Reviewed by: Sue Eaton

 

TITLE: The Shackles That Hold Us

SERIES: The Magi Accounts 2

AUTHOR: Michele Notaro

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 397 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 30, 2022

BLURB:

As if crushin’ on a shifter wasn’t bad enough, I had to go and date one.

A mage and a shifter walk into a bar… No, that’s the whole joke.

Magi and shifters don’t mix, and yet I find myself in a relationship with Cosmo, a lion shifter. And on top of that, Cosmo, and all his pride members, consider my brothers and me to be a part of their pride. Three magi in a shifter pride. Who would’ve ever thought?

Navigating our connection while trying to figure out what’s going on in the world isn’t easy. Trusting that Cosmo means forever when he says it? Even harder. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned since meeting the Ono-Nais, it’s that taking a risk with my heart will be worth it to be a part of their lives.

 

REVIEW:

I was waiting expectantly for the second book in this series to come out and I was not disappointed.  It was everything I hoped it would be and much more.  It has action and intrigue with a mystery to solve before it’s too late.  So many feelings and I was horrified but I could not put this book down.

 

Madeo and Cosmo continue with their romance and their relationship is slowly developing.   It was great to see them interact more with Cosmo’s pride, going for weekly dinners, with Jude and Logan also becoming more comfortable with and accepting of the Pride members.

The feeling that the three of them had found friends outside themselves that they could trust and rely on was heartwarming.

 

The overarching story line continued to be developed with more shifters disappearing and more witch sigils appearing.  The Team is looking into all of these happening covertly, off the books being careful not to be discovered but things escalate, and they are officially on the case.

 

The terror, panic, and helplessness when Jude and Madeo are whisked back to the Magi compound to be tortured by the sadistic ex-guard who holds a grudge against them, from years ago, is palpable.  These scenes whilst upsetting is not graphic and most of it centers on Cosmo trying to get them back rather than what they are going through.  It is alluded to, and the results are seen but not explicitly described.

 

It was fantastic to see Cosmo dive into a role he had never wanted or desired, but he will do anything to get Madeo and Jude back and away from the terrifying compound.

 

The aftermath of the things Madeo and Jude experienced at the compound awakens old fears and nightmares and finding out what Cosmo had to do to ensure he got them back quickly doesn’t sit well with Madeo.  He is annoyed that once again a decision has been taken away from him, when he has had zero control over his life in the past, the small amount of control he now has is very precious to him.

 

The action heats up and the truth about the missing shifters and witches is finally revealed with an epic battle scene which is fast moving and brutal with moments of sorrow and relief to be there at the end.

 

There is so much in this book the ongoing romance, the magi compound, more about the Cloaked Highway, missing shifters, witches, many, many, more monsters, and bigger rips in the veils.  It is action packed and fast paced and Michelle manages to inject those homely moments with the Pride, it is a fantastic book well written with awesome characters.

 

I can’t wait to read the next books in the series as I need to know what happens next and if Madeo and Cosmo can influence change for their people.

 

RATING:

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