Bonds

A Royal States Novel

Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
452 Pages
Reviewed on 05/12/2020
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Bonds is an installment in the Royal States series penned by author Susan Copperfield. This is a work of fiction in the urban fantasy genre and is aimed at older audiences due to some moderate language and violent content warnings. Set in the Royal States of America, an alternative version of the USA where magic rules every aspect of life, the novel follows rescue diver Jack Alders. Using his arcane talents to prevent an oil spill from reaching the French coastline, Jack unwittingly discovers a secret that could shake the foundation of the Royal States, and one that puts him squarely in the crosshairs of a royal tyrant.

Author Susan Copperfield has created a marvelous fantasy diversion that is sure to provide a lavish and exciting new brand of escapism to anyone who is lucky enough to discover it. As a newcomer to the Royal States series, I was enchanted by the inventive worldbuilding and clever societal, cultural, and atmospheric changes that Copperfield’s alternative universe brings about, and she has clearly spent many novels already developing the dynamics of the cast of characters. It was easy to fall into the story though, and soon I was as invested in the intrigue as any die-hard fan could be, and enjoying Jack and Melody’s banter and interesting relationship type. I’m also a huge fan of cats, so there were many moments that brought a huge smile to my face during the reading experience. Overall, I would highly recommend Bonds and the Royal States series in general to drama fans looking for something accomplished and unique.

Foluso Falaye

At the heart of the sea lies a sinking oil tanker that holds a secret and opens the door to a life of grandeur, danger, and love. In the Royal States of America, magic separates the rulers from the masses. Jack Alders goes into hiding because some royals seek to assassinate him and what is left of his family after escaping regicide. He keeps his identity and magic a secret in France and becomes a search and rescue diver. However, a dangerous rescue mission and a smart, beautiful doctor threaten to expose his identity and destroy his walls. Magic rules in Bonds and the royals have extremely powerful talents: truth seeing, animal empathy, and weaving of earth, fire, water, air, ice, and illumination. Susan Copperfield takes creativity to a whole new level!

If Bonds was a color, it would be gold. I stepped into a world of magic, royalty, and wealth, and it gave me a warm, cozy feeling. With detailed analysis of the human anatomy, ships, planes, political strategies, wildlife, and more, Bonds is both well researched and well presented. Cat lovers would be thrilled, and I have a strong desire to bond with one after falling in love with Cattus Horribilus and Sparrow. Bonds contains curse words but no sexual or religious content; violence is minimal. I did not want the story to end as it brought some calm and peace, and an escape from the noise. Susan Copperfield's royal romance, Bonds, will convert skeptics to believers and even turn them into fervent publicists.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

Bonds by Susan Copperfield is book 6 in A Royal States Novel Series. Magic rules overall in the Royal States of America but life and love will always find their path. An oil tanker is sinking off the beautiful French coastline, threatening to destroy it. Jack Alders is a search-and-rescue diver with a talent for waveweaving and he is the only thing that stands between France and an oil spill to end them all. When Jack boards the stricken ship, he is shocked by what he finds. Not only will it change the course the Royal States is on, but it will also put him firmly in the line of sight of a royal tyrant looking for blood.

Bonds: A Royal States Novel by Susan Copperfield was a refreshing read. I haven’t read any other books in the series but I will do – this one has whetted my appetite enough to want to know where it all began. The cast of characters is varied and a little bit wild, including the feline characters, a tongue-in-cheek look (or maybe not) at what life would be like if pets were rulers (they are anyway, aren’t they?). This is a well-paced novel that kept me hooked and laughing all the way through. It’s a nice clean story, with just a little violence but nothing over the top or that doesn’t belong in the story. It's an action-packed magical story that will leave you wanting more, not just at the end of the book but at the end of each chapter – it wasn’t difficult to read this pretty much in one sitting. Once you start, you won’t put it down and you’ll be longing to read the next installment.