Member Reviews
"I never wanted you to be unhappy, Eryn, I only ever wanted a life with you." TOOK ME OUT!!!!
I am so so so thrilled to have received an ARC e-copy of this book! It was my first pre-release book to read and I am so happy it was. It exceeded my expectations & hopes for an early release of a romantacy.
Tropes:
MY FAV, FATED MATES
Shadow DADDY
HE FALLS FIRST!!!
College Girl + TA
Dual POV
Golden retriever bf but only for her
I loved so many things about this book! The banter and sly comical comparisons had me giggling nonstop. When I say this man, excuse me SHADOW DADDY, had me kicking my feet and screeching I mean it. He is so patient and gentle and kind with her and I couldn’t handle it, I wanted to give him a big hug.
This book healed me in a way I didn’t know that I needed. It was the perfect mix of dark romance and contemporary romance mixed with fantasy.
I loved every single character, which is not normal for me. My only complaint is that I feel like the next book could have gone deeper into Eryn and Kai’s relationship and them going back to take over the royal duties rather than continuing into Ezra’s story (I do ADORE him though). So I HOPE the series continues and we get that POV eventually.
Overall a 5 star read!!
Eryn is a Nightmare, a supernatural being that feeds her magic by eating human dreams; she can control a person's mind with the touch of her hand and so much more. The problem is that she is the last, except for her parents. The Tribunal of other Supernaturals has hunted their kind because they are feared for their powers. Eryn rebels when the tribunal says her bonded (think fated mate) is the heir of the witch fraction. She doesn't want to be bonded to someone whose faction has helped to destroy her kind, so she denies the bond, or so she thinks.
E.M Rinaldi's novel is the perfect fantasy romance! Eryn is fierce and determined and will not be swayed easily by Kai, good looks or not. The back-and-forth banter, forced proximity, and rebelling against the inevitable made me not want to put this book down. The book was spicy and sweet, and the supporting characters of Rani and Ezra were the perfect comedic relief; I can't wait to read their story in book two. Perfect for lovers of romantasy who like their books just a bit on the spicy side. I loved the books so much that I finished the book within 24 hours. I had to know what would happen between Kai and Eryn!
Disclaimer: While I received a free advanced reader copy of this novel, the thoughts expressed above are my own.
Thank you to E.M. Rinaldi and Netgalley for providing this tantalizing ARC! This book packs a lot in to draw in readers: forced proximity, heavy spice, he openly falls first, strong female friendships, and more, including an intriguing plot that introduces a new world system that includes humans. As a reader who loves fantasy, I found myself wanting to know more about the world building. Eryn, a nightmare, is the last of her kind and is determined to stay hidden from her former magical world. There is a little bit of a backstory, but I was craving more, especially since she resisted her bond with such vehemence. Kai, a warlock royalty, is determined to protect and persuade his bond. His character was written so well, hitting all of the areas of sugar and spice. The forced yet forbidden love pulled me right into the story with glorious tension dripping off of the pages. Not only is Eryn resistant to her expected bond, but things become more complicated when she finds herself attracted to the TA who is off limits. She has to navigate all of her strong feelings while trying to hide from those who hunt her. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bonded Nightmare and regretted putting it down to go to work. I gave it 4 stars simply because I had questions about the backstory/magical world. I bet more will information will be shared in book two. Can’t wait!
This was such a fun read! The characters were fun and lovable, and this book had all of my favorite tropes. Sometimes I just want a fantasy book with romance as the plot, and this delivered! Don’t get me wrong, I love some good world building and a plot with twists and turns, but books like this are equally great! The relationship was well written, and I was all but kicking my feet and squealing! I can’t wait to read the next one!
This books had me giggling and kicking my feet 3 chapters in! If you love fated mates, he falls first, forced proximity, and shadow daddies, you'll probably enjoy this modern romantasy. I will admit I was a little unsure about Kai and Ezra at first, but they both made me fall head over heels by the end. I loved seeing Eryn grow in this book - I could see some readers finding her self-doubt and anxiety annoying, but I think the way it was portrayed in this book fit well. And Rani is the best friend anyone could ask for. I can't wait for the second book!
Thank you to E.M. Rinaldi and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for my review.
Okay the first thing I have to say is how dare you?? You’re going to write a book like THAT and then make me wait for the next one? It’s cruel 😭
I was honestly a little hesitant to read this at first because it just sounded so good and I was worried it wouldn’t live up to my hopes. Well it definitely did and then some.
I’ve been chasing the feeling of Bonds That Tie ever since I read it for the first time and this has all of those same feels and vibes. If you liked that you’re gonna love this.
Kai and Eryn
Eryn is a freaking badass. The whole world is basically against her and has knocked her down more times than she can count but she didn’t let it make her weak. It made her a fighter and we LOVE a strong fmc who don’t need no man, especially not her bond. Enter Kai. Her hot as heck bond who has decided that it doesn’t matter she hates him, he’s going to make her fall in love with him anyway 😏. The banter is freaking top notch. You’re gonna laugh, you’re gonna kick your feet and giggle, and you’re definitely gonna blush. They have to work together to save both of their lives and it gets steamy. Literal touch her and die.
The Plot
I was drawn to this book right away because fated mates and he falls first?? It’s a winning freaking combo. The book starts off fast paced and it never lets you down. It maintains the feels and drama all the way through. There’s not a lot of spice but oh my gosh when the spice does come it’s freaking hot. There’s no lulls and it definitely doesn’t drag anywhere.
The back and forth dialogue never feels forced. There’s been so many times where it just doesn’t feel natural to the story and ends up distancing you from the characters and that’s certainly not a problem here. Everything between all of the characters feels real. The side characters are dynamic and integral to the story instead of being an afterthought. You’re gonna fall in love with them too.
Final Thoughts
I genuinely have nothing bad to say about this book, and I’m typically a nitpicky reader. This is definitely in my top five of all time and E.M Rinaldi is now one of my instabuy authors. The slump this book will put me in is going to be massive.
This is my first book by E.M. Rinaldi. That said, I thoroughly devoured this book. It was an awesome and thrilling read; I could not put it down. The intricacies of the characters and the world-building were well done. I was hooked from the heart-pounding prologue. I love a good 'fated mates' trope, the push and pull between the characters were deliciously drawn out. And the spice was definitely spicing.
"If you don't run up those stairs right now and lock your door, I'm going to f*ck you all over this room."
-Kai
"I could slide my c*ck so deep inside you, you wouldn't be able to climb off. I could lean you back and slow-f*ck you until your eyes roll back, and your voice goes hoarse from screaming, until your juices drip between us to soak the ground, until our bond snaps into place so hard you'd never even think of leaving me again."
- (Also) Kai
I mean hello shadow daddy. But more than the lust and passion, there's a profound feeling of something deeper. You feel it through the pages and it is just so swoon-worthy.
"You belong to be as much as I do you."
- (You guessed it) Kai
All I can say is, trust me it was a great ride. I highly recommend this book. And I look forward to more of E.M. Rinaldi's works.
To the author: Thank you so much for the advanced copy of your beautiful work.
Eryn Montalli, is the last unbonded nightmare, hunted for her magick and forced to live a life on the run. Her desire for a quiet existence caring for injured animals is shattered when she receives the ominous message: "They found your bond." Fleeing to Moorcroft University, Eryn attempts to carve out a semblance of normalcy among humans, only to find herself entangled with an overprotective witch whose touch ignites unexpected desires within her.
Rinaldi excels in creating a richly detailed world where magickal beings exist alongside humans, seamlessly blending the fantastical with the mundane. The setting of Moorcroft University adds an additional layer of intrigue, providing the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama.
What sets "Bonded Nightmare" apart is its masterful balance between romance and plot development. While the chemistry between the characters sizzles on the page, Rinaldi never allows it to overshadow the intricacies of the story. Instead, she weaves together a narrative filled with twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the very end.
As an advance reader copy (ARC) recipient, I was eager to dive into this novel, and I can confidently say that it did not disappoint. From the electrifying romance to the spine-tingling suspense, "Bonded Nightmare" held me captive from start to finish.
I received this as an ARC, and I couldn't wait to get started with It! Thank you net galley! 😊
From the start i was obsessed with this book and hated when i needed to put it down to get any work done lol. The story starts off with Eryn and a little bit of action and back story into who she is. She goes off to college to pursue veterinary school when a mysterious sexy TA rocks her world meanwhile Eryn refuses to acknowledge the danger she may be in. The story was easy to follow along to and didn’t leave me with too many unanswered questions. Kai is literal perfection 😭 understanding but a little controlling is the perfect mix ugh he’s sexy he’s sweet and he’s the perfect book boyfriend! There was the perfect amount of spice in this book and i loved the tension and slow build up between Kai and Eryn. I also loved Eryn’s best friend Rani! A true ride or die right there i can’t wait for book 2 and learn more about Ezra and Rani 🥹 highly recommend for a good “dark” romance
A girl on the run, trying to separate herself from a world against her, finds herself settling into the most normal life she has ever had, just for it to be turned upside down by a guy she rejected years ago. Except he is beautiful and kind and possessive and everywhere. And rejecting him again is harder than she imagined it would be. Can she let go of the life she imagined for the life he is promising her?
You guys. This book is PERFECTION.
If you are fan of fantasy like The Cruel Prince, ACOTAR, and Fourth Wing, you will love this! It is enemies to lovers, fated mates, and a shadow wielder all rolled up into a perfect book!
The characters are so easy to love and deeply complex in the issues that they are facing. The world is the perfect balance of known and mysterious for the reader and the ending leave you begging for the next book!
If you like...
-Fated Mates
-Forced Proximity
-"Touch her and die"
-Shadow Wielders
-Supernatural Beings
-Found Family
...then this book is made for you.
May can't come soon enough!!
If you are looking for spice, you have come to the right place. I was hooked within the first two pages—college, magic, bonds/mates all rolled into one.
The intro page says it is for readers who know that sometimes romance IS the plot, and this book came through on that promise. Bonded Nightmare is a playful game of cat and mouse. It has witty banter and teasing, the kind that makes you actually squeal a little bit (or was that just me?).
Eryn is a compassionate, animal loving, stubborn as all hell magic spitfire of a “nightmare,” in denial of her absolute attraction to shadow daddy Kai, aka her bond.
The spice was great—ultimately I gave it 4 stars because I do wish the action plot line was a little stronger or more woven in with the romance plot line. However, this fact is stated early on so the book doesn’t claim to be anything it’s not; I just prefer a tiny bit more substance. I think it would have been helpful to learn a bit more about their magic world, the differences between the factions, and have more background on the tribunal.
I absolutely fell in love with this book!
Was full of different mythical creatures like vampires,sirens, witches & warlocks.
The ending was so exciting for me and I’m so happy there is another book coming out based on my 2 favourite characters Rani & Ezra…loved them both from the second they met each other!
Was so fast paced and the chapters were so long & intimidating but they keep you so gripped that you don’t even notice how long they are!
Can’t wait to see what future books bring, for this book to be the beginning of their journey I’m already excited to read more!
When I received this arc I didn't expect to be so interested that I would spend 7 hours reading this book in a single sitting. The story was good and although I found the world building to be lacking just a smidgen I was unable to put it down. This book had the right amount of spice and was fast paced once you got around 30ish percent into the book. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one.
Oooh this book was GOOD!! Shadow daddy, spice, fantasy. I can’t wait to check out for from this author and recommend this to all my bookstagram friends to read!
A spicy, paranormal fantasy romance? Count me in.
Eryn and Kai are fated mates.. they’re bonded. Eryn is very stubborn to accept this bond after living her life on the run. Kai is the perfect mix of protective yet devoted to his bonded mate.
Likes: Kai’s love for Eryn. And gosh I wish I had his patience. I also loved the found family aspect and the loving friendships, Ezra, Rani and Kai were awesome through and through. Well rounded characters and they were entertaining.
The spice? Was spicy!🌶️ the spicy was so well written and well done.
Dislikes: I felt like some world building could have been more present or at least more information of the magic systems. As well, more information on the nightmares backstory and why Eryn’s family was the last.
The spice, although well done, overshadowed the plot by a lot. There was a lot of focus on the foreplay before bonding that when they finally did “bond” it was lack luster and fell flat.
I can’t wait to get my hands on Siren Bound to continue the journey with Ezra and Rani
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for and honest review.
Power of nightmares and shadow daddy
What a cute read. This was recommended in multiple social media platforms and the cover alone is stunning so of course I needed to read the arc xD
I say this a lot but fated mates is just not my thing UNLESS there is actual story and development instead of instant attraction. While there is a little bit of instant attraction Eryn wants nothing to do with Kai so you get to see some formation of their relationship with a bunch of push & pull.
Kai is such a cocky sweetheart and we love him for that.
Even the side characters in this book were great. I'm excited to get their story in book 2.
Bonded Nightmare is the perfect paranormal romance. I absolutely loved the world building and found it so easy to follow along. I also love anything with fated mates/bonds and enemies to lovers, so this was a no brainer for a book I’d enjoy reading. I loved seeing Eryn’s journey throughout her life, but also as she discovers what she likes and wants in life. The slow burn and chemistry between her and Kai is perfect and I love how much romance drives the plot of this book.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and E.M. Rinaldi for the chance to read an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lets start off with the story, this book is a fantasy romance (with lots of spice), it's mostly romance based but does still have a good plot to go along with the romance. I do generally prefer a book that has at least a half/half romance-story ratio but I'd say this leans more to the romance side, the author does explain that so if that is not your jam this book is probably not for you.
HOWEVER I will say even if you're unsure you should give this book a go, because I LOVED this book and it kept me up all night reading to finish it..never any dull moments, the story was intriguing and I loved the magic system.
The world has humans (who are none the wiser to the magicks of the world) and magick factions (different types of magical beings who all want to be the strongest faction) using any magick can be traced by any magical being and so the stronger magick you have/use the bigger target you put on your back. The FMC is of a more rare/stronger type of Nightmare magick and because of this other magical beings are trying to track her to kill her.
The story obviously delves more into all this then what I can in a review but I will also say the relationship between the 2 main characters is amazinggg 🔥 sooo much chemistry and their banter is on point!
You might love this story like I do, if you like:
✨️MMC with shadow magic
✨️FMC with nightmare magic
✨️Touch her and die vibes
✨️Banter
✨️Fated mates
✨️He falls first and harder (a bit unhinged with his overprotectiveness of FMC lol)
✨️Spice 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶
I LOVED IT!!!!
An enjoyable read but not one that immediately stood out to me. The book kept a good pace and had some interesting options for plot but only loosely explored these in favour of following the main characters' sexual relationship. The spice was well written but the actual characters were introduced as unlikeable and didn't so much improve as the reader was encouraged to forget all their red flags. Overall this fits the bill for some basic spice for those who need it but would have benefitted from a more nuanced exploration of the characters and world.
You MUST read this book.
Hear me out, first of all the cover is gorgeous, and perfect. It's exactly how I pictured Eryn!
Second, if you love fated mates, supernatural enemies to lovers, a feisty FMC, and, let's face it, a cinnamon roll of an MMC, this is definitely a book you should read andkeep in your bookcase!
This book hooked me from the beginning, especially because it's set in the real world. I get a bit frustrated when I start a new fantasy, while learning about the magic, the world, the particularities, which don't get me wrong, are great. But reading about Kai putting on a Fast and Furious film while trying to cuddle Eryn is next level.
What I have loved most about Kai and Eryn's relationship is that, even though Eryn rejected the bond at first - which is something great if you think about it, I mean, a woman who doesn't want to be known as the bond of someone, like a property of whomever, and to keep on living her life the way she wanted - and Kai's consequent distress over it, he didn't push himself on to her. He seeks her out of course, but he was willing to give her time and space for her to figure out if and what she really wanted out of the bond.
Not just take it, as he was expected - and told of by his mom - and also what Eryn feared he would do. Kai is just so taken with Eryn, he'll do everything for her, to protect her, and he's not just words, he actually shows her that he doesn't care if he has to wait years for their bond to snap into place - or if it wouldn't happen at all - he would always be there to protect her. He knows she's strong and that she can take care of herself, but he just wants to be there for her. Which is what any one would want and need with a partner.
The banter these two have is golden, the smutty scenes are everything you expect, while fidgeting and waiting for the eventual bonding that we know is going to happen sooner or later.
Ezra, Kai's cousin, is an extremely interesting character and I'm really curious to find out what happens next between him and Rani, after what went down at the end of Bonded Nightmare. If Kai and Eryn's banter was golden, Ezra and Rani's will be so much better, I know.
Thank you so much for this eARC!