If you’re a fan of books like Fourth Wing and The Serpent and the Wings of Night, there’s a new fantasy trilogy that should be added to your TBR. The first book, released on April 28, is titled Blood Bound, marking a debut from Ellis Hunter, the pen name for two friends Katie Ellis-Brown and Becky Hunter. Written as their “love letter” to the genre, the authors’ passion shines through each chapter—not just for fantasy, but for friendship and sisterhood.
Note: There are no major spoilers for Blood Bound in this review.
Blood Bound is very ambitious scope-wise, especially for a debut, incorporating many different fantasy elements like witches, dragon riders, and animal companions. It follows two characters, Astrid and Skylar, who travel to the Kingdom of Vatra for a deadly and historic duel. Astrid is a witch who is fated to fight in the duel to determine which kingdom—Arturea or Vatra—will hold control of an energy source called the Heart. With a force called the Blight destroying towns, it’s up to Astrid to gain power to restore safety across the land.
As Astrid prepares to duel Prince Zryan, the Vatra heir, she realizes that the most powerful dragon rider isn’t the only thing she has to worry about. But when a revelation is made that threatens Vatra’s chances of winning the duel, Astrid realizes, for the first time in her life, that she might actually survive.
And as Astrid comes to terms with her new reality, she forms an unexpected bond with Skylar, a commoner looking for her lost friend. The two women realize they can help each other out in what they’re seeking, and eventually their friendship makes them question what their end goal even is.
Blood Bound is best at world building and character development
There’s a lot of great stuff in Blood Bound; it’s 480 pages and I read it in about a week. For starters, the world building is very strong. There’s a lot to it, as you might expect with this genre, but it’s not overstuffed with exposition and the start of the story maintains a nice flow. Another overarching theme is a metaphor for the real-life climate crisis, which I appreciated. Though I can’t relate to dragons or magic, this element of the story made it easier for me to understand what the characters face.
The book features two POVs between Astrid and Skylar that go back and forth, which is super effective. Their found sisterhood and friendship is truly the standout of the book. You’re invested in both of them and their relationship right away.
With the two POVs, the character development comes easy. Astrid and Skylar are very different people from very different upbringings, but it’s not difficult to understand how they connect so well. What is hard for me to do is pick a favorite character between the two! They’re both fleshed out in a short amount of time, and while they’re both likable, they’re also very complex. They don’t always make the right choice, but they’re true to themselves and their causes.
Though Blood Bound has been marketed as a romantasy, the romance in the story is definitely secondary. That said, I was invested in the main romantic relationship from the start, and totally fell for the male character (no spoilers!) and the characters’ banter. The book has a couple of spicy scenes, but the main focus is on the action of the duel preparations and the relationship between Astrid and Skylar.
Some of the story is uneven
Though Blood Bound does a great job hooking you from the first page, there are parts throughout it—particularly towards the end, that feel a bit repetitive. Occasionally, especially in the back-half, momentum builds, but the writing doesn’t catch up. The ending itself feels very rushed, and considering several very major moments happen, the book would’ve benefitted from better pacing here.
Despite this, the book does end in a major cliffhanger that’ll make anyone desperate to read Book 2. I know I’ll be reading it whenever it comes out!
Final verdict
I wouldn’t classify Blood Bound as a “cozy” fantasy book, but the inclusion of animals as important characters does make it feel more whimsical. A lot is at stake, but I also felt warm and fuzzy reading some of this. That could also be because the writing is a bit juvenile, but hey, it more or less worked for me! And, as mentioned already, the fact that the story emphasizes the friendship between two women over romances feels very fresh and sweet.
You can purchase Blood Bound on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, or any of the major book retailers.
Add us as a preferred source on Google