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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When nineteen-year-old Nessa Thorne volunteers for the Empire's selection she expects that she is about to die. Instead, what she finds is that she is suddenly thrust into Confluence Academy. This is where students harness elemental magic and bond powerful beasts – from the wolves to ancient dragons – the students forge themselves into the Empire's most lethal weapons imaginable.
Upon entering Confluence Academy each student is branded with either a water, air, earth, or fire symbol. But, when Nessa entered she found that she wasn't branded with any of those symbols, rather she was branded with a simple silver spiral – this is the mark of the unbound. The power of the unbound is so powerful that the Empire claims Nessa's kind were hunted into extinction centuries ago.
Now that Nessa knows what she is, she has to hide her mark to survive in a castle that reeks of nothing but blood, the students hunt and kill each other for some advantage or another, and if you fail to tether an elemental, that is your sure death.
Raith Hollow could be Nessa's greatest threat. He's the only other volunteer. Raith is this powerful fire affinity, his fiery stare follows Nessa everywhere she goes and Nessa knows that Raith has his own secrets that could probably topple many kingdoms over.
Soon Nessa sees that alliances are being forged in blood, her enemies are circling like some sort of vulture, and forbidden desires are closing in all around her. Once Nessa thought that death would release her from the tragedy of her past. But now, death is no longer an option. Nessa is going to embrace this terrible potential she's been gifted or she'll be forced to watch everything she ever fought for burn.
At Confluence Academy, students leave as weapons... or they don't leave at all.
Unbound is the 1st book in the Confluence Academy Series by Penelope Bloom. And honestly, all I can say is OMG! This is such an amazing book and Penelope has written it in a way that engrosses you and enthralls you and when you are reading it is impossible to stop. And when you are finally able to stop reading, you will be dreaming about this book when you sleep, you'll be daydreaming about this book, and thinking about this book all day till you start reading it again. It's addictive and magical, and there are very few books that have lived on my brain the way that this one did. I have had characters live in my head rent-free, but never books, and even today I find myself still thinking about this book and waiting impatiently for book 2 so I can get my hands on it and dive back into this insanely addictive world.
Nessa Thorne was a perfect FMC. I loved her from beginning to end. She was magnificent in every way possible. She had such strength despite the trauma that she had been through, there was this yearning in her that even though she might have had deep and meaningful feelings for someone, she never let that override or take away from the importance of her survival or the importance and depths of her other friendships. She had the strength and courage to doubt herself at times and yet no matter what she would never allow anyone to give her any shit. She was never anyone's doormat and had her morals to guide her, she knew that she had to be cautious due to her brand but she never kept herself closed off or aloof. She appeared to be so much more mature for her age and yet she had this vulnerability about her reminded you that no matter how strong or brave she may appear, she was still this young traumatized pawn. Nessa truly was the one who made this story for me and she's the reason I enjoyed it so much.
Gorgeous and damaged Raith. He's you're typical morally grey/dark MMC and you could tell right away that while he was trying to deny it, he was falling for our gorgeous and intelligent FMC Nessa. And I grew to love him, Penelope gave him a complex storyline and character arc and when we finally learn the truth of who he is, it almost made my heart stop and my jaw hit the floor because that was a twist that I had never seen coming.
Typhon is truly one of the most amazing parts of this book and I just love everything there is about him. He has this strength about him, a sense of humour, and he gave Nessa a fatherly figure that she could finally look up to.
I adored the way that Penelope included the siphons and gave us lots of lore-building. It was perfection in the way that she did that and alongside the perfectly created characters I just wanted to keep learning more and more.
I loved the friend group that Nessa was able to cultivate around her and while there were times that it felt a little bit cliche, they were all lovable all the same, and you can't help but fall head over heels in love with Bastian.
Penelope knows where to place the humour in this book perfectly and she gave us genuine funny content. The action was engaging, enthralling and at times would have you white-knuckled wondering who was going to come out on top.
The romance in this book, while inevitable was deep, evocative, beautiful, and moving. You could feel the true depth of the feelings and the bonds that were being forged.
I am so excited and ready to jump into the next book and see what the rest of the series brings. I just hate that I have to wait till next year to get my hands on the next book.
This is a book that is worth reading and getting into. I can't help but recommend it to anyone and everyone. It is well written, well paced, and the writing is addictive. Penelope Bloom is an author to be reading and watching out for. She is a powerhouse for sure.
Upon entering Confluence Academy each student is branded with either a water, air, earth, or fire symbol. But, when Nessa entered she found that she wasn't branded with any of those symbols, rather she was branded with a simple silver spiral – this is the mark of the unbound. The power of the unbound is so powerful that the Empire claims Nessa's kind were hunted into extinction centuries ago.
Now that Nessa knows what she is, she has to hide her mark to survive in a castle that reeks of nothing but blood, the students hunt and kill each other for some advantage or another, and if you fail to tether an elemental, that is your sure death.
Raith Hollow could be Nessa's greatest threat. He's the only other volunteer. Raith is this powerful fire affinity, his fiery stare follows Nessa everywhere she goes and Nessa knows that Raith has his own secrets that could probably topple many kingdoms over.
Soon Nessa sees that alliances are being forged in blood, her enemies are circling like some sort of vulture, and forbidden desires are closing in all around her. Once Nessa thought that death would release her from the tragedy of her past. But now, death is no longer an option. Nessa is going to embrace this terrible potential she's been gifted or she'll be forced to watch everything she ever fought for burn.
At Confluence Academy, students leave as weapons... or they don't leave at all.
Unbound is the 1st book in the Confluence Academy Series by Penelope Bloom. And honestly, all I can say is OMG! This is such an amazing book and Penelope has written it in a way that engrosses you and enthralls you and when you are reading it is impossible to stop. And when you are finally able to stop reading, you will be dreaming about this book when you sleep, you'll be daydreaming about this book, and thinking about this book all day till you start reading it again. It's addictive and magical, and there are very few books that have lived on my brain the way that this one did. I have had characters live in my head rent-free, but never books, and even today I find myself still thinking about this book and waiting impatiently for book 2 so I can get my hands on it and dive back into this insanely addictive world.
Nessa Thorne was a perfect FMC. I loved her from beginning to end. She was magnificent in every way possible. She had such strength despite the trauma that she had been through, there was this yearning in her that even though she might have had deep and meaningful feelings for someone, she never let that override or take away from the importance of her survival or the importance and depths of her other friendships. She had the strength and courage to doubt herself at times and yet no matter what she would never allow anyone to give her any shit. She was never anyone's doormat and had her morals to guide her, she knew that she had to be cautious due to her brand but she never kept herself closed off or aloof. She appeared to be so much more mature for her age and yet she had this vulnerability about her reminded you that no matter how strong or brave she may appear, she was still this young traumatized pawn. Nessa truly was the one who made this story for me and she's the reason I enjoyed it so much.
Gorgeous and damaged Raith. He's you're typical morally grey/dark MMC and you could tell right away that while he was trying to deny it, he was falling for our gorgeous and intelligent FMC Nessa. And I grew to love him, Penelope gave him a complex storyline and character arc and when we finally learn the truth of who he is, it almost made my heart stop and my jaw hit the floor because that was a twist that I had never seen coming.
Typhon is truly one of the most amazing parts of this book and I just love everything there is about him. He has this strength about him, a sense of humour, and he gave Nessa a fatherly figure that she could finally look up to.
I adored the way that Penelope included the siphons and gave us lots of lore-building. It was perfection in the way that she did that and alongside the perfectly created characters I just wanted to keep learning more and more.
I loved the friend group that Nessa was able to cultivate around her and while there were times that it felt a little bit cliche, they were all lovable all the same, and you can't help but fall head over heels in love with Bastian.
Penelope knows where to place the humour in this book perfectly and she gave us genuine funny content. The action was engaging, enthralling and at times would have you white-knuckled wondering who was going to come out on top.
The romance in this book, while inevitable was deep, evocative, beautiful, and moving. You could feel the true depth of the feelings and the bonds that were being forged.
I am so excited and ready to jump into the next book and see what the rest of the series brings. I just hate that I have to wait till next year to get my hands on the next book.
This is a book that is worth reading and getting into. I can't help but recommend it to anyone and everyone. It is well written, well paced, and the writing is addictive. Penelope Bloom is an author to be reading and watching out for. She is a powerhouse for sure.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This read like a copy paste romantic drama in a fantasy world. It was not particularly different from other books but I enjoyed reading it for the ✨drama✨. I had to at points skip over large sections just from the overly repetitive nature of the writing.
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I’m thoroughly surprised I was able to read all 700+ pages in only a day but honestly there wasn’t really ever a time where I was bored! I found myself wanting to keep picking it up as the day went on. I enjoyed the friendships, the elemental magic, the romance, the brutality of the academy, and the bits of politics! The elemental companions was also such a fun element, including commentary from Nessa’s. Though some repetition, I was invested in these characters and really enjoyed the read. I’m seated for the next book!
Paper thin plot that copy pastes from Fourth Wing, with a supposedly “smart” female lead who continues to act stupid.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I read this book on a whim and absolutely loved it. I fell for Raith at the beginning of the book and loved him more as the book progressed. Nessa was a strong FMC, and I enjoyed her back and forth with Typhon. I would definitely recommend this book. Now, I just have to try to wait for the 2nd book.