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Source of Elementra #3
Gift from the Nexus
Five gifts, three elements, and two bonds at my disposal, yet I find myself chained to a table in my father’s clutches.
Unfortunately, he’s not the only nightmare here that’s ready to take a piece out of me.
As enemies make themselves known and unexpected allies join the fight, I’m left standing at multiple crossroads.
I laid a path for my men and my family to follow so they could find me. But I never would have guessed that a path was being laid for me to find myself.
When the past sheds some light on which way to go, I can’t help but wonder, what new secrets will I have to keep? Which ones can I let be known?
Elementra knows. Past, present, and future. She’ll show me.
Welcome back to the realm of Elementra where you'll find, magic, shifters, possessive/overly protective men, bonds, secrets, and so much more! Gift from the Nexus is a full-length reverse harem Romantasy novel and book 3 of the ongoing series, so expect a cliffhanger of some degree. It may have triggers for some as it has intense, flashback and real time mental and physical abuse to our FMC (not from our MMC’s), violence, delicious angst, steamy situations, gritty language, and other adult situations. Please read content warning in the book. Intended for ages 18+.
Unfortunately, he’s not the only nightmare here that’s ready to take a piece out of me.
As enemies make themselves known and unexpected allies join the fight, I’m left standing at multiple crossroads.
I laid a path for my men and my family to follow so they could find me. But I never would have guessed that a path was being laid for me to find myself.
When the past sheds some light on which way to go, I can’t help but wonder, what new secrets will I have to keep? Which ones can I let be known?
Elementra knows. Past, present, and future. She’ll show me.
Welcome back to the realm of Elementra where you'll find, magic, shifters, possessive/overly protective men, bonds, secrets, and so much more! Gift from the Nexus is a full-length reverse harem Romantasy novel and book 3 of the ongoing series, so expect a cliffhanger of some degree. It may have triggers for some as it has intense, flashback and real time mental and physical abuse to our FMC (not from our MMC’s), violence, delicious angst, steamy situations, gritty language, and other adult situations. Please read content warning in the book. Intended for ages 18+.
529 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2024
About the author
Willa Rae
12 books295 followersWilla Rae is a debut indie author trying to bring the magical and nonmagical, wild, crazy, and questionable stories she creates in her mind to you.
Her list of WIP’s is a mile long which fuels her coffee, reading, and fictional men addiction.
So stay tuned and join Willa on her journey as she explores her life as a romance author!
Her list of WIP’s is a mile long which fuels her coffee, reading, and fictional men addiction.
So stay tuned and join Willa on her journey as she explores her life as a romance author!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
April 28, 2025
The author set up the h with a very traumatic life but doesn't seem to want to deal with a character that is in fact traumatized. In the book 1 and 2 the h would have panic attacks. She didn't have one panic attack in this book. She doesn't seem to have any sort of problem with intimacy with her Nexus men. Yet her only experience with intimacy before them was being violent raped over and over again. So, the only type of sex she knew was by being repeatedly being beaten, tortured and raped yet is just fine with intimacy. I mean no hang-ups what-so-ever. No problem with any position. No problem with being bound, tied, spanked. Seriously?! NOPE!! I definitely don't buy this. The h doesn't see a therapist, talk to a counselor. In fact not once was a mental health professional even mentioned.
It's like the author wanted the trauma to have something to write about but now wants a character that is heathly and trauma free.
I saw more and more similarities between J. Bree's series "The Bonds That Tie" and this one, especially with the men in the harem.
-Draken vs Gage both shift into a dragon, both are the playful, joyful, friendly character and the youngest man in the harem.
-Tillman vs Gryphon: both lead tactical team/EF, both can listen into other people's thoughts, both are massively built.
-Caspian vs Nox: Both had a traumatic experience. Both have powers in darkness aka shadows. Both are the scholars of the group; both are originally distrustful of the h and the last to bond.
-Constance vs North: Both are leaders in their world/community, both lookout for the group. Both are uber controlling. Both are the oldest member of the group.
I think they might be the same age as their counterpart. They definitely are the same in terms of who is oldest, 2nd oldest, youngest etc.
There is a big hint at the end that no one should actually need since it was already pretty obvious.
It's like the author wanted the trauma to have something to write about but now wants a character that is heathly and trauma free.
I saw more and more similarities between J. Bree's series "The Bonds That Tie" and this one, especially with the men in the harem.
-Draken vs Gage both shift into a dragon, both are the playful, joyful, friendly character and the youngest man in the harem.
-Tillman vs Gryphon: both lead tactical team/EF, both can listen into other people's thoughts, both are massively built.
-Caspian vs Nox: Both had a traumatic experience. Both have powers in darkness aka shadows. Both are the scholars of the group; both are originally distrustful of the h and the last to bond.
-Constance vs North: Both are leaders in their world/community, both lookout for the group. Both are uber controlling. Both are the oldest member of the group.
I think they might be the same age as their counterpart. They definitely are the same in terms of who is oldest, 2nd oldest, youngest etc.
There is a big hint at the end that no one should actually need since it was already pretty obvious.
October 11, 2025
This was SO much better than the last book. I don't have much more to say other than it is worth getting through the bits I struggled with to get to this one. That's all my sleep-deprived brain has to offer right now.
September 25, 2024
Great book Spoiler alert
Great 3rd book. I might spoil it for some but I’m gonna say it anyways. I’m really glad she wasn’t in the bad guys hands for to long. There was a ton of torture just to inflict pain, but throughout it all, Willow kept a calm head, played down her powers and strength which I think was exactly what she needed in order to break free. Donald her rapist husband that she was sold too from her dad now has invisible powers, her dad’s power was also explained, and it explained so much. He gets high from people’s pain, hers especially powers his for weeks at a time. Truly, it was heart breaking to read but she needed information, and information she got. Cece, her friend that taught her by her special tree growing up, is talking her through it all through her memoria stone. It’s still not explained who Cece is, but Lykan her blood brother knows who he is even if he chose to have his memory removed. Willow saw the event where her mother and nexus was found when he was just a boy, and CeCe was there to take care of him. I thought maybe Cece was in her mother’s nexus, but if that was the case he would have died too. I want it to be Gastors other Guardian, since he disappeared. But no one has brought up this characters name nor does Willow ever say his name Cece to Gastor.
When Jamie (Oakley’s nexus member, who is also Willows Perfecta anima-sister bond) walked away from them all when he heard his printer dinging that some heavy news was going to be brought to light but it was the best kind of news. She’s got a brother and it’s no wonder they always felt comfortable around each other. Each book shies more n more away from the academy and more towards her saving the realm because she is Elementra’s favourite. She has her own Sight gift, she has all 4 elements, earth, wind, water and fire, then each of the guys secret special ability, Corentine’s blinding bright, Caspian’s shadows, Draken’s dragon shifting, and Tillmans mind transference, along with Oakley’s element of finding people if their taken, along with Gastors as well, I think it has to do with knowledge. She’s got powers upon powers and seems to adjust really quickly having them and using them with ease. Now that they all bonded, thank god, as it feels like it took forever, they are all better prepared to protect people. The relief she felt when her father Franklin died after she killed him, I felt it too. What he put her through growing up, was really hard to read, all her flashbacks, including the current torture she was put through the 20% of the book broke my heart. She’s so kind, caring, loving when she never had a parental figure in her life to show her that, Cece had removed the memories of them from her so she didn’t remember that person either growing up. It was the perfect time for her to kill him after he dropped a truth bomb on her. Well it was her “grandfather”, the grand Summan Master. No names were released, but they had a feeling maybe he was related to one of the blood families that fought to be the ruler before Corentines grandmothers nexus won. We also learned how special Willows blood is, alongside her mother and her grandmother. Willow is able to free the Keeper, the Vampire lord from being tethered to the Summan Master, breaking the silver cord the Summan master wrapped around his neck binding the keeper to the Summan Master. It’s also learned that Caspians torturer when he was 15 and taken, tried to have the Keeper perform a mating bind on him but it wouldn’t take, which Caspian never thought about and had forgotten amongst the many other torture he went through but he remembered after mating with Willow. The Keeper recognized him, and Willow threw us a curveball! Her visions aren’t prevalent to us anymore so the reader gets surprised along with her men when things come to pass, but Draken is the keepers Son! Say WHAT! Dreicer the keeper, doesn’t immediately recognize him until
Willow tells him. She saw the memory where they Summan master left a female for him to bond with but he couldn’t help the Summan master have more control over the people he loves so he let her go. Turns out, she was pregnant, with Draken. Who we learned in the first book how he was found wandering by a farmer who took him in, he was a toddler and after he got to preteens, he was the beating bag of the farmer. Beating him black and blue when he got drunk, which is how his gift came out in a blaze of glory, lighting the hay he was suppose to bring to market and sell but Draken panicked and grew into a dragon. Which took off and ate the drunken douche farmer. That’s when the guys found him. Crazy. I feel like the story we were told how Willows mom getting re captured because she saved a kid, that’s gonna be one of her guys too. There’s all these Easter eggs in each book and this one ties them all together. I re read the first 2 books before reading this one, this review will allow me to read the next one without re reading the first 2 books, when 5th comes out in Dec.
Great 3rd book. I might spoil it for some but I’m gonna say it anyways. I’m really glad she wasn’t in the bad guys hands for to long. There was a ton of torture just to inflict pain, but throughout it all, Willow kept a calm head, played down her powers and strength which I think was exactly what she needed in order to break free. Donald her rapist husband that she was sold too from her dad now has invisible powers, her dad’s power was also explained, and it explained so much. He gets high from people’s pain, hers especially powers his for weeks at a time. Truly, it was heart breaking to read but she needed information, and information she got. Cece, her friend that taught her by her special tree growing up, is talking her through it all through her memoria stone. It’s still not explained who Cece is, but Lykan her blood brother knows who he is even if he chose to have his memory removed. Willow saw the event where her mother and nexus was found when he was just a boy, and CeCe was there to take care of him. I thought maybe Cece was in her mother’s nexus, but if that was the case he would have died too. I want it to be Gastors other Guardian, since he disappeared. But no one has brought up this characters name nor does Willow ever say his name Cece to Gastor.
When Jamie (Oakley’s nexus member, who is also Willows Perfecta anima-sister bond) walked away from them all when he heard his printer dinging that some heavy news was going to be brought to light but it was the best kind of news. She’s got a brother and it’s no wonder they always felt comfortable around each other. Each book shies more n more away from the academy and more towards her saving the realm because she is Elementra’s favourite. She has her own Sight gift, she has all 4 elements, earth, wind, water and fire, then each of the guys secret special ability, Corentine’s blinding bright, Caspian’s shadows, Draken’s dragon shifting, and Tillmans mind transference, along with Oakley’s element of finding people if their taken, along with Gastors as well, I think it has to do with knowledge. She’s got powers upon powers and seems to adjust really quickly having them and using them with ease. Now that they all bonded, thank god, as it feels like it took forever, they are all better prepared to protect people. The relief she felt when her father Franklin died after she killed him, I felt it too. What he put her through growing up, was really hard to read, all her flashbacks, including the current torture she was put through the 20% of the book broke my heart. She’s so kind, caring, loving when she never had a parental figure in her life to show her that, Cece had removed the memories of them from her so she didn’t remember that person either growing up. It was the perfect time for her to kill him after he dropped a truth bomb on her. Well it was her “grandfather”, the grand Summan Master. No names were released, but they had a feeling maybe he was related to one of the blood families that fought to be the ruler before Corentines grandmothers nexus won. We also learned how special Willows blood is, alongside her mother and her grandmother. Willow is able to free the Keeper, the Vampire lord from being tethered to the Summan Master, breaking the silver cord the Summan master wrapped around his neck binding the keeper to the Summan Master. It’s also learned that Caspians torturer when he was 15 and taken, tried to have the Keeper perform a mating bind on him but it wouldn’t take, which Caspian never thought about and had forgotten amongst the many other torture he went through but he remembered after mating with Willow. The Keeper recognized him, and Willow threw us a curveball! Her visions aren’t prevalent to us anymore so the reader gets surprised along with her men when things come to pass, but Draken is the keepers Son! Say WHAT! Dreicer the keeper, doesn’t immediately recognize him until
Willow tells him. She saw the memory where they Summan master left a female for him to bond with but he couldn’t help the Summan master have more control over the people he loves so he let her go. Turns out, she was pregnant, with Draken. Who we learned in the first book how he was found wandering by a farmer who took him in, he was a toddler and after he got to preteens, he was the beating bag of the farmer. Beating him black and blue when he got drunk, which is how his gift came out in a blaze of glory, lighting the hay he was suppose to bring to market and sell but Draken panicked and grew into a dragon. Which took off and ate the drunken douche farmer. That’s when the guys found him. Crazy. I feel like the story we were told how Willows mom getting re captured because she saved a kid, that’s gonna be one of her guys too. There’s all these Easter eggs in each book and this one ties them all together. I re read the first 2 books before reading this one, this review will allow me to read the next one without re reading the first 2 books, when 5th comes out in Dec.
July 2, 2026
4 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Gift from the Nexus☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
🔮₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ THOUGHTS ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊🔮
This was honestly so jam packed with so much information, but the book itself was so entertaining, and I never found it slow for a second. It did take me a little bit longer to read this book, but I'm not in a reading slump. It's just the fact that I really wanted to soak in this series because I genuinely love it, and it's such a comfort for me because I love all the characters. They are such a huge found family, and the fact that they've all gotten closer and that she has more family every single time just makes me so happy. I love how powerful she is, how she has people around her to back her up who are proud of her, and how this is such a great series that supports women being strong in a matriarchal society. It's just so amazing to see how she has people in her support system who truly admire her, want her to succeed, and would do anything for her.
I actually love the addition that Keeper was Draken's father, and honestly it came as a surprise, but I connected the dots literally a few minutes before it was announced. It was just so adorable because now he adores Willow, literally calls her "Adored," and really treats her like a daughter. It's the sweetest thing ever, so I can't wait for that relationship to grow with Draken as well and for him to really have family because he's been alone his entire life. Now I want him to get that closure and that parental bond that he's craved for so long. That boy is adored.
Willow killing her father was so well deserved and the ending that needed to happen because she has been through hell and back. I'm glad that she gave him the ending that she did, and she did it on her terms and how she wanted because, at the end of the day, she was the victim of two years of abuse by this man. I'm glad that nobody else took control and tortured him in the way that they wanted to. Instead, she took justice into her own hands in the way she believed his ending should be. I think that was just perfect. Sure, he deserved way worse, but at the end of the day Willow was right. He was never going to feel that pain. He was always going to shut it out, so it wasn't going to be gratifying to anybody, especially her, because he was never going to feel it to the same extent that she did. I think that was just a perfect ending.
[Draken]
He was on the verge of clawing out his heart because for a moment he felt Willow's pain, and then she blocked him out. Draken 😭 This beginning part and the first half were so painful, and keep in mind, she had only been gone for half a day. Within those moments away from her bond, she was tortured, bitten, mutilated, and it was just horrific to see what her father had put her through for years. The fact that she went back to this to sacrifice herself to save so many people, especially the people closest to her. She is so selfless. The fact that Draken himself felt that pain and was shutting down was also terrible to read because that boy was going through it. He felt so terrible experiencing her pain that he was actually willing to die alongside her because he didn't want her to be alone, so he said goodbye to his brothers because he genuinely thought that was the end for them.
I'm also in tears at the part where her bond mark to him was severely destroyed and mutilated, and she didn't think she could ever get that back because it was ruined. He just reassured her that she was still beautiful and that the mark didn't matter because it was something that happened between them, and that could never be taken away. She was just terrified that he would see her differently, and he never did because he's truly so, so special, and he adores her so much that he didn't care about the mark or what it looked like. He just wanted her.
Again, this was so evil!!!! Truly, her father had done the cruelest shit ever, but the fact that he took a knife and destroyed her mark over and over again was truly diabolical because Draken felt that same pain. He felt her going through it, and he was distraught. Now Draken is one of the biggest sunshine characters you will probably read in a series 🥹. He is bubbly. He loves to make everybody laugh. He loves making people happy, and he has this happy go lucky, golden retriever sunshine attitude. He's also used to masking, but for the first time in his life, he feels like he doesn't need to because Willow accepts all versions of him. She's understanding and patient, and she talks him through everything. She tells him that he's loved and reassures him, and they really match each other so well.
As the only two dragons of their kind, they are special and have a unique bond because only the two of them can experience that, and they just understand each other on a different level 💗💫✨. I think they have such a unique, beautiful relationship and dynamic that I absolutely adore. He will never change because he has been this way since book one, and we're now in book three. He continues to be this huge support system who loves touch, physical affection, and attention, but he also explains that he's been this way because people were terrified of him as a dragon when he was younger, and he had to prove himself so they wouldn't be afraid. So he became this version of himself who's just happy all the time, even when he doesn't feel like it, because he doesn't want people to view him differently. I honestly adore Draken, and I really think that he's the purest soul in the series. He's just a beautiful, beautiful person with such a great attitude. I love how Willow doesn't expect him to be "on" all the time. She just loves him for him, and they truly have one of my favorite dynamics in the series.🩷🥺💗
[Tillman]
She was trying to reach him, but he had his mind blocked, and she couldn't communicate with him. I CANNOT. One thing about Till is that he loves being in people's business 😭 He just loves reading her mind. He has a power boost now, so he can talk to her and actually send messages into other people's minds because the bond they have has amplified his power too. I just think it's so unique how he makes her stronger 👏🏽😌. He makes her a better person. He pretty much trained her into this version of herself where she can withstand things on her own, even though he doesn't want her to. He's just an all around supportive man, and underneath it all he's a romantic at heart. He truly will do anything for her. It's just so interesting because in book one he was very guarded. He didn't want to trust anybody, and he was very distant, but now he's obsessed as ever. He adores the heck out of her. He loves being with her. Sometimes he wants to neglect his responsibilities just to be around her, but he's genuinely one of her biggest supporters. I feel like he really took it to heart when she was willing to die for him because he would never want to be put in that situation again considering he would die for her. So for her to be willing to sacrifice herself for him was truly something that hit close to home. He was hurt, but at the end of the day it's just because he wants her safe and protected, and he would do anything for her to stay that way.
[Corentin]
She always knows what to say, and the way she describes Core is so HIM to his very being. He is someone who just wants her to be safe. He calls her Princess, and I think that's because she's just the center of his world, and he truly never wants her to be in danger. He's always worried about everybody, including his brothers, and he carries so much pressure to make sure everybody is safe. He also feels a sense of responsibility whenever anything goes wrong, but it's not his fault. I think that's why he distanced himself after she came back because he felt guilty that he should've done something more to protect her. I love how they balance each other out, and she reassures him that he could've done nothing because with her Sight she can't tell people any details because it could change the outcome. Now with the bond settled between them, he's a calmer version of himself, especially because he's also able to be in her thoughts, and the mind bond really settles him. I feel like he's in a much more controlled state where he's not as overwhelmed, but he's always going to be a warrior when it comes to her safety. That's his top priority, keeping her safe. He's always going to punish her if she pushes herself too far, but the FUN kind of punishment.
[Caspian]
He was SA'd when he was kidnapped… he was just a KID. IM SO SICK. Now his wariness and dislike of touch make sense 😕 I hate that it happened to him, but I appreciate that Willow showed him so much love when he was talking about. She let him go at his pace and understood. The fact that he never told anyone but her. I absolutely adore him now, and I feel terrible for judging his character based on book one because, honestly, when you first get to know Cas, he is quite literally anti Willow. He treated her poorly and not the way she deserved, but now that we hear his story and everything he's been through, you really get insight into who he is and what he experienced. No, it doesn't make the way he treated her okay, but at least it gives you an understanding of why it happened and why he felt the way he did. At the end of the day he has good intentions. He was just very guarded and didn't know how to trust anybody. Slowly, their relationship has become so pure. Now he always wants to be with her. He gets irritated by the presence of other people because he just wants alone time with her. He wants to be attached at the hip with her. He's very possessive, very clingy, and he protects her with his shadows, which I think is the cutest thing ever. He puts her first all the time, and if it came down to anybody else or her, he would pick her every single time.
He said love is a mediocre term for what he feels for her omg 😕😭 DUDE. He's come so far. The way that he describes his love for her is so special because he puts it into words beyond just "love." When they bonded, it was a pure white light that came out of them, and it just shows the extent of how deeply he loves and cares for her. It was such a beautiful moment between them because they truly got to realize how far they've come from where they started. He has been vulnerable, he's expressed how he feels, and he's opened up about his tragic past. They understand each other on a different level, and sometimes they just want a moment between themselves, and that's okay. He wraps them both in his shadows, and it's just the cutest thing ever.
[Found Family]
I'm so happy Lyker is her brother 🥹 I predicted it since the last book because he kept teasing her, and they had a familiarity that couldn't be explained. It makes so much sense. They are special to me!!! I actually love that Arian, Kyan, Ry, and the other Nexus members have become such a strong family because that's her family now. She's been alone her entire life, so now that she has people in her corner, it's just so lovely to see that she has so many people who love, care for, and adore her and would do anything for her. Truly, she's been on her own her entire life, and now she has so many people who trust her wholeheartedly and would do anything for her. I love that she has family. She is my beautiful girl. I love and adore her.
🔮₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ OVERALL ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊🔮
The series is so special to me. I've been reading it for a week now, and I really feel like these are my comfort characters. I truly hope that she gets some type of closure soon because I just want her to live in peace. I honestly thought she was pregnant for a second because Draken was being very suspicious, but it was just because he realized that her bond was looking for their souls so they finally got to become one, and it was just so perfect.
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Gift from the Nexus☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
🔮₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ THOUGHTS ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊🔮
This was honestly so jam packed with so much information, but the book itself was so entertaining, and I never found it slow for a second. It did take me a little bit longer to read this book, but I'm not in a reading slump. It's just the fact that I really wanted to soak in this series because I genuinely love it, and it's such a comfort for me because I love all the characters. They are such a huge found family, and the fact that they've all gotten closer and that she has more family every single time just makes me so happy. I love how powerful she is, how she has people around her to back her up who are proud of her, and how this is such a great series that supports women being strong in a matriarchal society. It's just so amazing to see how she has people in her support system who truly admire her, want her to succeed, and would do anything for her.
I actually love the addition that Keeper was Draken's father, and honestly it came as a surprise, but I connected the dots literally a few minutes before it was announced. It was just so adorable because now he adores Willow, literally calls her "Adored," and really treats her like a daughter. It's the sweetest thing ever, so I can't wait for that relationship to grow with Draken as well and for him to really have family because he's been alone his entire life. Now I want him to get that closure and that parental bond that he's craved for so long. That boy is adored.
Willow killing her father was so well deserved and the ending that needed to happen because she has been through hell and back. I'm glad that she gave him the ending that she did, and she did it on her terms and how she wanted because, at the end of the day, she was the victim of two years of abuse by this man. I'm glad that nobody else took control and tortured him in the way that they wanted to. Instead, she took justice into her own hands in the way she believed his ending should be. I think that was just perfect. Sure, he deserved way worse, but at the end of the day Willow was right. He was never going to feel that pain. He was always going to shut it out, so it wasn't going to be gratifying to anybody, especially her, because he was never going to feel it to the same extent that she did. I think that was just a perfect ending.
[Draken]
“And Draken… he's begging her to let him in, let him feel everything she's feeling. Every one of his growls rumbles in my own chest.”
He was on the verge of clawing out his heart because for a moment he felt Willow's pain, and then she blocked him out. Draken 😭 This beginning part and the first half were so painful, and keep in mind, she had only been gone for half a day. Within those moments away from her bond, she was tortured, bitten, mutilated, and it was just horrific to see what her father had put her through for years. The fact that she went back to this to sacrifice herself to save so many people, especially the people closest to her. She is so selfless. The fact that Draken himself felt that pain and was shutting down was also terrible to read because that boy was going through it. He felt so terrible experiencing her pain that he was actually willing to die alongside her because he didn't want her to be alone, so he said goodbye to his brothers because he genuinely thought that was the end for them.
I'm also in tears at the part where her bond mark to him was severely destroyed and mutilated, and she didn't think she could ever get that back because it was ruined. He just reassured her that she was still beautiful and that the mark didn't matter because it was something that happened between them, and that could never be taken away. She was just terrified that he would see her differently, and he never did because he's truly so, so special, and he adores her so much that he didn't care about the mark or what it looked like. He just wanted her.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Willow. You are and always will be my mate, my Primary. Mark or no mark. I don't care what it looks like. If you want, we'll mark me the same so we can match. I don't care. What I care about is you and only you. You're the fire that feeds my soul,” he swears, laying his hand on my hip, rubbing soft circles on the torn and damaged skin.
Again, this was so evil!!!! Truly, her father had done the cruelest shit ever, but the fact that he took a knife and destroyed her mark over and over again was truly diabolical because Draken felt that same pain. He felt her going through it, and he was distraught. Now Draken is one of the biggest sunshine characters you will probably read in a series 🥹. He is bubbly. He loves to make everybody laugh. He loves making people happy, and he has this happy go lucky, golden retriever sunshine attitude. He's also used to masking, but for the first time in his life, he feels like he doesn't need to because Willow accepts all versions of him. She's understanding and patient, and she talks him through everything. She tells him that he's loved and reassures him, and they really match each other so well.
As the only two dragons of their kind, they are special and have a unique bond because only the two of them can experience that, and they just understand each other on a different level 💗💫✨. I think they have such a unique, beautiful relationship and dynamic that I absolutely adore. He will never change because he has been this way since book one, and we're now in book three. He continues to be this huge support system who loves touch, physical affection, and attention, but he also explains that he's been this way because people were terrified of him as a dragon when he was younger, and he had to prove himself so they wouldn't be afraid. So he became this version of himself who's just happy all the time, even when he doesn't feel like it, because he doesn't want people to view him differently. I honestly adore Draken, and I really think that he's the purest soul in the series. He's just a beautiful, beautiful person with such a great attitude. I love how Willow doesn't expect him to be "on" all the time. She just loves him for him, and they truly have one of my favorite dynamics in the series.🩷🥺💗
[Tillman]
She was trying to reach him, but he had his mind blocked, and she couldn't communicate with him. I CANNOT. One thing about Till is that he loves being in people's business 😭 He just loves reading her mind. He has a power boost now, so he can talk to her and actually send messages into other people's minds because the bond they have has amplified his power too. I just think it's so unique how he makes her stronger 👏🏽😌. He makes her a better person. He pretty much trained her into this version of herself where she can withstand things on her own, even though he doesn't want her to. He's just an all around supportive man, and underneath it all he's a romantic at heart. He truly will do anything for her. It's just so interesting because in book one he was very guarded. He didn't want to trust anybody, and he was very distant, but now he's obsessed as ever. He adores the heck out of her. He loves being with her. Sometimes he wants to neglect his responsibilities just to be around her, but he's genuinely one of her biggest supporters. I feel like he really took it to heart when she was willing to die for him because he would never want to be put in that situation again considering he would die for her. So for her to be willing to sacrifice herself for him was truly something that hit close to home. He was hurt, but at the end of the day it's just because he wants her safe and protected, and he would do anything for her to stay that way.
[Corentin]
“He listens to all my needs and goes above and beyond to make sure I have everything I could possibly need or want. He's my guiding light, starting from the moment I open my eyes in the morning till well past the time they close at night.”
She always knows what to say, and the way she describes Core is so HIM to his very being. He is someone who just wants her to be safe. He calls her Princess, and I think that's because she's just the center of his world, and he truly never wants her to be in danger. He's always worried about everybody, including his brothers, and he carries so much pressure to make sure everybody is safe. He also feels a sense of responsibility whenever anything goes wrong, but it's not his fault. I think that's why he distanced himself after she came back because he felt guilty that he should've done something more to protect her. I love how they balance each other out, and she reassures him that he could've done nothing because with her Sight she can't tell people any details because it could change the outcome. Now with the bond settled between them, he's a calmer version of himself, especially because he's also able to be in her thoughts, and the mind bond really settles him. I feel like he's in a much more controlled state where he's not as overwhelmed, but he's always going to be a warrior when it comes to her safety. That's his top priority, keeping her safe. He's always going to punish her if she pushes herself too far, but the FUN kind of punishment.
[Caspian]
“You've scraped together the broken pieces of me that had lain scattered about and now I want them whole. I want them whole for you. Only you. For eternity.”
He was SA'd when he was kidnapped… he was just a KID. IM SO SICK. Now his wariness and dislike of touch make sense 😕 I hate that it happened to him, but I appreciate that Willow showed him so much love when he was talking about. She let him go at his pace and understood. The fact that he never told anyone but her. I absolutely adore him now, and I feel terrible for judging his character based on book one because, honestly, when you first get to know Cas, he is quite literally anti Willow. He treated her poorly and not the way she deserved, but now that we hear his story and everything he's been through, you really get insight into who he is and what he experienced. No, it doesn't make the way he treated her okay, but at least it gives you an understanding of why it happened and why he felt the way he did. At the end of the day he has good intentions. He was just very guarded and didn't know how to trust anybody. Slowly, their relationship has become so pure. Now he always wants to be with her. He gets irritated by the presence of other people because he just wants alone time with her. He wants to be attached at the hip with her. He's very possessive, very clingy, and he protects her with his shadows, which I think is the cutest thing ever. He puts her first all the time, and if it came down to anybody else or her, he would pick her every single time.
He said love is a mediocre term for what he feels for her omg 😕😭 DUDE. He's come so far. The way that he describes his love for her is so special because he puts it into words beyond just "love." When they bonded, it was a pure white light that came out of them, and it just shows the extent of how deeply he loves and cares for her. It was such a beautiful moment between them because they truly got to realize how far they've come from where they started. He has been vulnerable, he's expressed how he feels, and he's opened up about his tragic past. They understand each other on a different level, and sometimes they just want a moment between themselves, and that's okay. He wraps them both in his shadows, and it's just the cutest thing ever.
[Found Family]
I'm so happy Lyker is her brother 🥹 I predicted it since the last book because he kept teasing her, and they had a familiarity that couldn't be explained. It makes so much sense. They are special to me!!! I actually love that Arian, Kyan, Ry, and the other Nexus members have become such a strong family because that's her family now. She's been alone her entire life, so now that she has people in her corner, it's just so lovely to see that she has so many people who love, care for, and adore her and would do anything for her. Truly, she's been on her own her entire life, and now she has so many people who trust her wholeheartedly and would do anything for her. I love that she has family. She is my beautiful girl. I love and adore her.
🔮₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ OVERALL ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ💜ෆ˚₊🔮
The series is so special to me. I've been reading it for a week now, and I really feel like these are my comfort characters. I truly hope that she gets some type of closure soon because I just want her to live in peace. I honestly thought she was pregnant for a second because Draken was being very suspicious, but it was just because he realized that her bond was looking for their souls so they finally got to become one, and it was just so perfect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2024
There is nothing new or super unique here, yet I devoured all three books in a matter of days, so I guess you could say I'm hooked.
Reading some reviews about the first book, I noticed some complaints about the writing. I wouldn't say it's perfect, but not everyone can write beautifully structured prose. Where this truly author shines is digging deep into character and exploring how the past continues to shape character long after you've moved on.
I still find Willow very likeable. She can act childish at times with the clapping and being carried around like a toddler, but then I remind myself how she grew up love-starved and touch-deprived, and who could really blame her for a little regressing? She's one of the more empathetic characters I've come across, always willing to look at things from another's POV. I love that she's compassionate and can factor in when somebody's bad choices are motivated by desperation. But she's no doormat. She has just the right amount of ruthlessness when it comes to those who can't be redeemed. She does have a tendency to play martyr, but only when no other options present themselves. I also like how she keeps collecting family. I saw the Lyker thing coming a mile away, but I was glad when it was revealed. Hope to see more of them bonding in future books. All in all her growth remained consistent. It was satisfying to see her stand up to the men who terrified her at the beginning of the series, and even better to see her prevail over them.
Plotwise, there was steady momentum. We learned that the rebels and the cult from Willow's past were one and the same, and that their number one objective was to get her back. On a personal level, Willow continued her magical education, dealt with terrifying visions she couldn't talk about, planned for surviving these upcoming incidents and solidified her bonds with her Nexus. The pacing was fast, but never so fast that she neglected her relationship with Oakly or Gaster.
The worldbuilding showed a marked improvement. The author did a good job of working in details about the realms, the history of Elementra, the politics, the portals, and The Mastery without it feeling like clunky exposition. The magic system is interesting, if a little unsophisticated. Willow is incredibly over-powered, so that there's no question of a doubt whether she can defeat anyone she's up against. But at least each level-up was introduced slowly with time for her to practice.
By the end of the third book, the romantic storyline was locked in, but the journey to get there was often frustrating. It felt like I waited forever for Willow and Caspian to complete their bond. It seemed like every time he and Willow were having a moment, Draken would swoop in and steal her away, and every time I turned a page and saw that the next POV would be Draken's or Tillman's, I wanted to scream, knowing thee would be no progress on the Caspian front. Note to authors: when your slow burn makes me resent the other characters, it's too damn slow. Still, each relationship found ways to be meaningful on its own as well as through the overall group.
Any author can pluck a few traumatic events from thin air and call it a tragic backstory. I appreciated how this author went to lengths to show how their painful pasts still effected and influenced their present-day behavior.
Boyfriend ranking:
1. Caspian - always. It took forever for them to get there, but it was oh so satisfying once it happened. We' were given a few hints about the woman who hurt him, but I never expected it to go that dark. It was so hard seeing it through the eyes of a fifteen year old boy who had no idea what was happening or why. Not only do I love him best, but I love him for Willow. Their story is beautiful to me in how he's endured much of the same things and instinctively knows what she needs most at any given time, and when to challenge her to be upfront.
2. Corentin - I ached for him so much. These books beautifully illustrate how he became the reserved control freak we meet at the beginning. Subconsciously, he believes that he could've rescued Caspian faster, prevented his aunt from being killed, and stopped his uncle from dying, if only he was there when they needed him. He wasn't there because he magic was out of control and destructive, and he lost control of it because of the fear and helplessness he was feeling. It's easy to see how he would draw a straight line between emotion and tragedy, and would spend his life learning how to regulate his feelings. Or at least trying to. I really like and connect with his character.
3. Draken - Here I was, being thoroughly annoyed with him for being a shallow and possessive attention whore who doesn't even understand how annoying it is for him to use "little wanderer" in every third sentence. And then he had to go and flip the script on me! There's a scene where he describes how everyone whispered and looked at him like a monster after he emerged as a dragon. And he goes on to explain how he created this persona of always being over-the-top friendly and happy go lucky so that nobody would be afraid of him. And I just wanted to hug him and cover him with a soft blanket and apologize to him for having mean thoughts. I'd still be happy to never hear "little wanderer" again, though. What's up with that? She doesn't even wander.
4. Tillman - he's warm, he's thoughtful, he designs cute clothing. It's not you, Tillman, it's me.
Reading some reviews about the first book, I noticed some complaints about the writing. I wouldn't say it's perfect, but not everyone can write beautifully structured prose. Where this truly author shines is digging deep into character and exploring how the past continues to shape character long after you've moved on.
I still find Willow very likeable. She can act childish at times with the clapping and being carried around like a toddler, but then I remind myself how she grew up love-starved and touch-deprived, and who could really blame her for a little regressing? She's one of the more empathetic characters I've come across, always willing to look at things from another's POV. I love that she's compassionate and can factor in when somebody's bad choices are motivated by desperation. But she's no doormat. She has just the right amount of ruthlessness when it comes to those who can't be redeemed. She does have a tendency to play martyr, but only when no other options present themselves. I also like how she keeps collecting family. I saw the Lyker thing coming a mile away, but I was glad when it was revealed. Hope to see more of them bonding in future books. All in all her growth remained consistent. It was satisfying to see her stand up to the men who terrified her at the beginning of the series, and even better to see her prevail over them.
Plotwise, there was steady momentum. We learned that the rebels and the cult from Willow's past were one and the same, and that their number one objective was to get her back. On a personal level, Willow continued her magical education, dealt with terrifying visions she couldn't talk about, planned for surviving these upcoming incidents and solidified her bonds with her Nexus. The pacing was fast, but never so fast that she neglected her relationship with Oakly or Gaster.
The worldbuilding showed a marked improvement. The author did a good job of working in details about the realms, the history of Elementra, the politics, the portals, and The Mastery without it feeling like clunky exposition. The magic system is interesting, if a little unsophisticated. Willow is incredibly over-powered, so that there's no question of a doubt whether she can defeat anyone she's up against. But at least each level-up was introduced slowly with time for her to practice.
By the end of the third book, the romantic storyline was locked in, but the journey to get there was often frustrating. It felt like I waited forever for Willow and Caspian to complete their bond. It seemed like every time he and Willow were having a moment, Draken would swoop in and steal her away, and every time I turned a page and saw that the next POV would be Draken's or Tillman's, I wanted to scream, knowing thee would be no progress on the Caspian front. Note to authors: when your slow burn makes me resent the other characters, it's too damn slow. Still, each relationship found ways to be meaningful on its own as well as through the overall group.
Any author can pluck a few traumatic events from thin air and call it a tragic backstory. I appreciated how this author went to lengths to show how their painful pasts still effected and influenced their present-day behavior.
Boyfriend ranking:
1. Caspian - always. It took forever for them to get there, but it was oh so satisfying once it happened. We' were given a few hints about the woman who hurt him, but I never expected it to go that dark. It was so hard seeing it through the eyes of a fifteen year old boy who had no idea what was happening or why. Not only do I love him best, but I love him for Willow. Their story is beautiful to me in how he's endured much of the same things and instinctively knows what she needs most at any given time, and when to challenge her to be upfront.
2. Corentin - I ached for him so much. These books beautifully illustrate how he became the reserved control freak we meet at the beginning. Subconsciously, he believes that he could've rescued Caspian faster, prevented his aunt from being killed, and stopped his uncle from dying, if only he was there when they needed him. He wasn't there because he magic was out of control and destructive, and he lost control of it because of the fear and helplessness he was feeling. It's easy to see how he would draw a straight line between emotion and tragedy, and would spend his life learning how to regulate his feelings. Or at least trying to. I really like and connect with his character.
3. Draken - Here I was, being thoroughly annoyed with him for being a shallow and possessive attention whore who doesn't even understand how annoying it is for him to use "little wanderer" in every third sentence. And then he had to go and flip the script on me! There's a scene where he describes how everyone whispered and looked at him like a monster after he emerged as a dragon. And he goes on to explain how he created this persona of always being over-the-top friendly and happy go lucky so that nobody would be afraid of him. And I just wanted to hug him and cover him with a soft blanket and apologize to him for having mean thoughts. I'd still be happy to never hear "little wanderer" again, though. What's up with that? She doesn't even wander.
4. Tillman - he's warm, he's thoughtful, he designs cute clothing. It's not you, Tillman, it's me.
June 10, 2026
It's funny ... Books these days are usually 1/2 a book. This series though, I feel like each book had natural finishes about 1/2 way through and could have easily been 2 books.
That being said, I enjoyed this series. I felt like the characters were well developed and the story had a good plot and good flow. I really enjoyed the found family and the devoted mates.
My one complaint was that the audio narrator made the MFC sound like she was always in the middle of a panic attack. *I used to really like Bridgette Bordeaux, but lately all her female characters sound like panicked scared little females, no matter the situation.
That being said, I enjoyed this series. I felt like the characters were well developed and the story had a good plot and good flow. I really enjoyed the found family and the devoted mates.
My one complaint was that the audio narrator made the MFC sound like she was always in the middle of a panic attack. *I used to really like Bridgette Bordeaux, but lately all her female characters sound like panicked scared little females, no matter the situation.
September 21, 2024
Have tissues ready when you read this book! Gah it was just so good, i couldn’t put it down! I think i need to start calling willa the queen of cliffhangers 🙈😂. This series just gets better and better. Bring on book 4!
November 21, 2024
A good book
I had trouble continuing reading 2/3 of the way through the book, the pace was slow and I thought I wasn't going to finish the book. But finally after that point, the action started again and the ending was really exciting. To be continued!
I had trouble continuing reading 2/3 of the way through the book, the pace was slow and I thought I wasn't going to finish the book. But finally after that point, the action started again and the ending was really exciting. To be continued!
October 9, 2024
DNF 54%. Book one was great, book two was meh, and book three is just simply boring. I rarely RARELY quit, and, unfortunately, it was one of these instances.
November 20, 2024
Well at least this wasn’t a bad cliffhanger :/ but it was a cliffhanger nonetheless 😔. Even though the chapters are long, I never feel like I’m taking too long to get to the next one. The author does a really good job of keeping you entertained all throughout the book, even in the “low points” … if you can even call them that because something is always happening or there’s always a new piece of key information you get…like the damn ending 😒
I’m glad Caspian’s character is finally developed enough to be ready to bond with Willow after all he’s been through. Also, Draken’s father being revealed in this book was suuucchhh a shock to me, idk if it’s just me but I wasn’t looking for that all.
I think this may be top 3 in fantasy series for me maybe even taking the number 2 spot behind FBAA 🤭 can’t wait to continue this series
I’m glad Caspian’s character is finally developed enough to be ready to bond with Willow after all he’s been through. Also, Draken’s father being revealed in this book was suuucchhh a shock to me, idk if it’s just me but I wasn’t looking for that all.
I think this may be top 3 in fantasy series for me maybe even taking the number 2 spot behind FBAA 🤭 can’t wait to continue this series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2026
(Hoopla audio) More adventure, violence, and action! Sadly, for me, it has gotten too fanciful. Willow just keeps getting more powerful. She gains powers and gifts everytime she is intimate with one of her Nexus ...and by this book she has every element, plus extras and power-ups. She's basically unbeatable and unstoppable. Which makes her harder to relate to. She has no PTSD or anything. The book is entertaining though, I enjoyed it. I just began to feel disconnected as everything became more outlandish. The next book is not available on hoopla and I don't want to pay for it on Audible, so I'm stopping here for now.
February 11, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ dare i say this one is my fav?? wow we really had reveal after reveal in this book. and finally… all the bonds!! i love how after each book the relationships strengthen and grow even more. this truly has such a great found family outside of willow’s nexus. this series is so fun and i can picture everything vividly in my head! onto book four!
September 3, 2025
Cliffhanger sucks
Willow and her guys have grown, as well as the size of Willow’s family. Bonds popping up all over the place. I was glad to see some of my predictions come true.
This one ends on a blatant cliffhanger… like right in the middle of a conversation. I hate those.
See my notes, highlights and commentary on Goodreads. Happy reading.
Willow and her guys have grown, as well as the size of Willow’s family. Bonds popping up all over the place. I was glad to see some of my predictions come true.
This one ends on a blatant cliffhanger… like right in the middle of a conversation. I hate those.
See my notes, highlights and commentary on Goodreads. Happy reading.
Read
May 18, 2026🟢 This is a reverse harem 🟢
December 21, 2024
5 ⭐️
Disclaimer: I’m going to review it without spoilers at the top, then create a line and anything below that line will be spoilers. Do with that what you will.
This book is EXACTLY what I’ve been hoping for this series. I could sense the potential in books 1 and 2, but they both fell sorta flat. But this book? Exactly what I needed. There are still some irritations but they pale in comparison to the rest of the book.
What I liked:
- Right from the start, this book was different than the others. Chapter 1 was insanely powerful and emotional and instantly hooked me.
- The pacing of this book was consistently great. There’s SO much that happens, but I never got a sense of being rushed.
- Many of my questions were answered in this book + soooooo many plot twists and surprises.
- Additional new characters that you can’t help but enjoy.
- New gifts and shifters
- The amount of wholesome content is astounding in this one. I was constantly tearing up.
- This series does found families sooooo well. And Willow just collecting people like they’re pets 😂
- THE ENDING!?!? Holy. Shit.
What I didn’t like:
- Such a little thing but people always give her healing potions as if she doesn’t have a pocket dimension with ones stored in them herself.
- There’s a lot of weeping in this book. Not bad but sometimes it’s happening during high-intensity moments and it gives off the “women can’t help themselves from being emotional” vibes kinda vs taking situations seriously.
- I’d really love a map for this book. I struggle to visualize things and I can’t help but be confused about this realm.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT
————————————————————
What I liked:
- Chapter 1. Up until this point, I really didn’t care for Corentin but holy hell was this an intense and emotional chapter. Starting the chapter with a flashback for when Caspian got kidnapped was ingenious and the scene was intense. Them screaming for each other left me with chills. Then going into the men losing their minds, Corentin blaming himself, and him losing control of his powers. Just everything about this first chapter roped me in.
- I typically hate meek/insecure FMCs and candidly haven’t loved Willow for this very reason. With that said, her admitting that she herself (regardless of the men) finds herself ugly with her scars was raw, vulnerable, and powerful. It showcased how insecurities aren’t about other people but instead about how you view yourself. It’s how insecurities should be handled vs just constant validation and then they’re just magically happy and healed.
- The emphasis on Corentin’s new MALE assistant had me laughing. It was such an intentional emphasis and I love Willow’s possessiveness, so it made it all the better. I also loved that you got a little view into why the assistant was chosen.
- Willow’s mom knowing her own outcomes and yet still voluntarily getting captured, raped, etc was intense.
- The flashback vision of her being inside CC and seeing her mom and her Nexus and watching them have to leave Lyker was so heartwrenching 😭 and the storyline of her having an actual family member and not just found family is nice.
- I love that the men are starting to deflect to Willow more and giving her the respect she deserves. She makes last-minute changes to the Forbidden Forest plan and they just lean into it. She makes them go to Lyker to tell him that he’s her brother. She sentences her father to death the way she deems necessary. Homegirl is finally taking action.
- Her making all of them cum at her commend was fucking hot. And her shooting out purple lava while she’s orgasming? Epic.
- I love Dyce. He’s so sweet for a dad and giddy. While also being a super creepy shifter.
- Draken Quote: So my personality isn’t completely fake. It’s definitely been exaggerated in order to fit in better, make people like me more, but I really do enjoy making people laugh, making my little wanderer blush, joking and making the guys uncomfortable from time to time. Now, though, if I don’t want to act a certain way, I don’t have to. // THIS. Authors never showcase this. The human complexity of being yourself but also sometimes pushing it even further just for the sake of people and masking your negative emotions that you should feel comfortable showing and allowed to show. And this being a trait that one of the MMC’s does vs women always just manipulating themselves was so refreshing. It always bothered me that Draken was this simple, happy guy because it felt forced and this validated that and allowed some additional character development.
- Gaster introducing Willow & Oakley as his granddaughters 🥹 He’s such a wholesome additional and I just love him and his eagerness to love them. It’s such a soft love that most books don’t have. Plus I love him calling the guys “boys” or saying “child”
- Caspian’s rape. Again, so many times this is only a female character thing, but this is very real for many men. It was such an intensely emotional scene and I’m glad it was showcased.
- Willow waking up to water in her lungs and drowning was so intense. It was also nice to see that something wasn’t effortless for her for a moment since every other power came with a level of control. I love seeing her men panic too because it just shows how much they truly care and love her.
- Her and Caspian being passed out in bed together and all you can see is his nose peaking out from her hair being sprawled everywhere was such a funny moment.
- Keeper is Draken’s dad!? Was NOT expecting this (maybe I’m just slow?) and it was so good. Plus Keeper just instantly being devoted to him was so cute. I really hope we see more of Keeper in future books because I really am loving him.
- Tanith being a dragon!? Like an actual dragon. I was expecting her to be a human/vampire and I was so confused by Keeper’s love of Draken’s mother while also having a “treasure” and this all came together and made sense. Also, her feeding off knowledge was a cool trait vs food.
- All of their powers growing and how Willow just starts knowing stuff is pretty cool. You see more of sassy her in this book too.
- HOLY. SHIT. The ending had me literally gasping. I loved Aurora’s mouthiness to her men and then she goes and says filia mea? CHILLS.
What I didn’t care for:
- They’re in the middle of a major battle and they just stop to hug and weep? Like wtf. Like these women are powerful and it just seemed illogical.
- Similar to the above, the damsel thing is getting old. Willow crumbles to the ground and sobs and can’t hold herself up when hearing bad news? She’s had a life FULL of trauma and you’re powerful. I know there’s a level of “she’s comfortable with her men and can break down” but it just seems off. I’d like more cold responses because she can dissociate and what not. That’s some real trauma responses.
- The assumption that Lyker was Franklin’s kid vs her mom’s was really confusing and didn’t make a whole lot of sense. I don’t know why but it was just very disruptive and left me sorta scrambling. Especially when her mom had 200 YEARS with her Nexus. Like you didn’t think she was getting her freak on?
- Quote: This charming little cottage appealed to Willow, though, despite its size. Other than the fact she knew her mom lived here, it’s small and cozy. Homely. She wouldn’t want to live somewhere like this permanently. She needs her space so she can have alone time when she wants it, so all of us sharing a room twenty-four seven would never work. // This logic just felt off. It felt like her men (I can’t remember whose chapter this was) were glomming their opinions on her. Everything about Willow is cozy. Yes, she loves material things like her bathroom and her clothes. But it just felt like they were trying to make her seem materialistic or something when I feel like Willow would love a small cottage.
- I’d have liked to see more of a reaction to Caspian’s scars.
- I mentioned it already but the real sizing confuses me. They can fly for 15 minutes and be to the castle? And they make it seem like the Central isn’t that large, meanwhile the castle is massive? Just a minute detail that doesn’t add up fully.
Disclaimer: I’m going to review it without spoilers at the top, then create a line and anything below that line will be spoilers. Do with that what you will.
This book is EXACTLY what I’ve been hoping for this series. I could sense the potential in books 1 and 2, but they both fell sorta flat. But this book? Exactly what I needed. There are still some irritations but they pale in comparison to the rest of the book.
What I liked:
- Right from the start, this book was different than the others. Chapter 1 was insanely powerful and emotional and instantly hooked me.
- The pacing of this book was consistently great. There’s SO much that happens, but I never got a sense of being rushed.
- Many of my questions were answered in this book + soooooo many plot twists and surprises.
- Additional new characters that you can’t help but enjoy.
- New gifts and shifters
- The amount of wholesome content is astounding in this one. I was constantly tearing up.
- This series does found families sooooo well. And Willow just collecting people like they’re pets 😂
- THE ENDING!?!? Holy. Shit.
What I didn’t like:
- Such a little thing but people always give her healing potions as if she doesn’t have a pocket dimension with ones stored in them herself.
- There’s a lot of weeping in this book. Not bad but sometimes it’s happening during high-intensity moments and it gives off the “women can’t help themselves from being emotional” vibes kinda vs taking situations seriously.
- I’d really love a map for this book. I struggle to visualize things and I can’t help but be confused about this realm.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT
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What I liked:
- Chapter 1. Up until this point, I really didn’t care for Corentin but holy hell was this an intense and emotional chapter. Starting the chapter with a flashback for when Caspian got kidnapped was ingenious and the scene was intense. Them screaming for each other left me with chills. Then going into the men losing their minds, Corentin blaming himself, and him losing control of his powers. Just everything about this first chapter roped me in.
- I typically hate meek/insecure FMCs and candidly haven’t loved Willow for this very reason. With that said, her admitting that she herself (regardless of the men) finds herself ugly with her scars was raw, vulnerable, and powerful. It showcased how insecurities aren’t about other people but instead about how you view yourself. It’s how insecurities should be handled vs just constant validation and then they’re just magically happy and healed.
- The emphasis on Corentin’s new MALE assistant had me laughing. It was such an intentional emphasis and I love Willow’s possessiveness, so it made it all the better. I also loved that you got a little view into why the assistant was chosen.
- Willow’s mom knowing her own outcomes and yet still voluntarily getting captured, raped, etc was intense.
- The flashback vision of her being inside CC and seeing her mom and her Nexus and watching them have to leave Lyker was so heartwrenching 😭 and the storyline of her having an actual family member and not just found family is nice.
- I love that the men are starting to deflect to Willow more and giving her the respect she deserves. She makes last-minute changes to the Forbidden Forest plan and they just lean into it. She makes them go to Lyker to tell him that he’s her brother. She sentences her father to death the way she deems necessary. Homegirl is finally taking action.
- Her making all of them cum at her commend was fucking hot. And her shooting out purple lava while she’s orgasming? Epic.
- I love Dyce. He’s so sweet for a dad and giddy. While also being a super creepy shifter.
- Draken Quote: So my personality isn’t completely fake. It’s definitely been exaggerated in order to fit in better, make people like me more, but I really do enjoy making people laugh, making my little wanderer blush, joking and making the guys uncomfortable from time to time. Now, though, if I don’t want to act a certain way, I don’t have to. // THIS. Authors never showcase this. The human complexity of being yourself but also sometimes pushing it even further just for the sake of people and masking your negative emotions that you should feel comfortable showing and allowed to show. And this being a trait that one of the MMC’s does vs women always just manipulating themselves was so refreshing. It always bothered me that Draken was this simple, happy guy because it felt forced and this validated that and allowed some additional character development.
- Gaster introducing Willow & Oakley as his granddaughters 🥹 He’s such a wholesome additional and I just love him and his eagerness to love them. It’s such a soft love that most books don’t have. Plus I love him calling the guys “boys” or saying “child”
- Caspian’s rape. Again, so many times this is only a female character thing, but this is very real for many men. It was such an intensely emotional scene and I’m glad it was showcased.
- Willow waking up to water in her lungs and drowning was so intense. It was also nice to see that something wasn’t effortless for her for a moment since every other power came with a level of control. I love seeing her men panic too because it just shows how much they truly care and love her.
- Her and Caspian being passed out in bed together and all you can see is his nose peaking out from her hair being sprawled everywhere was such a funny moment.
- Keeper is Draken’s dad!? Was NOT expecting this (maybe I’m just slow?) and it was so good. Plus Keeper just instantly being devoted to him was so cute. I really hope we see more of Keeper in future books because I really am loving him.
- Tanith being a dragon!? Like an actual dragon. I was expecting her to be a human/vampire and I was so confused by Keeper’s love of Draken’s mother while also having a “treasure” and this all came together and made sense. Also, her feeding off knowledge was a cool trait vs food.
- All of their powers growing and how Willow just starts knowing stuff is pretty cool. You see more of sassy her in this book too.
- HOLY. SHIT. The ending had me literally gasping. I loved Aurora’s mouthiness to her men and then she goes and says filia mea? CHILLS.
What I didn’t care for:
- They’re in the middle of a major battle and they just stop to hug and weep? Like wtf. Like these women are powerful and it just seemed illogical.
- Similar to the above, the damsel thing is getting old. Willow crumbles to the ground and sobs and can’t hold herself up when hearing bad news? She’s had a life FULL of trauma and you’re powerful. I know there’s a level of “she’s comfortable with her men and can break down” but it just seems off. I’d like more cold responses because she can dissociate and what not. That’s some real trauma responses.
- The assumption that Lyker was Franklin’s kid vs her mom’s was really confusing and didn’t make a whole lot of sense. I don’t know why but it was just very disruptive and left me sorta scrambling. Especially when her mom had 200 YEARS with her Nexus. Like you didn’t think she was getting her freak on?
- Quote: This charming little cottage appealed to Willow, though, despite its size. Other than the fact she knew her mom lived here, it’s small and cozy. Homely. She wouldn’t want to live somewhere like this permanently. She needs her space so she can have alone time when she wants it, so all of us sharing a room twenty-four seven would never work. // This logic just felt off. It felt like her men (I can’t remember whose chapter this was) were glomming their opinions on her. Everything about Willow is cozy. Yes, she loves material things like her bathroom and her clothes. But it just felt like they were trying to make her seem materialistic or something when I feel like Willow would love a small cottage.
- I’d have liked to see more of a reaction to Caspian’s scars.
- I mentioned it already but the real sizing confuses me. They can fly for 15 minutes and be to the castle? And they make it seem like the Central isn’t that large, meanwhile the castle is massive? Just a minute detail that doesn’t add up fully.
December 14, 2024
I’m close to giving this book 5 stars!! I just love this world created by the author so much! It’s only my second journey into the world of RH (reverse harem) and I didn’t think I could get on board with one female having multiple partners. It just seemed too kinky, but Willa is on point with the relationships she develops and the nexus group coupled with their true primary just makes sense and is so hot! 🥵
The beginning of book 3 has Willow in the hands of the rebel group called the mastery. She’s back in her tormentors hands and I have to say, it’s really hard to watch. Typically, I can be a skimmer when I read but with these books??! I’ve not wanted to miss a single phrase of what’s happening. But, with the torture the FMC endures in the first of the book, I found myself skimming over parts of it bc it’s so hard to watch. I am thankful that it didn’t last too long tho. I love how she comes into her power even more and breaks down the barrier keeping Oakley from tracking her and her men from rescuing her. It’s a bad ass scene!
Once they return from rescuing her, Corentin is eat up with guilt that he could have saved her so Willow senses his unease through the bond and she goes to him. Corentin is a control freak and she helps him learn to let go and they complete their bond. I love that Willow takes charge in this scene and she’s on top during the beginning of their love making, bonding scene. It just goes to show you the power she has over changing her nexus men to make them more complete. You wanna read to learn more! And towards the very end of the book Caspian FINALLY gets his shit worked out enough to complete their bond. I love that he challenges her to get out of her comfort zone during sex. It’s fucking hot!! Caspian is not my fav but I do love him (Draken is my fav!) But you learn more about Caspian’s torture and both he and Willow can relate to one another on that front. Love love love how the author develops the relationships in this book. I love how each of her men help her overcome a different part of her struggles. The love and devotion they all feel is just warm and snuggly. At the very end, you can tell something is off with Willow and you learn that she has to make them one completed unit by having sex with all of them at one time. You think that would be too kinky to endure but they each have their time with her and it’s not some weirdo scene. It’s warm and comforting. They are finally fully bonded and you can feel the love and support from all of the members of the nexus growing and glowing! Love it!!
The plot continues to advance and Willow learns more about her mother and that she has a blood brother. Lyker!! I knew we would hear more about him but I totally didn’t predict that he would share the same mom as Willow. You learn that even though Willow’s mom must endure part of her life with Willow’s piece of trash dad, she also gets 200 years with a completed nexus. Lyker is the child from the Nexus! But he has him memories taken from him and only gets them back with Willow. I love this part of the book so much. They break down a ward that’s around a special place Lyker found but he doesn’t know why. They discover a hideaway mean just for Lyker and Willow to find. It’s a cottage and a greenhouse. They find pictures of their family and it’s just so precious. You need to read it to find out all the deets to this heartwarming scene.
So, the plot continues to thicken and Willow starts learning about a new character named Keeper that’s in the forbidden forest. We know he’s going to have some answers for the overall plot but we don’t know how. As they learn how they’re going to get into the forest, Willow learns that Keeper is a vampire with ties to another realm but the details are vague. We also watch as he is given a “gift” from the summons master (the supreme bad guy of the rebels) and it’s a woman. She must keep a bag over her head and keeps wants nothing to do with her at first. The bag over her head thing is a bit strange but I reckon it’s just to keep her from growing closer to Keeper. Keeper and the woman with the bag over her head are secluded away in keeper’s home but eventually grow closer and they start having intimate moments together. When keeper realizes that this woman is wanted by the mastery, he acknowledges that he cannot keep her and he helps her escape. We never learn her name or her identity.
We also figure out that the summons master has bound keeper to him with a silver leash that will behead him if he tries to remove it. As Willow dream walks with another new character, she finds that Keeper has a bonded love that’s been kept in a cave for hundreds of years, Tanith. Willow dream walks with Tanith and Tanith helps Willow figure out how to remove the silver leash from keeper. As they actually begin to infiltrate the forbidden forest, you learn that Willow knows how to free him and they find their way to tanith’s cave. But of course the mastery shows up and there’s a brawl but thankfully no one is hurt and they manage to rescue both Tanith and Keeper from the forest.
During the infiltration of the forest, we discover that Draken is actually Keeper’s son!!!! Wtf? Totally didn’t see that one coming. It’s confusing at first bc Tanith is his bonded. Oh and btw, she’s a full blooded dragon. Tanith is his bonded but it doesn’t really explain the bond yet. And it makes you wonder if Tanith isn’t Drakens mom. But, I’m fairly confident that the woman who was a gift for keeper with the bag over her head that he becomes intimate with is actually Drakens mom. It doesn’t go into detail in this book but it eludes to the fact that the woman he loves and has sex with but helps her escape will actually be Drakens mom. And as you already know, Drakens mom is an addict and he loses her when he’s like 4 years old. It makes sense that she would be a prostitute and an addict unfortunately bc after keeper sends her out of his cabin, even tho it doesn’t tell you what happens, you can imagine that it would have been a hard life for her after leaving keeper. And since they had sex, it would make sense for Draken to be the child of that coupling. Anyway, that’s a bit of guess work that I’m sure the author will solidify in the coming books.
Well, it’s December 14 and I’m done with books 1-3!! Can’t wait for book 4 to come out in TWO days!! At the very end of the book, you meet willows mother in law, Corentin and Caspian’s mom. She calls Willow filla mea and basically the book ends asking what that means. The character in Willows memories has called her that from the beginning of book one. But even though Willow has been getting part of her memories back piece by piece due to the memory stone gifted to her in book one, you don’t know the identity of the person who helped her throughout her whole life. That person has coached her and taught her magic all throughout her life and bits and pieces of her memory have come back to Willow through the gift of the stone. Soooo… the author wants us to think that maybe her future mother in law was CC all along? (The character guiding her memories??) maybe??? I am hoping we find out more on this in book 4!! Omg, I can’t wait!! 🙌♥️
The beginning of book 3 has Willow in the hands of the rebel group called the mastery. She’s back in her tormentors hands and I have to say, it’s really hard to watch. Typically, I can be a skimmer when I read but with these books??! I’ve not wanted to miss a single phrase of what’s happening. But, with the torture the FMC endures in the first of the book, I found myself skimming over parts of it bc it’s so hard to watch. I am thankful that it didn’t last too long tho. I love how she comes into her power even more and breaks down the barrier keeping Oakley from tracking her and her men from rescuing her. It’s a bad ass scene!
Once they return from rescuing her, Corentin is eat up with guilt that he could have saved her so Willow senses his unease through the bond and she goes to him. Corentin is a control freak and she helps him learn to let go and they complete their bond. I love that Willow takes charge in this scene and she’s on top during the beginning of their love making, bonding scene. It just goes to show you the power she has over changing her nexus men to make them more complete. You wanna read to learn more! And towards the very end of the book Caspian FINALLY gets his shit worked out enough to complete their bond. I love that he challenges her to get out of her comfort zone during sex. It’s fucking hot!! Caspian is not my fav but I do love him (Draken is my fav!) But you learn more about Caspian’s torture and both he and Willow can relate to one another on that front. Love love love how the author develops the relationships in this book. I love how each of her men help her overcome a different part of her struggles. The love and devotion they all feel is just warm and snuggly. At the very end, you can tell something is off with Willow and you learn that she has to make them one completed unit by having sex with all of them at one time. You think that would be too kinky to endure but they each have their time with her and it’s not some weirdo scene. It’s warm and comforting. They are finally fully bonded and you can feel the love and support from all of the members of the nexus growing and glowing! Love it!!
The plot continues to advance and Willow learns more about her mother and that she has a blood brother. Lyker!! I knew we would hear more about him but I totally didn’t predict that he would share the same mom as Willow. You learn that even though Willow’s mom must endure part of her life with Willow’s piece of trash dad, she also gets 200 years with a completed nexus. Lyker is the child from the Nexus! But he has him memories taken from him and only gets them back with Willow. I love this part of the book so much. They break down a ward that’s around a special place Lyker found but he doesn’t know why. They discover a hideaway mean just for Lyker and Willow to find. It’s a cottage and a greenhouse. They find pictures of their family and it’s just so precious. You need to read it to find out all the deets to this heartwarming scene.
So, the plot continues to thicken and Willow starts learning about a new character named Keeper that’s in the forbidden forest. We know he’s going to have some answers for the overall plot but we don’t know how. As they learn how they’re going to get into the forest, Willow learns that Keeper is a vampire with ties to another realm but the details are vague. We also watch as he is given a “gift” from the summons master (the supreme bad guy of the rebels) and it’s a woman. She must keep a bag over her head and keeps wants nothing to do with her at first. The bag over her head thing is a bit strange but I reckon it’s just to keep her from growing closer to Keeper. Keeper and the woman with the bag over her head are secluded away in keeper’s home but eventually grow closer and they start having intimate moments together. When keeper realizes that this woman is wanted by the mastery, he acknowledges that he cannot keep her and he helps her escape. We never learn her name or her identity.
We also figure out that the summons master has bound keeper to him with a silver leash that will behead him if he tries to remove it. As Willow dream walks with another new character, she finds that Keeper has a bonded love that’s been kept in a cave for hundreds of years, Tanith. Willow dream walks with Tanith and Tanith helps Willow figure out how to remove the silver leash from keeper. As they actually begin to infiltrate the forbidden forest, you learn that Willow knows how to free him and they find their way to tanith’s cave. But of course the mastery shows up and there’s a brawl but thankfully no one is hurt and they manage to rescue both Tanith and Keeper from the forest.
During the infiltration of the forest, we discover that Draken is actually Keeper’s son!!!! Wtf? Totally didn’t see that one coming. It’s confusing at first bc Tanith is his bonded. Oh and btw, she’s a full blooded dragon. Tanith is his bonded but it doesn’t really explain the bond yet. And it makes you wonder if Tanith isn’t Drakens mom. But, I’m fairly confident that the woman who was a gift for keeper with the bag over her head that he becomes intimate with is actually Drakens mom. It doesn’t go into detail in this book but it eludes to the fact that the woman he loves and has sex with but helps her escape will actually be Drakens mom. And as you already know, Drakens mom is an addict and he loses her when he’s like 4 years old. It makes sense that she would be a prostitute and an addict unfortunately bc after keeper sends her out of his cabin, even tho it doesn’t tell you what happens, you can imagine that it would have been a hard life for her after leaving keeper. And since they had sex, it would make sense for Draken to be the child of that coupling. Anyway, that’s a bit of guess work that I’m sure the author will solidify in the coming books.
Well, it’s December 14 and I’m done with books 1-3!! Can’t wait for book 4 to come out in TWO days!! At the very end of the book, you meet willows mother in law, Corentin and Caspian’s mom. She calls Willow filla mea and basically the book ends asking what that means. The character in Willows memories has called her that from the beginning of book one. But even though Willow has been getting part of her memories back piece by piece due to the memory stone gifted to her in book one, you don’t know the identity of the person who helped her throughout her whole life. That person has coached her and taught her magic all throughout her life and bits and pieces of her memory have come back to Willow through the gift of the stone. Soooo… the author wants us to think that maybe her future mother in law was CC all along? (The character guiding her memories??) maybe??? I am hoping we find out more on this in book 4!! Omg, I can’t wait!! 🙌♥️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2024
This book is absolutely amazing!!! I read all three books that are out in 3 days! The writing, the story telling, the romance are all right up my alley.
This part is a recap for me for when book 4 comes out because these books are really long to reread but ya never know.
Willow is the female main character who is 26 years old. She was brought to Elementra by Gaster who is she has a guardian bond with. Her mates are Corentin (light bender, air magic, headmaster, likes to be in control, blames himself for Caspian being taken) Caspian (brother to Corentin, shadow walker, water magic, dark aura, burn the world down for fmc) Tillman (mind reader and communicator, earth magic, cousin to Corentin and Caspian, his mother died while saving Caspian when they were younger, he has a calming personality, leader of the elemental forces) Draken (dragon shifter, high energy, fire magic, father is Keeper who is the king of vampires who was taken by the mastery to put runes on their followers) Keeper has a dragon named Tannith who they saved when battling the mastery. The leader Summun something is the leader of the mastery is also Willow’s grandfather. Willows father Franklin was killed in the prison. Franklin tortured Willow and abused her since she was a child. He sold her to Donald who was her husband. Donald is alive. Willow has a brother named Lyker who is the alpha of a wolf pack and they saved their primary Aria. He shares a mother with Willow. Oakley has a sister bond with Willow, she is also has a tracker ability and has her own nexus with Ry and Jamie etc. Willow has the seer gift meaning she can see the future but can’t tell anyone. She adopted her nexus’s abilities and enhanced them. At the end of this book, she meets the queen Aurora who is Corentin and Caspian’s mother and is about to learn what filia mia means which is the voice in her head who guided her when she was tortured and growing up called her. That voice is named CC. We don’t know who it is to Willow. She also has a memoria stone which locked her memories and gives her snippets of information at random points. Gaster is really old and he has the ability to read auras. Willow can kinda track and read auras like her other bonds. Codi is a sleeper who can put people to sleep and he has a bond with a guy who the rest of the nexus is taken by the mastery.
This part is a recap for me for when book 4 comes out because these books are really long to reread but ya never know.
Willow is the female main character who is 26 years old. She was brought to Elementra by Gaster who is she has a guardian bond with. Her mates are Corentin (light bender, air magic, headmaster, likes to be in control, blames himself for Caspian being taken) Caspian (brother to Corentin, shadow walker, water magic, dark aura, burn the world down for fmc) Tillman (mind reader and communicator, earth magic, cousin to Corentin and Caspian, his mother died while saving Caspian when they were younger, he has a calming personality, leader of the elemental forces) Draken (dragon shifter, high energy, fire magic, father is Keeper who is the king of vampires who was taken by the mastery to put runes on their followers) Keeper has a dragon named Tannith who they saved when battling the mastery. The leader Summun something is the leader of the mastery is also Willow’s grandfather. Willows father Franklin was killed in the prison. Franklin tortured Willow and abused her since she was a child. He sold her to Donald who was her husband. Donald is alive. Willow has a brother named Lyker who is the alpha of a wolf pack and they saved their primary Aria. He shares a mother with Willow. Oakley has a sister bond with Willow, she is also has a tracker ability and has her own nexus with Ry and Jamie etc. Willow has the seer gift meaning she can see the future but can’t tell anyone. She adopted her nexus’s abilities and enhanced them. At the end of this book, she meets the queen Aurora who is Corentin and Caspian’s mother and is about to learn what filia mia means which is the voice in her head who guided her when she was tortured and growing up called her. That voice is named CC. We don’t know who it is to Willow. She also has a memoria stone which locked her memories and gives her snippets of information at random points. Gaster is really old and he has the ability to read auras. Willow can kinda track and read auras like her other bonds. Codi is a sleeper who can put people to sleep and he has a bond with a guy who the rest of the nexus is taken by the mastery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2025
Unfortunately this was a DNF 67% for me. The main character just cries too much. It seemed every other second she’s crying over something. She’s too ‘woe is me’ for me to deal with. Suddenly she finds out she has a brother and she’s curled over crying. She gets a vision and she’s curled over crying. Absolutely any little thing to upset her and she’s crying. I understand she’s been through a lot but I don’t want to read about a character who cries over every little thing. It gets repetitive and super annoying.
It also felt like the author just came out of the blue with random things to keep the story line going. Gave me soap opera vibes.
What was the point in her having a brother? It came out of nowhere and felt like it was only introduced because the story had a lull. Also, the author never revealed the dad’s response to her saying she had a brother. Anticlimactic.
Also, I hate how she gained everyone’s powers. I wish the author would have just let her develop as herself with the sight. She didn’t need the other powers to be a bada**. It also made the other characters seem pointless. She doesn’t need a tracker anymore. What’s the point to seeing people’s auras when she never uses it. It’s like she was just collecting powers to try and make her seem awesome but it backfired.
I am not a fan of her necklace either. I feel like the author uses it as a crutch when the main character can’t do something. Her necklace heats up and suddenly she can do it now because she learned it in a forest while growing up but it was blocked from her. Or, she doesn’t know something and suddenly she’s that person reliving their entire life. It felt like a bunch of filler as well as the author trying to fill plot holes.
Overall, I’m sad that I’m not sticking around to see her final bond but the only thing I feel I’ll be missing is a bunch of crying.
It also felt like the author just came out of the blue with random things to keep the story line going. Gave me soap opera vibes.
What was the point in her having a brother? It came out of nowhere and felt like it was only introduced because the story had a lull. Also, the author never revealed the dad’s response to her saying she had a brother. Anticlimactic.
Also, I hate how she gained everyone’s powers. I wish the author would have just let her develop as herself with the sight. She didn’t need the other powers to be a bada**. It also made the other characters seem pointless. She doesn’t need a tracker anymore. What’s the point to seeing people’s auras when she never uses it. It’s like she was just collecting powers to try and make her seem awesome but it backfired.
I am not a fan of her necklace either. I feel like the author uses it as a crutch when the main character can’t do something. Her necklace heats up and suddenly she can do it now because she learned it in a forest while growing up but it was blocked from her. Or, she doesn’t know something and suddenly she’s that person reliving their entire life. It felt like a bunch of filler as well as the author trying to fill plot holes.
Overall, I’m sad that I’m not sticking around to see her final bond but the only thing I feel I’ll be missing is a bunch of crying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
I loved how the story continues to focus inward, even as the external stakes remain sky-high. Watching Willow rediscover herself — through trauma, memory, and magic — was one of the most impactful arcs so far. I really appreciated that her strength isn’t shown as invulnerability, but as resilience, rage, and clarity earned through pain. I also loved how her relationship with the guys evolved, there’s more emotional honesty, connection, and vulnerability between them now. More and more secrets are coming to light, but with every answer, new questions emerge — and I can’t wait to keep reading and uncover how everything began. That cliffhanger was brutal, but I just know the next book will reveal even more truths.
Writing/Plot: The writing continues to be intense, blending emotional depth with high-stakes fantasy. The pacing hits a perfect balance — tight and suspenseful where it needs to be, but also allowing space for introspective, character-driven moments. The plot is rich with twists and reveals, and the slow unraveling of layered truths creates a gripping, edge-of-your-seat experience.
Characters: Willow faces brutal, raw challenges —both physical and emotional — and comes out stronger, though not unscathed. The guys continue to evolve, each one revealing new depths, loyalties, and cracks in their armor. The emotional stakes rise as their bond grows more complex and essential.
Relationships: The relationships are intimate and utterly compelling, with every interaction carrying real emotional weight. A deeper sense of unity and found family begins to take shape. The push and pull between longing and fear, vulnerability and survival, makes the romantic and emotional dynamics especially satisfying. At last, they all begin to let go, and you can truly feel the fierce protection and possessiveness they hold for one another.
Worldbuilding: The worldbuilding keeps getting better. The settings—especially the new locations introduced during the rescue and escape—are atmospheric and haunting in the best way. Everything feels like it’s building toward something greater, ancient, and possibly world-altering.
Writing/Plot: The writing continues to be intense, blending emotional depth with high-stakes fantasy. The pacing hits a perfect balance — tight and suspenseful where it needs to be, but also allowing space for introspective, character-driven moments. The plot is rich with twists and reveals, and the slow unraveling of layered truths creates a gripping, edge-of-your-seat experience.
Characters: Willow faces brutal, raw challenges —both physical and emotional — and comes out stronger, though not unscathed. The guys continue to evolve, each one revealing new depths, loyalties, and cracks in their armor. The emotional stakes rise as their bond grows more complex and essential.
Relationships: The relationships are intimate and utterly compelling, with every interaction carrying real emotional weight. A deeper sense of unity and found family begins to take shape. The push and pull between longing and fear, vulnerability and survival, makes the romantic and emotional dynamics especially satisfying. At last, they all begin to let go, and you can truly feel the fierce protection and possessiveness they hold for one another.
Worldbuilding: The worldbuilding keeps getting better. The settings—especially the new locations introduced during the rescue and escape—are atmospheric and haunting in the best way. Everything feels like it’s building toward something greater, ancient, and possibly world-altering.
September 27, 2024
Alllll of the stars!!!
5 ⭐️ 3.5 🌶️
I LOVED this so much! We got so many answers! And yes, we have plenty more questions, but I finally feel like I have less questions than answers 😂
🚨 SPOILERS!! 🚨
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I’m so happy Willow has finally bonded with all of her men. The damaged, unhinged ones are always my favorite and Cas is no different. I swear he held out the longest but loves the hardest! ❤️
Omg freaking Keeper! I would have neverrrrrr expected a plot twist like that but I am so here for it! And I love how he has just fallen right into his new role with ease while still respecting the boundaries Draken has! I seriously couldn’t be happier for Draken and even though he’s not sure how he feels about it yet I just know it’s a great thing! 🥰🥰🥰
Willow just continues to show the Mastery what a force she is and it just keeps getting better! We’ve learned so much in this book and some of it was so are for her to hear but she continues to take everything in stride.
As I was nearing the end I kept thinking that things were so calm and maybe, just maybe, we wouldn’t end on a cliffhanger. Of course I was wrong BUT this is probably the most gentle cliff I’ve ever been shoved off of 😂
For some reason I thought this would be the last book but I was wrong and there are two more coming. I hate that I have to wait but I’m also so glad it’s not over because it wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet! I can’t wait to find out what happens next for Willow and her ever-growing family!
5 ⭐️ 3.5 🌶️
I LOVED this so much! We got so many answers! And yes, we have plenty more questions, but I finally feel like I have less questions than answers 😂
🚨 SPOILERS!! 🚨
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I’m so happy Willow has finally bonded with all of her men. The damaged, unhinged ones are always my favorite and Cas is no different. I swear he held out the longest but loves the hardest! ❤️
Omg freaking Keeper! I would have neverrrrrr expected a plot twist like that but I am so here for it! And I love how he has just fallen right into his new role with ease while still respecting the boundaries Draken has! I seriously couldn’t be happier for Draken and even though he’s not sure how he feels about it yet I just know it’s a great thing! 🥰🥰🥰
Willow just continues to show the Mastery what a force she is and it just keeps getting better! We’ve learned so much in this book and some of it was so are for her to hear but she continues to take everything in stride.
As I was nearing the end I kept thinking that things were so calm and maybe, just maybe, we wouldn’t end on a cliffhanger. Of course I was wrong BUT this is probably the most gentle cliff I’ve ever been shoved off of 😂
For some reason I thought this would be the last book but I was wrong and there are two more coming. I hate that I have to wait but I’m also so glad it’s not over because it wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet! I can’t wait to find out what happens next for Willow and her ever-growing family!
June 8, 2025
Love the idea, FAR too long
I like this series, I do. Def not a favorite. I feel like the idea was completely jacked from another series I read, down to the shadows Caspian has. I won’t say which one, but no lie even the feelings coming down the bonds and the way the bonds are described is exactly the same. Still, love the magic system and the world this is set in. Each book has WAY too many pages of filler though. These books so far could easily have been shaved down to maybe 300-350 pages. The pool scene lasted 19 pages and could’ve been done in maybe 6-7. Way too much repetition. I’ll just say… how many times can these guys tell her how amazing and strong and capable she is?? I’d be over it after the first 50 times. I’ve had intense relationships and that calms down after a few months. We already understand they’re obsessed with her. Would be nice to read more of the actual plot is all. 🤷🏼♀️ People complained about the way the author uses certain words in reviews I’ve read. First of all, mannequin CAN be spelled manikin. Also, I like that some words are more urban style than straight up perfect English. Strangely for me lol. Reads more like a story a friend wrote though and I “kinda” like that. Honestly I do like this series but the length and the constant repetition had me speed reading and skipping parts and I NEVER do that. I gave 4 stars because I really do love the magic and “gifts” the characters have and I’m curious to see how this will progress.
I like this series, I do. Def not a favorite. I feel like the idea was completely jacked from another series I read, down to the shadows Caspian has. I won’t say which one, but no lie even the feelings coming down the bonds and the way the bonds are described is exactly the same. Still, love the magic system and the world this is set in. Each book has WAY too many pages of filler though. These books so far could easily have been shaved down to maybe 300-350 pages. The pool scene lasted 19 pages and could’ve been done in maybe 6-7. Way too much repetition. I’ll just say… how many times can these guys tell her how amazing and strong and capable she is?? I’d be over it after the first 50 times. I’ve had intense relationships and that calms down after a few months. We already understand they’re obsessed with her. Would be nice to read more of the actual plot is all. 🤷🏼♀️ People complained about the way the author uses certain words in reviews I’ve read. First of all, mannequin CAN be spelled manikin. Also, I like that some words are more urban style than straight up perfect English. Strangely for me lol. Reads more like a story a friend wrote though and I “kinda” like that. Honestly I do like this series but the length and the constant repetition had me speed reading and skipping parts and I NEVER do that. I gave 4 stars because I really do love the magic and “gifts” the characters have and I’m curious to see how this will progress.
September 24, 2024
This whole series has been **Chef's Kiss**, but this book went from a 4* read to a 5* read at about 50% with a couple of excellent twists that I didn't see coming.
We pick up where book two left off, with Willow in the hands of her sadistic father. We also learn a lot about Willow's history, how her mother came to be with her father and more about Willow's family.
She also completes the bonds. After losing her to her father, Caspian is ready to solidify his bond with Willow, and it's a beautifully done scene.
This book doesn't end on a massive cliffhanger more of a question and promise for the future. This is book 3 of 5.
Frankly, while the book continues to find similarities to Bonds that Tie, I don't mind; it's not a word-for-word recreation. It differs pretty heavily, and this book takes a couple of massive turns that make it clear that the author can come up with her own plot points. While the similarities are what initially drew me to the series, I stayed for the characters and their journeys.
I have seen a lot of criticism of how the FMC's trauma was handled in previous books. As someone who has a history of CPTSD and has worked with other survivors of domestic, childhood, and sexual trauma, it is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis or even a collection of symptoms that I have seen manifest identically across the board. Some people are more resilient than others, and some must cultivate it through active recovery. It's mentioned several times that throughout her abuse, the FMC never stopped fighting. I have seen it manifest in surprising ways in women, and I loved that the FMC was resilient enough that she could move past her trauma quickly to form healthy bonds.
We pick up where book two left off, with Willow in the hands of her sadistic father. We also learn a lot about Willow's history, how her mother came to be with her father and more about Willow's family.
She also completes the bonds. After losing her to her father, Caspian is ready to solidify his bond with Willow, and it's a beautifully done scene.
This book doesn't end on a massive cliffhanger more of a question and promise for the future. This is book 3 of 5.
Frankly, while the book continues to find similarities to Bonds that Tie, I don't mind; it's not a word-for-word recreation. It differs pretty heavily, and this book takes a couple of massive turns that make it clear that the author can come up with her own plot points. While the similarities are what initially drew me to the series, I stayed for the characters and their journeys.
I have seen a lot of criticism of how the FMC's trauma was handled in previous books. As someone who has a history of CPTSD and has worked with other survivors of domestic, childhood, and sexual trauma, it is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis or even a collection of symptoms that I have seen manifest identically across the board. Some people are more resilient than others, and some must cultivate it through active recovery. It's mentioned several times that throughout her abuse, the FMC never stopped fighting. I have seen it manifest in surprising ways in women, and I loved that the FMC was resilient enough that she could move past her trauma quickly to form healthy bonds.
October 12, 2024
Good Read
Gift from the Nexus is the third book in the Source of Elementra series and picks up in the aftermath of the brutal cliffhanger in the last book with Willa once again a prisoner of her father. This book sees a lot of secrets revealed and new knowledge gained, as well as new allies and enemies emerging.
Just as addictive as its predecessors this book has a rollercoaster of a story that just doesn’t stop from beginning to end. I absolutely loved reading this book and I was devestated when I got to the end and realised that there were no more pages to read leaving another cliffhanger with a load of questions that need answering (although I have some theories on that). I am already feeling the urge to re-read this series so far and I have just spent the last 3 days immersed in it, it’s just that good. I love the characters, both the main characters and the secondary characters, with the relationship between Willow and her girls possibly my favourite. I love watching them get in trouble without even having to do anything.
Overall, this was another brilliant book and I would 100% recommend giving it a read. Roll on December when the next book in the series will hopefully be released and I can continue on the journey with these characters.
Gift from the Nexus is the third book in the Source of Elementra series and picks up in the aftermath of the brutal cliffhanger in the last book with Willa once again a prisoner of her father. This book sees a lot of secrets revealed and new knowledge gained, as well as new allies and enemies emerging.
Just as addictive as its predecessors this book has a rollercoaster of a story that just doesn’t stop from beginning to end. I absolutely loved reading this book and I was devestated when I got to the end and realised that there were no more pages to read leaving another cliffhanger with a load of questions that need answering (although I have some theories on that). I am already feeling the urge to re-read this series so far and I have just spent the last 3 days immersed in it, it’s just that good. I love the characters, both the main characters and the secondary characters, with the relationship between Willow and her girls possibly my favourite. I love watching them get in trouble without even having to do anything.
Overall, this was another brilliant book and I would 100% recommend giving it a read. Roll on December when the next book in the series will hopefully be released and I can continue on the journey with these characters.
May 3, 2026
Author does not know how to write characters who have had traumatic experiences, you cannot write about all their trauma they have gone through and by the way this isn’t light trauma it’s serious shit and then in the next few chapters write about the fmc wanting to be punished or wanting to do the dirtys it just doesn’t make sense and is very much unrealistic and feels like they are brushing off these issues.
This series had so much potential but is so wasted, character’s relationships were good to begin with but then were rushed and don’t really have that depth and the fmc has too many gifts and powers it’s an absolute joke at this point I know she the main character and is supposed to be special but not to the point it’s giving I’m better then everyone else 🤦🏽♀️ the sight gift is also just annoying asf it blocks off communication between the fmc and mmcs and we getting these random leap of events that there’s no lead up so the flow of the story is crap.
I don’t know how rating is so high props to you if you like the story but I tried and couldn’t go through with the series so rating a 2 star
This series had so much potential but is so wasted, character’s relationships were good to begin with but then were rushed and don’t really have that depth and the fmc has too many gifts and powers it’s an absolute joke at this point I know she the main character and is supposed to be special but not to the point it’s giving I’m better then everyone else 🤦🏽♀️ the sight gift is also just annoying asf it blocks off communication between the fmc and mmcs and we getting these random leap of events that there’s no lead up so the flow of the story is crap.
I don’t know how rating is so high props to you if you like the story but I tried and couldn’t go through with the series so rating a 2 star
March 21, 2026
I wish the flow of this was a little better. There's just so much of the story that's tied to emotions. While a lot of it makes sense for the situation and for her trauma it just doesn't leave much room for any suspenseful plot. While the plot around the rebels gets more interesting, we are introduced to even more characters! I don't know how I feel about this. I'm already feeling like I'm thrown into random interactions at times and it's just not flowing the way I want it to. Draken and Caspian are of course the best, and Gaster of course! But I want to see a faster paced adventure with more focus on her time with her Nexus and not just her being with them and then rushed into something else because there's never time. But yet there's always time for a long bath or coffee or naps and tantrums. This is a complex magic system and things are actually explained quite well, and thank goodness because there is so much detail to remember, that I do tend to feel lost at times. But then it's walked through in a way that It all still comes together okay.
February 12, 2026
Better than book 2
Things seemed to move better in this one than the previous instalment. There was action, emotion, more chosen family, and finally a completed bond. I was so annoyed that they hadn't completed the bond that I truly don't know if I would have continued to the next book had they not. It was bordering on idiotic that they hadn't completed it when they knew it'd enhance their strength which would aid them immensely in the war. Unromantic to think of it so strategically? Yes. But when you're to be the rulers and save the realm, strategic decisions need to be made and also, the connection and feeling were there for so long it made no sense to wait. I can hear the screams about Caspian and his trauma but nobody understood better than she would and he waited so long. Yes, that kind of pain effects everyone differently but I still think for someone as strategic and knowledgeable as Caspian is, he shouldn't have waited as long as he did.
Things seemed to move better in this one than the previous instalment. There was action, emotion, more chosen family, and finally a completed bond. I was so annoyed that they hadn't completed the bond that I truly don't know if I would have continued to the next book had they not. It was bordering on idiotic that they hadn't completed it when they knew it'd enhance their strength which would aid them immensely in the war. Unromantic to think of it so strategically? Yes. But when you're to be the rulers and save the realm, strategic decisions need to be made and also, the connection and feeling were there for so long it made no sense to wait. I can hear the screams about Caspian and his trauma but nobody understood better than she would and he waited so long. Yes, that kind of pain effects everyone differently but I still think for someone as strategic and knowledgeable as Caspian is, he shouldn't have waited as long as he did.
September 21, 2024
Absolutely perfect
This was another absolutely perfect installment of Willow's story. You'd never believe that this is Willas first ever series. She beautifully blends so many emotions from pain to angst to humour and everything in between. The many threads are weaved together effortlessly. The relationships are a breath of fresh air. She proves that a romance book doesn't have to be full of relationship angst to be interesting and I am here for it!! Authors old and new should take note of this series and the many different relationships being built from romantic to familial to friendship and colleagues and how she uses only outside forces to maintain the suspense and angst whilst keeping all these positive relationships completely in tact. I am so obsessed with this series.
This was another absolutely perfect installment of Willow's story. You'd never believe that this is Willas first ever series. She beautifully blends so many emotions from pain to angst to humour and everything in between. The many threads are weaved together effortlessly. The relationships are a breath of fresh air. She proves that a romance book doesn't have to be full of relationship angst to be interesting and I am here for it!! Authors old and new should take note of this series and the many different relationships being built from romantic to familial to friendship and colleagues and how she uses only outside forces to maintain the suspense and angst whilst keeping all these positive relationships completely in tact. I am so obsessed with this series.
September 21, 2024
Not finished series
The ending of this third in the series makes me want more. That's good because I hate when a "trilogy" suddenly becomes a longer series. Normally, I would knock off a star for that and the 7 errors I found, but this is so long and enticing that it deserves all the stars. I read on her Facebook page that it may be five books. I hope she notes that on Amazon so people aren't disappointed. In these 600 + pages many mysteries are revealed and some answers too. I love how the side characters seem to have intermingled pasts and futures. The FMC is both strong and vulnerable and embraces her different powers and emotions. Her men and family are fascinating and well developed. The author has crafted an elegant world and a miserable enemy. I recommend and begrudgingly will wait for the next ones.
The ending of this third in the series makes me want more. That's good because I hate when a "trilogy" suddenly becomes a longer series. Normally, I would knock off a star for that and the 7 errors I found, but this is so long and enticing that it deserves all the stars. I read on her Facebook page that it may be five books. I hope she notes that on Amazon so people aren't disappointed. In these 600 + pages many mysteries are revealed and some answers too. I love how the side characters seem to have intermingled pasts and futures. The FMC is both strong and vulnerable and embraces her different powers and emotions. Her men and family are fascinating and well developed. The author has crafted an elegant world and a miserable enemy. I recommend and begrudgingly will wait for the next ones.
April 5, 2025
I’m only rating 4 stars and not 5 because I believe that the bonding of core and willow shouldn’t have happened the SAME DAY of the rescue!!!! Like, at least a couple of days after that big ol trauma! Welp, I understand the reasoning behind it though so I’m not that mad.
I HAVE A FEW THOUGHTS though!!
1. I don’t get why Lyker has not yet realize that Aria’s his primary. He’s the ONLY shifter, shouldn’t his wolf recognize his mate???
2. I wish they used more of their gifts when it cones to combat. Like, All this time, Corentin can become invisible, and now so does Willow! They haven’t used it yet which I believe is such a great advantage to have! They all have OP powers so I can’t think they wouldn’t win!
Besides that, this book is sooo beautiful and I loved and devoured it! The revelations are all sooooo good and I am so happy for willow! Cant wait for the next part!
I HAVE A FEW THOUGHTS though!!
1. I don’t get why Lyker has not yet realize that Aria’s his primary. He’s the ONLY shifter, shouldn’t his wolf recognize his mate???
2. I wish they used more of their gifts when it cones to combat. Like, All this time, Corentin can become invisible, and now so does Willow! They haven’t used it yet which I believe is such a great advantage to have! They all have OP powers so I can’t think they wouldn’t win!
Besides that, this book is sooo beautiful and I loved and devoured it! The revelations are all sooooo good and I am so happy for willow! Cant wait for the next part!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2024
I’ve never screamed so loud over the ending of a book
The amount of emotions I felt through this book does nothing compared to the ending. I literally waited for this book to come out by setting reminders and alarms. Book 1 and 2 are amazing. You get to see the beautifully broken girl grow into who she is truly to be but the road is bumpy and painful. I can’t get over this world and need so much more. I’m literally searching for the next book and the pain and anxiety I have because I know it will be awhile before I get my hands on it is unreal. I love Willa Rae. This is my new favorite series. Amazing work. I highly recommend reading all three because they are a work of art.
The amount of emotions I felt through this book does nothing compared to the ending. I literally waited for this book to come out by setting reminders and alarms. Book 1 and 2 are amazing. You get to see the beautifully broken girl grow into who she is truly to be but the road is bumpy and painful. I can’t get over this world and need so much more. I’m literally searching for the next book and the pain and anxiety I have because I know it will be awhile before I get my hands on it is unreal. I love Willa Rae. This is my new favorite series. Amazing work. I highly recommend reading all three because they are a work of art.
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