Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

3.5 stars rounded up

This book was interesting, it is a fantasy romance with a ton of vampires, mysteries, prophecies, and messy romance. The plot had some great conflicts with a lot of high stacks and drama. It was very entertaining and read very quickly.
There were a couple inconsistent throughout the book mostly relating to characters' personalities being depicted in one manner and them doing and saying things that don't really match. I would have really liked a more clear and detailed description. For example, I did not have a clear picture and rules surrounding vampires, mainly the Dominic family for most of the book. Things did end up getting cleared up, but I spent most of the book having way more questions than answers. The romance was ok for me, a bit insta love and did not really like Dominic, he did grow on me more as the story went on. Overall, I did have fun reading this and I am interested in continuing this series.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

This book has all the elements that drew me in—witches, vampires, and just the right touch of romance. It gives off strong Twilight meets The Vampire Diaries vibes, which was right up my alley as someone who can’t resist rewatching TVD.

What really stood out to me was the fresh spin on the magic system and the way vampires, werewolves, and witches were portrayed. It’s not easy to make these familiar themes feel new, but A Bond with the Dark managed to pull it off in a way that kept me intrigued.

However, I did find myself struggling a bit with the pacing early on. While the characters, especially Bash, were compelling, the story took a while to pick up, and there were moments where the writing felt a bit heavy, overexplaining things that didn’t need it. That said, once the plot got going, I found myself really enjoying it. Despite the slow start, I’m glad I had the chance to dive into this world, and by the end, it had me hooked. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to discover this unique twist on familiar fantasy elements!

Thank you for this e-Arc.
I really enjoyed A Bond with the Dark. Inara Gage has created a fun romantasy with interesting world-building, character's, and magic system, with an amazing mix of supernatural creatures!
The plot twist at the end!!

There were a few pacing issues for me, but overall, I enjoyed the storyline, and Vampire Diary vibes.

Great idea! Interesting worldbuilding! And who doesn't love a modern world with Vampires and what not...

Potential Spoilers

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This book had me hooked from the beginning. I feel the stress the FMC is going through and love how the MMC dates her, unwittingly falling for her hard in the process. The story is interesting and unique, with phoenixes, vampires, warlocks, fae, and lycan. The intertwining of the two main families tie them together more than they ever realized. They interplay between the main characters to resolve an issue that can either kill or save them. In the end, the FMC and MMC are at an impasse, unable to resolve the issues between them. This book ends in a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to the next book release. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy your book!

Thank you for NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for approving my request for an e-ARC of this book! This book is definitely made for fans of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals!

Inara Gage's A Bond with the Dark is a blend of dark fantasy, romance, and supernatural elements. The novel follows Sayah, a complex protagonist with a tumultuous past, as she navigates a world filled with witches, vampires, demons, and other supernatural beings. The book is the first installment in The Beautifully Broken Saga.

Sayah, the FMC, is a complex character who has experienced struggles in her past, and Dominic, the MMC, has his own fair share of familial struggles. The book delivers strong chemistry between the two characters, even has spice (imo very sexy!), but also some elements of 'who will she choose'.

I felt like the pacing was a bit slow at first, but I sped through it once I got passed the 1/4 mark. The dialogue was realistic and easy to read. I also appreciated the worldbuilding in this book. The world feels immersive with a well-crafted lore and magic system. One thing that stood out for me is the similarities between this supernatural universe and TVD, without it being too copied.

Overall, A Bond with the Dark is a book that is a mix of familiar tropes and plot twists that could make you keep turning that page! I loved this book and would recommend it for readers and fans of romance and fantasy within a supernatural world with witches and vampires! I can't wait to read the second book!

Ich habe mich über das Buch sehr gefreut. Es ist nicht nur fließend zum lesen sondern auch sehr spannend.

I DNF it at 30 percent I couldn’t take it anymore! Especially after chapter 16. I really think this story could have gone somewhere but it was poorly written and I love twilight but seriously? I loved that more traditional magick was used and that instead of mind wiping the author called it veilweaving. But over all it was unbearable and I really wish it wasn’t. I was super excited and it was a complete flop.

Whilst I thought this book sounded right up my street, the story sounded really interesting and I was excited to start reading it but I just could not get into at all. It took me a week to get to 31% and that was me forcing myself to read it.

I did like the FMC as she wasn't your typical main character, she had trauma yet didn't let it define her as well as being a single mother.

Having said that, I didn't like the writing style at all, it felt very young. I enjoy chivalry as much as the next person but the language used by Dom and his actions was just a bit too much.

I felt this book had a lot of potential but sadly it just wasn't for me.

Super easy book to read.
A great mix of heaps of different supernatural creatures! Good smut, relationship building, family, danger and twists.

A romantasy that didn't focus on the romance more than the rest of the plot. The story line was intertwined perfectly with events at the beginning coming to fruition in the end.

The book in my opinion is written more in the direction of the younger adult readers. I didn't enjoy the writing

Oh. My. Goodness...this book was so so good! And the twist at the end I did NOT see coming! Can't wait for the next book!

I really enjoyed a lot of things about this book. The witches, vampires and romance. Kinda felt like Twilight meets The Vampire Diaries, which is fine because I enjoyed both of those, and still watch TVD reruns every now and then.

However, I did have a bit of a hard time getting into the story. I loved the characters, Bash especially, but the story pacing was a little slow for me and there were a few sections which felt boring due to the slowness. It definitely picked up more towards the end and was very enjoyable to read.

I enjoyed this book. It was well written, the world was complex with all kinds of species, and the characters were interesting. Our FMC Sayah went through a lot in her life, so it makes you root even harder for her success and happiness. Especially when it comes to Dom (I'm a sucker for a bit of romance). It will be interesting to see where their story ends up!

I really appreciated the unique magic system and approach to vampires/ werewolves/ witches that A Bond with the Dark had. It’s hard to tell these similar fantasy stories in unique and new ways, so I always get excited when I find one that changes things up!

Other reviews mention the prose and how it tends to overcomplicate/overexplain, and I felt the same. It did take me out of the story at times, but I still enjoyed the book and I’m grateful for the chance from Netgalley to have read it!

I loved the worldbuilding of this book, you can tell that the author really took some time to think about how each character/time/place was going to fit together. It gives all the vampire diaries vibes and I loved all the twists and turns all the characters had to get through. I am always a fan of anything fantasy but especially when it involves every supernatural creature you can think of, and this book is rammed full of them all!

I am a BIG fan of having differently abled representation too, especially in a character that was relatively central and so was referenced/present a lot. I also really loved Sayah, I struggled through her confusion and her pain with her and was really rooting for her right until the end. She's a fabulous mother and I enjoyed reading about a character who has children that didn't just disappear after the first mention.

I highly recommend this book, there is a lot of worldbuilding and context at the beginning but I didn't feel that the story was tough to find. The first page had me absolutely hooked and I needed to know where it all came into play so really drove me through the first half of the book faster than I normally ever get through anything! Very excited for book 2!

I just couldn't get into this book. Which sucks because when I read the description I was so intrigued but it didn't hit the mark I was hoping it would.

I unfortunately stopped reading at 18%. I try my best to finish a book even if its not my cup of tea, but I was unable to do that with this one. I also understand that world building is important. With that being said everything I read felt completely out of place and I was very confused with what I was reading. It was very hard to stay with it until 18%. It never really caught my attention and was kind of all over the place. I could never get into it and decided to not continue.

A Bond With the Dark by Inara Gage.
I am a sucker for Romantasy books, and this one did not disappoint. It started out a little slow, but it was also important information, to get to know Sayah and Dom. Once they officially meet, the book takes off and I couldn’t put it down. It is fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your chair. The chemistry between the characters is wonderful. There were some unexpected twists and turn along the way as well. I cannot wait for the next book in The Beautifully Broken Saga series to be released, it will be a must read for me.