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Bonds of Slavery
Ryan’s Story Begins.
OBEDIENCE IS SURVIVAL
RESISTANCE IS PAIN
In a future where freedom has a price, how far would you go to survive?
The year is 2045. America’s war on drugs has turned into a war on its own people. Overcrowded prisons and a ruthless new administration give rise to the Chainmark Act – a brutal solution to prison population control, cloaked as justice.
Ryan Murphy, sixteen and already hardened by life on the streets of New York, becomes one of the first minors “offered” into the program. Sentenced for a crime he didn’t fully understand, Ryan is sold to Brad Wilkins, a sadistic Texas rancher who sees obedience as the only law.
As Ryan grapples with pain, isolation and control, he must learn the rules of survival in a system designed to break him. But even in the darkest corners of captivity, hope flickers – because Ryan knows that survival isn’t enough.
He wants to live.
And he wants to be free.
671 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
About the author
Charley Mayne
6 books11 followersCharley is a caffeine and nicotine addict. She writes in a small room with low lighting. She doesn’t let herself smoke inside. but her desk is covered in empty cups and wrappers.
Ryan’s story was born on a beach. She wrote the first three chapters in a tiny notebook while staring at the sea. It was meant to be one book. Then it took on a life of its own.
The world is a fucked up place. People suffer every day. In different ways. In silence.
Charley wanted to write about them.
Not about heroes. Not about love stories.
But about the ones who suffer in the dark.
The ones nobody sees.
The Chainmark Series is her answer to a world that breaks people.
It’s not pretty. It’s not polite. (Neither is she—Charley’s a sarcastic bitch with a foul mouth and no interest in writing happy endings.)
But it’s honest. Raw. Shocking.
Ryan’s story was born on a beach. She wrote the first three chapters in a tiny notebook while staring at the sea. It was meant to be one book. Then it took on a life of its own.
The world is a fucked up place. People suffer every day. In different ways. In silence.
Charley wanted to write about them.
Not about heroes. Not about love stories.
But about the ones who suffer in the dark.
The ones nobody sees.
The Chainmark Series is her answer to a world that breaks people.
It’s not pretty. It’s not polite. (Neither is she—Charley’s a sarcastic bitch with a foul mouth and no interest in writing happy endings.)
But it’s honest. Raw. Shocking.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 29, 2026
"Bonds of Slavery" was an intensely claustrophobic reading experience, and I mean that as a compliment. There were scenes that were genuinely hard to get through: sexual violence, torture, cruelty that understands no mercy. But this story never uses brutality for shock value. It uses it to tell the truth.
Survival isn’t pretty. Survival is enduring one day at a time, and this book captures that with painful honesty.
I was completely invested in Ryan. I cared about him, worried about him, and kept turning pages because I needed to know if he would make it through. Wilkins is the kind of antagonist you don’t just hate, he makes your skin crawl. And his wife, with her quiet compliance, might have unsettled me even more. The banality of cruelty is often the most disturbing part.
This is a relentless page-turner set in a world that feels oppressive, brutal, and terrifyingly plausible. It’s not an easy read, but it’s a powerful one. If you’re looking for a dark dystopian story about endurance, loss of autonomy, and the raw will to survive, "Bonds of Slavery" delivers without compromise.
Highly recommended, just know what you’re walking into.
Survival isn’t pretty. Survival is enduring one day at a time, and this book captures that with painful honesty.
I was completely invested in Ryan. I cared about him, worried about him, and kept turning pages because I needed to know if he would make it through. Wilkins is the kind of antagonist you don’t just hate, he makes your skin crawl. And his wife, with her quiet compliance, might have unsettled me even more. The banality of cruelty is often the most disturbing part.
This is a relentless page-turner set in a world that feels oppressive, brutal, and terrifyingly plausible. It’s not an easy read, but it’s a powerful one. If you’re looking for a dark dystopian story about endurance, loss of autonomy, and the raw will to survive, "Bonds of Slavery" delivers without compromise.
Highly recommended, just know what you’re walking into.
December 13, 2025
This book was so disgusting and raw but I fell in love with Ryan as a character he’s someone you just adore even though he was treated like a slave for something he didn’t comment doing his older brother Trey was abusive too and this book was so grossed by how Wilkins treated him this one made me angry and sad but I loved Ryan even though this was underbelly book of Truma and pain along with loneliness they’re light hearted moments too when Ryan friendship with Mateo grew and how Annie the lunch lady made sure Ryan was fed well at school along with the Coach wanting to make sure Murphy was okay and this was not something easy to read they’re times you would definitely take a pause because of the stuff Ryan goes through is sickening I gave this five stars because it was so well written having to do risky things to survive in a place that could end your entire life
December 7, 2025
This book... Wiped. Me. Clean.
Clean of tears. Clean of fears.
Clean of every little silly annoyance in my privileged life where I am not Ryan.
Because this book grabbed my soul into a fist. Raw and painful. Poked a finger in all of my wounds. Cut out new ones I did not even see coming. And I forgot about me entirely. There was only Ryan and his pain.
The unique writing style has a rhythm of its own. Once you tune into it, you feel everything that much deeper.
I am definitely starting with the next one right away. And it is not a joyful kind of anticipation. No, it is the dark and strong pull that you just cannot say 'no' to.
Clean of tears. Clean of fears.
Clean of every little silly annoyance in my privileged life where I am not Ryan.
Because this book grabbed my soul into a fist. Raw and painful. Poked a finger in all of my wounds. Cut out new ones I did not even see coming. And I forgot about me entirely. There was only Ryan and his pain.
The unique writing style has a rhythm of its own. Once you tune into it, you feel everything that much deeper.
I am definitely starting with the next one right away. And it is not a joyful kind of anticipation. No, it is the dark and strong pull that you just cannot say 'no' to.
March 18, 2026
Okay, so I had some time to sleep on my thoughts. I was in a huge book slump prior to picking this book up, and it immediately said “bye slump!” This book sucks you in from the very beginning and doesn’t let go until the very end. I had a hard time putting it down.
Now let’s discuss the content. Yes, it’s HARD! It’s not for the faint of heart. The things that Ryan endures in this story is absolutely heartbreaking & made me really want to reach into the book and throat punch all the adults! Please read the content warnings & take it seriously, your mental health matters.
However, let’s be honest, the things that occur in this book happen in real life. Maybe not the being sold as a slave part, but we are all slaves to something in our lives in a way. Charley did not skirt around the hard topics, she eloquently laid them out and ripped our hearts open with them.
The amount of times that I said WTF while reading this book is immeasurable. From Ryan’s crap excuse for a brother, to the prison guard who handed him over, to Eight Ball, to the other prisoners, ESPECIALLY Wilkins, his wife, and even Dalton. They all failed a kid. And Lucinda… don’t get me started on that trash! I was screaming at her. Yes, my kindle, but still at her!
Now on to The Boy bc I NEED answers, and I’m praying things improve for Ryan.
Now let’s discuss the content. Yes, it’s HARD! It’s not for the faint of heart. The things that Ryan endures in this story is absolutely heartbreaking & made me really want to reach into the book and throat punch all the adults! Please read the content warnings & take it seriously, your mental health matters.
However, let’s be honest, the things that occur in this book happen in real life. Maybe not the being sold as a slave part, but we are all slaves to something in our lives in a way. Charley did not skirt around the hard topics, she eloquently laid them out and ripped our hearts open with them.
The amount of times that I said WTF while reading this book is immeasurable. From Ryan’s crap excuse for a brother, to the prison guard who handed him over, to Eight Ball, to the other prisoners, ESPECIALLY Wilkins, his wife, and even Dalton. They all failed a kid. And Lucinda… don’t get me started on that trash! I was screaming at her. Yes, my kindle, but still at her!
Now on to The Boy bc I NEED answers, and I’m praying things improve for Ryan.
January 27, 2026
This isn’t a story you just read. It’s one you survive alongside, and that’s exactly why I give it a solid 5 stars.
I went in anticipating the hype around it (which, I assure you is very earned). I was craving the intense emotional experience everyone is talking about, and I got everything I hoped for!
Ryan is the kind of MMC who you instantly ache for. His resilience isn’t written as superhuman, it’s grounded and creditable. Watching him fight to keep his sense of self was gut wrenching, especially because it’s such a relatable fear.
This book consistently refuses to soften what loss of agency can actually do to a person. I winced and said “oh, please no” just from chapter titles! There were moments where I had to put the book down and collect myself. And I mean that as the highest compliment a reader can give.
I wouldn’t call it a comfortable read, but nothing is written for shock value. You aren’t just being told Ryan’s story, you’re feeling it. And that feeling sticks even after finishing the book!
I HIGHLY recommend this to readers who can handle dark material, psychological survival stories, and who appreciate a story that refuses to cheapen trauma.
I went in anticipating the hype around it (which, I assure you is very earned). I was craving the intense emotional experience everyone is talking about, and I got everything I hoped for!
Ryan is the kind of MMC who you instantly ache for. His resilience isn’t written as superhuman, it’s grounded and creditable. Watching him fight to keep his sense of self was gut wrenching, especially because it’s such a relatable fear.
This book consistently refuses to soften what loss of agency can actually do to a person. I winced and said “oh, please no” just from chapter titles! There were moments where I had to put the book down and collect myself. And I mean that as the highest compliment a reader can give.
I wouldn’t call it a comfortable read, but nothing is written for shock value. You aren’t just being told Ryan’s story, you’re feeling it. And that feeling sticks even after finishing the book!
I HIGHLY recommend this to readers who can handle dark material, psychological survival stories, and who appreciate a story that refuses to cheapen trauma.
February 1, 2026
I just finished this amazing book. All I have right now is silence. When I have time to digest everything , I will come back and right a better review.
All I can say is this is a MUST read. Just check the TW.
————————————-
Round Two :) two weeks later. ……….2/1
I needed a few weeks to digest how this book made me feel. This book touched my soul in such a way that left me thoughtful of all the possibilities if slavery was an option. This story is not a pretty one, it’s brutal and extremely oppressive actually. However, this book won’t let you put it down until you are done. The author does a spectacular job to engrave all the emotions that the MMC feels in your bones. I felt I was walking beside him.
For me this book made me go so still, but internally I was screaming, crying, and so much more. The words in this book just leap out and suck you in.
Such an amazing page turner, Just read your trigger warnings before you start. This book is not for the faint of heart.
All I can say is this is a MUST read. Just check the TW.
————————————-
Round Two :) two weeks later. ……….2/1
I needed a few weeks to digest how this book made me feel. This book touched my soul in such a way that left me thoughtful of all the possibilities if slavery was an option. This story is not a pretty one, it’s brutal and extremely oppressive actually. However, this book won’t let you put it down until you are done. The author does a spectacular job to engrave all the emotions that the MMC feels in your bones. I felt I was walking beside him.
For me this book made me go so still, but internally I was screaming, crying, and so much more. The words in this book just leap out and suck you in.
Such an amazing page turner, Just read your trigger warnings before you start. This book is not for the faint of heart.
January 9, 2026
Some books hurt.
And then there are books that gutt you, leave you hollowed out, staring at the wall, wondering how words on a page managed to reach so deep inside your chest.
Bonds of Slavery and The Boy are not gentle reads. They are harsh, painful, and unflinchingly raw and yet impossibly beautiful in their execution. Charley Mayne doesn’t just tell a story; she forces you to feel it. Every emotion is written with such precision that it seeps into your skin and settles in your bones.
These are the kinds of books that hurt to read, not because they are badly written, quite the opposite, but because they are so well written that there is no escape. You don’t observe the pain from a distance. You live it. You carry it. You break with it.
I cried.
Not quietly.
Not delicately.
I cried the kind of tears that leave your face aching and your heart bruised, and I’m not ashamed of that. These books earned every tear.
What makes them unforgettable is not just the suffering but the emotional depth, the humanity, and the courage it takes to tell stories like this without softening the edges. They are uncomfortable. They are devastating. And they are necessary.
This is not light reading.
This is not something you pick up casually.
But if you want books that will stay with you, challenge you, and remind you why stories matter, put these on your TBR!
Consider this your warning and your invitation:
If you read them, be prepared to feel everything.
2026 TBR material. No question. 💔📚
And then there are books that gutt you, leave you hollowed out, staring at the wall, wondering how words on a page managed to reach so deep inside your chest.
Bonds of Slavery and The Boy are not gentle reads. They are harsh, painful, and unflinchingly raw and yet impossibly beautiful in their execution. Charley Mayne doesn’t just tell a story; she forces you to feel it. Every emotion is written with such precision that it seeps into your skin and settles in your bones.
These are the kinds of books that hurt to read, not because they are badly written, quite the opposite, but because they are so well written that there is no escape. You don’t observe the pain from a distance. You live it. You carry it. You break with it.
I cried.
Not quietly.
Not delicately.
I cried the kind of tears that leave your face aching and your heart bruised, and I’m not ashamed of that. These books earned every tear.
What makes them unforgettable is not just the suffering but the emotional depth, the humanity, and the courage it takes to tell stories like this without softening the edges. They are uncomfortable. They are devastating. And they are necessary.
This is not light reading.
This is not something you pick up casually.
But if you want books that will stay with you, challenge you, and remind you why stories matter, put these on your TBR!
Consider this your warning and your invitation:
If you read them, be prepared to feel everything.
2026 TBR material. No question. 💔📚
February 24, 2026
I dont even know what to write! My mind is till going a mile a minute thinking about this story. This book gutted me like literally ripped my heart to shreds.
Charley’s writing is so captivating and drags you in kicking and screaming and doesn’t let go. She made you feel like you were a part of the story, this one in heavy and intense, but it’s a story that needs to be told and read. Even though it’s fictional, you feel like this cld actually happen in real life and I’m sure it probably does, we just don’t know about the depths of it.
I’m still trying to wrap my brain around everything that Ryan had to go through and the lengths of his strength, he never gave up, he kept on going and the strength and resilience that boy has is remarkable! I absolutely hate Wilkins and his wife and so many other characters that Ryan had to deal with and encounter. I wld have gave up, I wld never have been able to take all the beatings and the belittling he had to go through without saying a word or making a move. He was quite literally a slave and as a slave you obeyed EVERY single command or you paid dearly for it!
I have to take a break before I start into book 2. But I’m anxious to see what happens to Ryan.
Charley’s writing is so captivating and drags you in kicking and screaming and doesn’t let go. She made you feel like you were a part of the story, this one in heavy and intense, but it’s a story that needs to be told and read. Even though it’s fictional, you feel like this cld actually happen in real life and I’m sure it probably does, we just don’t know about the depths of it.
I’m still trying to wrap my brain around everything that Ryan had to go through and the lengths of his strength, he never gave up, he kept on going and the strength and resilience that boy has is remarkable! I absolutely hate Wilkins and his wife and so many other characters that Ryan had to deal with and encounter. I wld have gave up, I wld never have been able to take all the beatings and the belittling he had to go through without saying a word or making a move. He was quite literally a slave and as a slave you obeyed EVERY single command or you paid dearly for it!
I have to take a break before I start into book 2. But I’m anxious to see what happens to Ryan.
January 29, 2026
Is this book for everyone? Absolutely not. Should everyone read it? Absolutely. Is the style of prose to everyone's liking? Unlikely. But there are moments of real beauty in this writing which are a welcome relief from the jarring horror of the subject matter. Ryan's reality is, thankfully, unfamiliar to many of us; at least, to many of us who enjoy a privileged existence in which we can while away time reading. The truth is that there are likely to be many who struggle daily with versions of his story and that is what makes reading this book so essential. The moments of brutality punctuate the narrative like the chimes of a clock - we know they're coming, they are almost hypnotic in their repetitous nature yet each one stands out and calls on us to pay attention. The amazing thing is that Mayne manages to hold our attention, or rather grip it, in spite of the constant return to these moments. Ryan's journey moves along just enough to provide both him and the reader some respite, at times even hope, before the next phase of criminal punishment comes his way. This is a brave novel, unrelenting and unapologetic in both style and content matter but don't let that put you off. If you can truly have empathy for Ryan and can bear to open your mind and heart to go on this journey with him, you will be rewarded, not with a Hollywood ending but with the knowledge that you are living a free life. And that should be enough for anyone.
March 15, 2026
4.5⭐️ Rating
The Bonds of Slavery is set in 2045, where America’s war on drugs has led to overcrowded prisons and a ruthless new solution: certain inmates can be sold into a government-sanctioned “slave work program.”
That’s where we meet Ryan.
Ryan is 16 years old—a kid who never should have ended up in prison in the first place. After unknowingly carrying drugs for his brother, he’s charged as an adult and thrown into a system where abuse and violence are part of daily survival.
To escape what’s happening inside the prison, Ryan agrees to join the slave program, believing working on a ranch might be the better option.
It isn’t.
No matter what he does, it’s never right. The cruelty doesn’t stop, and at sixteen he has no one coming to save him.
Readers should know going in: this book is heavy. There’s no heroic rescue or uplifting moment—just a boy trying desperately to survive and hold on to who he is.
The way the author writes Ryan’s repeated thoughts and behaviors shows how hard he’s fighting not to lose himself. The writing style is unique and different and I think it is what made this book for me!
By the end, I was so connected to this boy I would burn the world down to save him.
The Bonds of Slavery is set in 2045, where America’s war on drugs has led to overcrowded prisons and a ruthless new solution: certain inmates can be sold into a government-sanctioned “slave work program.”
That’s where we meet Ryan.
Ryan is 16 years old—a kid who never should have ended up in prison in the first place. After unknowingly carrying drugs for his brother, he’s charged as an adult and thrown into a system where abuse and violence are part of daily survival.
To escape what’s happening inside the prison, Ryan agrees to join the slave program, believing working on a ranch might be the better option.
It isn’t.
No matter what he does, it’s never right. The cruelty doesn’t stop, and at sixteen he has no one coming to save him.
Readers should know going in: this book is heavy. There’s no heroic rescue or uplifting moment—just a boy trying desperately to survive and hold on to who he is.
The way the author writes Ryan’s repeated thoughts and behaviors shows how hard he’s fighting not to lose himself. The writing style is unique and different and I think it is what made this book for me!
By the end, I was so connected to this boy I would burn the world down to save him.
October 15, 2025
This book was a lot to take in. I think the author did a great job of highlighting the problems people face with the justice system when family is associated with criminal activity. In addition, the author places a new spin on the idea of slavery as it is applied to the justice system. The MMC is heartbreaking in his struggle to survive prison overcrowding and being placed in a facility he doesn't belong in and then given the choice of the lesser of two evils. Once Ryan chooses to become a slave to escape his prison torment, he is then placed in a position to further survive his owner. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does. The author gives the reader (and the MMC) hope, only to watch it vanish. Charley does an excellent job giving the different characters different voices that highlight their roles within the storyline. I did cry while reading this! It is an emotional read.
October 27, 2025
This book is not a fun reading experience. I cannot say I enjoyed it because that is not the right word however, I could not put it down and it is exceptionally well written. I was transfixed although, it is pure trauma from start to finish. I would have liked more periods of light but then it wouldn’t be real and that’s what the book is, real and raw. It is really well written with a unique writing style that highlights the monotony and torment of Ryan’s life. Definitely one to read if you want something hard hitting and emotional. One that leaves you staring at the ceiling.
May 20, 2026
The perfect word for this book is bittersweet. “It captures the sensation of experiencing a beautifully written or engaging story that brings pain, sorrow, or heavy emotions. You enjoy the brilliance and impact of the writing, even though the content itself is emotionally devastating.” I need you to be prepared for the devastation within this book. If you are not ready to hear some harsh realities that occur in this fictional setting, step away right now. The author is well aware that this book isn’t for everyone.
Oh Charley… Oh reader… I put this series off for months. I knew my heart would hurt. I knew I would never be the same. I knew that I would absolutely adore Ryan and absolutely h8 Wilkins. I knew all of these things. But the actual experience of stepping into this story; I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for this. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for this. For how much I want to hurt the people that hurt the soul within these pages. For how much I want to stand in between EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE that tries to harm Ryan. How I want to step in between every punch, whip, switch, lash and turn them around on all of the people that stand by and watch in this story, to the ‘man’ whose sadistic mind enjoys the harm he causes, and especially to everyone that gave Wilkins excuses to perpetrate the harm he caused.
Thank you Charley, from the bottom of my heart, for pulling this story out of the deepest parts of your mind and soul. Thank you for being brave enough to share it with the world. Thank you for allowing me to put off reading this without giving me too much crap, because I think we both knew I would be forever changed by this story. Just, thank you.
