Upon Shattered Bonds by Anna Hawke

Synopsis:

Every betrayal begins with trust.

After learning the lesson firsthand, Nina has guarded herself and her clan against any threat. When her defenses fail, an assassination attempt leaves her vulnerable. With their bitter history poisoning their mating bond, she can either accept Zeke’s help and stay alive—or fight alone.

Zeke prides himself on honor and integrity, but is haunted by a past riddled with tragedy. When Nina is injured, he’s desperate to protect her and bring the people who did it to justice. As a Raeth sovereign, he must choose between his clan or his fated mate.

Nina and Zeke find themselves tied together in a perilous game surrounded by lies and half-truths. The question will they survive, or will they let the past claim their lives?

My Review: 5 Stars

What. Just. Happened?! Like, seriously. What in the ever loving world just happened?! Speechless. I am absolutely speechless. This entire book has messed with all of my emotions, all of my feelings. Like ALL of them. Y'all. I just can't right now. 

Nina and Zeke, all though mates, have spent centuries apart. Neither seemed to want to have anything to do with the other. But there's more than meets the eye. Both have secrets that they've kept from each other. Both have been hurt. Both have been living in limbo. That is until an invitation from Kaien is extended for Zeke to attend his wedding. Once Nina and Zeke see each other, their fight to stay apart starts to diminish. The chemistry these two have is off the charts!

I always knew Nina was stubborn. I just didn't realize HOW stubborn the woman really was. Holy Hannah. Y'all. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I wanted to shake her and/or Gibbs slap her. The woman is maddening. But as the attacks on her and Zeke started happening more and more, it brought them closer together. While it still wasn't all sunshine and roses, it was heartachingly beautiful to see these two fated mates FINALLY come together and get their HEA that is long past due. 

Y'all. I thought the plot twist in Across Shadowed Paths was big. But my mind can't even remember what it was because the plot twist in this one?! Y'all. There. Are. No. Words! I'm still asking myself what just happened?! I'm surprised I've written as much of a review as I have because my mind is still reeling from this book. 

There's a quote on my blog that says "A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic." I am in complete awe of the world and characters Ms. Hawke has created. She seems to leave me speechless and craving more at the end of each book. Her books just keep getting better and better. Do yourself a favor and give her books a try. You won't regret it. I promise!

And of course no review would be complete without a casting. Love! I just love these two! What do you think?

Across Shadowed Paths by Anna Hawke

Synopsis:

Three days. Two people. One cabin. A mating bond triggered by a vampire’s bite.

Blair escaped the horrors of her past, but they never stopped haunting her. Driven by the need for revenge, she ventures into the heart of enemy territory. When she’s exposed as a vampire, being rescued strands her in the wilderness with her best friend’s brother.

Living in the shadow of his sister, Kaien fears he can claim nothing to his own merit. When he saves Blair’s life, he’s stripped of his abilities and trapped in a mating bond with a woman who refuses him. Thousands of miles away from his clan, he must battle against the need to claim her as his fated mate—and the one thing that could solely be his.

Away from civilization, the masks they wear crumble, and the scorching desire between them ignites. Sheltering together in a remote cabin, Blair and Kaien must survive the elements—and each other.

My Review: 5 Stars

Raise your hand if you have been known to hold a grudge against fictional characters. You didn't know that was a thing? Neither did I until I met Blair in From Tortured Fates. Y'all. That woman has had me fuming for 3 months and refusing to read her book. All because she did something to our beloved Circe and Luc that I did NOT approve of. IYKYK. 

Since I have been invested in this series from the moment I picked it up, I finally just said forget it. Pick up the dang book and read it. And so I did. I was not 100% sold on Blair going into the book, even though I was assured that others had the same feelings I did and ended up loving Blair. She's definitely rough around the edges and goes out of her way to be defiant. But about halfway through, she started growing on me. I may or may not have loved her by the end. 

Okay fine. I did end up loving her. But I believe that Kaien had a lot to do with that. The man was her perfect mate. He balanced her, strengthen her, protected her, smoothed out those roughened edges, and simply loved her. She has never had that in her life and didn't know how to react. Through Kaien's love, she was able to discover who she truly was and learned to love in return. *le sigh* I love love. 

As for the continued story, y'all. All I have to say is PLOT TWIST! I did NOT see that one coming and I'm even more invested than I was before. I cannot wait to see what happens next! 

Ms. Hawke has quickly become one of my favorite authors. The worlds she creates are unique and intriguing. Once I start one of her books, I have the hardest time putting them down. She is amazing! If you haven't read any of her books yet, I highly recommend checking them out!

As for my casting... *dreamy sigh* Aren't these two perfect?! Your answer should be a resounding YES! Hehe. 

2025 Genre/Trope Reading Challenge

Happy New Year my fellow Book Dragons! Welcome to my 6th Annual Genre/Trope Reading Challenge!

1. Romantasy: Across Shadowed Paths by Anna Hawke
2. Spy: Date with Danger by Jenessa Fayeth 
3. Suspense: 
4. Grumpy/Sunshine: 
5. RomCom: 
6. Single Parent: 
7. Urban Fantasy: 
8. Christmas: 
9. Small Town: 
10. Marriage of Convenience: 

Happy reading my fellow Book Dragons!

2025 Reading Challenge

Happy New Year my fellow Book Dragons! Welcome to my 9th Annual Reading Challenge!

1. A book without people on the cover: 
2. A book with magic: 
3. A book that starts with an "U": Upon Shattered Bonds by Anna Hawke
4. A book you can read in a day: 
5. A book you've read but haven't reviewed: Made for You by Claire Cain
6. A book with a recipe inside: 
7. A book with a four word title: 
8. A book with pink on the cover: 
9. A book with a heart on the cover: 
10. A book that makes you smile: 

Happy reading my fellow Book Dragons!