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Blood Bound: The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone

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The Valca Order, led by the tyrant Kingston, plans to expand its territory and is gathering the strongest men from every town in Kartha for its army. Twin brothers Raidan and Dimitri Dairner won't let that happen.

Dimitri has a plan to stop the conscription. He persuades Raidan to follow him into a cave where an old acquaintance, the mysterious Adrik, awaits them. Dimitri believes Adrik has a way to give them magic and, with that, the power to stop Kingston. Adrik confirms this, telling the brothers they are the descendants of the guardian of a magical stone-the Weldafire Stone-and by binding them to it, they will possess insurmountable power. But Raidan does not trust Adrik, who has tricked him in his past. Despite Raidan's objections, Adrik begins the ritual until he is thwarted, and only Raidan becomes bound to the stone.

Suddenly thrust into a world of magic and war, Raidan rejects the magic he possesses for fear of it and only wants to get his family far away from the dangers they face. But if he does nothing, innocent people will die and the oppressive rule of The Valca Order will only worsen. On top of that, an elusive enemy pursues the stone and its power, and if he succeeds, it could mean the end of Kartha. Only Raidan has the power to stop him and protect the people-but can he let go of the past and accept his destiny before it's too late?

A thrilling, epic fantasy adventure full of twists and turns, Blood Bound is the first book in the Guardians of the Weldafire Stone series.

516 pages, Paperback

Published October 18, 2023

5 people are currently reading
44 people want to read

About the author

Trinity Cunningham

2 books38 followers
There was never a time that Trinity hasn't loved writing. Songwriting, screenwriting—filling out a simple form—give her a pen and she's in her element.

In her younger years, movies and books were her escape. And when there was nothing on the go, she would imagine her own worlds. When her stories could no longer be contained by her thoughts alone, she began writing them down. Hundreds of pages of idea excerpts littered her notebooks.

Later, after pursuing courses in screenwriting and storytelling, she began to develop her ideas further. It wasn't until 2020 that she was inspired to revamp her old ideas and write them into novels. Since then, she's found her passion, delving into these fictional worlds and bringing to life new characters.

Besides writing, Trinity enjoys reading, watching films, photography, and spending time with friends and family. She lives in Canada, with her husband and their three children.

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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Tim McKay.
Author 5 books145 followers
November 21, 2025
I adore this book on just about every conceivable level.

Trinity is an exceptional author. This story was crisp and well written throughout, and it felt like a breath of fresh air in a sea of often bleak and lower-quality works.

So many of the family dynamics in this were incredibly well-portrayed, from Raidan and Dimitri (and Raidan's well-earned growth throughout the story) to Laila and Royl (oh wow, can I ever relate to Laila's character).

Great twists throughout, one of which I am utterly embarrassed to have not seen coming, and a really smooth progression to a great climax.

Again, thoroughly impressed. Trinity has earned an avid reader with this incredible debut (good thing I already own book two).
Profile Image for Pete Reviews Books Good.
91 reviews34 followers
March 17, 2025
Blood Bound was a strong debut, especially as the jump off point for the new series called The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone. I really, really enjoyed it.

From the very first chapter, the tale ensnares you with its detailed world-building, fascinating characters, and an engaging plot full of suspense, intrigue, and profound emotional depth.

The main characters, Raidan and Laila, are refreshingly original main characters that we experience the book through. Both are caught between devotion to their families and the heavy weight of a fate forced upon them, but each of them handles that pressure in different ways. Raidan's bond with his twin brother, Dimitri, adds an intense emotional layer to the narrative, as they face not only the dangers of conflict but the hidden truths of their lineage. Meanwhile Laila has to deal with her brother, and her race that was forced to live in mines after disaster struck many years before. Along the way, both of them grow in ways that are perfectly unique and reading about them both was always fun.

Cunningham's prose is mesmerizing, rich in vivid descriptions and skillfully crafted dialogue that brings every moment to life. The world of Kartha is so well-realized that it’s hard not to wish you could explore it beyond the pages of the book.

I think the only downside I can think of it that a few of the characters did fall a bit flat in their actions. The leader of the Valca Order came off a bit too cardboard cutout villain, but I did love the arc involving his son, who despite following in his fathers footsteps, may have a lot more than meets the eye to him.

Overall, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It offers everything I crave in a fantasy tale; action, suspense, magic, and deep emotional conflict. I especially connected with Raidan, especially as a new father myself, some of the struggles that he had to face made me want to jump right into the book and help him out.

If you appreciate fantasy with well-rounded characters, gripping plots, and immersive world-building, this book is an absolute must-read. I'm pumped to start book 2!
Profile Image for Beccs.
48 reviews
January 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! This is the first book of a trilogy. Fantasy based. Magical setting. It was very well written, I wasn’t lost at all reading it. Great plot. Enjoyed immensely! Can’t wait for the next!
Profile Image for Reader Views.
4,891 reviews352 followers
December 31, 2023
Blood Bound” is the first book in this new series by Trinity Cunningham and, with this book as an example, I am sure the series is going to be an incredible hit. Everything about this story is excellent and the only bad part is that we all have to wait for the next one in order for the story to continue. Hopefully, that will be quick in coming as Ms. Cunningham definitely has a success on her hands and will have many impatient readers waiting for the next installment.

“Blood Bound: The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone” is the story of twin brothers Raidan and Dimitri Dairner. Kingston, the bullying leader of the Valca Order, is planning to increase his land. To do that, he has decided to pull together the strongest men from each town in order to raise his army and take over the kingdom of Kartha. Raidan and Dimitri are not going to let that happen and Dimitri has a plan. He and Raidan head out to find Adrik, someone they knew long ago, who Dimitri believes will give them magic that they can use to ensure they will be able to stop Kingston. Adrik explains to the brothers that they are descendants of the magical Weldafire Stone and they must bind themselves to the stone in order to use its power. Raidan has been fooled by Adrik before and does not believe anything he is being told. While trying to force his brother to find a different way, Adrik starts the binding process anyway and, when he is interrupted, it ends up that only Raidan is bound to the stone.

Now Adrik has disappeared, Dimitri is confused and pushed away by his brother, and Raidan finds himself with magic and powers that he never wanted and cannot control. Should he run with his family and get as far away from the coming war as possible? Or should he accept and embrace his new power and try to save his people before they die and the Valca Order takes over? For these answers, you will need to read the book and once you do, I guarantee you will be hooked on this series.

“Blood Bound” is a gripping fantasy story that is so full of twists and turns it is hard to keep up at times, but it is definitely well worth the effort to try. This book is a fabulous read. It is extremely well-written and descriptive, and the reader will feel as if they are right there as part of the action, and believe me there is tons of it (action that is). Given that the book has 99 chapters and a lot of characters you might expect something to get lost along the way, but it never does. The storyline and world that author Trinity Cunnigham has created are exceptional and very enjoyable. The characters, each and every one, are so engaging and well-developed, as is the dialogue, that I loved every moment. In addition, the magic in the story is very well thought out and does not seem to be over-the-top or not logical to the storyline.

I would highly recommend “Blood Bound” to anyone who enjoys an epic fantasy novel or to anyone who just wants a creative, well-written, and engaging story. There is no way to be disappointed in this novel. I will be waiting as patiently as possible for the next book in the series because this is a story that definitely needs to continue and I am sure that what comes next will be just as good, if not better, than the first. 5 Stars!!
Profile Image for L.T. Getty.
Author 11 books348 followers
November 24, 2025
The first of a Trilogy, Blood Bound is an epic fantasy about family, war, and freedom.

Tyrant Kingston craves war, and new father Raiden wants nothing to do with leaving his young family to further the ambitions of the Valcan Order. Convinced by his twin brother to seek power, the ritual is interrupted, leaving Raiden infused with powers he never wanted.

Laila, a member of the elder race, misses open skies and her people being forced to the mines. Her path intertwines with Raiden’s, and together, they work to free themselves from the tyrant king’s ambitions.

Overall it’s an enjoyable story with relatable characters. Raiden is a typical reluctant hero: he’s not good in a fight without magic, but he doesn’t come across as whiny but relatable as his motivation is protecting his wife and infant son and not be used by others to further their ambitions in the brewing war.

The world building isn’t super complicated, which makes this a decent book for someone who is new to the fantasy genre and doesn’t want anything overly dense. That isn’t to say there isn’t decent world building – there is – but it’s gradual and more is wanted; as the series will be continued on in a trilogy (and additional spin-offs) and there’s tons of a world teased.

I think it stands well enough on its own, but I can’t wait to see how it ties in to the overall trilogy.
Profile Image for Ruth Denton.
11 reviews
November 10, 2023
This captivating and heart-wrenching tale set in a fantasy world had me SPELL BOUND (possible book 2 title..?) and eager to find out what was next. The story follows Laila and Raidan as they each experience a journey of love, loss, truth, and acceptance, as they overcome difficult situations. They live in the oppressed country of Kartha where a tyrant has outlawed and waged a war on magic. Will Raidan be able to face his greatest fears? Will Laila ever be free from her prison? Will the people rise up and rebel? This might be the first Trinity Cunningham story you read, but it won’t be the last.
31 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2024
Magic. Adventuruous. Ambitious.

A fantasy adventure, the quest for the Weldafire Stone, the rise of the Guardian, the rise of an hero. Raidan didn't need anything of this and yet he was forced to discover in himself more strenght than what he supposed to have. And his power will grant his greater wish: protect his family.

I liked the plot, the story and how it was written not very much. I find it ripetitive, confusionary, naive in certain scenes where all comes out without interferences, as in films and fictions, even if the enemy is right in front of you as waiting for the hero to beat them. The worst: the lack of characters' evolution of every kind. They stay the same, only Raidan comes to terms with his power and his duty as the Guardian but never to fully embrace it. He's a two-dimensional character, I find it really difficult to emphatize with him. His choices are remarkable, mostly no sense, his thoughts unrealistic and his reaction to events very few. And as for the flatness….Kingston is a caricature, he isn't a character and for a villain he has to be written well. He's the opponent of the good ones, he has to be more realistic and fearful… here you depicted it as a default character as the ones we find in films and fictions.

You TOLD us a story that could have been so more interesting if only you'd decided to SHOW it to us instead of telling it. We don't have enough suggestions about the ambience, about the perceptions of the characters. I suggest you, to improve your writing skills and the realism of your story, to think with all your five senses when you write a book. Write as you're seeing through Raidan, Laila, Dimitri, Ilan's eyes, noses, ears ecc… . Dive in your own imaginary world, imagine it in all its little details and choose the ones you want to share with the reader. Behind every book, very story, there is so much more the reader doesn't know.

Dig deeper in the background, in the past and less in minimal actions(spend more pages about the story of the guardians, about the delegates, about Ilan's past ecc, we are not interested in Raidan chewing an apple in the mines… instead you can tell readers about the smells in the mines, the air, the light, the sounds ecc…)

As for a favorite character: Royl, even if we get to see him very little and only through Laila's vision.

I recommend myself: improve your writing, feel with all your senses.

PLOT:

When his brother Dimitri knocks on the door, Raidan knows it isn't a good idea to follow him, to encourage him. And yet he does so and find himself caught in a dangerous quest for the Weldafire stone. The ancient object is the only hope for Elderace to recover their magic power and to defeat the Valca Order who wants to enlist Raidan and all the young ones in their army and part Raidan from his family. Dimitri guides him in the forest and deep through the montains where Raidan meet the man who haunts his dreams, changing them into nightmares: Adrik, the one who a night of many years ago came to him and showed him magic is real. Adrik force him to a blood bound with the stone and since it evrything changed.

Laila can't stand anymore to live in the mines. It was a century now since her people moved in the mines and she misses the fresh air of the dawn. But now a song riverberates throughout Kartha, a song of revolution and freedom and magic come back to her and her people. It's time to uncover, to fight for their freedom, to return to their homes… if only she can convince her brother Royl and the elders but it's a difficult one to accomplish.

Ilan dreams of Elderace and magic, of ancient languages and ancient ruins. His father combined a forced marriage for him with a princess of a reign… But he doesn't care: he doesn't wish for more power, he wish for knowledge and to become the hero he always dreamt to be. In his mission to recruit more men for his father Kingston, he finds himself stuck with the guardian of the stone, his only chance to meet the Elderace and to dig in their secrets.

Raidan, Laila and Ilan's paths wil converge in the struggle to protect the stone by Beiron, an ancient and dark magic user who wants the power for himself… and maybe hides a secret involved with Litlen's destruction and magic.

Will our both forced and volunterous heroes be able to fight the struggles and protect what they hold the most?

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
1 review1 follower
February 2, 2025
A Thrilling Fantasy Adventure That Will Keep You Hooked!

Blood Bound by Trinity Cunningham is an absolute joy to read in the realm of fantasy fiction. From the very first page, the story grips you with its rich world-building, compelling characters, and an immersive plot filled with tension, mystery, and deep emotional stakes.

The protagonist, Raidan, is a refreshingly complex character—torn between his love for his family and the burdens of destiny thrust upon him. His relationship with his twin brother, Dimitri, adds a powerful emotional layer to the story, as they navigate not only the perils of war but the secrets of their bloodline.

Cunningham's writing is captivating, filled with lush descriptions and expertly crafted dialogue that breathe life into every scene. The pacing is perfect, keeping you on edge as the story unfolds with unexpected twists and jaw-dropping moments. The world of Kartha feels incredibly well-developed, making you wish you could explore it beyond the pages.

This book delivers everything you want in a fantasy novel—action, intrigue, magic, and deep emotional stakes. Blood Bound is not just a story; it’s an experience. If you love fantasy with strong characters, gripping narratives, and immersive world-building, this book is an absolute must-read. I cannot wait to see what Trinity Cunningham writes next!
Profile Image for Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi.
Author 5 books299 followers
May 22, 2024
Blood Bound: The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone by Trinity Cunningham is the first book in the The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone series. It is an enthralling fantasy adventure that gripped me from start to finish.

Author Cunningham weaves a compelling narrative filled with magic, intrigue, and suspense. From the outset, I was drawn into a world brimming with danger and intrigue, where the fate of an entire kingdom hangs in the balance. The concept of the Weldafire Stone and the power it bestows upon its guardian adds an intriguing layer to the story, as Raidan, the protagonist, grapples with his newfound abilities and the responsibility they entail.

The pacing of the novel is excellent, with plenty of action-packed scenes and unexpected twists that kept me engaged. The descriptions were vivid and realistic. While the story follows some familiar fantasy tropes, the author puts her own unique spin on them, creating a fresh and immersive reading experience. The book sets the stage for what promises to be an epic series. I cannot wait to read the next instalment in the Guardians of the Weldafire Stone saga.
Profile Image for Helena regan.
41 reviews5 followers
July 30, 2025
I’ve read a lot of fantasy over the years, but what sets Blood Bound apart is how intimate it feels. Trinity Cunningham doesn't just throw magic at you she builds a world where magic has rules, costs, and consequences. The relationship dynamics between the Guardians were beautifully written, especially the tension between duty and personal desire. I found the internal conflict within the main character especially relatable. It wasn’t always easy to read there are moments of real emotional weight but that’s what made it feel so real. I can’t wait for the sequel.
181 reviews
October 30, 2023
This book may have 99 chapters, but it was a solid 4 star read.
I was totally captivated with the details that painted such brilliant pictures in my mind that it was easy to keep reading.
These details where backed up with a strong plot and even stronger characters.
Favorite part of the plot without giving things away would be the lost magic.
So if you are looking for a good book to cuddle up with a warm blanket and tea, this one is for you!
Profile Image for Jenny Mcvey.
76 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2023
Interesting book. Omg it has 99 chapters very well written. Gives so much detail. Absolutely love the characters. Wonderful story! Just the way everything in the first few chapters made it jump into realization and chaos. Absolutely love it!! Destroyed world now opens up to being magical and brought to it former glory. ♥️ exciting!!!!!!
2 reviews
January 22, 2024
Just finished Blood Bound, and I’ve got to say what a fantastic book.
If you love fantasy stories with other worlds and races and magic you are going to love this book. So well written that you actually feel like you’re in the land of Kartha with the Elderace people fighting a battle for your very existence. It’s no wonder it won the 5 Star Review.
1 review
February 25, 2024
Fabulous read. I read 33 chapters the first day but I had to put it down at 5:30 AM. It captures you in the first few pages and you don’t want it to end. It is so descriptive you can picture yourself as part of the book and not just a reader. If you liked the Clan of the Cave Bear series you are going to love this book. Can’t wait for the next book to come our.
1 review
October 13, 2024
Loved the book as it was so well written. The plot kept my attention and the writing style made the book a pleasure to read! I am looking forward to the next enstallment of The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone.
Profile Image for Connie Cote.
16 reviews4 followers
December 12, 2024
Blood Bound is a great fantasy with interesting characters, action, good versus evil and a wonderful storyline. Throw in some magic and it makes for a wonderful read! Well done, Trinity! I can hardly wait to delve in to Unbound.
1 review
January 28, 2024
Amazing book, haven’t picked up a book that hooked me like this for a long time. Thanks to the author for transporting me to a magical place.
47 reviews
January 6, 2024
I really enjoyed the way the magic worked, and the detail given of the characters. The blurb seemed to almost give away too much of the story given the story was somewhat slow because of the detail given. I felt like the way the world was built and the characters that it could be turned into a series. Overall, a good story it was just a bit slow for me. I recommend reading if you enjoy detail in characters and setting.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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