The general idea for the story was interesting but the writing and character development are not there. Other than the use of Italian you probably wouldn't know where the book took place. I wanted to feel transported to Venice, but that wasn't the case.

Thank you for the Arc. The overall storyline in the book was great, lots of action and a storyline that caught your interest. However, there were so many of the characters thoughts at once, long paragraphs at a time that I feel were overexplained and over detailed enough that it really made the book drawn out. It would have been better I think if those pieces were shared more in conversation with reactions than getting it from a characters internal thoughts. I found myself forgetting the main plot and getting lost in the backstory plot. Overall it has a good baseline but it’s not for me

I appreciate receiving this ARC

I did not finish reading. I loved the synopsis, but as I got into the story it did not hold my interest. Some pages were full of info dumping while others needed more execution. I think the writing style and plot need a bit more work with narrowing down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast paced enjoyable read. I would have enjoyed some more in-depth exploration, but overall it’s a good story.

The Bonds Between Us by Emily Ruhl

Thank NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for providing me with an electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. I felt like it didn't meet up to its full potential. I loved the magic, setting, and plot idea. However, I wish the characters and their relationship would have been more developed to allow the reader to really connect with this story.

That being said, it was still an enjoyable read. It did take me a bit to get into it but it did pick up the pace and kept me interested.

I loved this book! At first I was a littler worried as it seemed to progress kind of slower and I struggle keeping my attention on it. But after the first few chapters I was hooked. Great characters and great storyline. I loved the fact it had an Air Benders vibe to it with all the different elements as well. I hope there is another coming soon,

The Bonds Between Us is a unique fantasy adventure set in modern-day Venice. We follow Katya and Matteo as they work to uncover truths that those in power want to keep hidden.

It’s a short book, so things move pretty quickly. In the first few pages, Katya and Matteo meet and recognize each other as soulmates, and we begin to understand the Vaettir and Daski – half human magical beings that, along with other magical species, make up this paranormal universe.

The plot follows with Katya and Matteo trying to save Venice from the Devil who has requested seven souls before the end of the month. Unfortunately, Katya discovers that Matteo is type of being, a Salamander, that hunts people like her, a Jotun ice being. The supporting characters are fun, and the romance between Matteo and Katya is sweet. Some of the action scenes are fun to read, especially as Katya leans into her powers.

The plot is a bit all over the place, and there is a bit of mixing mythologies that can be confusing. It feels like maybe the world building is not quite fleshed out enough, and too many incongruent ideas were incorporated. It is also not clear to me exactly what age this book targets – the writing and plot feel a bit more like a YA style book, but the characters ages seem more adult. However, I think this is a very good debut work, and that with some polishing could be even stronger.

I want to thank NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for providing me with an electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was epic, the unique magic system an the intriguing plot and the relationship between the main characters were adorable with their matching tatoos to show they are soulmates. It was packed full of adventure and action and it was a really fun enjoyable read.

The Bonds Between Us by Emily Ruhl is the first book in the Web of Wyrd Trilogy, a romantic fantasy set in Venice, Italy. It tells the story of Katya Anders, a young woman who can control ice and belongs to the Daskis, a persecuted group of Vaettir, beings who have elemental powers. Katya has always been alone, until she discovers that she has a soulmate, Matteo, a fire Vaettir who is also a prince. Their bond is forbidden and dangerous, but they can't deny their attraction. When an ancient evil threatens to destroy Venice and the Vaettir world, Katya and Matteo must work together to stop it, while facing their own inner demons.

The book has some strengths: the premise is original and intriguing, the setting is vivid and atmospheric, and the romance is sweet and passionate. The book also has some suspenseful and emotional moments, some humorous and witty dialogue, and some interesting twists and turns. The book explores themes such as identity, belonging, prejudice, courage, and sacrifice.

However, the book also has some weaknesses: the pacing is slow and uneven, the plot is predictable and clichéd, and the characters are flat and stereotypical. The book takes too long to get to the main conflict and spends too much time on Katya and Matteo's inner thoughts and feelings. The plot relies on too many coincidences, conveniences, and follows the typical tropes of the genre. The characters lack depth and development, and act in ways that are inconsistent or irrational. Katya is a naive and insecure heroine who constantly doubts herself and her bond with Matteo. Matteo is a perfect and protective hero who has no flaws or challenges. The secondary characters are either supportive or antagonistic, with no shades of gray.

Overall, I think The Bonds Between Us is a decent read for fans of romantic fantasy who are looking for a light and easy escape. It has some potential and charm, but it also has some flaws and limitations. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

I received this book as a ARC from NetGalley.
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this book! However, it felt a bit rushed and I wanted the author to take more time to show us the characters and their personalities. It jumped right into the story and explained what needed to be explained but I would have enjoyed it more if the pace was a bit slower and the characters had a bit more interaction and development that wasn't just explained to us, but shown to us. Please keep writing, I'm a fan and I"ll be looking for more of your work, Emily!

This book left me with a few questions. It has a great magic system, potential for a great plot and you can feel the beauty of Venice coming through the pages.

Unfortunately the relationships between the characters felt rushed and sudden. Timing from one event to the next was a little off too.

I think there is a good balance between the romance and the plot, I just wish we had more substance in the development and description of the relationship.

It felt more like a YA than NA book which is not a problem for me. I am interested in seeing how the story continues.

Thank you NetGalley and Atmosphere press for the ARC.

Vikings meet italian folklore and supernatural! It's a cute cozy fantasy set in Venice.
Katya and Matteo are couple goals. Yes, they have misunderstandings but they solved them, maybe they took their sweet time, but they could solve it.
All the secondary characters are as adorable as the main couple. I would be happy if they had their own book.

While I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, unfortunately this one is a DNF for me as I could not get into the story.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

This was en entertaining premise, but the execution could be better.
The mystery was fun to follow, containing a Venice setting, a bargain with the Devil and Norse inspired characters.
In the story allot of character development or relationship development we, (as in the reader), were told what happened instead of showing it. This could be fine, but it was done in a way I could not connect with the characters at all. The romance felt unbelievable due to the fact I didn't get any interaction with them outside the mystery plot. When it came to it, the plot was rushed to the next mystery moment, or self doubt of the MC.
Some of the conversations were written in Italian, more than the average person could understand. To know what the characters were saying I had to use Google Translate, which got me out of the story.
There was also allot of information given all at once about the classes, so much that I didn't remember anything of it when I went to the next chapter.

Unfortunately this book was not for me.

Thank you to Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

The magic system of this book is great. I love the Norse inspiration and how they all had different elements and levels inside it. I wish that had been focused on more, because that was the only good bit of this book.

I hate to come across as overly negative, but this book was just a mess. It was poorly written, with paper thin characters and a ridiculous plot. I thought the plot was going to be about Katya being what she is, and how it's anathema to Matteo, her soulmate. It's not - it sets up this Norse inspired mythology and then somehow the main danger is...the Devil? Who suddenly turns up, leading Katya and Matteo to decide they have to be the ones to save Venice. If I was a Sim, I'd have question marks over my head.

Not only that, but any character development is laughable. Over the space of days, Katya goes from never having even seen Matteo, Leo or the others to being super close and friendly with words like 'trust' and 'clan' being thrown around. Not believable.

Alongside this, there's a whole part where her best friend and Matteo's brother disappear in a weird manner and then turn up at the perfect time with the most ridiculously convenient plot device. There is no way that they would've been able to do all that, that fast. I actually rolled my eyes.

I didn't understand this world at all. I thought that humans didn't know anything about all these supernatural creatures, yet I'm guessing they must because no one seemed to act too weirded out about the actual Devil showing up a few times? Yet it was never explained in the book, which left me confused.

I also don't understand who this book was meant to be marketed towards? She's 25 years old yet I've not read a more YA feeling book in a while. The actions of the people are of like...14 year olds. Why do none of them work? How do they afford these expensive apartments in Venice?!

This honestly just felt like the author had three plot ideas and couldn't decide which to go with, so they went with them all and it just turned out awful.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Summary
Katya has powers that she hides away because of a colored past, Matteo is the boy she just met on the street… and now she shares a matching tattoo with him, signifying that they are soulmates. The two enter an adventure, with their many powerful friends, to defeat the devil who comes back to Venice once a year to demand the lives of seven young children.

Big Picture Plot
200 years ago, a woman wanted to be with a man of a different society and race and her family forbade it… So she makes the rational choice of summoning the devil and promises to sacrifice the souls of seven children so that she can be with him. Present day, no one has paid up on this contract and so the devil decides he is going to wreak havoc on Venice if they do not pay up. Friends with magical abilities must come together and fight him off to save Venice.

Individual Character Musings
Katya has some character development throughout the story. She addresses her past trauma and does move past it, very quickly, and open herself to love with her new soulmate. The rest of the characters have very mild, if any, character development. The book is from the point of view of Katya and very much sticks to describing her internal changes only.

My Take
I enjoyed the bit of mystery in this novel and did wonder how it would play out in the end. However, that is the only thing that kept me engaged. The soul bond was a cool idea but hit you in the face in the first 3-5 pages. I almost did not finish this book and had to fight to complete it. The minimal character development and the repeated banter/dialogue was sadly not doing it for me. The ending was quite predictable, and the romance was a bit juvenile and forced for my taste.

Content Warnings: Death of animal, death of person, whips, skeletons, devil, childhood trauma.

Would I Recommend?
I do most think I could recommend this book to most people. However, I think some YA may find this journey enjoyable and would recommend they try it out.


Rating: 1.5 stars

This book has the potential to be really great, it has a unique magic system and some really intriguing plot points. I feel like the foundations are there but this book just needs some polishing and fleshing out before I would recommend it.
While it is written well, and there are sections of good description, there are lot of lengthy monologues that could be broken up with some interactions between the characters, some descriptions of body language and tone of voice etc, rather than just a whole page of one character giving a speech.
The budding relationship between the main characters did feel rushed, considering their soulbond is seeming the main plot of the book. Twice within a week of them meeting we have "four days passed" or similar, and it would be nice to get some glimpses of their relationship growing and them starting to develop feelings. It does feel like the romance it not a main focus in the book, which would be fine if the book wasn't literally titled for their relationship? I'd love some descriptions of the lingering glances, the subtle touches, the way she tries to shield her heart from him but can't shut him out. As it is, it feels like they suddenly confess their love out of fear that they're all going to die, and they've only kissed once? If that? I'm not sure what sort of audience this is marketed for, but given the FMC is 25(? I think, based on mentions of her past?) I would expect a little more physical contact between them. All the forehead kisses and gentle touches are super sweet and I did love their chemistry, but come on, you're 25 and just met your soul mate? You're gonna do more than hold hands, right?
I was a little confused by the world building, I think because I am not familiar with Venice, after I Googled the main islands that are described, I felt like I much better understood the landscape and the journey, so perhaps a little map in the front of the book would help with this?
I also found the magical hierarchy a little hard to follow, but after seeing a table explaining this on the author's webpage this was also easier to follow, so again this would be good to include in the book.
There is a lot of info dumping in the first few pages, and I did think this would be expanded upon later in the book, and it wasn't really. I would have liked to have seen some more elaboration and detail about the different races and how that works - why do siblings end up with different powers? If Kat and her sister are Daskis, is one of her parents a frost jotun? What even is a frost jotun?? Also early on there was a mention of Vanir and Aesir but then these were never explained, so it feels a bit like the races and half-concocted and not fully thought out.

I would consider re-reading this book if it were edited and re-published, and potentially I would pick up the second book to see if there is any growth in the writing and world-building, but I probably wouldn't recommend it at this stage as it does feel quite unfinished.

There were quite a few instances where sentence order had been jumped around, but I did receive an ARC copy so this may have been picked up in a later stage of editing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5⭐

Emily Ruhl’s debut novel, "The Bonds Between Us," follows Katya Anders, a woman who believes she is cursed to endure eternal solitude due to her inherent nature. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon Matteo, a captivating man who happens to be her soulmate. Although Katya is immediately infatuated with him, she can't shake the feeling of being undeserving of such a connection. As she grapples with her emotions, a Venetian folktale comes to life, compelling her to join forces with Matteo in a race against time to save the enchanting city of Venice.

While the book's promising premise held much potential, it fell short in certain areas, most notably in the initial pages where an abundance of exposition overwhelmed the reader, leaving a desire for a more immersive experience. The author missed an opportunity to employ a show-don't-tell approach, allowing readers to organically discover and comprehend the main character's background and her purpose in Venice. Unfortunately, this lack of detailed exploration hindered my ability to fully invest in the characters, preventing me from truly immersing myself in their journey.

While the book had its shortcomings, I found overall enjoyment in its fast-paced and thrilling fantasy narrative, complemented by a heartwarming romance. One aspect that resonated with me was Katya's relatable inner struggles, which added depth to her character. The book's exploration of the idea that our identities are shaped not by predestined roles but by the choices we make was particularly compelling, offering a thought-provoking perspective on personal growth and self-discovery. Despite the initial flaws, these aspects managed to capture my interest and allowed me to appreciate the story on a deeper level.

While the initial flaws prevented me from becoming fully engrossed in the story, the book managed to capture my interest through its dynamic elements, leaving a lasting impression. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fast-paced fantasy romance with high stakes.

Katya is our heroine and Matteo is her soulmate. I tried hard to get into it but found the storyline fell flat for me and without a whole lot of world building this was definitely more of a fantasy romance than a fantasy adventure. There were indeed villians, but ultimately I struggled to get through it. Hoping since this was the 1st of a trilogy, that the other 2 installments will leave readers satisfied.

This book had potential. I thought the premise was interesting, but I found the book lacking in laying the details. For example, the first few pages is just a big info dump, and I so wished the author had taken the time to show us all these things, instead of just telling us. I really had no idea what the main character was or what she was doing in Venice when she meets the love interest and I never really got all that interested in them. I just found it a kind of simplistic and thin book.