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Tales of Beastkin #1

Primal Bonds 1

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When an alpha wolf shifter mafia boss meets a beaten-up foxkin boy on the run, both their lives change in an unexpected way. A steamy hurt-comfort paranormal shifter alpha-omega mm romance.


Adam


The Beautiful Monster.


Alpha wolf shifter Adam Sullivan, dubbed The Beautiful Monster, is on a “sabbatical leave” of his position as the head honcho of one of the most powerful mafia clans in America. Relishing in his newfound peaceful life, Adam’s wonderful tranquility is being threatened when he happens upon a beaten-up foxkin youth in the back alley of New York City.


The moment Adam lays his eyes on the exquisite white-haired, cobalt-blue-eyed Shiro, he is beguiled and knows he’ll be kissing his serene life goodbye if he doesn’t walk away. When Shiro begs for his help, Adam loses the fight to the inevitability and takes the boy home.


Shiro


Into the arms of a beautiful monster…


Shiro is a beastkin, a race of humans with small animal characteristics society despises. Having escaped the institute, he lives in the backstreet scavenging for survival. When Adam saves him after a deadly beating, he is grateful.


It isn’t long when Shiro finds himself falling in love with Adam, whose rough exterior and standoffish kindness steals the boy’s fragile heart. Shiro knows he can’t linger around and take advantage of Adam’s generosity, but leaving is just so damn hard, especially when Adam makes him feels he belongs, a feeling he desperately yearns for.


Tales of Beastkin: Shiro is a hurt-comfort paranormal shifter alpha-omega mm romance (boys love, yaoi) with some dark themes. The uke (Shiro) is a beautiful beastkin (a race of humans with small animal characteristics) and the seme (Adam) is an alpha shifter hunk.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

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About the author

Bella Chan

15 books56 followers
Bella Chan is the alter ego name of Alexia Praks for her sometimes cute and smutty, sometimes dark and twice as smutty, and sometimes fun, adventurous with a lot of magic and mayhem and thrice as smutty mm romance (Yaoi, BL). 
  
In the romance realm, Bella thinks anything goes as long as there’s love involved—be it contemporary, historical, fantasy, paranormal, or a combination of any of these.
 
Apart from writing and occasionally losing herself in her own dream realm, she loves self-cultivation, is fascinated by Chinese metaphysics, and spends her spare time watching anime and TV dramas and, of course, reading books and manga.

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5 stars
154 (41%)
4 stars
112 (30%)
3 stars
74 (19%)
2 stars
20 (5%)
1 star
13 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Simona.
679 reviews63 followers
August 13, 2022
Really different from the other books.
I felt really sorry at the beginning for our little fox. A cute story
Profile Image for S.R. Harris.
Author 7 books72 followers
June 27, 2021
I really enjoyed book. This was a different take on the shifter world, and also on the Alpha/omega relationship.

I adored Shiro, I just wanted to wrap him up in a warm hug. The alphas were also written really well, they were just protective enough and seeing Adam and Shiro grow together as a couple was so sweet. I loved how the secondary characters were just as important and I hope they get their own stories.

My only disappointment is this is not a stand alone, but a series. As much as I want to read about the other couples, it doesn't seem like Adam and Shiro story is done, there were so many unanswered questions.

I hope the next book comes out soon.
Profile Image for Drusilla.
1,175 reviews502 followers
October 8, 2022
Shiro is adorable as hell. Adam as the big bad wolf who rescues and protects the little fox ... swoon-worthy beautiful, like a fairy tale. 💖💖💖

I felt his lips crush against mine and his tongue plunge straight into my slightly opened mouth. I felt myself trembling from head to toe as Adam kissed me—deeply and passionately, his tongue wild inside my mouth, playing havoc with mine.

