Jump to ratings and reviews

Bound By #1

Bound by Blood and Contracts

Hidden beneath the manicured estates of Essex, an underground society trains the elite to become something far more dangerous than heirs and politicians. Bound by blood and contracts, loyalty is demanded, obedience is enforced, and escape is not an option.

Fae enrolls at the university that forged her nightmares, determined to survive long enough to tear it apart from the inside. But when her best friend disappears without a trace, survival is no longer enough. She wants answers. She wants vengeance.

Roman has always watched her.

Silent. Patient. Obsessed.

He has loved Fae for years, even as she refuses to trust him, even as she sharpens herself into a weapon. To Roman, she is inevitable. His. And he will burn the world that hurt her if that is what it takes to keep her.

As contracts tighten and bodies fall, Fae must decide how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice for the truth—and whether trusting Roman will save her… or seal her fate.

Because in a world built on blood, love is the most dangerous contract of all.

Dark romance • Obsessive MMC • Secret society • Damaged FMC • Found family

434 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2026

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Flo Finch

2 books49 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
220 (60%)
4 stars
111 (30%)
3 stars
24 (6%)
2 stars
4 (1%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Karolina Reads.
397 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2026
Let me tell you how I even ended up reading this: TikTok. 😂 I came across Flo Finch because she was talking about how her books were apparently being discovered by the Americans. She’s a British author and the whole thing was so funny that I immediately thought… girl, I need to read your book because your personality is already selling it. Then came the second video about the Americans getting closer to British readers on who’s reading her books more and I was like “Say less. Challenge accepted. We are coming for the first spot!” 😂 I’m not even American but I live here, so I’m claiming honorary status for this mission. What I absolutely did NOT expect was for this book to hit me emotionally the way it did. I thought I was signing up for a dark, dramatic romance and instead Flo Finch handed me a whole emotional backpack.

Fae is easily the heart of this story for me. Her journey is heavy, complicated and sometimes genuinely painful to read but what stayed with me was her strength. She isn’t strong because everything magically becomes easy for her. She’s strong because she keeps figuring out how to move forward while carrying everything she’s been through. I really connected with the way her character develops. Watching her slowly understand herself, her past and the people around her made me want to cheer for her constantly. There were definitely moments where I wanted to grab her through the pages and yell “BABE, PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS FOR FIVE SECONDS.” But honestly, that made her feel human.

And then there’s Roman.

Listen. I had QUESTIONS. 👀

Roman is one of those characters who takes a little time to understand, but once you start seeing the layers underneath him, it becomes very difficult not to get attached. His relationship with Fae was my favorite part because there’s so much feeling underneath their interactions. He’s protective and loyal, but he also has his own personality, struggles and relationships outside of Fae, which made him feel like an actual character instead of someone who simply exists to be the love interest. The supporting cast also deserves a little applause because this found family situation? I was seated. I loved watching these people become a safe place for each other. There’s humor, chaos, loyalty and plenty of moments where I was basically mentally pulling up a chair like, yes, I live here now.

Riggs especially brought some much needed comic relief whenever things got too heavy and honestly, I’m very interested in learning more about some of these side characters because Flo definitely left me wanting more. I also appreciated how much thought went into the heavier themes. This is definitely not a fluffy little romance where everyone has a mildly inconvenient problem and solves it before dinner. There are difficult subjects here and the characters have to deal with the consequences of what they’ve experienced. Some parts were very emotional, so I’d absolutely recommend checking the trigger warnings before starting.

If I had one thing that didn’t completely work for me, it would be the beginning. It took me a little while to settle into the world and keep track of everyone and everything happening. Once I found my footing, I was much more invested and the story started moving much more naturally for me.

And that ENDING?!

Flo. GIRL.

I’m going to need to jump into book two immediately because I have questions, theories and absolutely NO patience.

Final Thoughts: I’m honestly so glad one video from Flo Finch convinced me to accept this challenge because this book ended up being much more emotional than I expected. It gave me characters I cared about, a complicated heroine I wanted to root for, a found family I wanted to join, plenty of moments that made me laugh and enough unanswered questions to have me staring at the ceiling afterward. For a debut, this left a serious impression on me.
Profile Image for M.
1 review
June 30, 2026
Firstly, I want to thank Flo for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader for her first book, for including me in her new journey of becoming an author - what an honour.

This book is full of so many emotions, so many twists and turns that were so unexpected but beautifully written. The characters throughout are portrayed so well that you feel like you are part of the story, like you’re there in the book going through each page & feeling what they feel, picturing what they’re doing.
The theme of the book is incredibly well thought out, with each sentence you can feel the passion that it is written with and Flo has captured it perfectly. The way the story flows, the way it has you on the edge of your seat, the way you don’t know what could come next… every page is written with passion, intensity. The way it makes you feel empowered & strong but gives room for anger & grief - truly incredible.
Each chapter has you not wanting to put the book down… thinking about it and what could be next. Each character takes you on their journey.

*character mentions without spoilers*
Fae deserves the world and more. Her strength to go through things nobody can comprehend. I adore the development of her character from start to finish and the way you can see her shine through each page - her relationships and the way she experiences them is beautiful. Her desire to not let her experiences change her but instead make her more determined is genuinely something that has had an impact on me in a sad, but inspiring way.
Roman is the type of character that you dislike, but grow to adore… or want to punch in the face, both are applicable here😂! He’s flawed in an alluring way.
Felix… he also deserves the world. Unaware of what lies ahead, he knows one thing is always for certain… Fae. He’s passionate, protective, loyal & hilarious.
Other characters: Every single one is written in a way that makes you feel deeply, whether that’s anger, happiness, love, frustration… name the emotion & you’ll feel it at least twice😂.

Bound By Blood and Contracts has become a book I will reach for whenever I can, a book I will rave about to anyone and everyone.
If you’re looking for your next book - This is the one. You will not regret it.

Thank you again to Flo for allowing me this opportunity to not just read the book, but to celebrate your next chapter in becoming an incredible author. You’ve smashed it💜.
Profile Image for liv ⋆.ೃ࿔*:・.
54 reviews4 followers
September 15, 2026
★★★★☆

okay this was kind of a serve.

the beginning had me slightly concerned because there was a lot being thrown at me and i was basically collecting names and information hoping my brain would sort it out later. thankfully it did, because once this book got me, it REALLY got me.

fae was probably what sold me the most. she makes some choices that had me questioning whether we were reading the same situation, but i liked that she was allowed to be messy about everything happening to her. she doesn't suddenly become perfectly okay because roman is hot and standing nearby. her past actually follows her around and affects how she thinks, trusts people, and reacts to things. thank god.

and roman... yeah, i get it. unfortunately.

what i liked most about him is that he has an actual life outside of being obsessed with fae. the bar may be in hell, but you'd be surprised how many romance men would fail that test. their relationship also didn't swallow the entire book, which made me care about them together way more. there was already enough going on around them that the romance could just build in the middle of it instead of being asked to manufacture a plot.

the whole group dynamic got me too. i came for fae and roman and left weirdly protective over half the cast. riggs especially had me waiting for him to appear whenever everything got too serious.

my only real issue is that the darkest parts of the world were also the parts i wanted WAY more from. the company, the cult-ish shit, everything clearly rotting underneath the surface... that was so much more interesting than just background lore and i kept wanting the book to go further with it. it feels like we're standing outside a locked room and book two is where someone's finally going to kick the door in.

and considering that ending, apparently peace was never an option anyway.

i'm keeping it at 4 because 5 would mean i wouldn't change much, and i definitely would've tightened the beginning and dug deeper into the fucked up side of everything. but this was such a strong debut and one of those books where finishing it doesn't feel like finishing anything because now i just need the next one.

