Divinos Academy: Bound: Book 2

Divinos Academy

by Kelly Wightman, Jessica L. Lee

Is this really how my life ends when I have so many reasons to live?

I should have known something like this would happen. Karma does love biting me in the ass! Just when I was finally content with my life, someone tries to take it away from me and I made it so easy for them.

I don’t know if I’m going to make it through this, but if I do, whoever did this is going to beg for mercy when I’m through with them!

*If you like sexy fantasy/paranormal romances, with humour, steam, action, suspense, a tough heroine and multiple alpha males, this is for you. Divinos Bound is book 2 of the series. This is a light bully reverse harem and ends on a cliffhanger but the series is now complete. It's recommended for 18+ due to language and sexual situations. Please read the trigger warnings.

Genres: Fantasy, Reverse Harem, Romance, Why Choose, Paranormal Romance, Enemies To Lovers

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2023

Reviews

[NL Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure – I edited this novel and the authors have asked me to leave a review/rating.

First of all, the sort of “negatives” (in my opinion)…

I don’t like lots of exposition (my preference only!) and, unfortunately, the first part of this novel features a lot of thoughts/internalizations and not much movement (action). That said, the internalizations do serve a purpose – answering questions about motivations that weren’t addressed in the first novel and, in general, humanizing the members of Elena’s harem. I think this time around, both authors did a good job of making events clearer and of making the males in their stories more believable and more relatable.

Secondly, we have a cliffhanger here, folks – and what a cliffhanger it is! The good news is that these authors hope to have the third novel in the series out by the end of this year. (I have no idea what they’ll have in store for us next time around, but I hope they resolve some of the numerous questions that remain! They’re very good at plotting, so I do have faith in them!)

Now, the uber positives:

I think the authors ROCKED a couple of very important aspects of “Storytelling 101.”

Firstly, character development/evolution – Jessica and Kelly transform Elena, her friend, Katie, and Elena’s harem into more human and believable characters. As intimated above, I didn’t have as many questions about character behavior and motivation with this novel as I had with the previous novel. This is indeed a huge plus because I could “suspend my disbelief” more easily and, THEREFORE, become more absorbed by the story that the authors were weaving.

Secondly, Jessica and Kelly know how to spin a good tale! There is a LOT of mystery and suspense in this novel – and that naturally propels the reader forward. What’s going to happen next? We HAVE to turn the page to find out and we can’t stop until we DO have some answers. This ability to grab us by the “whatevers” and not let us go is the mark of a really good storyteller.

In closing, if you are a fan of this genre, I truly believe you will thoroughly enjoy this second installment of the “Divinos Academy” series. And I know I will be eagerly looking forward to Jessica and Kelly’s next novel!

[Amazing_BookReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to recommend this series. I read an ARC copy of 'The Bound Princess' by Jessica Lee and Kelly Wightman. I loved reading about how each of the boys (Emmett, Roman, Cayden, and Blake) develop their own connection with Elena. As they start to come to an understanding about one another, Elena's in constant danger. As she figure out her past piece by piece and tries to uncover who hurt her. She continues to grow stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally. Plus as I have mentioned before the forbidden romance Elena and Emmet, a.k.a. Professor Clarke, is unbelievable. The constant push and pull over what is right and wrong- *chef's kiss* well written. I honestly cannot say I disliked anything about this book~ 5/5 stars!

[bookramblings1. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is smashing it. I can vividly picture every scene, the story telling is truly majestic. I wish I could just spend all of my time consuming the words on my screen, but alas it isn't the case.
With each book I'm even more drawn in I didn't even think it was possible 😅 routing for elena, Katie and the guys, but not lucas! :@
My minds running a million miles a minute. All the possibilities for where this will go next... uber excited for the release of book 3...
Ps I floved the authors notes and need to find my way into your group 🥰

[AMG · Rating 2 out of 5]

RH MMMM/Light Bully/Elemental Supernaturals/Multi Pov

SYNOPSIS (of 4 Book Series): This series is set in an alternate world inhabited by individuals who can control one or more elements (fire, water etc.). The FC‘s (Elena) mother died when she was young which made her father obsessed with keeping her safe and making her as strong as possible through black magic. Her father dies and she is sent to Juvi for 5 years. When she leaves she finds she has a scholarship to Divinios Academy. There she meets the 4MCs. There is some initial bullying then the story focuses on the fact that she is the strongest elementals and there is a faction that wants to take her powers and usurp the reigning queen.

Heat Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🍆🍆🍆🍆 - the sex scenes pick up through the books and there are a lot of them. There are group scenes, one on one with some kink. Personally I found them crudely written and not particularly hot despite the graphic detail.

Where to start? This series is terrible. I wasn’t really reading the books by book 2 just skimming through as it was so painful to read. They desperately need editing and proof reading (apparently the FC needs “assorting” back to school🙄); the writing itself is clunky and crude (both in writing style and the characters); the story is weak; and there is no depth just a series of events stated one after the other: FC’s mother goes to supermarket and dies; FC’s father turns obsessive and dies; FC sent to juvi; FC gets scholarship and goes to academy; FC is strongest elementalist … Note that I am not giving spoilers here because all this happens in the space of a few chapters! There’s no real description of the FC’s life after her mother dies (or before for that matter), she’s sent to juvi for killing her father but the reasons this happened are glossed over; there’s no detail as to what happened in juvi as the book goes from her father being alive to her leaving juvi in about 2 pages. The scholarship is just a head scratcher as all you hear about it is that someone (FC doesn’t know who) gave her a scholarship to an elite academy for reasons she doesn’t know or even seem to care about but she still decides she might as well go.

The FC is just completely unlikeable as are most of the MCs. She’s rude, crude and juvenile. There’s nothing that the author says that makes her even slightly appealing including her constant swearing for no reason. I think this author equates swearing and rudeness with a cool, kickass heroine. It doesn’t work. For example, she is picked up from juvi in a chauffeur driven car. The driver tries to take her bag and put it in the boot and she just hurls abuse at him; she arrives at the academy and the deputy headmistress acts superior so the FC spews abuse. The way FC treats Hunter is disgusting and just nasty. I didn’t understand the point of his storyline as he was just a punching bag for the main characters. Putting him in the position she did then not even wanting to follow through on her promise 😠 and what was the date with Hunter all about? The MCs are just juvenile bullies and the scene completely pointless. The FC just allowed this poor boy to be constantly belittled and bullied and she was the worst.

The MCs are not likeable and you get no background on them except a bit on Blake. They’re very one dimensional and the bullying nasty and basic with Blake constantly telling the FC she’s a murdered; Roman calling her “trash” and Camden just make ins inappropriate sexual advances. Roman is crude, abusive and just a nasty piece of work. He’s gratuitously nasty to people (note how he treats the FC when he has her beaten up and makes some random boy cut off his dreadlocks just because he can). The way he tells the FC to get on her knees and talks about sex to her is completely disrespectful and mysoginistic (not shades of grey hot). Cayden is just one dimensional with an inability to think or talk about anything other than sex and his behaviour is just cringeworthy. I mean, at the end of a big battle scene where hundreds have died all he can say is it made him “hard” (this is the same scene where the FC, standing amid dead bodies, gets her “knickers wet” watching the MC brutally kill someone). Seriously? What is WRONG with this author? Does she think this is hot or sexy? It’s just wrong and disgusting 🫣

There are so many inconsistencies and nonsensical storylines. On the one hand the FC is supposed to be the most powerful elementalist and yet she is constantly being attacked and overcome; the villains (and there are a few OTT villains in this story) can kill, stab and abuse people but apparently nothing happens to them they can return to school or their jobs with no issue yet when the FC/MCs do the smallest thing they’re in big trouble. Why wasn’t Britney arrested? Why was Zoltar allowed back at school? 😡 The Queen is useless, she just sits there letting people get killed left and right doing nothing to fight back whilst the biggest villain just goes around killing whoever he wants.

All in all this is a weak story with unlikeable characters and bad narrative.

[LitLush · Rating 5 out of 5]

That did not just happen!!

Holy smokes! Another fantastic book by you guys. Honestly that ending though you know how to leave us on the edge of our seats! Can't wait for the next book in this series. Some awesome characters but also ones that we would love to kill off!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fucking book

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

THAT CLIFFHANGER!!!!!
This book got me out of my 2 month reading slump and I really enjoyed it. In a lot of ways this book reminds me of Zodiac Academy, for the first book in the series it started off great and I can’t wait to see what the next 3 books have in store. Cayden, Roman, Blake and Emmett all 4 love interest the connection between them all makes this book so much better.

Elena as the female love interest gods she’s such a badass I love her. I’m going to be binging this series all week.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think it was possible for the writing to get worse from the first book... But it did.

I find this series to be quite annoying because the actual plot is interesting. I want to continue reading in the sense I want to know what's next. The actual mystery behind the world is great but it's so underdeveloped that it makes for a frustrating read.

It overcompensates for its lack in world building and depth with an insane amount of sex scenes that come in at points that don't even make sense. There's a complete lack of flow to the story.

The sequencing is all off - for example... when Caydens parents meet Elena at Dinner, there's absolutely no mention of her being a princess or of marriage but at the next meeting they do as if it's the first time seeing her since it's been revealed.

Then there's no follow through, no planning...nothing in this world makes sense. They just bumble along. Oh the teacher who planned against you came back? Let me just threaten her and make out with my man. Like wtf??

There's no communication. They all notice weird shit but they don't sit down and talk anything through and then we just get these massive time jumps. Like why are we suddenly weeks or months ahead and no progress? What is the thought process here seriously? It's like the authors just planned a bunch of big events and stuck it all together.

The characters don't really make sense either. When you're developing a character, your make out their characteristics, habits and rationale behind them but I just find that they keep switching behaviours that aren't in keeping with them. It makes it really difficult to understand anything going on.

I'm really surprised that this has such a high rating. I find myself continually skim reading over large filler sections and not losing out on any of the story. There's so much irrelevant sections that don't need to be in it.

[Sophie Nizynski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4.5 out of 5

There are so many elements that I liked in this second book more than the first one:

The characters: I loved getting to know the guys better and the fact that they weren't being dicks to Elena this time around. I 100% have a favourite. I think they all work well as romantic partners for Elena as they all meet different emotional needs, but I do have one that I like the most as a character. I also loved meeting Elena's new family, especially her grandmother.

The plot: I loved that we are now settled into the world, I loved expanding the lore and history,I loved the house challenges, and the darker subplot with the emerging threat, and that ending got me even more than the first book did!

The smut: I found the amount in the first book a little overwhelming. We were introduced to five potential love interests all at once and it kind of gave me whiplash! This time around, the connections had already been established, and the steamier scenes fit much better in with the rest of the plot of me this time. The only thing I didn't enjoy, which was simply a matter of personal preference, is the fact that I don't find dominance particularly appealing, so a lot of Roman and Elena's steamier encounters just weren't for me. I also don't really enjoy partners being possessive either, but I know that I am not the main target audience of this book series, and those that enjoy those traits will love how they are done in this book.

Overall, a solidly enjoyable read for me, which has left me excited for what's to come.

[Ilovebooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story line is there - execution not so much. There's like so much wrong with the story telling. It's so juvenile. Read up to book 3 because I wanted to see what happened but kept skipping parts - finally deciding to DNF this whole series.

[Kehinde Oluseje · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Kattikuss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble keeping interest in this book. I felt that it wasn’t very plot driven. There were so many things that would be brought up to be completely forgotten about. For example, truth day and having the gang take a truth potion that seemed like it was going to be used to gather information by principal Bennett, to be completely forgotten by the next chapter. Or Roman’s brother taking an interest in Elena and Roman disappearing for a few days after, again to not be brought up again.

The plot didn’t really progress much. The relationships also didn’t really progress much either. I still don’t understand the reason why Cayden ignored Elena after she almost died. I felt that Roman’s “dominance” came across as brattish and spoiled as opposed to having that Alpha energy. Blake honestly could have not been involved and Emmett really doesn’t seem to fit with the group dynamic. I just felt that once again the chemistry between Elena and her men didn’t feel natural.

And the “cliffhanger” felt so forced and out of place I don’t even care what happens next.

I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series, which is a shame because there is a lot that is interesting about the books, it just isn’t progressing in a way to keep me interested.

[Aaron Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second instalment of The Princess of Etharia is as dangerous, as thrilling, and as naughty as the first. It builds upon the groundwork of the first book and delivers a story that is really gripping.

The later stages of the book were the best for me, as the rivalries and tensions build up into the trails, and then one brilliant concluding few chapters. I liked how Elena build upon her friendships and relationships, and the academy set a good backdrop for her rivalries to flourish. Katie was a good companion who reflected Elena well, and the perspective of male characters unlocked a deeper understanding of the secrets and dangers they faced.

The first book didn't shy away from the more adult content and this one lays it on in spades. It serves were to solidify relationships, and it was paced well with going straight back to the action afterwards. It could have felt intrusive, but didn't.

This is another solid entry in a series that is going places. I look forward to seeing more of this world.

[Steph Bardsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across a tiktok and the photo teasers caught my attention, after reading the synopsis on kindle I downloaded the book and I was not disappointed.

I read this 4 book series in 2 days! I liked the writing style it was great, and with details that had it very easy to quickly get pulled into the story and storyline of Elena and her men. I will admit that the fast pace of the book got me hooked, but don’t be fooled because yes there was a few times that I was frustrated with the one branch of the story. I actually never wanted to DNF it so don’t be fooled, it was just that one aspect that made me frustrated haha though without that part the ending wouldn’t have happened how it did even tho I felt frustrated at it and the characters haha.

The banter and interactions between all the characters is fun and definitely was happy that I ended up taking a chance and reading this series as I was in a book slump. All in all this was a great series and if you choose to read it you will not be disappointed.

[Mr D · Rating 4 out of 5]

An OK Read But Predictable.

It’s a decent enough story for a YA series, although I do have to keep reminding myself that it is YA when I get frustrated with it.

The male characters in particular come across as incredibly childish and the female ones aren’t much better. Particularly given that some of them are teaching staff. There are several parallels between this series and another famous one about a boy who didn’t die (or more precisely that was 2 boys who didn’t die), all the way through to potions class being held in a basement room.

It’s not large chunks of the story not by any means but once you’ve had that thought, more things keep popping up.

A light entertaining read with occasional random darkness.

[K.]

Wtf… there is no grovel or common sense.
Her arm was broken…..doesn’t matter
Abandoned after being attacked and him hanging out continuously with her bullies….so what
They capture the teacher who compelled Emmett…why not let her go
I mean, I just don’t get it. She allows the guys to treat her so horribly with no consequences. “Breaks up” with Cayden but never makes Roman apologize. And he is has no redeeming qualities. I just can’t.

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is good and I am interested in it, but the guys are annoying like really annoying all they do is complain and none of them talk about anything important. I also don’t really like their relationships they are lacking any depth except sex it’s quite bland. I’m continuing the story to see how the story ends and hopefully the guys can actually come together and be a unit to help instead of hinder.

But there boys so I’m not expecting much 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Alonna Irizarry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why choose/ paranormal/ found family/ OW/OM drama/ MFM/ age gap/ forbidden romance/ cliffhanger

Trigger warning: death of a loved one/ trauma/ blackmail/ SA/ assault/ kidnapping/ violence

Good storyline but I’m probably not going to continue the series. Too much happened in this book that stressed me out

[Drew Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

to many but still a good book

Great book but there were exclamation marks for sentences that didn’t need it which threw me off. I had to reread the whole page again when that happened

[BookDragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

a lot of unnecessary information

I feel like the majority of the book was filler and unnecessary information. So little of this book was actually important material that you could have just added it on with book 3

[Priyanka · Rating 1 out of 5]

way too much filler.And how does she always forgive Cayden one second and next second be like ,"i wont talk to you.The characters were so inconsistent and flat. Ughh i wanted to try to finish it but i cant't.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the challenges of this game. I liked being able to see the story from all the characters viewpoints as well. And i loved the fact that the MMC's all refer to their relationship with Elena as a harem. Makes me giggle

[shazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than the 1st book. It’s an entertaining story if a little predictable. But I read to enjoy and escape not to worry about it being in-depth and a masterpiece.

Picked up book 3 straight away. Enjoy!

[Kimberly Wisniewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

ahhh

I just want to scream and punch someone. I also want to seriously maim somebody. Elena I seriously feel for you and this is breaking my heart. I definitely need to start the next book.

[Dana Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erm so not fair

How could you possibly leave it on such a cliffhanger.
This book has had so many twist and turns, ups and downs and now this....
To say this series has me hooked would be a very big understatement.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know how to put this in words. My action packed fanasty book left me on the edge wanting to know what, where, who and everything between! I am enjoying this series. It's fun, it has action, it has smut, and it has fantasy.

[Brittany Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters are dumb af. Anyway, on to the next one to torture myself.

[Chelsea Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a good series

I really like the books the twists and turns are so unexpected! And don’t get me start on the ending of this book ! Omg so glad the next out is already released!!

[Hannah Brooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the what......

What just flipping well happened there. That was a bell of a lot in a short amount of time. I don't know what I just read. Speechless.

[Larissa Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

Wow! A jam packed story from start to finish. So many twists and turns. Need the next book now to see if I can work it out!