These Memories That Bind Her: The Divine Bride Series: Book 2

by Demi Clorissa

Can true love flourish when blood waters its roots?

After ending the imposter that terrorised Alderdeen, Mia Ashmore is imprisoned in a forgotten manor, deep in the Hund Wood. She is shackled by a prophecy that binds her to the alluring vampyre Mortias Blackwood—who claims she alone must assassinate the human king to save the crumbling land of Zeroth.

When Idris watched the woman he loved disappear in a flurry of black feathers, he swore to do whatever it took to rescue her from his bloodthirsty father—even if it meant leading a treacherous rebellion. But in the heart of the cursed woods, beside sharp-tongued, roguish Wyn Neverclove, something unexpected blooms in the gnarled roots. An unlikely bond.

Torn between Oryah’s cruel plans for Mia and Idris’ desperate need to get her to safety, both face the question: are they simply the pawns of this prophecy—or its breakers?

These Memories That Bind Her is the spellbinding sequel to These Shadows Become Her, and the second book in the Divine Bride series, a dark, haunting romantic fantasy perfect for fans who love character-driven plots, rich world-building, a diverse cast of characters, shadow magic, and tension-filled romance—and authors such as Rebecca Ross, and Rachel Gillig. If you loved the unbridled yearning in Outlander and the enchantment of Dracula, but if you wanted one of his brides to be holding the dagger, then you will love These Memories That Bind Her.

Genres: Fantasy, Vampires

492 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2025

About the author

I’m Demi Clorissa, a proud Wiradjuri woman, who writes heart breaking dark romantic fantasy. You will find body diverse FMCs, men who YEARN, and emotional damage (that will make you reach for the tissues) within the pages. I’m inspired by strong women, and those who they decide to love.

When I’m not writing you’ll find me reading anything I can get my hands on (mostly fantasy), reading BL, watching trashy TV shows, and spending my afternoons at the cinema. I love food (but I’m a self confessed awful cook!). I’m blessed to have a little dachshund, Della, who is often curled around my feet as I craft my next emotional scene.

Reviews

[Nini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!

review coming soon...

[Ashley - The Tattered Page]

HOOK: "MINE"
• Found family
• Chosen one
• Dual POV
• Captor X Captee relationship
• Hate to unlikely alliance
• Outlander x Dracula
• Feminine rage
• Heart-breaking twists
• Meddling gods
• 3/5 spice

[Taylah Vlaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I have no intention of having you by force. Not when I could have you begging for it if I truly wished.”

Demi Clorissa has done it yet again with Book 2 in the Divine Bride Series, These Memories That Bind Her!

It was the perfect amount of fantasy adventure with Idris and Wyn in pursuit of their Mia, combined with the dark but magical elements that came with exploring the evolving relationship between the exiled vampyre king, Mortias, and his fated but reluctant queen (aka Ophelia aka Mia). Tie it all together with intense, and I mean INTENSE, yearning, sprinkled with the right amount of desire, lust and 🌶️ moments, and you have made for a true romantasy read!

I really enjoyed how this book expanded on the political and social aspects that have been plaguing Zeroth, and that we finally get to see how the characters begin to fit in and fulfil the divine prophecy that has been set out by the Gods.

I can’t get over the amount of kindle highlights I saved for this, Demi is such a talented writer, and I admire the world and characters she has created, especially in Mia, who I continue to resonate with - she is incredibly intelligent, emotive and strong 🖤

Lastly I want to say, if you haven’t been a fan of the boyfriends becoming boyfriends or the I want you both type of love tropes…then GET 👏🏻 ON 👏🏻 IT 👏🏻!!!

For the sake of ratings I gave this a 5✨, but it really deserves to be ♾️✨ in my opinion!

Thank you to Demi and Haus if Fables for all your hard work in getting this out to the ARC readers!

[Stress Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Memories That Bind Her ARC Review

Book 2 in the Divine Brides series by @ Demi Clorissa

She learned to survive the dark. Now, the shadows want their master back. The shadows don't haunt her. They obey her. That's the tragedy.

Healing isn't gentle. Especially when it has claws.

⭐⭐⭐✨ (rounded up)
🌶️🌶️

💬 These Memories That Bind Her (TMTBH) is a moody, emotive, dark fantasy romance that leans heavily on atmosphere over flash weaving a tale where trauma, power, and love exist in tangled half-light. The writing embraces shadow-imagery not only as aesthetic, but as a narrative engine—binding the heroine's internal and external conflicts into one.

🫵🏼 TMTBH is for you if:
• you read/watched Shadow & Bone just for the moody love interest
• love a dark, gothic emotional fantasy romance
• love book that resonates with deep emotions
• you appreciate stories that reward immersion, not inspection
• appreciate a consistent central metaphor that pulls double duty
• you love when shadow magic is used as an internal metaphor
• enjoy a romance that challenges
• you love a morally grey love interest
• enjoy a magic system that's driven by emotions and consequences
• appreciate poetic worldbuilding
• you want all the mood and vibes when reading - where atmosphere itself is almost its own character
• you enjoy the parts of fantasy that feel like poetry
• you love a FMC who grows but keeps her edge (figurative and/or literal edge) 🗡️

📓 These Memories s That Bind Her follows a wounded, captured, and imprisoned witch, Mia, whose rare shadow magic marks her as both powerful and dangerous. After a brutal past leaves her emotionally and magically fractured, she is taken deep into the Hund Wood at the behest of the enigmatic and morally grey vampyre, Mortias Blackwood. Thornwick Manor, where shadows are alive, sentient, and politically feared, Mia sinks into a deep depression. Mortias is convinced that Mia must 💀 the current king to save the land (and so he can become king) and attempts to intertwine himself in her fate through an ancient, volatile bond—one that could save her, claim her, or destroy them both. If she agrees to do it, that is.

Meanwhile, Idris will stop at nothing to break her out of his father's clutches. Even if he has to lead a rebellion, even if it means teaming up with a powerful fae (who also loves Mia), Wyn Neverclove.

As Mia learns to master the living darkness inside and around her, Idris and Wyn are risking it all to rescue her - and finding something very unexpected along the way. @ Dannii Logan on GR said it best: "But in the heart of the cursed woods, beside sharp-tongued roguish Wyn Neverclove, something unexpected bloomed in the gnarled roots. An unlikely bond."

Mia must decide whether to break the chains of her past or risk remaking herself in the shadows' image. Fighting not just for survival, but for self-ownership and a future that doesn't demand her obliteration.

📖 Trauma as both a cage and a catalyst
Mia (FMC) is shaped and stalled by her past. Her trauma functions like a gripping force, keeping her tethered to old pain, but also awakening latent strength. The story asks: does pain define you, or refine you?

In TMTBH, magic is portrayed more as temptation - dangerous, intoxicating, morally expensive (and less about empowerment in general). Control over shadows parallels control over self, but mastery may cost the soul.

Love that heals vs love that consumes
The romance walks a razor-edge between attachment that restores and and dependency that devours. The bond isn't depicted as soft salvation, but as negotiation between two wounded forces reaching for a shared future.

I adore this subtle thread running and weaving in the background asking: who are we when no one is looking? Mia confronts versions of herself she buried—some monsterous, some magnificent.

To avoid spoilers, this part will be intentionally somewhat vague. There was some relationship stuff that felt like too much for me. If you loved Credence or Birthday Girl (both by Penelope Douglas) and enjoy fantasy, then I think you'd enjoy this. I was enjoying this aspect initially, but then I wasn't.

⛓️ Chains and being bound are another aspect of symbolism running throughout the book. It's scattered about, in oaths, magic, lore, love, and fear. Literal and/or figurative chains symbolize control, protection that overreaches into imprisonment, and a longing for structure when freedom feels unsafe.


✍🏼 Lush and intimately written with a saturated melancholic tone, this book is dripping with a dark Victorian-Gothic like atmosphere. Written in such a way makes bits feel almost claustrophobic (in the way that grief or obsession can feel).

⏳I had a bit of a hard time getting into it initially (maybe the first +/- 15%). It felt more vibes and mood than action and I was impatient for movement. This absolutely could be my current issue with attention span and memory, so I tried not to knock the score too hard for it. However, this was my main concern reading this—I could never get to a place where I felt invested. All the parts were there, I just didn't feel it like I want to. Even past that initial +/-15%, I found myself unable to be fully invested.

🗺️ The stakes are high, higher than book 1. The bulk of worldbuilding is handled in book 1, with this book serving nicely to expand and enrich.

🔮 This is also nicely expanded and enriched from book 1.

Shadow wielding FMC, where the shadows are a metaphor for suppressed emotions, unspoken truths, untamed power, and the parts of us we fear but cannot sever. They bind her literally through magic, and figuratively through memory, grief, and desire.

Shadows (shape, presence, consequence, identity) are often seen as dark (visually), but they aren't necessarily dark (as in a void, fear, or disappearance) in and of themselves. Mia is not swallowed by the dark—she becomes the shadow.

Light as exposure, not purity (love this!)
Rather than representing comfort, light often represents revelation, unmasking, vulnerability, and truth that burns.

Trials, creatures, and antagonistic forces are often reflective rather than random obstacles. Monsters serving as mirrors, you could say. Mia and crew don't only fight beasts - she recognizes herself in them.

⏳ For me, the pacing overall felt slower than I prefer. That caused my current lack of attention span to have a difficult time focusing on the book for any length of time. It just felt like they were pussyfooting around for lengthy stretches, then when we did get action, movement, it felt rushed to me.

I had a bit of a hard time getting into it initially (maybe the first +/- 15%). It felt more vibes and mood than action and I was impatient for movement. This absolutely could be my current issue with attention span and memory, so I tried not to knock the score too hard for it. However, this was my main concern reading this—I could never get to a place where I felt invested. All the parts were there, I just didn't feel it like I want to. Even past that initial +/-15%, I found myself unable to be fully invested.

🗺️ The stakes are high, higher than book 1. The bulk of worldbuilding is handled in book 1, with this book serving nicely to expand and enrich.

🔮 This is also nicely expanded and enriched from book 1.

Shadow wielding FMC, where the shadows are a metaphor for suppressed emotions, unspoken truths, untamed power, and the parts of us we fear but cannot sever. They bind her literally through magic, and figuratively through memory, grief, and desire.

Shadows (shape, presence, consequence, identity) are often seen as dark (visually), but they aren't necessarily dark (as in a void, fear, or disappearance) in and of themselves. Mia is not swallowed by the dark—she becomes the shadow.

Light as exposure, not purity (love this!)
Rather than representing comfort, light often represents revelation, unmasking, vulnerability, and truth that burns.

Trials, creatures, and antagonistic forces are often reflective rather than random obstacles. Monsters serving as mirrors, you could say. Mia and crew don't only fight beasts - she recognizes herself in them.

👥 I loved these characters in book 1, as best I can recall anyway lol. Mia's journey of grappling with agency vs destiny was interesting. They're well developed in book 1 with this book serving well develop them further.

As much as I occasionally enjoy messy characters and relationships in lit, I didn't love it in this book. The relationship between the 4 MCs just isn't something I enjoy (but you might love it!). However, I can appreciate the psychology that could be behind it and don't want those who do enjoy it to feel I'm judging them. It's not something I enjoyed, but I know others will love it - and that's totally ok. It's really not my business what other people enjoy. 😊

✨If you enjoyed Credence or Birthday Girl (both by Penelope Douglas), you'd probably enjoy this aspect.

💖

The unlikely allies to MM romance that develops on the road was a blast to read. Their banter was electric and funny.

Mia and a certain MMC's change in relationship status felt a bit rushed to me, or convenient to set up for what happens. Without spoilers this next part may not make sense. One of the MMCs sees Mia doing something from a window that (understandably) upsets him. The way he handles it seemed a bit odd to me, considering everything else.

🌶️ Sensual without being exploitative, cathartic and earned.

✨ I feel like reading this book immediately after These Shadows Become Her would've made for a more cohesive and exciting read. It'd been almost exactly a year since I read it and a LOT has happened in my life since then. Plus, I've read a good number of other books in the interim, which I imagine doesn't help me remember how the first book went, how I felt about the characters, etc. Often I enjoy messy relationships in literature, but I didn't so much in this book. I've been trying to pinpoint why for weeks, but the best I've come up with it was too messy for me. Maybe due to (or exacerbated by) my current brain issues, maybe not. I didn't enjoy the pacing, too slow for my tastes and then action felt rushed. My atrocious attention span combined with pacing are likely why I couldn't ever get invested or care deeply about the characters. As a character focused reader, I need to feel something towards the characters. I enjoyed book 1 more, so I'll likely read book 3 whenever it comes out.

📚 If you liked: Gothikana (Runyx), The Coven (Harper L. Woods), A Court of Mist and Fury (Sarah J Maas), or House of Beating Wings (Olivia Wildenstein), then I think you'd enjoy These Memories That Bind Her.

⚠️ please check author's site if TW/CW are a concern for you

Thank you to @ Demi Clorissa for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Dannii Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this a 4.5 ⭐

3 🌶️

This Dark Romantasy is out on the 27th November and it's available on kindle unlimited, ebook and paperback so make sure you preorder now!

Can true love flourish when blood waters its roots?

After ending the imposter that terrorised Alderdeen, Mia Ashmore is imprisoned in a
forgotten manor, deep in the Hund Wood. She is shackled by a prophecy that binds her
to the alluring vampyre Mortias Blackwood—who claims she alone must assassinate
the human king to save the crumbling land of Zeroth.
When Idris watched the woman he loved disappear in a flurry of black feathers, he
swore to do whatever it took to rescue her from his bloodthirsty father—even if it
meant leading a treacherous rebellion. But in the heart of the cursed woods, beside
sharp-tongued, roguish Wyn Neverclove, something unexpected blooms in the gnarled
roots. An unlikely bond.
Torn between Oryah’s cruel plans for Mia and Idris’ desperate need to get her to safety,
both face the question: are they simply the pawns of this prophecy—or its breakers?

Tropes:
● “MINE”
● Found family
● Chosen one
● Dual POV
● Captor X Captee relationship
● Hate to unlikely alliance
● Outlander x Dracula
● Feminine rage
● Heart-breaking twists
● Meddling gods

In this book we see Mia grow and grow into herself and become a stronger person then she was in book 1. She goes through more trauma but this time around, she knows how to face it. She stands up and helps others even though there are direct consequences to her actions. This book begins with Mia being caught in a tough situation and we get to see her work through it. She put her trust in the wrong people and those very people betrayed her and Mia is angry.

Lastly, this book is filled with TENSION, TENSION and MORE GOD DAM TENSION

Thankyou House Of Fables for providing me with this arc and thankyou Demi Clorissa for trusting me in reading and reviewing this wonderful book.

[Rebecca Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Memories That Bind Her starts right where book one ends: Mia has been pushed through a portal and ended up in the hands of Mortias, the exiled vampyre king. Separated from Idris, she is forced to discover her own strength and figure out what controls her path: her own choices or fate designed by the Gods?

I am admittedly not a fan of the trope that has the MCs separated, but Clorissa weaves enough tension and potential romance to keep you going. Mortias and Mia make for a fascinating pairing (you'll be wondering "will they, won't they" until the end), and Idris and Wyn was a pair I didn't see coming but loved every page they were on.

Wyn! My favourite character from book one (sorry Idris, I'm team Wyn) is a main character this time, and I love that Clorissa featured him so heavily this time.

The thing I love most about this series is that Mia is unapologetically flawed. Her feelings and trauma are raw, but within that she finds her own strength and rage against injustices that have affected her and others. As she learns more about her history as a witch and the prophecy that Mortias insists is her future, she keeps her sense of self and refuses to be what others expect.

This book is definitely a slower pace than book one, but it provides so much story building and character development that I am excited to see how it all comes to a climax in book three

[Danni Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Memories That Bind Her
The Divine Bride Series Book 2
By Demi Clorissa

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶


🖤MINE
🥀Found Family
🖤Chosen One
🥀Dual POV
🖤Capt0r X Captee
🥀Hate to unlikely alliance
🖤Feminine R@ge
🥀Outlander X Dracula
🖤Heart-breaking twists
🥀Meddling Gods

This incredibly told second instalment of The Divine Bride Series has picked up right where book one has ended where Mia has come through the portal and landed in the clothes of Mortias the exiled nefarious Vamp a.k.a. Idris' father. Where she really grows into herself in strength and courage.
Meanwhile Idris, well he is willing to do whatever is necessary to get the woman he loves back, including teaming up with a rival and starting a rebellion 👀
Just how far will they each go for eachother, or will the prophecy get in the way?
Or will some new matches pop up along their journeys?

Demi what magic have you put in these pages because WOMAN you have me hooked 😍 the rivalries, tension, personal growth and character development in this book! And Wyn oh Wyn 🤤 I need the third instalment please 🙏 I absolutely cannot wait to see how this ends 🥰

These Memories That Bind Her is available now 😘🖤

#darkromantasy #romantasybooktok #mine #booktokfyp #bookreview

[Ashley Van Durmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride that @demiclorissa takes us on in These Memories That Bind Her, Book 2 in the Divine Bride series.

We pick right back up from the ending of These Shadows Become Her with Mia being taken and Idris trying to get her back.

Mia must do whatever it takes to survive Mortias, who insists she is the one to save Zeroth. We watch her struggle throughout the book not wanting to give into Mortias and the grief she has of being torn from Idris and her shadows.

Idris becomes entangled by fate to lead a rebellion in order to save Mia and he must do it with an unlikely ally, Wyn. But there is some sort of deeper connection pulling them together and towards Mia.

I loved getting to see Mia start to grow into her power, she no longer wants to let the likes of men tell her what she can and cannot do and wants to learn to become a blade. Idris just wants to protect her and doesn’t want to see her succumb to a fated prophecy but he also needs to let her stand in her own two feet. Wyn also wants to protect Mia but he knows she is capable and will follow her anywhere she goes.

The wheels are now in motion and I can’t wait to see how her story ends!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

[FloofyMooseReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Memories That Bind Her is the second book of the Divine Bride series, a dark romantic fantasy. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the author for my eArc.

Tropes and themes include:

✨Shadow mommy

✨Meddling gods

✨Feminine rage

✨Chosen one

✨One bed

✨Boyfriends become… boyfriends

✨Yearning, so much yearning

✨Found family

✨Witches, fae and humans

✨Dad’s best friend

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Flames

Nicknames: Sweet Creature, Little Witch, Old Man

The Lovely: I loved how this story was so different from book one in terms of plot but still had the messy and complex relationships I love. And for me, they make it feel more realistic and authentic. I also loved where the author went with the relationship between two of the MCs and watching that evolve was absolutely perfect.

Recommendation: I was actually in the early cohort of beta readers for this book and was so excited to “re-read” as I knew a LOT had been added subsequent to my beta read. Those additional really elevated the story and I loved seeing that side of the story/characters. The third and final book in the series is expected to be released in 2026.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
📖: These Memories That Bind Her (The Divine Bride Series, Book 2)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

Plunged into a new reality surrounded by darkness and nefarious machinations, Mia longs for the loved ones she was forced to leave behind.

Idris is determined to get Mia back, by any means necessary, including allying with a rival. All must navigate unexpected alliances, the prophecy, and meddling gods.

Tropes:
👀Dual POV
🫦“MINE”
🫂Found family
☝🏻Chosen one
⛓️‍💥Captor X Captee relationship
🤝Hate to unlikely alliance
🩸Outlander x Dracula
🔥Feminine rage
💔Heart-breaking twists
💫Meddling gods

These Memories That Bind Her is dark, lush, and utterly captivating. I loved the deeper exploration of magic, the rebellion, and the prophecy. This story tunnels deep into their psyches and painful memories. The dynamics of Mia, her captor, and love interests shift and evolve 👀.

Haunted by her past and uncertain future, Mia’s fate remains entangled with these forbidden men. And I cannot wait to see what transpires between the bonds tethering her.

Huge thanks to the author and Haus of Fables for the review copy opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Haali M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy cannoli, there was so much going on at the end of book one that I knew we were in for a wild ride with this one!! The Memories That Bind Her was intense in just about every way and had me reeling at multiple points throughout the story.

As Mia struggles against Mortias’ hold and claws her way back to not just one… But TWO delectable MMC’s, she finds herself torn between giving in and letting herself feel (wink wink) or resisting the temptations set before her. What a problem to have! Lol.

The drama doesn’t stop there. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. There is so much pressure on all of the main cast throughout the story that I could almost feel the weight of every decision they were making. Talk about high stakes. Wynn and Idris love in such different ways, but both of them have huge hearts (even if they’d disagree). It was really beautiful to watch the personal growth and the journey. The characters went on individually as well as a collective as a timeline progressed.

What a way to end a book, by the way! My mouth was probably catching flies at some point. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Huge, thank you to Demi Clorissa for the gifted review copy. Your creativity knows no bounds!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didnt enjoy this book as much as the first in the series. I do not understand why Idris and Wyn waited so long to rescue Mia from Mortias and Thornwick Manor, their was broef mention of Idris wanting to wait for a boat to be secured but when they do finally rescue Mia they spent an unknown period of time in the hidden cottage that all of a sudden isnt hidden anymore and Mortias locates them??? I feel like whilst there was plot movement in this book when it did happen it was rushed and there was a lot of nothing that happened.
Mia kissing Mortias felt forced to set up tension between her and Idris, it came out of nowhere as right up to that point she was resisting his overtures and whilst she had moments of arousal she was very firm in her resolve that she was not going to fall for his tricks. Mias explantaion to Idris of missing him did not align with what happend on page....did scence get cut in editing and we are missing crucial details that would hsve made it make sense?
I am hoping the nxt book in the series is as good as the first one.

[Amy | romantasy.myromanempire · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

I've been looking forward to this sequel to The Shadows Become Her for so long. I just love Demi's descriptive writing style and how she really deep dives into her character's feelings and emotional burdens. Mia is such a messy character -- but I adore her. She really grew in this one and I loved being along for her emotional journey.

Book 2 picks up right where we left off from that brutal cliffhanger of book 1. With dual POV, we get chapters from both Mia and Idris. Mia is being held by Mortias and Idris is desperate to save her from the Vampire king (aka his father). The tension in this book was smoldering. I ate it up. Even the captor/captive tension was getting to me despite the fact that I was NOT rooting for that 😅 Mia struggles a lot with where her loyalties lie in this one. Demi definitely does not hold back with the angst!

I absolutely adored Idris and Wyn teaming up. Honestly, their moments together ended up being my favorite in the entire book. I need more of them together ASAP! I'm loving where their relationship is going. My favorite Wyn quote "You think it swings?" 😏

These Memories That Bind Her was an emotional journey. It's dark romantasy at its finest -- with descriptive world building and plenty of kingdom politics and action scenes mixed in with all the slow burn tension and angst. I just love Demi's writing style and storytelling and cannot wait for book 3 of the Divine Bride series!

Thank you Haus of Fables and Demi Clorissa for the gifted eArc to read and review!

[Chanel Mullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two Mia struggles with identity, choice, and autonomy. Mia fights to understand who she is — witch, bride, prophecy pawn, or something else entirely.

Idris is faced to deal with his grief, devotion, and determination to find Mia. All the while struggling with new and unexpected feelings 👀

These Memories That Bind Her is a spellbinding sequel to These shadows become her. It refuses to follow the typical romantasy path, embracing gothic enchantment, political upheaval, and deeply personal stakes.

Tropes
🔥“MINE” energy
🔥Dual POV, offering a raw view into both Mia’s rage and Idris’s longing
🔥Chosen One meets prophecy-breaker dilemma
🔥Feminine rage that feels real, blistering, and earned

[Lauren Penner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a complex world with an intricate supernatural power structure. Lies, secrets, half-truths, all the best things in a dark romantasy.

I really liked starting out right where book 1 ended. No gap. And I loved learning more about the covens.

The relationships in this book are so interesting. Definitely toxic and definitely intriguing. SO MUCH TENSION. And the yearning is palpable.

Mia was already a badass but she really comes into her own in this book. Her smart mouth is hilarious and def gets her in trouble. Love that plot twist at the end! I will definitely be picking up the next book.

Fav tropes:
⚔️Mine
🔮Spicy
⚔️Vampires
🔮Witches
⚔️Fae
🔮Found family
⚔️Feminine rage
🔮Chosen one
⚔️Meddling Gods

Fav quotes:
“I shall call you leech, or nothing at all.”

“I’m a changing man, not a changed one. Some habits are hard to break.”

Thank you Demi Clorissa and Haus of Fables for the e-arc!

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picks up after Mia gets pulled through a portal at the end of book 1. Now she is imprisoned with the vampire king. She's done taking people's shit and is trying to find a way to escape.

This one was a bit slower in the beginning. But I loved it! The story built so much more in this one. I hated seeing Mia trapped and confused about her situation. But I loved seeing her stand her ground.

And poor Idris. My heart was breaking for him. But when Wyn came along, atleast he had someone with him to help him figure out how to get Mia back. And the twist had me smiling!


Tropes:
"MINE"
Found family
Chosen one
Dual POV
Captor X Captee relationship
Hate to unlikely alliance
Outlander x Dracula
Feminine rage
Heart-breaking twists
Meddling gods

And after the cliffhanger, I need book 3 asap! Thank you to Demi Clorissa and Haus of Fables for the gifted arc!

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨
These Memories That Bind Her.
Book 2 in The Divine Bride series by Demi Clorissa

Mia is back and she’s done taking anyone’s nonsense. After everything she’s lost, she finds herself tangled up with the amber-eyed vampyre king, a wild prophecy, and a whole lot of divine chaos.

Idris? He’s out here mourning, drinking, and trying to save the world. Wyn enters the picture and things get… complicated (in the best way).

This one starts slower than book one, but I loved the deeper story it builds. By Part 3 I was on the edge of my seat wondering how Mia’s fate would play out.

It’s got everything I’ve come to expect from Demi Clorissa. The body diverse heroines, men who YEARN 🥵, and enough emotional damage to make your heart hurt just right.

> "ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱ ᴍʏ ᴡɪꜰᴇ, ᴍʏ Qᴜᴇᴇɴ, ᴍʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴜɪʟᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ

Thank you Demi Clorissa and House of Fabled PR for the ARC 🖤

[Taylor Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

ahhhhh omg omg omg! i LOVE this book and series so much!!! mia, idris and wyn are literally everything! i’m so obsessed with them! this universe sucks you in and doesn’t let you go! i love the emotional rollercoaster and the spice and the banter and the fact that you never really know what is going to happen. i am so scared but so excited for the next book!! please please please do yourself a favor and start this series!!!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written by THE Demi Clorrisa, what more do you want?
She is future bestselling Queen, incredible author and wears cool glasses. One day we won't be Abel to walk into a bookstore without seeing one of her books on display.
Love her books.
Love her.

Well done Demi, you did it again. Pure masterpiece.

[NeedMoreBookSpace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two had me trapped and in full anxious, edge of my seat panic mode the whole way through. There's so much growth from Mia but the threads of fate are trifling. Now I've gotta suffer and wait for a book three as well?!?! Such a good read, but I don't want to wait 😭😭😭

[Tawny Xu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hecka. What a read. I power-read book 1 again because I just needed to remember and I wanted to really savour this so I took it really slowly.
Oh. My. Goodness.
The tension! The spice! The... everything.
I'm still in love with Wyn. He's actually my ride-or-die in this series and I fell in love with him even more. Surprising even myself, I fell in love with Tabitha, too! I really enjoyed her character and I really hope she's in the next book.
Absolutely beautiful and hauntingly sweet. I loved it.

[Rhianna Sales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved being back in this world again.
I won’t give too much away as this is book 2 in the series, so go read These Shadows Become Her if you haven’t already.

We picked straight up from where we left in Book 1. Although the pacing was a little slower than TSBH, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and was kept guessing on the direction the story would go.

I love that we got more of an understanding of what happened to the witch covens and the relevance of the prophecy.
Wyn will forever be my favourite, and I can’t wait to see what the final book of this trilogy has in store for Mia, Idris and Wyn. So much tension in TMTBH – I need book 3 like yesterday.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, hello emotional damage, book two. 😭🖤

These Memories That Bind Her completely solidified Demi Clorissa as an auto-buy author for me. If book one opened the door to the darkness, this one drags you deeper and refuses to let go.

Mia continues to be such a powerful FMC. Her grief, trauma, and feminine rage are louder here, not reckless, but intentional. She questions the world around her, refuses to be silenced, and is slowly stepping into herself, even when fear and self-doubt still linger. Her growth feels raw, emotional, and earned, and I’m so invested in where her journey is heading next.

Idris, our tortured vampyre MMC, is still chained to his past and convinced he isn’t worthy of happiness or love. Watching him slowly unravel is heartbreaking, and the slow burn tension between him and Wyn is everything. The stolen glances, charged silences, and barely there touches had me kicking my feet, every small moment felt massive. 🤭

Adding Wyn to the mix completely shifts the dynamic. He brings a different kind of energy, sharp, observant, and impossible to ignore. Whether he’s challenging Mia, protecting her, or stirring the pot, his presence adds tension, depth, and so many questions about the direction of this story. I loved the contrast he provides and how he pushes both Mia and Idris in unexpected ways.

Darker, angsty, and emotionally rich, this sequel builds beautifully on book one while raising the stakes and I need book three yesterday.