magic and is a witch, yet she knows nothing about it at the same time? And her aunts say they have a generational curse on the witches in their family, yet they dont come from a long line of witches, and the aunts only took up magic in high school. "Every witch with a child in the Cartwright line seems to die by fire" make it make sense...
I also can not get behind the female lead at all. She is overly complicated, yet one dimensional. From what I have found on the authors profile and social media, it seems as though the author wrote herself in as the main character. Same age/description, same child, same ambitions (writing). I feel like doing this doesn't allow for generalizations that readers can not connect to. It doesn't help that the main character is given (and I hope these arent things that the author has also pulled from her own life because no one should have to go through any of that) a million different tragedies in her life. It's all just dumped on us right away at the beginning of the book
-mom and step dad burned to death
-mom and dad divorced
-sister estranged
- cancer
- baby dies
- SA
- abusive relationship
- another child almost dies
- her own divorce
- She doesn't drink because her parents were alcoholic yet she is an alcoholic because of her bad marriage?
It's like the author made all these bad things happen to her instead of giving her an actual personality. Like I literally could not list off a single personality trait about her after 15 chapters. Turned me off from the character right away. Half of these things do not have anything to do with the plot or the story. That is one of my biggest pet peeves is when specific details are put into a storyline that do not matter what so ever.
Which leads to my next point. The writing is super inconsistant. There are too many details about things that don't matter and not enough about things that do. It took until chapter 10 for anything to happen that actually advances the plot, and then they are just literally going to talk to people. I don't need half a chapter detailing a magical ritual they do that sends her mom off but has nothing to do with the plot. The beginning of the book drags on because there is so much unimportant crap that could have been cut out. There are so many other places that details could have been added. You dont find out until chapter 13 how old they are. Like I said, it reads like a YA book but with adults, so they could have been anywhere from 20 to 50 for all I knew. I am also still not sure how the humans, witches, vamps, and fae interact in this world. Can they be both vamp and witch (seems like vamp mom is)? Is being a witch a genetic thing or like a quality anyone can have? They never come right out and say who knows about what and what the rules of this world are. Also, they go talk to a fae girl named Nyxara, but we never find out why they go to her/her shop specifically. And she seems to know them but they don't know her??? And she's being watched by a camera, yet the fae realm doesn't have technology like cars and stuff???
The characters keep mentioning how dangerous the grimspawn are but they never show that. Stop telling me and show me!!! A fight scene, a flashback, anything! There is literally no action at all in the entire 14 chapters that I read. So boring.
Ok, that was a lot... now a few specific rapid-fire things that bothered me
- she doesnt want to tell her son about the grandparents dying over the phone, yet she wants to wait days to tell him in person? Like girl, just go over to your exs house and tell him in person. Also, he just goes to school without seeing you after this happens? Not realistic.
-Why is the prophecy so straightforward with like the girl's name and all? Litterally makes no sense. Takes away an actual plot point of trying to figure out who the phoenix is.
-calling her mom "Mama" as a 30 year old woman? What, are we in the 1920s?
- the sister is so bad, there is no emotion when she called to say the parents died? Not even angry to say dont call me? Wierd.
- Their flirting makes me want to gag "I like you. " "I like you too. " I'm taking you to dinner."
- "I lick his tongue with mine" is probably the worst way i've ever heard a makeout described
- the aunts mentioned something about her mom being "the secret sister." What?
- Why are the friends groping her??? "When groping commences—a solid squeeze to my right boob by Claire—I decide it’s time to go"... WHAT?
- dom: I got rid of my english accent cuz im ✨️quirky✨️
- the vamp family is basically knock off cullens
- Jasantha??? Laureya??? What are these names?
- No 10 year old says, "Are THE aunts at the house"
May 30, 2024
Omg the fact that this had vampire diaries vibes🤌🏻🤌🏻🫠🖤
& that it had witches, it had zombies, it had vampires, & warlocks👌🏻
Sayah’s character was freaking bad a$* she’s been through a lot and she’s a single mom she’s also from a long line of witches.
When I say she’s a bad a#& I really see her as one,
She has conquered everything miscarriages, cancer, and death of loved ones.
I loved the relationship she had with her son, and how determined she was on being a good mom to him.
I loved how committed Dom was to Sayah, but Sebastian’s aura of being mysterious and that pull he had on her was just 😮💨 but I still loved DOM🥺🖤
Ohh also loved dom and bash’s brotherly virally, thought it was cute / funny.
I loved each of their POVS you get more insight on what’s going on with them.
This one takes you on a rollercoaster and I didn’t want it to end😩😩
I can not wait for book two!!!
Def recommend if you like these tropes
-morally grey MMC
-dark romance
-dual povs
& that it had witches, it had zombies, it had vampires, & warlocks👌🏻
Sayah’s character was freaking bad a$* she’s been through a lot and she’s a single mom she’s also from a long line of witches.
When I say she’s a bad a#& I really see her as one,
She has conquered everything miscarriages, cancer, and death of loved ones.
I loved the relationship she had with her son, and how determined she was on being a good mom to him.
I loved how committed Dom was to Sayah, but Sebastian’s aura of being mysterious and that pull he had on her was just 😮💨 but I still loved DOM🥺🖤
Ohh also loved dom and bash’s brotherly virally, thought it was cute / funny.
I loved each of their POVS you get more insight on what’s going on with them.
This one takes you on a rollercoaster and I didn’t want it to end😩😩
I can not wait for book two!!!
