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Bound in Blood: A Paranormal Why Choose Romance
I was never supposed to matter. Just another null-blood foster kid waiting to disappear. Then the Ashworth Academy came for me.
Dragged through a portal and locked inside a school that trains monsters, I’m told I’m not powerless, I’m necessary. Four dangerously unstable students need an anchor. A stabilizer. Someone to bind them before they lose control.
Caine is a vampire who feeds on fear. Ronan hides his cruelty behind charm. Dagon is fire barely contained in human skin. Bastian wields shadows and secrets.
They don’t want me. They don’t trust me. But the bond doesn’t care what any of us want.
If I fail, they burn the world down. If I succeed, I lose myself to four monsters who were never meant to love.
And if I try to run? Ashworth always collects its debts.
Bound by blood. Trapped by magic. Claimed by ruin.
why choose, dark academy, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, morally gray heroes, slow burn, obsession
Complete trilogy!
Dragged through a portal and locked inside a school that trains monsters, I’m told I’m not powerless, I’m necessary. Four dangerously unstable students need an anchor. A stabilizer. Someone to bind them before they lose control.
Caine is a vampire who feeds on fear. Ronan hides his cruelty behind charm. Dagon is fire barely contained in human skin. Bastian wields shadows and secrets.
They don’t want me. They don’t trust me. But the bond doesn’t care what any of us want.
If I fail, they burn the world down. If I succeed, I lose myself to four monsters who were never meant to love.
And if I try to run? Ashworth always collects its debts.
Bound by blood. Trapped by magic. Claimed by ruin.
why choose, dark academy, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, morally gray heroes, slow burn, obsession
Complete trilogy!
- GenresWhy Choose
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 10, 2026
Dnf & skimmed
Editing my review. Looking at this authors profile there is another book - same synopsis, same book cover , same book release date but different book title. After the weird mistakes of this book & how there are zero author details at the end of book as well im thinking this was written by AI. At least partially. So reduced to 1 star review.
It was ok. I dnfed after the 200 page mark. It got very repetitive.
We get it, the FMC is small & all of the mmcs can snap her wrist or her arm with just two fingers.
A lot of details are seriously vague.
It's an academy? How was her Mom there as an adult in her 20's AND pregnant before leaving i guess? Did she work?
Umm,
"She mouths two words"
"Trust No One"
.....
"That wasn't you"
Four words, quiet and certain.
Bastian: I've been in the restricted sections for years. Vane sends me when he needs info he cant access himself" ... talking about the actual headmaster- he can't access info at the school he is in charge of but one of his students can??
Dagon looks around her room, no personal effects, no decorations, 1 uniform. Like she doesnt expect to stay long enough to unpack... uh, she literally was dragged there by force with the clothing on her back. He knew this. Knew that she came with nothing & no income. Did author forget her own story?
Several Povs differed as well, Briar had a conversation with Dagon early on then his POV added more conversation that wasn't included in Briar's. Was weird.
The premise was good. But very vague. All of the guys kinda blended in together honestly & all of them including the fmc just gave off very gray, hopeless vibes. Not sure if id continue with the story.
Editing my review. Looking at this authors profile there is another book - same synopsis, same book cover , same book release date but different book title. After the weird mistakes of this book & how there are zero author details at the end of book as well im thinking this was written by AI. At least partially. So reduced to 1 star review.
It was ok. I dnfed after the 200 page mark. It got very repetitive.
We get it, the FMC is small & all of the mmcs can snap her wrist or her arm with just two fingers.
A lot of details are seriously vague.
It's an academy? How was her Mom there as an adult in her 20's AND pregnant before leaving i guess? Did she work?
Umm,
"She mouths two words"
"Trust No One"
.....
"That wasn't you"
Four words, quiet and certain.
Bastian: I've been in the restricted sections for years. Vane sends me when he needs info he cant access himself" ... talking about the actual headmaster- he can't access info at the school he is in charge of but one of his students can??
Dagon looks around her room, no personal effects, no decorations, 1 uniform. Like she doesnt expect to stay long enough to unpack... uh, she literally was dragged there by force with the clothing on her back. He knew this. Knew that she came with nothing & no income. Did author forget her own story?
Several Povs differed as well, Briar had a conversation with Dagon early on then his POV added more conversation that wasn't included in Briar's. Was weird.
The premise was good. But very vague. All of the guys kinda blended in together honestly & all of them including the fmc just gave off very gray, hopeless vibes. Not sure if id continue with the story.
March 28, 2026
Not worth it
If you read critically, pay attention to detail or care about continuity then this book isn't worth your time. The overall story concept has potential but it's not realised.
There were plot issues and inconsistencies, such as the number of times Briar did things. Don't mention the specific number of times if you can't get it right! Like saying something "never" happens when we've seen it happen on page 2-3 times or saying that a character "never" knew something when she literally wrote about it in a journal (and finding the journal was a significant plot point). Or the timeline being wrong-Briar is 19 and her mother died when she was 7, but then it's been 25 years since her mother died? Briar knew her mother died but was lied to about how, but then later we're told that Briar was given away as an infant and knew nothing about her mother. She was at the Academy for about 6 weeks in book 1 but then in book 2, after another month, she's been there for 4 months? Then there were the times that characters knew things without explanation. Like how did Briar know the name of the woods outside the Academy when she was just portalled there? How did she know the headmaster's name without an introduction or a nameplate or something? How did she know the council member's name, again, without an introduction or anything? Finally, there were scenes that didn't make sense. For instance, she's brushing hair out of her face and gets ink on her fingers? She's across the room brushing shoulders with one person and then next to another person on the bed without moving?
There were also issues with the storytelling perspective. Some chapters are in first person, some are in third. Some chapters are in one character's POV but have slips of other characters being the POV with no "change". In one scene in book 2, the current POV references "book one"- how does the character know about book one?
This author needs a content editor and/or beta readers that will read critically.
If you read critically, pay attention to detail or care about continuity then this book isn't worth your time. The overall story concept has potential but it's not realised.
There were plot issues and inconsistencies, such as the number of times Briar did things. Don't mention the specific number of times if you can't get it right! Like saying something "never" happens when we've seen it happen on page 2-3 times or saying that a character "never" knew something when she literally wrote about it in a journal (and finding the journal was a significant plot point). Or the timeline being wrong-Briar is 19 and her mother died when she was 7, but then it's been 25 years since her mother died? Briar knew her mother died but was lied to about how, but then later we're told that Briar was given away as an infant and knew nothing about her mother. She was at the Academy for about 6 weeks in book 1 but then in book 2, after another month, she's been there for 4 months? Then there were the times that characters knew things without explanation. Like how did Briar know the name of the woods outside the Academy when she was just portalled there? How did she know the headmaster's name without an introduction or a nameplate or something? How did she know the council member's name, again, without an introduction or anything? Finally, there were scenes that didn't make sense. For instance, she's brushing hair out of her face and gets ink on her fingers? She's across the room brushing shoulders with one person and then next to another person on the bed without moving?
There were also issues with the storytelling perspective. Some chapters are in first person, some are in third. Some chapters are in one character's POV but have slips of other characters being the POV with no "change". In one scene in book 2, the current POV references "book one"- how does the character know about book one?
This author needs a content editor and/or beta readers that will read critically.
March 15, 2026
Almost finished it
I was about 87% through before my will to continue gave out.
I like the story. But the constant inconsistencies finally wore me down. It goes from one character’s POV to another’s, but it adds action and dialogue to things you’ve JUST read about. So things the character didn’t say are suddenly said.
Random sections will also be copied nearly word for word.
Sometimes there’s an extra word or a missing word.
The whole thing needs a good edit. Continuity errors everywhere.
I was about 87% through before my will to continue gave out.
I like the story. But the constant inconsistencies finally wore me down. It goes from one character’s POV to another’s, but it adds action and dialogue to things you’ve JUST read about. So things the character didn’t say are suddenly said.
Random sections will also be copied nearly word for word.
Sometimes there’s an extra word or a missing word.
The whole thing needs a good edit. Continuity errors everywhere.
March 25, 2026
my goodness i ended up dnfing this book around 65% through because of the inconsistency and repetition. if i had to read one more sentence about bastian’s guilt or dagons heat i was gonna rip my hair out. there are definitely some plot inconsistency i noticed with the dates. overall could’ve been pretty good but it fell flat entirely
March 19, 2026
I hate to do the "AI accusation" but there were some major things wrong with this book structurally. Other comments have been more specific. And I've read another book that is far too close to this one (Thorns of Winter). Yes, a lot of books in this genre are extremely similar; but this really just seems like a software program pulled from that book, among others, to help write this one. I can't recommend, and it's too bad.
April 21, 2026
I was disappointed by this book. I forced myself to finish but could only do so by skimming. The sad part is that it could have been a good book if it was not for the constant repetition and nothing actually happening. Not one single character had any depth - although they could have. There was no feeling of the supposed bond, and I think the word I am looking for here is bland.
The story was bland, the characters were bland and again - a pity as it could have been a great book.
I will not be bothering with the second one. Maybe the author could look at all the reviews, pull the book and rewrite it? I don't like to leave negative reviews and only writing this as I feel that it has potential.
The story was bland, the characters were bland and again - a pity as it could have been a great book.
I will not be bothering with the second one. Maybe the author could look at all the reviews, pull the book and rewrite it? I don't like to leave negative reviews and only writing this as I feel that it has potential.
April 17, 2026
wow that was bad
Lesson learned. You can judge a book by its cover if it’s AI generated because there is absolutely no way a human wrote this book. It was insanely hard to finish this book because every character speaks like a psychopath that’s never had a human interaction before. Sure the 300 year old vampire (also not a vampire???) would have a bit of a proper tone to him but you’re telling me the 19 year old girl talks like this? No real person talks like any of the characters in this book it very much so feels like this was written by AI.
Lesson learned. You can judge a book by its cover if it’s AI generated because there is absolutely no way a human wrote this book. It was insanely hard to finish this book because every character speaks like a psychopath that’s never had a human interaction before. Sure the 300 year old vampire (also not a vampire???) would have a bit of a proper tone to him but you’re telling me the 19 year old girl talks like this? No real person talks like any of the characters in this book it very much so feels like this was written by AI.
April 10, 2026
DNF - the book had a lot of inconsistencies.
The fact that anytime someone mentioned her impressing them she had to reference her past every time. EVERY TIME.
"I've been learning to spot traps my whole life. Just different kinds."
"Just pattern recognition. People who smile while they offer you things usually want something in return. I learned that a long time ago."
"Should have." She doesn't react to my tone, doesn't shift away even though I can see her cataloging my movements, my position relative to the door. "But I've had worse."
"You learn to survive. You learn that breaking is a luxury you can't afford."
"Most stabilizers require weeks to reach this level of endurance. You've demonstrated it in seven days." I don't take his hand. I push myself to my feet on my own, swaying slightly, and meet his pale eyes without flinching. "I've had practice."
The fact that anytime someone mentioned her impressing them she had to reference her past every time. EVERY TIME.
"I've been learning to spot traps my whole life. Just different kinds."
"Just pattern recognition. People who smile while they offer you things usually want something in return. I learned that a long time ago."
"Should have." She doesn't react to my tone, doesn't shift away even though I can see her cataloging my movements, my position relative to the door. "But I've had worse."
"You learn to survive. You learn that breaking is a luxury you can't afford."
"Most stabilizers require weeks to reach this level of endurance. You've demonstrated it in seven days." I don't take his hand. I push myself to my feet on my own, swaying slightly, and meet his pale eyes without flinching. "I've had practice."
April 8, 2026
Should have DNFed this book but I kept thinking it’d get better. Spoiler: it didn’t. Most of the characters were one dimensional, the same descriptions were used over and over for each character, and the descriptions in the beginning were lazy- everything was something deeper, older, more ancient, etc.
March 22, 2026
DNF @ 49%. Too many errors and inconsistencies. There are also some basic formatting issues, like not starting a new paragraph for dialogue when the speaker changes. I also don’t really care about any of the characters, and I think the author maybe did a lot of the storytelling in their planning stages and forgot to actually put it in the book because there are a lot of things that don’t make sense.
The main concern is the timeline maintenance. If we can’t maintain a timeline, then I don’t know what we’re doing.
Strike one, the school is Hogwarts with an evil Dumbledore. Down to the four houses and a sorting ceremony.
Strike two, her conversation with mother of dragons Daenerys Stormborn—oh sorry, I mean the dragon Dagon Stormborne—where he says “training tomorrow at 5 am”, then leaves. Then we see the same scene from his POV with seriously extended dialogue before he leaves. Then, the next morning, Briar meets him for training and her narration states that their conversation happened TWO days ago, and she is still feeling the bruises from her welcome to Riot house last night. I’m sorry, what? What happened?
Strike three was her mother’s journal. Briar has been saying her mother died when she was 7. The journal? 1985: pregnant. 1987: died. I thought, oh maybe I misread the age she was and she was like seven months old or something. No, within a few pages, she reiterates that her mother died when she was 7.
This book was really not ready to publish.
The main concern is the timeline maintenance. If we can’t maintain a timeline, then I don’t know what we’re doing.
Strike one, the school is Hogwarts with an evil Dumbledore. Down to the four houses and a sorting ceremony.
Strike two, her conversation with mother of dragons Daenerys Stormborn—oh sorry, I mean the dragon Dagon Stormborne—where he says “training tomorrow at 5 am”, then leaves. Then we see the same scene from his POV with seriously extended dialogue before he leaves. Then, the next morning, Briar meets him for training and her narration states that their conversation happened TWO days ago, and she is still feeling the bruises from her welcome to Riot house last night. I’m sorry, what? What happened?
Strike three was her mother’s journal. Briar has been saying her mother died when she was 7. The journal? 1985: pregnant. 1987: died. I thought, oh maybe I misread the age she was and she was like seven months old or something. No, within a few pages, she reiterates that her mother died when she was 7.
This book was really not ready to publish.
January 15, 2026
Bound in Blood by Jesi Donovan is dark academia at its most dangerous—raw, ruthless, and emotionally gripping from the very first page.
Briar begins as someone the world has taught not to matter: a null-blood foster kid waiting to disappear. Then Ashworth Academy opens a portal and rewrites her fate. She isn’t powerless. She’s necessary. Four volatile, dangerously unstable students are on the brink of losing control, and Briar is the only thing standing between them and total annihilation.
What follows is a slow, suffocating descent into bonds that don’t ask permission.
Caine, the vampire who feeds on fear, is cold and predatory. Ronan’s charm masks cruelty sharp enough to draw blood. Dagon is living fire barely contained in human skin. Bastian moves through shadows, secrets clinging to him like a second heartbeat. None of them want Briar. None of them trust her. And yet the magic binds them anyway—tight, invasive, and terrifyingly permanent.
This story thrives on tension—emotional, psychological, and supernatural. The bond isn’t romanticized; it’s consuming and dangerous. Watching Briar struggle with the weight of being needed rather than wanted is heartbreaking, especially as the line between anchoring the monsters and losing herself begins to blur. Her strength doesn’t come from dominance or power, but from endurance, resilience, and sheer will.
Ashworth Academy looms like a living threat, enforcing obedience and collecting debts without mercy. There are no easy choices here. If Briar fails, the world burns. If she succeeds, she risks becoming something she never agreed to be. And running? Not an option.
If you love dark reverse harem romance, morally gray monsters, forced bonds, and heroines forged through survival rather than fantasy, Bound in Blood will sink its claws into you. It doesn’t promise safety or softness—it promises obsession, control, and a bond that may either destroy them all… or remake them into something terrifyingly powerful.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Briar begins as someone the world has taught not to matter: a null-blood foster kid waiting to disappear. Then Ashworth Academy opens a portal and rewrites her fate. She isn’t powerless. She’s necessary. Four volatile, dangerously unstable students are on the brink of losing control, and Briar is the only thing standing between them and total annihilation.
What follows is a slow, suffocating descent into bonds that don’t ask permission.
Caine, the vampire who feeds on fear, is cold and predatory. Ronan’s charm masks cruelty sharp enough to draw blood. Dagon is living fire barely contained in human skin. Bastian moves through shadows, secrets clinging to him like a second heartbeat. None of them want Briar. None of them trust her. And yet the magic binds them anyway—tight, invasive, and terrifyingly permanent.
This story thrives on tension—emotional, psychological, and supernatural. The bond isn’t romanticized; it’s consuming and dangerous. Watching Briar struggle with the weight of being needed rather than wanted is heartbreaking, especially as the line between anchoring the monsters and losing herself begins to blur. Her strength doesn’t come from dominance or power, but from endurance, resilience, and sheer will.
Ashworth Academy looms like a living threat, enforcing obedience and collecting debts without mercy. There are no easy choices here. If Briar fails, the world burns. If she succeeds, she risks becoming something she never agreed to be. And running? Not an option.
If you love dark reverse harem romance, morally gray monsters, forced bonds, and heroines forged through survival rather than fantasy, Bound in Blood will sink its claws into you. It doesn’t promise safety or softness—it promises obsession, control, and a bond that may either destroy them all… or remake them into something terrifyingly powerful.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 6, 2026
Is this AI?
These repetitions in phrases are not normal. Any writer would have picked it up. Timeliness contradict eachother, Maya knows things she shouldn't know.
Here's an example...
"Something old, something ancient, something hungry, something worse, something wrong, something else, I'm sick of the repetition.
It's not..*insert whatever word the 'writer' deems fit*...it's..*whatever word is worse*.."
How did she know the name of the school? Upon crossing the veil she knew the name of the school from her POV lncluding the headmasters name. How did she know?
How did she know her mother's secret room had been sealed for 30yrs?
And how had it been sealed for 30years yet she is directly addressed in the diary when she shouldn't have been born by then.
It's such a pity cause the storyline is so good but the errors are not normal. The book is also cold in a way I find difficult to describe. It lacks warmth, emotional growth and processes those emotions, healing, disappointment etc...
I don't think I'll be continuing this series, if you haven't read the book yet, dont. You'll be disappointed and your math skills tested in a way they weren't in school.
And what happened to that orphan girl who most probably saw her being dragged away by Bastians shadows?
These repetitions in phrases are not normal. Any writer would have picked it up. Timeliness contradict eachother, Maya knows things she shouldn't know.
Here's an example...
"Something old, something ancient, something hungry, something worse, something wrong, something else, I'm sick of the repetition.
It's not..*insert whatever word the 'writer' deems fit*...it's..*whatever word is worse*.."
How did she know the name of the school? Upon crossing the veil she knew the name of the school from her POV lncluding the headmasters name. How did she know?
How did she know her mother's secret room had been sealed for 30yrs?
And how had it been sealed for 30years yet she is directly addressed in the diary when she shouldn't have been born by then.
It's such a pity cause the storyline is so good but the errors are not normal. The book is also cold in a way I find difficult to describe. It lacks warmth, emotional growth and processes those emotions, healing, disappointment etc...
I don't think I'll be continuing this series, if you haven't read the book yet, dont. You'll be disappointed and your math skills tested in a way they weren't in school.
And what happened to that orphan girl who most probably saw her being dragged away by Bastians shadows?
April 13, 2026
Good story without good storytelling or writing.
This could have been 4 stars. I thought it was just a weird writing style at first, just something I wasn't used to (a little abrupt but ignorable). But no. The inconsistencies started and they kept rollin'.
One scene is from the FMC's perspective and when it switches to one of the guys' perspective, scene details change. The conversation, the script, the scene is different. Not like different interpretations of what was said or done, but straight up saying and doing different things that would change the meaning of what just happened.
Also, how did her mom die 30 years ago when she's only 19?
Scenes should flow into the next. Abrupt changes should only be happening in chapter changes or when a clear break is made (ex. A line, icon, or line of asterisks). Timeline jumps, random bruises, inconsistent scenes and scenarios. The story inconsistencies and abruptness were ridiculous to the point were I didn't really care about the story at the end or that it ended on a cliffhanger. I just wanted it over.
This could have been 4 stars. I thought it was just a weird writing style at first, just something I wasn't used to (a little abrupt but ignorable). But no. The inconsistencies started and they kept rollin'.
One scene is from the FMC's perspective and when it switches to one of the guys' perspective, scene details change. The conversation, the script, the scene is different. Not like different interpretations of what was said or done, but straight up saying and doing different things that would change the meaning of what just happened.
Also, how did her mom die 30 years ago when she's only 19?
Scenes should flow into the next. Abrupt changes should only be happening in chapter changes or when a clear break is made (ex. A line, icon, or line of asterisks). Timeline jumps, random bruises, inconsistent scenes and scenarios. The story inconsistencies and abruptness were ridiculous to the point were I didn't really care about the story at the end or that it ended on a cliffhanger. I just wanted it over.
March 19, 2026
So when I grabbed this book I missed that it was the start of a series so when it ended on a cliffhanger I was a little thrown.
I enjoyed the idea behind the story. Briar is found and brought to the academy where she is meant to stabilize four of the most dangerous students. As she goes through the trials to complete the stabilization bond she learns that she is actually a binder with hidden powers. I don't know how many books are in this series but for a why choose book absolutely nothing happened between the characters.
Would I continue the series? Yes! Do I like the characters? Yes! Was the writing good? That's where you lost me. The way it literally just ended in what felt like mid thought is what throws me. Most books have acknowledgements and about the author at the end but this one doesn't. Is this book AI? I don't know for once and it's bugging me. I originally rated it 4 stars but the more I think about the randomness of the book the less I like it sadly.
I enjoyed the idea behind the story. Briar is found and brought to the academy where she is meant to stabilize four of the most dangerous students. As she goes through the trials to complete the stabilization bond she learns that she is actually a binder with hidden powers. I don't know how many books are in this series but for a why choose book absolutely nothing happened between the characters.
Would I continue the series? Yes! Do I like the characters? Yes! Was the writing good? That's where you lost me. The way it literally just ended in what felt like mid thought is what throws me. Most books have acknowledgements and about the author at the end but this one doesn't. Is this book AI? I don't know for once and it's bugging me. I originally rated it 4 stars but the more I think about the randomness of the book the less I like it sadly.
April 28, 2026
has some real potential
This story as REAL potential. The overall plot is pretty interesting and I liked it. …What SUCKS is the inconsistencies to smaller plot points, a lack of fleshed out backgrounds for the men, and poor dialogue.
Someone is helped to escape, but later is seen still trapped and dying? It’s never brought up if this person was recaptured or if the “escape” was a lie. There are smaller bits that are annoying but this one is the example that really stuck with me.
The Male Love in tests have ONE thing about themselves that they’re always repeating, in their thoughts or in dialogue. It’s always talked about like it’s NEW information everytime this Fact about them is brought up. The Fae’s servant story. The shadow guys 23 victims. The dragons killing of a friend. The most interesting one is the Vampire but only because he didn’t talk much, so he’s not repeating the same shit all the time.
This story as REAL potential. The overall plot is pretty interesting and I liked it. …What SUCKS is the inconsistencies to smaller plot points, a lack of fleshed out backgrounds for the men, and poor dialogue.
Someone is helped to escape, but later is seen still trapped and dying? It’s never brought up if this person was recaptured or if the “escape” was a lie. There are smaller bits that are annoying but this one is the example that really stuck with me.
The Male Love in tests have ONE thing about themselves that they’re always repeating, in their thoughts or in dialogue. It’s always talked about like it’s NEW information everytime this Fact about them is brought up. The Fae’s servant story. The shadow guys 23 victims. The dragons killing of a friend. The most interesting one is the Vampire but only because he didn’t talk much, so he’s not repeating the same shit all the time.
March 26, 2026
DNF 20% - this was just weird.
The school is like a knock off of Harry Potter — a magical school set in a breathtaking castle, four houses that you have to be sorted into, an old headmaster who wears cloaks and whose office is at the top of the highest tower, a mean, blonde from another house…
The MFC has no personality, she’s like a robot. And the other characters are surprised when she acts normally. The “ disciplinarian” tells her he’ll punish her if she breaks the rules and when she asks what the rules are instead of idk breaking out in sobs, he’s visibly shocked.
It’s also INCREDIBLY overwritten. I started skipping over paragraphs and just reading the dialogue. It was flowery and used ten sentences when only one of two was needed.
I lasted as long as I could, but there was nothing of interest to keep me going.
The school is like a knock off of Harry Potter — a magical school set in a breathtaking castle, four houses that you have to be sorted into, an old headmaster who wears cloaks and whose office is at the top of the highest tower, a mean, blonde from another house…
The MFC has no personality, she’s like a robot. And the other characters are surprised when she acts normally. The “ disciplinarian” tells her he’ll punish her if she breaks the rules and when she asks what the rules are instead of idk breaking out in sobs, he’s visibly shocked.
It’s also INCREDIBLY overwritten. I started skipping over paragraphs and just reading the dialogue. It was flowery and used ten sentences when only one of two was needed.
I lasted as long as I could, but there was nothing of interest to keep me going.
March 27, 2026
It started off so good…
It honestly started really good and was interesting but then it honestly felt like it started to get repetitive. Each guys “problem” or emotion turmoil whatever you want to call it they just said the same thing over and over and sometimes it felt like we’d already gotten past something and then there they were again talking about the same thing as if the FMC hadn’t already overcome it or one of the MMC. I don’t even really know how I made it to the end I almost put it down several times but somehow it kept me hooked while waiting for something more in depth to come? Not sure 3 stars
It honestly started really good and was interesting but then it honestly felt like it started to get repetitive. Each guys “problem” or emotion turmoil whatever you want to call it they just said the same thing over and over and sometimes it felt like we’d already gotten past something and then there they were again talking about the same thing as if the FMC hadn’t already overcome it or one of the MMC. I don’t even really know how I made it to the end I almost put it down several times but somehow it kept me hooked while waiting for something more in depth to come? Not sure 3 stars
April 15, 2026
Meh 🫤
This is the second series I’ve started from this author and I want to provide some constructive criticism to help for future books.
First off, this author has amazing story ideas and unique magic systems. The biggest issues are continuity and repetition. I think having editors, especially a developmental editor, and alpha and beta readers would do this author so much justice.
I DNFd this story with only 3 chapters left not because the plot wasn’t captivating but because I just couldn’t do another repeated description or continuity issue. I really want to know what happens but not enough to wade through the inconsistencies and overused descriptions.
This is the second series I’ve started from this author and I want to provide some constructive criticism to help for future books.
First off, this author has amazing story ideas and unique magic systems. The biggest issues are continuity and repetition. I think having editors, especially a developmental editor, and alpha and beta readers would do this author so much justice.
I DNFd this story with only 3 chapters left not because the plot wasn’t captivating but because I just couldn’t do another repeated description or continuity issue. I really want to know what happens but not enough to wade through the inconsistencies and overused descriptions.
April 9, 2026
DNF 6%. She’s plucked from orphan obscurity, magically travelled to a gothic castle school, told she has her mother’s eyes, and the paintings animate as she walks by.
Alright, Harriet Potter.
The first two people she encounters are even in Gryffindor colors.
Give me a break.
I’m already exhausted with attempting to like this, and if the reviews are right, continuing to try just might kill me.
Alright, Harriet Potter.
The first two people she encounters are even in Gryffindor colors.
Give me a break.
I’m already exhausted with attempting to like this, and if the reviews are right, continuing to try just might kill me.
April 10, 2026
This is very badly written. It has a great premise, but its repetitive and over explains a lot. I don't know if I will continue the series because of it. The love interests don't feel invested. They all have too similar trauma. It would be better if there was a bit more diversity than Oh I'm a monster and I've done horrible things. Like yeah I know all of you have. And the FMC tells them all the same thing. Figure it out. It's just lazy writing. I'm sure you can do better.
April 26, 2026
Whatever you do, don’t read this book. I’m not sure who wrote this book, but I’m very suspicious AI had a hefty part in it and no one actually proofread this before submitting to be published.
The story had so much potential, I even liked the main character at first. But after re-reading the same scene numerous times as if they never happened, and the storyline not matching up between different POV, I just couldn’t bother finishing it.
87% DNF.
The story had so much potential, I even liked the main character at first. But after re-reading the same scene numerous times as if they never happened, and the storyline not matching up between different POV, I just couldn’t bother finishing it.
87% DNF.
May 11, 2026
All I can say is that it's worth giving a shot.
This is not what I was expecting, especially from this genre of book. I was expecting "dark". This is YA with a tiny bit of suspense so far. However, it's also been 100% predictable. I'm going to continue reading on to see if that changes because the house's foundation is there. Unfortunately, only the driveway and garage are all that's built on it... currently.
This is not what I was expecting, especially from this genre of book. I was expecting "dark". This is YA with a tiny bit of suspense so far. However, it's also been 100% predictable. I'm going to continue reading on to see if that changes because the house's foundation is there. Unfortunately, only the driveway and garage are all that's built on it... currently.
March 11, 2026
Is this a movie/tv series script published as a book?
The synopsis led to really good story but fell flat, for me, in 10 mins. I still continued on. There isn't an ounce of connectivity within all the main characters. Some many inconsistencies, repeat monologues and predictable outcomes. Truly like the idea of a binder and what they can do but this needs more work.
The synopsis led to really good story but fell flat, for me, in 10 mins. I still continued on. There isn't an ounce of connectivity within all the main characters. Some many inconsistencies, repeat monologues and predictable outcomes. Truly like the idea of a binder and what they can do but this needs more work.
March 25, 2026
It started strong in my opinion but it suddenly make you realize there are so many inconsistencies.
Strong FMC - that is doing well without the MMC’s suddenly wants to kiss all of them… I really got confused the more I advanced thru the book.
DNF and I hope this story gets a nice revamped. It has potential.
Strong FMC - that is doing well without the MMC’s suddenly wants to kiss all of them… I really got confused the more I advanced thru the book.
DNF and I hope this story gets a nice revamped. It has potential.
March 29, 2026
Initially planned to give the book 3 stars, but I believe there is a strong chance this book was written using AI. There are a lot of inconsistencies throughout the book. Especially when it comes to dialogue. Everything was also quite repetitive.
Aside from that, the idea of the plot itself is pretty good. I just wish there was more depth. And more thought put into the writing.
Aside from that, the idea of the plot itself is pretty good. I just wish there was more depth. And more thought put into the writing.
March 29, 2026
continuity issues
This is an interesting premise but there are major continuity issues. Plot lines are explored, then reintroduced like it’s a revelation. Character actions are mixed up with another character. The writing is too formal, stiff without the use of contractions. I wondered if this was written by AI
This is an interesting premise but there are major continuity issues. Plot lines are explored, then reintroduced like it’s a revelation. Character actions are mixed up with another character. The writing is too formal, stiff without the use of contractions. I wondered if this was written by AI
April 27, 2026
This series had potential but there was too much inconsistencies. Sometimes (many times) some actions or dialogues were add in the dual POV. It was like if two people wrote this book and they didn’t really read what the other wrote. The same paragraph could appear many times in the book. This book needs a good edit.
March 18, 2026
Great plot and story. Horrible writing, seems like AI.
There is no depth to the characters, it’s repetitive and does not seem to keep track of details. Her mom was pregnant in 1985 and died in 1987 but briar was 7 when her mom died
There is no depth to the characters, it’s repetitive and does not seem to keep track of details. Her mom was pregnant in 1985 and died in 1987 but briar was 7 when her mom died
Did Not Finish
April 5, 2026DNF at 44%. I agree with all of the critical reviews about there being glitches in the matrix. This book is rife with consistency.
I think this book ultimately fails on character development. As a result, the interactions and actions are jarring and feel out of context and abrupt.
I think this book ultimately fails on character development. As a result, the interactions and actions are jarring and feel out of context and abrupt.
April 8, 2026
it was okay
I wanted to like it. Lots of things were so repetitive it was exhausting and no real depth or anything . Could’ve read as one book but felt very very stretched thin especially given the lack of character depth and world building
I wanted to like it. Lots of things were so repetitive it was exhausting and no real depth or anything . Could’ve read as one book but felt very very stretched thin especially given the lack of character depth and world building
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