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maddym_reads 's review for:
Broken Bonds
by J. Bree
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
⭐️ 3 stars
“Slow burn? Try glacial. But the last 40% brought the chaos — and now I have to keep going.”
📖 The Vibe:
Broken Bonds is dark, moody, and very slow-burn with a main character who is guarded to the extreme and side characters who bring more attitude than support. It’s a mix of paranormal academy, enemies-to-something-maybe-eventually, and found-family vibes that are still…finding themselves.
🔥 Spice Level:
🌶️🌶️ / 5
This is definitely a slow burn, with the tiniest flickers of spice in book one. There’s chemistry simmering under the surface, but the romance is still building — heavily. Book two better bring the heat.
💭 My Take:
This was a solid 3-star read for me. The first 60% felt repetitive — a cycle of the main character pushing people away, being bullied by side characters, and inner monologue that often boiled down to “I want to die” (which I admittedly skimmed over after a while). But then… the last 40% happened. Action, tension, revelations — suddenly I was actually invested.
The cliffhanger? Rude. Effective. I’ll be picking up the next book because I need to see where this goes.
Spoiler-free quotes that captured the mood:
“Some people wear their pain like armor. I wield mine like a blade.”
“I’m not looking to be saved. I just want to survive.”
“They look at me like I’m the threat. Maybe I am.”
⚠️ Content Note:
Includes bullying, trauma themes, dark thoughts, emotional manipulation, and violence. May be triggering for some readers.
💬 Overall:
Broken Bonds has potential and a seriously compelling world — but it takes a while to get there. If you can make it through the emotional repetition and character walls, the payoff is just enough to hook you. Not perfect, but I’m curious (and petty) enough to keep reading. Bring on book two.
“Slow burn? Try glacial. But the last 40% brought the chaos — and now I have to keep going.”
📖 The Vibe:
Broken Bonds is dark, moody, and very slow-burn with a main character who is guarded to the extreme and side characters who bring more attitude than support. It’s a mix of paranormal academy, enemies-to-something-maybe-eventually, and found-family vibes that are still…finding themselves.
🔥 Spice Level:
🌶️🌶️ / 5
This is definitely a slow burn, with the tiniest flickers of spice in book one. There’s chemistry simmering under the surface, but the romance is still building — heavily. Book two better bring the heat.
💭 My Take:
This was a solid 3-star read for me. The first 60% felt repetitive — a cycle of the main character pushing people away, being bullied by side characters, and inner monologue that often boiled down to “I want to die” (which I admittedly skimmed over after a while). But then… the last 40% happened. Action, tension, revelations — suddenly I was actually invested.
The cliffhanger? Rude. Effective. I’ll be picking up the next book because I need to see where this goes.
Spoiler-free quotes that captured the mood:
“Some people wear their pain like armor. I wield mine like a blade.”
“I’m not looking to be saved. I just want to survive.”
“They look at me like I’m the threat. Maybe I am.”
⚠️ Content Note:
Includes bullying, trauma themes, dark thoughts, emotional manipulation, and violence. May be triggering for some readers.
💬 Overall:
Broken Bonds has potential and a seriously compelling world — but it takes a while to get there. If you can make it through the emotional repetition and character walls, the payoff is just enough to hook you. Not perfect, but I’m curious (and petty) enough to keep reading. Bring on book two.