toniatigre 's review for:

The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn

3.5

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

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⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars

The first half of The Bond That Burns was a challenge for me — much like in Book 1, the characters were so stubborn that it felt like they were constantly talking past each other. The lack of curiosity, especially from Medra, and Blake’s refusal to simply explain things, left me frustrated.

But then… the second half hit, and everything picked up. The pacing improved, the stakes rose, and I was hooked. The mysteries deepened, the world expanded, and the ending was incredibly satisfying while still leaving me hungry for Book 3. I especially liked the evolution of the Medra/Blake connection, and now I can’t stop wondering — will he become the dragon she rides?

The side plots also have me invested: could Florence bond with Nyxaris? Did Viktor actually die? And what’s the fate of Markus, Catherine, and Lunaya with the necromancy dragon? So many unanswered questions!

A very good ending to a book that started slow for me, and I’m absolutely curious to see where all these threads lead next.