Def recommend if you like these tropes
-morally grey MMC
-dark romance
-dual povs
Read
June 13, 2024Title: A Bond with the Dark by Inara Gage
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars
Release date: July 9th 2024
A Bond with the Dark by Inara Gage is a spellbinding journey into a world where love, magic, and danger intertwine seamlessly. This novel is an exquisite blend of mystery, romance, and supernatural intrigue that will captivate you from the first page to the last.
Sayah Thorne, our reluctant witch heroine, is a force to be reckoned with. After a tragic fire claims her family, Sayah is thrust into a perilous quest for the truth, accompanied by her formidable witch aunts. Her journey is fraught with danger and deception, but Sayah’s strength, wit, and resilience make her a compelling and relatable character. She evolves beautifully throughout the story, proving time and again that she is a powerful witch who can handle anything thrown her way.
Dominic Sangravelli and his siblings are engaged in a fierce battle against grimspawn, the reanimated dead that haunt their existence. When destiny brings Sayah and Dominic together through a prophecy, their worlds collide in a forbidden romance that is both electrifying and deeply emotional. Dominic’s vampire family opposes their bond, adding layers of tension and intrigue to their relationship.
The chemistry between Sayah and Dominic is palpable, their romance a delicate dance between light and dark. As they navigate a landscape where betrayal lurks at every turn, their love becomes a beacon of hope against the encroaching shadows.
The dark forces that target Sayah believe her death will restore balance, but Sayah and Dominic are determined to defy fate and save their world from impending doom.
Inara Gage masterfully crafts a world rich in magic and mystery. The pacing is perfect, keeping you on the edge of your seat, while the world-building immerses you in a landscape filled with witches, vampires, and grimspawn. The character development is great, with each character—especially Sayah—showing growth and depth.
A Bond with the Dark is more than just a supernatural romance; it’s a tale of resilience, love, and the power of defying fate. The beautifully woven narrative, coupled with the intense, forbidden romance, makes this book a must-read for fans of fantasy and paranormal romance.
If you love stories where the line between light and dark blurs, where love and magic collide, this novel is for you. Sayah’s adventures are just beginning, and I can’t wait to see where they take us next
Thank you to The Publisher BooksGoSocial ,The Author Inara Gage & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
July 13, 2024
The book in my opinion is written more in the direction of the younger adult readers (college students or older) I mean. The plot has some bite to it. I did not mean that as a pundit. The story moves quickly. The characters are interesting, but I found my self waiting for the excitement, entertainment or the plot to pickup and take flight. Perhaps the book needs more revision.
February 17, 2024
I want to give a HUGE thank you to Inara for letting me beta read for her. This novel is fantastic, and I cannot wait until y’all can read it for yourselves! Sayah is such a badass FMC; she's constantly proving that she's a powerful witch and can handle anything the world throws at her. She evolves so much throughout the story while still staying witty and relatable. I can't wait to see where her adventures bring us next!
Summary:
Sayah Thorne has been through the worst of the worst, and after the loss of her mother, it seems like the world is out to get her. She is at rock bottom when Dominic Sangravelli finds her and shows her how great life could be at his side. What she doesn’t know is that he’s a vampire, and her death has been prophesied to be the only thing that can save his entire family. Will Dom fall for her and risk his family? Or will Sayah burn for him until she has nothing left?
Summary:
Sayah Thorne has been through the worst of the worst, and after the loss of her mother, it seems like the world is out to get her. She is at rock bottom when Dominic Sangravelli finds her and shows her how great life could be at his side. What she doesn’t know is that he’s a vampire, and her death has been prophesied to be the only thing that can save his entire family. Will Dom fall for her and risk his family? Or will Sayah burn for him until she has nothing left?
July 10, 2024
A Bond with the Dark by Inara Gage is Book 1 of The Beautifully Broken Saga series. It is an urban fantasy story filled with action, twists & turns, various supernatural beings, and an exciting and intriguing plot.
This book drew me because the main female character, Sayah, differs from a typical fantasy heroine. She has endured in her life, was dealt a difficult hand and has emerged from it triumphant time and time again. She is a single mother, a cancer survivor, and just someone who fights, struggles and wins, even in dire circumstances. I really enjoyed her character and want to see where her path will take her next.
A Bond with the Dark is a dual POV; we follow Sayah and Dom, a vampire initially tasked to kill her to restore the balance of the world seeping into darkness. Or at least that is what his family thinks the prophecy means. But is it really so? As Dom and Sayah begin to fall for each other, the more they try to find the answers, the more questions and doubts emerge, including a mysterious vampire that keeps haunting Sayah's dreams.
In their frantic search to find the answers, break the curse, and free the world of the looming evil, they will be met with many obstacles coming from enemies and families alike. Sayah must come to terms with her destiny and dig deep to find her powers.
I feel there is so much more to come in future books, and I can't wait to see what happens next! I want to thank Inara for making me a part of her ARC team and letting me read and review her book!
What will you find in A Bond with the Dark?
- urban fantasy setting
- witches, warlocks, vampires
- forbidden romance
- hidden identities
- morally grey FMC & MMC
- love triangle
- light vs dark
- plot twists & turns
and much more!
This book drew me because the main female character, Sayah, differs from a typical fantasy heroine. She has endured in her life, was dealt a difficult hand and has emerged from it triumphant time and time again. She is a single mother, a cancer survivor, and just someone who fights, struggles and wins, even in dire circumstances. I really enjoyed her character and want to see where her path will take her next.
A Bond with the Dark is a dual POV; we follow Sayah and Dom, a vampire initially tasked to kill her to restore the balance of the world seeping into darkness. Or at least that is what his family thinks the prophecy means. But is it really so? As Dom and Sayah begin to fall for each other, the more they try to find the answers, the more questions and doubts emerge, including a mysterious vampire that keeps haunting Sayah's dreams.
In their frantic search to find the answers, break the curse, and free the world of the looming evil, they will be met with many obstacles coming from enemies and families alike. Sayah must come to terms with her destiny and dig deep to find her powers.
I feel there is so much more to come in future books, and I can't wait to see what happens next! I want to thank Inara for making me a part of her ARC team and letting me read and review her book!
What will you find in A Bond with the Dark?
- urban fantasy setting
- witches, warlocks, vampires
- forbidden romance
- hidden identities
- morally grey FMC & MMC
- love triangle
- light vs dark
- plot twists & turns
and much more!
June 15, 2024
A Bond with the Dark: The Beautifully Broken Saga: Book #1
by Inara Gage.
A dark supernatural romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
🖤 Duel POV
🖤 Spice
🖤 Magical creatures
🖤 Magic
🖤 Morally Grey MMC
🖤 Touch her & 💀
A dark supernatural romance filled with vampires, witches and so much more.
A beautifully dark and captivating storyline with an adequate blend of mystery romance magic- a wondrous supernatural tale of taboo love. A whirlwind of emotion, twists and turns, danger and prophecies.
Sayah Thorne, our FMC. A witch, a badass heroine: she is strong and has endured a lot in her life, recently experiencing the trauma and loss of her family. The most recent being the loss of her mother. She discovers truths about herself and her family that were never revealed.
Dominic Sangravelli, our MMC. A beautifully illustrated dark male character, a wonderful addition to this story. I loved his character the moment he was introduced into the plot. He has a fantastic backstory. And a big family of vampires with multiple magical powers.
The chemistry between our main characters is palpable from the beginning. I loved the dynamic and the development their story takes throughout their entire journey.
Dom and Sayah are drawn together with a kind of magnetism that we can only dream of. Their relationship and dynamic progress quickly… Although, we do have a bit of a love triangle situation going on- it was beautifully crafted and well weaved through the storyline.
This is such a beautifully written piece of work by Inara Gage. She has given us a magical and fantastical world that is well built and submerges you effortlessly into the pages as you traverse the plot line along with our characters as their journey through this book.
Fast paced and action packed, there is a lot going on in this story although it is an easy read, it is not to be skimmed you need to take the time to digest the situation of what’s happening.
I am already wanting to re-read this book.
I loved it as a whole and the characters stood out brilliantly and portrayed themselves adequately, formidable and quite capable. The side characters were fantastic and brought a deeper sensation and sentiment to the overall storyline.
An exquisitely brilliant read, I love Inara’s style. She is uniquely gifted and her creative approach is beautifully balanced. She has created something special with A Bond With the Dark.
I cannot wait for the next book.
Thank you to the author Inara Gage for the advanced copy. It was an honour to read.
Quotes:
"I know that I won't be your first of anything, but you're the kind of person l'd want to be my last of everything."
"The most beautiful woman l've ever seen stands before me, and her death is to come at my hands?"
"I am the sunlight in his dark, and while I was willing to be in darkness with him, I'm also willing to fight the darkness in his honor."
by Inara Gage.
A dark supernatural romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
🖤 Duel POV
🖤 Spice
🖤 Magical creatures
🖤 Magic
🖤 Morally Grey MMC
🖤 Touch her & 💀
A dark supernatural romance filled with vampires, witches and so much more.
A beautifully dark and captivating storyline with an adequate blend of mystery romance magic- a wondrous supernatural tale of taboo love. A whirlwind of emotion, twists and turns, danger and prophecies.
Sayah Thorne, our FMC. A witch, a badass heroine: she is strong and has endured a lot in her life, recently experiencing the trauma and loss of her family. The most recent being the loss of her mother. She discovers truths about herself and her family that were never revealed.
Dominic Sangravelli, our MMC. A beautifully illustrated dark male character, a wonderful addition to this story. I loved his character the moment he was introduced into the plot. He has a fantastic backstory. And a big family of vampires with multiple magical powers.
The chemistry between our main characters is palpable from the beginning. I loved the dynamic and the development their story takes throughout their entire journey.
Dom and Sayah are drawn together with a kind of magnetism that we can only dream of. Their relationship and dynamic progress quickly… Although, we do have a bit of a love triangle situation going on- it was beautifully crafted and well weaved through the storyline.
This is such a beautifully written piece of work by Inara Gage. She has given us a magical and fantastical world that is well built and submerges you effortlessly into the pages as you traverse the plot line along with our characters as their journey through this book.
Fast paced and action packed, there is a lot going on in this story although it is an easy read, it is not to be skimmed you need to take the time to digest the situation of what’s happening.
I am already wanting to re-read this book.
I loved it as a whole and the characters stood out brilliantly and portrayed themselves adequately, formidable and quite capable. The side characters were fantastic and brought a deeper sensation and sentiment to the overall storyline.
An exquisitely brilliant read, I love Inara’s style. She is uniquely gifted and her creative approach is beautifully balanced. She has created something special with A Bond With the Dark.
I cannot wait for the next book.
Thank you to the author Inara Gage for the advanced copy. It was an honour to read.
Quotes:
"I know that I won't be your first of anything, but you're the kind of person l'd want to be my last of everything."
"The most beautiful woman l've ever seen stands before me, and her death is to come at my hands?"
"I am the sunlight in his dark, and while I was willing to be in darkness with him, I'm also willing to fight the darkness in his honor."
May 29, 2024
This was an incredibly fast-paced, PACKED story! It had great pacing, and the descriptive imagery and writing were beautiful. But the dialog thew me off. Some dialog didn't flow well, and it didn't match the writing style of the scenes.
However, I loved the rollercoaster this took us on. I can't wait for book 2. Now, with all these new admissions that came to light and characters! I got heavy TVD vibes regarding bash, dom, and sayah. But it didn't feel copycat. It felt unique and exciting
Thank you for the ARC
However, I loved the rollercoaster this took us on. I can't wait for book 2. Now, with all these new admissions that came to light and characters! I got heavy TVD vibes regarding bash, dom, and sayah. But it didn't feel copycat. It felt unique and exciting
Thank you for the ARC
June 15, 2024
Oh my goodness this book is amazing the fact that it had multiple creatures is just 10 out of 10 for me I love books like this and the story was just epic if I could give this book 200 Stars I absolutely would and I cannot wait to eventually save up and get a signed copy of this phenomenal book I absolutely need this on my shelf
May 12, 2024
ARC Review:
A Bond with the Dark by Inara Gage is a dark fantasy book. This book has witches, vampires, and romance. I personally had a hard time getting into this book. I liked the characters but had a hard time enjoying the plot. The characters are very likeable! Sayah is a very strong FMC and I liked her a lot. Dom and Bash were both great! They give me Stefan and Damon vibes from TVD. As a Damon girly, I am very much team Bash! The plot of the book was slow for me and it was hard for me to stay engaged. There were many times where I felt like things dragged on. The last portion of the book was fun as more things came to light and things picked up. I still believe that people should give this book a chance! I loved the characters and hope to see things pick up in book 2.
Thank you @inara_gage for the ARC of this book! I appreciate you allowing me to join your ARC team!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
HAPPY READING
A Bond with the Dark by Inara Gage is a dark fantasy book. This book has witches, vampires, and romance. I personally had a hard time getting into this book. I liked the characters but had a hard time enjoying the plot. The characters are very likeable! Sayah is a very strong FMC and I liked her a lot. Dom and Bash were both great! They give me Stefan and Damon vibes from TVD. As a Damon girly, I am very much team Bash! The plot of the book was slow for me and it was hard for me to stay engaged. There were many times where I felt like things dragged on. The last portion of the book was fun as more things came to light and things picked up. I still believe that people should give this book a chance! I loved the characters and hope to see things pick up in book 2.
Thank you @inara_gage for the ARC of this book! I appreciate you allowing me to join your ARC team!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
HAPPY READING
February 17, 2024
Sayah has had so many traumatic events happen in her life but remains a positive force who is a loving mother, caring friend and devoted daughter. With each test the universe sends her way she becomes stronger the newest test just may reveal her ultimate show of power yet.
Dom has lived a long life in darkness and as the world becomes a darker place from the increase of Grimspawn he needs to seek the light. The light he finds is Sayah. Watching and helping her grow into the person she’s meant to be becomes his duty and desire.
The pacing, world building and character development in this book were beautifully done. I enjoyed every twist and turn and was even fooled by a couple along the way (which doesn’t happen often). I can’t wait for book 2.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Format: E-Book
Dom has lived a long life in darkness and as the world becomes a darker place from the increase of Grimspawn he needs to seek the light. The light he finds is Sayah. Watching and helping her grow into the person she’s meant to be becomes his duty and desire.
The pacing, world building and character development in this book were beautifully done. I enjoyed every twist and turn and was even fooled by a couple along the way (which doesn’t happen often). I can’t wait for book 2.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Format: E-Book
February 27, 2024
I got the privilege of being her beta reader, and omg! Can't wait to have the final project done to re-read it again. Sayah is a badass FMC and has a great male joining her side, Dominic Sangravelli, as MMC. Is a double POV with witches, vampires, and many more mixed creatures that will make their life nothing but impossible to live in a regular relationship. There are far too many secrets kept in between them. And I enjoy them all, some I saw them coming but that didn't took away the seat at the edge of my seat ready for the bomb to explode. The story and plot are well told and have so many details that for being my first vampires, witches, and other creature books, I enjoy it very much and understand it all very well.
Thank you hun! 😊🖤
Thank you hun! 😊🖤
May 15, 2024
While there were parts that were fun and enjoyable, but unfortunately the majority of the book gave me whiplash. I understand world building and getting an understanding of the characters, but it was too descriptive. Also, the plot was plotting for a while and I was very confused on what was actually happening 🙈
Read
May 15, 2024DNFed at 23%
June 12, 2024
Thank you to the author for having me be an ARC reader.
This definitely has vampire diaries vibes, and I’m here for Bash! The main character, Sayah was pretty awesome. She was strong and loved her relationship with her son. Overall it was a pretty good read, and I’m interested to see where the story goes.
This definitely has vampire diaries vibes, and I’m here for Bash! The main character, Sayah was pretty awesome. She was strong and loved her relationship with her son. Overall it was a pretty good read, and I’m interested to see where the story goes.
June 4, 2024
ARC Review: A Bond With The Dark
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
In “A Bond with the Dark,” Inara Gage weaves a gripping tale of magic, mystery, and romance. Sayah Thorne, a reluctant witch, finds her life upended by a family tragedy, propelling her into a quest for truth that intersects with Dominic Sangravelli’s battle against grimspawn. Their destinies intertwine through a prophecy, sparking a forbidden romance.
The characters are well-developed, with Sayah and Dominic’s relationship adding depth and tension to the story. While the plot is somewhat predictable, the novel’s originality and the dynamic between Sayah, Dom and Bash keep readers engaged. The romantic elements are well-executed, though more spice would have enhanced the intensity.
Ending on a cliffhanger, the novel leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. “A Bond with the Dark” offers a satisfying blend of romance, magic, and intrigue, making it a captivating read for paranormal romance fans.
Thank you to @inara_gage and @happilybookedpr for providing me with an ARC to review!
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
In “A Bond with the Dark,” Inara Gage weaves a gripping tale of magic, mystery, and romance. Sayah Thorne, a reluctant witch, finds her life upended by a family tragedy, propelling her into a quest for truth that intersects with Dominic Sangravelli’s battle against grimspawn. Their destinies intertwine through a prophecy, sparking a forbidden romance.
The characters are well-developed, with Sayah and Dominic’s relationship adding depth and tension to the story. While the plot is somewhat predictable, the novel’s originality and the dynamic between Sayah, Dom and Bash keep readers engaged. The romantic elements are well-executed, though more spice would have enhanced the intensity.
Ending on a cliffhanger, the novel leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. “A Bond with the Dark” offers a satisfying blend of romance, magic, and intrigue, making it a captivating read for paranormal romance fans.
Thank you to @inara_gage and @happilybookedpr for providing me with an ARC to review!
June 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️
Thank you @inara_gage and @happilybookedpr for this advance copy of Bound With The Dark
What a book! It’s got vampires, witches and even a phoenix! I love how Inara has written Bond With The Dark, it had me hooked within the first couple of chapters! It does finish on a cliffhanger but that just makes me want more 🤩 The plot twist is mind blowing and comes out of nowhere.
I’m excited for the next one to find out what happens to Sayah, Dom & Bash!
“I’ll keep him as my dirty little secret”
“this man is now like my own personal dildo.”
🌶️🌶️
Thank you @inara_gage and @happilybookedpr for this advance copy of Bound With The Dark
What a book! It’s got vampires, witches and even a phoenix! I love how Inara has written Bond With The Dark, it had me hooked within the first couple of chapters! It does finish on a cliffhanger but that just makes me want more 🤩 The plot twist is mind blowing and comes out of nowhere.
I’m excited for the next one to find out what happens to Sayah, Dom & Bash!
“I’ll keep him as my dirty little secret”
“this man is now like my own personal dildo.”
June 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
I was hooked from the beginning!
There wasn't a moment where I was bored and never felt that a part in the story wasn't necessary.
There were a couple of moments that had me yelling with excitement!
I love the main characters and there are a few characters I would love to learn more about.
I had tears in my eyes reading about Sayah's life 😢 she's a very strong FMC!
There were a few moments that made me cringe a little but it wasn't bad enough to draw my attention away from the story or make me dislike the book in any way.
The relationship between Sayah and Dom felt too fast paced to me. I love them but their relationship was a little quick.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, the plot was good, the writing was good and the spice was 🥵🥵🥵
I'm excited and look forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book!
🌶🌶🌶
I was hooked from the beginning!
There wasn't a moment where I was bored and never felt that a part in the story wasn't necessary.
There were a couple of moments that had me yelling with excitement!
I love the main characters and there are a few characters I would love to learn more about.
I had tears in my eyes reading about Sayah's life 😢 she's a very strong FMC!
There were a few moments that made me cringe a little but it wasn't bad enough to draw my attention away from the story or make me dislike the book in any way.
The relationship between Sayah and Dom felt too fast paced to me. I love them but their relationship was a little quick.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, the plot was good, the writing was good and the spice was 🥵🥵🥵
I'm excited and look forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book!
June 4, 2024
I was fortunate enough to receive an eARC of this book by Inara Gage! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review book 1 in the Beautifully Broken Saga.
✨️Touch her and Die
✨️Shifters
✨️Witches
✨️Vampires
✨️Warlocks
✨️Single mother
Sayah has experienced trauma beyond belief, but she remains a positive force, and a loving mother. Each test she faces, she becomes stronger than she even knows.
The world building in this book was excellent! There's a few twists and turns, and I love the variety of character types we face!
I want more of Bash 😂 I can't wait for book 2.
✨️Touch her and Die
✨️Shifters
✨️Witches
✨️Vampires
✨️Warlocks
✨️Single mother
Sayah has experienced trauma beyond belief, but she remains a positive force, and a loving mother. Each test she faces, she becomes stronger than she even knows.
The world building in this book was excellent! There's a few twists and turns, and I love the variety of character types we face!
I want more of Bash 😂 I can't wait for book 2.
July 6, 2024
{2.75/5}
CW: gore, spice, death, illness, attempted r@pe, some others.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team. “A Bond with the Dark” releases July 9, 2024.
Much to my dismay, yet another book falls victim to the ‘promising premise, disappointing execution’ problem.
Following the sudden death of her mother, Sayah is thrust into a world of witchcraft and monsters. Meanwhile, one of those monsters has been sent to end her before Sayah can become a threat to the paranormal balance.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. The idea is great— vampires, romance, phoenix powers. It had so many really interesting bits and pieces. Unfortunately, a slow start and a confusing structure made this one a flop for me.
I had two main issues with this book. The first, but easily the one I could have most willingly overlooked, was the pacing. The first 50% of the book was interminably slow. We get bogged down with info dump after info dump (a trend that continues throughout, but is most noticeable in the beginning), and not a lot actually happens. If character exploration is your thing, then maybe this isn’t going to be as big of a problem for you, but I have a strong preference for plot-driven stories. Simply put, I get really bored with deep dives into the character’s conditions. There are, admittedly, some decent real-world representations in this part, and I don’t think we see a ton of those in fantasy, but I like my fantasy to feel like fantasy. So, between the snail-speed development and the real life nitty gritty that seems to stay the main focus in that first half, I probably would have DNF’d if this hadn’t been an ARC. Things did pick up a bit in the second half, specifically in the last 20-25% or so, but the journey to get there was long.
