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Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them… Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting. And Meryn’s world falls apart. Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will. Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife. To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself. Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life. And the castle is hiding dark secrets… Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in dark action-packed fantasy series, perfect for romantasy fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses , The Serpent & the Wings of Night , When the Moon Hatched and Quicksilver ! See why readers love Direbound: “A God Tier Fantasy book!!! I just finished and still trying to mentally and emotionally recover to what just happened to me. You need to read it IMMEDIATELY .” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ 6 STARS!!! I absolutely loved this book. It's got everything , violence, romance, betrayal, family, WOLVES!” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “If you’re into dark romantasy with high stakes , fierce characters, and just the right amount of emotional wreckage , Direbound is your next obsession .” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ OMG THIS BOOK YOU GUYS!!! I'm OBSESSED and I need to know what happens next like ASAP.” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “What an incredible read!! … I am blown away . … The romance, the anguish, the BANTER ! I love a book with good banter and this was FULL OF IT!” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ I. Am. OBSESSED. … Left me spiraling in the best way possible. The morally grey anti-hero ? Perfection. The slow-burn tension ? Electric. … I was completely immersed .” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Umm omg!! This book is soo FREAKING GOOD! It had me on the edge of my seat. This plot has so many twists and turns … I loved every second of that!” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ TROPES: Slow burn romance Found family Morally grey characters One bed Touch her and die Who did this to you Secret royals Enemies to lovers Forced proximity Hidden powers Fated mates Vampires vs. wolves! Review: I Adore This Book: Amazing Debut - ARC Read I was so excited to be selected to be an ARC reader for this wonderful book. I have always loved wolf stories, and this one did NOT disappoint! The world building was absolutely captivating. It's rare to find a story that has you excited to learn about each new custom and setting along with the character, but Direbound did this impeccably. I was found myself immediately hooked and enthralled with the characters and the storyline. Meryn is tough and determined, but we also get to see her growth and how she comes into her own. She has been handed an awful hand of cards in her life, but she makes it through because she there is no other choice. She is a great FMC that makes you want to root for her success. There is also a wonderful through-line of familial bonds both with her sister, Igor, and her complicated relationship with her mother - these bonds help Meryn to never seem flat or one-dimensional. We also get to see her bond grow with her wolf, and we get to learn about Direwolf culture alongside of her which keeps you hungry for more, just like Meryn. Anassa is a beautiful character, and single handedly drew me even further into the book. There is romance strung throughout the book, but once you meet the wolves, your intrigue is fueled by the pack and the quests at hand, leaving the romance as a good aside to the plot. The found family within this novel is beautifully written with it's ups and downs, but watching Meryn and everyone else overcome those rough patches only to come out stronger is incredibly heartwarming. From the moment I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down! Direbound held my attention for over 600 pages from the very beginning. Immediately I was pulled into this world and invested in the characters and plot. When the characters overcame something, it felt like I'd overcome it. When they lost something, I felt the loss as my own. It is incredibly difficult to illicit that feeling from a reader in the first few pages but Sable Sorensen has done it beautifully. There is enough detail that you can fall into the story and look around as if you're there, but not too much that you feel bogged down in a setting description. Also, as someone who has read a lot of wolf based stories in her life, I can tell you that this is one of the best I've read. The descriptions of the packs and the connections were well described and thought out. It felt cohesive, and I could tell that wolves and pack structures were something that Sable Sorensen really cared about and thought out. Throughout the read, I was kept on my toes. I am a reader that likes to figure things out before they happen, but I was constantly changing my theories as new information was revealed. There are twists and turns in this book that keep you deeply engaged in the plot, and the ending left my jaw open with me already looking up the release of the second book! After I finished the read, I had such an urge to go back and reread it to figure out all of the foreshadowing that was released previously that I had missed, but kept thinking back to with all of the new information. I almost never find myself itching to reread a novel directly after finishing it, but after this read, it was impossible to just set the book down and walk away from the world until this summer! (Potential Spoiler (if you want to go in with almost no knowledge) Ahead) Finally, I have always loved Throne of Glass and Rowan Whitethorn. I never thought that I'd find another fantasy man that matches his energy, but Stark might just prove me wrong. Overall, if you're a fan of wolves, Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, all of the above, read Direbound! You won't regret diving into this world for even a second! Review: Such a great time - 4.5⭐️ - This book was SO good. I went into this knowing only that it was similar to FW, but with wolves—it didn’t disappoint! I ate this up. I loved the characters, the world, and the plot. This had the addicting, thrilling feeling I got reading FW for the first time. 🤌🏻 even though it was similar, it also had plenty of its own plot—which I’m loving. Our FMC was strong and just got stronger and I loved that the actual romance is slow burn. Like actual small pieces sprinkled throughout which has me COUNTING down the days for Furybound! This book did make me tear up a few times. I’m not a huge fan of spice in books and this one had quite a few scenes that I had to skip. The spice always knocks my ratings down or this would’ve been 5⭐️ for me. But that’s definitely personal preference to me. This is a definitely recommend if you want something a little predictable, but also just addicting!
| Best Sellers Rank | #313,353 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #4 in Fantasy Action & Adventure #9 in Romantic Fantasy (Books) #39 in Dark Fantasy |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 66,929 Reviews |
A**T
I Adore This Book: Amazing Debut
ARC Read I was so excited to be selected to be an ARC reader for this wonderful book. I have always loved wolf stories, and this one did NOT disappoint! The world building was absolutely captivating. It's rare to find a story that has you excited to learn about each new custom and setting along with the character, but Direbound did this impeccably. I was found myself immediately hooked and enthralled with the characters and the storyline. Meryn is tough and determined, but we also get to see her growth and how she comes into her own. She has been handed an awful hand of cards in her life, but she makes it through because she there is no other choice. She is a great FMC that makes you want to root for her success. There is also a wonderful through-line of familial bonds both with her sister, Igor, and her complicated relationship with her mother - these bonds help Meryn to never seem flat or one-dimensional. We also get to see her bond grow with her wolf, and we get to learn about Direwolf culture alongside of her which keeps you hungry for more, just like Meryn. Anassa is a beautiful character, and single handedly drew me even further into the book. There is romance strung throughout the book, but once you meet the wolves, your intrigue is fueled by the pack and the quests at hand, leaving the romance as a good aside to the plot. The found family within this novel is beautifully written with it's ups and downs, but watching Meryn and everyone else overcome those rough patches only to come out stronger is incredibly heartwarming. From the moment I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down! Direbound held my attention for over 600 pages from the very beginning. Immediately I was pulled into this world and invested in the characters and plot. When the characters overcame something, it felt like I'd overcome it. When they lost something, I felt the loss as my own. It is incredibly difficult to illicit that feeling from a reader in the first few pages but Sable Sorensen has done it beautifully. There is enough detail that you can fall into the story and look around as if you're there, but not too much that you feel bogged down in a setting description. Also, as someone who has read a lot of wolf based stories in her life, I can tell you that this is one of the best I've read. The descriptions of the packs and the connections were well described and thought out. It felt cohesive, and I could tell that wolves and pack structures were something that Sable Sorensen really cared about and thought out. Throughout the read, I was kept on my toes. I am a reader that likes to figure things out before they happen, but I was constantly changing my theories as new information was revealed. There are twists and turns in this book that keep you deeply engaged in the plot, and the ending left my jaw open with me already looking up the release of the second book! After I finished the read, I had such an urge to go back and reread it to figure out all of the foreshadowing that was released previously that I had missed, but kept thinking back to with all of the new information. I almost never find myself itching to reread a novel directly after finishing it, but after this read, it was impossible to just set the book down and walk away from the world until this summer! (Potential Spoiler (if you want to go in with almost no knowledge) Ahead) Finally, I have always loved Throne of Glass and Rowan Whitethorn. I never thought that I'd find another fantasy man that matches his energy, but Stark might just prove me wrong. Overall, if you're a fan of wolves, Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, all of the above, read Direbound! You won't regret diving into this world for even a second!
J**S
Such a great time
4.5⭐️ - This book was SO good. I went into this knowing only that it was similar to FW, but with wolves—it didn’t disappoint! I ate this up. I loved the characters, the world, and the plot. This had the addicting, thrilling feeling I got reading FW for the first time. 🤌🏻 even though it was similar, it also had plenty of its own plot—which I’m loving. Our FMC was strong and just got stronger and I loved that the actual romance is slow burn. Like actual small pieces sprinkled throughout which has me COUNTING down the days for Furybound! This book did make me tear up a few times. I’m not a huge fan of spice in books and this one had quite a few scenes that I had to skip. The spice always knocks my ratings down or this would’ve been 5⭐️ for me. But that’s definitely personal preference to me. This is a definitely recommend if you want something a little predictable, but also just addicting!
K**M
Your next addicting read.
Direbound from debut author Sable Sorenson has been haunting my dreams in the best possible way. I’ve been reading romantasy for a little less than two years, yes Fourth Wing introduced me to the genre. This story has bonding trials like Fourth Wing and direwolves like Game of Thrones. I’m sure there are other movie and book similarities to be found. For the last five hundred years, the country of Nocturna, protected by its infantry and Bonded riders/direwolves has been at war with the country of Astreona, governed by their king Lucian Brightbane, with Siphons also known as vampires as their army. During all of this time, no one has ever truly had an advantage. However, Nocturna has turned into a poor, poverty-stricken county. Most of the lavishes and riches are heaped upon the Bonded families, leaving most commoners barely scraping by. At the age of twelve, Meryn Cooper lost her father to the war. Shortly after, her mother started experiencing mental health issues, which resulted in Meryn dropping out of school, taking care of her infant sister, and taking over her mother’s job to have income. Now twenty-three, Meryn still works at the laundromat and supplements her mother’s medication and her sister’s schooling by fighting in warehouses against men twice her size. For as long as she can remember, kids have been kidnapped from the capital city of Sturmfrost in the middle of the night, while they’ve slept in their own beds. The thought is that Nabbers who are Siphons or working for the Siphons are responsible, and take the children across the border. When Meryn’s ten-year-old sister Saela is taken right from under her nose, Meryn knows she needs to get her back. “If anyone’s fool enough to take the fight to the Nabbers, and strong enough to stop them and bring home our kids, well, it’s you.” In order to get Saela back, Meryn needs to get to the frontlines of the war fast. Her solution is to join the King’s Royal Forces. To her surprise, this season’s recruitment also includes the bonding trials, where every recruit must compete and scale Mount Wolfsbane to see if they will be selected by a direwolf and become Bonded. Those who do not bond with a wolf will immediately be sent to the frontlines to complete their training. But those who do bond will spend the next four months doing intense pack training. The trials immediately begin with the Ascent, where some will not make it. Luckily for Meryn, with the help of her new friends Venna and Izabel, she’s able to make it up. Venna and Izabel immediately bond. Meryn has no desire to bond and is ready to be transferred to the frontlines. But Anassa a powerful-looking direwolf has other plans for her. The two immediately clash in a battle of wills, with neither trusting the other. This doesn’t bode well, as trust between direwolf and rider is paramount for survival. Not only does Meryn have to deal with an irritable (to say the least) direwolf, and other Rawbonds (newly bonded) trying to eliminate her, but she also has to deal with Stark Therion, one of the training instructors. Stark isn’t just an instructor. His normal position is that of Alpha of the Daemos pack, the warriors, which usually finds him on the frontlines racking up Siphon eliminations. He oozes disdain for Meryn and seems to take joy in trying to break her. But Meryn would endure anything and everything if it meant freeing her sister and returning to her mother and the love of her life Lee, her boyfriend of a year and a palace messenger. Direbound was more than I expected and almost nothing I expected at the same time. I loved Meryn who is outspoken, courageous, and brave. Stark is a complicated man who keeps everything close to his vest. His allegiance is to the crown and he makes it no secret. With his direwolf Cratos, they are a force to be reckoned with and inspire fear and submission. Lee is handsome and charming and knows exactly what to say and what Meryn needs. He is just way too good. Their attraction is palatable and their relationship is passionate and spicy. Direbound was captivating from the first to the last page. Every part of this story is important to the overall picture. I so LOVED all the twists and turns. Make no mistake, Direbound is a brutal, gruesomely graphic story. But there’s also beauty in friendship, found family, and coming into your own. This is a story about longing, betrayal, and secrets. So many secrets. I love the “touch her and die” trope. Direbound (shaking my head) has very good t.h.a.d. moments. There are other tropes, but I don’t want to list them and spoil anything. Just know that Direbound is going to be with me for a long long time. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Furybound. ~ Favorite Quotes ~ “The strongest bonds are selective.” “I’ve never let difficult things break me and I’m not going to start now.” “You are more precious to me than you could ever imagine.” “Friendship can be a strength.” “I give respect where respect is due.” “Leadership requires both knowledge and strength.” “There are different kinds of strength. Different kinds of weaknesses.” “I will never lie to you.” “Family is a blind spot for all of us.” “Trust goes two ways.” **Received a copy of the book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a paperback copy.**
L**E
Romantasy at its finest!
Dire Bound was a full-blown experience. From the first page, I was pulled into an epic, dangerous world that blends the addictive academy-survival vibes of Fourth Wing with the feral intensity of Psycho Shifters, then cranks everything up several notches. This is romantasy at its finest: brutal trials, powerful bonds, high emotional stakes, and a heroine who will burn the world down for the people she loves. Meryn is the kind of FMC I live for, desperate, determined, and fiercely human. With her sister taken and her mother’s health failing, every choice she makes is fueled by love, sacrifice, and survival. Watching her enter the deadly Bonding Trials and become bound to Anassa, a feral but regal direwolf who wants nothing to do with her, was one of my favorite parts of the book. The earned trust and growing bond between Meryn and Anassa is powerful, emotional, and beautifully written. The romance delivers delicious tension. There’s a complicated love triangle, forbidden feelings, and slow-burn yearning that had me clutching my Kindle. The tension between Meryn and Stark is especially addictive, it is charged, painful, and impossible to ignore and made even better by the fact that Meryn is already in a relationship she can’t easily walk away from. Add in found family, betrayal, ruthless training, and nonstop twists, and I was hooked. This story is fast-paced, emotional, and action-packed without sacrificing character depth or world-building. The strongest metals are forged in fire and watching Meryn be forged into something stronger, sharper, and more dangerous was incredibly satisfying. Dire Bound is a must-read for romantasy lovers who crave bonds, beasts, brutal trials, slow-burn tension, and heroines who refuse to break. I devoured this book and cannot wait for the next book!!! 🖤🐺👑
B**A
Unforgettable
Only a few chapters into Dire Bound, it was immediately clear why this book is a five star read for so many readers. It has that rare combination of depth, tension, emotion, and payoff that pulls you in completely and refuses to let go. From intense trials and high-stakes games to a magic system that feels fresh and intentional, layered political and class-based conflict, and a unique take on vampires, every piece of the story feels thoughtfully constructed rather than familiar or recycled. The magic system, in particular, stood out to me. It is grounded in empathy and inner strength rather than raw power alone, which gives it a depth that feels both meaningful and relatable. It feels staunch and deeply rooted in who the characters are, not just what they are capable of doing. That foundation makes the challenges feel earned and the growth feel authentic, especially when it comes to Meryn. Meryn is a standout FMC. She carries a presence that feels bigger than the world she has lived in and the life she has been forced to survive. As I read, it became increasingly clear that everything she has endured has been quietly shaping her for something far greater than she could ever imagine. Watching her begin to step into that potential was incredibly satisfying. Sable Sorensen’s use of subtle hints and carefully placed Easter eggs kept my mind constantly engaged. I found myself forming theories, noticing small details, and then feeling that rush of gratification when those seemingly insignificant moments resurfaced in powerful and meaningful ways. The found family element was another major highlight for me. The relationships felt organic, layered, and emotionally grounding amid the chaos of the story. There is a thoughtful demonstration of emotional intelligence, and sometimes the lack of it, across different characters. You can clearly see how individual lived experiences shape the way each person mentally and emotionally navigates the high-stakes environment they are enduring. That nuance added warmth and heart to a story already rich with tension and conflict. And then there are the two MMCs. As a reader, I was genuinely torn. Each one commands attention in a completely different way, and just when I thought I understood one of them, another layer was revealed that shifted my perspective entirely. That gradual unveiling of depth and complexity made the romantic tension absolutely addictive. The chemistry, magnetism, and uncertainty elevated the spicy moments and made them land even harder. By about halfway through the book, I was fully invested, emotionally attached, and already craving more than the pages I had left. I went ahead and preordered the second book, Fury Bound, without hesitation. Dire Bound is immersive, layered, and deeply engaging. It rewards attentive reading and lingers in your thoughts long after the final page. For me, it was an unforgettable reading experience and an easy five stars.
J**C
Really Enjoyed Dire Bound - Very Spicy!
Meryn Cooper is fierce. She is a fierce fighter, a fierce protector of her mother and sister, and an even fiercer lover. After years of struggling to survive in a harsh world ruled by powerful warriors bonded to direwolves, Meryn’s life is thrown into chaos when her sister is taken by deadly creatures lurking beyond the kingdom’s borders. Desperate to save her, Meryn enters the dangerous Bonding Trials, where only the strongest survive and trust can be just as deadly as the monsters themselves. What follows is a thrilling mix of brutal trials, political secrets, shifting alliances, and slow-burning romance. As Meryn fights her way through impossible odds, she discovers there is far more at stake than just her sister’s life. Dire Bound delivers dangerous magic, intense emotional tension, fierce loyalty, and plenty of yearning, all wrapped up in a gritty romantasy world filled with giant direwolves and characters you cannot help but root for. I really enjoyed Dire Bound. Meryn was such a smart, tough FMC, and I absolutely loved following her story. She felt capable without losing the emotional side of herself, and I was invested in her almost immediately. That said… the SECOND Stark Therion showed up, I needed Meryn to get on board because I was completely sold on him right away. The fight scenes with Stark were honestly some of my favorite parts of the book. Every time he was on page, things just got more exciting, and I definitely wanted even more of that energy throughout the story. Killian, on the other hand… I just could not connect with him at all. He was always a little too perfect for me, and I’ve realized I really do not enjoy perfection in an MMC - It gives me a bad vibe every time. Give me the rough edges, the morally gray decisions, the chaos. Overall though, I thought the story itself was genuinely fun to read. The world, the action, the direwolves, the tension… it all kept me engaged the whole way through. I will say there was A LOT of spice. Like… a lot a lot. More than I personally prefer, but if you like heavy spice in your romantasy, this one definitely delivers.
K**R
Outstanding tale filled with bravery, romance & epic adventure!
This was a fantastic book and I'm SO glad I gave it a chance. The story follows a woman named Meryn, the eldest daughter in a family who have lost their father and the mother has fallen ill, leaving Meryn to be responsible for keeping the family together. When her young sister suddenly goes missing, along with many other children in their fiefdom, Meryn's desperation forces her to enlist in the royal guard with the hopes that she'll be placed on the front lines of war. Once there, she hopes to find clues to her sister's whereabouts as she believes the enemy has taken the children. The trouble is, that all the misinformation she has been given over her lifetime winds places her in peril by being forced into a treacherous competition, and not on the warfront. Worse, is that she's competing with those who are highly trained, better equipped, and have had years of education about the dangers ahead. Throughout the story, Meryn comes face to face with deathly hurdles, people who she isn't sure she can trust, forced to cooperate with a very grumpy direwolf who seems all-to0-willing to tear her throat out rather than help her, and she finds herself having to train harder and learn faster in order to survive long enough to hopefully find her sister. This story has ALL my favorite tropes! Childhood Sweethearts, Betrayals, Siblings endangered, Animals who can communicate, One Bed, Untapped magical powers, Found-Family, High Stakes, and so much more! There were so many twists and turns in this story, too. Some that I anticipated, but so many more that left my mouth agape and my mind reeling with what's to come in the next book in the series. Sable Sorensen's brilliant writing has quickly earned her rank in my Top 5 Romantasy Authors for 2026 - and while I don't tend to give them out easily, Dire Bound easily scored a full-5stars! I'm sure that Fury Bound will not disappoint and I cannot wait!
M**G
**SPOILERS** in my review
**SPOILERS** 3/5 Overall 3/5 Spice This book was just okay for me. I was really hoping their would be some sort of romance between Stark and Meryn but we didnt get that at all, sure little hints to the fact that their wolves are mates and they are drawn to each other but that was it - disappointing. I mean Killian being the enemy - all the little things told us that. WHY wasn't there any warning bells going off for Meryn about that?? More kids going missing once she is out of the town, the ambush at the tower to recover the kids and all the kids are gone, her mom being killed while she was at the frontline, and all the kids literally being held at the castle... ALL signs point to one person! 🤦♀️ When Anassa was literally trying to tell her NOT to get engaged to Killian and she wouldn't listen... that should have been a red flag 🚩🚩... not only that but your wolf told you she knew who her mate was and you were just like who tf cares... if I was Anassa I would have ended us both right then. 🤣 The ending had a few minor twists I was not expecting so that was nice. I'll definitely be reading Fury Bound because I want the Stark and Meryn love story! 🤞🤞 PLEASE be in both the MC's POV's!!!!! I would love to read from Starks perspective. 🥹
B**N
The hottest romantasy of the year
- 4.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ “The Bonded are the king’s most elite forces, soldiers who have mental bonds with massive, fearsome direwolves. They ride the wolves into battle and, rumor has it, the riders can even tap into the magic that the direwolves wield.” Synopsis - This dark romantasy is book one in the Wolves of Ruin series. It is centred around Meryn Cooper, a street fighter and a commoner who joins the military to save her sister. She must partake in deadly trials, face competition from her peers and the feral direwolves. In an attempt to survive this she has to trust people who she believed to be her enemies and forge friendships with the most unlikely of allies. It’s dark, it’s gritty and it’s the most talked about romantasy of the year. First thoughts - This book has been alll over my fyp and my booksta so I knew I had to get to it asap. My fomo had kicked in so bad and I need to know what all the hype is about. Direbound had me in a chokehold within the first few chapters. The world-building was intriguing and easy to follow, I loved the whole process of the bonding and the trials. These were intense, gritty and pretty dark, it is quite literally survival of the fittest and sometimes even that didn’t matter if you were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Meryn Cooper is a badass fmc who stands up for herself and makes sure everyone knows she is that girl. She’s smart and has that type of dry, deadpan humour that has you laughing out loud. She goes into this for her sister but I believe she finds a piece of herself that she didn’t even realise was missing during the whole process. She heals during the four months she’s in training, I adored that she opened up and made friends too. It’s so important to have that support system whether you believe you need it or not. The dynamic between Meryn and Anassa was brilliant, they sassed each other, supported each other and truly worked together as a team and I think this was the perfect pairing. I’m so excited to see more of Meryn and Stark together, you could tell they had a connection even in the very beginning without so much as a nice word to say to each other. The tension between these two was delicious and had me reaching for a fan to cool myself down!! Everything surrounding them right now is still a little mysterious but a whole lot of development has happened since the start and I am gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for more moments between them. Critics - My only issue with this one was the stark similarities to a few very well known romantasy books already published. It felt very similar to some books except this one has wolves and not dragons. It had me questioning at points if I had read certain scenes in a different book. Other than that I loved it and that’s the only thing that brought the rating down. Overall - I loved this book so much, Sable really knows how to write a strong female character while still having depth and character development. This was such an interesting read, so many plot twists I did not see coming, some I did but it just made me feel a whole lot smarter. By the time I got to the end of the book I could’ve sworn I had suffered from whiplash with the amount of twists and turns this book takes. A truly remarkable read and I cannot wait for book two to find out more about the history of everything and certainly more about Stark Therion. Fingers crossed we got a POV from him!
D**A
Une petite pépite du genre
Un de mes coups de coeur de ce début d'année. Oui, beaucoup d'éléments d'intrigue sont attendus parce qu'on les voit arriver de loin mais le personnage principal est chouette, le côté dire wolf aussi et on veut absolument savoir la suite!
F**S
Das Romantasy-Buch des Jahres
Der jungen und tapferen Meryn Cooper hat sich das Leben bis anhin nicht von seiner schönen Seite gezeigt - sie lebt mit ihrer massiv jüngeren Schwester Saela und ihrer psychisch kranken Mutter in einem Armutsviertel des Reiches Nocturna und hält sich und ihre Familienmitglieder mit den Gewinnen aus Ringkämpfen knapp nur sehr knapp über Wasser. Hass ist ihr trotz allen widrigen Umständen fremd, nur wenn es um die "Gebundenen" geht kennt sie nichts. Die leben in Reichtum (isoliert) und aufgrund ihres Bandes mit den Schattenwölfen wird denen auch noch eine ungeheure Macht zu Teil. Als sie Zeugin einer Hinrichtung durch den gefürchteten Stark Tharion wird, der zusammen mit seinem blutrünstigen Wolf einen Verbrecher vor ihren Augen in aller Öffentlichkeit erbarmungslos tötet, wird ihre Abneigung nur noch mehr zementiert. Doch dann wird Meryns Schwester von Blutsaugern aus dem verfeindeten Reich gekidnappt und ihr bleibt nichts anderes übrig, als sich der Armee anzuschliessen, um irgendwie an die Grenze versetzt zu werden. Ihr Plan scheint durchdacht, aber während eines brutalen Auswahlverfahrens gerät sie plötzlich ins Visier der mächtigen Schattenwölfin Anassa - und zu ihrem Entsetzen wird sie von ihr gewählt und (unwiderruflich) gebunden. Damit rücken Meryns kühne Rettungspläne erstmals in den Hintergrund und für sie beginnt eine knallharte Ausbildung und ein Kampf ums Überleben. Die Leser werden in die durchtriebene Welt Nocturnas geworfen - das Worldbuilding ist nicht sonderlich komplex, aber trotzdem genügend ausgearbeitet. Da in dieser Geschichte die Handlung stark vorangetrieben wird, ist dies nicht weiter störend. Die Umgebung, Räume etc. wirken dank des wunderbar flüssigen Schreibstils der Autorin lebendig und man kann sich alles sehr gut vorstellen. Auch der Spannungsbogen flacht nie ab - wirklich nie und trotzem hat die Story keine gehetzte Wirkung. Ja, Sable Sorensen versteht die Schreibkunst. Das Setting ist düster, geheimnisvoll und deckt sich mit der Brutalität der Geschichte - hier kommt natürlich auch der Trope deadly trials voll zum Tragen. Grundsätzlich werden wir hier nicht Zeuginnen von neuartigen Elementen, die Autorin hat eine Story mit den beliebten Tropes Slow Burn, Fated (Soul)Mates, Touch Her And Die (kicking feet...) und wie schon erwähnt den Trials erschaffen. Aber im Gegensatz zum marktüblichen Einheitsbrei ist es Sable Sorensen gelungen, das Wolfsthema raffiniert in die packende Story einfliessen zu lassen. Sie serviert uns tierische Gefährten in Form von Wölfen, die nach bestimmten Regeln und Strukturen leben. Und dieses Element bestimmt die Handlung im Buch massgeblich. Wer Angst hat, dieses System nicht zu begreifen, muss nichts befürchten, denn es gibt einen Glossar und auch eine Art Erklärung zu diesen verschiedenen "Rudeln". Eine zentrale Rolle nimmt hier logischerweise unsere sympathische, willensstarke, wagemutige, clevere Protagonistin ein. Sie ist auf ihre eigene Weise einzigartig und zeichnet sich nicht nur durch ihren Mut aus, sondern vielmehr durch ihr Mitgefühl. Ihre Rolle wird einer steten Entwicklung unterzogen, die natürlich auch mit dem Band zur Wölfin Anassa zu tun hat. Und da wären wir beim zweiten super wichtigen Charakter - der Schattenwölfin und der Alpha des einen Rudels. Anassa hat wie unsere gute Meryn ebenfalls ein ziemlich stures Köpfchen und das wiederrum führt zwischen den beiden doch zu einigen Beziehungsproblemen. Der Leserschaft werden hier doch einige super witzige Situationen aufs Auge gedrückt. Ich bin regelmässig einfach nur dagesessen und habe vor mich hin gegrinst (sehr zum Amüsement der Tischnachbarn). Ganz viel Liebe an dieser Stelle für Anassa... Zur Lovestory werde ich mich aus einem bestimmten Grund nicht äussern - es wäre ein zu grosser Spoiler. Nur soviel: es ist Slow Burn und es gibt eine Überraschung, die ich soooo nicht habe kommen sehen. Ja, der Überraschungseffekt war entsprechend gross und hat der Geschichte gleich noch etwas mehr Raffinesse und ihr eine neue Wendung verliehen. Es gibt trotz "Slow Burn" eine ordentliche Portion Spice - da wirds richtig heiss. Andere Elemente und Storylines sind kontinuierlich in die Geschichte eingeflochten worden und mir war ab dem ersten Erscheinen einer bestimmten Figur klar, was hier Sache ist - der armen Protagonistin nicht und das zu beobachten war einfach sauwitzig. Sie hat es einfach nicht gerafft (wobei man ihr keinen Vorwurf machen kann - echt nicht). Nebst den beiden wirken jedoch noch andere Charaktere ziemlich aktiv mit und deren Ziele beeinflussen die Geschichte massgeblich. Da wäre unter anderem der brutale Alpha Stark Tharion, der Meryn das Leben schwer macht und sich daran ergötzt. Die Ärmste fürchtet sich permanent, von seinem bösartigen Wolf gefressen zu werden. Es gibt aber auch sekundäre Charaktere, von denen sie ganz viel Support erfährt und nach langem endlich erlernt, was Freundschaft bedeutet. Ich habe die Zwillinge sofort ins Herz geschlossen. Von mir gibt es 6 Sterne für DAS Romantasy-Highlight 2025 und eine fette Leseempfehlung. Ich bin nur so durch die Seiten geflogen und konnte das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Eignen tut sich diese Serie sicherlich für alle diejenigen, die in einer Story Raffinesse (mein Lieblingswort...) suchen, den üblichen Tropes etwas abgewinnen können, nicht vor Brutalität in der Geschichte zurückschrecken und gerne ab und zu lachen.
N**I
Maravilhoso
Chegou antes do esperado. Edição lindíssima! Muito bem embalado. Livro incrível, pra aqueles que amaram Fourth Wing, leiam Dire Bound!
K**A
No es alas de sangre es increible en su propio modo
Me encanto, empece sin esperar mas que una comparacion con Alas de sangre y termine amandolo leyendolo en dos dias
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