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Compelling Fates Saga #3
A Bond so Fierce and Fragile: The epic, spicy, slow-burn romantasy series continues - perfect for fans of Gild and The Veiled Kingdom!
There was no fear within her as he pulled them deeper into the heavy darkness,
because she knew... he would always, always be there to light the way for her.
A Bond so Fierce and Fragile is the third in an epic, spicy, slow-burn romantasy series from Sophia St Germain, perfect for fans of Gild, The Cruel Prince, The Veiled Kingdom, and Sarah J Maas.
✨ Dark and spicy
✨ Enemies-to-lovers
✨ Slow-burn that burns HOT
✨ Fae world
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Secret identities
✨ Curses and prophecies and more!
_______________________________
Torture. Darkness. Loss.
The Fae king is determined to break Elessia, and he'll stop at nothing to get his way.
But Elessia is ready to fight - 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.
She's desperate to win but, in the end, the hardest fight might be the battle for her own life. After all, while her mate would rip the entire world to shreds to keep her safe, they both must accept the undeniable there is nowhere to hide when the gods themselves are after you.
_______________________________
Readers can't get enough!
'I am writing this review in tears, this story was truly heart wrenching, prepared to have your heart ripped from your chest multiple times!' 5 ⭐ reader review
'I absolutely devoured this book and felt emotionally drained at the end! What an ending. Needless to say I cannot wait for the final instalment of this series in December.' 5 ⭐ reader review
'Oh this series has become my Roman Empire.' 5 ⭐ reader review
'Heart warming. Soul destroying. Devastating. Magical. Perfection in a book. I think this has taken the top place for best read of 2025 so far 🙌🏼' 5 ⭐ reader review
because she knew... he would always, always be there to light the way for her.
A Bond so Fierce and Fragile is the third in an epic, spicy, slow-burn romantasy series from Sophia St Germain, perfect for fans of Gild, The Cruel Prince, The Veiled Kingdom, and Sarah J Maas.
✨ Dark and spicy
✨ Enemies-to-lovers
✨ Slow-burn that burns HOT
✨ Fae world
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Secret identities
✨ Curses and prophecies and more!
_______________________________
Torture. Darkness. Loss.
The Fae king is determined to break Elessia, and he'll stop at nothing to get his way.
But Elessia is ready to fight - 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.
She's desperate to win but, in the end, the hardest fight might be the battle for her own life. After all, while her mate would rip the entire world to shreds to keep her safe, they both must accept the undeniable there is nowhere to hide when the gods themselves are after you.
_______________________________
Readers can't get enough!
'I am writing this review in tears, this story was truly heart wrenching, prepared to have your heart ripped from your chest multiple times!' 5 ⭐ reader review
'I absolutely devoured this book and felt emotionally drained at the end! What an ending. Needless to say I cannot wait for the final instalment of this series in December.' 5 ⭐ reader review
'Oh this series has become my Roman Empire.' 5 ⭐ reader review
'Heart warming. Soul destroying. Devastating. Magical. Perfection in a book. I think this has taken the top place for best read of 2025 so far 🙌🏼' 5 ⭐ reader review
506 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2025
5471 people are currently reading
25150 people want to read
About the author
Sophia St. Germain
7 books1,143 followersSophia St. Germain is a Swedish-born, American-married author whose obsession with mythology and defiant princesses began with diaries full of stories at ten years old. Nowadays, she writes dark romantasy with fierce, flawed women and the swoon-worthy men who are obsessed with them, always with scorching slow burn and found family.
When she isn’t plotting her next world, she’s likely fueled by an iced latte, navigating a slightly chaotic life with her own mini FMC, husband, and dog, often recovering from a reality TV binge.
Having lived in five countries and four states, Sophia is a traveler at heart. She dreams of a life by the beach where she can dip into the ocean whenever she wants and write on a balcony with the waves as background music.
When she isn’t plotting her next world, she’s likely fueled by an iced latte, navigating a slightly chaotic life with her own mini FMC, husband, and dog, often recovering from a reality TV binge.
Having lived in five countries and four states, Sophia is a traveler at heart. She dreams of a life by the beach where she can dip into the ocean whenever she wants and write on a balcony with the waves as background music.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,549 reviews
August 25, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ The wait for the 4th and final book may destroy me after reading that ending 😩
December 11, 2025
A rare DNF for me in over 2 years and over 200 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 the 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 the 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
July 14, 2025
The level of crying I did for this book...I've got a headache. The ending was beautiful
November 28, 2025
Nope. Nope. Nope. Sorry this book lost me.
Lets start with Merrick and Lessia. Merrick, my man, you KEEEEEPP telling us how Lessia is the kindest, bravest, strongest, selfless most amazing person ever but can we be for real? Lessia kind of sucks...like a lot...are we talking about the same person? Does the author understand that you cannot just tell us someone is all of these things, you also have to show it through their actions and through their own POV?
Alright next and maybe my most infuriating. Raine and Frelina. This entire series has been about the power of mates and how there's nothing in the world like them and without them life is meaningless blah blah blah. So okay. If you want Raine and Kerym to be viable romantic options in this series, why for the love of god did you introduce them to us with mates that have been killed? These dudes are now written off in my mind, I will never support a relationship with them and anybody else because they are all barely functioning whilst pining desperately for dead girls. So why oh lord fucking why, am I expected to enjoy Raine and Frelina? He is barely functioning around his grief for his ex. He is never going to love Frelina even a fraction of the same amount SO WHY ARE YOU GIVING THEM A RELATIONSHIP??? Make this make sense to me because its not clicking. At a certain point I feel genuinely sad reading their chapters because Frelina was settling for the bare minimum from this man. Like what about when you both die huh? What then???? In this book there seems to be some kind of afterlife, so Raine is going to fuck off and be with his mate and what for you then Frelina huh????? Why is this a romantic path in this book? And the ending??? What was said right at the end??? What's the point AT ALL with these two?
Kill off all these dudes and I'm so serious they are a waste of time in this story. They aren't even any good in the war because every single character in this book seems to be stumbling around fucking lost in every single war scene. Like this may be the most incompetent selection of characters I've ever read in a fantasy book.
You know what? I'm still not done.
Lets discuss the sentence structure in these books. Its a joke. A JOKE. Sophia obviously loves a sentence break and is forcing it upon the rest of us. Every other bloody page we get something like this:
She didn't need to ask which ones.
She could feel it in her brittle bones.
There was no hope of survival, not for her.
Please make it stop!!! Not everything is this dramatic. Not every single sentence needs you to hold your breathe for so long before moving onto the next. Like god fucking damn it.
You know all this being said I'll probably still read the final book hahaha.
Lets start with Merrick and Lessia. Merrick, my man, you KEEEEEPP telling us how Lessia is the kindest, bravest, strongest, selfless most amazing person ever but can we be for real? Lessia kind of sucks...like a lot...are we talking about the same person? Does the author understand that you cannot just tell us someone is all of these things, you also have to show it through their actions and through their own POV?
Alright next and maybe my most infuriating. Raine and Frelina. This entire series has been about the power of mates and how there's nothing in the world like them and without them life is meaningless blah blah blah. So okay. If you want Raine and Kerym to be viable romantic options in this series, why for the love of god did you introduce them to us with mates that have been killed? These dudes are now written off in my mind, I will never support a relationship with them and anybody else because they are all barely functioning whilst pining desperately for dead girls. So why oh lord fucking why, am I expected to enjoy Raine and Frelina? He is barely functioning around his grief for his ex. He is never going to love Frelina even a fraction of the same amount SO WHY ARE YOU GIVING THEM A RELATIONSHIP??? Make this make sense to me because its not clicking. At a certain point I feel genuinely sad reading their chapters because Frelina was settling for the bare minimum from this man. Like what about when you both die huh? What then???? In this book there seems to be some kind of afterlife, so Raine is going to fuck off and be with his mate and what for you then Frelina huh????? Why is this a romantic path in this book? And the ending??? What was said right at the end??? What's the point AT ALL with these two?
Kill off all these dudes and I'm so serious they are a waste of time in this story. They aren't even any good in the war because every single character in this book seems to be stumbling around fucking lost in every single war scene. Like this may be the most incompetent selection of characters I've ever read in a fantasy book.
You know what? I'm still not done.
Lets discuss the sentence structure in these books. Its a joke. A JOKE. Sophia obviously loves a sentence break and is forcing it upon the rest of us. Every other bloody page we get something like this:
She didn't need to ask which ones.
She could feel it in her brittle bones.
There was no hope of survival, not for her.
Please make it stop!!! Not everything is this dramatic. Not every single sentence needs you to hold your breathe for so long before moving onto the next. Like god fucking damn it.
You know all this being said I'll probably still read the final book hahaha.
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
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 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.
December 28, 2025
6⭐️ PERFECTION.
Devastatingly soul crushing AGONY.
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I am rendered utterly speechless.
This book ripped me to pieces from THE FIRST GODSDAMNED PAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 💔💔💔
Also, Raine & Frelina 🥺❤️🩹😭
Devastatingly soul crushing AGONY.
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I am rendered utterly speechless.
This book ripped me to pieces from THE FIRST GODSDAMNED PAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 💔💔💔
Also, Raine & Frelina 🥺❤️🩹😭
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.
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.
September 4, 2025
Comme le tome 4 de la saga d’Auren avec les side romances qui commencent 🩷
November 5, 2025
That ending was criminal....
"Merrick and Lessia... they were respect, they were fight, they were hope, they were...love."
I will say this book was a bit slow for me in comparison to book 2. I felt like for 70% of it there were plans of things happening but nothing actually happened if that makes sense. It felt a tad repetitive but then the ending? SO GOOD. It 100% made up for it because now I am ready to finish with book 4!
Also, I still love Merrick FOREVER. I knew this author wouldn't disappoint me 🤣
"Merrick and Lessia... they were respect, they were fight, they were hope, they were...love."
I will say this book was a bit slow for me in comparison to book 2. I felt like for 70% of it there were plans of things happening but nothing actually happened if that makes sense. It felt a tad repetitive but then the ending? SO GOOD. It 100% made up for it because now I am ready to finish with book 4!
Also, I still love Merrick FOREVER. I knew this author wouldn't disappoint me 🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2025
never thought there would be a day I read a book that gave me major throne of glass vibes🫰🏽🫰🏽
December 21, 2025
I cried actual tears
October 15, 2025
Truputuką jau erzino mane dalykai šioj daly + labai ilgai skaičiau, tai tik ⭐️⭐️⭐️. BET pabaiga gera, lauksiu paskutinės dalies!
December 27, 2025
I’m at an absolute, and very rare (for me), loss of words. What I already knew to be one of my new favorite romantasy series has officially tipped into the realm of emotional devastating obsession after this book. So much more powerful and heart wrenching then I ever would have thought!
Book 3 picks up right where we left off in 2, and takes us on an emotional roller coaster as we continue to follow all of these characters as they struggle with their internal and external battles.
-𝗳𝗮𝗲, 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗳𝗮𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗴𝗼𝗱𝘀, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀
-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘆
-𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
-𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳
-𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀
-𝘄𝘆𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀
-𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝗢𝗩
-𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀/𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
“𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆—𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒓, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔… 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
Book 3 picks up right where we left off in 2, and takes us on an emotional roller coaster as we continue to follow all of these characters as they struggle with their internal and external battles.
-𝗳𝗮𝗲, 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗳𝗮𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗴𝗼𝗱𝘀, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀
-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘆
-𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
-𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳
-𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀
-𝘄𝘆𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀
-𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝗢𝗩
-𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀/𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
“𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆—𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒓, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔… 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
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.
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.
November 7, 2025
After how A Promise So Bold and Broken ended, I was ready for chaos, heartbreak, and a few life-ruining plot twists. Instead, I got… a lot of wandering, overthinking, and beautifully written filler. Don’t get me wrong — Sophia St. Germain’s prose is still gorgeous (seriously, she could make a grocery list sound poetic), but this book felt like it was circling instead of sprinting.
The emotional stakes were high — I could feel the pain, the longing, the exhaustion — but the plot just didn’t move. The characters spent so much time processing their trauma that I started to feel like I needed therapy too. The romance that once burned so bright turned into a slow, uneven flicker. I wanted sparks, betrayal, passion — and got mostly quiet brooding and cryptic conversations.
That said, it wasn’t a bad book. There were moments — especially toward the end — that reminded me why I fell for this world in the first place: the aching vulnerability, the glimpses of redemption, the dark magic simmering under the surface. But it just didn’t hit like before.
Final thoughts: Beautiful writing, interesting world, but not enough payoff for the emotional investment.
3/5 stars — good bones, soft heart, but missing that fire that made the earlier books unforgettable.
The emotional stakes were high — I could feel the pain, the longing, the exhaustion — but the plot just didn’t move. The characters spent so much time processing their trauma that I started to feel like I needed therapy too. The romance that once burned so bright turned into a slow, uneven flicker. I wanted sparks, betrayal, passion — and got mostly quiet brooding and cryptic conversations.
That said, it wasn’t a bad book. There were moments — especially toward the end — that reminded me why I fell for this world in the first place: the aching vulnerability, the glimpses of redemption, the dark magic simmering under the surface. But it just didn’t hit like before.
Final thoughts: Beautiful writing, interesting world, but not enough payoff for the emotional investment.
3/5 stars — good bones, soft heart, but missing that fire that made the earlier books unforgettable.
November 29, 2025
I’ll be real rn I STRUGGLED with this book and was so glad when I finally finished it. The first 2 books were fun but I was so over the plot/story in this book.
First—where did Merrick’s personality go?? This book was literally just him snarking and him tweaking about Lessia. I HATE when a solid romantasy series goes “control alt delete” on the MMC’s personality as soon as he gets with the FMC, and this book did exactly that. I wish it had been an entire book of yearning before giving into the mate bond bc it was just way too fast after her “heartbreak” over Loche. (Also by the end of this book I thought Loche’s chapters were more interesting than Merrick and Lessia’s)
Lastly, why didn’t Raine just have an ex or rejected mate before?? His relationship with Frelina cheapened the concept of a mate bond so much imo. Literally just a good ol’ fashioned ex would’ve had the same impact.
This series was originally so fun but I’m bored and overall kinda over this whole world and plot?? I don’t think I’ll read the last book lol
First—where did Merrick’s personality go?? This book was literally just him snarking and him tweaking about Lessia. I HATE when a solid romantasy series goes “control alt delete” on the MMC’s personality as soon as he gets with the FMC, and this book did exactly that. I wish it had been an entire book of yearning before giving into the mate bond bc it was just way too fast after her “heartbreak” over Loche. (Also by the end of this book I thought Loche’s chapters were more interesting than Merrick and Lessia’s)
Lastly, why didn’t Raine just have an ex or rejected mate before?? His relationship with Frelina cheapened the concept of a mate bond so much imo. Literally just a good ol’ fashioned ex would’ve had the same impact.
This series was originally so fun but I’m bored and overall kinda over this whole world and plot?? I don’t think I’ll read the last book lol
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 ★★
November 4, 2025
What the hell happened to the writing??
I like the plot and all but the writing was awful. The dialog was so weird, a lot of repition, and she somehow managed to make wyverns sound like teenagers??
Also Raine and Frelina are fucking weird. Feels forced as fuck. Isn't he supposed to be like hella old? again very confusing.
I like the plot and all but the writing was awful. The dialog was so weird, a lot of repition, and she somehow managed to make wyverns sound like teenagers??
Also Raine and Frelina are fucking weird. Feels forced as fuck. Isn't he supposed to be like hella old? again very confusing.
November 28, 2025
Eh. The ending fight was so bad. I had no idea what was going on, I couldn’t picture it, and I felt no sense of fear of stress or concern. Even when Thissian got killed, I honestly couldn’t remember any defining characteristic about him. And way too many women crying in the fight scenes. Like literally in the middle of an attack, they’re being comforted by a big male in the middle of the battlefield. How have they both not been killed already. And where’s the baddass lady warrior trope.
I thought the first book was a fun read, but the series really went downhill from there.
I thought the first book was a fun read, but the series really went downhill from there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2025
DNF - you can’t write a really compelling and believable romance in the first book and then just get rid of that because of a “mate bond” where there is zero connection between them
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
January 13, 2026
Whoa. The emotional roller coaster that is this series. Dare I say that this series makes it up there with TOG, ACOTAR and The Empyrean series for me? It’s also so rare that a book brings actual tears to my eyes. I am so excited for the next book.
November 17, 2025
A Bond so Fierce and Fragile is the epic third book in the Compelling Fates Saga. I think I sobbed through at least eighty percent of this book… in the best way possible. Sophia has this ridiculous ability to drag every emotion out of my chest and press it into the page. I’ve loved every book in this series, but this one is something else entirely. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
Merrick’s love for Lessia is so powerful that it feels alive. Every chapter shows how deeply he cares, and it’s raw in a way that wraps around your ribs and refuses to let go. He is one of the best MMCs ever written and I refuse to hear arguments otherwise.
Lessia shines so brightly in this book. She is brave and fierce and strong, even when she’s terrified and broken. She keeps choosing to stand up again and again because she believes in something bigger than herself. Her strength is the quiet kind that hits harder the more you think about it. She carries a loyalty that feels bone deep and it makes her one of my favorite FMCs I have ever read.
I also need to scream about Raine and Frelina. They absolutely stole the show. Frelina is not a warrior, but she is brave in a way that feels real. Her fear is valid. Her emotion is sharp. And Sophia writes her with so much honesty that it practically leaks off the page. And Raine… I want more of him. I think I love him more than Merrick, which feels mildly illegal to admit.
Sophia’s storytelling is magic. She writes with a level of emotion that makes you feel everything. Not just the heartbreak or the devotion, but the hope, the terror, the sacrifice, and the love woven through every choice these characters make.
I’m not ready for the final book. I don’t want this story or these characters to end. I want to live in this world a little longer, even if it keeps ripping me apart in the best possible way.
Merrick’s love for Lessia is so powerful that it feels alive. Every chapter shows how deeply he cares, and it’s raw in a way that wraps around your ribs and refuses to let go. He is one of the best MMCs ever written and I refuse to hear arguments otherwise.
Lessia shines so brightly in this book. She is brave and fierce and strong, even when she’s terrified and broken. She keeps choosing to stand up again and again because she believes in something bigger than herself. Her strength is the quiet kind that hits harder the more you think about it. She carries a loyalty that feels bone deep and it makes her one of my favorite FMCs I have ever read.
I also need to scream about Raine and Frelina. They absolutely stole the show. Frelina is not a warrior, but she is brave in a way that feels real. Her fear is valid. Her emotion is sharp. And Sophia writes her with so much honesty that it practically leaks off the page. And Raine… I want more of him. I think I love him more than Merrick, which feels mildly illegal to admit.
Sophia’s storytelling is magic. She writes with a level of emotion that makes you feel everything. Not just the heartbreak or the devotion, but the hope, the terror, the sacrifice, and the love woven through every choice these characters make.
I’m not ready for the final book. I don’t want this story or these characters to end. I want to live in this world a little longer, even if it keeps ripping me apart in the best possible way.
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