Title: These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow Vows #2)
Author: Lexi Ryan
Genre: Fantasy, fantasy romance
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: July 2022
Format: Audiobook
Length: 14 hours

Rating:

These Twisted Bonds was a great end to a solid YA duology. The series had well-constructed world-building, a cast of loveable characters, and a great plot with engaging relationship dynamics. It was a little angsty, and I found the audiobook narrator took some time to get used to, but about halfway through, I found the novel started to move at such a quick pace of action that I was utterly addicted.

In These Twisted Bonds, so much more of the narrative was able to develop and the characters really came into their own, particularly Brie, compared to These Hollow Vows. As far as audiobooks go as well, I found this one to be really entertaining and well-paced.

If you’re looking for a light fantasy with a heavy romantic focus and ACOTAR-esque vibes, I’d recommend this duology. It was a quick and entertaining read and a story that I really enjoyed being immersed in.

Fair warning: spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn’t read this book or the other book in this series.

The Book: These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan

These Twisted Bonds starts with Brie fleeing Sebastian after learning that basically everything he’d ever told her was a lie to get her to bond with him. Heartbroken, devastated, and desperate to be anywhere but near him, she flees from the palace in her shadows and her new fae form in an effort to escape Sebastian and the golden court.

As Brie is fleeing, she discovers a Seelie prison camp for Unseelie children and the betrayal she felt come Sebastian begins to feel even more acute. She decides to use her magic to free the children, working alongside the Wild Fae leader Misha, who then takes her in so that she can recover in peace away from both Sebastian and Finn.

As Brie recovers in the Wild Fae court with Misha, she begins to learn more about the imbalance between the Seelie and Unseelie courts that was created due to her survival after attempting to pass along the crown to Sebastian. This imbalance, coupled with that produced by the immense and evil power that the Golden Queen Aria has amassed, is slowly killing the Unseelie court, beginning with its children. Despite the fact that Brie still harbours feelings of betrayal for Finn and Sebastian both, she realizes that if balance is ever to be restored between the courts, her participation in their plots will be crucial. She may have despised the Fae before arriving in Faerie, but she’s grown to appreciate that they’re simply other beings trying to live their lives the way she is. In fact, she’s quite fond of many of them. She can’t stand the thought of not helping them and so, joins Finn and his friends in their quest to restore balance by working with Sebastian and any other magical person or creature who may be capable of assisting.

As Brie, Sebastian, and Finn work to fight the evil in the Seelie and Unseelie courts and restore some semblance of balance, allegiances change and their relationships with each other evolve. Ultimately, Brie will be forced to choose where her heart truly lies and make decisions that will impact all three of their lives and the future of their kingdoms.

The Review

In a lot of ways, These Twisted Bonds was a really familiar fantasy plot. There are several major series using the tropes that could be found in this book, and the structure of the magical world had some overlap with other fae-oriented fantasies as well, but I didn’t find that made the story any less entertaining. I’m a sucker for a love triangle and an enemies-to-lovers plot, and this one was particularly angsty and well-executed. I really enjoyed seeing their dynamics unfold and felt like it progressed in a relatively natural way.

I also really enjoyed seeing Brie’s evolution over the course of these two books. In book one, I found her a little whiny and didn’t love how she seemed to capitulate her beliefs and freedom in favour of being taken care of, but you definitely see her push back on that in this book. Before, she was really out for her own, or her sister, in everything she did. In These Twisted Bonds, you see her develop a bigger capacity for considering the greater good. She still maintains her fire, but she grows a lot in learning how much bigger the world’s problems are then just what she personally has known.

There was just something about the way these books were written that I found to be super entertaining. I think it’s likely the combination of just the right amount of angst, tension, and a well-paced plot full of action. It didn’t end up mattering to me that the tropes were familiar or that I could predict aspects of the plot, I was just really enjoying the ride. It was one of those audiobooks that I was so excited to listen to that I was forcing myself to go on extra walks or to do extra cleaning just so I could get more time in.

I don’t read a ton of YA, but this is up there in one of my more recent favourites. I’d definitely recommend this series to someone looking for something with some ACOTAR-like vibes with a unique twist of magic.