Bound in Thorns

Blood and Beasts #1

by Aerowyn Wahya

She was promised to one man. Claimed by four. And fate is just getting started.

Gabriella’s future is set—or so she believes. She’s engaged to her childhood sweetheart, a golden boy with charm to spare and secrets buried deep. But when a journey through the cursed Redlyn forest turns deadly, everything changes.

Attacked by Fae Wolves and left for dead, Gabby is rescued by the very monsters she was raised to fear. Deep in the forest, hidden from the war tearing the realm apart, four exiled warriors take her in. Journey. Talon. August. Percival. They are brutal, scarred, and bound to each other in ways Gabby doesn’t understand. And somehow, fate has bound them to her too.

With a strange magic blooming beneath her skin and a mark that ties her to a forgotten blessing, Gabby discovers a truth she cannot outrun. The pull between her and the beasts is undeniable—and forbidden. Torn between loyalty to the life she knew and the men who awaken her soul, Gabby must make an impossible choice.

One man to escort her back to safety. One step closer to the truth. One spark away from losing control.

Dive into Bound in Thorns, the captivating first book in the Blood and Beasts trilogy—a romantasy filled with steamy tension, found family, fated mates, MM connections, and a slow-burn why-choose romance that proves sometimes the monsters are the ones worth loving.

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Witches, Adult, Shapeshifters, Amazon

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

From the mountaintops of the Appalachian Region that she calls home, to the surf of the raging beaches, Aerowyn loves the outdoors and all that it has to offer. She has a deep appreciation for the eco-system and how every single element, creature, and cellular system works together in tandem to create a massive universe system that we call our home.

Aero is of Native American of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Tribe decent, and calls the southeastern countryside home. She is much younger than most think she is, and she enjoys the suspense of it!

The name Aerowyn Wahya is a pen name, and hails from Aero’s love of the fantasy genre (Aerowyn) and cultural history from her Cherokee heritage. The wahya which means wolf, has always held a cherised place in her life and dreams.

Aero is a mother, and devoted wife to a wonderful man who supports her in all of her endeavors. She can often be found teasing her child about something in the “Harry Potter” movies, or reading a book on her kindle.

She is an avid lover of romance, fantasy, and his-torical fiction. Knocking away between 300-400 novels per year even as a full-time author!

She hopes that you will continue to support her and her smutty, fantasy, why choose adventures in the future.

Reviews

[Cheyyleigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. The amount of confusion and time it took me to figure out this was a republish of Lethal Grace was far too long and I wasn't honest God confused on how two people could come up with this story and only one change from the beginning of the story kept me guessing if I was losing my mind....spoilers maybe?


Okay. so let's take a trip back in time to when I picked up Lethal Grace. I was not on board with her weird curse in that book. he Vagina was sealed shut until her mate could undo it. No joke just sealed right up and it was weird. She just did anal with a guy that was THE WORST and was going to settle and marry him. Then she finds her mates and it sort of makes sense that they are her mates etc. Honestly was just very much not my cup of tea at all. Now why do you ask did I pick this book up and read way to much before I had to deep dive and find out it was the same book?

The author took out the weird sealed shit like a gross anatomy project and just added that she couldnt really feel any pleasure with other people and had to wait for her mate. Now, is that infinitely better than reading about all the anal she was getting and how she could just settle for anal and never having children. Sure. I guess, but that is REALLY. not saying much. The main guy from town Aaron was significantly more of a chore to read about in book one two, and the revamp that actually made her seem interested confused me. at least in the first book we understood she was settling and that he was just convenient but the weird part in this one was that she came, and felt feelings but they were just okay....like mam how is that a plot point. How can it be anywhere close to the mate bond....since ya know it's a pretty detailed curse..it just doesn't seem like much thought was put into the revamped curse.

Honestly I'm bummed I wasted more time on this reread essentially and I am DUMFOUNDED by the high ratings this one has. I just had to write this for if I ever come across the description which has NOTHING to do with the story again and get intrigued. Dear future me. move on.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A curse meant as a blessing, a future locked to her mate(s), secrets unknown that could forever change her life. Gabby is was born to her parents, and in their fear for her safety and survival they sought a blessing to keep her safe. What they got was more than they expected.
This book starts out as an interesting romantasy as Gabby’s story unfolds. As a child, her life was normal, but when she hit her teen years...everything changed. A mark appeared on her face, and that’s when her whole life shifted. The teasing started, the stares started, and she came to discover that she was forever changed. Physical pleasure was now outside her reach, but she’d be able to claim it once she found the one destined for her.
Gabby is an overall interesting character. For half the story she’s balanced and seems very kind. She finds some happiness with a boy from her township, but he’s not “the one.” But he’s willing to try and not judge. But when Gabby embarks on a journey to get to a friend who needs her that is when she meets four men who could change everything in her life.
This is where Gabby, unfortunately loses me. Her attitude shifts, in a bad way. She’s over the top with these men acting like it’s their fault she’s in this situation she finds herself in. I like that they remind her they are in the same boat as her, but she comprehends it for a minute, before it’s back to being about her.
There is a steamy scene, but I felt the author was uncomfortable with it because it lacks detail since its MM. I wanted more. Certain scenes lacked detail, while others (Gabby’s emotions & thoughts) got the lion’s share of focus. I wasn’t a fan, but I’m willing to continue the series and see where things go.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So the story starts of explaining that we have a curse and how this curse affects Gabby. I have mixed feelings about Gabby. On one hand I like her as she endures what she has to go through pretty much like a champ, but on the other hand she also seems to in her head too much and doubts a lot of things. We see her settling for the boy in her town, which is completely understandable. But, during the first 60 percent of the book it feels slow as we hear so much internal debating with herself on everything. To me this really drags the story to a degree. We meet four guys who seem to know way more about what is going on with her than she does. All the while we have the internal dialogue with herself. I enjoyed the conversation and scenes with the other characters as it really steps up the story. The story picks up towards the end which really makes the story interesting. We end in a slight cliffhanger that honestly has me curious about the direction the story is taking.

[b00ks_in_nature · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
Gabby's (and our) introduction to Talon, Percival, Journey, and August was intense! The connection she forms with each is explored fully and not instant or summarized. However, there are things in their way! There is also some MM, which I appreciated. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one (I abhor cliffhangers because I'm incredibly impatient!).

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bound in Thorns" serves as a wonderful introduction to the Blood and Beasts trilogy, weaving a rich tapestry of fantasy, romance, and adventure that hooked me from the very first page.

Aerowyn Wahya’s storytelling draws you into a world filled with mystery, danger, and the profound complexities of love and loyalty.

The story centers around Gabriella, or Gabby, a young woman who finds herself at a crossroads between the life she has always known and the startling new reality that unfolds as she navigates a cursed forest known as the Redlyn. Gabby
Is all set to marry her childhood sweetheart, (charming/sweet but something about him I’m not sure of! 🤔) when something happens and she exposed to four enigmatic warriors. (Journey, Talon, August, and Percival.) Each man brings something out in Gabby that her childhood sweetheart never did. There is also something about each of them that had my heart melting 🫠

We watch as Gabby grows in both strength confidence, we read as she grapples with her wanting both her past life (the security) and this new exciting life that’s almost within her grasp.
The dynamics among the four warriors adds yet more to the story. They have their pasts, their darkness and motivation for wanting Gabby (it’s not all as it seems! 😉)

The romance in "Bound in Thorns" is just exquisite. A slow-burn approach isn’t my usual go to trope, but this just heightens the emotional stakes. The relationships unfold slowly (sometimes a little too slow 😜!)
The fated mates trope (a favourite trope of mine) is explored in a different way, where the depth of love extends beyond mere physical attraction.

As Gabby grows closer to her rescuers, the bonds they forge become a lifeline against the backdrop of danger and betrayal. The camaraderie among the characters is great, the banter had me chuckling and the touching scenes had me wanting more.

Bringing to life a world filled with vivid landscapes, lush descriptions, and palpable tension, isn’t an easy task. But The author did such a great job that I when I put the book down I was disappointed that I wasn’t in the forest with this group!
Each chapter left me hungry for more, and then the “what are you doing Gabby?” moments! I wanted to shake her Sooooo much! Her heart definitely belonged to her warriors on the woods, but her promise to marry Aaron, although commendable drove me mad! (My poor kindle took the brunt of my frustrations!)

With its enchanting story and compelling characters, this first installment lays the groundwork for a thrilling trilogy that promises more twists and turns.
“Bound in Thorns” does end on a sort of cliffhanger (I wasn’t happy with the ending that’s for sure 😝)

And now I’m eagerly waiting for the next chapter in Gabby’s journey.

🦋

[Tabitha · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @60%: Written by AI. And look, it’s not just the em-dashes—though there are a lot of them—it’s just… everything.

- “It’s not X, it’s Y” construction: “It’s not the world, but it’s a door”; “not threatening, just waiting”; “My body burned not with fever or illness, just memory”
- The clichés are some of GPT’s favorites: “something loosened inside” “smooth/sharp edges” “like I was a puzzle”
- The sentence fragments followed by a similar adjective/adverb: “The words felt small. Insufficient”; “I looked for them and found nothing. No quiet magic. Just empty spaces”; “Love can be constructed […] Steady. Measured. Brick by careful brick”; “The blankets were rough but warm. Familiar. Safe. Boring.”
- Occasionally, you find a metaphor that doesn’t quite make sense, or is self-contradictory: “The walls were thin. Not literally […] but thin in that way you feel in your bones. Every sigh seemed to echo. Every creak in the rafters felt like an accusation.” Um, yeah, I think the walls might be thin in the literal sense then, hon, that’s what “thin walls” means. And then there’s this one: “It was all done to protect me, they always insisted. To spare me from a miserable death from some illness I couldn't recover from, or a life shackled to horrible side effects, or worse, being laid to rest beneath a cold stone.” So, in other words, death, side effects, or, uh, death?
The explanations of the FMC’s curse change and grow more elaborate every time she tells it. There are frequent references to (what I have learned from another Goodreads review) an older version of this book in which the FMC actually had her vaginal opening magically sealed; stuff about not being able to have children, that she and her “settle-for-him” boyfriend were thinking of adoption; a line about “the ass that [her lover] loved so much” landing in the mud (get it? Cause she could only do anal in the original); the MMCs saying “you were cursed to protect your purity” when that just… didn’t apply, lol.

At one point, the FMC faints from shock or… something, and when she wakes up, she immediately goes on a baffling rant about how she’s not a delicate flower who faints when life throws a curve ball… even though that’s exactly what just happened. And it’s portrayed like this “yaasss queen” moment when it is literally anything but. So what I’m trying to say is, the book would suck even if it wasn’t written by AI. All ChatGPT does is give you chunks of text to work with, and the author is the one who sucks at putting together the pieces to string together a narrative.

[Nicanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic start to the trilogy!

📚Book = Trilogy ( Book 1 )
💕Burn = Slow,
🎭OW/OM Drama = No,
🐺 Alpha Men = Yes,
😬Angst = Low,
🍆🌮 MM/FF = Yes, MM
🔸RH/ Poly = RH,
🔹POV = 1st Person, SinglePV,
🔸Genre = Fantasy Romance,
🔹Tropes = MMFMM✨Witches Curse✨Fated Mates✨ Why-choose romance✨Shadowy fae realms✨Choice vs. destiny

I thoroughly enjoyed this first instalment into the magical world of Gabby and her fated mates. There is a fare bit of inner monologue from Gabby and while the monologue provides a lot of insight, I would have loved more dialogue.

The whole world and characters is totally intriguing and I can’t wait to get further into the realms and especially how Gabby and her fated mates relationship develops with her fighting the pull towards them.

I already love the Alphas, they’ve all got great personalities and I love how they each tease Gabby regarding their pull together and her resisting it, especially Percival & Journey. I‘m really looking forward to delving more into each of their personalities.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gabby was born into very loving parents, but she was frail with weak lungs and there was a lot of sickness in the village. So her parents in good faith took her to see a witch, requesting she put a protection spell on Gabby. Unfortunately that’s not what she got, she was given a ‘fated mate curse’. Meaning any forms of pleasure was lost to her, always feeling numb.

Years go by and without any sign of her fated mates, she excepts the courtship and then marriage proposal of Aaron, a blacksmith in the village, who says the curse doesn’t worry him.

Although Gabby doesn’t feel any physical pleasure when she’s with Aaron, she’s made a promise to him to marry. So although she’s now met her fated mates, she’s resisting the pull towards them for the sake of her promise to him and obligations at home. She also wants to make her own choices in life and not be held hostage by fates.

However the bond is already growing between her, August, Journey, Percival and Talon, which the alphas are extremely pleased with and wish to fully bond Gabby. Nonetheless they will not force anything on her, if she wishes to leave they won’t stop her, but they will definitely tempt her, in anyway they can!

✨Really looking forward to next instalment!✨

[Tonika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts with snippets of Gabriella’s early life. And we find out that her curse is that she cannot feel emotions her blessing is that she will not fall to illness. Her kindness is seen as an extraordinary act, when she finds she is just acting on common sense.

So the story starts in snippets of her life, but then things start happening about half way through, and they just happen all at once, and Gabby tells strangers everything all at once, it feels out of character for her seeing as she only told one other person her whole life.

The chapters start a little choppy. Like the chapters don’t flow smoothly from one to the other, sometimes there’s years between them and sometimes it’s the next day.

And then she just loosing all thoughts, like the forest has literally ran off with her brain, no thoughts no normalcy. There was no leaning into it, I mean there is some talk like adults, and boundaries said, but within a 24hr period she tells her deepest secrets and then promptly looses her mind there is no other way to explain it. Cause 25% of the book happens in a 24hr period and Gabby takes a 180 in personality, boundaries, and want.

I know I keep complaining, however I am thoroughly enjoying this book and the story, I just wish it were better laid out, the first have are snippets from the past, then we have another 25% of the book based in a 24hr period, and then the last 25% on the following 25%. And a whole wackado of things happen within those 48hrs its insanity.

Key points in no particular order:
– smutty talk, 0rgasms or lack thereof
– Fated mates
– cursed and blessed
– fae
– Human
– self gratification throughout.
– RH
–

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW – I LOOOOVVEED this story!

I really, really, REALLY enjoyed this story. It was so different and unique than just the normal romantasy. When Gabby was born, her parents feared that she wouldn’t make it, so they asked a witch to put a healing blessing on her so she would live… except she was also marked with a cursed blessing.

Years later, she believes she will never be like other women, and she has decided to settle on having a future with her best friend, since he has been the only man to make her feel ANYTHING – even if its not the soul wrenching feeling that other women talk about. On a journey to help her other female best friend with her baby delivery, she gets lost after being nearly attacked by wolves. When she is saved by strange men, she initially feels uncharacteristically unafraid of them. Each of the 4 men, Talon, Journey, August and Percival, are very different, and they each bring out different emotions and feelings that she’s never experienced before. She is afraid of what that could mean since they are from her people’s enemy, but they are nothing like she thought they would be and different from others of their kind.

After they tell her that they believe she is their soul mate, she doesn’t believe them since those aren’t real, and regardless, she is promised to someone else. Even after she leaves to go finish her journey to help her friend, I know that this is not the end of the story for Gabby and those 4 men. I cant wait to see what happens next.

[Julorie Siefert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriella aka Gabby due to her parents love for her and trying to protect her by having a witch put a spell to protect her, they actually caused her life to a mess. She had no real freedom in what to choose for herself as she would never feel for any man any intense feelings until she finds what is to be her fated mate. What if there paths never cross? What if some accident caused an earlier passing? Gabby decided to give Aaron a chance because he listened and seem to accept her as she was, now five years later she was thinking that maybe it was time to go ahead and marry him. Gabby’s friend Ari is close to her due date. Gabby knowing her friend is alone, decides to go be with and help her with the baby. As she riding to Ari’s and she gets to a place in the forest all of sudden her horse is spooked and leaves Gabby alone. All of sudden there is a large wolf and Gabby screams in fear, the next think you know there are four men Talon, Percival, Journey, August as they take her into their home for safety, Gabby’s world is turned upside down with feelings, shock of information, fate is deciding her future again! Gabby wants the freedom to make her own choices. As she leaves to be with her friend Ari, she has turned her back on what may be her fated mates? What of Aaron? Why are the wolves or something else after her? And of course, the author has left us with a cliff hanger. So come read this book one so we will all be ready for book two.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aerowyn Wahya's Bound in Thorns is the first book in her debut why-choose romantasy series, Blood and Beasts. Gabby is cursed. Well, it started off as a blessing, a way for her parents to protect her as a baby, but it morphed into something totally unexpected. Gabby can't feel intimacy with a lover, and that includes herself. It's muted as if she's feeling those moments behind a wall. There is hope; her true mate(s) can unlock those feelings. I felt for Gabby. She missed out on a lot. However, when she got the opportunity to finally feel something, she ran from it, which was frustrating. It's hard to judge how I feel about the characters. I needed context, and with how confusing everything is (contradictions, etc.), I couldn't say if I felt one way or another about them.


I love a good retelling, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales, so I wish I could have liked this more. I do give new authors a bit of leeway; I understand that writing is a challenging and complex process. That being said, I felt the book was in need of some tweaking. When it came to key information, there were some contradictions, there was a little bit of close repetitiveness, and some things weren't explained in a way that made sense. The bones of the story are good, and with some adjustments, I'm sure it would be great.

[Mrs R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby has always been told that she would only find pleasure with her fated mate, a side affect after being 'blessed' by a witch when she was a baby.

Because of the curse, Gabby is very determined to 'make her own decisions' as she believes she has had her choice taken away by the curse. So when she meets four guys who want to claim her, she's reluctant to let the curse make her decisions for her. Instead walking away from the guys to stay with Aaron who she has promised to marry.

Aaron is sweet enough, he seems to be genuine but I just have a feeling that sure there's something else going on with him, I might be wrong, but he just seems too nice and perfect for her - I've clearly read too many books with plot twists!

The four guys were so sweet and caring of her, not pushing her or trying to take her choices away, but they know about the witch who placed the curse on her, so I'm looking forward to finding out more from them.

I have to admit, I was a bit sick of mentioning the blessing / curse. It seemed to be brought up in every single chapter, however what was missing was more world building around the village and how the world works.

- witches / magic
- fated mates
- RH (MMFMM)
- slow burn for harem

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabby’s life has never really been her own—not since she was “blessed” by a witch as a baby, only to grow up learning that the so-called gift may actually be a curse. Told she’ll only ever feel pleasure with her fated mate, she’s grown up determined to make her own choices, even if that means walking away from fate entirely.

So when she meets four men—Percy, Talon, Journey, and August—who stir something unexpected in her, Gabby does what she thinks is right: she sticks to her promise to marry Aaron, the man who’s always been there for her. But as the story unfolds, cracks begin to show, and things aren’t as simple as they seem. Aaron may be charming and kind, but there’s a lingering sense that something isn’t quite right.

The guys? They’re protective, patient, and clearly hiding more than they’re saying—especially when it comes to the origins of Gabby’s curse. There’s definitely chemistry, but what stood out most was how none of them try to take her power of choice away.

The story brings mystery, emotion, and a hint of steam, though at times the curse is mentioned so frequently it overshadows the world-building. Still, the slow unraveling of secrets and the emotional pull between Gabby and the group kept me hooked—especially after that cliffhanger ending.

[Samantha Silensky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Wyns sass and strength, from the gate. I adored how she stood strong despite her internal wars, and resentment for a life others had chosen for her. Her story brings real feeling and emotions to life, and leaves you feeling just as frustrated, and confused, and torn as she is.
Once she meets the Men in the woods, those internal conflicts multiply tenfold, and x4.
I did get a little confused and put off on how fast the script seemed to flip for at least one of the men(I do believe it was August?). She went from describing alarm bells to commending his strong and silent personality.
Percy(Percival) is my favorite, namely for how calm and collected he typically is. He has the ability to quickly and efficiently think through situations, and find the best course of action for handling it.
I can’t decide between Talon and Journey for 2nd place. They both bring something uniquely them, in the best way. They’re opposites, but complimenting opposites.
August is the least favorite, but with how book one is ending, I feel like that may quickly change in book 2. I’m really exited to see what unfolds in the next book. Especially with how high the tension was between Wyn and the guys. This is looking like it’s a fantastic first book, to a fantastic series.

[Katelyn Livezey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 in Trilogy
RH
MM
Alphas

Our FMC, Gabby, was born with weak lungs. She’s from a village that contained a lot of sickness. Her loving parents took her to see a witch, hoping she would put. Protection spell on her. Too bad that’s not what she got, instead was landed with an “fated mate curse”. Not really a curse in my opinion once you meet our four alphas. But until then it means she can’t feel any pleasure. At all. If it’s not with her mates, she ain’t getting anything but numbness.

With the years flying by and no sign of a mate anywhere, Gabby agrees to a courtship with a blacksmith from her village- Aaron. He doesn’t mistreat her and doesn’t care about the curse, but she doesn’t feel any physical please when she’s with him. So he get all the goods and she’s left feeling…numb. Skip forward to four hunks coming into the picture. Poor Gabby doesn’t give in right away because she made a promise to Aaron, but you can’t fight the pull towards your mates.

August, Journey, Percival and Talon are everything she could ever need and want. While they’re not going to force anything on her, they’re there to win their mate and complete the bond!

Definitely was a great read and I can’t wait to read the next book!

[Maria F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the premise and the direction this is going a lot! A beauty and the beast retelling where the beast is 4 beastly-ish men and it is why choose? Yeah, that sounds great! Throw in curses, witches, and magic and I’m certainly in! The primary focus is definitely the characters and their relationships with minimal world-building. This first book in the trilogy provides a great introduction to the characters and some of the challenges they are facing.


The setting/time period is kind of confusing/ambiguous. I am definitely down for some suspension of reality but wish there were a few more details to really nail down what kind of time period we are in. Overall I think a bit more world-building would be appreciated! And perhaps that is coming in future books! I will definitely be reading them.
Some of the general writing is very repetitive. Phrases are repeated close together and some character inner monologue is repetitive.

Overall rating 3.75/5 stars with significant potential to increase that depending on how the next book plays out!

I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. My opinions are my own. Thank you!

[Cristal Juarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and it has been great so far. I feel for Gabriella not knowing the feeling of being loved due to a curse that was innocently caused by her parents only wanting the best for her that backfired. She gets attacked in the woods while traveling to help a friend deliver a baby and ends up in a cabin with 4 hot and exiled Alpha males. She has been waiting for her fated mate all her life, but when she finds one …or four she doesn’t know what to do. She fights all the control any person could have because she is engaged and has been courting someone from her village for five years. The steamy MM scenes are explosive and even with all that going on she is still staying faithful to her fiancé. Then she is being hunted for some reason that has not been explained yet and the book ends with one of the guys escorting her to her friend’s house. They have fought off far wolves and other creatures trying to take what is theirs. Gabby knows these men may be her mates, but is in total denial. These men have let her know how they feel and it is up to her to decide. I am excited to see where this book and this relationship goes. 10/10 recommend.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

when resignation sets in, fate has other plans

What was supposed to be a blessing to save a life, turns into a curse of emptiness and feeling different.

Gabby has always been different and once she hit puberty the curse that was placed on her came into bloom. Literally in the form of a tattooed tree on her face. She can never feel pleasure or have children with anyone who is not her fated mate. After years of wanting more, she finds herself settling with her childhood best friend in hopes that the love will overcome her curse and that deep down no one else would accept her.

