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.

1.5/5 stars

Wow... this was a book and I fell victim to the "cool premise, poor execution". Overall, I have three major problems with this book.

First off, the pacing is everywhere. The first 100 pages are like slugging through the mud with 50 lbs of hiking gear on your back and every time you think you are out of that mud, you end up just wadding into more of it. There was a point where if the pacing went off the deep end because of the continuous lore dumping we receive, I ended up just skimming over a lot of the filler.

That brings me to my second major problem with the book. There is SO MUCH filler and repetition. For example, FMC has a black cat named Nox which is cool. Why is it that every time we bring up Nox, we must mention that he is a black cat? Also, why do we even say that FMC has a cat when the cat serves zero purpose? Who is feeding this cat when she is just going on trips with MMC?
Here's a little snip-bit of the same issue just with fog:

"The mist is thick this time, and I can't see in front of me. I'm walking, although I don't know where I am. The fog is so thick, it's as if the clouds have landed on earth, and I'm walking around them. I may even be up in the clouds, but then I can feel the soft soil of the Earth beneath my bare feet."

That is one whole paragraph explaining to us twice that the fog is very thick and I wouldn't have griped much if this only happened a couple of times but this happens throughout the WHOLE book.

Lastly, the dialog is also brutal at times and if there is an expression for the audio version of Uncanny Valley, the dialog would be summed with that. FMC, I think, is supposed to be in her 30s and I know MMC is supposed to appear in his late 30s but you wouldn't know that because they all act like they are in their early 20s and no one possesses a single functioning brain cell. It is extremely jarring when the FMC is supposed to have lived this hard long life when she doesn't act like she has even experienced life in the first place.

I lied there is a fourth problem that I have with this book and it's Gauge. Gauge is FMC's 10-year-old son and I forgot he existed. Again you would think that Gauge would play a large role in his mother's life, especially during this time when FMC's mom and step-dad died in a horrible fire and she is dealing with a lot of chaos that is caused by MMC. No.. nada... nothing... We as the readers get to listen to FMC rehash repeatedly Gauge's disabilities and why he is in a wheelchair (which like thumbs-up for representation. We are here for that) but it doesn't serve anything to the narrative of that FMC's life is full of ups and downs. Gauge's character demonstrates one of the major shortcomings of this book: the author fails to make us care about the characters in the first place.

This was such a good story! I loved the vampire diaries vibes. I also loved that BOTH MCs were morally gray and the FMC was fierce and resilient! The world building was really well done and the story was fast paced, action packed, and full of twists and surprises. I really enjoyed the romance with the love triangle and the spice was so good! Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dark romantasy!

This book has a lot of potential! However, it felt like a YA book but with 36-year old characters. The two chapters of their first meeting and then first date felt very out of place in a fantasy book, and there was a lot of telling not showing about Sayah's lifelong tragedy and how that must make her a phoenix. Dom's family also had a weird dynamic that I did not enjoy reading their scenes, and I would recommend refining Sayah's backstory as well to be more palatable.

The book felt like a mix of Twilight, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and The Vampire Diaries.
I felt like the romance plot didn’t have much build up between the two characters before they got together, the first half of the book felt like a romance book not a fantasy books. I felt like the conflict got washed over and when it was solved it got solved very fast and easily. The pacing of the book was a bit funny, it would pick up and then fizzle back down.The book ended making you want to read the second book straight after. I think you grew up and loved Twilight and Vampire Diaries, think you’ll love this!

It was a struggle to finish through the end, but I stayed with it hoping that it would improve. I haven't read a book with a phoenix in a long time, and I was looking forward to it. It did improve towards the end, but not enough. The multiple POV's rotating back and forth as quickly as it did was a struggle. World building and character development needs improvement. The overall story building of the grimspawn and the warlocks almost made me DNF from the very beginning.

Sayah's relationship with Dom developed super-fast. from the very first date. I didn't enjoy it. Having Sebastion come in definitely gave off TVD vibes between good brother and bad brother. It borrowed too heavily on that theme including giving Dom the same good and dark sides that you see similarly in Stefan in TVD. I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did.

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to review this ARC.

This book perfectly balances the elements of a true fantasy romance. It's a delightful mix of cozy romance and thrilling adventure, topped with a generous sprinkle of spicy scenes.

DNF. Far raunchier than I expected, and not in a fun way. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ALMOST DNF but pushed through and I must say I absolutely love Sayah. Between her backstory & all of the monsters. The cover is absolutely beautiful.! I’m hoping the book has sprayed edges it would be stunning! I can’t wait for book 2!

Thank you to The Publisher BooksGoSocial ,The Author Inara Gage & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Twilight meets The Vampire Diaries.

I did enjoy the final twists of the book, the Lasayah (I will always read this as lasagna but don't mind me I'm Italian) at the end is not the single mom we meet at the very start of the book and that was something very much appreciated.

Taking out the first half, where I found Sayah a bit wobbly in terms of actions. Example is when she feels Dom is certain to be a danger for her and her child, many times explaining how her witch sense are good at pointing out the soul of other beings. And yet literally gave him her address number and all on the very first date, even if she did think at first that maybe, <s>maybe </s>, the should trust her witch instructs and not the pretty appearance of a man that literally forced very subtly himself in her life. There are some unrealistic scenes and some second-hand embarrassment ones that made me want to throw my kindle against the wall.

Dom, unlike what I've written up here, is actually a gentleman (this screams Stefan Salvatore, aka the younger brother in TVD) but at times he's very naive. Which made me appreciate him quite a lot, especially his POV. It made it easy for me to like him a lot, even after the final twists that came at the end.

It hurt a lot since we all know who deep down Sayah, (and if you don't say Bash, Sebastian, strangled older brother or however you like to name him, literally screaming I'm a second copy of Damon Salvatore then you are lying to yourself) is ending up with.

I did like the writing, simple and not too heavy, maybe some chapters where a tiny bit too long but not at all. The world building didn't go too much into detail but in this case I found it right to do so. It is quite fast-paced and action packed so bombs of lore would have killed the vibe off a bit too much.

Tropes you will find here.
-Vampire x Witch
-Single mom
-Dual POV
-Loss and grieving
-Many magical creatures.
-He falls harder and sooner
- Hot older brother
-spice? 🌶️🌶️.5 / few scenes but I did appreciate them

Why 3.70 ⭐️ rounded up to 4?
Because I stand for the fact that the book could have been wayyyy better if continuous parallels between TVD and Twilight (where I laughed so hard when I saw it mentioned in the book) hadn't been made.

⭐ 2.75 (Rounded Up)

“It's as though the ancestors before us lit a trail of magick in our veins for us to follow back to the craft long after they're gone.”

This book started so strong I loved the descriptions in the book! The author made it so you could feel the magick in the air, but at some point that kind of fizzled which is very unfortunate.

I wasn’t a fan of Dom’s chapters until he learned of Sayah, then they became slightly more interesting to me. Almost as soon as Sayah & Dom met the plot kind of evaporated for a little bit, and Dom’s flirting with Sayah had me cringing so bad, possibly because it felt too real, and anyone who has flirted with me like that turned out to be a stinky (not smell) person.

It’s hard to not notice the strong influence Twilight and The Vampire Diaries had on this book. If you like that kind of thing then this book is for you but I found it kind of awkward and more like a fanfiction than its own story. There is definitely an audience for this specific kind of book, unfortunately, I don’t think I am a part of it.

I will say chapters 37 - 44 are really good, the plot comes back to the forefront and the elements that made the story feel like fanfiction dissipated.

I got an arc copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and thoroughly enjoyed the read! I was hooked from the first chapter, as I'm a sucker for anything with witches and vampires (and the zombies were cool too).

The FMC, Sayah, is so strong and so refreshing to read about. She's a single mom who has beaten cancer, which you don't often see in books like this.

Dom and Sebastian both have such great chemistry with Sayah, but I find myself hoping she ends up with Bash. He gives me Damon Salvatore vibes, and I love that.

The plot was so entertaining, and kept me hooked the whole time! This book also ends on a cliffhanger that has me waiting anxiously for the second book in the series.

The one negative I have is sometimes the writing could be stronger in places, and some of the dialogue is clunky. Other than that this book is a gem, and I would highly recommend.

"I really wanted to enjoy A Bond with the Dark by Inara Gage because the premise is fantastic—a supernatural world relying on our female main character, surrounded by vampires and warlocks who may be allies or adversaries. However, I found the writing disappointing. The pacing felt off, with awkward and unnatural dialogues that made it hard to connect with the story. The book started slowly, and I had to push myself to keep going. Despite giving it multiple chances, it only started to pick up towards the end, which felt rushed. The strong influence from The Vampire Diaries was apparent throughout, but rather than enhancing my excitement, it somewhat diminished it as the story progressed. Despite these challenges, I did appreciate the characters, especially the strong portrayal of Sayah. That being said, I still believe that people should give this book a chance!

A Bond with the Dark by Inara Gage
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 9 July 2024

"A Bond with the Dark" follows the journey of Sayah Thorne, a reluctant witch thrust into a perilous world after her family perishes in a mysterious fire. Alongside her witch aunts, Sayah seeks truth amidst danger. Meanwhile, Dominic Sangravelli and his siblings battle grimspawn, undead creatures haunting their lives.

Their destinies intertwine when prophecy names Sayah as a catalyst for change. Despite opposition from Dominic's vampire family, he is drawn to Sayah, sparking a forbidden romance.

"A Bond with the Dark" is a dark and enthralling supernatural romance that weaves together vampires, witches, and a captivating storyline. Sayah Thorne, a strong and resilient witch grappling with profound loss, discovers hidden truths about herself and her family following a devastating fire that claims her loved ones, including her mother. Enter Dominic Sangravelli, a compelling vampire with a complex backstory and a powerful family lineage of magical abilities.

From the moment they meet, the chemistry between Sayah and Dominic is tangible, drawing them together despite the challenges they face. Their relationship evolves amidst a backdrop of danger, prophecies, and a well-crafted love triangle that adds depth to the narrative. Inara Gage skilfully immerses readers in a fantastical world where action-packed sequences and heartfelt moments unfold seamlessly.

The novel is fast-paced yet richly detailed, inviting readers to fully immerse themselves in the intricacies of its plot and the depth of its characters. The side characters enhance the storyline, adding layers of emotion and enhancing the overall narrative.

Inara Gage's writing style shines through in this exquisitely crafted tale, showcasing her unique storytelling abilities and creative prowess.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and the author, Inara Gage, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

ARC Review: A Bond With The Dark
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

In “A Bond with the Dark,” Inara Gage, I found myself in a fantasy world with witches, vampires, grimspawn, warlocks, and a PHOENIX!!

It did not grab my full attention in the beginning due to a lot of fantasy creatures building and development. Later in the book, it goes into more detail and definitely had my attention.

After I dove deeper into the book, I loved how the story began to unfold. There was some spice, but it was minimal, in my opinion. The book focused more on the plot, which was great!

There were times when I felt that certain descriptions and phrases were being repeated way too much in the book.

With all that said, I enjoyed the book. It ended with a cliffhanger, though. I am looking forward to reading the second book.


Thank you to @inara_gage for providing me with an ARC to review!

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