Returner's Defiance 3

De: Bruce Sentar

Narrado por: Christopher Boucher, Jessica Threet

Bran returns to Vein City to find Gloria jealous that he came back with Nyx and Circe. While trying to solve that, Vincent becomes even pushier about entering the Vault.
When going to open it, Bran discovers that this life has changed yet again. For whatever reason, they had gotten perilously close to cracking the Vault on their own and drawing all the future heroes of the First Demon War in a demonic trap.
It's up to Bran to make sure they all make it out alive while reaping as much reward as he can from the Vault.

©2025 Bruce Sentar (P)2025 Bruce Sentar

only one issue

The final battle dragged on and on with no sense of urgency.
I had to skip ahead to get past it.
also a nearly total lack of spicy scenes.

awesome

I can't even describe how happy I am with where this story is going, I'm kinda bummed nearly the whole book took place in the vault, I feel like that could've ended earlier and more could've been done with the story and other characters BUT it came together in my personal opinion in the end, set alot of things up for the future books I hope will keep coming. as always Bruce's range with story telling within the fiction genre continues to impress me while adding that bit of spice just enough to balance the story with those moments to take a break. this book probably has the least amount of spice I've listened to in one of Bruce's books. honestly just wish these books were longer, but Bruce has his methods and he churns out books at an incredible rate for multiple series so bravo 👏🏽 another banger man.

Poor Audio quality, sharp "S" sounds and echo

There seems to be a sharp sound or slight reverb on the "S", especial on volume change. Chapter 5 3:00 or 6:15 are good examples.

Good continuation of main story with iffy subplots

The third installment of the series continues the overarching story with promise, but its pacing and structural choices left me with mixed feelings. While the plot does move forward—most notably with the completion of the vault—it unfolds more slowly than expected, making this feel more like a transitional chapter than a major leap in the saga.

There’s no denying the core storyline remains engaging. However, the sheer number of subplots, many of which feel unnecessary or underdeveloped, disrupted the narrative flow. What should have been a "can’t-put-it-down" experience turned into more of a background read, occasionally gripping me but often losing momentum due to constant narrative detours.

Strengths:

Despite Bran's access to future knowledge and growing power, the author does an excellent job maintaining tension and unpredictability. It never feels like a foregone conclusion that he’ll succeed, which keeps the stakes high. The villains continue to surprise, and their motives and actions are not easily anticipated—a definite strength. Additionally, some of the new characters introduced are compelling and show potential to be significant allies moving forward.

Weaknesses:

Unfortunately, not all characters fared well in this installment. Salone, once a standout, has become a source of frustration. Her insistence on integrating every new strong or interesting woman into the harem—regardless of the woman’s actual interest—undermines both her character and the depth of the newcomers. Rather than exploring fresh personalities in meaningful ways, we’re often rushed into familiar romantic territory, driven more by Salone’s persistence than organic development.

Another letdown is the handling of Gloria’s subplot. What could have been a powerful moment of emotional growth—addressing Bran’s six-month absence and the resulting strain—was wrapped up far too easily. A single date and a night together were all it took to mend a serious rift, which felt like a missed opportunity to develop deeper emotional stakes. It ultimately cheapened their relationship and cast a shadow over future romantic arcs.

Final Thoughts

While this review may seem more critical than praising, I still genuinely enjoy the series and believe in its potential. Book three simply felt bogged down by distractions that pulled away from what makes the story great. With tighter focus and more thoughtful handling of character relationships, future entries could recapture the spark that made the first books so compelling.

Rating: 3/5 – Enjoyable, but weighed down by unnecessary subplots and underwhelming character decisions.

Maybe I'm being childish, but I don't like bullies

Especially bullies who twist logic to make themselves out to be the good guy
Call me crazy, but I like my good guys to be good.
They can be assholes ...grumpy, miserable, abrasive, unlikeable, unsociable ...but fundamentally good
Idk what the thinking was with that whole "Antonio" situation ...but it really turned me off of the MC n his crew.
I'm a lot less excited about the story now. Maybe there's a bunch more cool stuff that I wud like under diferent circumstances ...but idk, that whole "Antonio" thing changed the way I viewed the MC.

I just can't get myself to like him anymore. I guess I lost some respect for the MC, and now I'd rather just quit this story n find something else to dive into.

The narrators did their thing ...the story is well written, and I was really enjoying it ...minus the sex scenes. Truthfully, I love regressor stories like this. Normally, this stuff is right up my alley, there's lots to like ...but idk, I feel like the author put me odds with myself. N that's not what I tuned in for.

I freely admit that I have some personal issues that made this book less enjoyable for me. You may not have my hang-ups tho, so it cud be the best thing ever for u, and it's definitely still worth checking out.