A review by thereadinghammock
Burden's Bonds by Abigail Kelly

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

Abigail continues to be a master of world building, story pacing, breadcrumb trails, and cliff hangers! An unprecedented bounty, an involuntary road trip, some hard core nesting, a voluntary road trip--mix it together and you've got a recipe for a delectable adventure where finding the right partner can help you find the road to healing old wounds.

Kaz is as broody as ever as he fights elvish AND orcish mating instincts. As the EVP's spymaster, he's convinced he's not a man made for matehood. Atria is on the verge of announcing a world-changing scientific discovery with her best friend Ruby Goode. She just needs to get to the conference in United Washington and make the presentation.

I was so ready to watch Kaz get suckerpunched by matehood after listening to him rail against the idea for two books. And Abigail delivered so well on that promise. Having dual POV in this book was vital to how the characters interacted with each other. Atria's power as an empath relies on her ability to feel what the people around her are feeling. Experiencing the power and depth of emotion that Kaz kept buried so deep was critical to her understanding him as her mate and as a person. Sifting through the layers of his gruff exterior and finding the deepest, warmest ocean of his soul was beautiful to read and achingly poignant to watch unfold.

Watching Atria fight her own battle with old insecurities and realize that the "flaws" she was told she had as a Bonded priestess just made her human. The learning curve for matehood is just as steep on the receiving end of that care when you've never experienced unconditional love and affection. I loved watching Atria and Kaz navigate the very uncharted waters for both of them in their fledgling matehood in this novel.

Oh, and who can forget Delilah fucking Solbourne, the biggest BAMF to ever grace the page, and whom gets better and better with every cameo and storyline she's a part of.
When she found Atria and said, "You were never lost to me. No one is." I nearly sobbed. I could hear the emotion and heartache and relief all at once in her voice (in my head) and feel the weight of the hug she was giving Atria in that moment. Abigail writes such visceral moments like that all. the. fucking. time.
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