Bonds of Love and Magic is a spellbinding blend of contemporary fantasy and slow-burn romance that drops an unsuspecting young woman into a world of hidden magic and dangerous power. When Mariah Dawson accidentally shatters her apartment, and half a city block, after a nightmare, she discovers that she’s a witch and is whisked away to the prestigious Blackwood University for Arcane Arts. There, she faces both the allure and peril of newfound power, mysterious professors, and magnetic classmates who blur the line between ally and threat. What begins as a story of survival becomes an exploration of self-discovery, trust, and love in a world ruled by secrets and magic.

Reading this book felt like stepping into a storm of emotion and wonder. The writing has a cinematic quality, fast-paced, visual, and loaded with vivid sensory detail. Author Veronica Rose captures that wide-eyed awe of entering a world that shouldn’t exist but somehow feels real. I loved how she didn’t rush the magic system. It unfolded naturally through Mariah’s confusion and awe, making me feel like I was discovering it too. The dialogue, snappy and often funny, keeps the tone grounded amid all the grandeur. Still, there were moments where the intensity tipped into melodrama. But somehow, that worked. It made the characters feel more relatable.

What stuck with me most was the emotional core. Mariah’s journey is messy, painful, and empowering all at once. Her relationships, with the guarded Dean Blackwood, the charming empath Elias, and the enigmatic Dante, are charged with tension and longing. Sometimes the romance scenes were full of heat and danger. Beneath the fantasy and flirtation is a story about control, learning when to hold power close and when to let others in. I found myself caring more about Mariah’s growth than the magical battles, which says a lot about Rose’s ability to build empathy through chaos.

Bonds of Love and Magic left me feeling both enchanted and wrung out. It’s for readers who crave emotion as much as adventure, who like their fantasy laced with passion and heartache. If you loved the fierce energy of A Discovery of Witches or the tangled relationships of The Atlas Six, this book will hit that sweet spot. It’s alive, vibrant, and full of heart. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a story that makes magic feel dangerous and love feel real.

Pages: 275 | ASIN: B0FTQZR2F7