Bondage

Where should I even start? Unlike the readers who loved the first three books I feel like I'm at an advantage since I didn't, in fact, love the first three books. Still, this one has been a disappointment.

Two of the things I anticipated happened indeed, and it's not as much as anticipation as it is cliché. This only adds to my disappointment, but I'll leave those aside and move onto more plot relevant things.

Unlike the previous books, here I got a bit of more insight on Tobias and Phantom's relationship. I can say I see now how it was different and how it lead to all the disaster for them. It only took four books for that to be clear to the reader... Focusing on Phantom for a bit, I understand he needs help, very kind of Tobias to help him, even kinder of Noah to help him too, but the whole thing was way too abrupt and I didn't feel anything the characters said they were feeling. I am usually all in for a good polyamorous relationship, but here it feels like Noah is not all in, it feels like Noah and Tobias just took Phantom in because they had no choice. No, Noah had no choice, Tobias wanted to, and all of Noah's fears about Phantom were justified. Noah was absolutely right when he said he feared that Tobias and Phantom would reconnect and the only thing staying in between them would have been himself. The only thing keeping Noah there is everyone's stubbornness and their fear of it not working. Phantom's attitude towards Noah and Tobias' relationship is annoying too, he acts like a spoiled kid. Phantom is spoiled and immature and yes, I know where it all comes from, but it wouldn't hurt for him to grow tf up.

Noah was still great for most of the book, I actually dare say he would be a better Dom than Tobias is. He won't be one, that's not who Noah is, but he has potential. Then again, Noah was ruined, so anything is possible. So far I was happy about Noah's character development (the only character development in the series), but then he was absolutely ruined. Noah loved his job, loved what he did, it was important to him, but then all of a sudden this is not what he signed up on. What? Noah quitting being a cop is the most disappointing thing in the whole series, everything about him was just squished like that. Why? I have no more words. What a shame.

I am going to go ahead and read the last book of the series. I know it won't be good, I fully expect more disappointment, but, well, there's only one book left so I better get on with it and then move on.