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creativewhimsy's review against another edition
4.0
This books starts out strong with a feisty heroine full of feminine rage. The world and magic are interesting and the story is full of mysteries to reveal.
Spice level
Spice level
dawnj85's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
booknxtdoor's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I had the pleasure of ARC reading this book.
Having finished it just now. WOW, just wow. The writing style and story had me hooked from the beginning. This book is like a combination of Fourth Wing (but with wolves) and the hunger games. There is a strong badass FMC who is out in an impossible situation to help her save her family.
The pace was fast in some places but medium overall and enjoyable. It provided enough world building and information along the way that you didn’t feel lost. Additionally, the was the puzzle pieces were laid out allowed the reader to make assumptions without feeling completely veiled. I prefer books you can enjoy and theorize about later, this is one of those books. I need a pause after reading this book because it was so good. I’m anxiously awaiting for the next one!
Having finished it just now. WOW, just wow. The writing style and story had me hooked from the beginning. This book is like a combination of Fourth Wing (but with wolves) and the hunger games. There is a strong badass FMC who is out in an impossible situation to help her save her family.
The pace was fast in some places but medium overall and enjoyable. It provided enough world building and information along the way that you didn’t feel lost. Additionally, the was the puzzle pieces were laid out allowed the reader to make assumptions without feeling completely veiled. I prefer books you can enjoy and theorize about later, this is one of those books. I need a pause after reading this book because it was so good. I’m anxiously awaiting for the next one!
singstarsam's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As an ARC reader, I want to say I'm so excited I got to read this!
I was annoyed with Meryn at first, but I grew to like her a lot. You'd grow to like other characters and just as fast they're gone. I really liked the couple of plot twists at the end and I look forward to the next one!
I was annoyed with Meryn at first, but I grew to like her a lot. You'd grow to like other characters and just as fast they're gone. I really liked the couple of plot twists at the end and I look forward to the next one!
haleg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Yes, some parts of this book are predictable. Do I care? No. Yes, this is similar to others in the romatasy "war torn, animal-bonding worlds" (and to all the "this is just a fourth wing knock-off" comments I would love to point out fourth wing is 100% NOT an original storyline either and is NOT the first war-academy human-animal bonding book to exist, its just the most viral. I've read dozens with this same storyline way before fourth wing existed) Anyways, moving on. Do I care? No. The history, pacing, writing and overall vibes are very bingeable in this book. Insane to me this is a debut novel because it's 👏🏻 so 👏🏻 good 👏🏻.
It is definitely not perfect, and could use a few more scenes of "showing us not telling us" as some of the worldbuilding is just info dumps, but I didn't find that bothersome because the vibes were there. Would be a good romantasy read for someone just getting into the genre for sure, but seasoned people (like myself) MIGHT find this a bore. I, however, thought it was a very fun read that was un-put-downable mainly based on vibes. If you're looking for a new concept and cool new world, definitely not the book for you, but if you read to have fun, highly recommend.
I do wish the tropes weren't listed on the Amazon description cause that gives away the storyline (and I'm very glad I didn't notice the list until now cause it 100% would've ruined the ending), some tropes like found-family are fine but the list gets so detailed with "secret royal " and "hidden powers " and honestly "slow burn because Meryn starts out in a relationship with a good guy so when you read that you obviously know somethings up there and they dont end up together so if you're thinking about reading this book, don't read the trope list.
It is definitely not perfect, and could use a few more scenes of "showing us not telling us" as some of the worldbuilding is just info dumps, but I didn't find that bothersome because the vibes were there. Would be a good romantasy read for someone just getting into the genre for sure, but seasoned people (like myself) MIGHT find this a bore. I, however, thought it was a very fun read that was un-put-downable mainly based on vibes. If you're looking for a new concept and cool new world, definitely not the book for you, but if you read to have fun, highly recommend.
I do wish the tropes weren't listed on the Amazon description cause that gives away the storyline (and I'm very glad I didn't notice the list until now cause it 100% would've ruined the ending), some tropes like found-family are fine but the list gets so detailed with "
messyjessy's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
theshelfarchive's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book. THIS BOOK.
Now that I’ve had some time to process and move past the initial shock of Direbound’s ending—not to mention the general "OMG this is SO GOOD" feeling I had throughout this read—I can finally put my thoughts down.
For a debut, this book delivers on all fronts: mystery, slow-burn tension, banter, high-stakes action, and spice. The pacing is excellent; you spend just enough time absorbing one piece of information before seamlessly moving on to the next. The world-building is just as strong—detailed, immersive, and left open for expansion in future books without overwhelming the reader. With such a rich world, it would have been easy to introduce too much at once, but the authors balanced it perfectly.
It’s easy to draw comparisons to a book like Fourth Wing since the setups are quite similar, but at the same time, it feels wrong to compare it to Fourth Wing because Direbound is executed better, in my opinion. The writing is sharper, the plot is more compelling, and the character dynamics feel richer and more nuanced.Meryn is a fantastic FMC—stubborn, tenacious, funny, and hardworking. Anassa matches her in strength, determination, and resilience, making them a powerful duo. The secondary characters are just as compelling, and the found family trope thrives here, adding warmth and depth to the story.
One of the things I loved most was how this book stays primarily contained to the Bonding Trials. There’s a brief excursion to another significant location, but it serves a specific purpose and doesn’t distract from the main story. This focus makes the book feel tightly woven and prevents unnecessary side plots from bogging down the narrative.
Another standout aspect is the way the book begins with an established relationship—a rarity in the romantasy genre. While it’s later revealed that the relationship was fake (on one side) and full of ick, I commend the authors for taking this approach. It immediately sets up intrigue and subverts expectations.
Speaking of that relationship… I didn’t see the first twist—that Lee was Prince Killian—coming. But once it was revealed and his true nature began to unfold, I didn’t trust him. There was something controlling about him, especially during his and Meryn’s intimate moments, that made me deeply uncomfortable. I also didn’t want Meryn to end up with him, so when he was revealed as the villain, I was more than relieved.
And then there’s Stark. This man. He overshadows Xaden and rivals Kingfisher. While I initially assumed Killian was the one who got Meryn her own room, I knew—knew—that Stark was the one who left her the dress for the ball. It was also obvious that their wolves were mates, but the revelation at the end still broke me. Stark unloading four months’ worth of pining and heartbreak? Absolutely gut-wrenching. I love that their relationship is a torturously slow burn and that they don’t actually get together in this book. The anticipation makes it all the more satisfying, and when they do finally come together, it’s going to be incredible.
The book balances predictability and unpredictability well. Some moments felt expected, but others—like the engagement bracelet that can’t be removed and Meryn’s sister being turned into a Siphon—completely caught me off guard. Regardless, the storytelling is so engaging and addictive that any predictability becomes irrelevant.
Now, I’m anxiously counting down the days until book two releases in July—and hopefully book three at the end of the year.I don’t want to make too many predictions, but I am very curious about how Jonah will react to learning that Meryn, supposedly a commoner, is actually the rightful queen. He despises her, so I can’t imagine he’ll just accept it. Will he rebel? Will he try to assassinate her? And then there’s Killian—I can’t wait to see Meryn and Anassa take him down. I’m also eager to explore the mate bond between Cratos and Anassa and how that affects Stark and Meryn, as well as what’s really happening on the frontlines of the war.
THIS BOOK. GAH.
Now that I’ve had some time to process and move past the initial shock of Direbound’s ending—not to mention the general "OMG this is SO GOOD" feeling I had throughout this read—I can finally put my thoughts down.
For a debut, this book delivers on all fronts: mystery, slow-burn tension, banter, high-stakes action, and spice. The pacing is excellent; you spend just enough time absorbing one piece of information before seamlessly moving on to the next. The world-building is just as strong—detailed, immersive, and left open for expansion in future books without overwhelming the reader. With such a rich world, it would have been easy to introduce too much at once, but the authors balanced it perfectly.
It’s easy to draw comparisons to a book like Fourth Wing since the setups are quite similar, but at the same time, it feels wrong to compare it to Fourth Wing because Direbound is executed better, in my opinion. The writing is sharper, the plot is more compelling, and the character dynamics feel richer and more nuanced.
One of the things I loved most was how this book stays primarily contained to the Bonding Trials. There’s a brief excursion to another significant location, but it serves a specific purpose and doesn’t distract from the main story. This focus makes the book feel tightly woven and prevents unnecessary side plots from bogging down the narrative.
Another standout aspect is the way the book begins with an established relationship—a rarity in the romantasy genre. While it’s later revealed that the relationship was fake (on one side) and full of ick, I commend the authors for taking this approach. It immediately sets up intrigue and subverts expectations.
Speaking of that relationship… I didn’t see the first twist—that Lee was Prince Killian—coming. But once it was revealed and his true nature began to unfold, I didn’t trust him. There was something controlling about him, especially during his and Meryn’s intimate moments, that made me deeply uncomfortable. I also didn’t want Meryn to end up with him, so when he was revealed as the villain, I was more than relieved.
And then there’s Stark. This man. He overshadows Xaden and rivals Kingfisher. While I initially assumed Killian was the one who got Meryn her own room, I knew—knew—that Stark was the one who left her the dress for the ball. It was also obvious that their wolves were mates, but the revelation at the end still broke me. Stark unloading four months’ worth of pining and heartbreak? Absolutely gut-wrenching. I love that their relationship is a torturously slow burn and that they don’t actually get together in this book. The anticipation makes it all the more satisfying, and when they do finally come together, it’s going to be incredible.
The book balances predictability and unpredictability well. Some moments felt expected, but others—like the engagement bracelet that can’t be removed and Meryn’s sister being turned into a Siphon—completely caught me off guard. Regardless, the storytelling is so engaging and addictive that any predictability becomes irrelevant.
Now, I’m anxiously counting down the days until book two releases in July—and hopefully book three at the end of the year.
THIS BOOK. GAH.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gore and Violence
Minor: Self harm
3rdcoastdweller's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It was very predictable, especially at the beginning, but included several of my favorite troupes (enemies to lovers, fated mates, dark academy, magical world, etc.) so no complaints! Fans of Onyx Storm, Throne of Glass, and ACOTAR will devour this book. I am already looking forward to the second installment.
ash_good's review
5.0
*ARC Read*
Wow! This story had me gripped from the beginning and the twists/cliffhanger have me dying for the next book! I definitely can see the Fourth Wing/Hunger Games/GoT parallels but I also think it takes on its own spin. The world and overall plot are interesting and I can’t wait to see how Sable expands on all of it. The growth Meryn goes through and her strength makes her a formidable FMC. I won’t go into too much on the MMCs but again I am excited to see what happens in the next one, I love an enemies to lovers!
Wow! This story had me gripped from the beginning and the twists/cliffhanger have me dying for the next book! I definitely can see the Fourth Wing/Hunger Games/GoT parallels but I also think it takes on its own spin. The world and overall plot are interesting and I can’t wait to see how Sable expands on all of it. The growth Meryn goes through and her strength makes her a formidable FMC. I won’t go into too much on the MMCs but again I am excited to see what happens in the next one, I love an enemies to lovers!