Bonded Fate ♥ Beck Michaels ♥ Guardians of the Maiden #3

Published August 2022 ♥ Published by Pluma Press

Book One Review : Divine Blood: A Captivating Fantasy Adventure

Book Two Review : Bonded Fate: The Dark Journey of Dyna and Cassiel

Seek the Maiden with emeralds for sight and tresses of fire, for she holds the key to the Unending thou desires. Beware the Guardians who come to shield her from thee. She will be protected by one of divine blood and a dweller of the moon howling to break free. Thus follows a warrior bestowing his vow, and a sorceress grants her sorcery. A familiar face vies for vengeance and a creature with the strength of ten eradicates the forgery. Great peril in the venture thou art pursuing. Be not swayed by love, lest it be thy undoing.

Thoughts I had while reading Shattered Souls by Beck Michaels

If I remember correctly, Dyna got taken by Tarn’s minions in the last moments of Bonded Fate. I think if we want to get real technical – she gave herself up to the bad guys to save her precious guardians. Dyna’s Guardians currently consist of Zev, Cassiel, and Rawn. A human/werewolf, human/angel, and elf respectively. Oh, and we have the witchy twins. Lucenna hasn’t officially joined The Guardians yet though as she’s on her own mission to save female sorceresses’ from begin drained of their power.

As for the bad guys, most of Tarn’s people are slaves. Von and his lover especially are not bad people, just forced to do bad things. There is an itch at the back of my brain telling me Von and his lover are part of the prophecy or that there’s a second one. Despite being under Tarn’s thumb, both of them, I think, will help Dyna in the future. Now that Dyna is with Tarn hopefully we learn more about his motives. I don’t think we know anything about what actually makes Tarn tick. The “bad guy” POV has been from Von’s perspective up until this point. 

Anyways, here we go. Oh, and spoilers sweetie. Skip on down to My Final Thoughts if you would like to avoid the possibility. 

Part One : Captive 

1. I love prologues in series. There are too many books to be read for me to be rereading just for a refresher. 
2. Good old level-headed Rawn. It’s a good thing they have him. Zev may be a shifter and Cas may be an angel but Rawn he’s the smart one. 
3. I’ll never understand the appeal of immortality. 
4. Someone forgot to tell Tarn Dyna has a hissy fit every time the sun goes down. 
5. Ngl kinda forgot Dyna had learned to wield some magic in Bonded Fate. Which is dumb af because that was like half the point of that book. 
6. Yavi reminds me of Navi. Hey, LISTEN!
7. Zev POV.  No lies, Zev is probably my least favorite character. 
8. Same old cry baby Zev. I get it, dudes been through the wringer. He’s got The Other/The Madness lurking inside of him and he’s racked with guilt from killing his dad. But enough is a fucking ‘nough. 
9. Rawn’s right Zev, fucking accept it and move on. Goddess love Rawn the Guidelander. It’s possible Zev is the most stubborn son of a werewolf ever. 
10. Dyna has always been determined but she has this new defiance about her. The stupid human’s words are filled with venom now that she has witnessed Zev’s “death”.
11. I can’t wait for these mages to meet their maker. Particularly the Grand Magus Benton. 
12. Idk about this escape plan of Dyna’s but okay. 
13. Dalton is gonna get his heart ripped out his throat when Cassiel finds out he’s been flirting with his mate. Props to Dyna for manipulating him tho. 
14. Ah, timey wimey stuff. Plan’s definitely not working Dyna, you’re in a pocket of space outside of the mortal realm. 
15. Oh, I see. This is a much better plan now. Except I still don’t think it’s going to come to fruition. 
16. Oh Tarn is smart. 
17. There’s Lucenna. I liked the addition of her POV in Bonded Fate.  Aw and she misses the crew. 
18. Well shit Cassiel. That’s a new move. Level up you pissed off angel. Level up. 
19. *unshed tears*
20. Oh Yavi. She deserves a girlfriend. 
21. Serves ya fucking rights Haran ya scum bucket. 
22. I fucking love Tarn. 
23. I hope this little wolf ends up Zev’s mate. The poor fucker needs someone other than Dyna. 
24. It’s easy to forget this all started because of a shadow monster. 
25. Ok Yavi, that’s not how you go about making friends. Poor girls convinced Tarn getting laid is the answer to her freedom. 
26. Dalton is growing on me. He’s got Guardian potential. (17%)
27. Two bloodlines eh. Fuck this Mage Code anyways. 
28. Oh but if not your father Dyna, then who? 
29. Damn their fucking laws indeed Lucenna. 
30. Goddess below The Guardians better fucking show up for my girl. She needs them. 
31. Whoop. But for real, a hawk? Ugh. 
32. Does anyone even know about this Shadow Man?
33. I’m just going to keep on saying it… I fucking love Tarn. I want to know everything about him. 
34. Well, that explains that. I knew there had to be something to the constant comparison to ice. 
35. Of course it’s fucking true Dalton. 
36. I want Rawn and Lucenna to fall in love and have little elf sorcerers & sorceresses. 
37. Have I mentioned my love for Tarn yet? Honestly, it reminds me of Chorus of Dragons and how much I loved Var. I fucking love a good villain. 
38. Gods these life debts are annoying. 
39. Seriously Dyna?!?!? (22%)
40. On the other hand, this is helpful. If for no other reason than I get to know more about Tarn. Interesting way to go about giving up that information too. Seeing as my boy Tarn would never. 
41. Skin of their teeth. Don’t hear that one too much anymore. 
42. You are a stupid human Dyna. Her heart is too big and too kind for this world. Any world. 
43. What did Lord Morken do to earn the King’s exile? I get he’s pissed about Tarn being a bastard. But what exactly caused this exile I wonder. 
44. The things that must have happened to Von. He’s almost a different person. The waters are clearing on why Tarn wanted him to suffer under the Life Dept though that’s for sure. 
45. Oh good goddess no. 
46. Wait, Lord Afton isn’t Tarn’s father? 
47. Well shit. I fucking love Tarn even more now. 
48. Really now Dyna, of course Tarn planned for you saying no. 
49. Fuck you Clayton you little fucking worm. 
50. Oh dear Cassiel. Wait, did Dyna just upgrade?
51. Pfft, leave me hanging on a cliff for a flashback. Thank fuck it’s Cassiel and not Zev. (30%)
52. Wait now, Cassiel’s momma lived in the same town as Dyna’s family? I mean if you can trust The Queen. 
53. What a night to choose to go find your mother. Did The Queen have something to do with the Shadow Demon? How did she know?
54. Explanations, I need explanations. 
55. Kill them all Dalton. Kill them all!
56. Ah but Dyna, we mustn’t forget about Len. 
57. I don’t know how I feel about King Yoel atm.

Part Two : Power

1. The Rising. Interesting.
2. Was Dyna’s magic blocked before The Shadow Demon, or after?
3. Klyde certainly has it out for Von. Wonder what he did in the name of Tarn to earn that ire. 
4. Dyna must be one of these hidden kids. 
5. Lucenna knows Klyde? Am I supposed to know Klyde? I don’t remember a Klyde. 
6. I fucking love Pegasus. (38%)
7. If this wasn’t classified as an epic fantasy I would question the necessity of some of these scenes. I mean, I’m still questioning it, this bitch is thick. 
8. Wait, Rawn has a wife? How did I forget that? I guess my dreams of little elf sorcerers running around are out of the question. I know I know, Lucenna is engaged but like, idk anything about that man and I love Rawn. 
9. Dyna is so bloody naive sometimes. Yes, let’s travel all this way to a secluded area on top of a fucking mountain that you need to ride a damn Pegasus to get to .. to just, make a quick escape? Come on. 
10. This Sarrai one must be under the assumption she and Cassiel were to be a thing. Dyna is already throwing a hissy fit about it. 
11. Malakel is a giant piece of celestial shit. What did he do to the Uncle? 
12. Dyna with the Essence or Cassiel with Seraph Fire… who shall snap first?
13. Oh for goddess sake just tell your fucking uncle already. 
14. Knew it. Seriously someone fucking say something already. 
15. Here comes another hissy fit. 
16. Prince Asiel seems .. idk shifty. I don’t think he’s going to willingly let that throne go. 
17. I like Noemi.
18. Asiel is smart. 
19. It’s about damn time. Now maybe we can get back to what happened with the Shadow Demon when these two were mere rugrats. 
20. Of course, Lord Jophiel figured it out, Dyna. Ya’ll really are not that smart or sly. 
21. Zev did say there better be a wedding but I’m not here for it. I mean, unless something freaking fantastic happens like Dyna blows the whole Ridge up. 
22. Thank fuck, Von is here to save the day. I was getting tired of Cassiel and Dyna. (45%)
23. Far be it from me to argue the power of a half-breed celestial but htf is Cassiel going to make Zev an Alpha?
24. Flexing the power of The Guardians in front of court Whoop !
25. So a lie then? 
26. I wonder if Elon’s green elf lifemate is related somehow to Rawn? I remember the dislike between them and put it down to Red vs. Green, but I wonder now if there is something more to that. I still can’t believe I forgot all about Rawn’s family.
27. Sweet fucking baby Pegasus it’s a Rawn chapter. 
28. Asiel is a sneaky little fucker.
29. I’ll agree with Dyna on this, Malakel is a joke. My boy Tarn would eat him alive and use his bones to pluck the feathers from his teeth. 
30. Hermon Ridge is gonna burn they keep this up. (53%)
31. How does Von not know the King of Azure is after the same thing as Tarn? 
32. Well isn’t this an interesting conversation Dyna is snooping in on. 
33. Oh Malakel, I don’t see this ending well for you. 
34. I feel like there’s a prophecy about Cassiel we don’t know yet. Or maybe there’s a small thread I’m forgetting from their time in Helios. 
35. I mean, this is going to come bite them in the ass. 

Part Three : Souls

1. No. 
2. Oh so I did know who Klyde is apparently. 
3. Whew. But, no. 
4. Lucien has the worst timing. Does he not realize that some of his butting in is causing real problems? My girl Lucenna cannot defend herself with her silly ass brother interrupting her thoughts like this.
5. Is Yavi no longer pregnant?
6. I wonder if this manor has any connection to Tarn. I mean, it has to, how many manors could there have been in a place infested with trolls?
7. Poor Von. I find it hard to believe Tarn doesn’t know about Yavi. He knows and he’s biding his time.
8. Are they in Tarns’ room?
9. I don’t quite get it either Lucenna. Someone needs to let Dyna know that she and Cassiel can indeed sleep in the same room. They can even sleep in the same bed without having sex. Dyna has taken the Maiden moniker far too literally. 
10. Maybe let the guard down a bit, Lucenna. Catching flies with honey and all. 
11. Or he knows you let Elon go. He’s definitely up to something. 
12. The Druid eh? I forget his name, but I wonder if it’s the same Druid who put the geas on Dyna?
13. Hopefully this means no more bitching and moaning from Zev. 
14. Gods I love Lucenna. Girls got walls but maybe calm down on the hostility towards Klyde. He’s got answers I want. Honey Lucenna, honey. 
15. Of course, Klyde knows what’s up ! Ya’ll are not sly. I mean, they may as well carry a sign at this point. 
16. Here we go.. 
17. Who are you Klyde? I know in my bones he’s not quite who he says he is.  
18. Does Tarn know people have taken up residence in his childhood home? 
19. Oh there’s crybaby Dyna. The Astron family is filled with crybabies. 
20. Honestly Cassiel, calm your wings there bud. I get it, you’re protective of Dyna but this shit is getting annoying now. 
21. Ughhhh..who are you Klyde?  And if you hurt Lucenna I hope she quite literally rips your heart out. 
22. Oh well okay then. 
23. I mean, it’s not that unreasonable Dyna.
24. This little temper tantrum between Dyna and Cassiel reminds me of pre-bond times when they despised each other.
25. Do tell Dyna, how are you going to stop The Shadow Demon if you expel all your essence, saving fools along the way? Stupid human. It’s like she forgets she’d be dead ten times over if it wasn’t for her Guardians. (80%)
26. Klyde’s gonna kill some mages. 
27. Because you love Klyde. Duh. 
28. Tell her Klyde. 
29. Finally an adult. King Yoel knows things and I want to know them. 
30. Nah, but I suspect there is something else you can and will do King Yoel. 
31. Woah now. 
32. Show him the whole fucking picture then. 
33. I suppose Cassiel needed this moment with King Yoel but my fuck the hissy fit. 
34. I’ll be surprised if King Yoel is still living at the end of this book.
35. Tell him King Daddy Yoel. 
36. I fucking knew there was more to Klyde. 
37. There is truth in these rumours, Dyna. 
38. Oh Von, you aren’t getting off this ship my friend. 
39. Fucking knew he knew.  
40. Oh Yoel. 
41. Uh, don’t trust this Zekiel at all. 
42. Well then.

Shattered Souls Review

Shattered Souls is a thick one. It could be argued that she is indeed too thick.

I had to remind myself numerous times while reading Shattered Souls, that Guardians of the Maiden is not just some regular old fluffy fantasy. Guardians of the Maiden is an epic/high fantasy series. When you take a step back from Shattered Souls and remember that small fact, all the unnecessary scenes and plot tangents are far less frustrating.

Michaels could have easily chopped this book up into the three parts it was written and published each part separately. She could have left half of it on the cutting room floor. But then, Guardians of the Maiden would not be an epic fantasy. Quite frankly with a little reworking, Shattered Souls could have been a trilogy and completed story on its own. Michaels could have made a shit ton of money off it and moved on with her life. But that is not the story she is telling us.

I feel like it is really important to drive that point home. I’ve read some mixed reviews about Shattered Souls and I was surprised to see complaints about the length. Personally, I’m not overly mad at the length. Don’t get me wrong, it was fucking long, but, the story progressed, and the characters developed. Sure there were lulls in the story, but I never once felt like we weren’t going somewhere. I didn’t feel stuck in some plot point that was going nowhere slowly.

And yes, I’m talking about Glow.

Another complaint I seem to have seen a lot of is grammatical errors. I’ll admit, there seemed to be more of them in Shattered Souls. But I beg of you to please remember, Beck Michaels is an indie author. She is pouring her heart and soul onto pages for us to enjoy and no one is perfect. I realize it may be hard to enjoy something when you have to stop and reread a sentence to understand it. However, Michaels isn’t backed by a giant publishing house with the means to have nine hundred people check her work before it goes to print. These things are going to happen.

In the end, Shattered Souls literally shattered my soul like I knew it would.

I was thrilled to learn more about Tarn in Shattered Souls. To finally know what turned the man into a villain, and why Von is tethered to him. We started this tale off with Dyna leaving her home to kill a Shadow Demon. One could be mad that we have moved so far off course from that mission that we are no longer even reading the same story. The thing with that is, Dyna lived in a tiny little hidden village.

The world Michaels is building is coming together. Although it is the same world we were introduced to in Divine Blood, we have come to know it so much better. It hardly feels the same, because it isn’t the same. Dyna had no idea what was going on outside of her village. And it’s a big fucking world outside its protective dome.

The growth of the Maiden Dyna has been incredible as she continues to make her way to Mount Ida in search of a way to save her home. The delicate little maiden we met in Divine Blood is no longer and despite everything, she is still making her way to Mount Ida.

I’m looking forward to what happens next in this journey.

Her heart lurched with utter fear at the roar sounding in the distance.

The frozen forest seemed to stretch endlessly, but the white light grew brighter and it pushed her numb feet onward…

Icy mud burned through her bleeding fingers, desiccated roots cutting her legs.

The sound of claws on stone seemed to scrape her skin.

His throat burned from his screams as his soul was being shredded.

The unbearable pain of the severed bond reduced him to a wretched thing on the ground, begging for the nothingness of death to take him quickly, merely to ease the agony.

Her chest was cracked open and hollow from the bond taken from her-and they were sitting in pitch-black darkness.

A dance of purple lights broke through the dark, illuminating Tarn crouched in front of her, his brow pinched.

Then the needles impaled through her body and every nerve was on fire.

…as they peeled her open and dismembered every fiber of her being.

It was a boundless plain, the ground perfectly reflective, like a mirror made of black water, rippling with each step he took into nothingness.

The black sky glittered with snowfall, and the horizon stretched on endlessly.

Pain is not meant to break you. Enduring it is in itself a cruel trial of strength.

The brokenness on the prince’s face made his own eyes water.

The Maiden was only a means to get what he wanted, then Tarn would crush her as well.

At her silence, his frosted gaze flickered to hers. They reminded her of polished celestine, clear blue and hard as stone.

She keeled over and soft numbness cradled her body with only Tarn’s ice blue eyes following her into her dreams.

Its misty claws would sink into her bones and sometimes all she could do was lie there and scream until she couldn’t anymore.

They glowed vividly within the dark trees as though he held tendrils of fallen stars.

Her large, gray wings arched behind her in the mild breeze as she marched to him with the rest of her squadron.

Every angle of his face grew taut and his gaze… the pure murder in it sank chills through Dyna’s chest.

The temperature dropped in the air as if frost had arrived with his presence.

The phoeniz is a curious sort of creature. They are immortal only in the sense that when they die, it obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor.

The fury rising in her veins melted the weather’s chill.

Beneath them she glimpsed a spark of something that sent frost crystalizing in her veins.

That sweet, innocent girl he first met in Landcaster was learning how dark the world was. It saddened him.

Fear prickled all over her body like needles. She felt his impending presence getting closer, and it terrified her to her core.

The last strike of the whip flattened him on the ground. Glistening blood seeped through the gashes, rolling down his back to paint the crevasses in the cobblestones red.

Frozen forever in a heart forged by cruelty and ice.

Dyna heard his screams though he never made a sound. It was his soul crying out as the last of it died inside.

Maybe everyone was imprisoned by something.

The tendrils of his memories had been swathed in dark smoke, but there had been light moments too. Beautiful instances trapped between the graze of a hand and glow of a smile…

Grief took different forms. Sometimes it moved through you. Sometimes it got stuck. Hers had been buried.

…swathed in a menacing green light, stepping out of the darkness like a wraith. A creature that laid waste to everything in its wake.

Even if my body was broken, I would crawl my way to you. And if I was no longer part of this realm, I would have found a way.

It merely meant the guillotine hovered above his neck, and he was left with the unease of never knowing when it would fall.

No, I don’t want to be released. No, I won’t be cast aside for another. No, I wont let any person, or thing or law come between us. You belong to me and only me.

He released a deep menacing growl that promised however fast they ran, he would rip into them before they could scream.

Asiel’s wings spread wide, bathed in the pink of dawn, and he leaped into the sky.

The veil that had muddled his life lifted, and now all he felt was shame.

The Guardians of the Maiden series is currently available to read through Kindle Unlimited. I’m not sure how long it’s been available, or how long it will be. Unfortunately, it is not available in ebook form from Kobo nor to purchase through Chapters. However, Michaels does have her own shop where you can purchase directly from her.

Beck Michaels Shop

❥ Beck Michaels : Webpage ♥ Twitter ♥ Facebook ♥ Goodreads ♥ Instagram

❥ Purchase : Amazon ♥ Barnes&Noble ♥ IndieBound

❥ Book One Review : Divine Blood: A Captivating Fantasy Adventure

❥ Book Two Review : Bonded Fate: The Dark Journey of Dyna and Cassiel