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The Karneesia Chronicles #2
The Flight of the Spellbound
Falcon by day. Girl by night.
Eyl has transformed against her will every day for nine years. She and her fellow captives are magically bound to their captor—and the wizard’s mental state is deteriorating. They have nearly given up hope of escape…until the night a stranger arrives at the tower.
Natural son of the High Wizard, Fee is bone-tired of war and of being his father’s pet interrogator. When he finds letters to his father offering magical experiments to assist the Damaslar war effort, Fee deserts to help them flee. He doesn’t expect to be greeted with a knife to the throat by a prickly but fascinating girl full of hidden pain and deep secrets.
The spells that trap Eyl are as layered and complex as her trust issues, and escape is only the first step. To find a refuge, Eyl and her companions must depend on each other as they cross a haunted forest and traverse a warzone while she and Fee grow from reluctant allies to something more.
But Fee’s father is not ready to let his secret magical weapons go without a fight, and Eyl can’t run from her past forever….
THE FLIGHT OF THE SPELLBOUND is a romantic fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Ladyhawke, Willow the Series, and Shannon Hale. It is the second in the Karneesia Chronicles, interconnected standalones set in the world of Karneesia
Eyl has transformed against her will every day for nine years. She and her fellow captives are magically bound to their captor—and the wizard’s mental state is deteriorating. They have nearly given up hope of escape…until the night a stranger arrives at the tower.
Natural son of the High Wizard, Fee is bone-tired of war and of being his father’s pet interrogator. When he finds letters to his father offering magical experiments to assist the Damaslar war effort, Fee deserts to help them flee. He doesn’t expect to be greeted with a knife to the throat by a prickly but fascinating girl full of hidden pain and deep secrets.
The spells that trap Eyl are as layered and complex as her trust issues, and escape is only the first step. To find a refuge, Eyl and her companions must depend on each other as they cross a haunted forest and traverse a warzone while she and Fee grow from reluctant allies to something more.
But Fee’s father is not ready to let his secret magical weapons go without a fight, and Eyl can’t run from her past forever….
THE FLIGHT OF THE SPELLBOUND is a romantic fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Ladyhawke, Willow the Series, and Shannon Hale. It is the second in the Karneesia Chronicles, interconnected standalones set in the world of Karneesia
- GenresFantasy
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2025
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Claire Trella Hill
10 books99 followersClaire Trella Hill will read anything, but fantasy romance and gothic fiction are her favorites. When Claire isn't writing, she can be found with her nose glued to her library app, assisting with the last tricky pieces of a puzzle, swilling Dr. Pepper, collecting vintage romance covers, or cuddling with her cat.
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May 2, 2025Today is release day for The Flight of the Spellbound! Thanks to everyone who read an advanced copy, wrote a review, or told a friend! You can get TFOTSB anywhere you get books and borrow it on Libby and Hoopla! https://books2read.com/tfotsb
This is the second in the Karneesia Chronicles, but you don't have to have read book 1 --they stand alone. (You may get some fun insights though!)
If you like:
🦅 A girl who turns into a bird (LIKE LADYHAWKE!)
🌳Road trips through a spooky forest (LIKE THE HOBBIT!)
⚔️💧A fierce gal and her sad boi pal (LIKE WILLOW THE SERIES!)
💖Connected fantasy standalones about girls with magic (LIKE THE BOOKS OF BAYERN!)
You may love this!
Content warnings: children being used as magical experiments, abuse, war-related violence, mild body horror (turning into a bird)
Heat level: just kissing
This is the second in the Karneesia Chronicles, but you don't have to have read book 1 --they stand alone. (You may get some fun insights though!)
If you like:
🦅 A girl who turns into a bird (LIKE LADYHAWKE!)
🌳Road trips through a spooky forest (LIKE THE HOBBIT!)
⚔️💧A fierce gal and her sad boi pal (LIKE WILLOW THE SERIES!)
💖Connected fantasy standalones about girls with magic (LIKE THE BOOKS OF BAYERN!)
You may love this!
Content warnings: children being used as magical experiments, abuse, war-related violence, mild body horror (turning into a bird)
Heat level: just kissing
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May 22, 2025Claire Trella Hill's Karneesia Chronicles have a very precise flavour that I don't think I've seen anywhere else in the fantasy genre: they effortlessly straddle the gap between grimdark and cosy, or grimdark and noblebright, in the best possible way. THE FLIGHT OF THE SPELLBOUND begins with three part-fae teens imprisoned and experimented on by an increasingly senile sorcerer. Their situation seems hopeless - but soon, a fourth young man arrives to help them escape before his own father, the king's unscrupulous High Wizard, acquires them to fight his war. And they're off, pursued by a pair of guilt-ridden bounty hunters and desperate to understand and control their unusual magical abilities. Like the previous book in the series, it's a flight from doubt and darkness into faith and light, a play of light and shadow that, almost better than anything else I've read by other authors, evokes the bone-deep hopefulness of Tolkien (and I do not say this lightly). There's even a brilliant Creepy Forest.
Some more of the things I loved about this one...
- Snow White vibes!
- A really interesting use of faith - this is one of the few books in which a Romans 8:13 theme of "all things working together for good" doesn't feel like toxic positivity.
- the line about a high-level negotiation devolving into "a lot of very influential men having hysterics" CLAIRE
- the gentle, understated romance, which sets us up for a huge pair of Big Misunderstandings but psyche! turns out these characters are too smart and emotionally healthy to fall for that!
- did I mention the guilt-ridden bounty hunters? Chef's kiss.
Thoroughly enjoyed, as always!
Some more of the things I loved about this one...
- Snow White vibes!
- A really interesting use of faith - this is one of the few books in which a Romans 8:13 theme of "all things working together for good" doesn't feel like toxic positivity.
- the line about a high-level negotiation devolving into "a lot of very influential men having hysterics" CLAIRE
- the gentle, understated romance, which sets us up for a huge pair of Big Misunderstandings but psyche! turns out these characters are too smart and emotionally healthy to fall for that!
- did I mention the guilt-ridden bounty hunters? Chef's kiss.
Thoroughly enjoyed, as always!
March 25, 2025
I really enjoyed The Erlking's Daughters, so when Claire offered me an advance ARC of the sequel, I snapped it up pretty much immediately. I'm delighted to say that not only did The Flight of the Spellbound meet my expectations, it surpassed them in how much I enjoyed it.
Now, for those wondering, while The Flight of the Spellbound does connect to The Erlking's Daughters, I'd say it's more of a companion than a sequel. You could easily pick up The Flight of the Spellbound without having touched another of Hill's books, but if you have read The Erlking's Daughters, you'll find a few moments and references that will make you go "Oh! I know what that means!" I also felt that Spellbound was a little lighter than ; though it still deals with some heavy topics (including human trafficking, abuse, illegal and unethical magical experimentation, and the effects of infidelity), the nature of the story and the characters makes it a bit easier to read.
Unsurprisingly my favorite part of this book was the characters. Fee and Eyl, our main leads, are both wonderful; both are broken in their ways, but still so strong and determined and caring, blessed and cursed with powers that bring them pain and separate them from most others. We also have a host of excellent side characters, too many to list here — and, unfortunately, my favorites are a bit of a spoiler. And on the antagonists' side, we have an excellent blend of sympathetic figures (who had me rooting for a redemption arc) and eminently hate-able evil figures (who had me rooting for them to get stabbed).
Beyond just having good characters, Flight of the Spellbound features some excellent character dynamics. I loved the bonds between Eyl, Kai, and Imani, how they all cared so much about each other and sought to protect each other. (Kai, in particular, is such a sweetheart in how he looks out for the girls.) I enjoyed the way Eyl and Fee's relationship grew from their initial wariness to love and loyalty. I enjoyed the ways the characters played off each other — and I also liked that, so often, the characters just said "No" to being dramatic and angsty towards each other. There were so many points when a secret came out that, in the hands of another author, might have resulted in several chapters (or half a book) of coldness and distance and betrayed feelings (regardless of how reasonable it was to have kept the thing secret in the first place) . . . but not here. Everyone here has better things to do than be mad about not knowing things. It's great.
