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Compelling Fates Saga #3
A Bond so Fierce and Fragile
Please note: if you’re struggling to review the Kindle version, try to switch editions as it usually resolves the issue.
Torture. Darkness. Loss.
That’s what the Fae king has planned to break her.
But Elessia is prepared to fight.
She is ready to fight her way out of the king’s claws, fight to save Havlands from rebels and Fae alike, and above all, fight to return to the one she loves.
But in the end, it’s her own life she might need to fight for the most, and even though her mate will do anything, including rip the entire world to shreds, to keep her safe, there is nowhere to hide when the gods themselves are after you.
Torture. Darkness. Loss.
That’s what the Fae king has planned to break her.
But Elessia is prepared to fight.
She is ready to fight her way out of the king’s claws, fight to save Havlands from rebels and Fae alike, and above all, fight to return to the one she loves.
But in the end, it’s her own life she might need to fight for the most, and even though her mate will do anything, including rip the entire world to shreds, to keep her safe, there is nowhere to hide when the gods themselves are after you.
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2025
3033 people are currently reading
15452 people want to read
About the author
Sophia St. Germain
6 books645 followersSophia St. Germain has always loved reading fantasy and romance. She writes romantasy and is a big fan of found family, enemies to lovers, strong but flawed FMCs, and morally gray MMCs.
Originally from Sweden, Sophia moved to the US in 2019 but has also lived in France, Norway, and Belgium. She uses influences from her travels and the different cultures she's experienced in her books and characters.
Sophia works in tech by day and writes and reads romantasy by night (and, let's be honest, very early mornings).
Originally from Sweden, Sophia moved to the US in 2019 but has also lived in France, Norway, and Belgium. She uses influences from her travels and the different cultures she's experienced in her books and characters.
Sophia works in tech by day and writes and reads romantasy by night (and, let's be honest, very early mornings).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 711 reviews
August 25, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ The wait for the 4th and final book may destroy me after reading that ending 😩
July 14, 2025
The level of crying I did for this book...I've got a headache. The ending was beautiful
August 22, 2025
A rare DNF for me in over 2 years and over 200 hundred books, most of which are romantasy.
The characters, world and creation that the author has made was interesting, I was invested. As I read through the book, a small irritation started growing on me: the authors choice of sentence structure.
I am very aware this is a very petty and stupid reason not to finish a book, but I was so baffled by the author's strange decision to utilise sentence breaks in an attempt to slow down or dramatize the work. It completely choked the life out of the narrative. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, take a hard look at chapter 14 - 17. She uses this syntax choice of three sentence breaks to illustrate her point EIGHTEEN times in the span of three chapters. Actual. Fucking. Madness.
I cannot EVER read another book where the author uses sentence structure like:
She would never have to hide in fear again.
He would make sure of it.
He would ensure she was safe.
She was his heart.
This is okay to put together Sophia!!!!! Please!!!!
This goes on for PAGES occasionally. Just pages and pages and pages of it. I just wanted to throw myself off into the aether and drown in my literature sorrows. I've chewed through JRR Tolkien describing trees for pages and pages and pages and I somehow persevered. This has conquered me, I could not survive the madness. I was sitting in the bath, screaming at the page, "No! What are you doing!! You're ruining it!!"
I could not even imagine finishing a book.
I skipped to the end.
And left with a bad taste in my mouth.
One I would never recover from.
You see how that doesn't work?
I'm so sorry, Sophia, but this needed edits. Heavily. A heavy handed person to say, it's okay to use commas and make your sentences befriend one another. I'm not a perfect writer, and I'm not a smart reader. I'm just someone who couldn't continue hearing the same rhythm of reading in her head for the foreseeable future. I just couldn't do it for hours on end
FORGIVE ME
The characters, world and creation that the author has made was interesting, I was invested. As I read through the book, a small irritation started growing on me: the authors choice of sentence structure.
I am very aware this is a very petty and stupid reason not to finish a book, but I was so baffled by the author's strange decision to utilise sentence breaks in an attempt to slow down or dramatize the work. It completely choked the life out of the narrative. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, take a hard look at chapter 14 - 17. She uses this syntax choice of three sentence breaks to illustrate her point EIGHTEEN times in the span of three chapters. Actual. Fucking. Madness.
I cannot EVER read another book where the author uses sentence structure like:
She would never have to hide in fear again.
He would make sure of it.
He would ensure she was safe.
She was his heart.
This is okay to put together Sophia!!!!! Please!!!!
This goes on for PAGES occasionally. Just pages and pages and pages of it. I just wanted to throw myself off into the aether and drown in my literature sorrows. I've chewed through JRR Tolkien describing trees for pages and pages and pages and I somehow persevered. This has conquered me, I could not survive the madness. I was sitting in the bath, screaming at the page, "No! What are you doing!! You're ruining it!!"
I could not even imagine finishing a book.
I skipped to the end.
And left with a bad taste in my mouth.
One I would never recover from.
You see how that doesn't work?
I'm so sorry, Sophia, but this needed edits. Heavily. A heavy handed person to say, it's okay to use commas and make your sentences befriend one another. I'm not a perfect writer, and I'm not a smart reader. I'm just someone who couldn't continue hearing the same rhythm of reading in her head for the foreseeable future. I just couldn't do it for hours on end
FORGIVE ME
June 12, 2025
Just to cancel out Jagoda’s review of 1 star when the book isn’t even out?! Even someone with an ARC would have left a review. The first two books were great, I devoured them within days and can’t wait for the next! This is the author’s livelihood someone is messing with, wish them all the best with the next release
July 23, 2025
”𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙢𝙚.”
A Bond So Fierce and Fragile by Sophia St. Germain
5⭐️ | 3🌶️
-fae, shifters, humans
-multi POV
-unique magic
-prophecies
-touch her and 💀
-trauma & healing
-war & political intrigue
This book was beautiful, heartbreaking, devastating, and healing all at once.
We’re picking up right where we left off and are tossed into a whirlwind of trauma and high-emotions in the midst of a looming war.
“𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣.”
The way I’ve grown so attached to these characters makes this such an impactful story. In book 2, I wasn’t entirely convinced I’d like Frelina’s character but by book 3 I think I was more interested in her POV chapters than anyone else haha.
Lessia really rises above and endures everything that gets tossed at her without letting it break her gentle spirit. And Merrick…that male, that snarly, broody, intimidating male can do no wrong.
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙄 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚—𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡—𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
And Loche, and Raine, and Amalise and all the others.. I just love them 🥹🫶🏻😭.
I’m still spiraling after that last 10% and I can’t make sense of my emotions but I NEED book 4 in my hands in order to recover. And I know she’s writing another series in the same world and I’m DYING for more clues.
“𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙚?”
“𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛*𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨, 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙚?”
Thank you so much, Sophia, for the advanced copy! Being a part of this journey since book 1 has been an absolute thrill ride.
