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A review by theshelfarchive
Direbound: A Dark Romantasy by Sable Sorensen
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