The Bonds of Indigo: A Dark Paranormal Why-Choose Romance

by M.L. Burns

Genres: Why Choose, Fantasy

547 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 18, 2026

Reviews

[Brittany Ferraro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know when I jump into one of Mel’s books, it’s a guarantee five-star banger. I was gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for this book because you’re telling me I get to revisit one of my favorite worlds AND it’s going to be a why choose?!? SAY LESS.

There’s something about the way this woman writes that pulls me in immediately. The story gripped me from the very beginning. I already had a connection to Kayn from the Filthy duet, and I think she did such a fantastic job introducing his character because I was already in love with him. I could not wait for his story. Then you find out about Lucifer and how he just up and left, and you’re immediately desperate for answers.

So he breaks his little witch out of a high-security prison where she’s meant to spend the rest of her days, and they strike a deal: she’s going to help him get back the love of his life, and in return, he’s going to give her something 👀👀. Of course, he doesn’t expect to fall in love with her along the way.

I loved the way their relationship built from what started as more of a hate-to-love dynamic. The walls came down slowly, they started trusting each other, and when they began opening up, it absolutely melted my heart. These two together are incredible, and I loved the buildup with Kayn and Amarahs relationship so much because we already know there’s a love there for Lucifer. I was so curious to see how it was all going to blend together, and of course, it was seamless. Mel did such a fantastic job tying these three people together in a way that felt natural. Even though we’re only scratching the surface of their relationship, I cannot wait to see where it goes.

I was fully expecting to fall head over heels for Kayn, right? He’s a cocky, full-of-himself vampire who will take your head off first and ask questions later, and that’s exactly how I like my men. But what really surprised me was how much I fucking love Lucifer.

Okay, listen… he might’ve won me over with the piercings and the two 🍆, but I also just loved his effortless BDE. I wasn’t expecting him to give the energy that he did, if that makes sense, but he was dominating while still being kind. I loved him so much, and I cannot wait to get more of him.

And then we have Amarah, who is such a well-thought-out character. First of all, any witch will always do something for me. Actual goosebumps every time she uses her powers. Whatever I’m corny, I can’t help it. SUE ME I LOVE A WITCH BADDIE. But she’s carrying SO much, pain and trauma and secrets. She holds so much so close to her chest and it was so nice for her to be able to take her burdens off her shoulders and let these men help her carry them. I loved watching her open up. She truly deserves the world.

I also love when FMCs are determined, scrappy, and fucking tough as nails. She is selfless, and she doesn’t know her own worth, but she has two men who would fucking die for her. They’re going to remind her every single day how important she is and how loved she is, and I am HERE for it.

I also loved how each of them draws power from something different that feels so connected to who they are. Kayns is feeding, Lucifer’s pleasure and desire, while Amarahs comes from the Earth and feels like it feeds her soul. I loved how her bond with Vendra felt so intentional and thought out. It wasn’t just a source of power, it felt like a part of her. I loved the way the bonds allowed them to communicate and feel each other even when they weren’t together. That’s just a micro trope that I eat up every time, when they’re quite literally in each other’s heads.

I really need to touch on the world building in this duet. Obviously, the Filthy duet is one of my favorite series of all time, and it felt so good to be back in this world. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away, but just know I had full-body chills toward the end of this book.

I was sitting at the pool reading, and I literally wanted to stand up and fucking clap if you know, you know. But the way this world expanded and the understanding of the gods, the beyond, the creatures, and just how everything works was so intriguing. The plot itself completely sucked me in. I love a paranormal fantasy world filled with creatures, gods, power dynamics, and high stakes, and this was giving me EVERYTHING.

I’m so picky when it comes to my why choose books, and this was done perfectly. Every time Amarah felt insecure or like she didn’t fit in, one of her men was there to reassure her. They are so obsessed with her, and that is exactly how I like them.

I also need to circle back to the spice because I don’t think you guys understand. The way they literally worship her and each other??? The chemistry is out of this fucking world.

But that brings me to the ending. The ending that punched me right in the fucking throat.

Listen, I know Mel, and I know how she loves a diabolical cliffhanger. I truly didn’t think it could get worse than All Your Bloody Lies, but let me just shut the fuck up right now because I was completely wrong.

My jaw was on the floor. I was screaming into the void, punching the air, saying to myself, “No fucking way.” The second this one moment happened, everything clicked into place, and I knew she was about to drag me through hell by my fucking hair.

This is going to be the most agonizing wait for a book release. I truly don’t know how I’m going to survive, but I literally cannot wait to get back to these characters because I feel like there is so much more story they have to give us.

Six stars. Standing fucking ovation. Round of applause. All of the praise.

This book was fucking insanely good. Addicting, emotional, hot as fuck. with a STRONG plot and characters you are going to fall so hard for. It was literally perfect. No notes.

🚨‼️

If you haven’t finished the book, please do not read any further because they’re just gonna be spoilers!!!




OMFG WHEN XERA KAI AND MISTER SHOWED UP I LITERALLY FUCKING CRIED FROM THAT VERY FIRST LINE. I can’t even explain to you how much those characters mean to me and having them in that scene together felt like the motherfucking avengers, all of them fighting side-by-side. That was one of the most iconic scenes and it will live rent free in my brain, it got me so amped and so hyped, it was fucking incredible one of my favorite parts of the entire book.





BUT ATLAS!!?? How dare you😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I AM NOT OKAY. He was such a fantastic addition to the story and I can’t believe you just ripped him away from me. I’ll never forgive you.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Another masterpiece! ML Burns is just an auto buy author for me, I’ve never been disappointed with any of her books and I’ve read them all (except one).

I was absolutely gripped from start to finish. The world building! The relationship development! Mel has a way of pulling you right in to a book and you become completely emotionally invested. She always writes powerful, strong FMCs filled with feminine rage. I would highly recommend at least reading The Filthy Duet before diving in to TBOI. We first met Kayn during Xera and Kai’s story. I fell in love with him then so I was SOOOO excited to be diving in to his own story.

Kayn has been heart broken for 400 years since his love, Luce, left him without a word. He finds out via Xera that she saw Luce in the Beyond and Kayn (in typical Kayn fashion) makes the impulsive, somewhat selfish and obsessive decision to find a way to the Beyond. He will do anything to get back to his love.

And in comes our little Witch. Amarah has been sentenced to life in the highest security prison and seems to be the only person that can help Kayn get to the Beyond. And of course, Kayn breaks her out and a deal is struck.

I really enjoyed the journey and the flashbacks helped me to piece parts of the story together but I was also thinking of theories. I also love the multi POV. I found that I thought I knew where the story was going and then BOOM…Mel was like no! THIS is what happens next and I love to be kept on my toes.

I fell in love with Atlas and found his and Amarah’s relationship so sweet. Amarah should be protected at all costs and Atlas helped her begin to trust again after everything she’s been through. Amarah has been through so much and we see her working through her trauma whilst navigating the world she hasn’t seen for years. She does not allow that to stop her from being the powerful bad ass that she is. She will do ANYTHING to protect the ones she loves.

I loved the slow build and tension of Kayn and his little slayer’s relationship. The banter in this book was perfect. The way Amarah ends up with Kayn wrapped around her finger, just by being her 🥺.

I never thought I would fall so in love with Kayn, Amarah and Lucifer. Kayn and Lucifer are so respectful of Amarah and are so gentle with her, not because she’s fragile but because she deserves to be worshipped.

The spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ but it’s also perfectly written in to the plot and doesn’t feel out of place or detract from the story. Piercings and double 🍆👀 those make for some 🔥 scenes.

You will be left gasping and on the edge of your seat and you will need some tissues. I did not see that ending coming and now I am DESPERATE for the second in the duet.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️♾️ Infinity Stars

I had the absolute pleasure of alpha reading this and from the very first chapter I knew I was going to devour it!

Mel has created such an addiction in the Filthy world and I swear it keeps growing! Every new book expands the universe while still feeling familiar and I genuinely never wanted to put it down!!!

I was so excited for Kayne’s story and he completely exceeded every expectation I had for him!! 👏 But what I wasn’t expecting was how deeply I would fall in love with Lucifer and Amarah!! They absolutely stole pieces of my heart, and once again Mel proves she knows exactly how to write FMCs you constantly root for!! Amarah is strong, layered, and impossible not to love!

One of my favorite parts of this book was the journey itself! The flashbacks were brought in so perfectly, revealing pieces of the puzzle without giving too much away! I was constantly creating theories, trying to connect all the dots, and it made the reading experience so much fun! Some predictions had me feeling like a genius lol while others completely blindsided me in the best way! Every twist had me flipping pages faster because I had to know what came next!

The relationships and character dynamics were another huge highlight! I absolutely loved the chemistry, the banter was addictive, and the emotional moments hit just as hard as the intense ones!! It all had me so invested!!

And, of course this is Mel we’re talking about, so the spice absolutely delivers🔥 But let me just say… Lucifer comes in with quite the surprise 🤭I literally gasped out loud!! Haha There were multiple moments where I was fanning myself because Mel knows exactly how to write that tension!!

And I can’t write this review without talking about the cliffhanger that was absolutely diabolical!!! 😭 We all know Mel has a reputation for leaving us hanging, but I genuinely think this might be her most brutal one yet! I finished the final page and just sat there staring at my Kindle in complete disbelief! And then I was in Mel’s DMs screaming lmao

I need book two like I need air because I NEED answers!!!! I need to know how everything unfolds, I need these characters to get the ending they deserve, and I need to return to this world immediately!!

I need everyone to drop everything for this book, please and thank you!!

[fletchmeabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll try my best to write out exactly what ML Burns has put me through whilst reading this masterpiece. I know this is a book review, but I will just start this off with I’m beyond grateful like nothing else to be part of Mel’s street team and be given the opportunity to read a work of art. Every single book Mel has wrote that I’ve read, has not been less than 5 stars.

The Bonds of Indigo consumed me from start to finish. It was a struggle to put this down and have a healthy sleeping pattern. Before I was even 50% in, I had went through every emotion. It is addictive, you have been warned.

I honestly cannot pick a favorite character, they are all as equally brilliant. But my girl Amarah needs to be protected at all costs, she really tries her best to open up and trust but after what she’s been through who can blame her. Amarah doesn’t let her past dictate her future though, she’s strong, flawed but so resilient my heart aches for her
I LOVE past and present timelines together, it’s like that sound “oh piece of candy!” Each timeline made me think I knew where the story was going… then Mel said oh no no here’s a TWIST. The character and relationship building is slow, but it is needed for our girl to build that trust, which made the emotional moments hit harder. The worldbuilding just kept giving, loved learning more about the magic, the creatures and all of the different places.

And yes... there is spice and it delivers. The tension, chemistry, and emotional connection make those scenes even better. I’m sorry… two???? MEL hehehehe

That ending though?! I was NOT prepared for that or see it coming at all! Mel did get a dm the instant I finished asking for book 2.

If you love paranormal romance, why choose, books that put you on an emotional rollercoaster and characters you'll get emotionally attached to, The Bonds of Indigo is definitely worth adding to your TBR.

Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for the sequel because I need answers. 

[Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way that I am absolutely FERAL for this book and these characters needs to be studied, istg. I had the absolute pleasure and honor of beta reading this book and I am so glad I can rate and yap about this book and these characters. Honestly 6 fucking stars with characters that live rent fucking free in my head.

All Kayn wants is Lucifer back and he will go to the ends of the earth to do so. If he wanted to, he would- am I right? When he finds out where Luce is, he gets to work. Enter Amarah, the witch that’s going to get him to where he wants to be. The hate to love between these two is chefs fucking kiss. The yearning until the rubber band snaps is top tier and their relationship has SO many layers that I just can’t describe how happy they make me. Once they finally get to Lucifer, it all just snaps and the spice? My gods is it good. And my favorite thing about the spice in Mel’s books is that it doesn’t take away from the plot.

In typical Mel fashion, I was laughing, giggling, kicking my feet one minute and crying the next. Amarah is our sweet bb that has so much trauma and pain from her past and her meeting Kayn and their relationship absolutely made me melt. Add in her relationship with Lucifer? Ugh. I was a puddle. Mel writes men who yearn and want to protect what’s theirs and this was absolutely no exception.

To know Mel is to know her cliffhangers are DIABOLICAL and this book is absolutely no exception. I need book 2 like I need air and I am gnawing at the bars of my enclosure to get it in my little hands 🤭

Overall, 6 ⭐️, 4 🌶️, and 4 🖤. Check the trigger warnings, they’re there for a reason. If you want men who yearn, an FMC you’d throw hands for, and a story line that’ll have you hooked from page 1, then look no further because this is it and will have you swooning, fanning yourself, and feeling all the feelings all while being hooked on the plot that’s twisty and turny and so damn good.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been dying to finally write a review about this book.
The Bonds of Indigo is book one of Kayn's duet, who we got to know in the Filthy Duet.

While his involvement in Xera and Kai's story and his help in their fight had been rather selfless, his own story is filled with a selfish chase for the history books.
Kayn decides to finally pursue his great love. The man that got away without even saying goodbye. On his quest to retrieve a love lost—or at least get some answers, Kayn pulls out all the stops and doesn't even shy away from involving someone he despises.

The banter in this book is glorious and the way Amarah—our fierce and troubled FMC—manages to wrap the powerful vampire around her finger without even trying, is very entertaining.

In known M. L. Burns fashion, this book is heavy on trauma, rage, and difficult dynamics. It will make you angry and bring you to tears. And the ending will make you stare at a wall—so nothing we don't know about Mel's books.

Buckle up, my friends. This one is a journey.

And for me personally, it was the book that kicked off my proofreading business, since it was my first official project. So it will always have a special place in my heart.

📖 The Bonds Of Indigo by M. L. Burns will release on August 18, 2026

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#reading #bookstagram #review #proofread #mlburns

[DENISSE · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review
Holy WOW! This story had me gripped by the heart. I immediately fell in love with Amarah, a witch, I knew there would be more to her story than what was common knowledge. Getting bits of it throughout the book made me feel for her, her trauma, oh gosh, must protect her at all costs please! Kayn is one filthy, protective and possessive vampire. He is on one hell of a mission, with Amarah's help, to get his mans back after he walked out on Kayn. I enjoyed the dynamic between Amarah, Kayn and Atlas, a mundane, he brought in a bit of tension relief. Lucifer!! I don't blame Kayn for going the distance to get to Lucifer, a demon, who had a damn good reason to dissappear.

The story is trauma heavy, but it's handled well, I didn't feel overwhelmed and it made me feel a lot for these characters. They deserve all the happiness pleassssse. There was plenty of delicious spice, Kayn has one dirty mouth 🥵 I cannot wait for book 2 😭😭

[Katelyn Smyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy mother of God! I’m not much of a fantasy or why choose reader but if M.L. Burns is going to write it? You best believe I am going to read it and Mel delivered yet again an exquisite book.

This story was full of so much love and trauma throughout the book it was amazing, it took me a minute to get into but when I did I absolutely loved every second of it. Mel knows how to deliver trauma in the best way possible because it is handled with so much care that readers can relate to it.

This book was so beautifully written and I honestly cannot applaud Mel enough for it! Now the only question I have is when is book 2 😉?

5/5 ⭐️

[Courtney Seymour · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION 😍

Leave it to ML to emotionally damage me in the best way possible! I loved every single minute of this book and I (respectfully) got even more emotionally damaged when I saw the next one comes out next August 😭 because THE ENDING IS DIABOLICAL and I’m so excited to see where things go

the spice oh my gosh 🥵 🍆🍆
The trauma 😭
The characters from other books making an appearance 😍😍😍 (is a Sydni book coming by chance 👀)

All in all just so happy to be back in this universe thank you so much for the ARC!!

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Review To Come