A Bond So Fierce and Fragile by Sophia St. Germain
5⭐️ | 3🌶️
-fae, shifters, humans
-multi POV
-unique magic
-prophecies
-touch her and 💀
-trauma & healing
-war & political intrigue
This book was beautiful, heartbreaking, devastating, and healing all at once.
We’re picking up right where we left off and are tossed into a whirlwind of trauma and high-emotions in the midst of a looming war.
“𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣.”
The way I’ve grown so attached to these characters makes this such an impactful story. In book 2, I wasn’t entirely convinced I’d like Frelina’s character but by book 3 I think I was more interested in her POV chapters than anyone else haha.
Lessia really rises above and endures everything that gets tossed at her without letting it break her gentle spirit. And Merrick…that male, that snarly, broody, intimidating male can do no wrong.
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙄 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚—𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡—𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”
And Loche, and Raine, and Amalise and all the others.. I just love them 🥹🫶🏻😭.
I’m still spiraling after that last 10% and I can’t make sense of my emotions but I NEED book 4 in my hands in order to recover. And I know she’s writing another series in the same world and I’m DYING for more clues.
“𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝙙𝙤 𝙬𝙚?”
“𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛*𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨, 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙚?”
Thank you so much, Sophia, for the advanced copy! Being a part of this journey since book 1 has been an absolute thrill ride.
September 4, 2025
Comme le tome 4 de la saga d’Auren avec les side romances qui commencent 🩷
September 1, 2025
I wanna give this third book a 3.5 ⭐️.
I LOVE and ate up the first two books of the series and was so excited with how soon and early this third book came out. I think it's just a me problem, but it was difficult for me to read and eat this one up. After reading a chapter or two, I would get bored and do something else and never had the energy to keep reading until hours later. There were times where I had days in between reads just to get back in.
I just felt like the story and plot in this third book lacked something, and felt more of a filler book to get to the next book. There literally wasn't any action until the last 20% of the book, which I guess is for the plot and the journey Lessia went through, but everything turned up lackluster for me. All the different POV's were nice from afar, but I think that's where the story lacked because the main story wasn't evolving like the other books. It kind of felt jumpy and skimming over in-between scenes just to get the story along. I was expecting more, especially in the beginning of the book with how book two left off, but that lacked as well.
This book was more in-depth of the minds of the characters and their feelings. We really get to see Merrick turn from this scary dude to a man who freaking LOVES his mate. He's like down bad for the FMC in this book, and it was nice to see how much he loves her and how he can freely express that. I did enjoy seeing their relationship become stronger throughout this book.
*spoiler*
Things finally picked up at the end of the book where the war began, but even the fighting and story building there lacked. Everyone seemed pretty much useless to me. I get they were gonna lose from the start due to just numbers, but it didn't even feel like a "war". And then the lead up to Rioner finally showing up and Lessia finally pulling up to go through with the prophecy was so BORING. I love fantasy for the world building and being able to immerse myself into the story and feel like I'm standing next to the characters, but that whole scene ended up with me disappointed. Had me saying "that was it?" and putting the book down to come back to it later just so I could force myself to finish it. I think the choice of POV for that scene was the wrong one, and literally had no magic to it.
The ending at least got me a bit hooked and eager for the next book. I think with this one in particular, I'm used to fantasy stories having so much action and things happening constantly, that this one wasn't up to par.
I LOVE and ate up the first two books of the series and was so excited with how soon and early this third book came out. I think it's just a me problem, but it was difficult for me to read and eat this one up. After reading a chapter or two, I would get bored and do something else and never had the energy to keep reading until hours later. There were times where I had days in between reads just to get back in.
I just felt like the story and plot in this third book lacked something, and felt more of a filler book to get to the next book. There literally wasn't any action until the last 20% of the book, which I guess is for the plot and the journey Lessia went through, but everything turned up lackluster for me. All the different POV's were nice from afar, but I think that's where the story lacked because the main story wasn't evolving like the other books. It kind of felt jumpy and skimming over in-between scenes just to get the story along. I was expecting more, especially in the beginning of the book with how book two left off, but that lacked as well.
This book was more in-depth of the minds of the characters and their feelings. We really get to see Merrick turn from this scary dude to a man who freaking LOVES his mate. He's like down bad for the FMC in this book, and it was nice to see how much he loves her and how he can freely express that. I did enjoy seeing their relationship become stronger throughout this book.
*spoiler*
Things finally picked up at the end of the book where the war began, but even the fighting and story building there lacked. Everyone seemed pretty much useless to me. I get they were gonna lose from the start due to just numbers, but it didn't even feel like a "war". And then the lead up to Rioner finally showing up and Lessia finally pulling up to go through with the prophecy was so BORING. I love fantasy for the world building and being able to immerse myself into the story and feel like I'm standing next to the characters, but that whole scene ended up with me disappointed. Had me saying "that was it?" and putting the book down to come back to it later just so I could force myself to finish it. I think the choice of POV for that scene was the wrong one, and literally had no magic to it.
The ending at least got me a bit hooked and eager for the next book. I think with this one in particular, I'm used to fantasy stories having so much action and things happening constantly, that this one wasn't up to par.
October 15, 2025
Truputuką jau erzino mane dalykai šioj daly + labai ilgai skaičiau, tai tik ⭐️⭐️⭐️. BET pabaiga gera, lauksiu paskutinės dalies!
July 8, 2025
never thought there would be a day I read a book that gave me major throne of glass vibes🫰🏽🫰🏽
July 15, 2025
Full transparency, as always - Yes, I am Sophia’s friend/PA/alpha reader. Despite all that, I will always review honestly.
This book was everything I wanted, and everything I didn’t know I needed.
It took all of the best parts of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly & A Promise so Bold and Broken, mixed them together, and then added some lagniappe (a little something extra) for good measure.
There are 4 POVs in this one, and while that might typically edge on too many for me - I get irritated when I’m pulled out of a part of the story I’m really invested in - I never once felt frustrated by them. They all flowed very well from one to the other, and Sophia chose the right moments to make the switches.
I will warn you that the tone of this book is darker than the first two. It has a lot more trauma and war. I personally like those high stakes and darker tones in my books, but I would completely understand it not being right for every person.
As for the romance(s):
Sophia definitely upped the spice in this one (I’d give it 3🌶️ on my scale), and also added more relationships for you to become invested in… or shocked by.
The last few chapters had me sobbing multiple times and I’m not one who cries easily.
And that ending?! Let’s just say I was texting Sophia some shocked expletives and leave it at that. 😆
All in all, this was my favorite book of the series so far, by far.
At this point it feels certain this series will dethrone all others - apart from TOG - as my top favorite romantic fantasy series ever.
This book was everything I wanted, and everything I didn’t know I needed.
It took all of the best parts of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly & A Promise so Bold and Broken, mixed them together, and then added some lagniappe (a little something extra) for good measure.
There are 4 POVs in this one, and while that might typically edge on too many for me - I get irritated when I’m pulled out of a part of the story I’m really invested in - I never once felt frustrated by them. They all flowed very well from one to the other, and Sophia chose the right moments to make the switches.
I will warn you that the tone of this book is darker than the first two. It has a lot more trauma and war. I personally like those high stakes and darker tones in my books, but I would completely understand it not being right for every person.
As for the romance(s):
Sophia definitely upped the spice in this one (I’d give it 3🌶️ on my scale), and also added more relationships for you to become invested in… or shocked by.
The last few chapters had me sobbing multiple times and I’m not one who cries easily.
And that ending?! Let’s just say I was texting Sophia some shocked expletives and leave it at that. 😆
All in all, this was my favorite book of the series so far, by far.
At this point it feels certain this series will dethrone all others - apart from TOG - as my top favorite romantic fantasy series ever.
October 30, 2025
I know most love this book but I just couldn’t. The entire book is one big gloom and doom, “I’m gonna die and there is nothing I can do about it” whine fest. Seriously folks, that is not an exaggeration at all. Not one time in the entire story did Elessia grow a backbone and buck the prohecy to fight for her life. She just accepted an assumption and insisted she will die, die, die. Well, it drove me nuts, nuts, nuts.
August 6, 2025
Where to start? I can’t decide if I want to scream or cry. I may have done both during the last three chapters. I’m still wavering between both and it’s been hours.
I’m once again suffering from a Sophia induced book hangover, mourning the loss of these characters after finishing one of her books. The second half was harrowing, and I know I’m prone to exaggeration… but in this, I’m not. It’s brutal. Big girl/guy panties required. The first two books of this series were suspiciously similar torture - I get it now. She has a style. I should have seen this coming. Well, it’s too late now. I’m all in, no turning back.
I have fallen so deeply in love with about 8 different characters, and I’m invested in every single one. Did I mention nobody is truly safe?? t’s screaming TOG vibes, where everyone’s relationships, sanity, health and well-being are up for grabs. There’s plenty of love, suspense, selflessness, humor and kindness to even it out, but I’m still teetering towards damaged at the end of it. Call me a glutton for punishment: Can’t wait for the next and final installment in December!
This series is one that I will HIGHLY recommend to anyone that asks for a book recommendation and possibly many people that don’t.
Thank you Sophia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. What a gift.
I’m once again suffering from a Sophia induced book hangover, mourning the loss of these characters after finishing one of her books. The second half was harrowing, and I know I’m prone to exaggeration… but in this, I’m not. It’s brutal. Big girl/guy panties required. The first two books of this series were suspiciously similar torture - I get it now. She has a style. I should have seen this coming. Well, it’s too late now. I’m all in, no turning back.
I have fallen so deeply in love with about 8 different characters, and I’m invested in every single one. Did I mention nobody is truly safe?? t’s screaming TOG vibes, where everyone’s relationships, sanity, health and well-being are up for grabs. There’s plenty of love, suspense, selflessness, humor and kindness to even it out, but I’m still teetering towards damaged at the end of it. Call me a glutton for punishment: Can’t wait for the next and final installment in December!
This series is one that I will HIGHLY recommend to anyone that asks for a book recommendation and possibly many people that don’t.
Thank you Sophia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. What a gift.
October 14, 2025
Oh I've got a lot to say. 1.5 was GENEROUS.
First of all!!!! They had sex after shed been in a boat tortured for like a week? Disgustang. You telling me she's covered in blood and old grime and you're eating her out? Absolutely not would a bath first not hurt?! Turned my stomach had to skip it. Not that I was missing much Lessia and Merrick romance bored me.
Leading onto my second point, this felt like some sort of author self insert. Every single chapter is just how amazing and great and selfless and brilliant Lessia is. Yawn. Whatever. Lazy writing show it to us don't just tell us I started to resent her it was just constant Lessia Fan Club. Concequence of writing three books in one year I think just banging them out there's no depth here.
Also they were in the middle of battle and there was time for the sister to have a little time by herself to sob while the apparent mighty raine hugs her? In what world? They'd be slaughtered immediately.
CONTINUING from that point - you've told us these are four of the worlds mightiest warriors to ever live and are centuries old and known throughoit the kingdom. But then at no point have you shown us why. There was no epic skills displayed, no battle brilliance focused on. They seemed absolutely average.
ALSO, had some of my LEAST FAVORITE trends I'm seeing in modern fantasy. First one is that all characters seem to be romantically paired up - boring, unrelatable, unrealistic. AND MY MOST DESPISED THING!!!?! Why the HELL are you killing a character to bring them back to life it is BORING!!!! death has no impact anymore because I don't care because I know you're going to bring them back. KEEP THEM DEAD 2K26.!!!!!! write about the aftermath! Baddies nowerdays could never handle divergent series. I'd say kill Lessia and have this last book about the aftermath but then it would just been the We Love Lessia Club being sad and that would just be annoying.
If anyone sees me reading the next book in this series when it comes out call the police someone is blackmailing me with a loved one's life xoxoxoxox
First of all!!!! They had sex after shed been in a boat tortured for like a week? Disgustang. You telling me she's covered in blood and old grime and you're eating her out? Absolutely not would a bath first not hurt?! Turned my stomach had to skip it. Not that I was missing much Lessia and Merrick romance bored me.
Leading onto my second point, this felt like some sort of author self insert. Every single chapter is just how amazing and great and selfless and brilliant Lessia is. Yawn. Whatever. Lazy writing show it to us don't just tell us I started to resent her it was just constant Lessia Fan Club. Concequence of writing three books in one year I think just banging them out there's no depth here.
Also they were in the middle of battle and there was time for the sister to have a little time by herself to sob while the apparent mighty raine hugs her? In what world? They'd be slaughtered immediately.
CONTINUING from that point - you've told us these are four of the worlds mightiest warriors to ever live and are centuries old and known throughoit the kingdom. But then at no point have you shown us why. There was no epic skills displayed, no battle brilliance focused on. They seemed absolutely average.
ALSO, had some of my LEAST FAVORITE trends I'm seeing in modern fantasy. First one is that all characters seem to be romantically paired up - boring, unrelatable, unrealistic. AND MY MOST DESPISED THING!!!?! Why the HELL are you killing a character to bring them back to life it is BORING!!!! death has no impact anymore because I don't care because I know you're going to bring them back. KEEP THEM DEAD 2K26.!!!!!! write about the aftermath! Baddies nowerdays could never handle divergent series. I'd say kill Lessia and have this last book about the aftermath but then it would just been the We Love Lessia Club being sad and that would just be annoying.
If anyone sees me reading the next book in this series when it comes out call the police someone is blackmailing me with a loved one's life xoxoxoxox
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2025
Overview: Torture. Darkness. Loss.
The Fae king seeks to break her—but Elessia will not bend. She must fight to free Havlands from rebels and Fae alike, and struggle to return to the one she loves. But when even the gods turn against her, she may be battling for her own life.
In a world where love is fragile and loyalty is tested, how far will she go to protect her bond?
My thoughts: I really wanted to enjoy this - this felt a lot more action-packed than the second book yet somehow felt really lacklustre.
I don't know if it's the author's style or a disconnect between their brain and mine, but reading this felt like the equivalent of watching a storyboard for an animation. They've roughly sketched out the scenes and the dialogue, and sure, you can watch it and get an idea of what's happening, but all the colour, texture and finishing touches that will turn it from a sketch into an actual image/final film are missing.
For such an expansive world, I didn't feel like I got a sense of anything outside of our merry band of travellers. For example, I don't recall seeing any mention of other crew members on the ships. At all. Is it just the five or six of them hoisting the main sail in between getting it on? The Lake of Mirrors so was so non-descript and short.
It's built up so much, but they simply "pass" into the realm, all we get is some weird thought-conversations in some weird mirrored room like a cringey bachelor pad. No surprises, Lessia and Merrick get it on then too.
The actual battle was slightly confusing - I couldn't get my bearings on where people were and what was happening.
I also wish Lessia and Merrick had been drawn out - the yearning was so much better than the actual relationship. And Frelina and Raine felt..... stupid? Not very eloquent but I found myself skipping through their parts. I also take issue with a number of word choices for the spicy scenes.
Petition for 'sloppy' and 'milked' to be struck from the record?!
If this book and #2 were combined, with all the filler removed and the content cranked up to 11, this would be a great book. But it felt thin.
Having said ALL that - the ending did get me misty-eyed. So bonus points for eliciting an emotional response, but I'm PMS'ing so it's not hard.
1. A Tongue So Sweet and Deadly ★★★
2. A Promise So Bold and Broken ★★
3. A Bond So Fierce and Fragile ★★
The Fae king seeks to break her—but Elessia will not bend. She must fight to free Havlands from rebels and Fae alike, and struggle to return to the one she loves. But when even the gods turn against her, she may be battling for her own life.
In a world where love is fragile and loyalty is tested, how far will she go to protect her bond?
My thoughts: I really wanted to enjoy this - this felt a lot more action-packed than the second book yet somehow felt really lacklustre.
I don't know if it's the author's style or a disconnect between their brain and mine, but reading this felt like the equivalent of watching a storyboard for an animation. They've roughly sketched out the scenes and the dialogue, and sure, you can watch it and get an idea of what's happening, but all the colour, texture and finishing touches that will turn it from a sketch into an actual image/final film are missing.
For such an expansive world, I didn't feel like I got a sense of anything outside of our merry band of travellers. For example, I don't recall seeing any mention of other crew members on the ships. At all. Is it just the five or six of them hoisting the main sail in between getting it on? The Lake of Mirrors so was so non-descript and short.
"The Lake of Mirrors," Kerym mused. "No one has been there for centuries."
"For good reason," Thissian broke in. "The gods cannot be trusted....It's a dangerous place."
It's built up so much, but they simply "pass" into the realm, all we get is some weird thought-conversations in some weird mirrored room like a cringey bachelor pad. No surprises, Lessia and Merrick get it on then too.
The actual battle was slightly confusing - I couldn't get my bearings on where people were and what was happening.
I also wish Lessia and Merrick had been drawn out - the yearning was so much better than the actual relationship. And Frelina and Raine felt..... stupid? Not very eloquent but I found myself skipping through their parts. I also take issue with a number of word choices for the spicy scenes.
Petition for 'sloppy' and 'milked' to be struck from the record?!
If this book and #2 were combined, with all the filler removed and the content cranked up to 11, this would be a great book. But it felt thin.
Having said ALL that - the ending did get me misty-eyed. So bonus points for eliciting an emotional response, but I'm PMS'ing so it's not hard.
1. A Tongue So Sweet and Deadly ★★★
2. A Promise So Bold and Broken ★★
3. A Bond So Fierce and Fragile ★★
August 22, 2025
"Do you want me to tell you no one—mate or not—has loved anyone the way I love you? That I would laugh as the world fell apart as long as you stood by my side? That even if I could only have one fucking night—one night pretending you’re mine—I’d take it?"
This was such a great continuation of the series, picking up right where the second book left off.
Alessia is facing and dealing the prophecy with Loche, Merrick and her friends at her side. They are fighting the rebels Rioner and the fae and things are looking bleak for them at times.
Not only do I love Lessia and Merrick, but Loche and all the other side characters really help to make this book amazing. I was tearing up a couple of times throughout this book, and that ending.. what a cliff hanger! I definitely need the next book NOW.
This was such a great continuation of the series, picking up right where the second book left off.
Alessia is facing and dealing the prophecy with Loche, Merrick and her friends at her side. They are fighting the rebels Rioner and the fae and things are looking bleak for them at times.
Not only do I love Lessia and Merrick, but Loche and all the other side characters really help to make this book amazing. I was tearing up a couple of times throughout this book, and that ending.. what a cliff hanger! I definitely need the next book NOW.
September 23, 2025
A Bond so Fierce and Fragile was everything I was hoping for! Sophia St. Germain did not disappoint with this one. I couldn't put this book down. It was an emotional read.
The story picks up right where we left off in the second book. I enjoyed the multiple POVs in the story. This really added depth to the character development.
What to expect
-Fated mates
-Found family
-Slow burn romance
-Political intrigue
-War
-Trauma and healing
-Female rage
This series is top tier! I am counting down the days until I can get my hands on the final book. I have become so attached to these characters! Thank you for this beautiful series Sophia.
The story picks up right where we left off in the second book. I enjoyed the multiple POVs in the story. This really added depth to the character development.
What to expect
-Fated mates
-Found family
-Slow burn romance
-Political intrigue
-War
-Trauma and healing
-Female rage
This series is top tier! I am counting down the days until I can get my hands on the final book. I have become so attached to these characters! Thank you for this beautiful series Sophia.
July 5, 2025
Is it considered stalking if you constantly check the authors page to see if there are any sneak peaks or book updates - no didn’t think so - impatiently waiting for book 3 <3
August 20, 2025
Oh my...
A Bond So Fierce and Fragile picks up very quickly after A Promise So Bold and Broken left us, which thank goodness given how crazed Merrick was going after losing Lessia. For this book, the tears started in chapter one! And while they paused a few times throughout this story, I don't think I've cried this much throughout a book!
Merrick starts to understand the stakes that Lessia found out about during A Promise So Bold and Broken regarding her future and King Rioner, and I love his optimism despite being the grumpy Fae protector. He absolutely refuses that this outcome is the only way, and he will do whatever it takes to keep Lessia in his life. I also loved getting his POV during several chapters in this story. The whole series thus far has been from Lessia's POV, and so getting some of his thoughts was so necessary to see how devoted he is to her. Plus, our group is separated for quite a bit of the story, so also getting Loche and Frelina's POVs were nice touches.
