If you like Beauty and the Beast retellings, Bonded by Thorns might be your next obsession. It manages to merge the elements we’ve come to know with four princes. Yes you read that right. Keep reading this book review of Bonded by Thorns for my full thoughts.
Summary
I’ve always loved fairytales. I never imagined I’d actually be in one.
When my father wanders into the enchanted realm of the fae, I know I have to go after him. And when he gets imprisoned, I’ll do anything to save him… Even trade my freedom for his. I had no idea I’d end up imprisoned by four sexy fae who turn into beasts at night.
I have to win my freedom, and that means making a bargain with them. They must find their mates in order to break the curse. If I can help them do that, they’ll set me free. Sounds simple, right?
It’s not. Because against my better judgment, I’m starting to fall for these beastly princes. One is smart and sweet, the other mysterious and deadly, another flirty and confident, and the last prince… He’s handsome, strong, has a wicked temper, and is dead-set against breaking the curse. Why does he want to keep me here forever?
But it’s not just my freedom on the line. If I don’t break the princes’ curse soon, all the magic in the Enchanted Vale will be stolen by the evil—and stupidly hot—Prince of Thorns. And I’m not letting my princes stay cursed.
Not after I’ve fallen in love with them.
Review
I gotta admit, I liked Bonded by Thorns way more when it departed from some classic Beauty and the Beast elements. That being said, as someone who doesn’t normally like B&B retellings, this was the bare bones. We have Gaston, who is truly awful here, the premise and the bargain, and the book lover character. But where Bonded by Thorns departs is in the set up of the four courts and the princes. While I am looking forward more to where the book can jump off in the second book, this felt a bit like a very long lead up for part one to what I assume is book two.
Bonded by Thorns has a quick hook. Part of it is that it is setting up the story much like B&B so there’s not too much introduction that has to happen. With wolves, shapeshifting magic, and princes, I liked the ways we see the other prince’s POVs. Without it I think we lose some of the context and the character building. It’s an ambitious set up to try to do five POVs right when we don’t know much about any of them. While it is 100% necessary, it did take a bit of time to get into especially since there’s so much history between the princes.
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The spice is relatively tame in the whole spice universe, but all in all Bonded by Thorns is a good lead in book. While I wish it had a bit more for a well rounded book one – it feels very much like an introduction act – if you like Beauty and the Beast and want an adult version with prince courts, then this is for you. Find Bonded by Thorns on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.