What else is there to look forward to? Seeing a new part of the world of Karneesia and getting a better look at the magic system was a lot of fun. This book also added another location to my "fantasy places I'd like to visit" list . . . though I can't say much about it because it's kind of a spoiler. And the story itself is exciting and kept me eagerly turning pages.
Now, for those wondering, while The Flight of the Spellbound does connect to The Erlking's Daughters, I'd say it's more of a companion than a sequel. You could easily pick up The Flight of the Spellbound without having touched another of Hill's books, but if you have read The Erlking's Daughters, you'll find a few moments and references that will make you go "Oh! I know what that means!" I also felt that Spellbound was a little lighter than ; though it still deals with some heavy topics (including human trafficking, abuse, illegal and unethical magical experimentation, and the effects of infidelity), the nature of the story and the characters makes it a bit easier to read.
Unsurprisingly my favorite part of this book was the characters. Fee and Eyl, our main leads, are both wonderful; both are broken in their ways, but still so strong and determined and caring, blessed and cursed with powers that bring them pain and separate them from most others. We also have a host of excellent side characters, too many to list here — and, unfortunately, my favorites are a bit of a spoiler. And on the antagonists' side, we have an excellent blend of sympathetic figures (who had me rooting for a redemption arc) and eminently hate-able evil figures (who had me rooting for them to get stabbed).
Beyond just having good characters, Flight of the Spellbound features some excellent character dynamics. I loved the bonds between Eyl, Kai, and Imani, how they all cared so much about each other and sought to protect each other. (Kai, in particular, is such a sweetheart in how he looks out for the girls.) I enjoyed the way Eyl and Fee's relationship grew from their initial wariness to love and loyalty. I enjoyed the ways the characters played off each other — and I also liked that, so often, the characters just said "No" to being dramatic and angsty towards each other. There were so many points when a secret came out that, in the hands of another author, might have resulted in several chapters (or half a book) of coldness and distance and betrayed feelings (regardless of how reasonable it was to have kept the thing secret in the first place) . . . but not here. Everyone here has better things to do than be mad about not knowing things. It's great.
What else is there to look forward to? Seeing a new part of the world of Karneesia and getting a better look at the magic system was a lot of fun. This book also added another location to my "fantasy places I'd like to visit" list . . . though I can't say much about it because it's kind of a spoiler. And the story itself is exciting and kept me eagerly turning pages.
May 16, 2025
it definitely had potential to be a good book. while I enjoyed most of it, there were some missing commas, words, etc. Which really annoyed me. And it started slow. Nearing the end, the plotting dragged on and on even though the chapters were short.
Idk if I would recommend it. but if you do, enjoy! <3
Happy Reading!
Idk if I would recommend it. but if you do, enjoy! <3
Happy Reading!
May 16, 2025
Delightful. Fast-paced. Very imaginative.
12/10 ⭐
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
12/10 ⭐
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
April 16, 2025
I’ll read anything Claire writes at this point. Her writing is beautiful and hearkens to the days of Tolkien and Lewis. I love that she incorporates faith in her fantasy too! As always, the main characters were amazing, but I was 100% here for the side characters as well. Corbett and Rilen ended up being two of my favorites. Can’t wait for the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 9, 2025
\\\\\ 3.5 \\\\\
The Flight of the Spellbound is the second book in The Karneesia Chronicles, but is a complete standalone set in the same world.
The first thing that comes to mind for me when I think of Claire Trella Hill’s books is how wonderful her characters are. She always creates a whole cast of characters that you truly get to know on such a deep level, and you find yourself truly caring about them. This story was no exception.
Eyl was a fantastic lead for this story. She went through so much pain and still was caring about other's well-being before her own. The found family with Kai and Imani was one of the highlights for me. I’m glad they had each other. While what they went through was pretty heavy, the way it was broached by the author was very considerate, and I liked how we always focused on their relationship through it all, so it still left me with a good feeling while reading.
Fee, our other lead, was also quite wonderful. To me, he was a perfect fit for this group, going through similar things on his own and deciding to finally act and do what he thought was right. Such a compassionate character, and it was nice to see him bring comfort to Eyl instantly. All in all, it made for the perfect cast to really get this story going!
Even Corbett and Rilen, which we sometimes got POV from, also grew pretty fast on me and I ended up really looking forward to their chapters even before knowing more of their stories. They had a great arc too, which was nice.
The story had its plot twists, and it was really intriguing till the end as the secrets of our characters were revealed little by little. There was quite a bit of action, but also beautiful moments that really did let you see the connections and loyalty between all of these characters grow. The bad people are really bad and you can hate them all you want without remorse!
I’d say that the two major things I had more trouble with, and please know that this is a personal preference, were that first off, while I do enjoy some Christian read from time to time, in this one the whole faith part was not doing it for me. It felt a bit forced there and often simply pulled me out of the story. Probably because this is fantasy, and it somehow always brought me back to reality, and I hated that. When I read fantasy I want to immerse myself in this world completely, I don’t mind getting a bit a faith, but I prefer it to be vague, it was too much of a clash for me. The other thing was that while the story was quite interesting, the overall pace was a bit off at time for me. It started well, but I’d say the middle of the story was quite slow, and I just wasn’t as invested as the rest of it, maybe my mood was off or something.
In the end, I still enjoyed this one, and I loved discovering more about Karneesia and its magic that’s for sure! I hope more people find Claire Trella Hill’s books because she is such an amazing writer!
Thanks to BookSirens and Claire Trella Hill for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
The Flight of the Spellbound is the second book in The Karneesia Chronicles, but is a complete standalone set in the same world.
The first thing that comes to mind for me when I think of Claire Trella Hill’s books is how wonderful her characters are. She always creates a whole cast of characters that you truly get to know on such a deep level, and you find yourself truly caring about them. This story was no exception.
Eyl was a fantastic lead for this story. She went through so much pain and still was caring about other's well-being before her own. The found family with Kai and Imani was one of the highlights for me. I’m glad they had each other. While what they went through was pretty heavy, the way it was broached by the author was very considerate, and I liked how we always focused on their relationship through it all, so it still left me with a good feeling while reading.
Fee, our other lead, was also quite wonderful. To me, he was a perfect fit for this group, going through similar things on his own and deciding to finally act and do what he thought was right. Such a compassionate character, and it was nice to see him bring comfort to Eyl instantly. All in all, it made for the perfect cast to really get this story going!
Even Corbett and Rilen, which we sometimes got POV from, also grew pretty fast on me and I ended up really looking forward to their chapters even before knowing more of their stories. They had a great arc too, which was nice.
The story had its plot twists, and it was really intriguing till the end as the secrets of our characters were revealed little by little. There was quite a bit of action, but also beautiful moments that really did let you see the connections and loyalty between all of these characters grow. The bad people are really bad and you can hate them all you want without remorse!
I’d say that the two major things I had more trouble with, and please know that this is a personal preference, were that first off, while I do enjoy some Christian read from time to time, in this one the whole faith part was not doing it for me. It felt a bit forced there and often simply pulled me out of the story. Probably because this is fantasy, and it somehow always brought me back to reality, and I hated that. When I read fantasy I want to immerse myself in this world completely, I don’t mind getting a bit a faith, but I prefer it to be vague, it was too much of a clash for me. The other thing was that while the story was quite interesting, the overall pace was a bit off at time for me. It started well, but I’d say the middle of the story was quite slow, and I just wasn’t as invested as the rest of it, maybe my mood was off or something.
In the end, I still enjoyed this one, and I loved discovering more about Karneesia and its magic that’s for sure! I hope more people find Claire Trella Hill’s books because she is such an amazing writer!
Thanks to BookSirens and Claire Trella Hill for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Claire Trella Hill, but I think this is my favorite. It blew my admittedly high expectations out of the water!
I really felt for the characters. They had to deal with some harsh and serious things, but I loved seeing their resiliency. I loved their friendship and strong bond. And I loved how they looked out for each other.
I loved the faith element. Eyl’s relationship with God had its ups and downs, but I loved how real it felt. I think we’ve all been mad and questioned why certain things happen, so it was refreshing to see Eyl’s struggles and ultimately her growth. I think that was my favorite part of the book.
While this book deals with some serious topics, it was all handled with grace. I appreciated the light that was shined on these topics.
My emotions ran the gamut throughout this book. Happy, sad, angry, jubilant, anxious, excited. I love when a book can make me feel so many things.
This book is the second in the series, but it completely stands alone. If you’re a fan of this genre, don’t hesitate to pick up a copy. You’ll love it! It’s going on my favorites shelf. I highly recommend it and can’t wait for Hill’s next release!
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
I really felt for the characters. They had to deal with some harsh and serious things, but I loved seeing their resiliency. I loved their friendship and strong bond. And I loved how they looked out for each other.
I loved the faith element. Eyl’s relationship with God had its ups and downs, but I loved how real it felt. I think we’ve all been mad and questioned why certain things happen, so it was refreshing to see Eyl’s struggles and ultimately her growth. I think that was my favorite part of the book.
While this book deals with some serious topics, it was all handled with grace. I appreciated the light that was shined on these topics.
My emotions ran the gamut throughout this book. Happy, sad, angry, jubilant, anxious, excited. I love when a book can make me feel so many things.
This book is the second in the series, but it completely stands alone. If you’re a fan of this genre, don’t hesitate to pick up a copy. You’ll love it! It’s going on my favorites shelf. I highly recommend it and can’t wait for Hill’s next release!
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
May 2, 2025
Another solid story from Claire Trella Hill! Between Eyl's painful enchantment and realistic struggles with clinging to faith despite her circumstances, and Fee's desire to do the right thing and no longer be used as a tool whatever it cost him, they both made for intriguing protagonists, and the side of magical rules-maneuvering and political drama rounded things out nicely. (On the subject of faith, as a rule I have a hard time accepting when a fantasy world uses our Bible stories without explanation, but direct references beyond simply talking with or about God were fairly minimal here iirc so it worked overall for me.)
As far as the less major characters, Corbett and Rilen were my favorites (though I want to explore far more about what's going on with Marlaeda and Ciurin), and I wasn't expecting the part they ended up playing but I loved the arc there. Some clear nods to a particular familiar fairy tale I also wasn't expecting, and the cameo at the end was also fun!
thanks to BookSirens for the free eARC! All thoughts are purely my own.
As far as the less major characters, Corbett and Rilen were my favorites (though I want to explore far more about what's going on with Marlaeda and Ciurin), and I wasn't expecting the part they ended up playing but I loved the arc there. Some clear nods to a particular familiar fairy tale I also wasn't expecting, and the cameo at the end was also fun!
thanks to BookSirens for the free eARC! All thoughts are purely my own.
May 12, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Gosh, what a great story! I love the subversion of the "I can't believe you didn't tell me this secret that would have put you in incredible danger" that's a recurring theme throughout the book; I know humans can be irrational creatures but wow there's something refreshing about a story that still has high stakes but without it coming from characters being petty with each other or deliberately misunderstanding each other. TBH it's only my unreasonably high ranking system that kept the book from getting five stars - I reserve a "perfect" ranking for books that I cry most of the way through or that substantially change my worldview in some way.
All in all this was another lovely piece of worldbuilding and I eagerly await the next chapter!
Gosh, what a great story! I love the subversion of the "I can't believe you didn't tell me this secret that would have put you in incredible danger" that's a recurring theme throughout the book; I know humans can be irrational creatures but wow there's something refreshing about a story that still has high stakes but without it coming from characters being petty with each other or deliberately misunderstanding each other. TBH it's only my unreasonably high ranking system that kept the book from getting five stars - I reserve a "perfect" ranking for books that I cry most of the way through or that substantially change my worldview in some way.
All in all this was another lovely piece of worldbuilding and I eagerly await the next chapter!
June 24, 2025
FANTASTIC STORY!
This book is fantastic!!! From the epic heroes’ journey to the quiet moments to the faith and the magic — it really deserves more than five stars! I actually cried while reading!
This book is fantastic!!! From the epic heroes’ journey to the quiet moments to the faith and the magic — it really deserves more than five stars! I actually cried while reading!
April 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this book - second in The Karneesia Chronicles, but not a direct sequel to The Erlking's Daughters and the other novellas set in this world, so it can be read as a standalone.
I liked exploring a new part of Karneesia, and learning more about the magic - especially the causes of the disappearance of magic from the world.
I loved the characters - both the leads and the side characters are fully fleshed out, and their relationships well drawn and developed; the romance is very sweet, and I particularly loved the found family and loyalty between the characters.
The book touches some heavy topics (human trafficking and experimentation, child abuse, war), but treats them with sensitivity and consideration.
One thing that was a tiny bit jarring to me: Eyl, the main female character, often speaks to God in her head and out loud, as a coping mechanism for all the trauma and abuse she has had to endure. As described, it sounded pretty much like the Christian God (at least I got that impression), which to me felt very out of place in an otherwise fantasy setting, with its own geography, history, and so on. It's only my feeling though, and it didn't take away too much from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Definitely recommended!
I received an ARC and I'm leaving an honest review. My opinions are my own.
I liked exploring a new part of Karneesia, and learning more about the magic - especially the causes of the disappearance of magic from the world.
I loved the characters - both the leads and the side characters are fully fleshed out, and their relationships well drawn and developed; the romance is very sweet, and I particularly loved the found family and loyalty between the characters.
The book touches some heavy topics (human trafficking and experimentation, child abuse, war), but treats them with sensitivity and consideration.
One thing that was a tiny bit jarring to me: Eyl, the main female character, often speaks to God in her head and out loud, as a coping mechanism for all the trauma and abuse she has had to endure. As described, it sounded pretty much like the Christian God (at least I got that impression), which to me felt very out of place in an otherwise fantasy setting, with its own geography, history, and so on. It's only my feeling though, and it didn't take away too much from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Definitely recommended!
I received an ARC and I'm leaving an honest review. My opinions are my own.
May 5, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is book 2 in The Karneesia Chronicles but can be read as a standalone. The Flight of the Spellbound is told through multi pov and is a captivating no spice fantasy.
CW: abuse, kidnapping, loss, PG 13 violence, and war
Spice: sweet kisses
From the start, I was drawn into the story and the world that the author created. I loved that Eyl had a fighting spirit, despite the doubts she had and everything that she had experienced. Likewise, Fee carried burdens yet he was determined to find his freedom and wanted to do the right thing, including helping Eyl. Though different circumstances, what they lived through allowed them to form a fast and deep connection. I loved how they cared for and protected each other. Aside from their bond, I liked the found family that Eyl had and how they welcomed Fee into their group. I also enjoyed the faith elements. I think a lot of readers, including those who don't believe in anything, will be able to feel for Eyl, and maybe even relate, as she questions her purpose and what she's faced. As for the conflict, there was never a dull moment and I kept quickly turning the pages to find out what would happen. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and think that those who like fantasy with darker themes but spice free will enjoy this one too.
CW: abuse, kidnapping, loss, PG 13 violence, and war
Spice: sweet kisses
From the start, I was drawn into the story and the world that the author created. I loved that Eyl had a fighting spirit, despite the doubts she had and everything that she had experienced. Likewise, Fee carried burdens yet he was determined to find his freedom and wanted to do the right thing, including helping Eyl. Though different circumstances, what they lived through allowed them to form a fast and deep connection. I loved how they cared for and protected each other. Aside from their bond, I liked the found family that Eyl had and how they welcomed Fee into their group. I also enjoyed the faith elements. I think a lot of readers, including those who don't believe in anything, will be able to feel for Eyl, and maybe even relate, as she questions her purpose and what she's faced. As for the conflict, there was never a dull moment and I kept quickly turning the pages to find out what would happen. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and think that those who like fantasy with darker themes but spice free will enjoy this one too.
April 19, 2025
This book was fantastic!
The themes and message of the book were so powerful. I loved how real and raw Eyl's relationship with God was. How she questioned him when she couldn't see what he was doing. How she got angry with him. It made the lessons she learned really hit home. The other characters were also amazing! Fee was such a perfect compliment to Eyl, and I couldn't help routing for them from the start! I love how understanding they were of each other and how they didn't start unnecessary drama. Kai and Imani are also great characters, but i don't feel like I can adequately express my love for them without spoilers. I love their little trauma bonded family.
This book dealt with some of hard topics, but somehow it wasn't as dark as The Erlking's Daughters. I do think you could read this book on it's own, but there's a fun cameo that you will miss out on the full impact of if you don't read book 1 first.
I really enjoyed this book, and I'd highly recommend it!
The themes and message of the book were so powerful. I loved how real and raw Eyl's relationship with God was. How she questioned him when she couldn't see what he was doing. How she got angry with him. It made the lessons she learned really hit home. The other characters were also amazing! Fee was such a perfect compliment to Eyl, and I couldn't help routing for them from the start! I love how understanding they were of each other and how they didn't start unnecessary drama. Kai and Imani are also great characters, but i don't feel like I can adequately express my love for them without spoilers. I love their little trauma bonded family.
This book dealt with some of hard topics, but somehow it wasn't as dark as The Erlking's Daughters. I do think you could read this book on it's own, but there's a fun cameo that you will miss out on the full impact of if you don't read book 1 first.
I really enjoyed this book, and I'd highly recommend it!
May 9, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. This is book two in the series, but it's completely independent of book one and can definitely be read as a stand-alone. It had a full back story without getting in the way of future events. With great pacing and a really interesting world, this was a fast, fun read. The characters were great, with a bit of a twist at the end. There was an interesting and novel take on the magic system, and the book had a satisfying end, though I'm pretty sure there will be a book three. Like this one, probably independent of previous characters and a stand alone but connected to this world, as a major part of the plot was left unresolved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, especially for those who prefer their fantasy and romance without spice and adult language. It is very well written in an enjoyable style. Suitable for younger teens and older adults alike.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, especially for those who prefer their fantasy and romance without spice and adult language. It is very well written in an enjoyable style. Suitable for younger teens and older adults alike.
May 27, 2025
Hill carefully structures a compelling debut that is not only interesting, but also intriguing. The wizards' experiment is bound by spells, denying them the illusion of freedom. They are to fight a war in which they should not be involved at such a young age. Tied to the wizard's magic, there is no way out until Fee appears. Hope and freedom became familiar.
The Flight of the Spellbound demonstrates the power of hope through Eyl.In this novel, Hill uses intriguing details to weave the story together. Hill's writing brought the characters to life for me. Their distinct personalities and demeanor complemented the book.
The plot unraveled at the appropriate pace, not too quickly nor too slowly. Most importantly, how they dealt with self-doubt, trauma, and personal experiences connects the reader to the book.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy both fiction and romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Flight of the Spellbound demonstrates the power of hope through Eyl.In this novel, Hill uses intriguing details to weave the story together. Hill's writing brought the characters to life for me. Their distinct personalities and demeanor complemented the book.
The plot unraveled at the appropriate pace, not too quickly nor too slowly. Most importantly, how they dealt with self-doubt, trauma, and personal experiences connects the reader to the book.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy both fiction and romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 28, 2025
Flight of the Spellbound sees Eyl, Fee, Kai and Imani on the run from their enemies. The book is not a sequel to the first book in the Karneesia Chronicles (The Erlking's Daughters) but stands alone in the same world and here and there touches the other novel and short stories/novellas set in this world. It expands on what readers have already seen of the world of Karneesia and further develops aspects such a the system of magic. Although a thrilling and enthralling story, the best element is the depth of the bonds between the characters and the way they develop and grow through out the book. A touch less dark and suspenseful than The Erlking's Daughter (though still touching on some fairly heavy topics, albeit in a sensitive way) this book is an exicting and enthralling read.
I received an ARC and leave an honest review.
I received an ARC and leave an honest review.
May 6, 2025
Found family, height difference couples, wholesome (but realistic) brotherhood, a wonderfully motley ensemble cast, sign language, and visceral details that ground you in a brutal, painfully real world—
Is it any wonder I like this book?
There are a few sections where the tension Hill builds so beautifully dissipates a bit too easily for my taste, and at least one aspect of her worldbuilding leaves me rather perplexed. But overall, Hill is a skilled writer and her book has a good heart.
I look forward to seeing her continue to grow as a writer and bring us even more serious and snarky stories.
Full review here: https://bookmarkedone.home.blog/2025/....
Thank you to BookSirens for providing a complimentary advanced review copy of this title!
Is it any wonder I like this book?
There are a few sections where the tension Hill builds so beautifully dissipates a bit too easily for my taste, and at least one aspect of her worldbuilding leaves me rather perplexed. But overall, Hill is a skilled writer and her book has a good heart.
I look forward to seeing her continue to grow as a writer and bring us even more serious and snarky stories.
Full review here: https://bookmarkedone.home.blog/2025/....
Thank you to BookSirens for providing a complimentary advanced review copy of this title!
March 31, 2025
This was a fun story! I loved the characters; there is so much sibling loved and loyalty in this one! Eyl is feisty, strong, and focused on getting back to her life. Fee is sweet-tempered and kind, but strong in his own right. Kai and Imani are just the best representation of younger siblings. I loved the backstory for Fee especially. The romance was sweet and mild, but lovely. Definitely recommend this one!
Rated PG-13 for mildly adult themes
--clean romance, no explicit scenes
--little to no language
--mild to moderate violence, including death
--mild to moderate physical and verbal abuse (mild depictions, after-the-fact depictions)
I received this eARC from the author without expectation of review. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
Rated PG-13 for mildly adult themes
--clean romance, no explicit scenes
--little to no language
--mild to moderate violence, including death
--mild to moderate physical and verbal abuse (mild depictions, after-the-fact depictions)
I received this eARC from the author without expectation of review. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
May 26, 2025
Very enjoyable
A sorcerer has trapped Eyl and two other children in a tower, until a fourth arrives to help them escape. All in all, an interesting installment in the Karneesia Chronicles series with sweet romance and themes of righting wrongs. The plot focused a lot more on mental struggles/enemies than external threats, which was fine, but I tend to prefer a bit more action. I was very intrigued by the very end of the book - I am excited to see what happens next in the world of Karneesia!
A sorcerer has trapped Eyl and two other children in a tower, until a fourth arrives to help them escape. All in all, an interesting installment in the Karneesia Chronicles series with sweet romance and themes of righting wrongs. The plot focused a lot more on mental struggles/enemies than external threats, which was fine, but I tend to prefer a bit more action. I was very intrigued by the very end of the book - I am excited to see what happens next in the world of Karneesia!
May 2, 2025
This book deserves more than 5 stars. It was brilliant and addictive.
The writing pulled me in from Chapter 1, and I just couldn't keep it down.
The characters are great and I love how they grow together and protect each other.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The writing pulled me in from Chapter 1, and I just couldn't keep it down.
The characters are great and I love how they grow together and protect each other.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 5, 2025
Great story about unlikely allies who become more. Fee and Eyl are great main characters and I love they are each flawed but help each other be better.
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