A review by claragweny
Tragic Bonds by J. Bree

dark sad tense 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

2.0

To preface - major trigger warning for childhood sexual assault. I feel like this kind of should have been mentioned at the beginning of the book. It’s one thing to say recommended readers 18+ and to say there “might be” triggering content. But CSA is particularly triggering for a lot of people even if not described explicitly. Especially if it is incestuous.

Honestly, I have to dock half a star just for not including a content warning. It is not a spoiler to warn readers of something potentially triggering. It allows people to prepare themselves emotionally to read about that. In this case, it would have been nice to have had that. 

Not only to have had a CSA and incest content warning but also just child abuse and neglect warning in general. Not something I was really prepared to read about in this silly little series, to be honest.

I stand by my statement that Nox is my favorite. But I'm really irritated that J Bree didn't give him any actual healing or redemption. He didn't apologize to Oli (or anyone else) and he didn't get to tell her about his trauma himself. That sucks. But I don't think J Bree is a good enough writer to do this. Or maybe she doesn't have the desire to have her characters have real depth in this series. Again, I don't know. 

Anyway, I feel like this one dragged on a lot. It felt like it was leading up to something that I just kept waiting for. Maybe the last book will be better? I really don’t know but I kind of doubt it. I'll be finishing it nonetheless. 
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