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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
I enjoyed this book, but Jackson was done dirty. While West was a victim, so was Jackson—he became West's punching bag. A lifelong top suddenly bottoms, and it's never addressed. Jackson's life fell apart, and West was absent, leaving only his female best friend to defend him. Even his own mother dismissed him saying it’s not about him. Jackson lost his personality and purpose. As for West, I didn’t hate him. I’m glad he sought help, but Jackson and West didn’t need to end up together. A sad ending would have been more satisfying.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
DNF - no rating.
This was mainly a writing style issue for me. Super short chapters and there are 101 chapters. A lot of italics. Inner monologue style of telling information that doesn't really feel natural, who is the MC telling this to? Too many internal questions asked while in the MCs head.
I am not good at describing why a writing style doesn't work for me, so take that with a big grain of salt.
First person dual POV, heavy topics, check the thorough CWs behind spoiler tags if you're unsure.
Author-provided CWs were detailed and plentiful, which is great!
CWs:
While Burned & Bound isn’t a dark romance by any means, this story is very mental health oriented. There are heavy themes explored as well as hard-hitting emotional scenes. The core of this story is the journey of living with violent sexual trauma and undiagnosed complex PTSD.
Please read with care and know the following are things you will encounter in order of relation to sexual assault, mental health, and others:
mentions of violent group sexual assault, mentions & description of victim branding, on page unwanted non-sexual touch that triggers trauma response, on page discussions of inability to engage in sexual activities due to trauma, on page unwanted physical arousal, on page uncomfortable attempts at physical affection, on page panic spiral due to consented sexual contact, on page emotional breakdown due to sexual trauma, on page discussions of navigating sexual trauma as a couple, on page reassurance through sexual activity geared toward a trauma survivor, on page discussions of consent, on page uncertainty about sexual activities, on page internal change of consent during sexual activity without informing partner, on page emotional breakdown during sexual activity, on page general panic attack, on page trigger-based panic attack, on page anxiety attack, on page self-deprecation, on page PTSD blackout, on page self-harm as a grounding technique, on page panic attack amnesia, on page disassociation, on page partner uncertainty handling trauma survivor’s trauma responses, on page struggling with partner’s PTSD & inability to “fix” it for them, mentions of attempted suicide, on page assault of partner during a PTSD blackout, mentions of diagnoses, mentions of inpatient therapy, on page prescription medication use, mentions of child abuse by parent, on page alcoholism, on page use of alcohol to cope, on page relapse, on page alcohol withdrawal symptoms, on page physical assault of an adult child (he is 18 but attacked by his father), on page homophobia, on page homophobic remarks, mentions of parental death, on page violent bar fight, mentions of murder, mentions of prison time, on page arson, mentions of parental suicide, mentions of spousal abuse, discussions of third-party responsibility to intervene in child abuse, on page threats between main characters, on page sharing of old prescriptions, mentions of drug use, mentions of gambling, mentions of a robbery, mentions of a shooting, on page blood & injury, on page graphic injury of a main character, mentions of physical therapy, & body rehabilitation.
This was mainly a writing style issue for me. Super short chapters and there are 101 chapters. A lot of italics. Inner monologue style of telling information that doesn't really feel natural, who is the MC telling this to? Too many internal questions asked while in the MCs head.
I am not good at describing why a writing style doesn't work for me, so take that with a big grain of salt.
First person dual POV, heavy topics, check the thorough CWs behind spoiler tags if you're unsure.
Author-provided CWs were detailed and plentiful, which is great!
CWs:
Please read with care and know the following are things you will encounter in order of relation to sexual assault, mental health, and others:
mentions of violent group sexual assault, mentions & description of victim branding, on page unwanted non-sexual touch that triggers trauma response, on page discussions of inability to engage in sexual activities due to trauma, on page unwanted physical arousal, on page uncomfortable attempts at physical affection, on page panic spiral due to consented sexual contact, on page emotional breakdown due to sexual trauma, on page discussions of navigating sexual trauma as a couple, on page reassurance through sexual activity geared toward a trauma survivor, on page discussions of consent, on page uncertainty about sexual activities, on page internal change of consent during sexual activity without informing partner, on page emotional breakdown during sexual activity, on page general panic attack, on page trigger-based panic attack, on page anxiety attack, on page self-deprecation, on page PTSD blackout, on page self-harm as a grounding technique, on page panic attack amnesia, on page disassociation, on page partner uncertainty handling trauma survivor’s trauma responses, on page struggling with partner’s PTSD & inability to “fix” it for them, mentions of attempted suicide, on page assault of partner during a PTSD blackout, mentions of diagnoses, mentions of inpatient therapy, on page prescription medication use, mentions of child abuse by parent, on page alcoholism, on page use of alcohol to cope, on page relapse, on page alcohol withdrawal symptoms, on page physical assault of an adult child (he is 18 but attacked by his father), on page homophobia, on page homophobic remarks, mentions of parental death, on page violent bar fight, mentions of murder, mentions of prison time, on page arson, mentions of parental suicide, mentions of spousal abuse, discussions of third-party responsibility to intervene in child abuse, on page threats between main characters, on page sharing of old prescriptions, mentions of drug use, mentions of gambling, mentions of a robbery, mentions of a shooting, on page blood & injury, on page graphic injury of a main character, mentions of physical therapy, & body rehabilitation.
A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Love, Redemption, and Healing
• Rating 5/5
• Romance 3/5
• Spice Level 2.5/5
• Writing Style 5/5
• Audio Narration N/A ( I really hope this will be one day in Audio)
A. Winchester’s Burned & Bound is a beautifully raw and emotionally charged standalone novel that will break your heart before carefully putting it back together. With its rich, character-driven story and an unforgettable romance, this book is a standout among contemporary M/M.
From the moment West returns to the Double Arrow Ranch, it’s clear he’s a man scarred by his past. His pain is palpable, his struggles are achingly real, and his emotional weight is expertly conveyed. West is a character you can’t help but root for, even when his trauma leads him to lash out or push people away. His journey to healing is messy but authentic, and it’s impossible not to feel fiercely protective of him.
Jackson, on the other hand, is the epitome of patience and devotion. His unwavering love for West, even after years of heartbreak and misunderstanding, is nothing short of extraordinary. He’s the kind of character who restores your faith in love—kind, steady, and deeply empathetic. Watching him support West, even when it means enduring moments where he feels overlooked, is nothing short of inspiring.
The chemistry between West and Jackson is electric yet tender, built slowly and deliberately. Winchester doesn’t rush their connection, giving the story the space it needs to explore their history, hurts, and eventual reconciliation. Their relationship feels raw and real, with moments of tension, vulnerability, and ultimately, healing.
Here we see the depth of West’s struggles and Jackson’s unconditional support set it apart. West’s pain is tangible and justified, and it’s impossible not to empathize with him. Unlike characters who might feel overly dramatic or undeserving, West’s story is one of resilience and survival, and Jackson’s dedication to him feels well-earned.
This book isn’t just a love story—it’s a testament to the healing power of compassion and patience. If you’re looking for a story with heart-wrenching emotion, layered characters, and a satisfying HEA, Burned & Bound will leave a lasting impression.
P.S. In my opinion this story shares some thematic similarities with other books (Oleander comes to mind) - Character wise especially. But the big difference between them is that there, Caspian (one of the mc’s – didn’t even deserved his own story, let alone his own hea – imo), here, West struggles are super real, and we can actually understand and feel them and I love this. Even if is not the typical romance, we can actually understand and feel together to the characters.
This is one of my top favs of 2024!
• Rating 5/5
• Romance 3/5
• Spice Level 2.5/5
• Writing Style 5/5
• Audio Narration N/A ( I really hope this will be one day in Audio)
A. Winchester’s Burned & Bound is a beautifully raw and emotionally charged standalone novel that will break your heart before carefully putting it back together. With its rich, character-driven story and an unforgettable romance, this book is a standout among contemporary M/M.
From the moment West returns to the Double Arrow Ranch, it’s clear he’s a man scarred by his past. His pain is palpable, his struggles are achingly real, and his emotional weight is expertly conveyed. West is a character you can’t help but root for, even when his trauma leads him to lash out or push people away. His journey to healing is messy but authentic, and it’s impossible not to feel fiercely protective of him.
Jackson, on the other hand, is the epitome of patience and devotion. His unwavering love for West, even after years of heartbreak and misunderstanding, is nothing short of extraordinary. He’s the kind of character who restores your faith in love—kind, steady, and deeply empathetic. Watching him support West, even when it means enduring moments where he feels overlooked, is nothing short of inspiring.
The chemistry between West and Jackson is electric yet tender, built slowly and deliberately. Winchester doesn’t rush their connection, giving the story the space it needs to explore their history, hurts, and eventual reconciliation. Their relationship feels raw and real, with moments of tension, vulnerability, and ultimately, healing.
Here we see the depth of West’s struggles and Jackson’s unconditional support set it apart. West’s pain is tangible and justified, and it’s impossible not to empathize with him. Unlike characters who might feel overly dramatic or undeserving, West’s story is one of resilience and survival, and Jackson’s dedication to him feels well-earned.
This book isn’t just a love story—it’s a testament to the healing power of compassion and patience. If you’re looking for a story with heart-wrenching emotion, layered characters, and a satisfying HEA, Burned & Bound will leave a lasting impression.
P.S. In my opinion this story shares some thematic similarities with other books (Oleander comes to mind) - Character wise especially. But the big difference between them is that there, Caspian (one of the mc’s – didn’t even deserved his own story, let alone his own hea – imo), here, West struggles are super real, and we can actually understand and feel them and I love this. Even if is not the typical romance, we can actually understand and feel together to the characters.
This is one of my top favs of 2024!
challenging
dark
tense
medium-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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Holy shit. I don’t even have words for how incredible this book was. I cried. A LOT. Laughed. Shook my head. And cried some more. I know it’s only Jan 18th but I’m calling it right now this will be in my top five books of the year. So emotional, heart wrenching and just beautifully written. The care with which trauma was handled…man. Just read it. So good.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes