I came for the cover and stayed for the story! "Bonded Nightmare" is the story of Eryn and Kaiden. Eryn is a nightmare, meaning she feeds on dreams and can exert control over the minds of others. Nightmares are essentially extinct because of the fear of their enormous power potential. Kaiden, or Kai, is a warlock from a family of power. Just after her 18th birthday, Eryn learns Kaiden is her "bond", basically her fated mate. Convinced he is one of those who have hunted her kind, she rejects (or so she thinks) their bond and tries to disappear. Kai, of course, is not going to let this happen.

Their true story begins 2 years later when Eryn begins college level vet studies and Kai is her TA for one of her courses. He hides who he is at first, which does nothing to endear him to Eryn when she eventually learns the truth. Of course, she eventually warms up to him - and his shadows. (Yum!)

E.M. Rinaldi has written an entertaining book filled with spice and banter and fabulous secondary characters. The romance outweighs the fantasy/paranormal aspects of the story and I am admittedly not totally clear on all aspects of the universe Rinaldi is creating. The ending was also a little abrupt, though I can see this being because there is a very interconnected book 2 on the way (and I am here for its main couple!). But Kai is a great combo of sweet and possessive alphahole and Eryn's journey to self-acceptance is lovely.

I definitely recommend this book. 4 strong stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.

“To the readers who know that sometimes…romance is the plot”

Seeing this at the beginning I was prepared for less world building and plot and immediately was sucked into the romance and banter. We did get more plot at the end but you really don’t get much.

At times I was wanting more information on the magic system and everyone’s powers but I think it was meant to be this way to write more of a romance spice book and I’m honestly torn between 4 or 5 stars. Some moments I think 4 and others 5 so maybe I’ll for once do a 4.5 rating.

I love Kai so damn much! Him falling first and being all in and willing to wait and be patient and wanting nothing in return was everything I needed. Literally everything that came out of his mouth had me squealing and wanting more. He’s now added to my list of favorite shadow daddy’s.

The spice in this is off the charts and SO good 🥵

Overall I read this book super quick and really enjoyed the love story. I’m interested in the next book because I loved the banter and angst in this one and I see it being just as good in the next but I could also see it being similar.

This was my first book from this author but Im interested in ready others!

If you want plot and a lot of world building this book probably isn’t for you but if you’re looking for a sexy shadow daddy who is sweet and puts your needs before his own and you love good banter and spice then I think you’ll love this!

Thank you NetGalley and E.M. Rinaldi for the ARC!

LOVING SOME ROMANTASY. THIS WAS A GOOD FANTASY/ROMANCE - WITH SNARKY CHARACTERS. I DO FEEL LIKE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE DEPTH IN REGARDS TO THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. IT SEEMED LIKE A BACK & FORTH OF SCHOOL AND FIGHTING, I STILL ENJOYED IT THOUGH. WONDER IF THERE WILL BE A FOLLOW-UP... (3.5*)

This book is EVERYTHING!!! Has allll my favorite tropes rolled into one and THEN had the audacity to be extremely well written TOO!!! I loved every second of this read, from the characters to the plot to the tension you could cut with a knife!

Ok this book surprised me!
From the beginning it’s VERY interesting, I liked the author's writing, it is very light, and quick to read and entertain you.✨

The story is not complicated at all, a girl who runs away from her Bond because she just wants a quiet life, but the tranquility goes away when she meets Kai, not only does she have to deal with him, but with other supernatural beings who want to kill her.👀
It is a paranormal romance, vampires, mermaids, witches, djinn and... nightmares, the truth is it's all very interesting haha.

I liked the whole story, I liked that it was a little slow burn, the chemistry and dynamic of the protagonists was very funny and very good, (and obviously also their hot moments haha ​​omg😮‍💨), Kai and Eryn are very cute, a Who doesn't like boys to fall first?!! I love it!🤍

But I also have to say that the ones that caught my attention the most were Ezra and Rani!! 🤍Omg, I can't wait to read their story!!! That ending omg I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW!😍

If you want to read something quick and also light, this is for you!

-Fated mates
-Touch her and die
-Forced proximity
-Dual pov
-He falls first
-Shadow daddy
-Paranormal Romance




Thanks Netgalley for the arc

as soon as i read the synopsis i knew i was going to like this book. I loved the dynamics between the main characters. i loved the dynamics between the side characters rani and ezra even more.

howevery there were still a few points of this book that could be improved.
the world building for example. as a fantasy book i would have liked for the world, magic system and the supernatural beings to be explained a little bit more. the author could have gone more into detail about how some of the supernatural beings were made or why there was a tribunal and what everyones role in it was. instead the bigger focus was on the consumation of bond of kaiden and eryn.
as a romantasy lover i didnt mind the heavy focus on the romance but it would have been nice to see a more detailed fantasy world that would also add more depth to the plot.

speaking of the bond, the whole time since the beginning of the book the goal was to complete the bond, in order for kaiden, the heir to the witch faction to become more powerful. unfortunately the author did not go more in depth about how that power increased once the bond was completet.
the action part of the book was okay, nothing too special.

even though after everything i just wrote it might seem that i didnt like the book, i actually really did. i was invested in the thoughts and relationships of the characters, espcially the relationship of the side characters. when i finished the book it said that there would be a book about them which made me really happy and i will definitely pick that one up, as soon as it is available.
i am very happy i found out about this book and i will definitely keep my eye out on other works by this author.

