Reviews

Bright Familiar by Jeffe Kennedy

alex_s_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

glyneth's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.0

shandarin24's review

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

**4.0**

The first 25% of the book…awful. The author was trying to justify everything our characters were feeling. It became so repetitive I almost DNF. Then things got interesting. I wish the plot moved faster because this world is so twisted and the relationship between familiar and wizard is mind blowing. It’s hard for me to rate this because I loved the world, politics, and magic but needed more of it. The story was mostly about the relationship between our 2 main characters.

The romance in this is dark. Think Kushiels Dart (without the epic world building). Throw in Fifty Shades of Grey and Master of Crows. This is not your cute, fluffy, sweet romance. I was enthralled by some of the scenes and it was nice to read something different. It also made sense in the world they live in and how magic is created. 

It’s been hard to find a fantasy series that has an intricate main plot and adult romance subplot. The last few I’ve read lean more towards romance. I understand why a lot of people love Sarah J. Mass because she’s can give you a great story/world along with a strong romance. This was great on the romance but lacking in the world building I need to really love a book.

blodeuedd's review

3.0

This world feels so dark to me, not that that is a bad thing, just you know, I would not want to live there! I feel so sorry for familiar and so many wizards are asshats.

The world is grey and unforgiving. You can go a long time thinking yes I will be a wizard! And then BAM! Nope, you are a familiar. Suddenly you are the dirt beneath someones feet, and do not even get me started on the choosing process, getting raped, and I guess if you are lucky meeting someone like Gabriel who you choose to be with. Yes, dark world. I want these two to rise up, take over and BURN it to the ground. The familiars are the ones making the wizards great, so more power to the familiars! I want a revolution started. Intriguing world, oh yes.

Gabriel is still weary, he is not a fan of the wizarding world and how the rule, and tell him how to rule. He likes Nic, she is his wife, he wants to protect her and not just use her as a magical tool. And Nic has sure realised that Gabriel is the best that could have happened to her. He let's her be her, he is hot, and she will try her best to make his House great again.

But the stupid wizarding rulers want her to bend and be rehabilitated. And she has a wizard to teach, a Mansion to rebuild and a House to make one of the big ones again. Ugh those damn idiots in charge. Revolution people, bring them down. Or let a a slow process start of showing others that they can be nice to each other.

I do wonder about book 3. I hope things goes they way, and now they have his sister to worry about too. I have no idea how this will turn out.

Passion, danger and one intriguing , yet dark, world.

jennyliu887's review

3.0

This was pretty uneventful and kind of boring. They basically bond, raise the house out of the water, learn how their magic work together, and logistics.

zimmerlemon's review

adventurous slow-paced

3.75

I’m still not sure this is particularly good BUT I am definitely hooked now! 

diaryofthebookdragon's review

3.0

Bright Familiar focuses on the relationship-building between Veronica & Gabriel. It felt like they could not decide what they wanted through the whole book, and little else happened. Last 10% finally the things started to roll and then - boom - sudden ending. It's not even a cliffhanger. It just stopped.
Overall, I liked [b:Dark Wizard|56855808|Dark Wizard (Bonds of Magic #1)|Jeffe Kennedy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611736761l/56855808._SX50_.jpg|88885138] much more.

lickableenzymes's review

3.0

Too much sex in this one. Don't get me wrong, I love a steamy romance as much as the next person, but I found myself frustrated with plot < Sex ratio. I didn't even feel like the story really got going until the last third of the book. The first two thirds was just sex. The first book had the perfect balance, IMO.

That being said, I really enjoy the story, worldbuilding, and plot- I just want to see more of it. I am hoping the next book has a better plot to sex balance because it really is a good story.

madrona's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

marilanoire's review

adventurous inspiring mysterious medium-paced

4.25

I enjoyed this book even if some parts of it are a bit lengthy. I like the characters and the story is good, too. I’m looking forward to the third book in this series.