Review of In Chains

Synopsis

A romance set in a world where slavery is government run and slaves are fitted with microchips.

Savannah, fleeing a turbulent relationship, seeks solace at her brother’s country farmhouse. It’s there that she meets Kayden; her brother’s slave who's considered less than human. These two damaged souls form an unbreakable bond, one that’s about to be tested, because Kayden is her brother’s property and he will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Please note this book contains some sexual scenes, violence and strong language.

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Review

The premise of this book is really interesting and I loved the idea of a forbidden love story set in a near futuristic / alternate world where slavery of particular groups of people is legal. The idea behind this book had so much potential but unfortunately I found it to be a let down.

The first few pages started fantastically, I love books that throw you straight into the action and In Chains starts with Savannah fleeing from an abusive ex-boyfriend. We also get shown the harsh reality as to how slaves are treated as well as how kind and caring Savannah is.

Unfortunately things go downhill pretty soon after that and the issue isn't so much the plot as the writing style. Savannah knows absolutely nothing about slaves at all and no reason is ever given to as why. Everyone else seemed to know everything which made her lack of knowledge all the more bizarre. It seemed to me that the author couldn't work out how to explain to the reader all the backstory of why some people are slaves etc. so made Savannah completely oblivious simply so everyone would have to explain things to her (and therefore also the reader.)

The romance just felt off. Everything was rushed and Savannah and Kayden's feelings for one another seemed to explode out of nowhere. I couldn't bring myself to believe in their love for one another which made it even harder to accept the stupid things they do in the name of love (after only mere days of knowing one another).

I'm not particularly a fan of insta-love type situations but I can happily deal with them when it feels believable but that wasn't the case here. We were told that they loved one another, but it didn't really feel like that.

This book isn't terrible and some people might like it but it just wasn't for me. The romance was too rushed, the characters behaviours were (for me) unbelievable and things were just far too explained. Great potential, but the story just didn't live up to what it could have been.

Try it for yourself! Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK