Bound God's #1 & #2 by Adrienne Wilder, The Chimera, and Chained


Sometimes the team is offered the chance to read through backlist books. Jacquie requested the Bound God's series by Adrienne Wilder and has read the first two books, The Chimera, and Chained. 


Kaleb Holten’s father’s debt to an underground group The Association has just been called in, and the man can’t pay the loan. Instead of turning over his wealth, he barters his son. Kaleb finds himself thrown into a world where a class of men feel themselves untouchable, going so far as to call
themselves gods.

After the Great Economic Collapse there are no laws that cannot be broken. And Kaleb is forced into a ten-year sentence of servitude where he will have no say, no rights, no value and yet be coveted and protected as if he were a priceless treasure.

Leo Roan has slipped the noose the Association bound him with by breaking his addiction to ambrosia, and Kaleb Holten was supposed to be his last assignment as a doxie Master. But something about the boy begins weaving a new net that will not only ensnare him but the conscious darkness inside that craves pain, agony, suffering, and death.


Jacquie's Review:

The novella opens with setting the scene - his uncaring father, a man that could have paid the debt, but didn't, sells Kaleb into sexual slavery. 

Kaleb is then given to The Chimera, a god called Leo, that is to train him in what being a doxie really means.

Leo really pushes the boundaries of what Kaleb can handle, which means there are scenes that push the dub con territory for me. 

As a doxie, Kaleb has no rights and he will learn to embrace the pain over time. 

I'm interested in the larger world that Wilder has created and the fledgling bond that Kaleb and Leo are forging. Tough to read in places but I couldn't put it down for long.

Pay attention to any TW first

Rating: 4 Stars


The Chimera is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription



Leo has been sent on a mission to find a missing doxie. And after weeks at Leo’s side, Kaleb is
suddenly alone. Free of the cruelty the Chimera, he should be rejoicing. But instead, he becomes aware of a void in his heart, he never knew was there until Leo wasn’t there to fill it. When Leo returns Kaleb is faced with the choice of disobeying Leo—forcing him to take ambrosia—or risk losing him forever.


With a single flower, Leo is back under the control of the Association. And what kind of punishment is suitable for a doxie who disobeys his Master, even though it saves his life? Leo has a list of ideas, starting with Kaleb’s first visit to a Gathering.

At the Gathering of the gods, doxies, and mortal men, Kaleb first lays eyes on Aaron. The beautiful doxie is presented by the god Sol. There he will be fed the ambrosia, Awakened to his journey of immortality, and then serve his god, Sol, for all to see. Only the horror of Aaron’s treatment by Sol makes Kaleb realize monsters come in many forms.

And not all of them hunt doxies.


Jacquie's Review:

I don't usually struggle with certain themes of books, but this one pushed me, so please pay attention to trigger warnings. My heart bled for Aaron. His treatment was so appalling. Each time I didn't think it would get worse, then it did. His case is a bit of an eye opener for Kaleb because while Leo is tough on him, he never treats him badly. There is an element of care there. Sol though, he can rot!

This didn't put me off the series and I am continuing with it because I like Kaleb and Leo together. I'm interested in the god-son and all of Alton's experiments. I continue to be surprised in the world created. It's a page turner for sure.

Might have a small break though because this is dark and it's sticking with me a bit. A pause for something fluffy I think!

Rating: 4 Stars


Chained is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription

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