The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn

4.06 AVERAGE

randolynleeann's profile picture

randolynleeann's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous dark funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kaaydejong's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

tabbycatz's review against another edition

4.0
dark tense
This timeline is so drastic compared to the first one. What an ending! WOW. 

allybrooke's review against another edition

5.0
adventurous dark emotional 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

danni_walker's review against another edition

4.25
adventurous dark 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

justmartha's review against another edition

3.75
adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

jadewiseman's review against another edition

2.0
Big fat juicy ending but the rest was so meh for me

tessme23's review against another edition

5.0
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

maahaadhil's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous fast-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
xariesmoonx's profile picture

xariesmoonx's review against another edition

3.75
adventurous emotional sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
A vast improvement to the first book. Not only with the writing, but with the overall storyline. I felt Boleyn’s confidence here—I feel like there was a clearer voice, and tone throughout this second book. 

Did the FMC annoy the fuck out me with her fickle and hypocritical line of thinking? Yes. Did I still find myself rooting for her and her
dragon?
Also, yes.

My most positive takeaway here, though, is the character development of the MMC. I get that he will not be everyone’s cup of tea (he is an authoritative, arrogant asshole) but I could not help but enjoy his character arc—a true one at that. It was slow, and more importantly, not a linear/positive slope. It went up and down and left to right. He does not simply change because he “gets” the girl, and begins developing feelings for her. He is the same asshole he was until the small cracks piled up and we got that final tipping point. 

Unfortunately, Boleyn does the very thing that I hate the most in books and that’s introduce a new POV. Look, I like
Florence. I think she’s great, but not great enough that I care to hear her inner thoughts. Her first POV did nothing to drive the narrative (IMO) and you cannot tell me that the addition was used to heighten the ending and make it more impactful. It would’ve been impactful regardless.


I do wish that we left on more of a cliff hanger, but I am excited for the last book.