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Empire of Ash and Song #2
To Bind the Court
When you play the games of emperors,
you’ll pay an emperor’s ransom.
Iris is destined to destroy the Fire Empire’s hold on the world. In the Fire City—the very beating heart of the Fire Empire—lies one final hope, but to seek it is to draw near to the one who hunts her, and her greatest hope becomes her worst nightmare.
If she plays her enemy’s game, she may lose.
Prince Besaun has lost everything. Betrayed by the girl he loves, he languishes in a prison of his own making while his mother holds her tortured and captive to ensure he cooperates in her schemes. The bars of his prison grow ever tighter-until the arrival of someone unexpected into his life.
Can he doom an empire to save one girl?
To Bind the Court is book two of the Empire of Ash and Song series. Perfect for fans of the faith themes of the Chronicles of Narnia, the powerful writing style of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the clean, sweet romance of Caraval!
you’ll pay an emperor’s ransom.
Iris is destined to destroy the Fire Empire’s hold on the world. In the Fire City—the very beating heart of the Fire Empire—lies one final hope, but to seek it is to draw near to the one who hunts her, and her greatest hope becomes her worst nightmare.
If she plays her enemy’s game, she may lose.
Prince Besaun has lost everything. Betrayed by the girl he loves, he languishes in a prison of his own making while his mother holds her tortured and captive to ensure he cooperates in her schemes. The bars of his prison grow ever tighter-until the arrival of someone unexpected into his life.
Can he doom an empire to save one girl?
To Bind the Court is book two of the Empire of Ash and Song series. Perfect for fans of the faith themes of the Chronicles of Narnia, the powerful writing style of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the clean, sweet romance of Caraval!
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2024
53 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
April 15, 2025
3 stars.
And extra star for Cassandra and Beasun's storyline. I am so sad that I didn't like this book. I loved the first book. I was soooo excited when I got the arc for this book.
This book toyed a really weird line with suggestiveness in romance that I really didn't appreciate. I have a really hard time calling this christian fantasy. I hated Allsander. (not in a good way) And really didn't enjoy any of the scenes with him. He made me uncomfortable. the whole fake-dating this with Iris when they are cousins....so weird. The constant innuendo from him was annoying. Also I really don't like the fire-demon. Like I don't like him as a villain. his relationship with Iris was strange.
I did enjoy Cassandra and Beasaun's storyline in the last 200 pages.
And extra star for Cassandra and Beasun's storyline. I am so sad that I didn't like this book. I loved the first book. I was soooo excited when I got the arc for this book.
This book toyed a really weird line with suggestiveness in romance that I really didn't appreciate. I have a really hard time calling this christian fantasy. I hated Allsander. (not in a good way) And really didn't enjoy any of the scenes with him. He made me uncomfortable. the whole fake-dating this with Iris when they are cousins....so weird. The constant innuendo from him was annoying. Also I really don't like the fire-demon. Like I don't like him as a villain. his relationship with Iris was strange.
I did enjoy Cassandra and Beasaun's storyline in the last 200 pages.
June 11, 2024
Clean Fantasy
4 Stars ✨
“When you play the games of emperors,
you’ll pay an emperor’s ransom.”
Basing this book strictly on enjoying it is easy. I really enjoyed it. Did I still have issues with it- yes, yes I did. Does it matter- probably not. I just have lots of questions, but when I sit back and try to think of how to ask those questions, I realize I just don’t really care that much. This book entertained me and I really like this author. She has got a lot of talent and I’m kinda proud of her honestly. I see through all my overactive brain haze at what she’s attempting and I applaud her for it. So I think I’m just going to leave it at that. Would I recommend it ? Yup!! Will I read the next installment… Absolutely.
4 Stars ✨
“When you play the games of emperors,
you’ll pay an emperor’s ransom.”
Basing this book strictly on enjoying it is easy. I really enjoyed it. Did I still have issues with it- yes, yes I did. Does it matter- probably not. I just have lots of questions, but when I sit back and try to think of how to ask those questions, I realize I just don’t really care that much. This book entertained me and I really like this author. She has got a lot of talent and I’m kinda proud of her honestly. I see through all my overactive brain haze at what she’s attempting and I applaud her for it. So I think I’m just going to leave it at that. Would I recommend it ? Yup!! Will I read the next installment… Absolutely.
May 14, 2024
Where do I even start?
I knew it was going to be good. I've read the first book in the series, To Bind Fire, and I've read the novella set in the same universe which gives us more info on a side character - Casandra's Dragon. I know this lady can write well. I thought I was ready. AND SHE BLEW ME AWAY!
If you want a book with:
- real, palpable characters
- amazing world building
- descriptions that made me feel like I am in the room with the characters (when I tell you this girl can describe!)
- and last, but certainly not least - high stakes and engaging storytelling that kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put the book down
As readers we sometimes connect more with certain writers than with others. Not that the other writers are not amazing, but the heart of some authors spread out on those pages finds a way to connect with our hearts on a different level. I used to think for me this would be just Tolkien. The hope he always holds on to has always resonated so deeply with so many of us. Does D. E. Carlson write like Tolkien? No, but she writes like herself and it's just as special. Because her heart on the pages of this book reached out and touched mine. And I believe it could touch yours too, if you give it a chance.
I knew it was going to be good. I've read the first book in the series, To Bind Fire, and I've read the novella set in the same universe which gives us more info on a side character - Casandra's Dragon. I know this lady can write well. I thought I was ready. AND SHE BLEW ME AWAY!
If you want a book with:
- real, palpable characters
- amazing world building
- descriptions that made me feel like I am in the room with the characters (when I tell you this girl can describe!)
- and last, but certainly not least - high stakes and engaging storytelling that kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put the book down
As readers we sometimes connect more with certain writers than with others. Not that the other writers are not amazing, but the heart of some authors spread out on those pages finds a way to connect with our hearts on a different level. I used to think for me this would be just Tolkien. The hope he always holds on to has always resonated so deeply with so many of us. Does D. E. Carlson write like Tolkien? No, but she writes like herself and it's just as special. Because her heart on the pages of this book reached out and touched mine. And I believe it could touch yours too, if you give it a chance.
December 20, 2025
4.5🌟
Oh my, what a journey. I was delightfully horrified at the crazy emotional adventure this book took me on.
I waited in suspense for my favorite characters from Book 1 to show up.
I pondered the seeming contradictory actions of the new characters, trying to decide if they could be trusted or not.
I cried at special moments with friends, and then cried again when special friends were lost in one way or another.
I cheered, I agonized, I annoyed my husband with a play-by-play of the most exciting parts.
I highly recommend.
See the full review on my blog: https://literarycottage.org/2024/05/0...
If you're interested in a few more details: Iris, our main character, really matures in this book. Her journey of self-discovery, which must happen on so many levels, is well done and quite necessary for the story to progress. She has occasional moments of lapses in judgment, but she has learned to be cautious in good ways. The way she carries herself physically really transforms - she becomes confident and holds her head high instead of hiding behind her hair. I also quite love the descriptions of the different outfits she wears while in the Fire City.
We don't really see much of the possible love interests that were in Book 1, but there are some really sweet moments. Besaun's story is much more prominent. Casandra becomes a part of both Besaun's and Iris's story. There is so much evil and manipulation in the Fire City that it's hard to know who to trust. I wanted to trust everyone and no one.
The ending is epic and also has me extremely curious. It truly is a terrible feeling to want Book 3 RIGHT NOW and knowing that Book 2 is just being released.
Two notes for content: there is one swear word. It is used "in context" with original meaning but it was still a slur and I didn't like reading it. There is also a lot more violence and descriptive death in this book than the first. Book 1 is more mass killing of war, Book 2 the killing is a little more personal. Also torture of a character is quite gruesome.
4.5 stars for an amazing world, excellent story, interesting characters, and a clean read.
Oh my, what a journey. I was delightfully horrified at the crazy emotional adventure this book took me on.
I waited in suspense for my favorite characters from Book 1 to show up.
I pondered the seeming contradictory actions of the new characters, trying to decide if they could be trusted or not.
I cried at special moments with friends, and then cried again when special friends were lost in one way or another.
I cheered, I agonized, I annoyed my husband with a play-by-play of the most exciting parts.
I highly recommend.
See the full review on my blog: https://literarycottage.org/2024/05/0...
If you're interested in a few more details: Iris, our main character, really matures in this book. Her journey of self-discovery, which must happen on so many levels, is well done and quite necessary for the story to progress. She has occasional moments of lapses in judgment, but she has learned to be cautious in good ways. The way she carries herself physically really transforms - she becomes confident and holds her head high instead of hiding behind her hair. I also quite love the descriptions of the different outfits she wears while in the Fire City.
We don't really see much of the possible love interests that were in Book 1, but there are some really sweet moments. Besaun's story is much more prominent. Casandra becomes a part of both Besaun's and Iris's story. There is so much evil and manipulation in the Fire City that it's hard to know who to trust. I wanted to trust everyone and no one.
The ending is epic and also has me extremely curious. It truly is a terrible feeling to want Book 3 RIGHT NOW and knowing that Book 2 is just being released.
Two notes for content: there is one swear word. It is used "in context" with original meaning but it was still a slur and I didn't like reading it. There is also a lot more violence and descriptive death in this book than the first. Book 1 is more mass killing of war, Book 2 the killing is a little more personal. Also torture of a character is quite gruesome.
4.5 stars for an amazing world, excellent story, interesting characters, and a clean read.
June 4, 2024
Fantastic sequel. Lots of character growth, the world is definitely getting darker with more violence and death, and had great high stakes action and adventure with lots of tension. It's slowly unravelling secrets and mysteries, and I hope we get to see more of some of the missing characters from To bind fire.
Looking forward to the next.
Looking forward to the next.
May 21, 2024
I’ll be honest, I didn’t like TBTC as much as I liked the first book To Bind Fire. The first book had me hooked from page one and I craved more while TBTC, although full of intrigue in its own right, seemed to drag a bit more. With all that being said, I loved uncovering all the twists and turns in the fire city. 😉
I loved watching Iris’ character development, but felt at times that she made some very stupid decisions. I get that it helped drive the plot and she is still a child, but had a hard time reconciling that.
However, I absolutely adored Besaun even more, his character developed was stellar and I loved seeing him come to terms with forgiveness and truth. I won’t say much about this, but Cassandra… that’s it. Read it for yourself to find out what happens to her.
I greatly enjoyed Allsander’s involvement with the plot and really loved his character. I honestly hope to see more of him in book 3.
I wish that we would have seen what happened to Tabin and Mila a little, and wanted more of Jacin, but I understand there is only so much you can write in one story.
I loved watching Iris’ character development, but felt at times that she made some very stupid decisions. I get that it helped drive the plot and she is still a child, but had a hard time reconciling that.
However, I absolutely adored Besaun even more, his character developed was stellar and I loved seeing him come to terms with forgiveness and truth. I won’t say much about this, but Cassandra… that’s it. Read it for yourself to find out what happens to her.
I greatly enjoyed Allsander’s involvement with the plot and really loved his character. I honestly hope to see more of him in book 3.
I wish that we would have seen what happened to Tabin and Mila a little, and wanted more of Jacin, but I understand there is only so much you can write in one story.
April 18, 2025
Ok I would’ve finished this book in a day if not for it being the end of my college semester. Here are my thoughts:
This book is sooooo much better than the first one (and I absolutely loved the first one) the story is so captivating and very clear, and I need more of this universe asap!
I love Iris’s character development, she’s going through so much change and questioning and it’s very interesting to see that.
I do wish there was more with Jacin, but I always wish that lol. I also wish there was more of Casandra’s thoughts, hopefully the third book will have more of her! Especially now that she’s reunited with her dragon (I’m so excited for more httyd vibes)
The world building is immaculate, the characters are well-rounded and entertaining, and the faith aspects are strong and make me think a lot. I was able to reference several Bible passages that certain parts of this book made me think of. The Biblical research is very clear and exciting to come across.
Overall, I loved this story immensely and I absolutely cannot wait for more!
To God be the Glory
Edit: reread April 2025: IMMACULATE I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! I need more, it’s unhealthy
This book is sooooo much better than the first one (and I absolutely loved the first one) the story is so captivating and very clear, and I need more of this universe asap!
I love Iris’s character development, she’s going through so much change and questioning and it’s very interesting to see that.
I do wish there was more with Jacin, but I always wish that lol. I also wish there was more of Casandra’s thoughts, hopefully the third book will have more of her! Especially now that she’s reunited with her dragon (I’m so excited for more httyd vibes)
The world building is immaculate, the characters are well-rounded and entertaining, and the faith aspects are strong and make me think a lot. I was able to reference several Bible passages that certain parts of this book made me think of. The Biblical research is very clear and exciting to come across.
Overall, I loved this story immensely and I absolutely cannot wait for more!
To God be the Glory
Edit: reread April 2025: IMMACULATE I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! I need more, it’s unhealthy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
I couldn’t get into this book at all. I didn’t finish it. The story couldn’t keep my attention at all. I struggled with the first book and figured the second would be better based off the reviews. But sadly I just can’t dig in and really enjoy this series.
May 9, 2024
More like a 3.2...
I love the Christian themes and how they were presented but book 2 didn’t hit like the first one did. While the plot and stakes are ramped up there's a loss of connecting with the characters and understanding their motivations and reasons. Since the plot was so heavy-handed the character's actions felt impulsive, it was hard to understand why they were doing what they were doing and the thinking behind their reasoning. They felt like puppets there to serve the plot instead of working together to tell the story.
Throughout the book, the plot seems to run rampant. In the first book, there was a controlled tension but in this one, it felt like a runaway train. The story unfolds so fast that it feels like Carlson couldn’t keep up with the telling of the story.
I needed a breath or at least a break from all the whiplash the story gave me. I felt like there was a lot of missed opportunities to dive into the politics of the world and how the world runs in the present-day story. The first book focuses on how the world used to be and its history. I was really excited to explore more of the present-day conflicts and politics in Jondria since Iris was heading to the fire capital but sadly that wasn’t explored. It would have been a chance to introduce more of the players within the court system and see Iris learn what it takes to lead.
Iris seems to have taken a step back into the passive role that she had broken out of in the first book. I found myself becoming more and more frustrated with Iris and her lack of main character energy. She doesn’t grow throughout the story she just comes up with an idea/plan and the minute she meets any type of adversity she gives up. She acts like she is going to do something but then doesn’t do it and instead waits for something to happen and reacts to that. I also found myself pitting her a little bit. Everyone abandoned her when they said they were going to help her. The rebellion is telling her she is important, the chosen one, but they disregard her at every turn, not explaining or letting her in on the plans. They are scared she is going to choose the wrong side or be led astray but they don’t do anything to guide her or lift her up which doesn’t make sense to me.
Besaun was a little more likable than Iris. I liked that he's self-centered. He is always consumed with himself and his problems and he is in his own little world. I enjoyed reading his chapters. They were amusing and funny in an ironic way. He had his own thing going on which I can respect.
What happened to Tabin and Mila? Who knows they weren’t in the book which was disappointing.
Overall, I wish the story had a tighter narration and the minuscule details were paid attention to. I have until 2025 to decide if I’ll pick up the next book.
I love the Christian themes and how they were presented but book 2 didn’t hit like the first one did. While the plot and stakes are ramped up there's a loss of connecting with the characters and understanding their motivations and reasons. Since the plot was so heavy-handed the character's actions felt impulsive, it was hard to understand why they were doing what they were doing and the thinking behind their reasoning. They felt like puppets there to serve the plot instead of working together to tell the story.
Throughout the book, the plot seems to run rampant. In the first book, there was a controlled tension but in this one, it felt like a runaway train. The story unfolds so fast that it feels like Carlson couldn’t keep up with the telling of the story.
I needed a breath or at least a break from all the whiplash the story gave me. I felt like there was a lot of missed opportunities to dive into the politics of the world and how the world runs in the present-day story. The first book focuses on how the world used to be and its history. I was really excited to explore more of the present-day conflicts and politics in Jondria since Iris was heading to the fire capital but sadly that wasn’t explored. It would have been a chance to introduce more of the players within the court system and see Iris learn what it takes to lead.
Iris seems to have taken a step back into the passive role that she had broken out of in the first book. I found myself becoming more and more frustrated with Iris and her lack of main character energy. She doesn’t grow throughout the story she just comes up with an idea/plan and the minute she meets any type of adversity she gives up. She acts like she is going to do something but then doesn’t do it and instead waits for something to happen and reacts to that. I also found myself pitting her a little bit. Everyone abandoned her when they said they were going to help her. The rebellion is telling her she is important, the chosen one, but they disregard her at every turn, not explaining or letting her in on the plans. They are scared she is going to choose the wrong side or be led astray but they don’t do anything to guide her or lift her up which doesn’t make sense to me.
Besaun was a little more likable than Iris. I liked that he's self-centered. He is always consumed with himself and his problems and he is in his own little world. I enjoyed reading his chapters. They were amusing and funny in an ironic way. He had his own thing going on which I can respect.
What happened to Tabin and Mila? Who knows they weren’t in the book which was disappointing.
Overall, I wish the story had a tighter narration and the minuscule details were paid attention to. I have until 2025 to decide if I’ll pick up the next book.
May 6, 2024
-Quick review:
A satisfying sequel to the authors debut novel packed with emotion as well as action.
-Longer review:
Unlike so much of current day entertainment, books, movies and games alike, this book takes the time to recognize the force that makes a story compelling underneath all the action, political intrigue, and plot twists. That force is human emotion.
The author takes thoughts and feelings common to us all, and carefully builds them into the overall chain of a solid story, grounded in the fears, hopes, and desires of our reality, but strengthened by a believable and creative fantasy universe rich with fresh designs.
The overall story will thrill you with its suspense, and in the moment by moment reading you will find scenes lush with almost poetic descriptions, that make your mind overflow with the exotic imagery of the world of Jondria.
From a Christian perspective, this book clearly displays an important theological truth: the responsibility of mankind to choose whether they will serve evil, or follow good. The message is not instilled with a baseball bat that will chase off even agnostic or atheist readers, and is overall encouraging and reminds us to look to God, and His Son Jesus, for our salvation.
The theological aspects of the plot are an essential component of the overall narrative, not tacked on just to achieve the moniker of "Christian Fantasy", and serve the story well in that manner.
-Follow-up review (How it relates to book 1)
The main characters from book 1, TBF ("To Bind Fire"), are all present, though some play a smaller part due to their narrative distance from the continuation of the plot. The author has hinted at the potential for those characters receiving their own follow-up novels to continue their story, something which I would enjoy very much.
Mysteries from TBF are slowly unraveled, though enough are left by the end to leave the reader a sense of excitement and a good reason to look forward to the upcoming book which will conclude the trilogy.
As to individual characters, I was very satisfied with how they all moved forward, and was very happy to see that the author did not step into further pitfalls of 'modern day writing', such as moving a character's arc too far in a short time, or not moving it at all and allowing that character to stagnate.
In conclusion, a very worthwhile read. It falls into the category for me of being a book I can "devour", which lead to my being able to read it in record time for a book it's length.
Even if you don't generally like fantasy, give it a try and you won't regret it.
A satisfying sequel to the authors debut novel packed with emotion as well as action.
-Longer review:
Unlike so much of current day entertainment, books, movies and games alike, this book takes the time to recognize the force that makes a story compelling underneath all the action, political intrigue, and plot twists. That force is human emotion.
The author takes thoughts and feelings common to us all, and carefully builds them into the overall chain of a solid story, grounded in the fears, hopes, and desires of our reality, but strengthened by a believable and creative fantasy universe rich with fresh designs.
The overall story will thrill you with its suspense, and in the moment by moment reading you will find scenes lush with almost poetic descriptions, that make your mind overflow with the exotic imagery of the world of Jondria.
From a Christian perspective, this book clearly displays an important theological truth: the responsibility of mankind to choose whether they will serve evil, or follow good. The message is not instilled with a baseball bat that will chase off even agnostic or atheist readers, and is overall encouraging and reminds us to look to God, and His Son Jesus, for our salvation.
The theological aspects of the plot are an essential component of the overall narrative, not tacked on just to achieve the moniker of "Christian Fantasy", and serve the story well in that manner.
-Follow-up review (How it relates to book 1)
The main characters from book 1, TBF ("To Bind Fire"), are all present, though some play a smaller part due to their narrative distance from the continuation of the plot. The author has hinted at the potential for those characters receiving their own follow-up novels to continue their story, something which I would enjoy very much.
Mysteries from TBF are slowly unraveled, though enough are left by the end to leave the reader a sense of excitement and a good reason to look forward to the upcoming book which will conclude the trilogy.
As to individual characters, I was very satisfied with how they all moved forward, and was very happy to see that the author did not step into further pitfalls of 'modern day writing', such as moving a character's arc too far in a short time, or not moving it at all and allowing that character to stagnate.
In conclusion, a very worthwhile read. It falls into the category for me of being a book I can "devour", which lead to my being able to read it in record time for a book it's length.
Even if you don't generally like fantasy, give it a try and you won't regret it.
May 23, 2024
THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE!!!!
I was an ARC reader for D. E. Carlson’s first book, “To Bind Fire,” and said at the end of my review that I hoped I would be chosen as an ARC reader for her second book, “To Bind the Court.” I am so happy to say that I was!
This book seamlessly flowed in continuation from the previous one. It had mystery, intrigue and so many twists and turns that left me wanting more without feeling confused or dizzy! HAHA!
By the end of the story, I was left craving the next book! I felt like I had come to the final episode of my favorite tv show and was frustrated when there was a cliffhanger for the next season that won’t come out until the next year. (Charlie Brown scream) Uuuuuugggghhhhh!!!! HAHA!
The Christian themes within this book were also present with the same amount as the first book, easily noticeable to a believer and not too much for the non-Christian. The fight against evil—spiritual and physical—was handled very well within the story and not sugarcoated or fluffed up. The author tackled the hard aspects of fighting against evil and its temptations beautifully! You can tell she worked very hard and it paid off.
The only critique I had about this book was that I felt a little confused a couple times while reading when there were references to “To Bind Fire.” Since it had been so long since I read the first book, I had to think, “Ok, what happened here?” However, I was able to glean the general context of the scene from reading “To Bind the Court.”
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for clean and epic fantasy! Whether the reader is a Christian or not. And I will again say that I hope D. E. Carlson chooses me to be a part of her ARC team for her next book in the series!
I was an ARC reader for D. E. Carlson’s first book, “To Bind Fire,” and said at the end of my review that I hoped I would be chosen as an ARC reader for her second book, “To Bind the Court.” I am so happy to say that I was!
This book seamlessly flowed in continuation from the previous one. It had mystery, intrigue and so many twists and turns that left me wanting more without feeling confused or dizzy! HAHA!
By the end of the story, I was left craving the next book! I felt like I had come to the final episode of my favorite tv show and was frustrated when there was a cliffhanger for the next season that won’t come out until the next year. (Charlie Brown scream) Uuuuuugggghhhhh!!!! HAHA!
The Christian themes within this book were also present with the same amount as the first book, easily noticeable to a believer and not too much for the non-Christian. The fight against evil—spiritual and physical—was handled very well within the story and not sugarcoated or fluffed up. The author tackled the hard aspects of fighting against evil and its temptations beautifully! You can tell she worked very hard and it paid off.
The only critique I had about this book was that I felt a little confused a couple times while reading when there were references to “To Bind Fire.” Since it had been so long since I read the first book, I had to think, “Ok, what happened here?” However, I was able to glean the general context of the scene from reading “To Bind the Court.”
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for clean and epic fantasy! Whether the reader is a Christian or not. And I will again say that I hope D. E. Carlson chooses me to be a part of her ARC team for her next book in the series!
July 24, 2024
Iris's story continues, in book two of the Empire of Ash and Song series, and for me...it gets good. For her...not so much.
The story takes place in a land called Jondria, where the entire populace is under the rule of a malevolent emperor, and the main characters are two sides to the same coin. Heir to the throne, grandson of the Fire Emperor who lives in a gilded cage, and an orphan girl raised in isolation and an outcast learning about the world through the school of hard knocks.
I'll reiterate from my review of book one, "Covering themes like abandonment, isolation, fear, emotions vs truth (this one is so well done!! I loved that it was even incorporated), good vs evil, destiny, and of course, hope, it's a story that's not meant for the middle graders. It's an intensely dark and uncomfortable ride that I would suggest for High Schoolers and up."
POTENTIAL SPOILERS:
This part of the story takes Iris from being a nobody, to smack dab in the middle of the court of the Fire Emperor. The chess board is set with her against the people born into the game of royal intrigue and she struggles to keep her feet.
From fancy gowns, to filthy dungeons, we get to follow the young characters who all share one thing; Jondria. Some want to rule it, some want to control it, some want to save it, and some want to find a place to simply exist.
The ending left me with such a bittersweet sigh. A fantastic cliffhanger that I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to have book three in my hands.
The Dragons are coming. *goosebumps*
The story takes place in a land called Jondria, where the entire populace is under the rule of a malevolent emperor, and the main characters are two sides to the same coin. Heir to the throne, grandson of the Fire Emperor who lives in a gilded cage, and an orphan girl raised in isolation and an outcast learning about the world through the school of hard knocks.
I'll reiterate from my review of book one, "Covering themes like abandonment, isolation, fear, emotions vs truth (this one is so well done!! I loved that it was even incorporated), good vs evil, destiny, and of course, hope, it's a story that's not meant for the middle graders. It's an intensely dark and uncomfortable ride that I would suggest for High Schoolers and up."
POTENTIAL SPOILERS:
This part of the story takes Iris from being a nobody, to smack dab in the middle of the court of the Fire Emperor. The chess board is set with her against the people born into the game of royal intrigue and she struggles to keep her feet.
From fancy gowns, to filthy dungeons, we get to follow the young characters who all share one thing; Jondria. Some want to rule it, some want to control it, some want to save it, and some want to find a place to simply exist.
The ending left me with such a bittersweet sigh. A fantastic cliffhanger that I CAN. NOT. WAIT. to have book three in my hands.
The Dragons are coming. *goosebumps*
May 2, 2024
I really enjoyed To Bind the Court! We see so much maturity and growth in the main characters, which is what I was hoping for after To Bind Fire ended. I particularly enjoyed Besaun's journey and all that he discovered and realised along the way.
