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The Scars That Bind Us

The Magi Accounts, Book 1

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The Scars That Bind Us

By: Michele Notaro
Narrated by: CJ Storm
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About this listen

Sometimes the worst scars are the ones you can’t see.

World War III broke out 130 years ago when humans found out that magi and shifters were real. Humans have been imprisoning and enslaving the two species since. But now humans need their help protecting the world from the strange monsters they let cross the veil between realms. All three species have been at odds for more than a century, but can Madeo—a mage—and Cosmo—a lion shifter—put aside their differences to work together, and maybe even find comfort in each other’s arms?

©2022 Michele Notaro (P)2022 Michele Notaro Fantasy Fiction Wizardry Magic Users Paranormal Feel-Good Heartfelt Scary City Shifter

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I was sceptical listening to this story. The description wasn’t very enlightening. I was a bit confused at the beginning however it sets the premises for the story and the fictional world.

I absolutely love the characters - both main and supporting!
The hurt, horrors and discrimination Madeo and Jude has and are facing are heartbreaking and cruel but the love and trust of Cosmo and his pride are healing! I was drawn into this story in an usual way and my stomach hurt due to the cruelty at a certain point - they normally doesn’t happen. I’m excited about the next book but I also kind of dread reading further fearing what the characters will have to face. The world is a dark one and like I said horrors and cruelty very much present throughout. However, the love and bonds between Mc and the pride make up for it and brings both hope and love into the world.

The narration is good however the voice of Cosmo is a bit annoying but I kind of got use to it as the book progressed.

It’s a well written book and story definitely worth listening to!

Very enjoyable and definitely worth a listen!

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Listener received this title free

This has a unique storyline with captivating characters that I absolutely loved meeting. I was impressed by how well the world was built sometimes I had to have a pause after listening because I was so immersed in this world. This is a series that I will be incredibly excited to continue.

Entertaining listen

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To say I was captivated feels like it doesn't accurately reflect the intensity with which I devoured this audio. All it took was a few sentences for me to become fully immersed in Madeo's journey, and the more I learned about the history of his world the more fascinated I was. CJ Storm is a new narrator to me, and I've got nothing but good things to say about the way he brought these characters to life. I found his narration style very engaging, and it was always easy to distinguish between the different characters in a group conversation.

From new paranormal species to terrifying otherworldly monsters and evil people in power, there was plenty for me to love and hate about this new world. I don't know if it qualifies as a full-on dystopia, but the suffering and injustices that magi and shifters had to endure were pretty rage-inducing. My heart ached every time Madeo revealed another horrific piece of his past, and the fact that he somehow kept his kind heart and generosity after so much mistreatment only made me more in-awe of his strong character.

Speaking of character, the entire cast of characters I met in this book were pretty dang fantastic. Madeo, Jude, Logan, Cosmo, and the rest of the Ono-Nai pride started out wary and distrustful of each other, but over time they all started to feel like one close-knit family. That lovely sense of community is a big part of why Michele's books always feel so special to me, and she definitely captured that feeling here. Since this story was solely from Madeo's perspective, I had a lot of time to appreciate his unique dyad bond with Jude, but I'm equally excited to learn more about the pride in upcoming stories.

Because so much of Madeo's story served as an intro to the new universe, his romance with Cosmo got off to a slow start. It honestly didn't bother me at all, because I was way more excited to learn about the characters, watch them all get to know each other, and see the types of missions they got to work on. Without me even realizing it, more than half the story had flown by without Madeo and Cosmo going further than longing glances across the room. When the two of them did finally make their interest in each other known, they were pretty freaking cute about it. Mads kept being so flustered and overwhelmed by Cosmo's affection, and Cosmo was a wonderfully patient gentleman about it. Their romance was more about learning to be open and trust each other than about steamy nights of passion, and I really enjoyed the change of pace. It made me believe in their connection way more than I would have if they'd made it all about sex, and honestly, with so much going on in their lives, who has the energy for all of that.

Just when I was starting to feel comfortable with the direction this story was headed, Michele threw a curveball that accelerated the action in a major way. I love a good race to the finish line, and boy did Madeo and crew put me through the emotional wringer along the way. I continue to be amazed by how this author can string tiny breadcrumbs together into a massive, open-ended conflict, and I know we've barely scraped the surface of what's in store for these brave fighters.

**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

Captivating, magical, and romantic

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The Scars That Bind Us is the first book in the Magi Accords, a new urban paranormal series set in a world similar yet vastly different from our own. The setting is very interesting and Michele Notaro uses it to explore the injustices and how the human spirit can overcome those awful obstacles.

The world of the Magi Accords is not a fair or easy one. Shifters and magic users are less than second class citizens with heavy restrictions and limitations placed on them. Yet, despite this unfairness, shifters and magic users are expected to protect the world from dangerous, carnivorous, dragon-like creatures that come from a different dimension. The world building is extremely interesting with a very creative magic system that I absolutely love and find unique. I wish there was more depth to the politics of the world so I could have better context for why things are the way they are, but considering that the story’s point of view is from one main character, this lack of political depth makes sense. Madeo, the main character, chaffs at the restrictions he finds himself under, but he never loses his sass nor will to fight and compassion for others. This makes him a very likeable character that I was rooting for the entire book. I loved the romantic tension between him and the alpha shifter on his team.

The audiobook was narrated by CJ Storm. I thought CJ did a great job narrating a host of different characters and making them all interesting. I had no issues with his narration and found his performance to be engaging and enjoyable. The quality of the audiobook was also very good.

Great Start to a New Series

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The overall story is a heartwarming and healing one. Light in the dark. For me there was too little focus on the romance and the steam level was too low, 2 scenes in the entire book. The slow burn was realistic though and fitted the story.

The friendship between Madeo and his brother Jude was one of the most beautiful I've ever read in a book, that was a pleasant surprise.

The narrator was good, but sounded too young for the main characters.

Grim setting, wholesome story

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I truly believe that this new series is going to be an absolute pleasure to read and listen to.I thought that the performance by CJ Storm really brought this book to life. I am already impatiently for book two. Cosmo and Mads are supposed to be enemies, but over time work well together enough to make a relationship a goal.

So Good.

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I really liked how shifters are all cats in this world! I also like it when an author uses fiction to shine a light on reality. Michele Notaro demonstrates the human affinity for mistreating minorities in this "post world war III but with shifters and magic" story. The things Madeo and Jude have been through are all the more horrific for having happened in one way or another to real people throughout history.

But this is also a romance novel, and Cosmo is a thankfully solid and self assured contrast to Madeo's traumatised defensiveness. It's a slow burn, but it's worth waiting for.

I enjoyed the introduction to this new world, and I look forward to hearing more!

Feels and action

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Start of a new series, and boy, am I glad I got to listen to this book. Great world-building and the characters have good backstories.

We meet Madeo and Jude, both Magi, who are of the lowest group living in this new world. First, there are Humans, Shifters and then Magi, the order of society.

Cosmo is the leader of a pride group of cat shifters, and the Alpha leader of the new task force group Madeo and Jude get posted to. Is there romance between Cosmo and Madeo, a Shifter and a Magi?

The complex relationships between the shifters and Magi are wound effortlessly in this book. Such a great read/listen.

CJ Storm did an amazing job of the narration. I did, however, have to speed up the narration to 1.25 on audible, but this is usual for me.

The Scars That Bind Us
The Magi Accounts, Book 1
By: Michele Notaro
Narrated by: CJ Storm
Series: The Magi Accounts, Book 1
Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins

❤❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.25 speed on Audiobooks

I received this audiobook for free from GRR at my request. My review is my opinion and an honest review - neither the author nor GRR influenced my opinion.

New to me, author and narrator

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My heart broke for Mads. Michele injects so much emotion into her words you can't help but feel for Mads, Jude and all they've been through.

This story is a great set up of this new world and it's "order". There's intrigue, affection, tortured pasts, new relationships and so much more! I loved the introduction to each character and loved that the "main" characters are more than just "the main two".

There's so much intrigue and twists I couldn't put the book down! I loved Mads banter and little bits so snark. He's a fun and unique character and I enjoyed the unique bond between Mads and Jude and look forward to seeing how these two will adjust to their new normal. I'm hooked!

Also great narration! I enjoyed the different dialects and voice nuances throughout the story and could even imagine the "eye-rolls" from the emotive storytelling! I'm looking forward to more of Storm and will definitely be a frequent listener!

Fantastic!

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I enjoyed this story, especially the unique societal structure. In most paranormal, dystopian books I've read, the mages are on top and in control, with shifters next, and humans on the bottom. This author turns that around, putting humans on top and the magic users on the bottom. The snippets we get about Madeo and Jude's 'training' (more like torture) and abuse were horrific and I really felt for them. It made Madeo's abrasive attitude much more understandable. The story begins with them fighting creatures from another world that come through rifts, but ends with a shifter kidnapping ring. The human blood witches seemed a little incongruous with the basic plot theme. If magic users are despised, why would humans want to become like them? Aside from that, I really enjoyed watching the pride and the dyad team and how they worked together. I liked seeing Madeo overcome his past experiences to find friendship and (maybe) love. That part was a bit shaky. It may have been the narration, but I didn't really feel a deep connection between Madeo and Cosmo. Good friends, yes. Lovers, not so much.

Speaking of the narration, CJ Storm was new to me. He did a good job differentiating between the characters with different voices and he was spot-on with Madeo's snark, but I thought he could have put more emotion into his delivery to make the characters more relatable.

I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

A very unique and enjoyable story

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