Broken Bonds

“He has no idea of what I've sacrificed for him.”

I’ve always believed love is something that happens between two people — not more. That’s why I never picked up a reverse harem book before. I knew this series existed, but I was convinced it wasn’t my cup of tea 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Honestly, I wasn’t planning to read it at all… until my best friend devoured it and wouldn’t stop insisting me to try. Seeing how much she loved it, I finally gave in. And now, three days later, here I am writing a very positive review for this book. Shall we begin? 😊😊

Oleander was just a young girl when an awful accident changed her life forever. Not wanting to put her bonds in danger, she decided it was better for everyone if she left. After five years on the run, she’s captured and brought back to them. When Oli returns to the boys, they’re pissed — hurt, angry, and demanding answers. They don’t know why she ran away, and she doesn’t want to tell them. The story mainly follows Oli as she tries to navigate her complicated relationships with her bonds.

I can’t say much more about the plot without spoiling things — and to be honest, after book one, I have more questions than answers 😵😵 What I can say is that this book is incredibly easy to read. From the very first page, the author captures your interest. The ongoing mystery fuels your reading speed and keeps you hooked 🤩🤩 I loved the worldbuilding, the characters, and the events. And no… I still don’t know which boy I love most 😂😂

“Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. This pain is nothing compared to that.”

Oleander “Oli” Fallows

A strong female lead — badass, sassy, sharp-tongued, and with a temper to match 😎😎 She’s compassionate, and even when she appears powerless, she always finds a way to hold her own. She endures everything thrown at her with resilience. Plus, she’s funny — she put a smile on my face so many times. I’m dying to learn more about her past and her powers 😍😍

Gabe Ardern

The first one I started to like. He’s such a cinnamon roll, a total romantic 😝😝 Hurt by Oli’s choices but still deeply caring for her, even if he doesn’t always show it. Oh, and did I mention he’s a shapeshifter? 😉😉

Gryphon Shore

The embodiment of “Actions Speak Louder Than Words.” The way he cared for Oli and tried to understand why she left instead of just throwing anger at her was very sweet 🥰🥰 He kept his distance, but he wasn’t cruel — and that matters a lot to me. His coldness (and all of the boys’ coldness, honestly) is understandable, but it never crosses into outright cruelty, and I appreciate that.

Atlas Bassinger

The only one who didn’t blame Oli for leaving. To him, the past is the past — what matters is building a future together. From the start, he treated her with respect, and that alone earned him major points in my book 👍👍 But as someone who reads a lot of romantasy, my traitor brain can’t fully trust it yet. I really hope he’s genuinely good and it’s just me overthinking 🤔🤔

North Draven

Oh boy. This man is a control freak who tested every ounce of my patience, but I can’t deny he’s fascinating 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ He carries heavy responsibilities, probably the type who loses sleep under the weight of it all. Still, I wanted to slap him more than once for how he treated Oli. If we ignore his iceberg-cold attitude and some very ugly implications, he does seem redeemable. I’m eager to see where his story goes.

Nox Draven

The one who made me the angriest. The way he treated Oli — especially after what happened at the end of the book — had me seeing red 😡😡 Are you kidding me? Any good thoughts I had about him dropped straight into the negatives. He needs to grovel. A lot. Still, I’m willing to give him a chance to redeem himself… but he has a long road ahead 😑😑

Since this is a six-book series and this is only the beginning, there isn’t much happening on the romance front yet. Instead, you’re introduced to the world, the characters, and the bonds that are slowly starting to build. Personally, I think it’s a fantastic starting point for anyone curious about trying the reverse harem trope. Give it a chance — I don’t think you’ll regret it 🙂🙂