I also loved watching Iris grow into her own power and strength, and continue to make solid connections with those she meets. She learns a LOT in TBtC and goes through some major experiences. I feel very proud of her!!
I enjoyed meeting the new characters, who definitely felt more well-rounded and interesting than some of the characters in TBF. I could really see how DE Carlson's writing has improved even between these two books, and there are some really interesting threads to continue in book 3!
My favourite, however, is our golden-eyed Onca friend 💜
I also loved watching Iris grow into her own power and strength, and continue to make solid connections with those she meets. She learns a LOT in TBtC and goes through some major experiences. I feel very proud of her!!
I enjoyed meeting the new characters, who definitely felt more well-rounded and interesting than some of the characters in TBF. I could really see how DE Carlson's writing has improved even between these two books, and there are some really interesting threads to continue in book 3!
My favourite, however, is our golden-eyed Onca friend 💜
April 26, 2024
Wow, wow, wow! D. E. Carlson's second installment in her Empire of Ash and Song did not disappoint!!
To Bind the Court, like it's predecessor is filled with elemental powers, deep characters, and dragons... just times 10!
I have been looking forward to this book since finishing the To Bind Fire and I am embarrassed to say once again Carlson has done a fantastic job of creating a story that will have you putting off every chore in the world to finish this story! Lol, trust me, it's a good thing!
This story is a continuouation of Iris and Besaun's story and really shows you the inner turmoil that each character must go through in order to get to their goals. I'm really glad Besaun had more of a front row seat in this story and Iris once again captures hearts as a conflicted protagonist who wants to do what's right despite the evil that surrounds her.
And El... I won't give any spoilers, but there is a scene that is just so powerful!
I loved this book, so so much. The Villians were convincing, the pacing was excellent, and the characters all were believable.
But that said.... I had one problem with this story.
And that was the issue if incest. I was actually really surprised to find such a thing in this story and was repulsed by it. It was not so much on Iris's part as it was her cousin's, but it was still there. That is the only reason why I cannot in good conscience give this book a five star.
Would I recommend the book? Absolutely, but I would warn you to beware.
The book however is clean with no smut, but there are a suggestive scene of adultery and other things.
There are no curse words that I can remember and the book is not what I would call gory either.
All in all I would give it a very deserving four stars. It's a wonderful sequel and I very much look forward to book 3!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this book as an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
To Bind the Court, like it's predecessor is filled with elemental powers, deep characters, and dragons... just times 10!
I have been looking forward to this book since finishing the To Bind Fire and I am embarrassed to say once again Carlson has done a fantastic job of creating a story that will have you putting off every chore in the world to finish this story! Lol, trust me, it's a good thing!
This story is a continuouation of Iris and Besaun's story and really shows you the inner turmoil that each character must go through in order to get to their goals. I'm really glad Besaun had more of a front row seat in this story and Iris once again captures hearts as a conflicted protagonist who wants to do what's right despite the evil that surrounds her.
And El... I won't give any spoilers, but there is a scene that is just so powerful!
I loved this book, so so much. The Villians were convincing, the pacing was excellent, and the characters all were believable.
But that said.... I had one problem with this story.
And that was the issue if incest. I was actually really surprised to find such a thing in this story and was repulsed by it. It was not so much on Iris's part as it was her cousin's, but it was still there. That is the only reason why I cannot in good conscience give this book a five star.
Would I recommend the book? Absolutely, but I would warn you to beware.
The book however is clean with no smut, but there are a suggestive scene of adultery and other things.
There are no curse words that I can remember and the book is not what I would call gory either.
All in all I would give it a very deserving four stars. It's a wonderful sequel and I very much look forward to book 3!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this book as an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 11, 2024
Oh, this book was really good!
Easily gets 5 stars and totally exceeded my expectations!
Book one, To Bind Fire was really good but wow, Dorothy knocked it out of the park with this one.
Besaun is a pretty dang lovable hero, and his arc in this 2nd book is so, so good.
And, Iris...oh sweet Iris. I'm not sure I can say anything about Iris without massive spoilers.
I really liked how Dorothy brought things to a really satisfying conclusion but managed to leave things open-ended for more books. I'm looking forward to number 3!!
Easily gets 5 stars and totally exceeded my expectations!
Book one, To Bind Fire was really good but wow, Dorothy knocked it out of the park with this one.
Besaun is a pretty dang lovable hero, and his arc in this 2nd book is so, so good.
And, Iris...oh sweet Iris. I'm not sure I can say anything about Iris without massive spoilers.
I really liked how Dorothy brought things to a really satisfying conclusion but managed to leave things open-ended for more books. I'm looking forward to number 3!!
May 14, 2024
D.E. Carlson has done it again! She has wrote the second book of the Empire of Ash and Song series with deep thought and emotions. This is a Clean YA Fantasy book with Christian themes. This book is "darker" than the first one. As the main characters face different challenges, in turn of good versus evil. I highly suggest series if you like action packed fantasy books but want more of a clean version or youth want to read a fantastic fantasy series yet you don't want them exposed to some of the more open door descriptive books that are on the market today. This book felt like it had a much heavier plot and there was a lot of mixed feeling and questions along the journey of this book. It was nice to follow the characters from book one as well as get to know some new characters. I was really excited to get to learn more about Casandra's Story. Casandra is a side character and has her own novella in this series. I cannot wait for book three and to see where D.E. Carlson takes us next on this epic journey. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and these words, thoughts, and opinions are mine and mine alone.
July 17, 2024
Love love love this series!! Avatar the Last Airbender meets Chronicles of Narnia in the best way possible. The characters are wonderfully written, complex, and really drive the story. I cannot wait to see how their relationships develop in book 3!
April 21, 2024
Another great adventure well done.
I was up and down with eagerness, sadness, anger and delight! A whirlwind of things happening kept me on the edge of my seat. Now the wait for the next one…
I was up and down with eagerness, sadness, anger and delight! A whirlwind of things happening kept me on the edge of my seat. Now the wait for the next one…
June 22, 2024
My expectations for this book were high and then it did not just reach my expectations but far surpassed them. Imagine a world where a lost civilisation returns to fight evil, and one girl holds everything in her hands. She determines who and what wins in the end. The characters grew in ways I did not see coming, and I got shocked by some leaving me wondering who is really good and bad in the story. Sacrifices are made and bonds are formed. This book places much emphasis on the relationships between the characters. I loved this second novel in the series and cannot wait for the third book to come out. I want more of this.
If you have yet to read this book and this was not convincing enough then just keep these three words in mind: love, magic & dragons. Side note: Love comes in different forms. It can be found family too.
If you have yet to read this book and this was not convincing enough then just keep these three words in mind: love, magic & dragons. Side note: Love comes in different forms. It can be found family too.
May 15, 2024
4,5 stars rounded to 5
After reading and loving To Bind Fire I immediately dove into Iris’s next adventure and enjoyed it almost as much as the first book.
There were aspects and characters of the book that made it even more compelling to me, but there were others that left me a bit confused and frustrated and I want to start with those.
While I completely understood Iris’s passiveness in book 1, it felt like when she started to take things into her own hands at the end of To Bind Fire, she fell back into being more of a puppet to the ideas and will of others and I didn’t like it. After all she went through she ought to have been more vigilant in my opinion. Instead it seemed like she was very naive in her decisions who to trust, never hiding her intentions if she even had them. I couldn’t really understand her actions or better reactions. When it seems like she might finally have some sort of plan, she doesn’t act on it or is very easily distracted by other people who are pretty clearly standing on the wrong side.
— The following paragraphs contain mild spoilers in form of questions about characters and background —
— end of spoilers (I hope) —
Like I said in my review for To Bind Fire there were a lot of unanswered questions, but there were even more in this book and it added to my confusion. Even though I know that there are three other books planned where we hopefully find answers and To Bind Court ended on a note that led me to expect a great redemption arc for Iris, I wished there were more things explained in this book and more character development. I empathized a lot with Iris in book 1, in this book I have to admit I became a bit frustrated by her lack of common sense and action.
While there are obviously a lot of open questions at least for me, I still understand this is only book 2 of 5 in the Empire of Ash series, so the book should not answer everything or else there wouldn’t be the need for a sequel. And since I am still very intrigued to read the following books, I decided on a 4,5 star rating.
But now to the parts that were equally amazing in book 2 or even improved in my opinion.
Prince Besaun was a bit pale in book 1. In book 2 his character becomes more fleshed out. I loved his chapters and even though I think it took him a bit long to question his mother and the fire empire in general, I loved his character growth and how he started to become his own person.
Casandra, also grew a lot as a character, especially if you have read the novella Casandra’s Dragon. She was so brave and still funny and fierce and I loved how her relationship with Besaun had so little drama - of course despite the extreme drama they found themselves in. When Besaun finally joined the right side, there was no back and forth between them. They fought together for good and accepted each other as they were.
The pacing was faster than in book 1 and there was a lot of action, politics, intrigue and battle scenes. While this added suspense and tension to the story, the killing scenes were sometimes quite gruesome and I really didn’t like how Casandra and Besaun grinned at each other after one specific scene.
The world building remains awesome and the faith elements - even though I wished Iris would have called out to El at least once in her time of trial - stay strong and there were some very powerful scenes.
As a side note - I would love to have a map with all the lands and bloodlines, to give me a better understanding, and a family tree of the fire empire because of all these different characters it was sometimes confusing to understand the succession to the throne and the lineage in general.
All the remaining questions aside, I enjoyed the book a lot, definitely recommend it and can’t wait for book 3 and Iris’s journey to continue - and maybe meet Tabi and Mila again…
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
After reading and loving To Bind Fire I immediately dove into Iris’s next adventure and enjoyed it almost as much as the first book.
There were aspects and characters of the book that made it even more compelling to me, but there were others that left me a bit confused and frustrated and I want to start with those.
While I completely understood Iris’s passiveness in book 1, it felt like when she started to take things into her own hands at the end of To Bind Fire, she fell back into being more of a puppet to the ideas and will of others and I didn’t like it. After all she went through she ought to have been more vigilant in my opinion. Instead it seemed like she was very naive in her decisions who to trust, never hiding her intentions if she even had them. I couldn’t really understand her actions or better reactions. When it seems like she might finally have some sort of plan, she doesn’t act on it or is very easily distracted by other people who are pretty clearly standing on the wrong side.
— The following paragraphs contain mild spoilers in form of questions about characters and background —
— end of spoilers (I hope) —
Like I said in my review for To Bind Fire there were a lot of unanswered questions, but there were even more in this book and it added to my confusion. Even though I know that there are three other books planned where we hopefully find answers and To Bind Court ended on a note that led me to expect a great redemption arc for Iris, I wished there were more things explained in this book and more character development. I empathized a lot with Iris in book 1, in this book I have to admit I became a bit frustrated by her lack of common sense and action.
While there are obviously a lot of open questions at least for me, I still understand this is only book 2 of 5 in the Empire of Ash series, so the book should not answer everything or else there wouldn’t be the need for a sequel. And since I am still very intrigued to read the following books, I decided on a 4,5 star rating.
But now to the parts that were equally amazing in book 2 or even improved in my opinion.
Prince Besaun was a bit pale in book 1. In book 2 his character becomes more fleshed out. I loved his chapters and even though I think it took him a bit long to question his mother and the fire empire in general, I loved his character growth and how he started to become his own person.
Casandra, also grew a lot as a character, especially if you have read the novella Casandra’s Dragon. She was so brave and still funny and fierce and I loved how her relationship with Besaun had so little drama - of course despite the extreme drama they found themselves in. When Besaun finally joined the right side, there was no back and forth between them. They fought together for good and accepted each other as they were.
The pacing was faster than in book 1 and there was a lot of action, politics, intrigue and battle scenes. While this added suspense and tension to the story, the killing scenes were sometimes quite gruesome and I really didn’t like how Casandra and Besaun grinned at each other after one specific scene.
The world building remains awesome and the faith elements - even though I wished Iris would have called out to El at least once in her time of trial - stay strong and there were some very powerful scenes.
As a side note - I would love to have a map with all the lands and bloodlines, to give me a better understanding, and a family tree of the fire empire because of all these different characters it was sometimes confusing to understand the succession to the throne and the lineage in general.
All the remaining questions aside, I enjoyed the book a lot, definitely recommend it and can’t wait for book 3 and Iris’s journey to continue - and maybe meet Tabi and Mila again…
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
June 10, 2025
Rating: 5⭐️
Oh my gosh I love this series so much! I love how D. E. has managed to create such a wonderful and unique world and how she ties in her faith in the story. And she does it in a very realistic way. Iris is figuring things out as she goes, she doesn’t have anyone to guide her and some decisions she made reflected that.
D. E. did a fantastic job of showing spiritual warfare and temptation (shown between Iris and Ahl aka the devil). She also showcases strength and trust in faith through Cassandra. Cassandra has been taught and she knows the truth. You will see how the two differ in this aspect.
Book 2 is a bit darker than book 1 but it will be the darkest of the trilogy. Please give D. E. and her books a chance 🫶
Oh my gosh I love this series so much! I love how D. E. has managed to create such a wonderful and unique world and how she ties in her faith in the story. And she does it in a very realistic way. Iris is figuring things out as she goes, she doesn’t have anyone to guide her and some decisions she made reflected that.
D. E. did a fantastic job of showing spiritual warfare and temptation (shown between Iris and Ahl aka the devil). She also showcases strength and trust in faith through Cassandra. Cassandra has been taught and she knows the truth. You will see how the two differ in this aspect.
Book 2 is a bit darker than book 1 but it will be the darkest of the trilogy. Please give D. E. and her books a chance 🫶
May 20, 2025
To Bind the Court is an action-packed Christian Romantasy novel that tackles real-life themes in a beautiful way. Through lovable characters and unique stories, D.E. Carlson created a masterpiece that most anyone is sure to connect with. This story wrecked my soul in the best ways as I saw myself in the struggle of the FMC, Iris. At a time in my life when I'm struggling with my own insecurity, this book called out the lies I tend to believe and illuminated the truth of who I am. To Bind the Court is the best contemporary Christian novel I've read, and I think everyone should give it a shot.
October 4, 2024
It was slightly better...yeah. Idk if I would call this totally clean.
Once again the allegory was good until it was just confusing. I have no idea why the "devil" was calling her Love idk. I don't have much to think about this book or the whole series it's just confusing to me.
The ONLY only thing that kept me reading this book was Jacin other than that. Wow that was weird.
Once again the allegory was good until it was just confusing. I have no idea why the "devil" was calling her Love idk. I don't have much to think about this book or the whole series it's just confusing to me.
The ONLY only thing that kept me reading this book was Jacin other than that. Wow that was weird.
May 9, 2025
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Whispered lies. Mysterious villains. Unknown allies. Unworthy heirs. Villainous plots. Secret associations. Planned assassinations. Unplanned murders. Mascaraded parties. Disguised murders. And a whole lot of butt-kicking, heart-stopping, bone-chilling, gut-wrenching, mind-boggling, action-packed thrills! Rejoin Iris, Besaun, Cassandra, Allsander, the Fire Emporer, Master Gendau, Jacin, and several more lovable and loathable characters as they fight and serve the Fire Emperor, fight and serve El, and make choices that alter the fate of the world in this sequel: To Bind The Court.
WOW! What a book! This is definitely a step up from the first book. So many twists and turns. It took me only three days to read but it felt like three minutes! I just loved it so much.
THINGS THAT PARENTS TO KNOW…
1. Serious relationships (kissing, hugging, handholding, flirting, boyfriend-girlfriend)
2. Demon and possessing (scary for several children. I even was disturbed by some descriptions of this demon and the way he messes with peoples brains and possesses them)
3. Gore (mentions of slitting throats, chopping off heads, blood, attempted murders, choking people, and threats)
What I LOVED….
1. The plot twists were incredible! I’m still left with so many questions and thoughts and I’m itching for the final book! I couldn’t figure out who was trustworthy and who was evil! Do they want to kill or do they want to save? I still don’t completely know! 🤣
2. The characters! Iris, the pain she carried, the sorrow she dealt with, the shame she felt, it was believable. Besaun, the uncertainty, the betrayal he felt, how lost he was. Allsander, his brief moments of showing how vulnerable, scared, and lonely he really was. Cassandra, the small hopefulness, the fear, the pain, the love, the mixed feelings she put up with quietly in her cell. Captain Veldan, his uncertainty, mixed feeling, concern, and fatherly love (I imagine it as fatherly love anyway.). Dox, the loyalty, fear, wisdom, and kindness was heartbreaking!!!! And the new characters like Drayhan, Bev, Sayla, Dox (my favorite!!!!!!!🤩), and everyone else that I can’t remember 🤣
3. The world. What a world! Oncas, dragons, blue trees, forever grey skies, two moons, Firebloods, Creaturebloods, Dragonbloods, Star Seers, and so much more!
What I DISLIKED….
1. The lack of El and the disturbing amount that the fire demon was mentioned. He’s everywhere while El barely gets mentioned. El is painted more as a passive observer of peoples suffering rather than the caring, interactive, loving, powerful God that he is. And all the mentions of the fire demon (whom I’m guessing is Satan) seems to be WAY to powerful in my opinion. I am very very very particular and picky when it comes to Christianity due to my love for God and being a pastor’s daughter so I’m sorry if this is coming off harsh, these are simply my thoughts.
2. The missing characters. I really just missed Mila more than anything. But then there is Elder Falinki (I think that’s her name), Mila, Tabin, and others that I again cannot remember 🤣
This book was a delightful read and I loved it so much! I highly suggest this book for mature teens and up.
The rest of this review is spoilers. Do not read unless you want the whole book to be spoiled.
**************SPOILERS************
The cloaked figure being him was a total plot twist! I should have seen it coming!! Jacin! Of course! And him being the purple mascaraed man! It’s great!!!! Such a twist! And him attempting to stab her, choke her, hesitate, and then pressing his forehead to hers!!!! It was pure cinema! That scene alone deserves 5 stars!!! And him showing up in front of Besaun, at Drayhan’s, in the maze, and throughout the castle was such a twist! I love him so much and he is just such an amazing character!
**************SPOILERS************
Dox!!!!!!!!!!!! Her wisdom, kindness, and quiet loyalty was so amazing! I pray she doesn’t get murdered by Allasander! Also, how did he know it was Dox who gave him away? Dox was disguised, hiding all of her blue!
Whispered lies. Mysterious villains. Unknown allies. Unworthy heirs. Villainous plots. Secret associations. Planned assassinations. Unplanned murders. Mascaraded parties. Disguised murders. And a whole lot of butt-kicking, heart-stopping, bone-chilling, gut-wrenching, mind-boggling, action-packed thrills! Rejoin Iris, Besaun, Cassandra, Allsander, the Fire Emporer, Master Gendau, Jacin, and several more lovable and loathable characters as they fight and serve the Fire Emperor, fight and serve El, and make choices that alter the fate of the world in this sequel: To Bind The Court.
WOW! What a book! This is definitely a step up from the first book. So many twists and turns. It took me only three days to read but it felt like three minutes! I just loved it so much.
THINGS THAT PARENTS TO KNOW…
1. Serious relationships (kissing, hugging, handholding, flirting, boyfriend-girlfriend)
2. Demon and possessing (scary for several children. I even was disturbed by some descriptions of this demon and the way he messes with peoples brains and possesses them)
3. Gore (mentions of slitting throats, chopping off heads, blood, attempted murders, choking people, and threats)
What I LOVED….
1. The plot twists were incredible! I’m still left with so many questions and thoughts and I’m itching for the final book! I couldn’t figure out who was trustworthy and who was evil! Do they want to kill or do they want to save? I still don’t completely know! 🤣
2. The characters! Iris, the pain she carried, the sorrow she dealt with, the shame she felt, it was believable. Besaun, the uncertainty, the betrayal he felt, how lost he was. Allsander, his brief moments of showing how vulnerable, scared, and lonely he really was. Cassandra, the small hopefulness, the fear, the pain, the love, the mixed feelings she put up with quietly in her cell. Captain Veldan, his uncertainty, mixed feeling, concern, and fatherly love (I imagine it as fatherly love anyway.). Dox, the loyalty, fear, wisdom, and kindness was heartbreaking!!!! And the new characters like Drayhan, Bev, Sayla, Dox (my favorite!!!!!!!🤩), and everyone else that I can’t remember 🤣
3. The world. What a world! Oncas, dragons, blue trees, forever grey skies, two moons, Firebloods, Creaturebloods, Dragonbloods, Star Seers, and so much more!
What I DISLIKED….
1. The lack of El and the disturbing amount that the fire demon was mentioned. He’s everywhere while El barely gets mentioned. El is painted more as a passive observer of peoples suffering rather than the caring, interactive, loving, powerful God that he is. And all the mentions of the fire demon (whom I’m guessing is Satan) seems to be WAY to powerful in my opinion. I am very very very particular and picky when it comes to Christianity due to my love for God and being a pastor’s daughter so I’m sorry if this is coming off harsh, these are simply my thoughts.
2. The missing characters. I really just missed Mila more than anything. But then there is Elder Falinki (I think that’s her name), Mila, Tabin, and others that I again cannot remember 🤣
This book was a delightful read and I loved it so much! I highly suggest this book for mature teens and up.
The rest of this review is spoilers. Do not read unless you want the whole book to be spoiled.
**************SPOILERS************
The cloaked figure being him was a total plot twist! I should have seen it coming!! Jacin! Of course! And him being the purple mascaraed man! It’s great!!!! Such a twist! And him attempting to stab her, choke her, hesitate, and then pressing his forehead to hers!!!! It was pure cinema! That scene alone deserves 5 stars!!! And him showing up in front of Besaun, at Drayhan’s, in the maze, and throughout the castle was such a twist! I love him so much and he is just such an amazing character!
**************SPOILERS************
Dox!!!!!!!!!!!! Her wisdom, kindness, and quiet loyalty was so amazing! I pray she doesn’t get murdered by Allasander! Also, how did he know it was Dox who gave him away? Dox was disguised, hiding all of her blue!
May 14, 2024
Twist after twist after twist. Amazing characters. Astonishing world building and storytelling.
After finishing the first book I couldn’t wait for the second one to come out and see how D.E. Carlson would top everything from the first book. I can now honestly say she has exceeded my expectations and I cannot wait for the third book, and see where this story will take us.
I’ve read quite a few books, and I’ve come to notice I tend to prefer, to a certain extent, books written in third person (with some exceptions). This book handles the first person perspective so incredibly well that I love that it is written this way and not in third. Not only does it master one character’s perspective, but it juggles perfectly the two main character’s perspectives and the other three perspectives are sprinkled amazingly across the entire story.
The way the thoughts, feelings and actions are depicted are extraordinary.
Every character is so unique from one another and so well written.
I work in film and have had to write a few scripts, and I know how difficult it is to make characters so different from one another and not have them speak the same way, or even the same as the writer; but every character in this book has their own unique voice and one can tell that D.E. Carlson put a lot of hard work and love into this story.
Iris truly grows in this journey, and we follow her character growth closely. The emotional roller coaster in this is crazy and so real.
I love how we get to see Besaun a lot more than on the first one and just how much he grows is outstanding.
Having read “Cassandra’s Dragon” I fell in love with her character from the very beginning, so getting to see some more of Cassandra in this book was great. And have her story get so intertwined with both Iris and Besaun was so wonderfully done. Looking forward to seeing more of her in the third book.
Some decisions from the characters came out of nowhere and at times I would go nuts over what they did, but it’s all understandable given that they’re teenagers, and in the end we can see the reasoning behind their actions, so I think they’re believable.
The characters grow a lot throughout this journey, but at times, just like regular humans, they have some setbacks from where they had gotten to, which makes for much more believable characters.
Everything just fits together perfectly.
The storytelling and the way D.E. Carlson manages to tell us just the right amount of information to lure us into the story, and then reveals more details as we go along keeps us in the edge of our seat, and really helps build the tension especially with the introduction of some new characters.
Every once in a while I would think I’ve got the story figured out and may think to know where it’s going, but D.E. Carlson would throw in an unexpected twist and change it up.
In the end one thinks there’s only one way to finish the book, but Carlson manages to pull a fast one and gives us an incredible ending I wouldn’t have imagined.
The christian themes are really present, but as in the first book, they’re not in your face present, they’re just there as part of this universe, and they really work to serve the narrative and build the tension and make the characters grow. As a christian it’s amazing to see how God has blessed Dorothy with the gift to write such compelling stories that contain His message sprinkled in.
This is what I aspire to do with my career as a filmmaker, and hopefully, if no one has done it beforehand, get to work with Dorothy and bring this wonderful story to the screen.
I would dare say this has become one of my favorites, if not my favorite book series.
After finishing the first book I couldn’t wait for the second one to come out and see how D.E. Carlson would top everything from the first book. I can now honestly say she has exceeded my expectations and I cannot wait for the third book, and see where this story will take us.
I’ve read quite a few books, and I’ve come to notice I tend to prefer, to a certain extent, books written in third person (with some exceptions). This book handles the first person perspective so incredibly well that I love that it is written this way and not in third. Not only does it master one character’s perspective, but it juggles perfectly the two main character’s perspectives and the other three perspectives are sprinkled amazingly across the entire story.
The way the thoughts, feelings and actions are depicted are extraordinary.
Every character is so unique from one another and so well written.
I work in film and have had to write a few scripts, and I know how difficult it is to make characters so different from one another and not have them speak the same way, or even the same as the writer; but every character in this book has their own unique voice and one can tell that D.E. Carlson put a lot of hard work and love into this story.
Iris truly grows in this journey, and we follow her character growth closely. The emotional roller coaster in this is crazy and so real.
I love how we get to see Besaun a lot more than on the first one and just how much he grows is outstanding.
Having read “Cassandra’s Dragon” I fell in love with her character from the very beginning, so getting to see some more of Cassandra in this book was great. And have her story get so intertwined with both Iris and Besaun was so wonderfully done. Looking forward to seeing more of her in the third book.
Some decisions from the characters came out of nowhere and at times I would go nuts over what they did, but it’s all understandable given that they’re teenagers, and in the end we can see the reasoning behind their actions, so I think they’re believable.
The characters grow a lot throughout this journey, but at times, just like regular humans, they have some setbacks from where they had gotten to, which makes for much more believable characters.
Everything just fits together perfectly.
The storytelling and the way D.E. Carlson manages to tell us just the right amount of information to lure us into the story, and then reveals more details as we go along keeps us in the edge of our seat, and really helps build the tension especially with the introduction of some new characters.
Every once in a while I would think I’ve got the story figured out and may think to know where it’s going, but D.E. Carlson would throw in an unexpected twist and change it up.
In the end one thinks there’s only one way to finish the book, but Carlson manages to pull a fast one and gives us an incredible ending I wouldn’t have imagined.
The christian themes are really present, but as in the first book, they’re not in your face present, they’re just there as part of this universe, and they really work to serve the narrative and build the tension and make the characters grow. As a christian it’s amazing to see how God has blessed Dorothy with the gift to write such compelling stories that contain His message sprinkled in.
This is what I aspire to do with my career as a filmmaker, and hopefully, if no one has done it beforehand, get to work with Dorothy and bring this wonderful story to the screen.
I would dare say this has become one of my favorites, if not my favorite book series.
May 29, 2025
This book is a wild rollercoaster ride of emotions, plot twists, action, and suspense. I swear my heart was pounding half the time I was reading and I loved every moment of it!
It picks up very soon after the last one ended, with Iris surviving on her own in the Fire City, trying to find someone who she thinks can help her. She's scared, starved, and alone. Finally she meets the man she's been looking for but quickly realizes she only brings danger.
Betrayed by someone she thought was helping, Iris lands exactly where everyone said she shouldn't go, The Fire Emporer's Castle.
Once you reach this point in the story, all the characters finally meet, you get many more interesting, interactions some sweet and some heart-pounding. You learn so much about the characters, what they are going through, their thoughts, motivations, and see them grow and change.
I had so many theories and ideas how things would play out and then something else would happen that would throw me off, or the idea completely out the window! But then I'd be like Wait! Maybe? No!? This story boggled my mind in the best way, it took so many turns, and there is some mystery/suspense coating everything so you never truly know what's happening and who is telling the truth. It was like you were really learning things and discovering them, or even just being confused right alongside the Mc's.
Iris really gains a back bone and a fighter spirit in this one. Her character growth is a little on the slow side but worth it, and she's been through a a lot so also seems realistic in that sense. She doesn't always feel like fighting but would rather just have it all end, but despite this she keeps going. She makes the best of the situation, taking the opportunity to learn more about her fire. While in the castle she also sees how bad the people are treated and vows to do whatever she can to save them, though she doesn't really want to rule. She struggles against the demon trying to control her and not giving into temptation. As well as navigating court life and the "game' they all play. Her voice grows stronger throughout, not allowing herself to be used.
Then there is Besaun, he is such a sweetheart, but we see a different side of him this time. His warrior side, apparently he is a very skilled swordsman. He's now in charge of the Fire Guard, and earns the respect and finds friendship with his men. I really dislike his mother the Empress and you understand if you've read it. But he doesn't play by their rules and continues to defy his mother's wishes. And by the end of the story! Oh! He made me proud and so happy but I don't want to spoil anything so I will leave it at that.
Now Cassandra! Oh I love this girl she is a stubborn spitfire, who never gives up or gives in, despite all the pain and suffering she has been through. She doesn't have a major part I n this book, but she guides and gives advice to Iris and anytime she enters the story I'm excited because she is awesome.
The romance isn't really prevalent here, but the little bit that there is, is so sweet and heart warming and I can't see where it all leads in the next book!
Last but certainly not least, I really enjoy the Christian view points threaded through out, as well as messages. I do still think Iris hadn't fully accepted El as she still seemed to have some trust issues with Him. But I felt that there was a message of El (or God) being present and there for us even when we can't see it or think He has left us. I felt that you could still see El helping her during her trials even though she felt like she had been abandoned by Him. God always loves us and protects us even when we may forget to look to Him or trust Him.
Also the ending was epic!! And so very perfect while still leaving you wanting the next story, I can't wait!
Content: No-spice/kisses only, Violence, off-page torture, battle scenes, blood/wounds, death, people being burned, a fire demon (portrayed in a bad light), some suggestive comments, Nothing is graphic or gory and either barely described or very non-descriptive.
It picks up very soon after the last one ended, with Iris surviving on her own in the Fire City, trying to find someone who she thinks can help her. She's scared, starved, and alone. Finally she meets the man she's been looking for but quickly realizes she only brings danger.
Betrayed by someone she thought was helping, Iris lands exactly where everyone said she shouldn't go, The Fire Emporer's Castle.
Once you reach this point in the story, all the characters finally meet, you get many more interesting, interactions some sweet and some heart-pounding. You learn so much about the characters, what they are going through, their thoughts, motivations, and see them grow and change.
I had so many theories and ideas how things would play out and then something else would happen that would throw me off, or the idea completely out the window! But then I'd be like Wait! Maybe? No!? This story boggled my mind in the best way, it took so many turns, and there is some mystery/suspense coating everything so you never truly know what's happening and who is telling the truth. It was like you were really learning things and discovering them, or even just being confused right alongside the Mc's.
Iris really gains a back bone and a fighter spirit in this one. Her character growth is a little on the slow side but worth it, and she's been through a a lot so also seems realistic in that sense. She doesn't always feel like fighting but would rather just have it all end, but despite this she keeps going. She makes the best of the situation, taking the opportunity to learn more about her fire. While in the castle she also sees how bad the people are treated and vows to do whatever she can to save them, though she doesn't really want to rule. She struggles against the demon trying to control her and not giving into temptation. As well as navigating court life and the "game' they all play. Her voice grows stronger throughout, not allowing herself to be used.
Then there is Besaun, he is such a sweetheart, but we see a different side of him this time. His warrior side, apparently he is a very skilled swordsman. He's now in charge of the Fire Guard, and earns the respect and finds friendship with his men. I really dislike his mother the Empress and you understand if you've read it. But he doesn't play by their rules and continues to defy his mother's wishes. And by the end of the story! Oh! He made me proud and so happy but I don't want to spoil anything so I will leave it at that.
Now Cassandra! Oh I love this girl she is a stubborn spitfire, who never gives up or gives in, despite all the pain and suffering she has been through. She doesn't have a major part I n this book, but she guides and gives advice to Iris and anytime she enters the story I'm excited because she is awesome.
The romance isn't really prevalent here, but the little bit that there is, is so sweet and heart warming and I can't see where it all leads in the next book!
Last but certainly not least, I really enjoy the Christian view points threaded through out, as well as messages. I do still think Iris hadn't fully accepted El as she still seemed to have some trust issues with Him. But I felt that there was a message of El (or God) being present and there for us even when we can't see it or think He has left us. I felt that you could still see El helping her during her trials even though she felt like she had been abandoned by Him. God always loves us and protects us even when we may forget to look to Him or trust Him.
Also the ending was epic!! And so very perfect while still leaving you wanting the next story, I can't wait!
Content: No-spice/kisses only, Violence, off-page torture, battle scenes, blood/wounds, death, people being burned, a fire demon (portrayed in a bad light), some suggestive comments, Nothing is graphic or gory and either barely described or very non-descriptive.
May 6, 2024
I’m rating this one 5/5 (maybe closer to 4.5/5, but you can’t do a particle rating here). I was given a ARC to review, and I loved this book so much that I plan on buying the book as soon as it is out.
This book continues the story of Iris, Prince Beasun, and Casandra. Which all get their own POVs, along with a couple minor characters such as Allsander. I was a little disappointed we didn't get more Cassandra, but her being captured - it makes sense as to why we don’t get more of her. I look forward to seeing her POV more again in the next book.
Baesun’s storyline is so good! Watching him struggle with the idea that everything he knew about life, was a lie, is so heartbreaking. He goes through a lot in this book, and I absolutely love his character development. I am excited to see where this character goes in the third book.
Now the main focus on this story falls on Iris, which I was surprised how much I liked. In this book, the Fire Emperor and demon are after Iris to force her to give herself up to them. The Fire demon wants Iris to be, essentially, his host so he can control her, her mind, and her life. Throughout the story, the Fire Demon will talk to Iris directly in her head, and she seems to be one of the few he talks directly to in such a way. Creating such a dynamic issues for Iris to deal with. This problem is only strengthen with the very obvious decline in Iris’s mental health as the Fire Demon talks to her more and more. At this point the reader starts to question whether she will actually give in to the Fire Demon, or not. I really enjoyed this concept, and it kept me engaged since I was so worried about Iris.
The reasons I rated this a 4.5/5 as opposed to 5/5, were relatively minor issues. For one thing, at times the dialogue just felt a bit off. Sometimes the characters would say something I didn’t fully believe they would, or it would seem out of character for them. There were also a few times I felt the characters jumped to conclusions I didn't think they would make. Such as Captain Veldan feeling hurt that Iris thought poorly of him, despite him not really displaying any reason that she should think better of him. From her point of view, he’s killed people she has loved; and when she tells him this out right he says how if she already thinks he would do something like that there is nothing he can do to change her mind. But like, literally why would she think differently? Yeah since he is guarding her now he hasn’t done anything, but that’s not saying a whole lot. I also wasn’t so sure about Iris suddenly trusting Allsander. It felt so and out of her character. But to be fair, at this point Iris was already starting to hold her slip on reality, so I think that can be kind the reason as to why.
Anyway, this book has very large religious allusions - which are all done very well! I don’t think you need to be religious to read the story, or to love and understand it. But it does help. So yeah in the end I rate it 4.5/5-5/5. I recommend this book to people who love Narnia, fantasy, and romance (no spice).
This book continues the story of Iris, Prince Beasun, and Casandra. Which all get their own POVs, along with a couple minor characters such as Allsander. I was a little disappointed we didn't get more Cassandra, but her being captured - it makes sense as to why we don’t get more of her. I look forward to seeing her POV more again in the next book.
Baesun’s storyline is so good! Watching him struggle with the idea that everything he knew about life, was a lie, is so heartbreaking. He goes through a lot in this book, and I absolutely love his character development. I am excited to see where this character goes in the third book.
Now the main focus on this story falls on Iris, which I was surprised how much I liked. In this book, the Fire Emperor and demon are after Iris to force her to give herself up to them. The Fire demon wants Iris to be, essentially, his host so he can control her, her mind, and her life. Throughout the story, the Fire Demon will talk to Iris directly in her head, and she seems to be one of the few he talks directly to in such a way. Creating such a dynamic issues for Iris to deal with. This problem is only strengthen with the very obvious decline in Iris’s mental health as the Fire Demon talks to her more and more. At this point the reader starts to question whether she will actually give in to the Fire Demon, or not. I really enjoyed this concept, and it kept me engaged since I was so worried about Iris.
The reasons I rated this a 4.5/5 as opposed to 5/5, were relatively minor issues. For one thing, at times the dialogue just felt a bit off. Sometimes the characters would say something I didn’t fully believe they would, or it would seem out of character for them. There were also a few times I felt the characters jumped to conclusions I didn't think they would make. Such as Captain Veldan feeling hurt that Iris thought poorly of him, despite him not really displaying any reason that she should think better of him. From her point of view, he’s killed people she has loved; and when she tells him this out right he says how if she already thinks he would do something like that there is nothing he can do to change her mind. But like, literally why would she think differently? Yeah since he is guarding her now he hasn’t done anything, but that’s not saying a whole lot. I also wasn’t so sure about Iris suddenly trusting Allsander. It felt so and out of her character. But to be fair, at this point Iris was already starting to hold her slip on reality, so I think that can be kind the reason as to why.
Anyway, this book has very large religious allusions - which are all done very well! I don’t think you need to be religious to read the story, or to love and understand it. But it does help. So yeah in the end I rate it 4.5/5-5/5. I recommend this book to people who love Narnia, fantasy, and romance (no spice).
May 1, 2024
Teen review: I SUPER loved To Bind the Court! All of the plot twists and cliffhangers on each chapter just made me want to read it even more. I was very sad when I read the whole book and got to the end. I was really waiting for Tabin or Mila to show up at multiple points to be honest. Waiting for Tabin to swoop in like some knight in shining armor, but I was, and still am, very sad about what "he" showed "fire child" about Tabin and Mila, it hurt a little bit to be completely honest. I was very happy that Cass and Besaun finally got a chance to be together and my heart ached when I found out he left without saying goodbye! My heart also lept when Aurora showed up and helped out where she could, but it also left me wondering "Where's Bee?". My mom joked about him being burned to a crisp somewhere irrelevant to the storyline, but i kept waiting for him to be mentioned. I also loved that the uncle was fighting on the good side in this book. Epiloge had me hanging by a thread I tell you! It was such a twist! I also read the sneak peeks and I really can't wait until next year to get book three!! Truth be told I probably have too much time on my hands since I read book 2 in 11 hours in the same day. I started around noon and ended around 11pm same day. My mother read the book too and actually started and finished before me even though she took more breaks in between than I did. Overall it was a totally awesome book and I can't wait until the next one comes out!
Mrs. D. E. Carlson! You are an amazing writer and I really hope you keep on writing such good clean fiction books for teens like me. It means a lot to me that such a good, wholehearted story is out there. I myself want to be an author eventually (I need to finish at least 1 of my draft stories before I can think about publishing though). Your story has inspired me and has shown me a wonderful piece of workmanship that has been gifted to the world we live in. Thank you for giving me another world to explore and be apart of.
Thanks to your excellent word choice and execution of world building, I can see all the different places you imagined and wrote about!
Mom review: It was so awesome to find a book that is romantically clean, full of adventure and a fantastic fantasy to share with my teen daughter who aspires to be a writer. Your ability to open up a world to her full of awe and wonder has given her the opportunity to dream and create as well! Thank you for sharing with us these amazing stories and allowing us into your imagination and heart!
Mrs. D. E. Carlson! You are an amazing writer and I really hope you keep on writing such good clean fiction books for teens like me. It means a lot to me that such a good, wholehearted story is out there. I myself want to be an author eventually (I need to finish at least 1 of my draft stories before I can think about publishing though). Your story has inspired me and has shown me a wonderful piece of workmanship that has been gifted to the world we live in. Thank you for giving me another world to explore and be apart of.
Thanks to your excellent word choice and execution of world building, I can see all the different places you imagined and wrote about!
Mom review: It was so awesome to find a book that is romantically clean, full of adventure and a fantastic fantasy to share with my teen daughter who aspires to be a writer. Your ability to open up a world to her full of awe and wonder has given her the opportunity to dream and create as well! Thank you for sharing with us these amazing stories and allowing us into your imagination and heart!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2024
When you go into the second book of the series you know there will be twists and turns and things will be a bit different than the first book, but I did NOT expect this out of book two.
I laughed, I cried, I wanted to go inside the book and hit a few of the characters, I internally yelled at the characters. Of all the things, I could not stop reading.
This book was truly about “to bind the court”. You really took a deep dive into the court of the fire emperor and truly saw how they worked and operated. You learned more about Besaun and Cassandra.
This was all about the journey of self-discovery and you really could feel her pain, confusion, confidence and fight. There were so many parts in this story where I just wanted to hug her. Life has not been fair to her and she was so secluded in Book 1, then thrown into the turmoil and learning about life in book 2.
The only downside of this book is the lack of romance, that was very present in book 1. Did it take away from the book itself? Goodness no! But, if there was more romance, that would have been icing on the cake.
I love how this book saw personal growth for multiple characters, but I also felt like the writing had some growth as well. Things became more descriptive, you could really picture yourself in the book, and the battles, the pain and the suffering all became more descriptive. At some points, I was saying to myself “woah did that actually happen”. I was not expecting gruesome scenes, but I think it really completed the book and I do not want D. E. Carlson to take that out. I think it really made the book whole.
The last 50-75 pages, I was zoned in and I could not put the book down. This is where the book REALLY drew you in and you could not stop reading.
When I finished the book, I loved how there was an excerpt for the 3rd book, but my heart dropped when I read the release date of 2025. The book ended with a cliffhanger and I am so upset I have to wait ONE WHOLE YEAR to continue reading this series. I cannot wait to read more and learn more about Allsander (I think he is the most mysterious character and I really want to learn more about him), along with hopefully seeing more of Mila, Tabin, and Jacin. I truly hope Dox will make an appearance in book 3.
I laughed, I cried, I wanted to go inside the book and hit a few of the characters, I internally yelled at the characters. Of all the things, I could not stop reading.
This book was truly about “to bind the court”. You really took a deep dive into the court of the fire emperor and truly saw how they worked and operated. You learned more about Besaun and Cassandra.
This was all about the journey of self-discovery and you really could feel her pain, confusion, confidence and fight. There were so many parts in this story where I just wanted to hug her. Life has not been fair to her and she was so secluded in Book 1, then thrown into the turmoil and learning about life in book 2.
The only downside of this book is the lack of romance, that was very present in book 1. Did it take away from the book itself? Goodness no! But, if there was more romance, that would have been icing on the cake.
I love how this book saw personal growth for multiple characters, but I also felt like the writing had some growth as well. Things became more descriptive, you could really picture yourself in the book, and the battles, the pain and the suffering all became more descriptive. At some points, I was saying to myself “woah did that actually happen”. I was not expecting gruesome scenes, but I think it really completed the book and I do not want D. E. Carlson to take that out. I think it really made the book whole.
The last 50-75 pages, I was zoned in and I could not put the book down. This is where the book REALLY drew you in and you could not stop reading.
When I finished the book, I loved how there was an excerpt for the 3rd book, but my heart dropped when I read the release date of 2025. The book ended with a cliffhanger and I am so upset I have to wait ONE WHOLE YEAR to continue reading this series. I cannot wait to read more and learn more about Allsander (I think he is the most mysterious character and I really want to learn more about him), along with hopefully seeing more of Mila, Tabin, and Jacin. I truly hope Dox will make an appearance in book 3.
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