My Review: Tragic Bonds (Bonds That Tie #5): by J. Bree

**Warning!! This review contains spoilers for this review and previous books in the series, so continue reading on at your own risk! You’ve officially been warned!!**

To see my review of book 1 – Broken Bonds – Click HERE

To see my review of book 2 – Savage Bonds – Click HERE

To see my review of book 3 – Blood Bonds – Click HERE

To see my review of book 4 – Forced Bonds – Click HERE

Total Star Rating: 3.75 Stars

Recovery isn’t about wiping the board clean. Recovery is learning how to function around all of the scars and open wounds inside of us.”

— J.Bree, “Tragic Bonds”

What It’s About:

The official synopsis:

Nothing will ever be the same again. Our Bonded Group has been torn apart, and the monsters are now the prey. But we’re not going to just wait around for our enemy to strike; the blood on his hands is unforgivable, and the god living inside of me wants her revenge paid in blood.

And a thousand souls.

We have been pushed to the limit, tested in ways that have devastating outcomes, and paid the ultimate price. Can we recover from such losses? Is the promise of a world without our enemy worth the sacrifices we’ve made? Can we prove to everyone, and ourselves, that together our bonds are unbroken?

**Tragic Bonds is a full-length reverse harem PNR novel with material that may be difficult for some readers. This book will end on a cliffhanger. It’s recommended for 18+ due to language and sexual situations. Book 5 in the 6 book series.**

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My GAWD with these cliffhanger endings! That last one was WILD! But we FINALLY get to see what the freakin’ deal with Nox is all about and why he was such a moody, broody A-hole throughout the series…and woah, that’s a lot of trauma to unload!

That was for sure the main….highlight? Not sure if it’s a highlight because it gets pretty dark and intense with learning about Nox’s dark past, but it’s definitely a huge noteworthy moment not only for this book but for the whole dang series.

I’m loving the idea of exploring the bonded sides of each them as separate beings/deities and how they have their own personalities…like the bonded side of Oli is still a stone-cold vicious bitch and I love her for her bloodthirst! It’s been a slow journey to learn more about these “upside-down” versions of the characters, but it’s also been very fun!

There’s not much to add at this point that isn’t spoilery, so Imma keep it brief and say the usual remarks I’ve made still stick with this one too: there are high exciting moments throughout but at the same time it feels very repetitive in other areas. The romance is great and I still love how the author manages to make each relationship feel unique and different from the rest of them amongst North, Gabe, Atlas, Gryphon, and Nox all with Oli. She makes it feel very organic and natural and realistic with the weariness and tension and doubt that rises up amongst them, but there’s still a mutual respect and understanding too because they know as a bonded group they have to learn to coexist either way.

And just like all the other books, holy CRAP THAT ending!! Jbree is a master at those juicy cliffhangers!

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Not even death can keep us apart. Every part of you belongs to me, and I will tear any man apart who dares to get in my way. Bond or not.”

— J.Bree, “Tragic Bonds”

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What I Liked:

1. All the Main Characters! I love the main six characters so much by now, of course some more than others….despite everything, Gryphon is still my number one guy with that dirty mouth of his!
2. Learning Nox’s Dark History! Whats crazy is you go into this disturbing part right as you start the book too! Like you are dragged into the dark and see it firsthand so this book will instantly grab you and keep you locked in its talons if you’ve made it this far.
3. Learning More History On the Bonded! As we’ve become aware of the bonded beings being literally a whole other presence inside the main six characters, it was good to get more answers on the history of this part of the worldbuilding/lore/magic system!
4. That Cliffhanger Ending! Another crazy one that’ll make you want to start the next book instantly just like the others!

What I Didn’t Like:

1. Too Many Side Characters…The minor characters/side cast feels very overcrowded by this point in my opinion, there’s just so many? I get overwhelmed when there’s too many faces/names to remember.
2. Too Repetitive…It’s become apparent the overarching plot feels very repetitive by this point and that does make part of the story drag in parts for me, its more the characters that keep me attached to it by this point. I feel like this series could’ve been condensed down to like 5 books? I know why it’s 6 so each main character can get the cover attention and for aesthetics, but part of me wonders if that’s why it feels like it drags on more and more at this point in the series?

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Conclusion:

Overall, like all the other books in this series, there are some major high points this one brings to the whole series, but there is also the nagging repetitiveness I know I bring up almost every review now…. I’m even getting annoyed at myself for how often I bring it up.

The plot to me is so-so by now, but the characters are really what do it for me! I love this cast of characters and their dynamics amongst each other and how they develop over the course of this series.

As we now move onto the final book, here’s hoping it all ends on a good note!

Thanks for reading!

— Nick Goodsell