Author: Eliana Lee  

Series: The Bond Dissolution Omegaverse

First Published: 30 November 2023

“The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it. Care for her and let her care for you and I have no doubt you two will flourish.”

I will start by saying that I was given an audio review copy in exchange for an honest review. ⁠These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Eliana for sending a copy my way!

The National Omega Commission has announced they are expanding their experimental clinical trials. This marks the first time omegas have the ability to dissolve bonds without their alpha’s consent.

For Juno Liu, who has been forcibly bonded since she awakened, this changes everything.

But it turns out breaking her unwanted alpha bonds is the easy part. When Juno encounters her gorgeous scent-matched alpha, she does the only logical thing and runs away. It’s unfortunate she can’t do the same when she perfumes for the sinful new lecturer at her university. And she still can’t stop thinking about the sweet-faced beta who tried his best to keep her safe all those years ago.

When Juno’s suppressants start to fail, she’s forced to confront everything she’s afraid of. This alpha-shy omega will have to embark on a trial far more harrowing than bond dissolution – finding a pack to court her.

I am fully obsessed with this world. Rereading this cemented Eliana as one of my auto-buy authors; I loved every second. I am a huge fan of her brand of sweet omegaverse. It was such a joy to be back with Juno and the Rivera-Gunnersson pack. While this is a sweet omegaverse, there are some dark moments, especially with Juno’s old pack. So please check the trigger warnings.

Since I flew through The Scent of Us: Part One the first time I read it, I don’t think I fully understood Juno’s story. It’s heartbreaking. We first see her trapped in an abusive relationship where she’s bonded to three alphas who treat her like property. Thank God for Julian for showing Juno some kindness while trapped there. How she schemed and fought to leave the house and get medical and police help to escape was amazing. Juno was so courageous. Honestly, I’m not sure I could’ve done the same. She’s placed in a medical trial called the Bond Dissolution; a program set up to help omegas escape from forced bonds. We flash forward to Juno in Melbourne years later. Unbound, she seeks where she belongs. She’s at university studying to become a graphic designer. Life is great until her suppressants aren’t working. Her doctors advise she needs to have a heat. They won’t prescribe a higher dose as it could be dangerous. Juno, though free, actively avoids alphas out of fear. Things change when she bumps into her scent-matched alpha at the Lume. Terrified, Juno flees without getting his name. After she’s calmed down and chatted with her bestie, she tries to find her mystery alpha, even if it’s so he can help during her upcoming heat. And queue the courting.

I loved watching Juno slowly realise that Oli and the rest of the Rivera-Gunnersson pack will do anything and everything within their power to ensure she’s cared for. Watching Juno slowly open up to them and realise they could be a safe place for her was magic. I adored every second.

I’m sure you know what I love about a why choose romance is watching how each relationship develops at its own pace. The romances in here left me with all the emotions. I adore the exploration of consent here, which is especially important as Juno was a victim of an abusive pack. It was amazing how the pack made such an effort to make her feel safe and respected, emphasising her agency. Oli, Julian and Miles are the pack members who Juno feels comfortable to have help during her heats. Oli is the only scent-match mate in the pack. Her dynamic with Everett is slower burn as he’s still hesitant with omegas after his own scent match ended badly. And then we have Isaac, the Prime Alpha and leader of the pack. He and Juno feel no romantic connection to each other and are both romantically involved with Julian and Miles. It was great to see how they all communicate with each other. I am excited to read about how these relationships develop in the sequel.

I adore the diversity Eliana has included in her characters. Juno and Julian are Chinese Australian, Oli and Isaac are Filipino Australian and Everett is Swedish Australian. It was crucial to feature diverse backgrounds and I appreciate Eliana for doing so.

The audiobook was pure perfection. The narrators, Dorje Swallow and Constance Lee-Cox have done an incredible job. One of my favourite things about this series is set in Australia, so having an Australian narrators helps cement the location. I got a kick out of it. It was a wonderful touch.

Safe to say, I enjoyed everything about my reread. It just made me fall in love with the world all over again. I cannot wait for the audiobook release of The Scent of Us: Part Two so I can reread it. If you enjoy a sweet omegaverse with diverse characters, an Australian setting and a swoony, why choose romance; look no further than The Scent of Us: Part One.