Broken Bonds

4.5 stars

I've seen a lot of people talking about this series which is why I suggested it as our March pick for the Lost in Romance Book Club that I cohost with my friend Michelle. I ended up also buddy reading this with Destiny and Malli. Malli is rereading this series but Destiny and I are reading it for this first time. I love a why choose romance. That's what made me want to read this book. So we have the FMC Oli and then then her 5 bonds Atlas, Gryphon, Gabe, North and Nox. Of the 5 Atlas solidified himself as my favorite from the get go. Gryphon and Gabe grew on me a bit by the end but both of them as well and Nox and North have a shit ton of groveling to do but after what happened in book one I don't think Nox is redeemable. The 4 guys were awful in this book. Like so awful they made me want to throw my phone across the room. I was hooked on the overall story and I will be continuing on in the series. I am willing to trust the process since Malli loves this series so much. 

I had such a good time reading this. I devoured it. I have only previously read reverse harem with strictly romance and no fantasy. I know I am so late to the party but this exactly what I needed. Our gal Oli has an extremely mysterious past that we are slowly getting snippets of but mostly we are focusing on the parts where she learned about her bonds and ran away. Leading to current day where she is captured brought to bonds who hate her.

This story is heavily character based, not too much plot going on but I genuinely have no complaints. We get to see Oli thrusted into a new life by force and made to listen to these five brooding men who are her bonds. Some of these men I liked more than others (I'm talking to Knox and North) but ATLAS oh my baby and seeing Gabe's little possessive moments RAHHHH. Don't even get me on Gryphon slipping into her bed hehehe. I am so nervous to start the next book because like where is this going??

My issues are mostly with the writing. It felt very repetitive with a few words and phrases. And at parts so confusing, I wish we were given some more background and just overall world building. I love someone of our characters but the main FMC isn't my favorite ever. I wish we had a littleeee more depth, who knows if I'll pick up the next book? We shall see.

very surprised how much I enjoyed it

I really wasn't expecting to enjoy this book. I thought it was going to be cringy and cliche and very same-y. But it was none of those things. I genuinely enjoyed this book. It was a super quick read and it was interesting the entire time. It's a very solid 4/5.

This smut never smuts.

This book was EXACTLY what it needed to be and I have lots of thoughts

Did it feel like I was reading diary entries of a very angry teenager? yes absolutely
but I didn't hate it??? The writing isn't good but the story makes up for it in my opinion

I will start off by saying that the ungodly amount of times the words fuck/fucking/freaking was used really pissed me off but I kinda stopped noticing it as the story got interesting.

Booktok made it seem like this was a spicy fantasy land book.
First of all this one has none of the peppers and as soon as I read Connecticut I wanted to burn my kindle in a bonfire. I would like it so much more if it was set in an actual made up universe because I absolutely loved the idea of all the diferente Bonds and the whole Gift thing.

North is giving 45yr old lawyer and it's not for me but it might be for you so go for it.
I just KNOW Nox is gonna have the whole redemption situation at some point and win biggest dick contest but for now he's very obnoxious and has a dirty dirty humiliation kink.
Gabe is blonde so he doesn't get an opinion.
Atlas is a baby angel who deserves an award for not being the biggest stupid idiot and actually realizing the truth first.
But Gryphon is my favorite because I will sacrifice my soul for the silent caring type (i.e. azriel culture) any day.

I really enjoyed this. It was a very easy read and very entertaining so it gets the good rating based solely on the fact that it was just what I wanted to read, when I needed to read it

This was such a good jump back into fantasy after hanging out with romance for the last few weeks! J. Bree does a great job at setting up the series, and I immediately bought book 2 when I finished. Broken Bonds follows Oleander (Oli) who is captured after being on the run and has a huge secret she will do anything to keep that way. We are also introduced to Oli's Bonds: North, Nox, Gryphon, Gabe, and Atlas. The world building felt just a tad slow in the beginning, but it definitely kept me engaged and intrigued. It's also been a while since I've started a fantasy series, so it might just be me. I know this series ends up being “why choose” but there is mostly just tension in this first book. The last 10% had me absolutely feral and hooked, and I am even more excited to start Savage Bonds soon! Broken Bonds is an adult fantasy, 18+ for language, themes, and sexual content

So freaking good!

I couldn't put this down. Oleander is so strong! I loved getting to know her and Sage and most of their guys. Though at times I couldn't stand Oleander's Bonds. There's a reason for their discord and I so felt all their drama. I still have mixed feelings about Nox and North but I'm super excited to see what happens next!