Oh little Frelina! She comes off as very sheltered, but she wants to be fierce like her older sister Lessia. I'm so glad that we see Frelina looking up to Lessia, especially since Lessia seemed sure that Frelina would just hate her. She wants so much from her life, even though she thinks her life is very likely to be cut short. But she grabs hold of some chemistry with Raine and runs with it! Despite Raine having lost his mate and Frelina maybe having someone else in her future...
And poor Loche! I was fully on the Loche-is-an-idiot train after A Promise So Bold and Broken. But seeing that he truly loves his country and wants to do what is best for the most amount of people, even if it means betraying the one woman he loves more than anything and knows that he ruined any chance he might have with her. Even then, seeing his pining for her and watching her lovey-dovey eyes to Merrick throughout this story was hard. But! We just might get a little bit of a love story for him in the next book! There are definitely hints that he has a love like the one shared by Lessia and Merrick.
I will say my head hurt at the end of this story! Both from crying and from ALL that happened! We learn a bit more about why exactly Merrick is nicknamed The Death Whisperer, and he pushes his power probably beyond what he is supposed to do all for Lessia. I NEED MORE!
Some favorite quotes:
One day. One fvcking day without her and he was losing his mind.
His to save. His to protect. His to love.
"He'll rip this world apart if that's what it takes."
"Careful, regent. I'm plotting how I'm going to k!ll everyone who's ever hvrt her, and you're high on that list."
"I wish it wasn't her. But... it's all we have now. I fvcked up so bad. And while I owe it to her to save her, I also owe Ellow to do everything I can to save it. I already let her get away, and... I gave her the damned stone. We have nothing left now."
"If you d!e on that ship I will come to the afterlife and haunt you for fvcking ever, and then we can talk about poss3ssive."
It was still there. As frail and fragile as before.
"I don't care what she wants. I don't want to live in a world where she doesn't exist."
But just because she was broken... it didn't mean she was useless.
She was something new. Something forged in pain. Something born out of guilt. Something bound by love. Because every broken piece that remained now was just that... Bound by love.
Instead, he folded her broken body against his broken heart and held her there.
Frelina wanted that kind of pain--the kind she'd read about in books--that only love for another could bring. Frelina wanted it all. All the feelings. All the joy. All the sadness. All the love. All the hurt.
"Perhaps we only get endings. But let's make that ending one for the fvcking books, shall we?"
He didn't have any hope of finding what she had. And even if he did, he didn't want it. Because that meant he would risk feeling like this again.
"You and me."
She didn't need to sacrifice herself for a world that had done nothing but hvrt her.
Merrick promised himself he'd give her everything she wished for. He'd give her all of it. If not in this lifetime, then the next. And he'd start with time.
"You appear to be the only one in need of saving, Mr. Brooding Overprotective Soldier Man." "If you're the one doing it, I'll put myself in harm's way every day."
"My little fighter like her man on his knees before her. Likes to see him serve her like the goddess she is."
"I love you with all the broken pieces I have." "You're not broken, Lessia."
"It's never nothing to carry pain because you're relieving another."
He didn't rush her in the mornings anymore. He kissed her whenever he got a chance. Whispered words into her ear that he'd usually save for when they were alone, ignoring Raine's quips about them being mushy. Touched her everywhere he could. Made jokes that weren't particularly funny but that made her laugh all the same because of his studious expression. He was giving her what she'd wished for: time, love, friendship, acceptance. And he was clearly trying to give her the one thing she knew he couldn't... a future. (Merrick being so soft for her!)
Merrick and Lessia... They were respect, they were fight, they were hope, they were... love.
"Their bond is a fierce and fragile one."
"Merrick, no! You'll k!ll all of us." "Do you think I give one sh!t?"
He would always, always be there to light the way for her.
If you love a romantasy story with war (and everything that comes with it, including a raging Death Whisperer), Gods and curses, fated mates, female rage, friends to "use me to forget" to..., loss and heartbreak and healing together, new relationships, grumpy sea wyverns, spice (including an intense mirror scene), she tattoos him with her hopes and dreams, and he will burn the world (and anyone in it) for her, you NEED to read A Bond So Fierce and Fragile!
I received an advanced review copy for free. This review contains my honest opinion and is being left voluntarily.
A Bond So Fierce and Fragile picks up very quickly after A Promise So Bold and Broken left us, which thank goodness given how crazed Merrick was going after losing Lessia. For this book, the tears started in chapter one! And while they paused a few times throughout this story, I don't think I've cried this much throughout a book!
Merrick starts to understand the stakes that Lessia found out about during A Promise So Bold and Broken regarding her future and King Rioner, and I love his optimism despite being the grumpy Fae protector. He absolutely refuses that this outcome is the only way, and he will do whatever it takes to keep Lessia in his life. I also loved getting his POV during several chapters in this story. The whole series thus far has been from Lessia's POV, and so getting some of his thoughts was so necessary to see how devoted he is to her. Plus, our group is separated for quite a bit of the story, so also getting Loche and Frelina's POVs were nice touches.
Oh little Frelina! She comes off as very sheltered, but she wants to be fierce like her older sister Lessia. I'm so glad that we see Frelina looking up to Lessia, especially since Lessia seemed sure that Frelina would just hate her. She wants so much from her life, even though she thinks her life is very likely to be cut short. But she grabs hold of some chemistry with Raine and runs with it! Despite Raine having lost his mate and Frelina maybe having someone else in her future...
And poor Loche! I was fully on the Loche-is-an-idiot train after A Promise So Bold and Broken. But seeing that he truly loves his country and wants to do what is best for the most amount of people, even if it means betraying the one woman he loves more than anything and knows that he ruined any chance he might have with her. Even then, seeing his pining for her and watching her lovey-dovey eyes to Merrick throughout this story was hard. But! We just might get a little bit of a love story for him in the next book! There are definitely hints that he has a love like the one shared by Lessia and Merrick.
I will say my head hurt at the end of this story! Both from crying and from ALL that happened! We learn a bit more about why exactly Merrick is nicknamed The Death Whisperer, and he pushes his power probably beyond what he is supposed to do all for Lessia. I NEED MORE!
Some favorite quotes:
One day. One fvcking day without her and he was losing his mind.
His to save. His to protect. His to love.
"He'll rip this world apart if that's what it takes."
"Careful, regent. I'm plotting how I'm going to k!ll everyone who's ever hvrt her, and you're high on that list."
"I wish it wasn't her. But... it's all we have now. I fvcked up so bad. And while I owe it to her to save her, I also owe Ellow to do everything I can to save it. I already let her get away, and... I gave her the damned stone. We have nothing left now."
"If you d!e on that ship I will come to the afterlife and haunt you for fvcking ever, and then we can talk about poss3ssive."
It was still there. As frail and fragile as before.
"I don't care what she wants. I don't want to live in a world where she doesn't exist."
But just because she was broken... it didn't mean she was useless.
She was something new. Something forged in pain. Something born out of guilt. Something bound by love. Because every broken piece that remained now was just that... Bound by love.
Instead, he folded her broken body against his broken heart and held her there.
Frelina wanted that kind of pain--the kind she'd read about in books--that only love for another could bring. Frelina wanted it all. All the feelings. All the joy. All the sadness. All the love. All the hurt.
"Perhaps we only get endings. But let's make that ending one for the fvcking books, shall we?"
He didn't have any hope of finding what she had. And even if he did, he didn't want it. Because that meant he would risk feeling like this again.
"You and me."
She didn't need to sacrifice herself for a world that had done nothing but hvrt her.
Merrick promised himself he'd give her everything she wished for. He'd give her all of it. If not in this lifetime, then the next. And he'd start with time.
"You appear to be the only one in need of saving, Mr. Brooding Overprotective Soldier Man." "If you're the one doing it, I'll put myself in harm's way every day."
"My little fighter like her man on his knees before her. Likes to see him serve her like the goddess she is."
"I love you with all the broken pieces I have." "You're not broken, Lessia."
"It's never nothing to carry pain because you're relieving another."
He didn't rush her in the mornings anymore. He kissed her whenever he got a chance. Whispered words into her ear that he'd usually save for when they were alone, ignoring Raine's quips about them being mushy. Touched her everywhere he could. Made jokes that weren't particularly funny but that made her laugh all the same because of his studious expression. He was giving her what she'd wished for: time, love, friendship, acceptance. And he was clearly trying to give her the one thing she knew he couldn't... a future. (Merrick being so soft for her!)
Merrick and Lessia... They were respect, they were fight, they were hope, they were... love.
"Their bond is a fierce and fragile one."
"Merrick, no! You'll k!ll all of us." "Do you think I give one sh!t?"
He would always, always be there to light the way for her.
If you love a romantasy story with war (and everything that comes with it, including a raging Death Whisperer), Gods and curses, fated mates, female rage, friends to "use me to forget" to..., loss and heartbreak and healing together, new relationships, grumpy sea wyverns, spice (including an intense mirror scene), she tattoos him with her hopes and dreams, and he will burn the world (and anyone in it) for her, you NEED to read A Bond So Fierce and Fragile!
I received an advanced review copy for free. This review contains my honest opinion and is being left voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2025
This series continues to wow me! Book 3 did not disappoint at all and I’m forever obsessed with this series.
Book 3 starts out immediately jumping into the aftermath of the events at the end of book 2 and man was it a rollercoaster full of emotions and trauma and heartbreak (in the best way) - I love when a book makes me feel and get so attached to the characters!
The character development and the relationships are absolutely beautiful. Lessia is such a strong and resilient FMC - I adore her. I can’t say much about the relationships since this is book 3 but trust me these men are exactly what I like in my fantasy books.
There are added POVs this book and while 4 POVs may seem like a lot it worked perfectly and really got me attached to other characters more.
I’m reeling from the ending and cannot wait for book 4!
Thank you so much to Sophia and team for the arc copy!
Book 3 starts out immediately jumping into the aftermath of the events at the end of book 2 and man was it a rollercoaster full of emotions and trauma and heartbreak (in the best way) - I love when a book makes me feel and get so attached to the characters!
The character development and the relationships are absolutely beautiful. Lessia is such a strong and resilient FMC - I adore her. I can’t say much about the relationships since this is book 3 but trust me these men are exactly what I like in my fantasy books.
There are added POVs this book and while 4 POVs may seem like a lot it worked perfectly and really got me attached to other characters more.
I’m reeling from the ending and cannot wait for book 4!
Thank you so much to Sophia and team for the arc copy!
July 18, 2025
✨A Bond So Fierce and Fragile✨
Author: Sophia St. Germain
Release: August 20
Series: Compelling Fates Saga (book 3 out of 4)
Holy freaking cow. My whole heart!! This book was so emotional. So heart wrenching. So stinking precious and perfect and Sophia, you are just such a phenomenal writer. You wring out these beautiful emotions and I found myself connected deeply to every single character in these pages even those I hadn’t known well before this third book.
Book three in this series is full of our found family, insane reveals, and the highest of stakes. We follow 4 POVs and are immediately brought back into the story right where we left off at the ending of book two and holy smokes, the action and ache begin right off the starting line. But Sophia navigates all these hard things with such grace and dignity. The romance is… I don’t even have a word because I have already used them all: perfect, phenomenal, delicious, precious, heartwarming. These pages included some of the most heartfelt and compassionate relationships that were established and blooming. I’m just so happy and I NEED BOOK FOUR. I am so stoked for December.
Tropes you may find in ABSFAF are wyverns, multi romances, fated mates, mind speak, comfort/wound care, fae and humans, unique magics, increased world and character building, “use me”, 🔥 the world for her, touch her and 💀, “eyes on me”, medium-high spice, hidden identities, prophecies and plot twists, and an ending that had me on the edge of my seat and in tears (happy and sad!).
If y’all haven’t started this series, you must do so. Begin with A Tongue So Sweet and Deadly. Books 1&2 are out right now!
Author: Sophia St. Germain
Release: August 20
Series: Compelling Fates Saga (book 3 out of 4)
Holy freaking cow. My whole heart!! This book was so emotional. So heart wrenching. So stinking precious and perfect and Sophia, you are just such a phenomenal writer. You wring out these beautiful emotions and I found myself connected deeply to every single character in these pages even those I hadn’t known well before this third book.
Book three in this series is full of our found family, insane reveals, and the highest of stakes. We follow 4 POVs and are immediately brought back into the story right where we left off at the ending of book two and holy smokes, the action and ache begin right off the starting line. But Sophia navigates all these hard things with such grace and dignity. The romance is… I don’t even have a word because I have already used them all: perfect, phenomenal, delicious, precious, heartwarming. These pages included some of the most heartfelt and compassionate relationships that were established and blooming. I’m just so happy and I NEED BOOK FOUR. I am so stoked for December.
Tropes you may find in ABSFAF are wyverns, multi romances, fated mates, mind speak, comfort/wound care, fae and humans, unique magics, increased world and character building, “use me”, 🔥 the world for her, touch her and 💀, “eyes on me”, medium-high spice, hidden identities, prophecies and plot twists, and an ending that had me on the edge of my seat and in tears (happy and sad!).
If y’all haven’t started this series, you must do so. Begin with A Tongue So Sweet and Deadly. Books 1&2 are out right now!
July 22, 2025
✨ARC READ✨
There are books that entertain you. There are books that linger. And then there are books that take you apart in quiet, devastating ways and somehow piece you back together. A Bond So Fierce and Fragile is the kind that leaves you hollow and full all at once.
Sophia St. Germain doesn’t just write fantasy. She writes hearts breaking and healing in real time—wrapped in magic, yes, but rooted in truths you don’t expect to find in the middle of a war-torn kingdom.
By the time you arrive at the third book, you already carry so much weight from the first two: the curses, the shattered vows, the relentless push and pull between destiny and choice. And yet somehow, A Bond So Fierce and Fragile reaches even deeper.
Because in this book, we don’t just see what love and loyalty can endure—we see what they become when everything else falls away.
And at the center of it all is “hi.”
It sounds small. It is small—just a word. But anyone who read A Promise So Bold and Broken knows that when Merrick said “hi” to Elissia, it wasn’t just a greeting. It was a door opening. It was the breath-before-the-leap. It was someone who never saw themselves as worthy taking a first step toward something gentle, and honest, and terrifying in its vulnerability.
That “hi” carried so much unsaid. And in A Bond So Fierce and Fragile, you feel the aftershocks of that moment again and again. You realize that everything they built—every moment of hope, every inch of trust—started there. A single word spoken like a prayer.
This book is not afraid to hurt you. It’s not afraid to look directly at fear, at grief, at the ache of loving someone when the world is determined to pull you apart. But what makes it gut-wrenching is how tender it is in the wreckage. How St. Germain lets the quiet moments speak loudest. How she makes space for softness in the middle of chaos.
And maybe most of all—how she teaches you, through Merrick and Elissia, that even after loss, after battle, after heartbreak—love does not unravel. It bends. It fractures. But it stays. Sometimes all it takes is one word. One moment of bravery. One “hi.”
If you’ve come this far with the series, this book will undo you—in the best way. It is fierce. It is fragile. It is unforgettable.
If I could rate this 10 stars, I would.
There are books that entertain you. There are books that linger. And then there are books that take you apart in quiet, devastating ways and somehow piece you back together. A Bond So Fierce and Fragile is the kind that leaves you hollow and full all at once.
Sophia St. Germain doesn’t just write fantasy. She writes hearts breaking and healing in real time—wrapped in magic, yes, but rooted in truths you don’t expect to find in the middle of a war-torn kingdom.
By the time you arrive at the third book, you already carry so much weight from the first two: the curses, the shattered vows, the relentless push and pull between destiny and choice. And yet somehow, A Bond So Fierce and Fragile reaches even deeper.
Because in this book, we don’t just see what love and loyalty can endure—we see what they become when everything else falls away.
And at the center of it all is “hi.”
It sounds small. It is small—just a word. But anyone who read A Promise So Bold and Broken knows that when Merrick said “hi” to Elissia, it wasn’t just a greeting. It was a door opening. It was the breath-before-the-leap. It was someone who never saw themselves as worthy taking a first step toward something gentle, and honest, and terrifying in its vulnerability.
That “hi” carried so much unsaid. And in A Bond So Fierce and Fragile, you feel the aftershocks of that moment again and again. You realize that everything they built—every moment of hope, every inch of trust—started there. A single word spoken like a prayer.
This book is not afraid to hurt you. It’s not afraid to look directly at fear, at grief, at the ache of loving someone when the world is determined to pull you apart. But what makes it gut-wrenching is how tender it is in the wreckage. How St. Germain lets the quiet moments speak loudest. How she makes space for softness in the middle of chaos.
And maybe most of all—how she teaches you, through Merrick and Elissia, that even after loss, after battle, after heartbreak—love does not unravel. It bends. It fractures. But it stays. Sometimes all it takes is one word. One moment of bravery. One “hi.”
If you’ve come this far with the series, this book will undo you—in the best way. It is fierce. It is fragile. It is unforgettable.
If I could rate this 10 stars, I would.
October 19, 2025
“i want the world to fucking know it. i want everyone i ever meet to see that every part of me—every dark corner of my soul—belongs to you.”
—
the amount of times i screamed and cried this book isn’t even funny. so much pain!! such beautiful writing!!
merrick the man that you are!! this man is jumping up the ranks of my book bf list. his relationship with lessia is everything to me and this man speaks straight poetry, it’s impossible not to highlight everything that comes out of his mouth. speaking of his mouth… the one he has on him?? oh my god the way i kept audibly gasping, giving very much kingfisher vibes. 🫦
the introduction of the new povs was my favorite thing ever!! following the side characters made me love them even more and i’ve developed such a love for this found family. oh and don’t get me started on a certain couple that had me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure!! giggling and kicking my feet nonstop but then i was crying a minute later? so good.
this was definitely my favorite book in the series and i’m foaming at the mouth waiting for the final book to come out!! gimme PLS.
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the amount of times i screamed and cried this book isn’t even funny. so much pain!! such beautiful writing!!
merrick the man that you are!! this man is jumping up the ranks of my book bf list. his relationship with lessia is everything to me and this man speaks straight poetry, it’s impossible not to highlight everything that comes out of his mouth. speaking of his mouth… the one he has on him?? oh my god the way i kept audibly gasping, giving very much kingfisher vibes. 🫦
the introduction of the new povs was my favorite thing ever!! following the side characters made me love them even more and i’ve developed such a love for this found family. oh and don’t get me started on a certain couple that had me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure!! giggling and kicking my feet nonstop but then i was crying a minute later? so good.
this was definitely my favorite book in the series and i’m foaming at the mouth waiting for the final book to come out!! gimme PLS.
July 22, 2025
✨A Fantasy Series That Owns My Soul ✨
Arc Read- I don’t even know where to begin because this book…this series…completely took over my heart. I’m still thinking about it long after I turned the last page. The relationship between Merrick and Lessia is nothing short of unforgettable. Their chemistry, their history, and those quiet “you and me” moments were absolutely everything even at the end. The tension, the tenderness, the aching pull between them, it was the kind of emotional storytelling that doesn’t just entertain you, it changes you.
What makes this story so powerful is that it’s not just about romance, though that part alone could carry the entire book. It’s also about survival, loyalty, sacrifice, and identity. You feel the stakes in every chapter. And then you have Sophia St. Germain’s writing, which is stunning in every way. Her words don’t just tell a story, they immerse you in it. She builds tension and emotion so naturally that I kept finding myself rereading passages just to feel them again.
The world itself is rich and fully realized, with a deep magical history that unfolds piece by piece. I loved how layered everything felt, never rushed or forced. And don’t even get me started on the other characters. Each one has their own voice and story, and the multi-POV format only deepened the emotional connection I felt. Whether it was a fierce protector, a broken warrior, or an ex-lover, I genuinely cared about what happened to all of them. Their choices mattered. Their pain was real.
I’m not exaggerating when I say this series has become a core memory for me. I laughed, I cried, I gasped out loud, and now I’m counting down the minutes until book four. Sophia St. Germain is a storytelling force, and I’ll read anything she writes. I’m in awe of how she’s managed to blend deep emotion, addictive fantasy, and unforgettable romance into something so incredibly special.
If you’re even thinking about reading this series, do yourself a favor and start now. You won’t regret it—and you won’t be the same after. 🖤
Arc Read- I don’t even know where to begin because this book…this series…completely took over my heart. I’m still thinking about it long after I turned the last page. The relationship between Merrick and Lessia is nothing short of unforgettable. Their chemistry, their history, and those quiet “you and me” moments were absolutely everything even at the end. The tension, the tenderness, the aching pull between them, it was the kind of emotional storytelling that doesn’t just entertain you, it changes you.
What makes this story so powerful is that it’s not just about romance, though that part alone could carry the entire book. It’s also about survival, loyalty, sacrifice, and identity. You feel the stakes in every chapter. And then you have Sophia St. Germain’s writing, which is stunning in every way. Her words don’t just tell a story, they immerse you in it. She builds tension and emotion so naturally that I kept finding myself rereading passages just to feel them again.
The world itself is rich and fully realized, with a deep magical history that unfolds piece by piece. I loved how layered everything felt, never rushed or forced. And don’t even get me started on the other characters. Each one has their own voice and story, and the multi-POV format only deepened the emotional connection I felt. Whether it was a fierce protector, a broken warrior, or an ex-lover, I genuinely cared about what happened to all of them. Their choices mattered. Their pain was real.
I’m not exaggerating when I say this series has become a core memory for me. I laughed, I cried, I gasped out loud, and now I’m counting down the minutes until book four. Sophia St. Germain is a storytelling force, and I’ll read anything she writes. I’m in awe of how she’s managed to blend deep emotion, addictive fantasy, and unforgettable romance into something so incredibly special.
If you’re even thinking about reading this series, do yourself a favor and start now. You won’t regret it—and you won’t be the same after. 🖤
August 17, 2025
The emotions this book pulled from me 😭
After not absolutely loving the last one I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one but oh my gosh. When I tell you I freaking sobbed. You're constantly on edge waiting to see what's going to happen because you literally never know. The author does an amazing job of making sure everything feels so incredibly high stakes that you cannot put it down.
I'm absolutely dying for the final book because what is the author gonna put us through next 😭.
thank you to the author and r&r book tours for the gifted arc
After not absolutely loving the last one I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one but oh my gosh. When I tell you I freaking sobbed. You're constantly on edge waiting to see what's going to happen because you literally never know. The author does an amazing job of making sure everything feels so incredibly high stakes that you cannot put it down.
I'm absolutely dying for the final book because what is the author gonna put us through next 😭.
thank you to the author and r&r book tours for the gifted arc
October 23, 2025
I need book 4 immediately. I am in shambles. This series just keeps getting better and better. Lessia has to be one of my favorite FMC's ever. I see so much of myself in her. Being in her head had me in tears. I don't think I ever related to a character more. I don't know what book 4 is going to bring but i am not ready for this series to end.
Favorite quote:
“But this is life, the life the gods created and we try to navigate. It may not be fair, it may not be fun, but this right here… it’s living. It’s fighting. It’s loving. It’s… all I can do.”
Favorite quote:
“But this is life, the life the gods created and we try to navigate. It may not be fair, it may not be fun, but this right here… it’s living. It’s fighting. It’s loving. It’s… all I can do.”
September 5, 2025
this book will hurt you, and then piece your heart back together …kinda 🥹 and i loved every second 💖
this is the darkest book in the series, imo, but it is also the most impactful. all of the characters within the found fam are so layered and well developed, i was equally invested in their journey, and what was going on in their heads. i loved the extra pov’s we get in this. sophia’s writing style is so moving, it’s almost impossible not to feel the rage, grief, and determination alongside these characters. i definitely shed a few tears 🥹
i’m so intrigued to find out what life will be like in the next book for everyone. the last few paragraphs gave me CHILLS.
i’m not ready for this series to be over, but i’m excited to hear that sophia plans to write another series within this world. i’d read about any of these side couples 💗
this is the darkest book in the series, imo, but it is also the most impactful. all of the characters within the found fam are so layered and well developed, i was equally invested in their journey, and what was going on in their heads. i loved the extra pov’s we get in this. sophia’s writing style is so moving, it’s almost impossible not to feel the rage, grief, and determination alongside these characters. i definitely shed a few tears 🥹
i’m so intrigued to find out what life will be like in the next book for everyone. the last few paragraphs gave me CHILLS.
i’m not ready for this series to be over, but i’m excited to hear that sophia plans to write another series within this world. i’d read about any of these side couples 💗
October 4, 2025
This was such a fun story with a great plot that shows how love can be both strong and delicate. The characters feel so real, and their struggles are easy to connect with. I’m gonna need the next book nowwww. This whole series moved me 😭 I am so in love with the characters and the world. Elessia is my girl for life now.
October 28, 2025
This series has TAKEN OVER MY LIFE!?!
I am so blown away by these characters, the world, the character development, the romance, the history/lore, the magic system… EVERYTHING!
I cannot WAIT for the next book in December
I am so blown away by these characters, the world, the character development, the romance, the history/lore, the magic system… EVERYTHING!
I cannot WAIT for the next book in December
July 28, 2025
If you haven’t picked this series up yet…you need to. This book was much darker than the first two, and I loved the multiple POVs, emotional damage, and constant action!!
The number of emotions I felt reading this should be studied. The ending left my heart in shattered pieces, and I was outright sobbing in the car as my husband drove us home from vacation while I was reading.
Lessia goes through it in this book and I love how strong and kind she is despite everything! She just wants her loved ones to be ok. Meanwhile Merrick would end even his closest friends just to make her more comfortable and I’m here for that kind of dedicated energy!!
Frelina’s POV was everything I didn’t know I needed, and I am FERAL for more.
The found family in this is just so good, I love this group so much! And sea wyverns??? Yes please.
The plot, magic system, characters, spice….this series has it all, and does it all very well! The last book is coming out by the end of this year so PLEASE go read these!!!
The number of emotions I felt reading this should be studied. The ending left my heart in shattered pieces, and I was outright sobbing in the car as my husband drove us home from vacation while I was reading.
Lessia goes through it in this book and I love how strong and kind she is despite everything! She just wants her loved ones to be ok. Meanwhile Merrick would end even his closest friends just to make her more comfortable and I’m here for that kind of dedicated energy!!
Frelina’s POV was everything I didn’t know I needed, and I am FERAL for more.
The found family in this is just so good, I love this group so much! And sea wyverns??? Yes please.
The plot, magic system, characters, spice….this series has it all, and does it all very well! The last book is coming out by the end of this year so PLEASE go read these!!!
October 22, 2025
imagine having to moan the name merrick or frelina
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