
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Michelle
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review


A devastatingly addictive read!!! L.J. Shen continues to leaves her readers begging for more and once again she has written a story that blends empowerment, strength, and vulnerability in an unlikely romance where there the prince doesn’t save the princess but instead the princess is the one that saves them all.

Bane is one of those rare stories that grips you from the start. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. L.J. Shen has a way with her words. Her writing is like poetry. It is wild, raw, and moving. And in Bane, she made her readers feel every aspect of this. She made your heart ache for her characters in such a way that they are embedded in your soul.

Roman “Bane” Protsenko is unlike any hero that you have read from Shen. In some ways, he can be the hero that can be overlooked in a way since he is not a domineering asshole/alpha but instead has that soft vulnerable spot that you are drawn to. The hero that doesn’t have to be the king, the knight, the bishop, the rook, or pawn but instead the piece that’s left standing protecting the queen. And the queen in this case, is Jesse Carter.

Jesse Carter is hands down one of my favorite heroines that Shen has written so far. She had that broken characteristic but still had that fighting spirit and edge about her that you loved and are drawn to. She didn’t need to demand attention because Jesse was the heart and soul of this book. She made this book everything and so much more.

Bane was one of the stories that gutted you but had that slow burn kind of romance that set your hearts on fire. It is the book that showcased strength, vulnerability, and hope in a whole new light. Honestly, I loved this book on the aspect that fate played a huge role in this book. So if you are looking for a story that spoke volumes of survival, strength, and healing then this book is for you. It is a story of love but most importantly it is a story about being heard. And for Jesse Carter, her story was heard loud and clear. As always, the writing was a beautiful blend of sensitivity and raw emotions. A must read for any romance readers who craves real romance done right!