A beautiful story with a solid plot, but unfortunately it dragged along a bit. Of course, all the characters don't speak openly to each other, so you don't find a solution to the problems addressed. Overall, many things are left unclear in this first part. There is no cliffhanger in the true sense and also a usable happy for now. But I was more frustrated by this book, precisely because the plot progressed so slowly that there was no useful sense of satisfaction for me. 🥺 I'm going to go pull my hair out a little bit and hope that helps.
Profile Image for Kristina.
1,595 reviews77 followers
June 9, 2021
Yaoi and alpha-omega/beastkin

Interesting world building. Really enjoyed getting to understand Shiro and Adam and their coming together. Definitely look forward to book 2 where I hope we see a deeper connection and the making of, and effects of, becoming daemon. 😈
Profile Image for m..
836 reviews82 followers
September 21, 2022
It was a cute read, quite wattpad-y but that was kind of the mood I was in at the time. It took me too long to get through though and I was still enjoying it but I wasn't as invested anymore; not the book's fault, just life getting in the way.
Profile Image for Li Taylor.
1,879 reviews1 follower
September 1, 2024
great

A very interesting storyline and I enjoyed it very much. New to the authors and I loved their work. Highly recommended
Profile Image for Cheryl_cajun .
1,214 reviews33 followers
April 21, 2021
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Sad and tragic start at the beginning but so moving, with the flow of the storyline. Are myths real..for that matter is there an order to the beastkins. I just fell so hard for this great book, with the shy Shiro, the sassy Aka and the quick-come-back Lan and all the alpha males that are obviously obsessive of them. You ever have one of those uhh moments while reading, well get ready because you are going to be having some of that, after all what leads Adam to take in a beastkin while others throw word like parasites at (civilization) ugh. Can't wait to see when they find Kuro, and what a thrill that the legendary tales seem to be coming to light.
Profile Image for Elyse.
1,383 reviews26 followers
April 4, 2025
Shiro is a beastkin, half fox and half human. They are a dying race and considered like parasite.

He is sent to a institute to be tamed, basically become a pet and being abused by humans. He is saved by a stranger, alpha Adam, the son of the mafia’s boss. Shiro wish to look for his two missing brothers, since he is family bound with them.

On the slow side, I thought the romance would happen faster. Shiro is super cute. I am curious to see how the relationship will evolve in the next book.
Profile Image for Danielle Hendrikse.
343 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2025
Primal Bonds 1 is a gripping and steamy paranormal romance that delves deep into themes of hurt-comfort, self-discovery, and forbidden love. In a world where shifters and beastkin exist, the story follows Adam Sullivan, a powerful alpha wolf shifter mafia boss, and Shiro, a battered foxkin boy on the run. Together, they find themselves caught in an unexpected bond that will challenge both their pasts and their futures.

The story opens with Adam Sullivan, known as "The Beautiful Monster," on a brief reprieve from his violent mafia life. Seeking peace, Adam’s quiet existence is shattered when he encounters Shiro, a vulnerable and terrified foxkin boy, in the alleyways of New York. Despite his desire for tranquillity, Adam cannot turn his back on Shiro, whose hauntingly delicate features and tragic past stir something deep within him.

Shiro’s story is equally heart-wrenching. As a beastkin, Shiro is part of a despised and marginalized race, hunted and abused by society. After escaping a cruel institute, he is left to fend for himself in a dangerous world, until Adam’s intervention offers him a brief glimpse of safety and comfort. But Shiro knows that he can’t linger, even though he feels an undeniable pull toward Adam and the new world he offers.

The beauty of Primal Bonds 1 lies in its exploration of the unexpected connection between Adam and Shiro. Adam, though rough around the edges, is not just a mafia boss but a man with a heart that yearns for something beyond power and control. Shiro, on the other hand, is a young boy who has only known suffering, yet he begins to blossom under Adam’s care.

The dynamic between the two is both intense and tender, marked by Shiro's vulnerability and Adam's raw, protective instincts. Their evolving relationship offers a perfect blend of steamy romance and emotional depth, with a healthy dose of angst and hurt-comfort moments that will keep readers hooked.

The world-building in Primal Bonds 1 is rich and immersive, creating a dark, gritty world where paranormal creatures like shifters and beastkin are forced to navigate a society that fears and marginalizes them. The sense of tension between the different races and the societal pressures they face adds a layer of complexity to the characters' struggles, making their romance all the more poignant.

The themes of acceptance, identity, and belonging are central to the story. Both Adam and Shiro are grappling with their own sense of self-worth—Adam, as a feared mafia boss who is constantly expected to maintain a tough exterior, and Shiro, as a young beastkin who has never known love or safety. Their bond becomes a journey of healing, where both characters discover what it means to be loved and to love in return.

As a paranormal shifter alpha-omega mm romance, Primal Bonds 1 delivers plenty of heat alongside its emotional intensity. The chemistry between Adam and Shiro is undeniable, with their intimate moments capturing both the physical and emotional stakes of their relationship. However, the book also doesn’t shy away from exploring darker themes, such as abuse, trauma, and the societal discrimination that Shiro faces as a beastkin.

While the romance is undeniably steamy, it is also a story of growth, vulnerability, and the complexity of love. Shiro’s journey from fear and uncertainty to trust and devotion is both heartbreaking and beautiful, and Adam’s transformation from a cold, detached mafia boss to a man who understands the value of compassion is equally compelling.

Primal Bonds 1 is a captivating and steamy paranormal romance that will appeal to fans of hurt-comfort stories, shifter dynamics, and MM romance. With its complex characters, intense emotional depth, and sizzling chemistry, it offers a rich and satisfying read. If you’re looking for a story that combines action, passion, and heartfelt moments, this book is sure to deliver.
Profile Image for cc.
1,110 reviews38 followers
June 6, 2022
1.5

... my butthole didn't feel like it had been tampered with.

That's an actual line from the book and I think that's all you really need to know about why I DNF'd it. This is just ... so poorly written that it hurts me and the scenes are so painfully uncomfortable that I almost died.

We follow Shiro and Adam. Shiro is a Beastkin, a human with animal characteristics, in a world where people are violently prejudiced against Beastkins. An organization called the Institute kidnaps Beastkin children and rents them out as prostitutes to the wealthy. People don't give a second glance to Beastkins being beaten and/or raped in the streets. It's a terrible world where, even after escaping the Institute, Shiro finds himself chased down and assaulted by street gangs nearly every day. One day, on the brink of death after an exceptionally severe beating, Shiro's cries for help are acknowledged by a passerby, who rescues the wounded Beastkin and takes him to his penthouse to heal. Adam is a retired mafia boss and, immediately, he finds himself utterly smitten with the Beastkin and determined to do whatever it takes to make the world a better place for him.

The synopsis sounded wonderful, but the execution was truly atrocious. Not only was this book completely lacking in proficient editing - the story was rampant with poor grammar, weird phrasings, misused words, etc. - but it also seemed as though no one had beta read the book to help correct the clunkiness of the writing or the painful awkwardness of some of the dialogue.

At one point, we literally get a scene in which Adam calls his friend, Chase. Chase answers while getting a blowjob and proceeds to spew lines such as...

"For fuck's sake, Adam, state your business before I come, and you have to hear it. Fucking hell if I'd let my best friend hear me moaning in pure ecstasy."

"Ah, another foxkin, eh? I have one right here doing pleasurable things to me because I saved his friend's life. A redhead. Fucking beautiful. Fuck, he heard me."

"Don't stop, you're doing a great job. Good boy, do that, yeah..."


And that was just one page. All of that awkward torture occurred on a single page. And then I read another 100 pages and it didn't get better. Like, at all. All that has happened since then is that Chase, the doctor friend, informed Adam that the bruising on Shiro's butthole would heal and Adam cooks three meals a day and Shiro really, really likes the food he makes. Oh, and Shiro sucked Adam off in his sleep because he was worried that Adam might want to have sex with him when he woke up?

Overall, the poor writing just ended things for me and I DNF'd at 44%. I am actually really frustrated by this one, because it has the makings to be a super fun story, but Bella Chan just really needs someone who is willing to edit and assist with rewrites. And that someone needs to not be in fifth grade, because that is the level of the writing here.

Again, I'm very sad about this, because we have the makings for an amazing story. Mafia bosses. Alphas and omegas. Beastkins. A corrupt organization that needs to be taken down. Secret plans. Forbidden love. Self sacrifice. The ingredients are there, but the spoon is missing, and that's not how you make a good cake.

ETA: Finished it. Never got better.
Profile Image for John-Torleif  Harris.
2,732 reviews14 followers
July 2, 2021
Interesting story, but some shaky storytelling

I don’t know how to describe my feelings after reading this. On the one hand, I did enjoy reading about Shiro and his experiences getting to know Adam.

But on the other hand, I felt that most of the major revelations in this book were a bit out of the blue, and needed a lot more foreshadowing, or building up of a decent foundation before they were revealed. Because of that lack of preparation, I felt that the author just pulled out a dues ex machina when it was convenient to change the world that had been built, or the characters that had been established. For example, why would Adam reveal his dual nature when everything that we know is that the reality of alphas are hidden from the normal human population? If, as was very heavily hinted at, the alphas have avoided having the Institute pay too much attention to them, how did his cavalier attitude about telling them make sense?

I was intrigued enough by this story that I think that I’ll want to read further, but…
Profile Image for Maraya21 (The Reading Dragon).
1,846 reviews266 followers
January 23, 2022
💯 Read for the 2022 MacHalo Splendiferous Book Bingo Thingie (MSBBT™) challenge at the MacHalo Asylum 💯

  
    •• 22. Yeet It I Say ••
  

DNF @ P59 (21% - Ch.7)

Jesus Roosevelt Christ this was bad. BAD. I don't know what the fuck everyone else read but this was *shudders*. No, just no.


The story has holes, which I would be able to ignore if the writing wasn't atrocious. I thought "Hey maybe she is a newbie author". Yeah, no. She has written enough books between all her pen names for this to just be bad writing.


Interesting idea. Beautiful cover. Bad, bad, bad execution.


YEET! I'm out.


Bingo Images:
Profile Image for beth m.
896 reviews
June 27, 2021
Refreshing

I really loved the idea and plot line of this book. It’s a nice and different kind of steam. With that said I took a star off for some spelling and grammatical errors, and another star off because of the constant usage of “boy”. Anytime there was any kind of description there was just so much emphasis on the fact the main lead is a “boy” … I get the whole making sure the reader gets the whole young/old troupe but it got old. It also was a little unsexy when the older males referred to the younger men’s package as “cute” it was a little meh… no male young or old, wants it to be called cute… that’s like saying (insert baby voice) “he’s just a wittle guy” … I also would’ve enjoyed a little more steam, aside from that this was such a unique world build that I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for Kym.
619 reviews10 followers
April 29, 2025
This was kind of unique in the way “others” were treated. Beastkin took on the role of what is usually designated only for omegas in the dark sides of the omegaverse. I like the different take out having the institute out for all the beast, pretty specist. Even though this story would have taken a deep dive into the dark, i do wish it would have started at the institute before the great escape instead of just implying. Catching little snippets of what happened there just seemed like the easy way out. Having that edge would have made this a 5 star for me. I felt like it was just missing so much and had the intention of giving more than it really did.
224 reviews3 followers
April 22, 2021
What a cute story! It's a sexy, Alpha and Omega with a dash of mafia thrown in. It might be a tiny bit rough around the edges but that gives it charm and follows the genre and trope completely. I wouldn't want it any other way. Lots of world building and the author has gone all out to create an amazing world filled with fantastic beings who are downtrodden and even more fantastic beings who fight against the evil Institute, despicable, rich men who abuse and worse and street bullies. Lots of hurt/comfort and plenty of angst in this story and I can't wait for the next one!
41 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2024
Overuse of Boy and Man

I read up to the 35% mark and could not finish this book. The author has an obsessive over the top use of “the boy” and “the man” in this book. I don’t know why, but these two terms are so annoyingly impersonal and disrespectful to me. I don’t understand why the author couldn’t use regular pronouns or names. I did a word search of “boy” in my kindle and this word is used over 400 times in this story, so I decided to nope out of it.

I really wanted to give this story a chance because the world building and characters are all pretty darned good so far.
Profile Image for Hoshi.
14 reviews
September 9, 2025
Trigger Warnings

The first few chapters were so brutal with constant references to: rape, child prostitution, violent sexual assault, severe physical abuse, oppression, false imprisonment, social isolation, love of loved ones, overt apathy, and desperation.

It made me very upset and made me want to blast this book. After that section, some of the characters improve their world views and change to have better behaviors. The plot is decently interesting. Though I do not think the trauma recovery in the book is accurate.
132 reviews2 followers
April 23, 2021
I received an ARC from the author via StoryOrigin and love this novel that reads like a yaoi manga. Shiro is rescued by Adam, who takes Shiro to a penthouse to recover. As Shiro spends time with Adam, he falls in love. Adam is a gentleman with Shiro, patiently waiting for him to heal. That is, until biology gives Adam the push to take Shiro when Shiro's heat comes on. It's a gentle cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book and more relationship development between Adam and Shiro.
Profile Image for Ariel.
243 reviews31 followers
April 25, 2021
I really enjoyed this! But I wish an editor had combed through it to catch some things...wrong verb tenses and such took me out of the story a few times. This book reads like a subtitled anime or translated manga in that sometimes the dialogue is a bit stilted or weird as if from an awkward translation.

Overall though, I enjoyed the characters and will definitely be on the lookout for book 2.

3.5 Stars
Profile Image for Ladywolf.
60 reviews11 followers
April 28, 2021
I received an ARC from the author via StoryOrigin, I have to say this reminded me of a manga without the pictures. :) It might be a tiny bit rough around the edges but it worked out in a good way as it is. You got sad parts and funny parts, cute ones and even sexy ones.... put them all together and you get a good read... :)

If you haven't read this one yet and you like reading books that have all that and more this is one to read then.
Profile Image for danielle.
23 reviews
June 15, 2022
The story was very good, even though the story did not have an huge plot twist it was still very interesting to read. The omega charters had a lot of physical and mental abuse because of the humans that hate them. So most of the story was them realizing they are safe with the ones that are helping them. But I would recommend this sorry to anyone who wants to read a story about a world that hates what they call beastkin, and a beastkin that finds love.
Profile Image for Susanna.
Author 55 books105 followers
March 26, 2023
The description made me expect something angsty and smutty. This was neither. The story was incredibly sweet with one proper sex scene and it wasn’t terribly spicy. Nevertheless, I liked the story and the world was interesting, but scenes of questionable consent and lack of plot or complications made me give only three stars. If you like angst-free M/m romance where the sub is treated like a child and nothing bad happens, give it a try.
Profile Image for Miko.
91 reviews3 followers
February 13, 2024
Overall, I liked the story. I thought it was interesting and brought in something when it came to alphas and omegas. I am curious to see how it will continue in the second book. My biggest critique of this book was that its really under edited, this book had redundant word usage and misspellings that for me were very obvious and it hurt the narration. I hope that will get better in the second book.
Profile Image for Kia_Queen.
32 reviews2 followers
April 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Shiro and Adam were very cute together. I also enjoyed the side relationships of Nolan with Lan and Chase with Aka and can't wait to read more about them all!
I really recommend others to read this.
Bella Chan has once again delivered a very sweet MM that appeals to my sweet tooth.
Profile Image for Guardian.angel54 .
1,009 reviews39 followers
June 26, 2021
I picked this up based on the cover and the blurb and I'm so glad that I did. This is a very unique story with characters that I've not read about before. The world building is incredibly detailed and I fell in love with the whole parcel of colorful characters. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series and I absolutely recommend this one.
11 reviews
May 21, 2022
surprisingly good read

Nice plot, well written and engaging. Even the pacing is great. The over arching plot seems interesting. Very excited to see what is next

Only complaint is she absolutely goes overboard with word boy in the final love making scene. It’s jarring and distracts from the story.
Profile Image for Cynthia Gonzalez Diaz.
98 reviews
May 5, 2024
4.5⭐️
I really did enjoy this book , I loved both Shiro and Adam. I hate what Shiro and his brothers had to go through.
I do feel like this book should’ve had a trigger warning in front because, Goodness Shiro has been though so much . And there was also a scene with two poor boys being SA’d.
I am so happy they are safe and everyone one is coming together . I love the ending !! Perfect !
Profile Image for Molly.
212 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2021
I loved this Action packed Paranormal Mafia-Styled Alpha/Omega m/m love story with Beastkins. I couldn't put this down. I read the ARC, and I can't wait to read the next book. The author built a really interesting world, and it builds up for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Joscelyn Smith.
2,364 reviews17 followers
April 26, 2021
Enjoyable series opener

I'm always on the lookout for a good shifter book, I like seeing how different authors envision the trope. Adam and Shiro were great characters and I really enjoyed this first entry into their journey, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
500 reviews7 followers
April 27, 2021
Beautiful

I mean what can you expect? I love Shiro, he’s had a hard live from losing his mom to being rented out to nasty men. This book will leave you with a cliffhanger and there will be a part 2 so beware but at the same time it’s also very captivating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews