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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
“For the first time in a long time, I fell asleep believing that maybe, just maybe, I was capable of something better. Because of her.”
If adult Hogwarts had vampires and an lgbtq+ rep, you’d get The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn. This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. It’s packed with tension, twists, sass, and just enough spice to keep your heart racing (and maybe a little shattered).
Tropes & Vibes:
• Dragons. Vampires. Love triangles (maybe? I wish.)
• Intrigue. Political secrets. ALL OF IT
• Why Kiss When You Can Bicker™
• Forced proximity
• Found family moments that genuinely got me emotional (FLORENCE, I LOVE YOU)
• A grumpy/sassy dragon companion
• The cutest little bundle of fur who is 100% stealing scenes (and hearts)
• Bully romance (kind of. a little. I don’t like bully romances and I liked this.)
This book is just as action-packed as the first, and we get even more insight into our favorite characters (and a few you’ll love to be suspicious of).
Medra continues to prove why she’s one of my all-time favorite FMCs. She’s strong in a way that feels real. Her choices are age-appropriate, thoughtful, and grounded. Even when she’s emotionally wrecked, manipulated, and caught in one chaotic scheme after another, she holds it together. You don’t want to shake her. You want to follow her. She’s navigating this high-stakes survival game with grace, fire, and just enough vulnerability to make you feel everything she’s going through.
Her bond with Nyxaris, the snarly dragon who *may or may not be* hiding a bigger story, is one of my favorite dynamics in the series. Their connection reminded me of Violet and Tairn (hello, Fourth Wing fans), but with more edge, more mystery, and way more bite. It’s one of the most compelling human-animal bonds I’ve read in a while. I cannot wait to see where their story goes in book three.
Blake, meanwhile, is battling his inner demons. He’s torn between traditions that have been engrained in him and the deep (and very complicated) desire to make things right with Medra.
BUT look… I was high-key rooting for the other guy just to watch Blake squirm (hi Kage
If adult Hogwarts had vampires and an lgbtq+ rep, you’d get The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn. This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. It’s packed with tension, twists, sass, and just enough spice to keep your heart racing (and maybe a little shattered).
Tropes & Vibes:
• Dragons. Vampires. Love triangles (maybe? I wish.)
• Intrigue. Political secrets. ALL OF IT
• Why Kiss When You Can Bicker™
• Forced proximity
• Found family moments that genuinely got me emotional (FLORENCE, I LOVE YOU)
• A grumpy/sassy dragon companion
• The cutest little bundle of fur who is 100% stealing scenes (and hearts)
• Bully romance (kind of. a little. I don’t like bully romances and I liked this.)
This book is just as action-packed as the first, and we get even more insight into our favorite characters (and a few you’ll love to be suspicious of).
Medra continues to prove why she’s one of my all-time favorite FMCs. She’s strong in a way that feels real. Her choices are age-appropriate, thoughtful, and grounded. Even when she’s emotionally wrecked, manipulated, and caught in one chaotic scheme after another, she holds it together. You don’t want to shake her. You want to follow her. She’s navigating this high-stakes survival game with grace, fire, and just enough vulnerability to make you feel everything she’s going through.
Her bond with Nyxaris, the snarly dragon who *may or may not be* hiding a bigger story, is one of my favorite dynamics in the series. Their connection reminded me of Violet and Tairn (hello, Fourth Wing fans), but with more edge, more mystery, and way more bite. It’s one of the most compelling human-animal bonds I’ve read in a while. I cannot wait to see where their story goes in book three.
Blake, meanwhile, is battling his inner demons. He’s torn between traditions that have been engrained in him and the deep (and very complicated) desire to make things right with Medra.
BUT look… I was high-key rooting for the other guy just to watch Blake squirm (hi Kage
Blake you're stupid!!! Ruined two books worth of development because you're dumb!!! I'm so annoyed lol and now I have to wait a whole year for the next book
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another really fun read! This fantasy series is addictive the way a soap opera is, AKA entertaining as hell. I love getting to see Medra come into her own in this world, starting to stand up for herself. Her and the dragons relationship was one of my favorites to develop over the course of the book!
I love how the book is again divided into the semesters of the school, it makes the pacing much easier to follow as we can see how time is moving in the series. I will say again this book had a lot of new mysteries and not a lot of answers to questions we’ve had I’m really hoping the third book again provides us with a bit more clarity.
I really loved the romance development, I think Blake did an appropriate amount of groveling, and his development through the book I think was one of the most profound.
I love how the book is again divided into the semesters of the school, it makes the pacing much easier to follow as we can see how time is moving in the series. I will say again this book had a lot of new mysteries and not a lot of answers to questions we’ve had I’m really hoping the third book again provides us with a bit more clarity.
I really loved the romance development, I think Blake did an appropriate amount of groveling, and his development through the book I think was one of the most profound.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Florence is dying and the dragon has just agreed to save her. Blake isa dragon shifter and Kane is a wolf shifter. Blake’s brother is evil and has gone of with Catherine a house leader and the sister of the house orphos leader bu the dragon of house orphos has Nedra’s mother in her
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes