Broken Chains: A Fated Mates Angel of Death Romance

by S.D. Maynard

559 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2026

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is strictly mine. Thank you BookSirens for my ARC Broken Chains. Published June 1

3.5 ⭐️

This book is number 4 in a series. I have not read previous books, however it did not have an impact on being able to follow the story and get to know the characters.

This read was 829 pages. It did take me a while to get into the story only because there is a lot of repetition. The book is centered around two characters Azrael and Emma and written from their point of view. In the first few chapters there is an incident that sets the tone for the rest of the book. This is great. When I get to the next chapter I start reading the same information again but from the next characters point of view. I found myself spending time going back and forth making sure I didn’t miss anything because I knew I had read this information previously. It happens a lot.

The author does a great job building out these characters and their connection to each other. The descriptive language will cause you to pause and ponder what message the reader is to take away from the pages. Despite the repetitive material this book is quite addictive.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys using their imagination and immersing themselves in a world with vampires, angels, and other spiritual creatures.

[Simamnkele Majalamba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie Maynard's novel, Broken Chains is mostly narrated between two characters. We meet the fallen Angel of Death, who is tender, warm and patient. Who is an ancient being,that lived for six centuries and wants to learn the ways of humans. What excited me most was the romance that left me drooling.

Then there's Emma who is an EMT who has worked with people helping saves lives and has a death-sense that draws her close to the Angel of Death. Though is has always operated on survival mode all her live but ends up letting go of all the grief, anger and control.

It was brilliant of the Author made me see the scenes. The trauma released during the sex scene and how it strengthened their bond.

I would have rated the novel a 5 star instead of 4 stars if she could have spent less time on the ward scenes I felt like she welled a lot there. I would have loved more romance scene.

I enjoyed the book. I was glued to it. It took me a week to finish it.

Thank you Stephanie I look forward to reading more of your work👌

[Tracy Kaufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a bit hard for me to finish. FYI I do not go into the plot only how I felt about the book and characters. First off, the writing is beautiful, I like most of the characters. My issue is this was a very slow book with lots of repeated fraises, on how old Azrael, his patience and so on. I am not a fan of detailed bedroom scenes either. Everyone knows what happens I am not interested in a blow by blow. The plot is unique and well put together. There is a lot of love, affection or just responsibility that Azreal has for the ghosts which is understandable because he is the angel of death. I really liked Emma and her sister Jade. This is not full of action; it is a bit slow and controlled as is the lead, Azreal. I just had a hard time getting excited about what was going to happen next. I tend to lean towards action and lots of movement. There is so much about this book that is wonderful.
If you are into a slower book with unique story lines, this is for you.

[K D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book had a great premise. My reasons for giving 4 stars. All the characters were layered and complex and felt human. The science behind the ward system was clearly explained, and hence was easy to understand and felt real too. The books way of describing everyday struggles of proletariat was shown through multiple systems (healthcare, ignoring their pleas, etc).

Reasons for giving one star less. The sentences were repeated too many times. Like describing Azreal as someone who is older than language again and again. And using sentences like older than the concept of this and that. Plus unnecessary explaining of things that author should have let reader imagine on their own. It took away from reading experience and felt like book waa being narrated.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Diana Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma is a Boston paramedic with a death sense, she meets Ace/Azrael the angel of death and nothing is ever the same ! This book is about chains, the ones we cast ourselves and the ones that are metaphysical and cast at the plane of existence. All can be heavy and some can be set aside, others need the help of the living to assist the dead in passing to the other side. The characters in this book assist with that , each in their own ways. It is also the love story between Ace and Emma and the precursor to the next story in the series. 4✨’s for an in depth look at death and how what makes us human leaves the body at the time of death and how it leaves. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vivian Byfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. You can never go wrong with this author's work—her stories are always engrossing, with fully believable and well-developed characters. I especially loved her take on the supernatural; it was original and thoroughly entertaining. I loved the way she brought the characters to life, Vampires, and other fairy tale characters. I highly recommend this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenelsia Parham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It's not often you get to meet a black male character that is so vulnerable and has the patience of time itself. I loved the relationship between Emma and Azrael. This was a story of love, redemption, and forgiveness. It's what stands in the gap between fear and all the conversations too wrought with pain and desperation to voice.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.