Title: Broken Bonds
Author: J Bree
Publisher: Jenna Crannage
Publication Date: June 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781923072008
Synopsis:
After the death of my mother and her Bonded, I was relieved to find my own Bonds. I was sure everything would be okay if I had them. It wasn’t. The fate of our people is in my hands and I know we’re better off if I’m alone. After five years on the run, I’m caught and dragged back to face the men I ran away from. I thought I was doing the right thing. Now, I’m not so sure. North, Nox, Gryphon, Atlas, and Gabe may never forgive me but one thing is for sure. I won’t ever forgive myself.
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Broken Bonds was an okay read—interesting enough, but not one I’m feeling a need to add to my list of favourite books. I will caveat that I listened to this one as an audiobook, but even still, I had a hard time placing myself in this world, and I found there to be a few too many bonded characters to keep track of who was who and to whom they belonged.
Oli (or Oleander — which btw is a great name for a protagonist) is in hiding. Her power puts her and those she’s bonded to at risk of being attacked or killed by the rebellion group, though I’m not entirely sure why. She is clearly ridiculously over-powered, but is completely underestimated by every single one of her peers. She is bullied and abused by those around her as she works to hide her secret. As she studies at her new school, she gets to know her bonds and slowly but surely develops a few friendships.
It was a short and very light read, so it was nice and easy to get through, but I wouldn’t say it’s quality fiction. If you’re looking for trashy romantasy, this is the one. If not, steer clear. I’m intrigued to know more about the magic of this world, especially of Oli and her bonds, but as far as character development and world-building go, this book is only subpar. I
t’s very slow moving, with Oli’s autonomy really only starting to take shape towards the end of the book. There are a lot of patriarchal and heteronormative themes throughout the book, with little room for difference of opinion or self-governed women. Especially in Oli’s point of view, her intrinsic and external value seems to come from the interest of her male bonds and how they treat her, which I didn’t love. I like to see a really strong and independent female character who’s making her own decisions and finding moments of defiance even against oppression and captivity. It all seems a bit grey so far. There is some development of Oli’s character towards the end, so I’d hope to see more, but so far, I’m not quite certain about how to feel.
Happy reading!
Worn Pages and Ink 