also ending a book like that should come with financial compensation and a therapist perhaps.
Profile Image for Nicolette Juliano.
364 reviews1 follower
September 4, 2026
two tiktoks from this author came up on my fyp in the same day. the first one her being beyond anxious about it being found by american readers bc she’s british and didn’t want us to judge the terminology. the second her yelling at people for white washing her characters in the comments and not giving a DAMN about any backlash she might get for that. and guess what i was endeared. SOLD. instantly left tiktok opened kindle and downloaded. so love her, as for the book itself, for a dark romance it was comparable to like a rina kent moment. i enjoyed tbh. rating is based off her as well as the book❤️
Profile Image for Emily Truman.
61 reviews
July 9, 2026
Was a little unsure going into this boon and what to expect. I was slightly put off to start with as it seemed to be a dark romance / spy / cult kind of theme all rolled into one but then it just worked and all clicked together and made sense.
The characters you genuinely feel a bond with and get to know them throughout the book, the side characters didn’t feel unnecessary either.
I cannot wait for the next book to drop because I need to know what happens!
1 review
July 21, 2026
This is the first book I’ve ever read, and honestly this makes me want to read more. I was constantly on the edge of my seat about what’s happening next and it was always the unthinkable. I cannot wait for the second book to be released !
1 review
July 21, 2026
wow

I absolutely loved this book what a great plot, can’t wait to read book 2. Love love love! I love fae and Roman
7 reviews
July 2, 2026
This may have just unexpectedly became one of my favourite reads of 2026❤️ 

I am left with no words to sum up how Flo beautifully writes a dark twisted, romantic, story with even a bit of spice on the side so amazingly. Especially for someone debut novel! 

With each chapter you fall in love with both the main characters Fae and Roman, even with all their flaws too. I need more and I'm so relieved that the second book comes out in August 2026, as the cliff hanger at the end will have me spiralling! 

I would highly recommend to any dark romance lover!
7 reviews
July 12, 2026
I want more! 😂

Follow you on TikTok and so I was excited to read this! When you said you were releasing a book I thought it would be good but this was far beyond my expectation! One of the best that I have read in a while! Even though you are releasing your next one in August I feel like it’s not going to come quick enough and I wasn’t ready for this one to finish 😂 I need more cheers 🥂 to counting down for the next one!!! You should be proud of yourself because we all definitely are ❤️
Profile Image for Alex.
2 reviews
July 3, 2026
I never write reviews but this book was absolutely amazing, there was a continuous plot, there was nothing that was said and left unturned. this book was one of my favourites, i can’t put into words how much i loved it, i can’t wait for the next book because how can it end like that, i need more of fae and roman like yesterday.
1 review
July 4, 2026
wanting more

This story has you hooked from the the beginning can’t wait for the story. I am invested in how this plays out
Profile Image for Jayde Christon.
2 reviews
July 13, 2026
Absolutely incredible!! I have felt a bit flat reading lately and not really feeling anything but this was everything and more! I felt ALL the emotions and I am itching for the next book to be released!! Highly highly recommend 😍
Profile Image for Rosie Glover.
3 reviews
July 1, 2026
I was lucky enough to be reading along right from the beginning and watching the story change and grow. Flo has built such an incredible, immersive world. The story is relentless and completely gut wrenching at times. I'm so glad that the world finally gets to experience this for the first time!
1 review1 follower
July 2, 2026
wow wow wow

Such an amazing read, I am in awe of the book, the story line, the characters, the ending. Now to patiently wait for book two! Best book I’ve ever read.
Profile Image for Ame Watkins.
1 review
July 16, 2026
This was an absolute masterpiece! I couldn’t put this down but when I had to I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Flo didn’t shy away from the brutality of trauma but everything was written so respectfully and with such care to give victims of these topics the ability to read about awful things as they are and not through a rose tinted version that takes away from the reality.
This book is unforgettable and will always be a 12/10!
Flo Finch you are an incredible writer and story teller❤️
3 reviews
July 24, 2026
Outstandinf

The story line was gripping I was in the edge of my seat feeling the feelings of the main characters. The way this was written was truly outstanding making my heart ache and my mind race. I have recommended this to every single person I know and cannot wait to dive into book 2
1 review
July 25, 2026
Incredible

Honestly absolutely amazing, I cannot wait for the next one. I never leave reviews hence this being so short but I just had to say how incredible this book was and how much I enjoyed reading it.
1 review
July 24, 2026
Not my usual genre, but wow what an amazing book. Finished it in a day, I could not put it down. Well done Flo, roll on 1st August for book 2.
Profile Image for Katie Elaine.
2 reviews
September 4, 2026
This one hit home way too close for me.

I watched Flo go through her healing journey, and then she just stopped showing up on my fyp. Then I saw BookedByMay get a pr box of the first book and the synopsis hooked me and I loved the box. So I put it on my tbr and boy I was *not* ready.

Flo putting her trauma into words that other people can relate to and possibly find some healing from it… I’m so incredibly proud of her.

The whole book was a masterpiece. I absolutely loved the diversity and inclusivity with the characters. I loved how Roman loved Fae. I loved how badass Fae was, felt like she was strong because she had to be, but it also made her into the person she is now. Her trauma happened, but she didn’t try to let it define her. She still dealt with the effects of the trauma (panic attacks, ptsd, etc). But Roman helped with that, he grounded her. She got to *choose* Roman. Also loved the whole friend group, especially Riggs and Atlas. I’m also happy she found Robyn, but like definitely not where she found her 😭

I’m like 99.9999% sure Roman’s father is the head of the sex ring. He seems too perfect. Literally everything about him is a façade. The love he shows his wife, the home in which is not perfect but lived in, etc. he just gives me bad vibes.

The *only* thing I wasn’t a fan of was Fae trying to be a martyr, self sacrificing. But I definitely understand it.

I’m jumping right into the next book.

This book was incredibly healing as well. This is the exact reason why I read dark romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Srhx.
200 reviews
July 23, 2026
Interesting enough to keep you hooked, I’d of loved more of the dark side; the company. The cult etc feels more of a lore/character builder, shit might hit the fan in the second book
I do like roman and fae.
Overall a good read.
Profile Image for Jenn ౨ৎ.
281 reviews37 followers
September 18, 2026
4.25/5🌟

Wow did this book HIT. Omg. I am literally gagged having finished this book. I have no words. Currently staring at my wall thinking omg.

Flo wow you have written such a powerful book. I don’t think i’ll ever stop thinking about these characters!!! i need to delve into book 2 ASAP.
Profile Image for Carey Ford.
97 reviews
August 30, 2026
Flo’s TikTok got me to read it…No regrets!

This lovely author popped up on my fyp on TikTok, so I decided to read the blurb and then download both books. The first one did not disappoint at all! It’s a dark romance with secret society. Dual POV with neurodivergence representation. Definitely read your trigger warnings as this has a lot of triggering content. I absolutely loved Roman and am awe struck over Fae’s strength and resilience. It ends on a cliffhanger, but thankfully I can jump right into book 2!
Profile Image for Alexandra.
52 reviews
September 2, 2026
“I can take care of myself, you know?” “I know. But you shouldn’t have to.”

My heart physically hurts for Fae.
Profile Image for Toni Donaldson.
380 reviews58 followers
August 27, 2026
And just like that, this book has cured my reading slump 👏🏻

Going into this I was apprehensive bc it started out very typical dark romance. But the story telling, the relationship with the FMC and mmc, and the found family were all done to perfection. Jumping into book 2!
Profile Image for Jess 💛.
9 reviews
August 10, 2026
WOW!

I can’t get over how incredibly well written this book is - I’m going straight to Book 2 once I have read this review.

This isn’t necessarily my normal genre, but like many of us, I have followed along with Flo on TikTok and wanted to support. I knew I’d enjoy it, but I never expected to be so captured by it!

I went in to it thinking I would visualise Flo and her voice as she’s the author, but her ability to have a reader fully immersed in the world of Fae & Roman is an incredible talent and needs to be applauded.

You forget that Flo is “new” to this, because she writes with such emotion and conviction, the kind that has you feeling all of the emotions that come with falling in love with characters.

I laughed, I teared up and I held my breath at the moments that had us all quickly turning the page to find out what happened next.

I spoke about this so much and physically reacted enough that my husband (who has just got a kindle) decided to start reading it - a big change for a man that enjoys a rugby autobiography!

I can’t recommend this book enough - it tickles the bookish tastebuds of multiple genres and subjects, whilst not shying away from triggering scenes.

To Flo - this is by far, one of the best books I’ve read. Your acknowledgments to those around you were beautiful, but don’t ever forget that only you can create this kind of magic - of storytelling and also healing people through words on a page. Watching how far you have come has been wonderful and an honour, and I think I can safely speak for everyone when I say that we’re excited for this journey you’ve embarked on. Thank you for giving us a world to escape in to, to learn and to create some thought provoking conversations. This is just the start for you..

Off I go to read Book 2, and pray that Book 3 follows in not so long!
2 reviews
August 4, 2026
this is a long review 💕
I really loved how fleshed out each of the characters were 👏
I loved how the characters are wanting to take down the system and help victims
Seeing the reality of what’s actually been going on and the horrors of it all was heartbreaking 💔

Roman 😍😍
I rate Roman as one of my top mmcs
He’s the perfect dominant man like a true dominant man he’s not mysogynistic , he provides space for fae to express her emotions and is a safe space for her
HE KNOWS WHAT CONSENT IS , HE KNOWS WHAT AFTERCARE IS. And states that this is the bare minimum she deserves
He wants fae to thrive and admires her strength instead of being insecure.
He is unhinged and a killer but does not hurt the fmc , this is what we need more of in books !!!!
I’m sick of reading things where the mmc abuses the fmc ,
this book was so so refreshing to read 👏👏


Fae is a warrior and I enjoyed her character and how she knows how to fight and is strong , she has complex trauma and I love seeing her go through the journey of healing 💕 I really related to a lot of the things she had been through so her character really resonated with me , flo showed very very good representation of how trauma affects people 👏


I really loved all of the guys they were all proper gentlemen and treated fae so so well and respected her 💕 especially riggs I loved his character and his humour !!

I feel suspicious of Romans dad
I know for a fact faes dad knew what fisher was doing to her
Fisher can go die I hate him

I’m happy to see Robyn but sad for what she’s had to go through and what else her and fae need to go through together I’m praying we get a happy ending 🙏

Surely they will catch on that that girl set fae up to be taken and that she’s heavily involved
The way she spoke saying Romans mum wasn’t on board made me think mabye Romans dad is 🤨 there’s something odd about Romans dad





What an amazing debut novel 💕💕👏👏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Claire Simone.
12 reviews
August 1, 2026
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶🌶🌶

I finished this book last night but I needed a little time to process that ending. I went through every single emotion reading this, one minute I was crying then I was laughing and kicking my feet, then I was thinking wtf out of shock, yeah you get the idea. Flo intentionally created her playlist and recommended to listen to the song as it showed up, so I did.. and yep by the first song I was bawling. I absolutely adore Fae, the fmc. My girl has been through so much and I could resonate with her on a personal level, I felt every emotion she did and I loved her witty comebacks because she did not take no shit. After everything she’s been through she finds it really hard to trust people until Roman. Roman has been in love with her for years but he always kept his distance until now, he understands her without her even saying anything. They have been trained heavily to not be readable but he can read her like a book. He’ll go to the ends of the earth and burn everything down if it meant keeping Fae safe and having her for himself. Everyone sees him as a monster because he’s a trained k!ller but with her he’s a little cutie, he takes care of her and he’s insanely protective of her. Roman really is the dream, I need a roman in my life 😩

I was hooked by the first chapter and ever since I lapped that shit up, love the plot, loved the characters, even the side characters had a part to play in it they weren’t there just for the sake of it. Riggs was my favourite side character, he’s a proper wind up but you can’t not love him everytime he was on the page I was giggling. I loved the mental health representation and there was some representation of autism too, one specific scene had me bawling, Flo just gets it and she wrote it so beautifully. This book really touched my soul, and it will forever have a place in my heart, can’t wait to read book two as it’s release day today, I’ve timed it perfectly 🖤
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews