Magicbound

by C. C. S. Jones

“To save Aetherealm, you must embrace the evil you fear most. For often, the greatest heroes are those brave enough to wear the mask of a villain.”

In Aetherealm, where magic is woven into the very fabric of the world, the fragile balance between light and dark teeters on the edge of ruin. Rooted in ancient powers, the realm’s equilibrium is delicate, and Lusa, hunted as a mage in a land where magic is now forbidden, is caught between two fates. Her powers are both her greatest weapon and her deadliest curse. Bound to a bounty hunter whose loyalty is as elusive as his past, Lusa must make a choice that will either save the realm—or plunge it into eternal darkness.

As a dark sorcerer rises, ruthlessly extinguishing all who stand in his way, he sets his sights on shattering the light and bending all magic to his will. With the mages of Aetherealm hunted and slain, Lusa is the last one left to confront him. Her Dark Magics, sentient and insidious, pull at her like a puppet master, tempting her with promises of power through terrible acts. To defeat the sorcerer, she may have to surrender to the very evil she’s spent her life resisting. But embracing that power will not only devour her soul, it will forge her into a weapon of destruction, capable of obliterating everything—and everyone—she’s come to love.

356 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2024

About the author

C.C.S. Jones is an award-winning fantasy author who writes bold, emotionally charged stories about fierce women standing at the edge of transformation. Her breakout novel Magicbound launched The Last Mage series with a five-star seal from Readers’ Favorite, and her latest release, Daughter of Ash and Myth, kicks off The Mythic Saga—a YA fantasy steeped in mythology, monsters, and girl-powered grit.
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With a background in education and a passion for character-driven storytelling, she blends high-stakes plots with gritty emotion and vivid, cinematic storytelling to portray strong girls in all their complexity and truth.

When she’s not writing or workshopping with fellow writers at DFW Writers’ Workshop, she’s performing on stage, chasing storms with her son, or savoring quiet moments with her soulmate, their three incredible kids, and sweet baby grandson. A devoted coffee drinker, she’s forever inspired by the power of stories to fight, heal, and shine.

Reviews

[Lisa]

DNF @ 41%

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a great time reading this and I felt connected to the characters and the story.
Filled with vivid imagery and intricate world building I was easily able to insert myself into the setting.
I liked Lusa, Kaden, and I’ve even got a soft spot for Glon.

[Jonathan D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. It gives a fresh take on magical abilities with a unique focus on the darker side. I look forward to reading the further adventures of Lusa and seeing what form her dark Magics will be taking.

[Aiden Bock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magicbound is an incredible debut in dark fantasy, with a magical system that’s fresh and exciting and ALIVE. The story follows 16-year-old Lusa, a mage with dangerous and hungry Dark Magic. To save the Aetherealm, she has to embrace her dark side, uncover long-hidden secrets, and face enemies who want her gone—all while trying not to be consumed by her own powers! Lusa is a strong, relatable main character, and she handles her challenges just like you’d expect any teenager in a fantasy world to do. And then there’s the mysterious Kaden, her reluctant and unlikely ally, who just so happens to be a bounty hunter. 😉 The book is fast-paced, full of action, and super easy to get into! C.C.S. Jones does an amazing job with the writing—it’s so vivid, it feels like you’re watching everything unfold like a movie in your mind! I won’t spoil anything, but the story is full of twists, and the ending will leave you wanting more! If you love dark fantasy with great characters and lots of excitement, you’ll love Magicbound!

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magicbound throws you headfirst into chaos, high-stakes quests, deadly battles, and a world crawling with magical creatures that are as fascinating as they are terrifying. The plot is dense, full of danger, and nonstop adventure. The FMC is morally grey and constantly battling the light and dark magic within herself, which makes every choice feel heavy. The MMC is a mysterious bounty hunter with just enough intrigue to keep you guessing. We barely scratch the surface of his story in this book but I’m hoping book two spills his secrets. There is a romance sub plot with light yearning and no spice. If you’re craving a plot-driven fantasy packed with creatures, chaos, and heart wrenching battles, this book delivers.

[Maze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for giving me an eARC of your novel. I am so grateful to have read this book because it is so amazing.

Magicbound is an epic dark fantasy. In Magicbound, Lusa, a rogue mage with dangerous Dark Magics, is forced into an unlikely alliance with a relentless bounty hunter. She’s got to embrace her dark side to become the hero Aetherealm needs, facing deadly enemies, ancient secrets, and powers that threaten to consume her from within. It's fast-paced, full of action and adventure. It is dual pov, mostly from Lusa but with some from the bounty hunter Kaden.

I love the imagery in the writing. The scenes are painted in my mind so beautifully. I also love Lusa's characterisation, her fight with her dark magic, and just everything that happened to do with Lusa's magic. I also enjoy how, despite being the one tasked with the mission, she still has moments where she is more of a child, which she is because she's only 16.

The way the plot unfolded was magical and the climax of the story?? Wow, just wow. It was so good and had me on the edge of my seat tensed in anticipation for what came next. It just kept building up, the tension and anticipation not letting me put it down. And that ending!!!! Omg, I'm still not over it.

This book honestly took me on an emotional roller-coaster, all of the ups and downs, the way everything was explored and unpacked was amazing. I just don't have enough words for how amazing this book is. I'm also still processing everything that happened because it was so profound, and it left me speechless.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is the richness of the characters. I cared about Lisa from the first few pages. Her internal struggle - literal good vs evil - fuels the action and major decisions in the book. The writing is crisp, the story moves at a brisk pace, and the world building is excellent. I will quickly make room for the next book in the series on my reading list!

[Ingrid Spera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was... so much. I don't even know how to begin. You have a very angry spitfire called Lusa who battles internal demons (almost literally) and who has significant memory gaps who somehow gets aligned with a very secretive yet charming bounty hunter who plans on turning her in for the reward... they end up saving the world. Without giving too much away, this book is nonstop adventure and action with magical creatures and spells everywhere. I wasn't expecting the book to have so much heart (there were big fats tears at one point-no joke) and it sucked me in straight through the end. Absolutely loved it.

[Stephen Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for fans of High Fantasy and Romantasy! The story follows Lusa, a Dark Mage who’s lost her memories and is thrust into a horrific war while searching for the truth about her past. I was especially drawn to the unique Light and Dark magic system and Lusa’s haunting, almost seductive dance with madness as she balances power with purpose.

Really well done, CCS Jones!