Bonded by J. L. Youngblood
Author: Hazel Gaynor
Published: 2024
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis From Goodreads
Once upon a time, it all started here …
Sacrifice is the price we pay for peace in our village. Wisteria de Avalonia hates this mantra and everything it stands for. Her father was sacrificed to the dragon that terrorized her village when she was seven years old. Now, as the village braces for the next sacrifice, Wisteria is gripped by terror—not only for herself but also for her beloved mother. She harbors a dangerous secret. She possesses powers both awe-inspiring and fearsome—powers that could destroy everything she holds dear. When the unthinkable happens, Wisteria is thrust into a world of betrayal and magic, where the line between good and evil becomes increasingly blurred, and the power she harbors threatens to consume her. The stakes get higher when she falls in love with a prince whose twin brother is determined to have her at all costs.
Accustomed to being bested by his barely older twin on the battlefield, fair-haired Aalexander with his bookish inclination and patrician features wonders if he has what it takes to be king. He just might with the help of Wisteria whose violet eyes and raven-colored hair become the substance of his dreams. Battle lines will be drawn. Love will be tested to the limit as two brothers vie for the crown and the allegiance of one woman.
In the end, there can only be one king …
My Take
Although this is the first book in this series, it is not the first book that was written. Books 2 and 3 were written in 2022, and Youngblood decided to go back and write Bonded to more fully explain the origin of the Grimm Laws and give a stronger foundation to the series. That being said, I have not read the other two books currently in the series, so I came to this book with no preconceived notions or knowledge of the world.
This is a clean book, but it deals with some heavy things. There is loss, there is violence, there is the struggle between good and evil (even within the same person), and there even is some discussion of destiny verses free will. It starts out a bit grim, but as time passes, Wisteria tries to stay positive as she struggles with the memories of past trauma, and determines time and time again to do good, be good, and not let her anger sway her. Aalexander also has challenges to overcome, but together they are better than they are apart and they encourage each other to do the right thing, even though it may be hard.
It is a fast-paced book with a lot of action along with twists and turns that made it more interesting. But I have to say, I was a little bit frustrated at the end. I had become invested in Aalexander and Wisteria, and there are a couple of twists introduced at the end that were not resolved in the book. I understand that they are not the main characters of the second and third books, but are supporting characters, so I hope my questions are answered satisfactorily. I look forward to reading the other books to find out.
Language
None.
Sexual Content
There are sexual predators in this book. There are no scenes, but there are references to the danger, to someone being pregnant out of wedlock because of it, to being threatened with forceful attentions, and to someone being “cruelly violated.” There are also brief kisses.
Drug/Alcohol Use
Someone is drugged as part of a kidnapping.
Violence
There is a bit of violence in this book, but it is not overly focused upon or described in detail. There is violence from animals such as a dragon who kills people either by burning them alive or by tearing them apart, and attacks by wolves and monster spiders. But there is also violence from humans, with threats of violence or murder, fighting, being shot by an arrow, being hit in the head and kidnapped, being slapped, hit, punched, and threat of rape.
Plot/Storytelling
This is a fast-paced plot-based book with some character development added in. It is told in mostly one POV with only two or three chapters in which a second POV is added. It is not a standalone book as there are twists added at the end that are not resolved, but which I am expecting to be resolved in the other two books that are already written.