Beautiful photo by @houseofmacher!
Hey fairies!
Welcome back to day 2 of our readalong for our August Romantasy featured book: Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen!
I hope you’re all enjoying the book so far! I’m so eager to know who’s in the hot springs. 👀
Today we’re reading from chapter 14 to the end of chapter 26. Let’s go!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen from chapters 14 to 26. Please only read on if you’ve finished this section!
-!SPOILERS!-
Whoever he is… he’s gorgeous, at least Rosalina thinks so! Although if he’s one of the fae from the endpapers, yeah he’s gorgeous!
She’s caught fully ogling him and my GOSH, he’s a flirt! His name’s Dayton, he calls her love. I like him already!
Rosalina asks him about the man in the dungeon and she gets way more information than she was expecting, but none of it really answers her question. The castle is governed by four princes, one for each season and 🥁🥁🥁 Dayton’s one of them! He’s the summer prince and Rosalina is absolutely mortified to discover she’s been sat in the hot springs with a prince!
After her bath, Marigold helps her get ready for bed and reminds her not to leave her room. Naturally… Rosalina leaves her room. You had one job Rosalina.
She heads down to the dungeons with the aim of rescuing the mysterious man but once he wakes and realises she’s unchained him… he tells her to run. His skin ripples, fur sprouts from him and a creature replaces the spot where a man once stood. He kind of resembles a wolf but he’s a lot more monstrous. Oh, Rosalina, you’re in trouble!!!!
The wolf is not the only one either, Rosalina comes across three more. Hm. Four princes… four wolves. Why… whoever could these shapeshifters be??? 👀
Rosalina makes the connection, kinda, and realises Keldarion, the grumpiest of all, actually saves her?
Gosh, these men don’t half bicker! Once Rosalina is out of the way they go off on each other. Farron has had 25 years to control his beast, Kel never keeps prisoners, Dayton has a crush on her. They’re hella petty but I’m kind of here for it? Amongst their drama, we find out the only way they can break this curse is by winning the true love of their fated mate. Womp womp. We leave the boys and head back to Rosalina, but not before Kel orders them all not to touch Rosalina. You don’t own her, Kel!
Ezryn, our tin man, has come to silently heal Rosalina. He eventually speaks after some prodding from Rosalina and he orders her to meet with the princes. She isn’t given a choice. Rude!!
We switch POV’s to Ezryn and his outlook on that little rendezvous is proving very different. She makes him feel alive. My guy, you wouldn’t speak to her!!! I’m a little confused about why he wears the helm constantly. He looks in the mirror and says he doesn’t look fit to rule his dominion but also says he’s still a man, not fully beast yet? I’m confused.
Rosalina meets with the princes and Kel very sternly gives her his terms of what she can and can’t do. Fair, she is still a prisoner I guess. Farron – the prince who can’t control his beast – explains the curse and how he’s been researching it. An ethereal enchantress cursed them… because she wasn’t allowed in? That’s… is that not a bit petty?
Rosalina comes up with a bargain for her freedom – yaaaas Queen!!! She’ll help break the curse and if she succeeds, they’ll set her free. I like it!
It’s a new day and I’m currently sobbing over Farron’s voice breaking when he says hi! Poor guy is flustered! They enter the most enchanting library and Rosalina can’t hold herself back from asking if they have romance books. They do but the fae romance he tells her about really doesn’t have a happy ending… let’s hope this one will, hey!
Is it just me or is The Prince of Thorns giving Dreamlight Valley vibes? Dude’s out here just thorning everything up! Someone get my staff from Merlin, I’ll clean this up in no time!
Ezryn notes that Farron has taken a little shine to our guest but honestly, I think these fae princes are fooling themselves if they don’t realise they’re all smitten! I think Rosalina’s pretty smitten too. She eyes them up whenever she gets the chance, even more so with Ezryn now she’s seeing him without his full armour! Although, in tight fitted clothes and a dark grey helm he’s still quite covered!
As they chat, she realises how easier she finds it to be herself here. That’s oddly sweet… maybe she’ll stay?
She finds out why Kel was so mad about her father stealing a rose. Roses used to bloom here before the briars came, that rose was the last one. They were reminders of their magic and all they’ve lost… except… as they watch, fresh roses bloom before their very eyes! I can’t quite cope with Ezryn agreeing that he’s never seen something so beautiful, whilst looking at ROSALINA. Oh yeah, these boys are FAR gone!
Speaking of being far gone, we’re back to Farron, who I think we should nickname Farrgone (heheheheh), especially since he spends the majority of this chapter just staring at Rosalina. He admits she makes him nervous and even Rosie (love the nickname by the way) is fumbling! She calls him smart and nice and HOT.
All too soon, they’re interrupted by a very drunk Dayton. They cut their research date short and get the fae woman sent back home, Farron helping Dayton get to bed.
Ok, I have a very important question today: Favourite prince? Go!
Also, why do you think roses are blooming again?
Do you have any theories on what’ll happen next?
Can’t wait to read more with you all tomorrow!
Love,
Shannon
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The Girl with No Reflection Readalong: Day 2!
Isla
17th September 2024
Favourite prince absolutely Dayton! I feel like he’s the one who is going to make this the spicy book I’m waiting for! He’s fun and charming and much more easily approachable than the rest (I mean Farron’s nice as well I think) I’m absolutely sure the roses are blooming because od Rosalina but no idea why. I guess we will see
My favorite prince so far is Ezryn. I love that type of character.
I think she is bringing life back to the castle.
I think that they’re going to keep researching and try a couple ways but eventually they’ll find out that she’s their mate.
These dudes have been locked up together waaaay too long. They’ve got to be the fae equivalent of teenage boys. Waaaay too many hormones. Running wild.
Favourite prince? Go!
I think Farron for now…cinnamon roll that turns into a raging monster. Ezryn and Keldarion are great too though. Not a fan of Dayton’s incessant flirting.
Also, why do you think roses are blooming again?
CUZ THERE’S A ROSE(ALINA) IN THE HOUSE
Do you have any theories on what’ll happen next?
Someone better get laid. Maybe a lot of someone’s. They need to get it out of their systems.
I think my favorite prince so far is Farron! He just seems so sweet compared to the other three!! Maybe the roses are blooming again because there’s hope in the castle? I don’t remember which prince it was, but one of them was talking about how the staff seemed to come alive again now that Rosalina is there, so maybe she’s the reason the roses are coming back too. She’s giving everyone (and possibly everything) a reason to live and dream again! I’m expecting the humans to come in and try and get Rosalina or something, since this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling.
Omg favorite prince is a mean question, I’m so curious about all of them! Farron is the kind of person I like I real life, sweet, nerdy, down to earth. But they all have my attention! They’re all definitely still keeping secrets, excited to learn more
I was obsessed with this book.. I have already read the whole thing! I LOOVED it. And I can’t choose who I love most because I love them all! 💕
1. Ok, I have a very important question today: Favourite prince? Go!
Currently Farron!
2. Also, why do you think roses are blooming again?
I think it might have to do with Rosalina (roses are sort of part of her name and her father plucked one for her). Maybe it is a sign that the curse can almost be broken
3. Do you have any theories on what’ll happen next?
Not really, but I do think the mating bond between Rosalina and the prince(s) will snap into place. Although I also really ship Dayton and Farron together!
Hot springs Fae is a blonde with sea blue eyes named Dayton (Prince of the Summer Realm, I assume). That leaves Farron as the Prince of the Autumn Realm & my guess for the imprisoned Fae. Rose releases the imprisoned Fae (Farron, Autumn) only for him to turn into a huge brown wolf (snaked of them) with rotten, mulch-y leaves & black twigs/branched in his fur & burning wood smell on his breath. A giant (biggest of them) white wolf with shards of ice patterning his fur & wet snow smell on his breath (Keldarion, Winter) brings a chill with him as his fights Farron’s wolf off of her & stands guard over her injured body. A black wolf with animal bones & colorful fungi on his fur (Ezryn, Spring) & a golden wolf with coral, sea stars, shells, & sea glass on his fur (Dayton, Summer) take over fighting Farron’s wolf into submission (I’m guessing his humanity completely loses out to the beast at sundown whereas the other aren’t so far gone – yet). Rose realizes these beasts are the princes before getting deposited & (somewhat) healed back in her room by Keldarion’s wolf. Astrid is a white hare with red eyes. Marigold is a raccoon. The gardener turns into a great owl. There are also staff that turn into a bear, a penguin, & a couple of dogs (wouldn’t it be funny if those were the Princes’ valets 😂). Something inside her scratching at her ribs & yowling … her inner wolf/beast that is the mate to (potentially) all of these princes? Awe, Ezryn healed her wounds. I wish she’d let him heal that fucked up wound of Lucas’ name on her left arm. 😮💨 Fully erase him, babe. Maybe the prince(s) would say “who did this to you” & go feral. 😏 Ezryn is as affected by Rose as Dayton (though in a less aroused sense). *I just want to say how much I’m enjoying this book, the writing style, the humor – all of it.* 25 years a go a HUMAN woman came to the Enchanted Vale, meeting each of the princes (still think this is her mom because what’re the odds), & ended up cursing them (& the Castletree staff) to be beasts by night – EXCEPT on the full-moon – until they find their mate(s). Maybe her mom was really an enchantress (“Tale As Old As Time” had that twist). Keldarion also makes a bargain with Rose that she’ll be free of the castle if she breaks the curse which results in a magical bracelet for each of them – only, he has another bracelet above theirs (is this related to the necklace of her mom’s that Papa wears now?). 🤨 The library (WITH rolling ladder, of course) & Farron getting closer with her. The new roses blooming by the fireplace & Ezryn becoming smitten with her as she drinks in the sight of his body without the armor (except the gloves & helm). Farron is flustered by his lust at the sight of her ample cleavage. We find out 1 abandoned his realm (Ezryn?), 1 betrayed his realm (Keldarion?), 1 misused his magic (Dayton?), & then Farron was seemingly undeserving of the curse. Dayton brings a rando to Castletree (against the rules), but it shows Rose how the mirror was the way in/out. It also brings to light the romantic relationship between Dayton & Farron.
Daily Q&A:
Q:
1.) Favourite prince? Go!
2.) Also, why do you think roses are blooming again?
3.) Do you have any theories on what’ll happen next?
A:
1.) I think I’m torn between Ezryn & Farron (my favorite seasons, too) because Keldarion is too rude & cold & Dayton is a manwhoring drunk. I’m sure they all have their redeeming qualities or may eventually drop these unpleasant ways, but Ezryn (after a slight choking incident) gave her a room, company (in the servants, at least), food/water, & healed her wounds while Farron (after his mindless beast wounding her during an attempt to kill her) has given her companionship, knowledge, purpose, & a dream library so far.
2.) I believe ROSE is bringing them back. She managed to get the castle to rearrange its shape to allow her to escape from the dungeon, the thorns growing to help her pick the lock, & now roses blooming? If it’s not magic from her, then the castle is responding to her at the very least.
3.) I think her recent research discovery & learning how the mirror works will come into play. I’m not sure how much endgame will be in this book though considering there’s already 4 books in this series, but she ends up being the mate to 1 (or all) of the princes, Lucas brings a Hunting Party because he thinks he has some claim to her (like Gaston), & hopefully, we’ll get to something spicy beyond the thickening tension.
I think my favourite prince so far is Farron. But, I have a feeling we’ll get to know more about the others soon. I’m interested in Kel a lot. We haven’t really learned much about him.
I think the roses are blooming because Rosalina is there getting closer to the princes and trying to break the curse.
I’m hoping we get to the spicy parts soon! It’ll probably be with Dayton first.
I like Farron but in my head he just seems like a kid brother haha. I am most interested to learn about Ezryn and why he wears a helm all the time.
I think the roses are blooming because of Rosalina being in the castle. Is this book RH? Is Rosalina going to be everyone’s mate??
Favourite prince? Go!
Drunk Dayton! Ahaha he’s a hoot!
Also, why do you think roses are blooming again?
Because they are starting to get the spark of love with their mate. I think as they all fall for Rosalina more flowers will bloom. 🌹
Do you have any theories on what’ll happen next?
I think Rosalina will walk in on Dayton and Farron. I think that will somehow pull them all together. Or the three for now then the 5.
I really am loving this book and need to get the rest of the series already! Hopefully there’ll be some FL editions I can grab in the future.
I am a Farron girlies 100%! I always love a nerdy and awkward love interest and he ticks all the boxes.
I do believe that maybe Rosalina has a lot more to do with the Realms then she thinks, maybe some sort of heritage that allows her to manipulate the briars and of course help the castle bloom more roses! Although I’m not sure if we’ll get all those answers in this book
Favourite prince? Go!
Oh my gosh! It’s a tie between Farron and Ezryn. I cannot choose you can’t make me! 😂
Also, why do you think roses are blooming again?
My theory is that her mom is fae and just happened to fall in love with a human and then have a little half fae half human baby before she was called back to the far realm for something. The way they talked about passing along of powers from parents to kids and how the castle is reacting to Rosie. It’s just adding up for me hehe
Do you have any theories on what’ll happen next?
I have no idea! But I am literally chomping at the bit to see who she will end up with first because they are all horny for her and I can’t stand it haha