I loved this book! I devoured it in 2 days and I could not stop reading!
It has a unique world and magic. Very steaming romance that kept me giggling.
Really enjoyed the book!

I really enjoyed this book! 😊

It took me a little while to warm up to the MMC at first, I found him a little creepy in the beginning 😅! But I warmed up to him during the book and really liked him during the second half 😊!

I really liked the FMC too, her reactions during the book are exactly how I would probably react in those situations too 😅, I also loved her love of animals 🥹!!

I rated 4* instead of 5* as I wish there was a little more world building in the book, to give us a little more explanation about the magic systems etc, and the world of the supernatural ! But hopefully we will get a bit more of that in the second book 😊

I really enjoyed this book overall though and I loved the ending! i cannot wait for the next book ♥️ thank you again for picking me as an ARC reader !!

I really liked the description and the cover. I love enemies to lovers, but this one was just ok. It started with intense hate then a sudden obsession. I did not like Eryn's character she was a little try hard. Overall it was just ok. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, E. M. Rinaldi, and the publishers.

4.5 stars

This was everything that I was hoping that it would be. It has enemies to lovers, dual pov, fated mates, and shadow daddy. Eryn is a strong female character. I loved reading her story. Their story is so interesting and entertaining. It’s definitely not one that you can stop reading. I can’t wait to read more in this duology or series.

I ATE THIS UP. I stayed up late to finish this. I could not put it down.

Tropes that we have: Fated Mates, He falls first, touch her and die, shadow daddy, spice spice spicy, paranormal romance, and more! Are these listed tropes some of my favorites? YOU BET.

An unbonded nightmare…the last of their kind…oooooooooo boy, you already know that its about to me a crazy ride.

*Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC. I am leaving an honest and voluntary review*

This was a fated mates, paranormal romance, with secrets, spice and one very protective MMC.

Eryn is known as Nightmare, who feeds on dreams and has the ability to control minds. She's pretty much the last of her species and has been on the run her entire life. While Kai is the witch heir and part of the court that originally put the kill order on her species. After finding out that they’re bonded - the family is granted clemency and basically without meeting Kai, Eryn is like uh absolutely not bye.

The story picks up two years later with Eryn attending college and running into her very hot and cold TA (cough -its Kai- cough). There is a lot of push and pull and lack of trust. Which I really liked in the beginning but as the story goes on it gets kind of old. There is a lot of finger banging, which granted isn’t awful but at some point it’s meh. There was so much leading up to the actual deed that I kind of felt underwhelmed when it got down to it. It was written well as a spicy scene but I wish there was more tension leading up to it.

This book is meant to be more romance driven than plot heavy, which I appreciate because sometimes ya girl really is here just for the dang romance. I think if there was less foreplay and more angst, I would’ve been hooked. I was more interested in the side characters' upcoming romance (book 2) than with Kai and Eryn.

Arc review

Bonded nightmare by E. M. Rinaldi


One of the things that I liked about the books was that it is a dual pov, and I am a sucker for dual POVs 💕
I was skeptical while reading this book at the beginning, the MMC was being a jackass but as I progressed through the story, i fell in love with his character development, this was kinda grumpyXgrumpy trope but I liked it because the chemistry between the two main leads was oozing off, it was a romantic book to the core and I loved the dedication author put on it and agree with it. I couldn’t relate to FMC much but I still liked reading about her, she is a bit reckless but I kinda liked that about her character.
The story was set in a college background which luckily was just what I needed at that time. The spice and plot was well balanced.
Overall the story was easy to read, the writing style was new to me but I enjoyed it. I don’t want to say much to avoid spoiler
But if you like
Enemies to lovers
Shadow daddy
Forced proximity
Dual POV
Fated mates

Then this book is for you.
Thank NetGalley and author E M Rinaldi for giving me this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

This book was absolutely fantastic! I devoured it in a single day—I just couldn't tear myself away. If you enjoy a captivating dual POV romantasy (with a strong emphasis on romance) featuring enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, rival factions, a charismatic "shadow daddy," and a "he falls first" trope, then this kid a must read!!

The witty banter between the main characters is superb, and I completely fell in love with Kai and Eryn's journey. The slow-burn romance and spicy moments are truly delightful. Additionally, the side characters are phenomenal and greatly enrich the overall storyline and plot.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves romantasy novels!

I just reviewed Bonded Nightmare by E.M. Rinaldi. #BondedNightmare #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and E. M. Rinaldi for this ARC!

The cover and blurb definitely drew me in and I am so glad I applied for the ARC. Will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next books because this was such a good time.

The world building and characterisations weren't that serious or super deep but it was a great time overall because the vibes were immaculate. Quick and fast paced read and the writing was engaging and flows well. I basically read it all in one sitting if I didn't have to go to work.

Initially the main leads bond was quite surface level and I was afraid it would all just rely on spice (which was definitely spicy) but I'm glad to see that they came to truly trust and love one another. The tension was thick, that's for sure. I'm invested to see more of how their relationship developed by the end of the book, though the ending was a bit rushed for me and focused more on the secondary couple.

Would read again and keen on the next in the series.

Overall rating: 4/5

🖤 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲
🖤 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
🖤 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞
🖤 𝐇𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭
🖤 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
🖤 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
🖤 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲

Whoa, this lit a fire inside of me never saw coming! 🤗 If you're into books like 'The Bonds That Tie,' prepare to be seduced by this one—it's steamier than hell. Imagine a 'shadow daddy' with a mouth so filthy it could make a sailor blush, but beneath that sinful facade beats a heart of pure desire, especially when it comes to his mate and She's determined to keep her distance, striving for a shred of normalcy in a world where she's one of only three of her kind (her parents completing the trio).

Enemies-to-friends-to-lovers? That's just the appetizer. Add in the intoxicating allure of fated mates, and you've got a recipe for pure ecstasy. The chemistry between these characters is scorching, leaving me breathless and craving more with every turn of the page. And let me tell you, when it comes to Kai... well, let's just say he knows how to leave a woman begging for more. Trust me, darling, you won't want to miss out!

ill just leave a little taste of kai for you here - “𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙘^𝙘𝙠 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙗 𝙤𝙛𝙛. 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬-𝙛^𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙟𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙖𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙, 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.” 😜😈

5/5 ⭐️ THE SPICE WAS GIVING!!!!!!

When I tell you that I could not put this down, I absolutely mean it. I started it around 4:30pm at night and finished at 7am the following morning. THIS. BOOK. WILL. HAVE. YOU. HOOKED. 🪝

I absolutely loved how much of a spitfire/firecracker Eryn was and how utterly irresistible Kai was.

I adored their witty banter, how spicy and steamy their relationship was, and how much love I could feel between the two in the pages.

I cannot wait for the second book! I will definitely be applying for an arc of that and buying the physical books to this series once they are available to purchase!

Obsessed is an understatement. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

New to me author and it always makes my heart sing when I find an author I’ve never heard of and fall in love with their writing. I LOVED this book.

It’s my favorite tropes!!

Fated Mates
He Falls First
Push and Pull
Slow Burn
Magic and Powers
Spicy
Amazing Side Characters
Touch Her and Die
Shadow Daddy 🔥

Eryn is a rare breed. She feeds off peoples dreams. Shes a “Nightmare.”
She can manipulate minds. Of course, with that kind of power, others have nearly eradicated her kind.
Her bond ends up being the heir to a powerful witch faction.
He’s a warlock. A hot one. A powerful one. A shadow daddy.

She denied their bond for years. He’s known everything about her.
And loves her fiercely already.

“I never wanted you to be unhappy, Eryn,” he swore.
I only ever wanted a life with you.”

“I didn’t care if she denied the bond for the rest of our lives, I’d still protect her. The very thought of anything happening to her made me sick. I couldn’t imagine a world without her in it, even if it was nowhere near me, not after meeting her. “

This is enemies to lovers in a college setting. It’s filled with action and tension. Full of magic and mystery.
It kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The next story seems like it’s gonna be about a new set of bonds, which were the side characters in this story, which I am very excited about. I hope to see more about the political and magical world of this setting!

4.5⭐️

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to EM Rinaldi and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

This book was unlike the books that I usually read, which might mean I’m not the target audience for it. That being said, I did enjoy it and found it to be an easy and quick read! I thought the plot was unique compared to the few other paranormal romances that I have read. I really enjoy the Fated Mates trope and thought this was well done in the book! The cover of this book is also absolutely gorgeous 😍

I didn’t find the world that the book was set in to be overly compelling, which is something that I usually look for in a book.

Overall, I think fans of paranormal romance would enjoy this book!

The premise for this was really interesting. It started off well and was easy to get into. The author has a nice engaging writing style as well. Unfortunately I started to get frustrated at various points of the story. The world building was not great. Despite the fact that she had been on the run/hunted all her life Eryn seemed to have no sense of danger/self preservation or skills to protect herself and multiple times she walked into a very obvious trap. Fair enough she might not have been able to openly use her magic growing up but her parents appear to have just let her go off into the world without the necessary knowledge or skills to properly protect herself. After the third time this happened it started to feel like she was being written that way so that Kai could come to the rescue and that relationship/bond could develop. I think the same outcome could have been achieved with her having some kind of self defence skills other than running away and knowledge of her own power which did not need to come from one of the male characters.

There were also plot points which seemed to just be left hanging (they did not even discuss how and why she ended up poisoned , Eryn seemingly never spoke to her parents again even when there were very obvious questions she needed answered and what happened with the vampire heir issue? ) I think there is a lot of potential in this story and there are some really nice elements like Eryn’s friendship with Rani and Ezra and Kai’s relationship but the execution could have been better. Others will probably enjoy it more though. 2 🌟