Are you by chance looking for an underrated fantasy romance with hot book boyfriends and a unique world-building? Well, then you are in the right place, dear bookworms, we have just the thing for you! J. Bree’s The Bonds that Tie series is trending on BookTok and with good reason. We can assure you, you will be hooked from Broken Bonds, the very first book in the six-book series.
Now on to the fun part! Broken Bonds is a slow-burn romantasy series starter, with the reverse harem trope, lots of spicy and significant character development. It is those characters that drive the story, and their bonding with each other, that surpasses lifetimes and death.
For those who swear by strong-willed FMC forced to bond with lots of hot men, check out our Blood of Hercules summary and character analysis. And for those who want a taste of the dark side of romance, here is our Haunting Adeline summary, and our suggested Devil’s Night reading order.
.jpg)
Now, let’s meet Oleander Fallows and her super hot bonds!
Oleander has been running from her bonds—kinda like fated mates—for years. When she is finally located and dragged back to Draven, her life changes completely. Meant to bond with not one but two of the fearsome Draven brothers with their gift of shadows, and three more hotties with powerful gifts, she finds herself cornered. North, Nox, Gryphon, and Gabe all live together and have been searching all over for her. When she refuses to bond with them and give any explanation as to why, all pent-up aggression resulting from their need to bond comes out as hostility.
The only person who accepts her is the last of her bonds, Atlas. But he is on the other side of the coast and hides more secrets. Oli finds a best friend and an anchor in Sage, who is also part of a problematic bond group, and they quickly become besties. Oli pretends that she is giftless and powerless, but when the Resistance finally locates her and attacks, she is forced to reveal the truth; there is a terrible power inside her, and she has been protecting her bonds all along. This revelation will change everything, and her bonds will have to not only convince her it’s safe to bond but also eliminate all the threats to make it so.
Powers: Soul Rendering, Mapping, Brain Melting, Incapacitation
At just 19, Oli is as powerful and dangerous as they come. She lost all her parents—her mom and her three bonded—in a car crash and was seized by the Resistance. She is resilient, stubborn, brave, and cunning. She managed to escape Silas Davies’ clutches without breaking after two years of torture. Running away from her bonds, the people her soul is calling for, has resulted in her bond being erratic. The bond that resides inside her is unlike any other; it is a sentient being and plays a vital role in keeping her safe.
At first, all her bonds are hostile and keep their distance. She is the central bond of their group, and they blame her for abandoning them, not knowing her true motives. The only one in her corner is Atlas, who also helps her escape North’s scrutiny. Gabe is the next bond she will make amends with once she admits she never wanted to leave him behind. Gryphon will also be there for her in a very difficult and embarrassing time, which will bring them closer. Which leaves the Draven brothers and their trauma.
The fact that all her bonds are super powerful terrifies her. Her power is already volatile and hard to control. What will bonding with anyone, let alone all of them, mean for her powers? When her bonds realize she was trying to protect them all along, it will be a game-changer.
Powers: Death Touch, Death Dealing, Shadow Shifting
Que Shadowdaddy No. 1! North is the oldest of the bonded group—or Draven bonded group—he has shadows, looks lethal in a suit and is hard-working. He holds a seat in the Gifted Coulcil in the West Coast and has fought for the rights of both Gifted and Non-Gifted from the moment he took his seat. At first, he overwhelms Oli with his control and trust issues, but as he gets to know her, he loosens her reins. He likes to take care of her in subtle gestures, like filling her plate with all her favorite things.
He is very protective of his brother and stands as a buffer between him and Oli. He does not hesitate to judge Nox and even punish him when he crosses the line with her. He has been trying to put the pieces of Oli’s disappearance together for years, and when he does, he is prepared to die for her. Not surprisingly, he will be the second to bond with Oli, but the first she chooses to trust in Blood Bonds.
Powers: Mapping, Neurokineses, Pain Manipulation, Lie Detection
From the very first moment, Gryphon is our brooding, mysterious and mostly silent bond. He is somehow always present around Oli, but does not intervene. He leads a Tac-Team despite his young age and is a very powerful Neuro. He is Nox’s best friend, but this will not keep him back from Oli when she needs him. Despite keeping his distance, Gryphon senses her discomfort and like the perfect gentleman that he is, he rushes to her side.
Gryphon sees Oli’ passion, resilience, and talent for Tac-Team operations and will help train her along with Vivian—an older Tac-Team leader. He got his scar from Gabe losing control when shifting, but has not held it against him for a second. He has a sister he is close with, but does not get along with his parents. He will be the first one to bond with Oli in Savage Bonds, and although it’s not an entirely pleasant affair at first, he will make sure Oli is loved and taken care of.
Powers: Shifting
You know what they say, every group needs its hot biker shifter jock! Gabriel Ardern is the athlete of the group, the same age as Oli, but unlike her, he is super popular and loved by all. He is tasked with escorting her everywhere, and even though they have the same classes, he avoids her like the plague. But the minute anyone so much as stares at Oli wrong, Gabe is there to defend her.
When Oli admits she didn’t want to leave him and that not bonding pains her, Gabe realizes she wants him as much as he does and they bury the hatchet. He is a sweetheart with a dirty mouth, and the yearning is real. He was practically raised by the Dravens and Gryphon and that they are his family, along with Oli. He will also have an amazing bromance with Atlas in the next books. He does not bond with Oli until Book 4, Forced Bonds, and let us tell you, he has been waiting for her in every sense.
Powers: Shielding, Super Strength, Indestructibility
Atlas is a fan favorite from the get-go. He lives on the East Coast, but he is present in Oli’s life at Draven Campus despite the distance. He does not question her choice to run, he’s just happy she is back and wants to get to know her. He gives her time, space, and acceptance. The minute things go wrong, he is on a plane and knocking at her door. Oli is the pearl of his eye, and he is openly affectionate to her, which helps Oli deal with her raging bond and the loneliness.
Being the same age as Gabe, we see how different the two are, but they have a heartwarming bromance as the story moves on. However, like the hot tattooed guy your mom warned you about, Atlas Bassinger has many secrets. His family are Resistance supporters, and he not only ditched them for Oli, but will also help destroy them. Their bonding in Broken Bonds is mainly emotional, and their trust in each other is very deeply rooted.
Shadowdaddy No. 2 and the wickedest of them all! Nox hates Oli and all the blood bonds represent. He is a professor at Draven Uni, and he makes sure to destroy Oli’s essay and any chance at academic success, forcing North to take over, which is a very common motif in his life. He is the first one who kisses Oli, but being the obnoxious ass he is, he tries to force their bonding without consent. The others immediately turn on him, but it is Oli who defends him and cuts him some slack.
He is very damaged and prefers solitude and no strings attached. He is a bookworm and very smart and accomplished. He will accept bonding with Oli for the sake of the bond group, but it will take a massive event that involves their souls being bound and laid bare to one another before he accepts her. He will fall last, but he will fall the hardest of all. He will kill Silas Davies himself, and will play a massive role in the last two books, Tragic Bonds and Unbroken Bonds.
Powers: Flame
Sage is the first person to befriend Oli. Her bond, Riley, has rejected her, and she is scorned or pitied for that. They are both outcasts, and they bond over it. She and her brother Sawyer, a technokinetic, and her bonded group, which she will find later on, will help our team throughout the story. The change from a delicate flower to a badass is real!
If you used to watch The Vampire Diaries and think why choose when she can have them both, then this is the paranormal romance book series for you! It might seem like a bully romance at first, but trust us, once the masks fall it’s all just love, raw, lustful and emotional.
For the latest Amazon releases, book reviews, TikTok deep dives and all things romance, join our crewfiction and subscribe to our Tea & Cakes Newsletter.
Nox Draven has a lot of trauma and shame, from his sexually abusive relationship with his mother during his childhood. She would make him call her “Bonded”, which is why he cannot accept the bond and is freaked out by Oli’s presence.
Oli first bonds with Gryphon, after she smells female perfume on his sheets, her bond takes over and they bond. Then she will bond with North and Atlas in Book 3. In the fourth book, she bonds with Gabe and Nox, completing their bonded group.
Always living in her own enchanted little world, Christina discovered the magic that can be hidden within the pages of a book when one dares to take a closer look from a tender age. An avid reader, she is constantly inspired to delve into the secrets woven between the lines and challenges herself to find her own voice amidst the chaos. She is a dedicated fan of the classics, but the supernatural creatures that have tormented readers for years are her kryptonite. The mastery it takes to infuse the author's essence, molded by the era they grew up in to their innermost desires fascinates her. Undoubtedly, putting her passion and knowledge on paper has a mesmerizing allure on her, and following the steps of so many other dreamers before her she wishes to leave her mark in the literary world. Guided by T.S Eliot’s haunting words: “I will show you fear in a handful of dust” she intends to wreak havoc in the minds of her future readers.
