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A review by cozyreaderdevan77
Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen
4.0
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 4/5
Tropes: Reverse Harem, enemies to lovers, fated mates, forced proximity,
Trigger Warnings: Emotional/physical abuse in past relationship, graphic violence, explicit sexual content.
*cliff-hanger ending*
Rosalina, a girl stuck in her hometown of Orca Cove, escapes into her love of books. What exactly is she escaping? A crazed father who is always off searching for the Fae that he is convinced stole his wife. Unfortunately having a father such as that makes her the talk of the town as well, and not the good kind either. She’s also escaping an on and off again fling with her high school sweet heart, who isn’t really as sweet as he puts on. One day her father finds himself in the exact place he’s been searching for, but it isn’t at all as what he pictured. Rosalina must follow her father and save him from the clutches of 4 beasts. However, she soon finds out these beasts turn into deliciously handsome men during the day. In order to safe herself, she decides to work alongside these men and break the curse plaguing them and their home.
I completely devoured this book! The writing was great, the characters unique, and plot….oh how it thickened!
The main character makes decisions based off emotion. Usually I don’t like that and think reasoning should be there as well, but it actually works for her. She has been alone, and not taken seriously her whole life. So I can completely understand the insecurity she is battling. However, you can really see that she is being healed along with the princes. She needs them as much as they need her to break the curse. As for our princes, they are all very unique! Each having their own struggles and battles to face. They look perfect, but on the inside they are suffering just like our fmc. The relationship development between the characters flowed very well. Nothing seemed forced. I also really enjoyed the MM relationship between two of them. I do also have my suspicions about other ones….but that’s for the next book…I hope.
I was surprised by the amount of world building this story had. I’m used to reverse harems usually focusing more on relationship development (since there are multiple love interests) and plot. The whole palace of castletree amazed me! All four realms are accessed from one place. The power they possess resides in it as well. If it’s not up to full strength then neither are the princes. Also with such limited amount of pages, they were able to give lots of details about each realm and their respective politics. I’m especially interested in the Spring realm and their rules on now having royalty show their faces. The below, is one thing I would like to have explained more in the next book and I believe that will definitely happen. It feels like the Thorn Prince will be making more of an appearance in the second book.
I am happy I picked this book up! I love retellings and the fact that it was a reverse harem just made it even better! I am really upset I will have to wait for the second book, but once it’s out I plan to devour it like the first! So many questions left unanswered and I’m itching for more!
Spice: 4/5
Tropes: Reverse Harem, enemies to lovers, fated mates, forced proximity,
Trigger Warnings: Emotional/physical abuse in past relationship, graphic violence, explicit sexual content.
*cliff-hanger ending*
Rosalina, a girl stuck in her hometown of Orca Cove, escapes into her love of books. What exactly is she escaping? A crazed father who is always off searching for the Fae that he is convinced stole his wife. Unfortunately having a father such as that makes her the talk of the town as well, and not the good kind either. She’s also escaping an on and off again fling with her high school sweet heart, who isn’t really as sweet as he puts on. One day her father finds himself in the exact place he’s been searching for, but it isn’t at all as what he pictured. Rosalina must follow her father and save him from the clutches of 4 beasts. However, she soon finds out these beasts turn into deliciously handsome men during the day. In order to safe herself, she decides to work alongside these men and break the curse plaguing them and their home.
I completely devoured this book! The writing was great, the characters unique, and plot….oh how it thickened!
The main character makes decisions based off emotion. Usually I don’t like that and think reasoning should be there as well, but it actually works for her. She has been alone, and not taken seriously her whole life. So I can completely understand the insecurity she is battling. However, you can really see that she is being healed along with the princes. She needs them as much as they need her to break the curse. As for our princes, they are all very unique! Each having their own struggles and battles to face. They look perfect, but on the inside they are suffering just like our fmc. The relationship development between the characters flowed very well. Nothing seemed forced. I also really enjoyed the MM relationship between two of them. I do also have my suspicions about other ones….but that’s for the next book…I hope.
I was surprised by the amount of world building this story had. I’m used to reverse harems usually focusing more on relationship development (since there are multiple love interests) and plot. The whole palace of castletree amazed me! All four realms are accessed from one place. The power they possess resides in it as well. If it’s not up to full strength then neither are the princes. Also with such limited amount of pages, they were able to give lots of details about each realm and their respective politics. I’m especially interested in the Spring realm and their rules on now having royalty show their faces. The below, is one thing I would like to have explained more in the next book and I believe that will definitely happen. It feels like the Thorn Prince will be making more of an appearance in the second book.
I am happy I picked this book up! I love retellings and the fact that it was a reverse harem just made it even better! I am really upset I will have to wait for the second book, but once it’s out I plan to devour it like the first! So many questions left unanswered and I’m itching for more!