Reader beware, if you are not prepared for emotional devastation, no HEA (at least not yet) and don’t listen to the warning the author gives in the beginning of this book, step away. But if you are brave enough. Dive into this world, you will forever be changed by it.
Oh Charley… Oh reader… I put this series off for months. I knew my heart would hurt. I knew I would never be the same. I knew that I would absolutely adore Ryan and absolutely h8 Wilkins. I knew all of these things. But the actual experience of stepping into this story; I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for this. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for this. For how much I want to hurt the people that hurt the soul within these pages. For how much I want to stand in between EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE that tries to harm Ryan. How I want to step in between every punch, whip, switch, lash and turn them around on all of the people that stand by and watch in this story, to the ‘man’ whose sadistic mind enjoys the harm he causes, and especially to everyone that gave Wilkins excuses to perpetrate the harm he caused.
Thank you Charley, from the bottom of my heart, for pulling this story out of the deepest parts of your mind and soul. Thank you for being brave enough to share it with the world. Thank you for allowing me to put off reading this without giving me too much crap, because I think we both knew I would be forever changed by this story. Just, thank you.
Reader beware, if you are not prepared for emotional devastation, no HEA (at least not yet) and don’t listen to the warning the author gives in the beginning of this book, step away. But if you are brave enough. Dive into this world, you will forever be changed by it.
December 19, 2025
Bonds of Slavery is a gripping and emotionally charged story that follows sixteen-year-old Ryan, whose single mistake spirals into a nightmare far beyond anything he could have imagined. After being caught up in his brother’s choices, Ryan is tried as an adult under strict drug laws and sentenced to four years—only he isn’t sent to a juvenile facility. Instead, he’s thrown into a maximum-security prison where survival becomes his only focus.
When repeated hospital visits place him in the path of a doctor with a hidden agenda, Ryan is coerced into a horrifying “program” that strips him of his freedom and identity. Sold to a man named Wilkins, Ryan is relocated to a Texas ranch where he is no longer seen as a teenager or even a human being—he is “Boy.” The rules are brutal, the punishments are severe, and every moment tests his spirit.
What makes this story unforgettable is Ryan himself. The author’s portrayal of his inner strength, fear, and vulnerability is raw and painfully authentic. His memories of his nana and his life before all of this are the thin threads he clings to, and as a reader, you cling to them with him.
This book doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality of abuse, injustice, and the horrors of exploitation. But within that darkness, there’s a powerful exploration of resilience and the desperate will to survive. It’s unsettling, emotional, and deeply impactful.
By the end, you aren’t just reading Ryan’s story—you’re feeling it. You’re rooting for him, aching for him, and questioning along with him whether he can endure or if this new world will break him entirely.
An intense and unforgettable start to a series that promises even more.
When repeated hospital visits place him in the path of a doctor with a hidden agenda, Ryan is coerced into a horrifying “program” that strips him of his freedom and identity. Sold to a man named Wilkins, Ryan is relocated to a Texas ranch where he is no longer seen as a teenager or even a human being—he is “Boy.” The rules are brutal, the punishments are severe, and every moment tests his spirit.
What makes this story unforgettable is Ryan himself. The author’s portrayal of his inner strength, fear, and vulnerability is raw and painfully authentic. His memories of his nana and his life before all of this are the thin threads he clings to, and as a reader, you cling to them with him.
This book doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality of abuse, injustice, and the horrors of exploitation. But within that darkness, there’s a powerful exploration of resilience and the desperate will to survive. It’s unsettling, emotional, and deeply impactful.
By the end, you aren’t just reading Ryan’s story—you’re feeling it. You’re rooting for him, aching for him, and questioning along with him whether he can endure or if this new world will break him entirely.
An intense and unforgettable start to a series that promises even more.
April 21, 2026
“One hundred and eighty years after slavery was abolished in the United States… it was brought back.”
I’ve always been the type to test my limits. You don’t really know what you can handle until something forces you to find out.
This book?
Yeah… it found mine.
Set in 2045, we follow Ryan—just sixteen—who makes one mistake. A stupid one. The kind most people would expect a slap on the wrist for.
That’s not what he gets.
What he’s forced into is brutal, dehumanizing, and honestly hard to even process at times.
I’m not exaggerating when I say this book broke me. I had to stop reading more than once just to breathe. Just to reset.
“Stay quiet. Stand still. Stay quiet. Stand still. Stay quiet. Stand still”
This line still sits on your chest. 😭
The writing is raw and immersive in a way that doesn’t let you look away. I didn’t just read Ryan’s story, I felt every second of it. Every ounce of fear, pain, and helplessness.
Sleep didn’t exist for me.
Peace of mind was nonexistent. Not til i finished it
By the end, I wasn’t just emotional..I was gutted.
This is not an easy read. It’s not supposed to be. And it’s definitely not for everyone.
But if you can handle something heavy..something dark, suffocating, and brutally honest...this is one of those books that stays with you long after you finish it.
Just do yourself a favor...
Check the trigger warnings. Seriously.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 17, 2026
Set in a chilling vision of 2045, this novel imagines a future where the war on drugs has escalated into something far more sinister, a war on people themselves. Ryan, the protagonist, is sentenced for a crime and sold into forced labor on a Texas ranch owned by the deeply cruel Brad Wilkins and his equally ruthless wife. What unfolds is a harrowing story of suffering, endurance, and the will to survive.
This was not an easy book to read but that’s precisely what makes it so powerful. I found myself staying up far too late, unable to put it down, desperate to know if Ryan would make it through. The tension is relentless, and while not every question is answered, that ambiguity only adds to the story’s impact.
The writing is gripping, raw, and emotionally charged, yet it flows with a striking elegance. Ryan’s journey is painful to witness; the depth of his suffering would break most people. And yet, he refuses to give up. At its core, this is a story about survival against overwhelming odds.
Even after finishing it, I can’t stop thinking about it. A testament to how deeply it resonates.
This was not an easy book to read but that’s precisely what makes it so powerful. I found myself staying up far too late, unable to put it down, desperate to know if Ryan would make it through. The tension is relentless, and while not every question is answered, that ambiguity only adds to the story’s impact.
The writing is gripping, raw, and emotionally charged, yet it flows with a striking elegance. Ryan’s journey is painful to witness; the depth of his suffering would break most people. And yet, he refuses to give up. At its core, this is a story about survival against overwhelming odds.
Even after finishing it, I can’t stop thinking about it. A testament to how deeply it resonates.
January 15, 2026
This story is a masterpiece. There’s no other way to explain it. Charley does something unique and beautiful with her writing that not only makes you feel the characters’ pain, but it allows to live in it throughout the entire book. It’s not a story that you devour in one day. You take it in small pieces and every one is better than the last. The emotions I felt while reading this were so real at times I had to put it down and bring myself back to reality.
The writing style is poetic and lyrical. It’s addicting. In a book that is consumed by rules and strict guidelines, Charley makes her own rules. I didn’t rush through this, expecting a happily ever after. I savored it slowly, knowing that each page would hit me a little deeper. And it did. To the point that it felt neglectful to leave Ryan when I finished it, and I immediately started reading the next book in the series.
This isn’t a request. It’s a harsh cry for anyone who wants to feel the pain of this story deeply and then claw their way back for more.
Read this.
The writing style is poetic and lyrical. It’s addicting. In a book that is consumed by rules and strict guidelines, Charley makes her own rules. I didn’t rush through this, expecting a happily ever after. I savored it slowly, knowing that each page would hit me a little deeper. And it did. To the point that it felt neglectful to leave Ryan when I finished it, and I immediately started reading the next book in the series.
This isn’t a request. It’s a harsh cry for anyone who wants to feel the pain of this story deeply and then claw their way back for more.
Read this.
September 23, 2025
This book is different.
The writing style isn’t what I’m used to, and honestly? I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first. It’s spare. Quiet. Almost too quiet sometimes—but that’s also what makes it stick.
It made me uncomfortable.
Not in a bad way, just… in a Handmaid’s Tale kind of way. Like I was watching something I shouldn’t be seeing, but I couldn’t look away.
Ryan, the main character, is heartbreakingly real. Not dramatic. Not overly written. Just there, surviving, and that hurt more than I expected.
I’m not sure “enjoyed” is the right word. But I’m still thinking about it.
And I definitely want to read the next one.
The writing style isn’t what I’m used to, and honestly? I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first. It’s spare. Quiet. Almost too quiet sometimes—but that’s also what makes it stick.
It made me uncomfortable.
Not in a bad way, just… in a Handmaid’s Tale kind of way. Like I was watching something I shouldn’t be seeing, but I couldn’t look away.
Ryan, the main character, is heartbreakingly real. Not dramatic. Not overly written. Just there, surviving, and that hurt more than I expected.
I’m not sure “enjoyed” is the right word. But I’m still thinking about it.
And I definitely want to read the next one.
November 20, 2025
Dark, dystopian and heart thumpingly tense, this was a book that I couldn't put down, Ryan living rent free in my head and bringing me back to bear witness. I was working in the heat of that vast Texas landscape with him, feeling the fear and wanting to look away, but I couldn't stop reading. The author built a believably brutal world, not too far removed from our present day, with a scarily simple depiction of 21st century slavery. It's an adrenalin pumping, page-turning rollercoaster. I can't wait to see what's coming next.
January 13, 2026
This was a 5 star read for me. I love something a bit different, gritty, sometimes hard to read and Bonds of Slavery ticked all the boxes.
It follows the tragedy of Ryan, a boy who deserved nothing he received. A boy whose life descended from bad to worse. A boy who’ll capture your heart and will make you wish you could help him.
Bonds of Slavery is brilliantly written. Charley Mayne’s razor sharp, punchy writing style captures and reflects the essence of the story perfectly.
I urge you to read this book. I’m off to buy book 2, The Boy, right now!
It follows the tragedy of Ryan, a boy who deserved nothing he received. A boy whose life descended from bad to worse. A boy who’ll capture your heart and will make you wish you could help him.
Bonds of Slavery is brilliantly written. Charley Mayne’s razor sharp, punchy writing style captures and reflects the essence of the story perfectly.
I urge you to read this book. I’m off to buy book 2, The Boy, right now!
September 23, 2025
Finished in one sitting.
Started this way too late at night and now it’s 3AM and I’m just… staring at the ceiling.
This book doesn’t hold your hand. It’s raw, tense, and honestly hard to read at times but in the best way. I couldn’t stop.
Ryan’s not some action hero. He’s just a kid trying to survive something unthinkable, and the way it’s written makes it feel so real.
It hurt. But I couldn’t stop.
Still thinking about it.
Started this way too late at night and now it’s 3AM and I’m just… staring at the ceiling.
This book doesn’t hold your hand. It’s raw, tense, and honestly hard to read at times but in the best way. I couldn’t stop.
Ryan’s not some action hero. He’s just a kid trying to survive something unthinkable, and the way it’s written makes it feel so real.
It hurt. But I couldn’t stop.
Still thinking about it.
March 27, 2026
Oh my heart breaks for Ryan. The stuff this boy has to go through even before he is bought is horrible.
Wilkins is the definition of the devil. That is one evil sick twisted man. His wife is as well for allowing him to treat that boy that way. And the school for not turning him in are equally as evil.
This book will make you think. I cannot wait to finish Ryan’s story. I hope he gets a happy ending. No human should have to go through this amount of torture.
Wilkins is the definition of the devil. That is one evil sick twisted man. His wife is as well for allowing him to treat that boy that way. And the school for not turning him in are equally as evil.
This book will make you think. I cannot wait to finish Ryan’s story. I hope he gets a happy ending. No human should have to go through this amount of torture.
January 19, 2026
Omg what can I say about this book. It is hard to read but in the best way ever. It has some very sensitive elements ( torture, sexual abuse, physical and psychological abuse). It’s a story of survival and how an innocent boy fights to survive the life he is living. It is emotional and I had an absolute instant connection to Ryan. It is such an emotional and profound story. I can’t wait to continue reading Ryan’s story. Such a page turner. Everyone should take a moment and read this one
December 1, 2025
Written in a very unique style, almost like reading poetry in some places. This is a very heart breaking story, perfect if you want to cry your eyes out.
March 10, 2026
Heart wrenching and emotional, loved it!
One of the most emotionally charged books, I have ever read! My heart bleeds for Ryan! Epic read and would highly recommend.
One of the most emotionally charged books, I have ever read! My heart bleeds for Ryan! Epic read and would highly recommend.
April 8, 2026
Incredibly gripping could not put it down.
April 25, 2026
What a read, not a romance but a pitch black survivor story.
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