Review: These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan
“I don’t think love is about what we deserve. It’s an opening of our hearts, not a judgement we make.”
The Basics
Title: These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow Vows #2)
Author: Lexi Ryan
Published: 2022
Publisher: Clarion Books — HarperCollins
Pages: 476
Format: Hardcover
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, High fantasy, Romance, Fantasy romance, Young adult, Young adult fantasy, New adult
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Book Synopsis
Betrayed by the one male she thought she could trust, Brie now finds herself bereft of both her mortality and crown, but there is one thing she has retained – her power. Sebastian might wear the Unseelie crown, but its power is hers and hers alone. This separation of the crown from its power, however, has left the Unseelie people vulnerable, for until the crown is reunited with its power, no one can sit on the Unseelie throne, a weakness which the Seelie queen is only all too willing to exploit. To save the Unseelie Court from destruction, Brie must do the unthinkable: trust and work alongside the two princes who deceived her. Saving the realm, however, will require an even greater sacrifice than this – the shattering of her already broken heart.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: An escapist delight and wonderful conclusion to the These Hollow Vows duology.
Warning: Spoilers ahead
These Twisted Bonds had me in its thrall from the very beginning. From the moment that I cracked it open, I struggled to put it down, squirreling away time so that I need not be away from it for too long. I spent the better part of two days lost between its pages, entranced by its story. Action, romance, revelations, and even a sprinkling of court politics: this book has all the trimmings. It is just as good, if not better than, its predecessor, and it closes out the These Hollow Vows duology on a thoroughly satisfying note.
Picking up right where These Hollow Vows left off, These Twisted Bonds starts off in the thick of things, with Brie fleeing the Seelie palace after learning of Sebastian’s deception. Her fate is uncertain, and this uncertainty, coupled with the right-off-the-bat action and not-so-minor matter of her bond with Sebastian, secures your attention from the get-go. The reappearance of Finn about 100 pages in cements the book’s hold on you, for with Finn comes romance and oh-so-much sexual tension.
He and Brie have always had chemistry, but hitherto, their relationship took a backseat to that of Brie and Sebastian. In this book, however, their relationship becomes the focal point. We see them transform from reluctant allies to friends to something decidedly more. This progression is perfectly paced, with just the right amount of buildup to when they get together, and once they do, enough uncertainty over the outcome of their relationship remains to keep you turning page after page. Perhaps more importantly though, their romance features such delectable tropes as forced proximity, fake dating, love triangle, and the pièce de resistance – the only-one-bed conundrum. There is even a touch of spice, so if that’s your jam, you’re in luck.
While Brie and Finn’s romance might be the star of the show, it is by no means the entirety of the story. Omnipresent and uncoiling in the background is the Seelie queen’s plot to topple the Unseelie Court. When and how she will strike is unknown, which creates this pervasive sense of dread. This, in turn, adds to the book’s unputdownable-ness, for you want to keep reading in order to ascertain whether everyone and everything will be okay.
Another noteworthy aspect of this book is its world expansion. It builds upon the world introduced in These Hollow Vows, traveling beyond the bounds of the Seelie Court and Unseelie palace. We journey to the faraway reaches of the Unseelie Court, as well as visit the Wild Fae Lands, which hitherto have only been referenced in conversation. We also delve more into the history of the Faerie realm, including how and why the two courts formed. Granted, the world building is not the most intricate that I have come across, but not every fantasy needs to be Tolkienesque in its descriptions.
These Twisted Bonds also sees the introduction of several characters, as well as the growth of existing ones. The two most notable additions are Misha and Amira, the Wild Fae king and queen, respectively. Mentioned but never seen in These Hollow Vows, These Twisted Bonds finally puts faces to the names. Amira is a calm, reassuring, and perceptive character. She is a somewhat minor character, only making a few appearances, but the scenes featuring her are enjoyable. Her husband, Misha, has more screen, or rather page, time and is a delightful character. He is charming and witty, and he develops a wonderful friendship with Brie. The two of them have a fun, effortless connection.
As for the primary characters, they comprise the same individuals from the previous book. Brie, Finn, and Sebastian all return, and each of them undergoes some type of transformation over the course of the book, becoming better versions of themselves. Even Sebastian, my least favorite character, becomes tolerable by the book’s end. Finn’s band of misfits also return, injecting humor and warmth into the story. Plus, who doesn’t love the found family trope?
Bringing everything together is the writing. These Twisted Bonds is written in the first person and present tense, which creates a highly immersive reading experience. We see events unfold in real time alongside Brie, which consequently, means that we are just as in the dark as she is with regard to what will happen next. This uncertainty imbues the story with a sense of mystery and suspense, which ensures that your attention never strays for too long or far.
The not so good
Brie can be exasperatingly clueless at times. For instance, she is laughably blind to Finn’s feelings for her, and there are some scenes where things seem to go in one ear and out the other for her.
The writing, while fine overall, does have a couple of issues with it. For starters, the pacing is a bit off for the first 100 pages or so. The book starts off with a bam but then experiences a lull as the action tapers off during Brie’s time at Castle Craige. The dialogue can also be a bit corny, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. I, for one, do not mind the occasional sappy remark in a romance.
The book also ends with a couple of loose threads. So as to not give too much away, I will just note that it would have been nice to know what Finn’s father said and whether one of the characters ends up becoming immortal.
Lastly, this is not a criticism per se, but I wish These Hollow Vows could have been a trilogy instead of a duology. I was so enjoying the story that I could easily have read another book about Brie and the gang. The author did at least provide an epilogue, which grants us a glimpse into the lives of some of the characters after the events of the book.
Overall
Is These Twisted Bonds the pinnacle of fantasy? No, but I love it nonetheless. It had me smiling, laughing, and turning page after page. It offered me refuge from the stress of everyday life, temporarily pushing aside my worries while I concerned myself with those of the characters. In short, it did what a good work of fiction should do: it made me lost in its world.
Have you read These Twisted Bonds? If so, what did you think – loved it? Hated it? Ambivalent about it? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section below!
