Mystic Bonds

Loved this book - without giving away any spoilers it had me feeling tense, surprised and also emotional. I loved the different fairytale characters and the world that the earth had become, as well as references to other dimensions and types of magic still undiscovered. I would definitely recommend this to teenagers as a great example of character building in literacy and world creation. I would have liked to have known more about the main character as I didn’t feel like she had much of a personality - I didn’t get to read about any fun side to her and she seemed very serious but the plot itself kept me reading the book. Personally, I will definitely be buying the next books in the series!

I'm a little on the fence with this one, there were parts I loved and other aspects that didn't work for me. I feel engaged enough by the story to want to read future books.

I liked Mina, she really didn't have her s##t together but for me this actually made her much more realistic and eminently more likeable. I would have liked a little more depth from some of the supporting characters, particularly Erik, Charles and Phillip, at times I felt I learnt more via what others TOLD me, rather than through what I experienced.. However there was enough development for me to enjo0y the book.

The plot was fascinating and there were some interesting idea's explored. Some resolutions to conflicts felt a little oversimplified, but, given this was the author's first published book, overall I was satisfied with how the plot progressed.

At times I was totally absorbed by the story, particularly during scenes of action and scenes heavy with dialogue. Sadly there were passages where the heroine actually narrated the story to the reader, rather than allowing them to experience it for themselves. It was almost as though someone was recounting an event or memory, resulting in the story losing it's flow and pace and disconnecting me from the book.

On balance there were more positives than negatives for me and I look forward to reading more of Mina and her friends.

Oh my gosh! I loved this book!
After the "Event" that changed everything, regular humans dying off while others are changed.An evil steps out to wipe them clear.
Can this group of 6, stay together and fight this evil and anything it throws their way?
I love Mina and Erik!!

Interesting, paranormal apocalypse, a little sexy, cryptic prophet, page-turner.

This book is based in a post-apocalyptic world where every fairy tale and monster legend gets ripped out of hiding, including within people’s DNA, transforming “regular” humans into paranormal creatures. Oh, there’s also a zombie-like sickness that ravages non-paranormals. Fast forward 9 years and you have a supernatural sibling duo who gets captured by the dredges of humanity who drain their blood to steal their powers, like a supernatural drug ring. The story then follows the siblings as they escape and try to rescue/exact revenge and the people they find along the way.

I found this premise extremely interesting and I loved the world C.C. created, discovering all the different types of supernatural creatures and her take on them was a blast. I also fell instantly in love with the rag-tag group of 6 that forms. There was also a romantic sub-plot that turned a wee bit sexy that I really enjoyed. However, I did think the ending was a bit rushed, and the final plot device was a bit of a cliché cop-out. With that being said I went back and re-read Annie Mae’s cryptic words in Chapter 16 and now I have some theories that I hope come true. In short, I loved the world that was built, I can’t wait to get to know the rest of the Scooby-gang and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Also, were-jackal??! Yes, please!


Special thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for sharing this digital copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

#NetGalley #MysticBonds

I fell in love with the storyline. I was so invested in most of all the characters, I still think there is something going on with Philip; but I digress. I especially loved Charles. The world building was epic, I can’t wait to see more in book two. I do wish that I hadn’t cried towards the end. I hoped that everything was a happy ever after, but that just isn’t real life. Now I am trying to figure out who let out David. I can’t wait for the second book, because that person needs to pay. I will say there are some steamy bits, and also needs to come with trigger warnings. Such as physical abuse and attempted sexually assault.

Having read the "first" edition, I basically skimmed this rewritten book. I enjoyed it both times. In fact, I've read the series to date.

The author's strength doesn't lie in world building as much as in creating interesting characters, particularly a well developed female MC.

There isn't much mention of the events leading to a post-apocalyptic world, where people attain or become magical. Yet the author creates a credible if not particularly original post apocalyptic society.

The book and those that follow sustained my interest. A fast but worthwhile read.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Post world plague thriller. Supernatural beings and wonder siblings who will try to make it to the land promised in a dream. Some will like it and others won't. It's a good read with fascinating characters and premise.

☆☆☆☆ /5
(english review below)

Un univers plutôt dense qui y mélange tous les êtres surnaturels que j’aime retrouver dans mes lectures.
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La mage Amina Langston pensait que survivre à l'apocalypse surnaturelle, qui a tué 50% de l'humanité et transformé la plupart de la population survivante en êtres paranormaux, était le plus grand défi de sa vie… Jusqu'à ce qu'elle et son frère fuient des humains non-doués qui veulent voler leur sang magique pour fabriquer un sérum puissant. Maintenant, elle est à la recherche d'un bel étranger qui continue d'apparaître dans ses rêves et d'une ville paranormale secrète pour aider à libérer ceux qui sont toujours détenus en captivité pour leur sang.
Au cours de son voyage, Amina se lie d'amitié avec plusieurs autres êtres magiques à la recherche de la ville mystérieuse, y compris un chacal-garou sexy qui la distrait de la localisation de l'homme de ses rêves proverbiaux. Cependant, lorsque le groupe trouve la ville, elle est remplie de magie dangereuse et d'une meute de garous barbares. Face à ces nouveaux problèmes, Amina éliminera-t-elle ses poursuivants humains et sauvera-t-elle les autres paranormaux qu'elle a laissés derrière ou se retrouvera-t-elle en plus grand péril ?
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Dans ce roman, l’autrice nous plonge dans une ville où il ne reste que majoritairement de la magie et des êtres dotés de pouvoirs après que l’humanité ait essuyé une réelle catastrophe et presque extinction. Les humains lambdas sont devenus des minorités et si au début de l’histoire, on pense que la société s’est bien reconstruit et est équitable entre ces humains et les êtres surnaturels, très rapidement l’autrice nous montre qu’il y a quelque chose qui cloche.
J’ai beaucoup aimé découvrir l’univers de ce roman qui, même si peu original, mélange tous les éléments attrayant du surnaturel. On retrouve de la magie, des garous, des mages, des complots et une quête.
Amina est un personnage qui m’a assez plu. C’est une jeune femme généreuse et dévouée envers ses amis. D’ailleurs, lorsqu’elle va se sentir coincée entre sa solidarité avec les autres êtres surnaturels et son amitié qu’elle a développé avec quelques humains, j’ai trouvé que son hésitation, ses doutes et sa confusion ont été bien écrits.
L’intrigue était entraînante, bien que prévisible à beaucoup de moments. Le style d’écriture de l’autrice est fluide et m’a captivée avec les multiples figures de style qu’elle a utilisées pour rythmer son texte.
Ce roman est un premier tome et je ne sais pas si je lirai le second. Pas parce que je n’ai pas apprécié, au contraire, j’ai bien aimé. Mais, pendant ma lecture, je n’ai pas ressenti ce wow qui mettrait la lecture de cette saga dans mes priorités. J’y repenserai à la sortie du tome 2 !

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ENGLISH REVIEW

A rather dense universe that mixes all the supernatural beings that I like to find in my readings.
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Mage Amina Langston thought surviving the supernatural apocalypse, which killed fifty percent of humankind and changed most of the surviving population into paranormal beings, were the biggest challenges in her life. That is, until she and her brother go on the run from non-gifted humans who want to steal their magical blood to make a power-giving serum. Now she’s in search of a handsome stranger who keeps appearing in her dreams and a secret paranormal city to help free those still held in captivity for their blood.
During her journey, Amina befriends several other magical beings also searching for the mysterious town, including a sexy were-jackal who distracts her from locating the man of her proverbial dreams. However, when the group finds the city, it’s filled with dangerous magic and a barbaric were-pack. Facing these new troubles, will Amina take down her human pursuers and save the other paranormals she left behind or end up in greater peril?
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In this book, the author immerses us in a city where only magic and beings endowed with powers remain after humanity has suffered a real catastrophe and almost extinction. Ordinary humans have become minorities and if at the beginning of the story, we think that society has rebuilt itself well and is fair between these humans and supernatural beings, very quickly the author shows us that there’s something wrong.
I really liked discovering the universe of this book which, even if it isn’t very original, mixes all the attractive elements of the supernatural. We find magic, weres, mages, conspiracies and a quest.
Amina’s a character that I quite liked. She’s a generous and devoted young woman towards her friends. Besides, when she felt stuck between her solidarity with other supernatural beings and her friendship that she has developed with some humans, I found that her hesitation, her doubts and her confusion were well written.
The plot was catchy, though predictable at many points. The author's writing style is fluid and captivated me with the multiple figures of speech she used to give rhythm to her text.
It’s a first book and I don’t know if I will read the second. Not because I didn't like it, on the contrary, I liked it. But, during my reading, I didn’t feel this "wow" which would put the reading of this series in my priorities. I'll think about it when book 2 comes out!

An interesting take on post-apocalyptic America. The storyline is interesting, world building is deeply explored, the character building grows as the characters grow and the mysteries enough to bring us back for more. I very much enjoyed this story.