SYNOSPIS

After the abduction and the reveal of some of Oli’s powers, we move forward. Oli gets a job. Atlas gets an apartment for her to move into, only for that to be vetoed and for everyone, to move into North’s house. Oli’s bonds are more protective over her, and now that Oli gave into her bond, using its power, it’s become clingy, needing contact with each of her bonds.

What could happen?

RECAP AND REVIEW

This is the second book in the paranormal romance series. It’s told in the first person of Oleander.

Compared to the first, this book is more angsty in a yearning way. Throughout the book, Oli’s bond, which is personified as its own entity, throws tantrums because it wants its power to be used and wants to be around and bond with its counterparts (North, Atlas, Nox, Gryphon, and Gabe).

Oli has some control over her bond, but not much compared to the first book. Her restraint has pretty much gone out the window and it feels like she’s going through puberty in a dramatized way. She can be a lot at times.

This book also feels like more setup. We see Oli’s dynamics change with each of her bonds, see how her bonds are like with each other, are given a rundown of each of her bond’s powers, and see the aftermath of the reveal of Oli’s power.

The overall message, not a spoiler, is that as a bonded family, they are powerful, which scares the council and their peers, causing them to be ostracized and watched in a way. Seems to explain why North can be a little uptight, since he is in the council and is aware some of their fears and wants, like forcing Oli to bond.

Gryphon and North’s powers are the most interesting to me. The order of who I like, most to least, is Gryphon, North, Gabe, Atlas, Nox. How I see it, Gryphon is a little mysterious, but finds ways to connect to Oli. North seems to take a step-back, but still does what is needed to keep Oli’s bond calm. Gabe and Atlas are like puppies. Nox can be cruel and distant, still resentful that Oli left.

It’s difficult to tell which details in this book matter to the bigger plot of the entire series. What stood out to me was:

1. That Oli bonded (had sex) with one of her bonds. The circumstance surrounding it was territorial and driven by her bond. It led to a bigger picture realization.

2. The situation the occurred at the end with Sage, Oli’s best friend. This is the main reason I’m going to read the next book, because I didn’t guess this, and the questions around it has me hooked.

3. Oli and her job, both the old and the new, because it segues into the cliffhanger at the end of the book, and again, I want to know what happens.

4. We, the readers, and Oli’s bonds, still don’t know her history with the resistance. I can guess, but there’s no concrete information about the history and the resistance’s goals and plans that I remember.

5. A potential betrayal. What did you call her??

OVERALL

I give this book a 3.5 stars. I liked it a little more than the last one, but it’s a little slow. I’m ready to get out of the groundwork stages and into the action.

I don’t know what it is about this series, but I’m invested. I’ve already started the next one, and it’s giving what I’ve been waiting for.