Surrender is not survival.
Claire is desperate. Her once thriving city lies in ruins. The strongest of the three human dynamics, Alphas, have grown feral. Common Betas circle like vultures. The lowest in the hierarchy, rare and weak Omegas like Claire, are being destroyed. Sheltering amidst a dwindling enclave of frightened Omega women, Claire cannot provide enough to feed them all; her friends … her friends are starving.
All due to one escaped convict’s violent rise to power.
Shepherd is every bit as ruthless as his reputation suggests, but Claire cannot continue watching her friends suffer. Her last recourse is to beg the most powerful Alpha in the city for aid.
Up close, the sheer size of Shepherd, the raw power of the man, terrifies her. But he may be her only hope.
Before she can render her plea, Claire’s disguise and careful plans fail. Despite taking every possible precaution, she is captured. The moment the Alpha senses her, Claire’s worst nightmare is realized: Shepherd, discovering a rare Omega in his midst, claims her like a prize, forcing a pair-bond that ties her to him forever.
Claire becomes his.
Shepherd keeps his wayward mate locked away where only he might enjoy her and refuses to help her fellow Omegas unless they, too, are irrevocably bound to favored soldiers of his choosing. Claire cannot allow such a thing. She fights her instincts and his will, because no matter how many times he’s knotted her, how manipulative the bond might be, she despises what he’s done.
She escapes.
And Shepherd vows he will hunt her down – ready to burn the city to ash if he has to. Because Claire is his. His mate.
The first book in Addison Cain’s exciting, raw, and suspense-filled Omegaverse trilogy is a dark tale with explicit sexual themes and complete power exchange. If such material offends you, please do not purchase.
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Wow, this is my second book in the Omegaverse genre and this one has been hard to read. I knew it would be a dark story but didn’t know it would be THAT dark. I mean, the story is interesting and well written but from the first page to the last one there’s only suffering, distress, angst and despair for the female Omega.
If I could have seen a single glimpse of hope in the story, some little tiny good thing happening to the female from his mate that would be enough to accept that this Alpha could change. Or if we could have some background or insights about this Alpha to understand why he’s doing what he’s doing and behaving the way he does, I’d keep some interest in going with the second book but since we have none, just that he’s this cruel for the sake of it, no explanation, I don’t feel like keep going with the next book.
But that’s just me, it’s a personal opinion and I’m sure that many people can enjoy pretty dark stories without feeling distress so if you like very dark stories, go ahead. It’s interesting and different. Just probably not my cup of tea but I’m glad I read it. There’re always different genres and stories and is good give it a try.
But this Alpha is a very cruel one. PROBABLY SPOILERS HERE:
The Omega suffers rapes, cheating in front of her from his mate, indifference, isolation,… and hopefully in the next books I want to think that everything is going to be better but I’ll take a break from this saga for now.
I recently did a reread of this book and it was just as good as it was the first time around. Love this book, this series and this author!
Born to be Bound (Alpha’s Claim #1) by Addison Cain – This was a freebie. It did keep me reading all the way to the end, but I’m not sure it’s my thing. But it’s free on Amazon if you want to try out the really different world building! Happy Reading!
Absolutely loved this book. It can be a rough read in a few places keep your tissues handy if your a cryer of books. It’s a bit dark in some areas as well.
The writing is phenomenal, great storyline, twist and turns that keep you guessing. Character development and growth throughout the book was nicely done. I truly appreciated the way the author portrayed Sheppard. He is one of the most intriguing characters for me.
Claire- a courageous young woman who is an Omega. Intelligent, clever, and artistic. She ends up in a very sticky situation that there really is no escape from. She has trouble accepting and adjusting to her new lot in life. It ends up making things much more difficult for her.
Sheppard- the Alpha-hole that is responsible for the current conditions in the city and why Claire ends up in the sticky situation in the first place. Unlike Claire he is okay with his new lot in life. Though he is having a bit of difficulty adjusting himself as he just can’t understand why nature is not working the way he thinks it’s supposed to.
Just goes to show even in books men do not understand a woman’s mind .
I tried really hard with this series. I pushed through the first three with enthusiasm that no matter what I was unhappy with at the moment, it would eventually spark something that I liked into existence. Unfortunately, this is just not my read. I love dark, and all kinds of kink. My only hard limit is incest and pedophilia, which this book doesn’t have. With the exception of a minor reference to a 16 year old in a non-con situation. I dig paranormal and fantasy, pretty much I reading all things from YA to kinky and dark as hell. This just couldn’t grab me. The non-con and sex were so repetitive that it was no longer intriguing(and I LOVE tons of sex scenes), there was no substance to the heat. The h started to become overly whiney for me as a reader and the H either didn’t give enough background for me to fall for him or the writer preferred for him to remain clueless enough to be boring.
There’s a new alpha in charge and he has instilled fear in everyone. Shepherd is brutal, but honest. His perspective may seem flawed, though he’s seen the darkest of his kind and their actions.
I never knew what a dystopian omegaverse was like until I read Born to be Broken. This book completely consumed me with all of the ott alphas running about. I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up the audio and now I’m chasing the high into the next book in the series!
I found this oddly compelling and did continue with the series. I did not find it to be very erotic.
I enjoyed reading this book. This topic is not for everyone. I think this book is well written and it has a good developing storyline. However, the ending leaves you hanging. That is a big NO for me. I think you have to read like 2-3 more books the get to the ending of these two characters and it is not a HEA. 3 stars. Unless you really like this romance topic, I do not recommend it.
This book was twisted and an emotional rollercoaster.but I loved it you will hate Shepard and will totally love Claire and root for her all through this book.you will not be dissatisfied reading this book
With over the top yummy alphas with twisted characters and the altruistic heroine and the adventure of their relationship. It brought me to tears a few times, as well as wanting to throttle them at others. I even succumbed to shaking my e-reader and yelling at it. I so need the next instalment soon.
A Gritty and Brave Dystopian Exploration… I’ve read many of the reviews for this book and understand the reactions. However, I feel many of them are misguided, mainly because of the intended nature of the book itself. It is an omega-verse book, it is not a romance. It is not a “love” story in the sense many expect, it is a post-apocalyptic survival story that includes love within a realm of horrific brokenness. So to be honest, I don’t really understand the folks shouting about there not being a HEA, because come-on, not every damn story HAS a HEA. SO, for those looking for a typical shifter-esque alpha, all brooding and angry but with hidden romantic qualities that lead to swooning, keep moving right on past this one. Because “Born to be Bound” by Addison Cain is definitely NOT that.
Rather it is about something grittier, more real, it’s about the idea that when things are at their bleakest, there most horrific, sometimes understanding and compassion can evolve. Additionally, it showcases strength of character and illustrates how, in life, the best choice can also be ghastly, violent, and soul crushing, at times requiring the sacrifice of our very selves for the protection and survival of the greater good.
Claire and Shepard being merely the vehicles Cain utilizes to paint this extremely vivid picture. “Born to be Bound” is outstandingly caustic. It is beyond dark and not for the easily offended or faint of heart. It contains a dystopian theme so violent, so abhorrently disturbing it will churn your stomach and make your mind swirl with thoughts for days on end. However that is its purpose within the literary omega-verse framework in which it resides and sadly given today’s worldwide social climate, contains an underlying plot not really all that far-fetched.
Cain boldly gives a stark and frightening glimpse into a post doomsday world were a biological plague has wiped out much of humanity forcing remaining societies under the protection of bio-domes. It focuses on one bio-dome city, Tholos, and is a master/slave socio-sexual exploration of a corrupt civilization taken over by the very underclass the elites of the society painstakingly oppress for years. And it is bravely raw and realistic.
Yes it contains rape. Yes is contains infidelity. Yes it contains violence, and coercion, oppression, injustice, and great suffering. But folks, that’s what a dystopian society is, and this book isn’t at all more outrageous, more violent, or more repulsive than others within this sub-genre.
It is an expansion of the archetype of alpha and omega beings, beings imprinted at birth and driven by animalistic instincts beyond their control. Here, alphas are by nature, violent, possessive, and driven by predisposition to mate and claim an omega. Omegas are born tethered by biological heat cycles that instinctually drive them to mate and be claimed. It is an uneven and oppressive power dynamic right from the start. One both parties are born into. And with this birth come the biological markers of their station, such as the nesting instinct of the omegas and the purring instinct of the alpha, each specific to their individual roles but necessary and complimentary to the others well-being and survival.
