Make sure to re-read the first book again before reading this one as it cannot be a standalone and picks up exactly where it drops off. Personally, this could have been condensed and been "Part 2" and included in the first book.

The book was an easy read however I found it quite boring and read it very quickly as there was not a single interesting part. The main character just annoyed me and it a shame. I would have loved to have seen a bold, brave and strong female lead and maybe that is what the authoress was trying to write her as but for me it missed the mark. I feel there was no character development and her self pit party was just irritating. The relationships she makes weren't well developed or explored in my opinion. The s*x scene was just cringe.

This could have been condensed into the first book cause really the simplistic conversations and over description was what juiced up the 500 pages rather than plot or character development.

Personally for me what would have made this more interesting would have been a stronger lead character who was self assured. As soon as I find a main character annoying that it... Game over and I know I wont enjoy the book.

Obviously this is just my opinion and if you love the book I understand but for me it missed the mark.

A fantastic conclusion to a beautifully written duology!

This stunning sequel picks up right where we left off with Brie learning of Sebastian's betrayal and having to face the repercussions of bonding with him. Whilst betrayal is a heavy theme in book one, book two is centered a lot around learning to trust again.

Brie has grows a lot in this book and is a very strong female character. I loved how selfless she was, even when it resulted in getting herself into some sticky situations.

I found the plot twist to be rather predictable due to the heavy foreshadowing throughout, however this does not take away from the overall enjoyment of the book.

I found myself extremely invested in the romance, which is no surprise considering I loved it in book one. I'm not a fan of love triangles but somehow Lexi Ryan made it work and I actually found myself enjoying this book more because of it. I think I knew who Brie would end up with from the very beginning and I was not disappointed!

I'm so sad that this series is over because it was so good that two books wasn't enough. I feel like these books have so much more potential so I am hoping that Lexi Ryan writes a spin off series!


Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This duology has been a real treat to read! Excellent world building and brilliant characters, it's definitely a fantasy worth picking up. The plot is non stop - and in fact, I think it could easily have been stretched into a Trilogy. The twists weren't totally unexpected, but that didn't stop them being satisfying!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️ not even sure how to write a coherent review at the moment, but dangggg this book really did the damn thing! I was a bit on the fence for most of book 1, but the cliffhanger left me wanting to know what happened *immediately* and book 2 did not disappoint!

I don’t even like love triangles, it’s actually one of my most disliked tropes, but this book was so well done I honestly just wish it were longer. Or that there was going to be a third book so the plot beats that happen in the last 20% could have had a bit more room to breath. That’s legit my only critique 😂

Also Misha is everything and I’m gonna need their spin off ASAP.

If you even somewhat enjoyed book one, I definitely recommend reading book two when it is released!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC in exchange for an honest review*

A fantasy review from somebody who doesn’t read fantasy….

So, I’m probably not the target audience for this series but I see lots of reviews of these beautifully covered fantasy novels so I wanted to have a try 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is a duology which is loosely based on Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. There is a love triangle woven throughout which definitely kept my attention as a romance reader. The story itself was engaging and had enough twists and turns to keep me moving forwards even if I wasn’t quite sure what was happening 🥴 Each chapter ends with a mini cliffhanger which meant I couldn’t put the book (kindle) down and picked up the second straight after finishing the first.

In conclusion, from a novice fantasy reader, it’s sort of like a complex romance novel with beautiful silver eyed faeries and a touch of magic. I found nothing not to like 👏🏻

*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers @hodder for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

**Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC. Here are my honest thoughts**

To say I've been so excited for the conclusion to this duology since I finished the first book is an understatement, and to receive an arc on top of that??
I was so happy to have this book in my hot little hands, that I barely stopped reading it until I was finished.

I fell in love with this world through Lexi Ryan's words, and this continuation into the world was no different. It felt like coming home all over again.
Starting basically from where These Hollow Vows ended, Brie is dealing with all of her emotions of betrayal, hurt, and who to trust on top of being turned Fae.
This takes us on her journey of self-discovery and how to save a whole kingdom, and the two princes vying for her heart.

Brie is such a strong female leading character, and so self-less, that I sometimes wish she could think of herself first, but I know she wouldn't be true to who she is if she did.
My love for Finnian grew and grew with every interaction we got with him in this book, and I felt that there was never enough time to have as much of him as I wanted. Haha.

All the new characters that we met along the way captured my heart just like the ones we already knew.
What can I say? I am a sucker for found family, and in this story Brie finds it.
I was always very passionate about my dislike for the behavior and actions of one character from the first book, and I was pleasantly surprised that he redeemed himself. It was all due to Ryan's excellent writing.

I'm sad that this story and this world are now over because honestly, I could never get sick of it.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for proving an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I was SO excited to read this after the cliffhanger of These Hollow Vows. This sequel was as addictive as the first book, with a fast-paced storyline and loveable side characters (I especially loved Misha!). I loved the twists and turns, the world building, the level of spice!! Just like the first book, it kept you on your toes until the very last moment. Normally I am not one for love triangles, but oof the tension between Finn, Brie and Sebastian! The ending of the book was also great, I’ve been rooting for this pairing since the moment they met in book 1 so I was happy :’)

The only part that really irked me, was how whiny and annoying Brie could be. The self-pity and constantly turning every good part into something negative got old real quick. I loved her in the first book and found her relatable, now a lot less so. If Brie was not so whiny and self-deprecating it would’ve been a 4 star review.

Overall, great read. If you liked book 1, you will surely like this one as well!

Hot fae summer is back 🔥🔥🔥

I’m so glad this is a duology and not a trilogy, the pacing of this series is spot on. Fast paced enough to stay engaging, whilst lingering in a few choice moments to really keep the vibes going.

This is a fun fae love triangle read with spice & violence - what more could you want?

I loved meeting more characters and uncovering more of the OG cast’s motivation. I loved Misha so much, and I loved seeing Brie stop focusing on her insecurities and build friendships & a life in the fae world. Brie’s character development in this is A++.

One I’ll be recommending for ACOTAR and Holly Black fans!

2.5 stars

thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

i was really excited to read this because i loved These Hollow Vows and rated it 4.5 stars. unfortunately, the sequel didn’t meet my expectations. it started off really good and i really liked the first 20% or so. but later on, i thought abriella was insufferable — her constant self pity and her thinking she still loved sebastian was so annoying. girl, he literally killed you and turned you into something you never wanted to be, lol.

i only liked the scenes with finn, but even that felt a little rushed in the end. the only build up there is happened in the first book.

i felt like These Twisted Bonds didn’t have a lot of development - neither character nor relationship wise. i actually liked abriella less than i did in the first book :( there’s only a redemption arc that i literally didn’t care about one bit. i also didn’t care about the plot at all. it’s nothing new and not a lot even happened? i don’t know. i just expected so much more.

i know other people loved this book and there will certainly be many more upon its release, but unfortunately i’m not one of them. i would still recommend this book to people who loved finn in the first book, because there were a few scenes i really did enjoy! just not enough to save the rest of the book.

First off, thanks you to the UK publisher for giving me this arc
Now time to start ranting about how much i loved this book. YAY
When i first got the arc i was beyond excited qnd the book did do disappoint me!
I can't stress how much i love this amazing world that Lexi Ryan created and book 2 gives digs more into the world building
This book also has a lot of character development. Not just for Abriella but for Finn and Sebastian. Brie finally embraces her whole self and becomes a badass
OH AND THE MAGIC.
The whole concept of how magic and all other stuff related to it was explained and it's just purely amazing!
If you like
-slowburn
-spice(YES WE GOT THE SPICE WE DESERVED)
-fae
-hidden identity trope
-soul mate
-a badass queen MC
Then this book is for you!!
Oh and we get ,ore of Finnian ; )
And finally I'd like to appreciate Misha, my favorite character ever who deserves the whole world

quipped with a love triangle, unruly magic, deception and lies, and evil kings and queens- I can’t ask for more in my fantasy books. This book has been one of my favorite reads of 2021 and I’m HIGHLY anticipating the second book, so much so that I’m writing this review to tell you all how amazing this book is (and I never write reviews)! You definitely need to move this book to the top of your TBR, you won’t regret it!

I will say that the ending came off a little rushed and quick, noticeably so because we have 70-80% of the book as build up. I was almost wondering if I had been lied to and this wasn’t a duology because it was very much starting to feel like a middle book. While I was happy with the ending, I wish it had more time on page to go into the depths of it because parts were really fascinating and I would’ve loved a more in depth look at how everything unfolded.

Last year I read "These Hollow Vows" when it just came out, and I really liked it. So you could easily imagine what was my reaction when my request for this ARC was approved some days ago! thanks again to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity <3
I had expectations about the couple and how things would be resolved or made worse.
First of all I would have appreciated much more action. I mean, ofc I didn’t expect anything so different from the first book, but the last few pages we found A LOT all together, with an important twist for the story.
I appreciate the map, in the first book I was confused about the lands and the Courts.

Now the characters:
I really appreciated their characterization and how she focused on their inner aspects.
•Finn, my beloved. I loved you since the first time I read your name. So handsome. So generous. So respectful. A gentleman. I loved the way we discovered his past and that we have also seen the most vulnerable inner part. I'm so happy for him ❤️
•Brie, with her I have a complicated relation. Is she my favourite female character? Ofc not. But I appreciated her growth during the two books.
•And finally, for the second time in a review, Sebastian.
I still hate him, I won't lie.I will never forgive his behavior, as well as many words that came out of his mouth.at one point I started to feel a little sorry for him, and despite everything I appreciated his final decision. Better late than never?

I also enjoyed Misha's character!

In general I'm satisfied about this book, the ship that I love is endgame and we have an happy ending.
Could it be developed better? Yes. But I still enjoyed it very much.
4 stars

A huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of These Twisted Bonds!

Title: These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow Vows #2)
Author: Lexi Ryan
Genre: Fantasy, young adult, romance, magical realism.
Characters: 4.5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall ratings: 4.5/5

In this enrapture sequel and closure to These Hollow Vows, the struggle to devise a plan to save her captive sister is not the worst fate that befallen Brie. Trapped in the middle of the two princes, she was forced to choose between two futures whilst building back the balance of the collapsed fae realm.

Brief Synopsis: After making a huge decision for herself in These Hollow Vows, Brie considered herself making the wrong ones as things start to become unclear and tricky. Her emotions are all over the place and she had to do something to control herself or something bad would happen. When civil war rages in the Court of Darkness, Brie was stuck in the midst of dubious possibilities as she was unable to choose sides. With newly found power in her veins, she needs to make a stand and conjure up the best resolution for all to save the fae realm, even if she needs to sacrifice her own heart…

Thoughts on plot and pacing:
Not gonna lie, I picked this up immediately after binge-read These Hollow Vows because I want to see whether she ends up with Finn or Sebastian. However, that’s not the case here as this sequel offers a lot more than just a love story. Making a decision is never an easy job especially if you are dealing with the fate of the court. Whilst finding her own root and identity, Brie did her best to help those who were trapped under the fate of Queen Arya’s rules as she realized her impression of fae was unfair and she wants to change it. I really like the pacing as it wasn’t straightly fast or slow, but rather a combination of those two. There are scenes where the pacing needs to be fast or slow and the author did her job well in adapting the flow of the story to the event that needs to unravel. It was packed, thrilling, and sexy. These Twisted Bonds truly blow my mind with the history, the mysteries, and the angsty tension between Brie, Sebastian, and Finn.

Thoughts on characters and development:
I truly adore these characters with my whole heart. I will not pick which guy I want Brie to end up with, as it is not the reason why I proceed with this sequel. The portrayals of anger, devastation, love, and overwhelming emotions were depicted well and clearly. We got to see and feel how Brie managed her feelings with these two love interests, and I really like how it turned out in the end. Her feelings became clearer with unending twists and turns, and let me say that I adore both guys in my own way no matter which one she chose in the end. From being uncertain and a mere mortal, Brie finally braced herself, even the worst part of her as she learns that until she truly embraces the dark inside her, her true power will never be unearthed. We also got to see the friendship and trust formed between these unlikely people and I love to see the dynamic built despite the torment and betrayal. One thing for sure is that Lexi Ryan really knew how to write a great fantasy book.

These Twisted Bonds
Lexi Ryan
Fantasy, Y/A
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After being manipulated and betrayed, Abriella finds herself on another journey, this time to save a kingdom. Will she be able to choose between two princes and between her heart and her destiny in order to salvage a dying realm?

After finishing These Hollow Vows, I was so looking forward to reading this. I was expecting more twists and surprises, more lovable characters and more mysteries and this certainly didn't disappoint. I couldn't put it down and loved every minute of it.

Sometimes the second books aren't as good as the first and certainly have a lot to live up to but I found that These Twisted Bonds was just as good, if not better than the first. The magic is still captivating, the characters intriguing, the sexual tension is palpable and it finished far too quickly.

By the end of the book, I felt like everything was wrapped up nicely and I was satisfied with the ending.

If you liked These Hollow Bonds then you definitely need to read this.

QOTD: What has been your favourite read in March?

AOTD: Mine has to be The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue

*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers @hodder for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you so much NetGalley and Hodder & Staughton for the e-ARC in return for my honest review.

"Was it all a lie? Every tough of his lips, every whispered promise."

YES, BRIE! IT WAS ALL A LIE!

This. Book. I loved These Hollow Vows and it ended up as one of my favourite books of 2021, and I had high expectations for the sequel. Those expectations were more than met by These Twisted Bonds.

The journey of self-discovery Brie goes through in this sequel after being turned fae at the end of book one is, in my opinion, the main theme of this book. Yes there is romance, yes there are running issues of politics and social upheaval in the fae realms. But the real star of the show is Brie's development, both in character and power, and the way she navigates her relationships with her newfound fae body.

"Part of me knew, even then, that he was no villain."

The end of book one did set up a bit of a love triangle situation, and usually the longer they go on in a book, the less I feel invested in the situation. This triangle, however, is made all the different by the existence of the bond between Brie and Bash, and the growing connection between Brie and Finn. It really made a difference to the dynamics between the characters and I liked seeing how the bond effected different situations.

"I don't think love is about what we deserve. It's an opening of our hearts, not a judgement we make."

The only issue I have with These Twisted Bonds was that it's the end! I've really enjoyed exploring this world, and I wish we could know more about some of the other characters, especially Misha who we are introduced to in this book and who swiftly became a favourite. This is a problem I often have with books written in the first person with just the singular POV - I want more! I want to know what Finn and Pertha and Jas and even Bash are thinking. I'd love it if Lexi would return to this world in the future -maybe to catch up a few years after the events of this book, or to tell the stories of some of the side characters we ended up loving so much.

This was a solid 5-star read for me, and I feel so incredibly lucky to have read it early too.

OMGGGGG THAT WAS SO GOOD IM GONNA NEED A MINUTE TO COMPOSE MY THOUGHTS HOLY SHIT

Actual review:

These Twisted Bonds starts off at the end of the last book, Brie running away from the Court of Sun. She navigates the fae world and comes into herself and her power throughout the book.
This book was a million times better than the first one and completely redemeed and surpassed any expectations I had, in fact I loved it so much I finished it in bare hours.
Brie starts off still very stupid and purposely ignorant to a lot of things but she grows as a character and in the end overcomes her demons and steps into the role she was born to be. Sebastian still annoyed me throughout the book but his behaviour really threw me off - he truly became the male that Brie believed him to be and I respect that. Finn is still a darling <3

I did not expect the ending, in fact I was sat so nervous until the very last chapter and when the ending happened, I literally screamed from surprise and excitement. This book is filled with magic, love, unexpected revelations and is just so good.

What a fantastic conclusion to the story and the world and I can truly say I'll miss it.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book for a honest review.

These Twisted Bonds review

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

First of all, a massive thank you to netgalley and hodder for letting me have an ARC of this much anticipated release in exchange for an honest review!

I was so happy and excited to receive an arc of this book, I loved the first book it had a great vibe and everything I liked in a book. This one however, I was quite disappointed.

First of all, I didn’t realise it was a duology, I expected it to be a trilogy with all the world building and history in the books. Because of this, this book felt very cramped with a lot of info dumping thrown in. I felt like a lot of the history and stories could have been explored more without long explanations because these were really interesting I wanted so much more!

Also the ending felt extremely rushed. All of the exciting bits of action and any problems at the end happened so quickly and then were over and resolved within a page.

I do really like all of the characters in this book. They are all unique and interesting and I liked all their backstories but again, I would have liked the opportunity to explore it more. I also liked the setting with the seelie, unseelie and wild fae.

Overall, unfortunately it felt like I was reading a completely different series to the first book. This one just didn’t hit the mark for me as much as the first one did. Still an okay book just unfortunate that everything felt rushed.

In the conclusion to These Hollow Vows Brie finds herself running and stumbling headlong into trouble. As she is still caught between the two princes and her destiny how will it end when the lives and fates of so many are at stake

This was an epic conclusion to an amazing duology; I both eagerly awaited the ending and dreaded the series ending. However, I was not disappointed, the book starts with Brie running straight into the action and there are twists and turns up until the last moment. Another 5 start read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

I am not sure what to say about this. I had a love hate relationship with the first one where I didn't really enjoy it but also couldn't put it down.

I think I enjoyed this one less, and while interested at first I became less so as it continued on. I don't think it's necessarily where it ended up that bothered me but something about how the story was actually delivered. Like, the choices to do a lot of info dumps, to have a lot of hostage holding and poison injections to dampen magic, small subplots that sort of went nowhere...some of which came to be important later and others not...

I think people who loved book one will probably love this too. SJM fans will likely enjoy... If they aren't too bothered by some of the similarities. Ultimately, I don't regret having read them but I'm not sure they're particularly memorable.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the first book, These Hollow Vows, but I did have a few issues with Brie being tormentingly stupid on occasion. Thankfully, These Twisted Bonds has completely redeemed her character flaws. After the betrayals of the first book, Brie launches herself into her new circumstances taking no more shit from anyone.

Although Brie has gone all independent woman, the love triangle is still a major part of the plot. It's practically what drives the plot with it being tied to major and influential historical events. So, if you hate a love triangle this may annoy you. I love an emotional love triangle so I was all over it and very happy with its outcome.

We also get a new character in this book who was briefly mentioned in the first book. Misha, Pretha's brother, is awesome and I really wish he had been present in the first book. He brought an energy These Hollow Vows lacked that These Twisted Bonds really benefited from. I would love a spin-off starring him and his kingdom.

The "twists" and reveals were somewhat predictable but it didn't make the story any less enjoyable. It was the characters that really made this duology such an engaging and enjoyable read.