This brings me to my second, less forgivable, issue with the book: the writing style. Now, style is a hugely personal preference. Some readers prefer lyrical, poetic descriptions. Some prefer the author to get to the point already. I fall pretty firmly in that second category. There’s always something to be said for beautiful, romantic lines between the MCs, or that just-right description of a wonderful evening, but there are limits. The problem here is really twofold. We have a lot of extra language in places it really doesn't need to be, and we have a pretty significant number of somewhat peculiar word choices. The words aren’t always strictly wrong, but they’re also not the best fit for what’s being described and are often, I feel, overly complex word choices. These two factors combine to make the entire thing feel really clunky and awkward. Getting through just the background descriptions was a struggle, and it took away from what was actually happening in the story.
The plot itself would have been entertaining outside of these factors, though I do think there are maybe too many moving parts for the style in which it is written. Between the pacing and the structure, I felt like I was missing a lot of important information. If it wasn’t buried in the excess, it was dumped into the reader’s lap in great deluges of tell not show. I do think, with some more refining, this could be an incredible story, but it just wasn’t hitting the mark for me in its current state.
All of this makes it sound like I had a really bad time reading this book, which is not entirely true. Once the pacing picked up and things started to actually happen, I found that I wanted to know where things were going and what was going to happen. I liked certain characters and disliked others, and I was able to get around some of the stylistic choices to focus on the action. Unfortunately, for me, this was a comparatively small portion of the story, leaving the rest of it firmly in the realm of ‘not my cup of tea.’ This is definitely not going to be the same for all readers; people who enjoy a lot of descriptive language and in-depth character discussions are probably going to have a much better time with this book. If that sounds like your kind of party, it can’t hurt to consider this particular story for your next read.
CW: gore, spice, death, illness, attempted r@pe, some others.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team. “A Bond with the Dark” releases July 9, 2024.
Much to my dismay, yet another book falls victim to the ‘promising premise, disappointing execution’ problem.
Following the sudden death of her mother, Sayah is thrust into a world of witchcraft and monsters. Meanwhile, one of those monsters has been sent to end her before Sayah can become a threat to the paranormal balance.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. The idea is great— vampires, romance, phoenix powers. It had so many really interesting bits and pieces. Unfortunately, a slow start and a confusing structure made this one a flop for me.
I had two main issues with this book. The first, but easily the one I could have most willingly overlooked, was the pacing. The first 50% of the book was interminably slow. We get bogged down with info dump after info dump (a trend that continues throughout, but is most noticeable in the beginning), and not a lot actually happens. If character exploration is your thing, then maybe this isn’t going to be as big of a problem for you, but I have a strong preference for plot-driven stories. Simply put, I get really bored with deep dives into the character’s conditions. There are, admittedly, some decent real-world representations in this part, and I don’t think we see a ton of those in fantasy, but I like my fantasy to feel like fantasy. So, between the snail-speed development and the real life nitty gritty that seems to stay the main focus in that first half, I probably would have DNF’d if this hadn’t been an ARC. Things did pick up a bit in the second half, specifically in the last 20-25% or so, but the journey to get there was long.
This brings me to my second, less forgivable, issue with the book: the writing style. Now, style is a hugely personal preference. Some readers prefer lyrical, poetic descriptions. Some prefer the author to get to the point already. I fall pretty firmly in that second category. There’s always something to be said for beautiful, romantic lines between the MCs, or that just-right description of a wonderful evening, but there are limits. The problem here is really twofold. We have a lot of extra language in places it really doesn't need to be, and we have a pretty significant number of somewhat peculiar word choices. The words aren’t always strictly wrong, but they’re also not the best fit for what’s being described and are often, I feel, overly complex word choices. These two factors combine to make the entire thing feel really clunky and awkward. Getting through just the background descriptions was a struggle, and it took away from what was actually happening in the story.
The plot itself would have been entertaining outside of these factors, though I do think there are maybe too many moving parts for the style in which it is written. Between the pacing and the structure, I felt like I was missing a lot of important information. If it wasn’t buried in the excess, it was dumped into the reader’s lap in great deluges of tell not show. I do think, with some more refining, this could be an incredible story, but it just wasn’t hitting the mark for me in its current state.
All of this makes it sound like I had a really bad time reading this book, which is not entirely true. Once the pacing picked up and things started to actually happen, I found that I wanted to know where things were going and what was going to happen. I liked certain characters and disliked others, and I was able to get around some of the stylistic choices to focus on the action. Unfortunately, for me, this was a comparatively small portion of the story, leaving the rest of it firmly in the realm of ‘not my cup of tea.’ This is definitely not going to be the same for all readers; people who enjoy a lot of descriptive language and in-depth character discussions are probably going to have a much better time with this book. If that sounds like your kind of party, it can’t hurt to consider this particular story for your next read.
July 9, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley for the Earc. All opinions are my owe
1.5/5 stars
Wow... this was a book and I fell victim to the "cool premise, poor execution". Overall, I have three major problems with this book.
First off, the pacing is everywhere. The first 100 pages are like slugging through the mud with 50 lbs of hiking gear on your back and every time you think you are out of that mud, you end up just wadding into more of it. There was a point where if the pacing went off the deep end because of the continuous lore dumping we receive, I ended up just skimming over a lot of the filler.
That brings me to my second major problem with the book. There is SO MUCH filler and repetition. For example, FMC has a black cat named Nox which is cool. Why is it that every time we bring up Nox, we must mention that he is a black cat? Also, why do we even say that FMC has a cat when the cat serves zero purpose? Who is feeding this cat when she is just going on trips with MMC?
Here's a little snip-bit of the same issue just with fog:
"The mist is thick this time, and I can't see in front of me. I'm walking, although I don't know where I am. The fog is so thick, it's as if the clouds have landed on earth, and I'm walking around them. I may even be up in the clouds, but then I can feel the soft soil of the Earth beneath my bare feet."
That is one whole paragraph explaining to us twice that the fog is very thick and I wouldn't have griped much if this only happened a couple of times but this happens throughout the WHOLE book.
Lastly, the dialog is also brutal at times and if there is an expression for the audio version of Uncanny Valley, the dialog would be summed with that. FMC, I think, is supposed to be in her 30s and I know MMC is supposed to appear in his late 30s but you wouldn't know that because they all act like they are in their early 20s and no one possesses a single functioning brain cell. It is extremely jarring when the FMC is supposed to have lived this hard long life when she doesn't act like she has even experienced life in the first place.
I lied there is a fourth problem that I have with this book and it's Gauge. Gauge is FMC's 10-year-old son and I forgot he existed. Again you would think that Gauge would play a large role in his mother's life, especially during this time when FMC's mom and step-dad died in a horrible fire and she is dealing with a lot of chaos that is caused by MMC. No.. nada... nothing... We as the readers get to listen to FMC rehash repeatedly Gauge's disabilities and why he is in a wheelchair (which like thumbs-up for representation. We are here for that) but it doesn't serve anything to the narrative of that FMC's life is full of ups and downs. Gauge's character demonstrates one of the major shorting comings of this book: the author fails to make us care about the characters in the first place.
1.5/5 stars
Wow... this was a book and I fell victim to the "cool premise, poor execution". Overall, I have three major problems with this book.
First off, the pacing is everywhere. The first 100 pages are like slugging through the mud with 50 lbs of hiking gear on your back and every time you think you are out of that mud, you end up just wadding into more of it. There was a point where if the pacing went off the deep end because of the continuous lore dumping we receive, I ended up just skimming over a lot of the filler.
That brings me to my second major problem with the book. There is SO MUCH filler and repetition. For example, FMC has a black cat named Nox which is cool. Why is it that every time we bring up Nox, we must mention that he is a black cat? Also, why do we even say that FMC has a cat when the cat serves zero purpose? Who is feeding this cat when she is just going on trips with MMC?
Here's a little snip-bit of the same issue just with fog:
"The mist is thick this time, and I can't see in front of me. I'm walking, although I don't know where I am. The fog is so thick, it's as if the clouds have landed on earth, and I'm walking around them. I may even be up in the clouds, but then I can feel the soft soil of the Earth beneath my bare feet."
That is one whole paragraph explaining to us twice that the fog is very thick and I wouldn't have griped much if this only happened a couple of times but this happens throughout the WHOLE book.
Lastly, the dialog is also brutal at times and if there is an expression for the audio version of Uncanny Valley, the dialog would be summed with that. FMC, I think, is supposed to be in her 30s and I know MMC is supposed to appear in his late 30s but you wouldn't know that because they all act like they are in their early 20s and no one possesses a single functioning brain cell. It is extremely jarring when the FMC is supposed to have lived this hard long life when she doesn't act like she has even experienced life in the first place.
I lied there is a fourth problem that I have with this book and it's Gauge. Gauge is FMC's 10-year-old son and I forgot he existed. Again you would think that Gauge would play a large role in his mother's life, especially during this time when FMC's mom and step-dad died in a horrible fire and she is dealing with a lot of chaos that is caused by MMC. No.. nada... nothing... We as the readers get to listen to FMC rehash repeatedly Gauge's disabilities and why he is in a wheelchair (which like thumbs-up for representation. We are here for that) but it doesn't serve anything to the narrative of that FMC's life is full of ups and downs. Gauge's character demonstrates one of the major shorting comings of this book: the author fails to make us care about the characters in the first place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
I really enjoyed this and was fortunate enough to get a copy of it as an EARC to read before it releases! My honest review is below :)
I loved the FMC she is strong af and did not let her past define her. Watching her grow, and morph into who she was destined to be made me so happy. I also like that she wasn’t your typical fantasy FMC (as much as I love our Feyre-esque FMC’s) and had an adult life that had been lived, with a kiddo. It was a nice change of pace.
Dom and Bash give such a good brother rivalry aspect. You’ve got Vampires, Witches, Sirens, Shifters, and more all in this one place. The world building was easy to follow and made sense. ABwtD is reminiscent of TVD in the best ways. Not to mention the cover is BEAUTIFUL. There are so many likable characters to learn more about in the future.
Love, loss, rivalry, betrayal, spice, it’s ALL here. I would definitely recommend giving this a read, and I’m excited to see what will come next.
**I received a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
I loved the FMC she is strong af and did not let her past define her. Watching her grow, and morph into who she was destined to be made me so happy. I also like that she wasn’t your typical fantasy FMC (as much as I love our Feyre-esque FMC’s) and had an adult life that had been lived, with a kiddo. It was a nice change of pace.
Dom and Bash give such a good brother rivalry aspect. You’ve got Vampires, Witches, Sirens, Shifters, and more all in this one place. The world building was easy to follow and made sense. ABwtD is reminiscent of TVD in the best ways. Not to mention the cover is BEAUTIFUL. There are so many likable characters to learn more about in the future.
Love, loss, rivalry, betrayal, spice, it’s ALL here. I would definitely recommend giving this a read, and I’m excited to see what will come next.
**I received a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
May 21, 2024
I really loved this book! I absolutely loved Sayah's character. This girl has been through everything in her life, but she doesn't let anything beat her down. She is a force and a thing of beauty! I loved her relationship with her son, and her determination to be a good mom. Love triangles aren't usually my thing, but the way Inara developed this romance was absolutely intriguing. I loved Dom and his commitment to Sayah. But Sebastian's mysterious aura and Sayah's pull towards him was irresistible. Getting Dom's POV in the story was a game changer on so many levels. The mystery and the questions that Inara weaves throughout the story really kept me turning the pages wanting to figure out what was happening. There is so much emotional pull in this story that it really sucked me in. The spice was perfect! The magic system was unique. I loved that Sayah didn't know much about her magic, because it gave us a chance to learn with her! I really loved this book, and would absolutely recommend it to anyone a fan of supernatural or fantasy romance. I'm definitely going to need book 2 soon though!
May 22, 2024
I had the opportunity to read A Bond With The Dark before its release!
Immediately this book gave me Charmed vibes with a modern twist! (I may be aging myself with such a reference lol) I loved the drama, supernatural beings, and fast pace.
The FMC, Seyah, has experienced her fair share of trials and tribulations and that continues to remain true as our story begins. She embodies strength, resilience and is overall a badass.
Dom, MMC, is our delightful vampire.😍 He has also been a part of his own share of darkness. Together, he and Seyah must persevere to defeat evil.
I love that this story was written with dual POVs, so that we truly experienced all of the emotions our characters felt. Honestly I can’t wait for Book 2 in The Beautifully Broken Saga.
Immediately this book gave me Charmed vibes with a modern twist! (I may be aging myself with such a reference lol) I loved the drama, supernatural beings, and fast pace.
The FMC, Seyah, has experienced her fair share of trials and tribulations and that continues to remain true as our story begins. She embodies strength, resilience and is overall a badass.
Dom, MMC, is our delightful vampire.😍 He has also been a part of his own share of darkness. Together, he and Seyah must persevere to defeat evil.
I love that this story was written with dual POVs, so that we truly experienced all of the emotions our characters felt. Honestly I can’t wait for Book 2 in The Beautifully Broken Saga.
May 23, 2024
The height of forbidden romance. Sayah is a witch, and Dominic a vampire. Their kind don't mix, yet they can't seem to stay away from one another. As they navigate a world full of danger and unknown mysteries, they can't help but fall. Will they be able to evade fate and refuse to be kept apart?
This was emotional and spicy and just so, so captivating!
This was emotional and spicy and just so, so captivating!
July 8, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ The book felt like a mix of Twilight, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and The Vampire Diaries.
I felt like the romance plot didn’t have much build up between the two characters before they got together, the first half of the book felt like a romance book not a fantasy books. I felt like the conflict got washed over and when it was solved it got solved very fast and easily. The pacing of the book was a bit funny, it would pick up and then fizzle back down.The book ended making you want to read the second book straight after. I think you grew up and loved Twilight and Vampire Diaries, think you’ll love this!
I felt like the romance plot didn’t have much build up between the two characters before they got together, the first half of the book felt like a romance book not a fantasy books. I felt like the conflict got washed over and when it was solved it got solved very fast and easily. The pacing of the book was a bit funny, it would pick up and then fizzle back down.The book ended making you want to read the second book straight after. I think you grew up and loved Twilight and Vampire Diaries, think you’ll love this!
November 25, 2025
✨A Bond with the Dark✨
What a dark and perilous ride this was!
ABWTD is an urban fantasy romance filled with witches, vampires, zombies, and warlocks. We follow two POVs: Sayah, a single mom from a long line of witches, and Dom, a vampire trying to find the answer/cure for all the zombie vamps taking over the US. When Dom is given the task to kill Sayah, he finds that doing so is not so easy as his previous missions.
Sayah is an independent mama who has conquered miscarriage, deaths of loved ones, and cancer. When she gets the phone call that her mother and stepfather have passed in a fire, Sayah’s world is turned upside down as a past that has been hidden from her is revealed. She and Dom come together to find the answers to her new power and to save the world. Love blooms but little does Dom know that another man has been looming in Sayah’s dreams.
Tropes you may find in ABWTD are grief/cancer/different ability rep, urban fantasy, adult twilight vibes, love triangle, plot twists, hidden identities, world building, forced proximity, touch her and 🪦, Insta-love vibes, vampires/witches/zombies and more, morally grey MMCs, light vs dark, single mom, high language, spice 3/5, and a cliffy that hurts a bit.
I’m so thankful for this gifted arc from @inara_gage and I’m so so excited to see where she takes us next in book two!
What a dark and perilous ride this was!
ABWTD is an urban fantasy romance filled with witches, vampires, zombies, and warlocks. We follow two POVs: Sayah, a single mom from a long line of witches, and Dom, a vampire trying to find the answer/cure for all the zombie vamps taking over the US. When Dom is given the task to kill Sayah, he finds that doing so is not so easy as his previous missions.
Sayah is an independent mama who has conquered miscarriage, deaths of loved ones, and cancer. When she gets the phone call that her mother and stepfather have passed in a fire, Sayah’s world is turned upside down as a past that has been hidden from her is revealed. She and Dom come together to find the answers to her new power and to save the world. Love blooms but little does Dom know that another man has been looming in Sayah’s dreams.
Tropes you may find in ABWTD are grief/cancer/different ability rep, urban fantasy, adult twilight vibes, love triangle, plot twists, hidden identities, world building, forced proximity, touch her and 🪦, Insta-love vibes, vampires/witches/zombies and more, morally grey MMCs, light vs dark, single mom, high language, spice 3/5, and a cliffy that hurts a bit.
I’m so thankful for this gifted arc from @inara_gage and I’m so so excited to see where she takes us next in book two!
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