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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
Thank you Hachette Audio for providing me an early copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
Oh my goodness! I was obsessed with this one from the first chapter on, which is saying something, because it is a LONG one. But I’m telling you, it definitely doesn’t *feel* that long, because there are NO slow parts, just constant happenings, and I loved it the whole way through! 😍
There are Dire Wolves, there is a training “academy” environment, deadly trials, factions/packs, a love triangle (which I usually hate, but actually kind of enjoyed in this one?? 👀), secrets and lies, and bonds, and maybe that seems like a lot of things, but it never felt that way!
As an older reader who’s “read it all” at this point, did I see some of the twists coming? Kinda, maybe, but also, not completely, and I loved when things would happen and I’d have a “waaaaait…🤔” moment, and that final scene? I gasped! 😱
I really loved the characters, and getting to know them from Meryn’s POV, and I don’t want to say anything else for fear of *spoilers*, but there are some really fun interactions.
And the spice? It was spicing. 🙂↕️
I absolutely loved this read, and I am so excited to continue on with this series, and please, tell me, when does the next one come out, because I NEED it. 🙏
Audiobook notes: Done in Duet!! The story is told in single POV (except for a bonus epilogue that is NOT in the KU version! 👀), but I loved having that male narrator there to take on all the male voices. Both narrators were fantastic! Special shoutout to Avery Caris, who did amazing with all the emotional and intense action scenes.
What this book is giving:
✅ Romantasy
✅ Hunger Games + Fourth Wing
✅ Dire Wolves
✅ Training
✅ Bonds
✅ Love triangle? 👀
✅ That ending 😱
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5
🌶️🌶️🌶️½ / 5
Oh my goodness! I was obsessed with this one from the first chapter on, which is saying something, because it is a LONG one. But I’m telling you, it definitely doesn’t *feel* that long, because there are NO slow parts, just constant happenings, and I loved it the whole way through! 😍
There are Dire Wolves, there is a training “academy” environment, deadly trials, factions/packs, a love triangle (which I usually hate, but actually kind of enjoyed in this one?? 👀), secrets and lies, and bonds, and maybe that seems like a lot of things, but it never felt that way!
As an older reader who’s “read it all” at this point, did I see some of the twists coming? Kinda, maybe, but also, not completely, and I loved when things would happen and I’d have a “waaaaait…🤔” moment, and that final scene? I gasped! 😱
I really loved the characters, and getting to know them from Meryn’s POV, and I don’t want to say anything else for fear of *spoilers*, but there are some really fun interactions.
And the spice? It was spicing. 🙂↕️
I absolutely loved this read, and I am so excited to continue on with this series, and please, tell me, when does the next one come out, because I NEED it. 🙏
Audiobook notes: Done in Duet!! The story is told in single POV (except for a bonus epilogue that is NOT in the KU version! 👀), but I loved having that male narrator there to take on all the male voices. Both narrators were fantastic! Special shoutout to Avery Caris, who did amazing with all the emotional and intense action scenes.
What this book is giving:
✅ Romantasy
✅ Hunger Games + Fourth Wing
✅ Dire Wolves
✅ Training
✅ Bonds
✅ Love triangle? 👀
✅ That ending 😱
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5
🌶️🌶️🌶️½ / 5
I went into this ARC read not having much interest in romantasy books and my first ARC read ever, I’m so glad I did! I wasn’t sure about it at first but I was quickly drawn in and I couldn’t put it down! The plot twists, THE betrayal, the spice! All of my favorite tropes in one book! Great read, I’m so excited to see this story line play out in book 2!
I loved this first 50% of this and was very engaged with the plot. But the second half kind of lost me. I think this was just a bit too long for me, and at times I found myself dragging through it just trying to finish.
I guessed most of the twists-The children being in the castle, Anassa’s mate being Cratos, Killian being bad (though pretty much everyone guessed that from the start). - but that didn’t necessarily take away from my enjoyment it just felt a bit predictable at times.
I liked that Meryn was a bit more bloodthirsty, and that she was described as tall and with muscle unlike most of these ‘petite, tiny, borderline child-like’ fmcs. But she was also infuriating at times and so blind to everyone and everything going on around her. I actually wanted to throttle her at times with her stupid decisions.
I despised Stark at first but found him more tolerable at the end. How he would essentially beat her up as training really rubbed me the wrong way, especially the descriptions about how he looked like he enjoyed causing her physical pain. Every one of their first interactions involved him physically hurting her, which again gives me an icky feeling.
Overall I did like this and I think I’ll read the second.
I guessed most of the twists-
I liked that Meryn was a bit more bloodthirsty, and that she was described as tall and with muscle unlike most of these ‘petite, tiny, borderline child-like’ fmcs. But she was also infuriating at times and so blind to everyone and everything going on around her. I actually wanted to throttle her at times with her stupid decisions.
I despised Stark at first but found him more tolerable at the end. How he would essentially beat her up as training really rubbed me the wrong way, especially the descriptions about how he looked like he enjoyed causing her physical pain. Every one of their first interactions involved him physically hurting her, which again gives me an icky feeling.
Overall I did like this and I think I’ll read the second.
Direbound is a fast paced and gripping dark romantasy that will keep you on the edge. It's extremely Fourth Wing and Quicksilver coded, but the overarching story feels fresh despite the many similarities. Meryn is a relatable FMC you can root for. She's a physical fighter entrenched in mental and emotional growth as the story progresses. Her fierce and unwavering loyalty to her family, and desires that crave protection and love in turn, are very realistic. The emotional damage of her demise is raw and watching the slow erosion of her agency and strength gutted me.
This book is at its best with its found family arc. The side characters are easy to like and I'm always here for female friendship and deep bonds forged amidst trials and heartache. The dynamic between Meryn, Izabel, and Venna is beautiful from the start.
However, Direbound isn't a five star read because of its compressed pacing and lazy writing in certain areas. There are several plot twists and many are quite predictable. I figured out who the villain was very early on and cringed inwardly whenever the word "psycho" appeared on the page. I also felt the authors leaned too heavily into popular tropes just for the sake of fitting them all into the story.
For example, we get an abrupt who did this to you, only one bed, and forced proximity in the span of a paragraph. I would have appreciated more substance and a deeper slow burn into these themes. While the "who did this to you" element was forced, I do think the ending explained why it happened this way. Stark's Make me your instrument of vengeance is toe curling.
I also hated the "mistrust" dynamic between Meryn and Anassa. Both had valid reasons for concealing information. An ancient creature like Anassa should be wiser and understand why Meryn wouldn't immediately open up. Especially since she was bonded without her consent.
This narrative of control is resonant. The bitter aftertaste is watching a strong FMC succumb to coercion and gaslighting in relationships that should be trustworthy, safe, and uplifting. I think that's why Anassa's forced bond felt so violating. It's a female lead stripping the autonomy from another FMC for the sake of advancing the plot. What's worse is Anassa intentionally withholding her trust because Meryn refuses to "accept" the trauma and her circumstances outright. These power differentials are a betrayal and make Anassa just as brutal as the main antagonist.
Is Direbound perfect? No, but it's still absolutely deserves a home on your bookshelf. I look forward to the next two books in the trilogy.
This book is at its best with its found family arc. The side characters are easy to like and I'm always here for female friendship and deep bonds forged amidst trials and heartache. The dynamic between Meryn, Izabel, and Venna is beautiful from the start.
However, Direbound isn't a five star read because of its compressed pacing and lazy writing in certain areas. There are several plot twists and many are quite predictable. I figured out who the villain was very early on and cringed inwardly whenever the word "psycho" appeared on the page. I also felt the authors leaned too heavily into popular tropes just for the sake of fitting them all into the story.
For example, we get an abrupt who did this to you, only one bed, and forced proximity in the span of a paragraph. I would have appreciated more substance and a deeper slow burn into these themes. While the "who did this to you" element was forced, I do think the ending explained why it happened this way. Stark's Make me your instrument of vengeance is toe curling.
I also hated the "mistrust" dynamic between Meryn and Anassa. Both had valid reasons for concealing information. An ancient creature like Anassa should be wiser and understand why Meryn wouldn't immediately open up. Especially since she was bonded without her consent.
This narrative of control is resonant. The bitter aftertaste is watching a strong FMC succumb to coercion and gaslighting in relationships that should be trustworthy, safe, and uplifting. I think that's why Anassa's forced bond felt so violating. It's a female lead stripping the autonomy from another FMC for the sake of advancing the plot. What's worse is Anassa intentionally withholding her trust because Meryn refuses to "accept" the trauma and her circumstances outright. These power differentials are a betrayal and make Anassa just as brutal as the main antagonist.
Is Direbound perfect? No, but it's still absolutely deserves a home on your bookshelf. I look forward to the next two books in the trilogy.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While direbound was entirely formulaic and predictable, I couldn’t put it down. This is the perfect book if you are looking for something that feels a bit like fourth wing and quicksilver. It’s a thick book but a very quick read. I wanted more character development and I can’t wait for the bond between Maeryn and Annessa to strengthen and become deeper. Same with Maeryn and Stark. It’s tiptoeing on the edge of found family but again there isn’t enough depth to all the relationships. We need more backstory and meaningful dialogue between all the characters. I’ll definitely be continuing the story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Enjoyable read, will be reading second book.
Twist was predictable, and once you read the chapter, you'll know how it happens. But that's fine, predictable twists doesn't make a book bad.
Writing style was not to my liking for this book. Not that the writing was bad, more that the style of the writing feels like it fits more modern settings than the setting in this book.
Looking forward to how FMC and MMC's relationship grow.
Twist was predictable, and once you read the chapter, you'll know how it happens. But that's fine, predictable twists doesn't make a book bad.
Writing style was not to my liking for this book. Not that the writing was bad, more that the style of the writing feels like it fits more modern settings than the setting in this book.
Looking forward to how FMC and MMC's relationship grow.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
Best book of the year. Couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait for the second one.
adventurous
emotional
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:
Yes