That is until on her way to a friends she is chased down and comes across four men in the woods. They spark something in her that she never knew existed, and with it, change of reality.

While this story is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it has sprinkles of the lore and characters and a dash of spicy scenes. It is a bit slow with the build up, as the book is only 19 chapters, but I have a feeling we will see more character growth and relationship building in the upcoming books.

[Naurarwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being "blessed" by a witch as a baby, Gabby's parents realise there is a small side effect to what they thought would be protection. Gabby is fated to only find pleasure from her true mate, but that doesn't happen very often. People marry for convenience, instead of love. Though her parents don't quite fit that, because they really did fall in love. Gabby has to deal with the hand she is dealt, and eventually becomes engaged to her childhood sweetheart, Aaron.

I admit, I'm still not entirely sure what I think of Aaron at the moment, but I guess we will see more of him in the second book. When Gabby goes to help a friend, she is chased in the woods and comes across a group of men, who make her feel things she hasn't felt before.

The four believe they are her fated mates, but they won't push her, especially after Gabby makes it clear that she wants to make decisions for herself. They do however give us a little more information about the witch that "blessed" Gabby, so I'm hoping we find out some more about that in the next book.

This story is a slow burn, with fated mates, and curses. Can't wait to see what happens in book two.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this fantasy story. This is a newer author for me in which I enjoyed not only their writing skills but their attention to details. I enjoyed how this author was able to pull me into the story from the start. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. A story about Gabby and her adventure in finding truth. Her future is already set in stone but what happens when she is attacked and left for dead? There is a force and an unforbidden romance budding but what will happen when she realizes she must make a choice? The characters are creative, connectable and kept me coming back for more. I enjoyed watching their growth throughout and how supportive they were to each other. I found this book to be a fast paced, engaging story that is realistic and easy to read. I look forward to seeing what is next for this series. I highly recommend this book

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Beauty and the Beast reimagining, but the beast is actually four scarred, cursed warriors—and it’s a slow-burn, why-choose romance. So yeah, I was in from the start.

Gabby gets pulled out of her safe little life and dropped into something way darker and way more complicated. The bond between her and the guys builds slowly, and I liked that it wasn’t rushed. There’s fated mates, forest magic, emotional tension, and a really strong found family vibe.

She frustrated me a few times, but I still wanted her to choose herself and figure it out. The guys were all interesting in different ways, and their dynamic with each other was just as good as their connection with her.

I do wish the worldbuilding was a little clearer and some of the inner thoughts didn’t repeat so much, but I was still super into it. Definitely reading the next one to see where it goes.

[Daniele Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a great start to this series and I am excited for more. We have Gabriella she has an unusual curse on her that keeps her from feeling things unless she is with her fated mate. Problem is she has not found that person and settles for Aaron who she feels something all though it’s not the full extent of what it could be. As she has finally decided to marry Aaron fate has pushed her of her course and into four men that might all be her mates Talon, Perceval, August and Journey. By the end of this book I am just loving the dynamic of the men and am excited to see them and Gabby in the next book and see how this will unfold for them all. Gabby is set on her promise to marry Aaron but is torn because she wants more but is scared. These men seem scary and rough around the edges but have all shown that they would be all in for Gabby if she would just say the word.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby (FMC) is cursed when her parents worries and anxieties cause then to seek help that didn't work out the way it should have. What she's left with causes her to live a half-life because she can't make proper intimate connections with partners. After years of living like that does she try and build a life with her friend - Aaron.

When a friend needs Gabby's help whilst she's having a baby things don't got to plan and she ends up seeking sanctuary with 4 reclusive men - Percival, Journey, Talon and August. Which in turn gave her answers to some of her answered questions about herself.

Honestly I hadn't realised this was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast so I just enjoyed it fir the good read it was. This was a great start to this trilogy and I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen next in future books in this series.

[Ari Roper · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Loved:
The emotional tension. This isn’t just a fated mates story. It’s a fated mess with consequences, history, and soul-crushing longing.
Gabby’s development. She starts off unsure, tied to duty, and ends up questioning everything she thought she wanted. (I yelled at her, yes. But growth isn't cute.)
The magic system. It’s still mysterious, but the evolving scar? The whispers of a blessing that ties her to more than just one fate? Obsessed.
The forest setting. Cursed and beautiful. Lush and deadly. The backdrop was so vivid I swear I could feel the moss under my feet.
The cliffhanger. Do I love pain? Maybe. But when that ending hit, I audibly gasped and looked around like someone would explain it to me. Spoiler: no one did.

Full Blog Review on TBR: To Be Ruined.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating tale of a gal that had a curse placed on her to help save her life as an infant, and the repercussions of that curse, now that she's an adult. Gabby really didn't feel like she belonged any where with how her body behaved with the curse doing it's thing. When she decides to get engaged to her childhood friend, she figured it was the best she could do, despite not feeling any attraction to him. However, on a visit to see another friend, danger swoops in and she ends up in the path of four alphas. Now she's feeling things but she made a commitment... This is a slow burn fated mates romance but it ends on a cliffy that has me panting for the next book ;P I'm dying to know how her story will continue to unfold ;D

[Theresa Masker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new to me author. With that being said this pulls at your emotions. Gabriella is fated to have a mate. At least that's what she has been told since a mark appeared on her face. A blessing gone wrong. She chooses to make her own destiny. She is engaged to Aaron. She embarks on a journey to help her friend. Along the way she is attacked and rescued by four men afterwards. Men who are her fated mates. Although she feels the pull she's not ready. She's torn. On one hand she made the promise to marry Aaron. On the other she feels alive for the first time ever with Journey,Talon, August,and Percival. How does one pick between destiny you made or fate. This book was intriguing and so much more. I am looking forward to the next one.

[JackaayReadsallday · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I didn't like about this book is that I found this series at the very beginning, and I can't binge-read it immediately. I read it in KU, purchased the book, and immediately pre-ordered books 2 & 3. So obviously it's worth the read. I am so so so here for more of this group. The guys are all fantastic in their own ways, but I can't wait to see the characters blossom more in books 2 & 3. Normally, I have a favorite guy by the end of the first book in a new RH series, but I love all of these men equally so far.... Gabby, on the other hand, needs a little firm shake. I understand the war she's having within herself, but I am wondering how the author will choose to guide her choices in the next book. I feel like there are going to be major emotions, and I am all for it.

[Shirley Monas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by this author and I must say that it was different. It is told in the first person of the FMC, Gabby. Gabby was born during times where many were sick. Her parents were the rare couple that loved each other, whereas most people married out of duty. She was born early and was sickly, so her parents brought her to be “blessed” not knowing that she was in fact, cursed. Her “curse” was unusual and shapes the way she is treated and how she sees men. There were parts that were a little repetitive to me, especially her “curse”. However, I liked the details of the characters and the way she is strong-willed. She eventually meets the men who claim to be her mates although unexpectedly. I want to know what she chooses in the end.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author. Gabriella is fated to have a mate, at least that's what she has been told since a mark appeared on her face. A blessing gone wrong. She chooses to make her own destiny. She’s engaged to Aaron her childhood sweetheart. She embarks on a journey to help her friend. Along the way she is attacked and rescued by four men, men who as it turns out are her fated mates. Although she feels the pull she's not ready. On one hand she made the promise to marry Aaron. On the other she feels alive for the first time ever. How does one pick between destiny you made or fate. This book was intriguing, and I am looking forward to the next book.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with book one of the Blood and Beasts series! Bound in Thorns introduces us to this intriguing world of curses, magic, forbidden fated mates and Fae Wolves. Gabby finds herself about to start the perfect life with her childhood sweetheart. That is until the attack in the Redlyn forest changes everything. Now she is being protected by four exiled warriors: Journey, Talon, August and Percival. Each man shows Gabby what it means to have true fated mates, and although she keeps the memory of her betrothed in the front of her mind, her resolve is beginning to slip. All in all, this was a great start to this new series and definitely has me excited for book 2!