It is eerily allegorical to stations of class and class behavior, and to the very real struggles of the poor underneath the crush of the super-rich of our current world. Especially where in relation to the very real realm of sex trafficking and slavery created by elites and going unchecked. One read of the details into a very real billionaire such as Jeffrey Epstein, brings instant understanding that although a work of fiction, the underlying points being made within this book are not so terribly outrageous.
Yes “Born to be Bound” may be more sexually violent than others in this sub-genre, but so what. It’s a dystopian exploration, not a damn literary romcom!
Did I wish there was more character development to Shepard in this first installment, yes, yes I did. Does it need to be so sadistically violent? No, probably not. But I understood why it was, and read it and related to it for what it was, a dark, gritty, and bravely honest portrayal of the horrors of a society at its worst.
Not all romances are designed to be feel good pieces written to give people hope of true love. Some are meant to be warnings of what NOT to do. Some, like this one, created to warn us to beware the evils lurking within the very stations charged with overseeing our safety, contentment, and existence within the realm of day-to-day living. Because the reality is, the oppressive Tholos regime created Shepard, Shepard in turn acted accordingly toward Claire, and ultimately Claire acted and reacted in keeping with all of the above. It is all connected, just as we are all connected as citizens of our realms, and ultimately molded and conditioned to act according to its acceptable edicts.
Who wants to dive into the Omegaverse????? ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You may think that you will just put a toe in and test the waters. Well, let me tell you first hand, that’s how this obsessions begins.
You get pulled in by the characters, power play, dynamics, struggles, and the steamy scenes (just being honest here!). Once you stop, trust me, you won’t be able to stop, nor do you want to.
You will start with just reading for an hour . . . that turns into a couple of hours . . .and the next thing you know, you are neck deep in this storyline that you realize you have to go to work. No one wants to go to work when their characters are left hanging there. Just dangling . . . not able to move on. Limbo. No one wants limbo.
This is so addicting in an extremely satisfying way.
I am an addict and I don’t want to stop.
So Facebook Ads kept popping up this book as a suggestion and at first I was like, ‘Ah, probably another sex book with a skimpy plot and characters that are flat, might as well try it anyway see how the sex scenes are as its on sale.”
I couldn’t have been more wrong. This book got me hooked on EVERYTHING Addison Cain. She is an amazing writer and I am not one to gush about much. Her plots and characters are so well developed nothing feels forced or contrived in these books where other ‘dark romance’ books always seem lacking to me in those departments. It is a true trifecta of great plot, great characters you actually care for or (love to) hate and hot, hot sex scenes. Many, many, hot, hot sex scene that do not detract from the plot at all. I live for the conversations between these characters, that’s almost as good as the sex, they feel natural and not forced (so many authors cannot do this, especially in erotic stories) and really drag you in.
This book ends with Addison ripping your heart out through your gut, but I will tell you right now it just fuels the need to go buy the rest of the series and all of her other books.
TL;DR: Amazing read, will get you addicted, buy this now and then start down the dark path that is Addison Cain’s works.
Wow what a very dark, gritty intimacy of nature That will have you hooked on this dark series. The alpha plans every emotion and how everything will happen. This has a cliffhanger but so worth the alpha read that will have you not being able to put this book down.
Amazing
Addison cain is the QUEEN of dark romance. I love reading this book, it has a dark romance that has you continually flipping pages. She was my first author into dark romance and what an introduction. Shepherd is unapologetically rough and dirty with Clair, I can’t get enough!!
Amazing book, definitely has all the feels. It took me on an amazing journey
I’m still on the fence about it honestly. It very different than anything I’ve read so far. But the whole knot sex thing and her being covered in juices or whatever got old after the first couple times. He also cheats with someone else while trying to build a relationship with her. Also it’sa cliffhanger. Not that there’s any heads up about that.
Love Addison Cain!!! The best books to read with twists and turns everywhere. I am always waiting for the next one!!
didn’t care for this one and the ending was not really an
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