I love Ben Alderson his writing, and this last installment of the trilogy didn't leave anything behind. It's not a standalone, but book three in a trilogy, so definitely read up on the first two!

It's a perfect finale to this (love) story.

It was all I wished for, so thank you so much for this ARC.

This book absolutely wrecked me.

Heair to Dreams and Darkness is the third book in the Court of Brokem Bonds series. Yes, you do need to read the first two books before reading this one.

The time has come for Max to decide whether or not to save the world from the wrath of Lilyth "Mother" to the gods. He and his friends must band together to find the totems to control the gods to defeat the world killer.

What I loved about this book:
~LGBTQ+ rep
~Cliffhanger ending
~Dragons, Phoniexes, Fae, and more
~Fantasy Romance
~save the World
~Single POV

Thank you so much, Ban Alderson and NetGalley for the opportunity to arc-read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I speed read the first two books in the series to start this one. First person perspective writing isn't usually my thing but Ben's writing kept me engaged. I love the two boys' journey from book to book. Definitely recommend for a good MLM series.

A perfect finale to the series

When I tell you that this book was everything I hoped for and more, I'm not exaggerating. This series has been a wild and thrilling rollercoaster from start to finish and the finale was even better than the previous books. I loved how the author built the relationship between Simion and Max throughout the story. It was natural, beautiful and relatable. Their love and trust for one another is truly inspiring and remarkable and being on this journey with them felt like an honor. I loved the plot in this finale, how everything we thought we had figured out crumbled to pieces. the author really played with our emotions with this one and I was there for the angst, the pain and the tears. I adore this world and everythign it entails, from the magic to the political intrigue and the story it harbors. I'm sad to leave the characters and the world, but this book was truly magnificent.

I highly recommend this absolute gem of a series.

"Everything I love crumbles to dust. What have I done to suffer so much loss? When does this debt I seemingly owe end?"

I loved the other books in this series and loved this last installment that is a page turner with a lot of surprising twists.
I really appreciated that the action never took the backseat and the romance plays a role and there's not too much pages about any horizontal activity (I'm the queen of skipping sex act descriptions as they bore me to death)
I will surely read other books by Ben Alderson, this seris is highly recommended
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I made the tough decision to DNF this book not far in, unfortunately I did not realize this was a book in a series and therefore couldn’t not appreciate the story as a long time reader could

I’m not sure where to start with my review of Heir to Dreams & Darkness. This entire series has been such an engaging and enjoyable set of books so I was eager to see how it would all turn out in book three, the final book in the trilogy.

I loved catching up with the characters especially as the danger had really ramped up for them all. I was whisked away once more to a world with dragons, magic and dark power that threatens everyone and everything. There is also romance and love at this books heart that brought everything together and gave the story even more depth. With heat, spice and intense chemistry this couple were made for each other!

The story moved at a great pace with action, danger and twists. I enjoyed every moment, even when I had tears in my eyes. It all balanced out so well and for me Max in particular is one of those characters who I will think about after finishing this book. Although to be fair this story was made extra special because of all the characters and their personalities.

All that’s left to say is that I’m so glad I picked up this book series it has been such a fun and thrilling fantasy adventure from start to finish. Heir to Dreams & Darkness was a fitting end, keeping my attention at all times not only on the brilliant characters but a story that kept me on my toes throughout.

Heir to Dreams & Darkness brings back Max and Simion as they manoeuvre around their passion for each other. Definitely spicier than book two 👀 but no less engaging, I liked how their relationship gained more traction and their interactions with characters outside of the pairing (especially Bea).

I wanted more from the dragons than what we got, but that's just a personal preference. I love the magic and the romance and I adore the found family element. There's a lot to love in these books including the magic! So much fire and ice, the entire book keeps you on your toes.

It was interesting having a new focus for the 'baddie' and as is the trend in these books I felt there was still some twistys involved which kept me invested. Nothing in these books was expected which really surprised me (in a good way!) The trilogy is fresh, intelligent and diverse, a wonderful distraction from other fantasy and romantasy novels I've read!

Essentially this book is more dragons, more battles, more heat, more more more and I am here for all of it - AND I'm not even finished yet.

I've really enjoyed reading this trilogy by @benaldersonauthor and I'll definitely be picking up his other books. Thank you to @secondskybooks for including me on the tours for each instalment and for encouraging the obsession for this M/M romantasy series!gs ba

this had a strong third entry element to this series, I had enjoyed the previous books from this world and author. It uses the romance and adventure elements that I was hoping for and enjoyed getting to read this. The characters felt like they were supposed to and enjoyed getting to read this story with them. Ben Alderson has a great writing style and thought it worked well overall.

<i>I would like to thank NetGalley and Second Sky for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.</i>

ahhhh I'm very much in the minority here, but unfortunately this series is just a big old miss for me! I really tried, but AFTER reading all 3 books back to back, it turns out that Max and I were simply not compatible. For THE main character, he just refused to sit in ANY power, consistently wearing a face made of waterfalls because the plot basically read like a rinse and repeat of: losing one loved one, only to find another...then losing that one, but surprise another comes into play, but then that one is also horrifically killed in some way. And on. And on. And on.

That's just the grief piece. There's the whole King bit. The magic bit. The lover bit. There's all this tension (in all the above aspects) but none of it satisfying because this series was basically just a death march for anyone/anything/flora or fauna affiliated with Max, and also (in the previous books) a bunch of useless name calling (which i'm still salty about because of how stupid in general THAT all was, so i'll add it to my list of grievances here).

Now, I'm gonna take this moment to straight up cry for MYSELF because myyy gawd LOOK AT THAT BOOK COVER!!! I love it! I cry because I really wanted more development in their relationship so it would have given me a romance I could sink my teeth into. but no. Just Simion looking hawt, a bevy of quick kisses, Iloveyous and delayed passion every 3rd chapter. There was some (i would have loved more) deliciousness, and yes ofc I do understand that loving is hard when there's an apocalyptic demon to deal with. But if you splash <i>Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Serpent and the Wings of Night</i>, I expected "Hello, Feyre darling" and spontaneous combustion.

But that's just me. literally. i'm like the only one this didn't hit for loools!

In any case, I do think that a lot of people will enjoy this book and while I can accept that this series is simply not for me, I am very happy that BA has a loyal readership who will no doubt gobble this all up and ask for more! I'm glad i stuck with this series though, if only for the closure, and the epilogue was really sweet! but i'm still searching for an Alderson title that blows me away and hopefully something will catch my eye in the future so we'll see!

Heir to Dreams and Darkness was the perfect end to an amazing trilogy. There was action, adventure, heart-wrenching emotion, a bit of time traveling, dragons, ancient gods, and, of course, the *spice*. Watching Maximus evolve over the course of this trilogy was a master class in character development. Alderson took a scared boy who was afraid of his magic to a charismatic leader who has honed his power and is willing to do whatever it takes to save the ones he loves (and the world, while he is at it).
I definitely felt alll the emotions while reading this book. There is still one thread left hanging in the "unresolved" column, which I hope is explored in future book(s) from that character's point of view, but it doesn't take away from the feeling of completeness for Max's story.

Max and Simion - you took my by the heart and put me through the wringer!

Whilst I had not read the 2 previous books - naughty me has added them to the TBR - I was soon completely invested in both their romance and the fight against Lilyth. There were tears shed when one of my favourite characters met a sticky end.

Max is the perfect reluctant hero. He just wanted his love and a peaceful life and instead got thrust into a battle for the ages and introduced to powers he never knew he had. Finding and losing family along the way. He went from nerdy and naïve to powerfully deceptive in the effort to save those he loves.

Simion would walk through hell for Max and their friends and pretty much does. He refuses to let Max face anything alone and that made me love him a little bit more. I felt the frustration he must have felt every time Max tried to go off and do things on his own. He also has no passion for power and I think that's why he's able to get a handle on all that power.

Beatrice is an ace bestie and sister and her treatment of Max never changes, no matter what power and new abilities he has. She'll break his nose if she needs to get his attention lol.

We definitely leave Aldian in a better way and the epilogue made my wee heart sing.

I do not love time-jumping but there was a need for it in the storyline and it's not just there for the sake of doing something different.

I'm absolutely adding this authors back catalogue to my TBR!

“Lightning raced over my skin as we touched. It cascaded through the room, sparking every candle to life. I would not let death and ruin take him from me. I was not ready for this to end.”

We are at the last chapter of the Court Of Broken Bonds trilogy. It’s filled with dark fantasy elemental magic, emotions and plot twists.

The arrival of Lilith, the mother of monsters is close: with the world’s survival and those who he loves at stake, Max has to figure out what needs to be done, preparing an epic battle with Simion by his side.

The narrative style is perfectly descriptive of a great world building, as the author has accustomed us. He has a gift at creating characters highly empathetic: Max is vulnerable, emotional and real and the reader feels the emotions he feels on their skin.

Time is the star of this book: the past, as part of where our roots are, the present, as a moment to enjoy what we have and the future, something uncertain but worth to fight for.

In this book you find an epic war, elemental magic, dark fantasy and a love that will remain engraved in your soul.

– Silvia Giorgi

I said this in my review for the previous book in this trilogy, Heir to Frost and Storm, but one of the things that stands out the most to me is the remarkable amount of growth that author Ben Alderson has shown both from the first time I picked up one of his stories and just in this series alone. His writing has grown by leaps and bounds, and it has been so wonderful to follow his career over these past few years.

In Court of Broken Bonds, Max has gone from the mistreated servant of a royal family to a miraculous (if shunned) mage to the heir of an entire kingdom as the part-Dryad child of the previous ruler of the North. Along the way, he's escaped an unwanted marriage bond and found true love with fellow mage Simion, and created a ragtag family for himself. Now, he finds himself facing down the demon Lilyth, the original mother of monsters, in a race against time to find four conduits capable of controlling (or protecting) those creatures and their magic.

This was a solid buildup of the plot from the previous books. The Big Bad was truly big and bad and potentially world-ending, and pieces from the last two books were well woven into the current plot. There was the fun (and horrifying) addition of time travel, which is always a difficult topic to balance even for seasoned writers, and Alderson manages it well. The magic system even gets a fun little upgrade with the addition of phoenix sorcerers - can I hope we'll get a spinoff/sequel story about their own magic in the future?
And the characters! Max did not start this series out as my favorite, I'll admit, and he had his frustrating moments in this book, but he's so genuinely intent on saving everyone around him even at the cost of his own life that you can't help but love him. He has the quintessential hero's journey, and he deserves every bit of the happy ending he can get. But oh does Simion have my entire heart in this series. His loyalty to Max and his sister and his people, his heroism, and his unfailing belief that those around him will do what is right... He's the best. Though Leska proves to be stiff competition. She's the badass, grumpy sibling that Max needs to kick him into gear.

Overall, this was a delightful end to a fun trilogy, with enough twists and turns to keep me entertained. And I love a dragon story set in a queernormative world. I'm excited to see what Alderson comes up with next, and I'll keep my fingers crossed for that spinoff/sequel.

‘I already told you, my love. I won’t leave you. Not now, not tomorrow. Not ever again.’

Ahhhh, the end of the line...or is it? First thing's first, Mr Alderson, spinoffs WHEN? I specifically require an Aura spinoff, but I'll take whatever I can get. There's so much spinoff material, surely something can be done!!

Ok now, I was looking forward to the war and even more battles which this book delivered. Max and his friends are in a constant state of chaos, and you as the reader never know who's going to make it out alive, considering the author's track record of making Max lose everyone important to him.

And does he? You'll have to read to find out, sorry. But know that I was not ready. That is all.

There were some twists I didn't see coming at all and now I feel the urge to check books 1 and 2 for clues. I was literally so shocked at one that my jaw fell open, if that's not the best endorsement I don't know what is.

The romance was romancing, even during the hardest of times. Simion was so sweet to Max and you can really feel their relationship develop throughout the book. I wouldn't mind a little novella featuring them at some point in the future, if we don't get a longer spinoff.

I liked the time travel aspect since that's one of my favourite tropes. I didn't get the magic system expansion I was hoping for, but I do think I understand it a bit better.

The writing also just keeps getting better and better, so I'm sad that this is the end (for now, ahem).

I'll absolutely be checking out Ben Alderson's other books, and you, the person reading this, can give this a try since the trilogy is now complete, you can binge all three books!!! What are you waiting for? Go and do it!!!

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wow. What an adventure, I'm sad this rollercoaster of a journey is over and I'm having to say goodbye to this world. From the very first page this book was jam packed with action, with fierce battles and shocking moments. Danger was around almost every page turn and I was at the edge of my seat. There was some heartbreaking moments but I did like how this series ended.

Max made some absolutely stupid decisions, but I understood it for his character development. In this book, he was meticulous and cunning. And I liked how we got more Simion being his voice of reason, I really loved the dynamic between these two. I always have throughout the series, but I really loved them in this book. All the characters had amazing character growth and I liked the roles they played.

Overall, I highly recommend that people check this series out if you want a series filled with jampacked moments that will shred your feelings to confetti!

“As has been, Will be…”

Slipping back into the world of Aldian was like coming home… Unfortunately the house is on fire and everything is terrible, but home nonetheless.

Anyone who knows me knows I am a major Fan of Ben's writing. He crafts some of the most delicious stories I have ever read in the most immersive worlds possible. It's like being transported directly into the world with a front row seat to all the love, destruction and trauma packed within it! (Ben I will personally add this book to your tab for all my therapy bills you have caused)

Max and Simion have been through hell and back but have more to go before they save the world from an ancient evil hell bent on devouring their world. The plot for this book was so unique and fun, I didn't see it coming but when it did, major plot twist!!!! The spice was nice and so well written. Simion is as charming as ever and is the real backbone to this epic finale. Though you better be prepared with a box of tissues. This one is not for the faint of heart and continually pulls at your heartstrings, believe me it is all worth it in the end!

Read if you love :
Ancient Elemental Magic ✨
Soul Bonds 💕
Achillian Romance 🏳️‍🌈
Time Travel ⏳
Spine Chilling Action ⚔️

Get ready for the final installment of the Court of Broken Bonds series; out March 15th, grab your own copy and find out if Max and Simion finally get their happily ever after!

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a beautiful ending to Alderson’s incredible MLM fantasy trilogy. Picking straight off from where the second book left off, Max and Simion are faced with the vengeance of Lilyth. This book is packed full of action from start to finish, with a sprinkling of spice of course. The plot moves quite fast and has your attention for all of the 446 pages. As ever, the writing was moving, enticing and delivered such a great story. I wish I could read this series for the first time again, it truly is magnificent.

I was very lucky to take part in the blog tour for this book.

Heir to Dreams & Darkness is the final book in the Court of Broken Bonds trilogy, so if you haven't yet picked up this series, you can now binge it all at once!

In Heir To Dreams & Darkness, we return to Aldian for, among other things, a suicide mission, the impossible task of defeating a powerful otherworldly demon, and epic battles.
Amidst all the action, at the heart of the novel, are all the relationships Max has forged over the course of the series: found family and family found. I loved the dynamics between the siblings, and the passion between Max and Simion. In the end, we get a hard-earned and perfectly bitter-sweet conclusion to Max and Simon's story.

You will enjoy this series if you love:
- Elemental magic and mages
- Dragons and dragon riders
- MM romance
- Arranged marriage
- Deadly trials
- Some spice

This was such a wonderful conclusion to the series. I binge read the entire trilogy in little over a week and was not disappointed by the outcome. I have read many other of Alderson's books so I had high expectations for this series finale. Max and Simion's relationship is so beautiful, painful, and so well rounded. There was the perfect amount of action and romance. Often time many fantasy books overwhlem the book with romance, but their story fit perfectly. What is so interesting about this series and specifically this book is the time travel, many fantasy books do not deal with time travel, but the way it functions in this story is perfect.

I did shed some tears towards the end of the book and was overall satisfied with how it was all wrapped up. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2024 so far.