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Bound by Fury
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Expected 18 Aug 26Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 01:43:23
25 copies available
U.S. only
Legendborn meets The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in this captivating contemporary fantasy debut about a teen whose newly awakened magical abilities send her searching for answers at an elite boarding school that has a mysterious connection to her family’s history.
Harper grew up loving her grandma Gigi’s stories about pretty brown girls with magic from the stars, but they were just that—stories…until Gigi’s sudden death awakens a dangerous power building beneath Harper’s skin. Desperate for answers, Harper finds herself drawn to an elite boarding school in the Appalachian Mountains.
A school that Gigi herself attended, and one rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of witches past.
Harper arrives at Black Mountain Academy determined to learn about her burgeoning power, even if that means dealing with Kai, her grumpy ex-best friend now hellbent on getting her to leave campus, and his cousin, Lucas, who won’t let her forget the almost-kiss from last summer. But Black Mountain Academy was built on secrets, and the deeper Harper digs, the more
sinister rot she finds lurking beneath.
When Harper unearths a chilling local legend about the gruesome death of twelve witches on campus, she feels an uncanny connection to the women. But someone doesn’t want her exposing the school’s dark past, and when it becomes clear they’ll kill to stop her, Harper has to decide whether to leave her history behind or risk everything for the truth of her own identity.
Harper grew up loving her grandma Gigi’s stories about pretty brown girls with magic from the stars, but they were just that—stories…until Gigi’s sudden death awakens a dangerous power building beneath Harper’s skin. Desperate for answers, Harper finds herself drawn to an elite boarding school in the Appalachian Mountains.
A school that Gigi herself attended, and one rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of witches past.
Harper arrives at Black Mountain Academy determined to learn about her burgeoning power, even if that means dealing with Kai, her grumpy ex-best friend now hellbent on getting her to leave campus, and his cousin, Lucas, who won’t let her forget the almost-kiss from last summer. But Black Mountain Academy was built on secrets, and the deeper Harper digs, the more
sinister rot she finds lurking beneath.
When Harper unearths a chilling local legend about the gruesome death of twelve witches on campus, she feels an uncanny connection to the women. But someone doesn’t want her exposing the school’s dark past, and when it becomes clear they’ll kill to stop her, Harper has to decide whether to leave her history behind or risk everything for the truth of her own identity.
496 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 18, 2026
About the author
Noelle Monét
1 book74 followersNoelle Monét’s angst was cultivated in central North Carolina where the air is as thick as the gravy. A 2025 Lambda Literary Fellow, registered nurse, author, and business owner, she can often be found covered in the residue left behind by sticky toddler fingers, buried beneath her ever-growing physical TBR pile, or standing at the edge of the sea, overwhelmed by the vastness of the world.
She lives on the coast with her partner, three kids, and two cats, Eloise and Greg.
Noelle’s debut novel BOUND BY FURY comes out August 18th, 2026 with McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster.
She lives on the coast with her partner, three kids, and two cats, Eloise and Greg.
Noelle’s debut novel BOUND BY FURY comes out August 18th, 2026 with McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 31, 2025
I knew from the very first draft this was gonna take the YA fantasy space by storm. You do not want to miss this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Current rating: ~4.25 stars!
Stayed up pretty late last night to finish this, so hopefully my thoughts will be coherent here!
I was already hooked after reading the first chapter; the Appalachian Mountains setting, intriguing characters, and mysterious magic all piqued my interest. The writing was engaging, and I loved following Harper as she navigated Black Mountain Academy, met new friends, and dealt with impending danger and her new powers. The worldbuilding was fascinating, and as more and more got revealed, I got even more excited for this series. I think there's a lot of potential here, and any bumps will be improved on in the future.
There was a bit of info-dumping through monologues, which some may not like, but ultimately, I think that might have been the best way to deliver the information and build on what the readers have learned in the flashback/past chapters.
I only had a few other issues with this book, like some of the pop culture references feeling shoved in, and the over-description of things like outfits, which could sometimes feel out of place. I think it did work at times, with the Halloween scene coming to mind. The romance wasn't as compelling as I would have liked (I spent most of the book being annoyed/suspicious of the love interests). Although I could already tell who was meant to be endgame from the start, the author did a good job still making me question it by throwing in confusion, betrayals, and a relatively balanced amount of scenes with both boys.
Overall, I had a great time with this book! While reading, the scenes were vividly playing out in my head, and the last chapters felt very TV show season finale coded, if that makes sense. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!
Stayed up pretty late last night to finish this, so hopefully my thoughts will be coherent here!
I was already hooked after reading the first chapter; the Appalachian Mountains setting, intriguing characters, and mysterious magic all piqued my interest. The writing was engaging, and I loved following Harper as she navigated Black Mountain Academy, met new friends, and dealt with impending danger and her new powers. The worldbuilding was fascinating, and as more and more got revealed, I got even more excited for this series. I think there's a lot of potential here, and any bumps will be improved on in the future.
There was a bit of info-dumping through monologues, which some may not like, but ultimately, I think that might have been the best way to deliver the information and build on what the readers have learned in the flashback/past chapters.
I only had a few other issues with this book, like some of the pop culture references feeling shoved in, and the over-description of things like outfits, which could sometimes feel out of place. I think it did work at times, with the Halloween scene coming to mind. The romance wasn't as compelling as I would have liked (I spent most of the book being annoyed/suspicious of the love interests). Although I could already tell who was meant to be endgame from the start, the author did a good job still making me question it by throwing in confusion, betrayals, and a relatively balanced amount of scenes with both boys.
Overall, I had a great time with this book! While reading, the scenes were vividly playing out in my head, and the last chapters felt very TV show season finale coded, if that makes sense. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!
August 6, 2025
Dark academia set in Appalachia, paranormal activity, a love triangle between three childhood best friends, and a SPLENDIDLY original magic system… Need I say more?
October 3, 2025
Review TK because spoilers but SO GOOD
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Netgalley and the distributor, for an eARC of this book.
2.5 stars, rounded down to 2.
This was a difficult rating as BOUND BY FURY is a book I had a particularly strong interest in. The persistent marketing, the unexplored Appalachian setting, and the Legendborn comp should’ve made for a powerful read. Unfortunately, I’m left with a disjointed narrative and an uninspired magic system, both bogged down by superfluous prose.
THE GOOD
Harper is, initially, an unabashed MC that I enjoyed reading. With a penchant for art that translated into gorgeous descriptions of her surroundings, there was a certain irreplicable quality in her narrative that lent itself towards an engaging read. In the midst of her grandmother Gigi’s funeral, there’s more in these pages than just grief. There’s untended longing and unanswered regret, the bones of what-almost-was supporting strong fears of what-never-will-be.
Alongside this, Black Mountain Academy (further abbreviated BMA) is a deliciously horrible setting and Monet manages to capture the ever-present dread of The South™ at night. Whistling wind that sounds too much like whispers, dried blood on trees from broken hands, and the heavy weight of Christian eyes. This is the full extent of the inspiration in the story, which leads me to…
THE BAD
Starting wide and getting narrower with each paragraph, I’ll start with how distracting the prose turns during key moments in this book. There’s a plethora of moments where tension and action are disrupted by how long-winded the writing is, serving as a distraction instead of an emphasis. If a horror scene isn’t dragged down by the weight of metaphor, an action scene is dragged down by meticulously spelling out every movement. Sometimes we just have to get to the point.
And as an offshoot to this specific point, there’s unacceptably long periods of exposition and, near the end, monologuing to fill in blanks that were left by previous mysteries. The most egregious example comes from the primary antagonist where relays his cult plans in great detail. Information that no well-written villain should even be telling the main character, written only so that we, the reader, can have a clue what's going on. Had the prose been trimmed earlier in the book, I’m sure all of this information could’ve been properly placed instead of practically dropped all at once.
As seems to be a recurring disappointment in YA fantasy involving witches, I was not enthralled by the magic system. What makes a witch, one must ask. Is it the specific magic? Is it culture and tradition? Is it setting and environment? In this story, witchcraft manifests as a semblance of magic involving zodiac signs where, based on your date of birth, they inherit one of twelve different abilities such as being a medium or mind-control. Besides the fact that we only see one ability in action (Harper is a psychic-medium, and barely utilized at that), I do not consider this inspired witchcraft, which is a shame because a side character, Daisy, actively engages in inspired witchcraft such as tarot readings and using an Ouija board. If asked for a book with witches doing witchcraft, I would not recommend this one in that regard.
Moving even narrower, I had no real interest in any of the characters 50% through the book. Though I understand this book deals with the unstifled rage of Black girls (especially filtered through a teenage lens!), Harper becomes a truly insufferable character at a certain point. So much so that reading how she views and interacts through situations became unfun. Kai and Lucas didn’t have too much characterization, especially as most of the book deals with Harper avoiding them due to previous bad history (and then them speaking in vague sentences to keep that history a mystery). Sam was truly a nothing character. Daisy and Missy, however, were the highlights of the side cast, both having the most interesting arcs and strong throughlines to the end of the story.
Lastly, I’m admittedly exhausted of “Black” books being a Black FMC in a white setting thirsting after two white boys. The only other Black characters in this story are Harper’s relatives (sparse) or Fiona (missing student).
This is my (mostly) spoiler-free review. If I find the energy, I might come back and detail more of my grievances, but right now I’ll park BOUND BY FURY at a 2-star rating. Strong opener and well-done horror atmosphere that fizzles at the end.
7/21/2026 edit: According to a clarifying post by the author (who I assume has read this review), I'm supposed to read Lucas as non-white despite his description being "sun-darkened skin" and "icy-blue eyes." Allegedly the "drop of blood in the snow" metaphor is supposed to support this, despite me reading that as him being different by virtue of adoption (and thus othered). Author claims this is supposed to be a critique of the ambiguous brown love interest that white writers perpetuate, but considering how vastly unclear this is in the narrative, this also just becomes perpetuation, especially when Kai is clearly the favored one. And no, I won't be accepting "wait for the next book!" as an answer. Each book stands on their own merit, especially when the sequel quite literally doesn't exist yet.
But hey, if you want your only PoC boy rep to be:
• Constantly living in the shadow of his white brother who everyone seems to prefer.
• Betrays a Black girl in favor of whiteness/white goals.
• Murders a Black woman in favor of whiteness/white goals.
Then be my guest.
2.5 stars, rounded down to 2.
This was a difficult rating as BOUND BY FURY is a book I had a particularly strong interest in. The persistent marketing, the unexplored Appalachian setting, and the Legendborn comp should’ve made for a powerful read. Unfortunately, I’m left with a disjointed narrative and an uninspired magic system, both bogged down by superfluous prose.
THE GOOD
Harper is, initially, an unabashed MC that I enjoyed reading. With a penchant for art that translated into gorgeous descriptions of her surroundings, there was a certain irreplicable quality in her narrative that lent itself towards an engaging read. In the midst of her grandmother Gigi’s funeral, there’s more in these pages than just grief. There’s untended longing and unanswered regret, the bones of what-almost-was supporting strong fears of what-never-will-be.
Alongside this, Black Mountain Academy (further abbreviated BMA) is a deliciously horrible setting and Monet manages to capture the ever-present dread of The South™ at night. Whistling wind that sounds too much like whispers, dried blood on trees from broken hands, and the heavy weight of Christian eyes. This is the full extent of the inspiration in the story, which leads me to…
THE BAD
Starting wide and getting narrower with each paragraph, I’ll start with how distracting the prose turns during key moments in this book. There’s a plethora of moments where tension and action are disrupted by how long-winded the writing is, serving as a distraction instead of an emphasis. If a horror scene isn’t dragged down by the weight of metaphor, an action scene is dragged down by meticulously spelling out every movement. Sometimes we just have to get to the point.
And as an offshoot to this specific point, there’s unacceptably long periods of exposition and, near the end, monologuing to fill in blanks that were left by previous mysteries. The most egregious example comes from the primary antagonist where relays his cult plans in great detail. Information that no well-written villain should even be telling the main character, written only so that we, the reader, can have a clue what's going on. Had the prose been trimmed earlier in the book, I’m sure all of this information could’ve been properly placed instead of practically dropped all at once.
As seems to be a recurring disappointment in YA fantasy involving witches, I was not enthralled by the magic system. What makes a witch, one must ask. Is it the specific magic? Is it culture and tradition? Is it setting and environment? In this story, witchcraft manifests as a semblance of magic involving zodiac signs where, based on your date of birth, they inherit one of twelve different abilities such as being a medium or mind-control. Besides the fact that we only see one ability in action (Harper is a psychic-medium, and barely utilized at that), I do not consider this inspired witchcraft, which is a shame because a side character, Daisy, actively engages in inspired witchcraft such as tarot readings and using an Ouija board. If asked for a book with witches doing witchcraft, I would not recommend this one in that regard.
Moving even narrower, I had no real interest in any of the characters 50% through the book. Though I understand this book deals with the unstifled rage of Black girls (especially filtered through a teenage lens!), Harper becomes a truly insufferable character at a certain point. So much so that reading how she views and interacts through situations became unfun. Kai and Lucas didn’t have too much characterization, especially as most of the book deals with Harper avoiding them due to previous bad history (and then them speaking in vague sentences to keep that history a mystery). Sam was truly a nothing character. Daisy and Missy, however, were the highlights of the side cast, both having the most interesting arcs and strong throughlines to the end of the story.
Lastly, I’m admittedly exhausted of “Black” books being a Black FMC in a white setting thirsting after two white boys. The only other Black characters in this story are Harper’s relatives (sparse) or Fiona (missing student).
This is my (mostly) spoiler-free review. If I find the energy, I might come back and detail more of my grievances, but right now I’ll park BOUND BY FURY at a 2-star rating. Strong opener and well-done horror atmosphere that fizzles at the end.
7/21/2026 edit: According to a clarifying post by the author (who I assume has read this review), I'm supposed to read Lucas as non-white despite his description being "sun-darkened skin" and "icy-blue eyes." Allegedly the "drop of blood in the snow" metaphor is supposed to support this, despite me reading that as him being different by virtue of adoption (and thus othered). Author claims this is supposed to be a critique of the ambiguous brown love interest that white writers perpetuate, but considering how vastly unclear this is in the narrative, this also just becomes perpetuation, especially when Kai is clearly the favored one. And no, I won't be accepting "wait for the next book!" as an answer. Each book stands on their own merit, especially when the sequel quite literally doesn't exist yet.
But hey, if you want your only PoC boy rep to be:
• Constantly living in the shadow of his white brother who everyone seems to prefer.
• Betrays a Black girl in favor of whiteness/white goals.
• Murders a Black woman in favor of whiteness/white goals.
Then be my guest.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bound by Fury by Noelle Monét is a captivating debut that immerses readers in a richly detailed contemporary fantasy world, blending themes of grief, friendship, identity, and dangerous secrets. As a reader, I found myself drawn into Harper’s tumultuous journey—though at times exasperated by her stubbornness, ultimately admiring her resilience and unyielding spirit.
Harper is, without a doubt, one of the most intriguing main characters I’ve encountered. She’s simultaneously clueless and incredibly powerful—a paradox that makes her both frustrating and fascinating. Her relentless refusal to accept answers readily offered to her is both infuriating and oddly endearing. She’s the kind of character who, at every turn, seems hell-bent on making things harder for herself, echoing the motto “the worse off, the better.” Her constant chatter, whining, and stubbornness can test patience, yet beneath it all is a girl fighting to find her place amid chaos. Despite her flaws, Harper’s never one to give up; she keeps pushing forward, even when she’s losing her grip on her family or her mind. That perseverance is what truly carried me through the story.
One aspect I particularly appreciated was the build-up throughout the novel. Monét crafts a landscape of vivid details—some obvious, others more subtle—that create an immersive atmosphere. The setting of Black Mountain Academy feels alive, veiled in mystery and history, with its own secrets waiting to be uncovered. I did wish for a bit more world-building outside of the school and Harper’s immediate circle—particularly concerning Maureen’s character, whose background felt somewhat underexplored after the story concluded. However, I understand the narrative choices made in the context of Harper’s journey.
What stood out to me most was the diversity and openness among Harper’s friends and allies. The diverse representation—from transgender characters to bisexuality and disability—felt natural and refreshing, reflecting a contemporary, inclusive world. I loved seeing how Harper was able to build her unit of friends, all of whom accepted and understood each other deeply. This sense of community added emotional depth, especially as the story delved into themes of friendship, trust, and healing.
The novel also explores profound themes of grief and loss—particularly through Harper’s relationship with her grandmother Gigi. The psychological impact of losing a loved one is depicted with sensitivity, illustrating how grief can manifest in anger, denial, and even dangerous powers. Harper’s emotional journey felt authentic and nuanced, reminding readers of the complex process of mourning and the importance of confronting one’s past to forge a future.
Plot-wise, Bound by Fury is filled with twists and turns that kept me engaged until the very end. The local legend of the witches’ grisly deaths and Harper’s uncanny connection to those women added a layer of supernatural intrigue that balanced well with the personal stakes. As Harper uncovers more of the school’s dark history, the stakes escalate, and the danger becomes palpable. The question of whether she should leave her past behind or risk everything for truth adds a compelling moral dilemma.
In conclusion, Bound by Fury is a strong debut that combines vivid world-building, complex characters, and a gripping mystery. While Harper’s stubbornness was occasionally exhausting, her unwavering determination ultimately made her an inspiring protagonist. Monét’s storytelling weaves together themes of grief, friendship, and identity with a deft hand, leaving me eager to see where her writing will go next. I recommend this book to fans of contemporary fantasy looking for a story that’s as emotionally resonant as it is adventurous.
Harper is, without a doubt, one of the most intriguing main characters I’ve encountered. She’s simultaneously clueless and incredibly powerful—a paradox that makes her both frustrating and fascinating. Her relentless refusal to accept answers readily offered to her is both infuriating and oddly endearing. She’s the kind of character who, at every turn, seems hell-bent on making things harder for herself, echoing the motto “the worse off, the better.” Her constant chatter, whining, and stubbornness can test patience, yet beneath it all is a girl fighting to find her place amid chaos. Despite her flaws, Harper’s never one to give up; she keeps pushing forward, even when she’s losing her grip on her family or her mind. That perseverance is what truly carried me through the story.
One aspect I particularly appreciated was the build-up throughout the novel. Monét crafts a landscape of vivid details—some obvious, others more subtle—that create an immersive atmosphere. The setting of Black Mountain Academy feels alive, veiled in mystery and history, with its own secrets waiting to be uncovered. I did wish for a bit more world-building outside of the school and Harper’s immediate circle—particularly concerning Maureen’s character, whose background felt somewhat underexplored after the story concluded. However, I understand the narrative choices made in the context of Harper’s journey.
What stood out to me most was the diversity and openness among Harper’s friends and allies. The diverse representation—from transgender characters to bisexuality and disability—felt natural and refreshing, reflecting a contemporary, inclusive world. I loved seeing how Harper was able to build her unit of friends, all of whom accepted and understood each other deeply. This sense of community added emotional depth, especially as the story delved into themes of friendship, trust, and healing.
The novel also explores profound themes of grief and loss—particularly through Harper’s relationship with her grandmother Gigi. The psychological impact of losing a loved one is depicted with sensitivity, illustrating how grief can manifest in anger, denial, and even dangerous powers. Harper’s emotional journey felt authentic and nuanced, reminding readers of the complex process of mourning and the importance of confronting one’s past to forge a future.
Plot-wise, Bound by Fury is filled with twists and turns that kept me engaged until the very end. The local legend of the witches’ grisly deaths and Harper’s uncanny connection to those women added a layer of supernatural intrigue that balanced well with the personal stakes. As Harper uncovers more of the school’s dark history, the stakes escalate, and the danger becomes palpable. The question of whether she should leave her past behind or risk everything for truth adds a compelling moral dilemma.
In conclusion, Bound by Fury is a strong debut that combines vivid world-building, complex characters, and a gripping mystery. While Harper’s stubbornness was occasionally exhausting, her unwavering determination ultimately made her an inspiring protagonist. Monét’s storytelling weaves together themes of grief, friendship, and identity with a deft hand, leaving me eager to see where her writing will go next. I recommend this book to fans of contemporary fantasy looking for a story that’s as emotionally resonant as it is adventurous.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the early e-arc! I squealed when I got it!!
There aren't many books that make me feel seen but this one most certainly did! From the cover, to the premise, to the main character. The blurb got me right away because we have a Black, plus-size female main character at the front of a paranormal dark academia story. I can seriously count on one hand how many published books include this same thing... 👀 Needless to say, give us more publishers!!
This story opens up with our girl Harper drowning in her grief. I think the Legendborn comp was spot on for this book. I found myself drawing a few parallels, but the author still managed to make it her own.
All her life, Harper has been told that Black Mountain Academy is bad news. But after her grandma passes, she's left with no choice but to attend if she wants to get to the bottom of the mystery that surrounds it, her weird dreams, and her burgeoning magical powers. Throw in a very complicated love triangle and Harper is officially off on her journey!
There were many things to admire about this book. I appreciated Harper's layered development as a character searching for answers. She was very much herself, unapologetically. She didn't let Kai off the hook for his distant and cold behavior, but she still wrestled with her feelings for him. It felt relatable and realistic.
On that note, the tension and pull between Kai and Harper was lovely. So many pretty lines and heat between them. Especially as a bigger girl myself, I kicked my feet at how he handled her. Sometimes with care and sometimes with force 🤭 Her scenes with Lucas were less so, and I think that was intentional on the author's part. It was always Harper and Kai (sorry Luc).
This author was also really good at planting moments of suspense and tension. There were quite a few scenes that creeped me out (keep in mind I do have a low-horror tolerance) but it was a nice blend of tension and release.
The side characters, Sam and Daisy were both heart-achingly adorable and funny. They helped to keep the in between scenes light and fluffy. That scene where they all break into the office had me CACKLING. I could picture it as if it were a Netflix series (fingers crossed!)
The final 80% of the book had me in a choke hold. Things got TENSE. And just kept on going 😭 On one hand, I knew the ending was going to get crazy like that. Monet does a good job of developing the story, so you can feel it all coming to a culmination. But I'm just glad she didn't rush the ending. She really let it breathe and gave us the time to adjust to each new twist. I'm on edge until Book 2 is released!!
This book did have several breaks in which we were thrown back into time to help us understand the mystery (oddly enough we readers know what's going on before Harper does). There were also short written letters/entries interspersed throughout. I understood why the author included them, and while it did help deepen the storyline, I'll admit, I sped-read these pages to get back to present time. I think if they had been included as part of the present plot, like Harper stumbling upon these letters or dreaming about it all in real time in short bursts, it might've felt more cohesive.
Overall, I'm looking forward to purchasing my copy of this hardcover. It was a fantastic read that showcases important topics. Topics little me would've loved to see on the page when I was a young girl, especially from the pov of a Black girl. I think teens and adults alike will eat this paranormal story up!
There aren't many books that make me feel seen but this one most certainly did! From the cover, to the premise, to the main character. The blurb got me right away because we have a Black, plus-size female main character at the front of a paranormal dark academia story. I can seriously count on one hand how many published books include this same thing... 👀 Needless to say, give us more publishers!!
This story opens up with our girl Harper drowning in her grief. I think the Legendborn comp was spot on for this book. I found myself drawing a few parallels, but the author still managed to make it her own.
All her life, Harper has been told that Black Mountain Academy is bad news. But after her grandma passes, she's left with no choice but to attend if she wants to get to the bottom of the mystery that surrounds it, her weird dreams, and her burgeoning magical powers. Throw in a very complicated love triangle and Harper is officially off on her journey!
There were many things to admire about this book. I appreciated Harper's layered development as a character searching for answers. She was very much herself, unapologetically. She didn't let Kai off the hook for his distant and cold behavior, but she still wrestled with her feelings for him. It felt relatable and realistic.
On that note, the tension and pull between Kai and Harper was lovely. So many pretty lines and heat between them. Especially as a bigger girl myself, I kicked my feet at how he handled her. Sometimes with care and sometimes with force 🤭 Her scenes with Lucas were less so, and I think that was intentional on the author's part. It was always Harper and Kai (sorry Luc).
This author was also really good at planting moments of suspense and tension. There were quite a few scenes that creeped me out (keep in mind I do have a low-horror tolerance) but it was a nice blend of tension and release.
The side characters, Sam and Daisy were both heart-achingly adorable and funny. They helped to keep the in between scenes light and fluffy. That scene where they all break into the office had me CACKLING. I could picture it as if it were a Netflix series (fingers crossed!)
The final 80% of the book had me in a choke hold. Things got TENSE. And just kept on going 😭 On one hand, I knew the ending was going to get crazy like that. Monet does a good job of developing the story, so you can feel it all coming to a culmination. But I'm just glad she didn't rush the ending. She really let it breathe and gave us the time to adjust to each new twist. I'm on edge until Book 2 is released!!
This book did have several breaks in which we were thrown back into time to help us understand the mystery (oddly enough we readers know what's going on before Harper does). There were also short written letters/entries interspersed throughout. I understood why the author included them, and while it did help deepen the storyline, I'll admit, I sped-read these pages to get back to present time. I think if they had been included as part of the present plot, like Harper stumbling upon these letters or dreaming about it all in real time in short bursts, it might've felt more cohesive.
Overall, I'm looking forward to purchasing my copy of this hardcover. It was a fantastic read that showcases important topics. Topics little me would've loved to see on the page when I was a young girl, especially from the pov of a Black girl. I think teens and adults alike will eat this paranormal story up!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this ARC.
2.5 stars
Everything about the summary gave me hope that Bound by Fury would be some sort of dark academia vibe with a lingering secret under the surface. To me, the setting of the Appalachian Mountains was intriguing, as--stated in the novel--this location is one of the oldest places on Earth and could be full of untapped power.
The start was promising enough, full of luscious prose that beautifully captured the warring emotions within a grieving person. Harper just turned 16, and had the unfortunate happenstance of finding her Grandmother Gigi unresponsive as well as the trauma inflicted on her as she performed CPR and awaited the news of her grandmother's death. Trying to distract herself, Harp goes to a gas station to find some movie treats while being stalked by the gas station worker as she is failing at working through her emotions. Noelle Monet did an amazing job at setting up the premise, as well as introducing the mystery that the events of the novel would center around in this starting sequence.
During the funeral it is established that Harper does not have much of a connection to anyone within the community of Earnest, as she had a huge falling out with her two friends Malachi (Kai) and Lucas due to teenage hormones and emotions. Regardless of this, Harper is adamant that she stays to accept the scholarship to the Beaumont Academy to follow in her grandmother's footsteps. As soon as she sets foot in this new territory, this is where the plot starts to get messy. Gossip is that the school is covering up/refusing to look into the disappearance of Fiona, a student at said school--and one student in particular is refusing to accept that Fiona is dead and gone. Harper has the misfortune of pissing this person off immediately when she overhears their plans to use a t-shirt cannon to shower the community with missing posters for Fiona.
All of this set up was well done in my opinion-- Harper became singled out from the rest of the community due to her race and fell in with other outcasts and seemingly found her place within the school. And then we never really hear about the other students or the classwork ever again. Sure, she attends her classes but it is rarely mentioned after the teenage hormones have entered the chat. Anytime Harper is in the vicinity of Kai or Lucas, her brain is immediately thrown out the window with her sexual angst dialing up to 11 and these toxic men feeding off of it.
After the first three instances of sexual energy taking over the plot, the pacing and cohesiveness of the plot went to the wolves. I could no longer follow along -- each chapter turned into a vignette with little to no connection to events preceding it. With the first third so polished, it really threw me off how much the rest of the book seemed to be a stream of consciousness. With each passing second, I only grew more confused. Granted I felt Monet really wanted to establish the confusion of the moment, but as a reader I needed more connecting plot points than what I got. By the last 15% of the book, I was no longer invested in the events that would happen. Even seeing that my predictions were true did not keep me interested in what would happen. Honestly, the teenage hormones ruined what was a very promising world... it had me questioning if this was the norm for teenagers these days. What is plot when hot men exist?
Bound by Fury needs some more editing work to connect the plot points, and to tone down the hormones for future readers. As it stands, this was so not worth the journey.
2.5 stars
Everything about the summary gave me hope that Bound by Fury would be some sort of dark academia vibe with a lingering secret under the surface. To me, the setting of the Appalachian Mountains was intriguing, as--stated in the novel--this location is one of the oldest places on Earth and could be full of untapped power.
The start was promising enough, full of luscious prose that beautifully captured the warring emotions within a grieving person. Harper just turned 16, and had the unfortunate happenstance of finding her Grandmother Gigi unresponsive as well as the trauma inflicted on her as she performed CPR and awaited the news of her grandmother's death. Trying to distract herself, Harp goes to a gas station to find some movie treats while being stalked by the gas station worker as she is failing at working through her emotions. Noelle Monet did an amazing job at setting up the premise, as well as introducing the mystery that the events of the novel would center around in this starting sequence.
During the funeral it is established that Harper does not have much of a connection to anyone within the community of Earnest, as she had a huge falling out with her two friends Malachi (Kai) and Lucas due to teenage hormones and emotions. Regardless of this, Harper is adamant that she stays to accept the scholarship to the Beaumont Academy to follow in her grandmother's footsteps. As soon as she sets foot in this new territory, this is where the plot starts to get messy. Gossip is that the school is covering up/refusing to look into the disappearance of Fiona, a student at said school--and one student in particular is refusing to accept that Fiona is dead and gone. Harper has the misfortune of pissing this person off immediately when she overhears their plans to use a t-shirt cannon to shower the community with missing posters for Fiona.
All of this set up was well done in my opinion-- Harper became singled out from the rest of the community due to her race and fell in with other outcasts and seemingly found her place within the school. And then we never really hear about the other students or the classwork ever again. Sure, she attends her classes but it is rarely mentioned after the teenage hormones have entered the chat. Anytime Harper is in the vicinity of Kai or Lucas, her brain is immediately thrown out the window with her sexual angst dialing up to 11 and these toxic men feeding off of it.
After the first three instances of sexual energy taking over the plot, the pacing and cohesiveness of the plot went to the wolves. I could no longer follow along -- each chapter turned into a vignette with little to no connection to events preceding it. With the first third so polished, it really threw me off how much the rest of the book seemed to be a stream of consciousness. With each passing second, I only grew more confused. Granted I felt Monet really wanted to establish the confusion of the moment, but as a reader I needed more connecting plot points than what I got. By the last 15% of the book, I was no longer invested in the events that would happen. Even seeing that my predictions were true did not keep me interested in what would happen. Honestly, the teenage hormones ruined what was a very promising world... it had me questioning if this was the norm for teenagers these days. What is plot when hot men exist?
Bound by Fury needs some more editing work to connect the plot points, and to tone down the hormones for future readers. As it stands, this was so not worth the journey.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Legendborn and Blood Moon fans, I’ve found your new favorite book! Releasing this year, BOUND BY FURY has one of the most intricately detailed and unique magic systems (and world building!) I have read in fiction in a long time, and what I think is so special about this novel, beyond the multitudes of which I’m about to share, is how rooted the world-building is in Appalachian folklore AND how consumable the magic is for a wide range of audiences, whether you’re a teen or adult, new to the fantasy genre or a seasoned reader.
BBF follows Harper, who attends the infamous Black Mountain Academy in search of a connection to her newfound magic and family history. There, she uncovers chilling secrets about twelve witches who are rumored to haunt the boarding school’s halls—and whether or not they could be linked to her powers.
Gosh, I adore Harper and related so much to her. She’s grieving the loss of Gigi, her beloved grandmother, while also navigating very powerful abilities and struggling to recognize just WHO she is in the face of devastation and confusion and anger, which I think a lot of teens (and adults to be honest) can also find relatable. I loved watching Harper’s character arc progress as the book continued and the plot thickened, and can I just say she’s a badass?
Enter Kai and Lucas, who attend the boarding school. We have a central love triangle that is FLESHED OUT, people. So. Good. Monét did a wonderful job of balancing Harper’s connections with Kai and Lucas without being biased to a particular character one way or the other, which I love! And some of these moments… lawd, HELP. I was giggling and kicking my feet, and I’m in my 30s.
I love how genre-bent BBF is. Do you like dark academia? CHECK. Want more paranormal? CHECK. Little dashes of horror? CHECK CHECK CHECK. And that ending! THAT ENDING! Let’s just say I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.
From a developmental standpoint, Bound By Fury is perfectly paced and features a multi-layered, complex, interesting, and diverse cast of characters (Missy, I love you!), a well-executed celestial magic system, and WHEW BOY some of best prose out there. Monét was spitting out poetry numerous times. I highlighted so many sections. I also loved the themes of religion vs. power and ancestral rage.
My rating? ♾️ but unfortunately Goodreads won’t let me do that so I’ll begrudgingly go with 5 stars
BBF follows Harper, who attends the infamous Black Mountain Academy in search of a connection to her newfound magic and family history. There, she uncovers chilling secrets about twelve witches who are rumored to haunt the boarding school’s halls—and whether or not they could be linked to her powers.
Gosh, I adore Harper and related so much to her. She’s grieving the loss of Gigi, her beloved grandmother, while also navigating very powerful abilities and struggling to recognize just WHO she is in the face of devastation and confusion and anger, which I think a lot of teens (and adults to be honest) can also find relatable. I loved watching Harper’s character arc progress as the book continued and the plot thickened, and can I just say she’s a badass?
Enter Kai and Lucas, who attend the boarding school. We have a central love triangle that is FLESHED OUT, people. So. Good. Monét did a wonderful job of balancing Harper’s connections with Kai and Lucas without being biased to a particular character one way or the other, which I love! And some of these moments… lawd, HELP. I was giggling and kicking my feet, and I’m in my 30s.
I love how genre-bent BBF is. Do you like dark academia? CHECK. Want more paranormal? CHECK. Little dashes of horror? CHECK CHECK CHECK. And that ending! THAT ENDING! Let’s just say I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.
From a developmental standpoint, Bound By Fury is perfectly paced and features a multi-layered, complex, interesting, and diverse cast of characters (Missy, I love you!), a well-executed celestial magic system, and WHEW BOY some of best prose out there. Monét was spitting out poetry numerous times. I highlighted so many sections. I also loved the themes of religion vs. power and ancestral rage.
My rating? ♾️ but unfortunately Goodreads won’t let me do that so I’ll begrudgingly go with 5 stars
August 9, 2026
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read the blurb and knew I wanted to read this one. I want to read basically anything set in the southern Appalachians, and when the author is Black, that makes me want to read it more.
This book has some very dark themes!!
The plot is simple enough: Harper is a young girl who’s had her life completely turned upside down. Between her best friends estranging themselves from her and her grandmother dying, she has no one. Weird things keep coming to her in her dreams, and she doesn’t understand what is happening to her. What follows is a reckoning.
The characters in this book are widely diverse and interabled, which I love. This author obviously poured her heart into these characters and it does show. I am not Black, so I cannot say my experience was even remotely the same growing up, but Harper harbors SO MUCH anger that it distracts me from the story. She has every right to be angry; her reasoning is sound, it just took me out of the book a lot. Plus she really is hardheaded and blind sometimes. This did have a good bit of teenage angst (and I’m 34, so I can’t really relate to that for the most part). Each character had their role to play, and the betrayals in these pages didn’t surprise me. Kai is complicated, but in the best way and I’m curious to see how this author continues their story.
The writing is broody and descriptive, pretty perfect for an upper level teenage reader. This is a chunky book, which would intimidate some people, but I think it will interest the audience she wrote this for. The tone is appropriately reverent and scathing when it needs to be.
I will also say this book had me jumping at every little noise and fearing looking in the mirror at night; the ambiance and creep factor is extremely well done. For a YA book, the author does not pull her punches when it comes to the horror elements of this book.
All in all, I don’t regret reading this, but I think it would’ve hit me better when I was younger and could relate more. It was enlightening reading about Harper’s experiences though, and I learned a little while reading. It was enjoyable, but also slightly terrifying. 😅
I read the blurb and knew I wanted to read this one. I want to read basically anything set in the southern Appalachians, and when the author is Black, that makes me want to read it more.
This book has some very dark themes!!
The plot is simple enough: Harper is a young girl who’s had her life completely turned upside down. Between her best friends estranging themselves from her and her grandmother dying, she has no one. Weird things keep coming to her in her dreams, and she doesn’t understand what is happening to her. What follows is a reckoning.
The characters in this book are widely diverse and interabled, which I love. This author obviously poured her heart into these characters and it does show. I am not Black, so I cannot say my experience was even remotely the same growing up, but Harper harbors SO MUCH anger that it distracts me from the story. She has every right to be angry; her reasoning is sound, it just took me out of the book a lot. Plus she really is hardheaded and blind sometimes. This did have a good bit of teenage angst (and I’m 34, so I can’t really relate to that for the most part). Each character had their role to play, and the betrayals in these pages didn’t surprise me. Kai is complicated, but in the best way and I’m curious to see how this author continues their story.
The writing is broody and descriptive, pretty perfect for an upper level teenage reader. This is a chunky book, which would intimidate some people, but I think it will interest the audience she wrote this for. The tone is appropriately reverent and scathing when it needs to be.
I will also say this book had me jumping at every little noise and fearing looking in the mirror at night; the ambiance and creep factor is extremely well done. For a YA book, the author does not pull her punches when it comes to the horror elements of this book.
All in all, I don’t regret reading this, but I think it would’ve hit me better when I was younger and could relate more. It was enlightening reading about Harper’s experiences though, and I learned a little while reading. It was enjoyable, but also slightly terrifying. 😅
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. What an exciting magical adventure! Harper has spent her life just wanting to live in Earnest with her grandmother, the summers spent there with her two best friends Lucas and Malachi. That is until last summer when their friendships shattered and the two haven’t spoken to her since. Now on her sixteen birthday when she should be happy her grandmother has passed away. She’s angry and with her anger comes a power she doesn’t understand. Her grandmother was always talking about magic, the stars, and witches. But they were just stories weren’t they? When she’s invited, on a full scholarship, to attend Black Mountain Academy, she wants nothing more than to go. Her grandmother went there and maybe there are answers for her at the school. But with each passing day her powers seem to grow and as she has visions of the past she knows there is more to her story than she was led to believe. How will she find answers? Being at Black Mountain also means being around Kai and Lucas again but they’ve changed so much. Kai seems to hate her and she finds herself more drawn to Lucas, but even he seems to be hiding things. She does make new friends and learns more about the schools horrible history. She learns of prophecy and power. But who can she trust? And can she figure out her power before the danger finds her? I loved everything about this book! I loved the magic system and the world building! I love a strong, determined, powerful black female lead and I loved Harper and her friends! I honestly couldn’t decide whether I liked or disliked Kai and Lucas but I absolutely think that is the point! Complex characters with complex stories that feel all kinds of shades of grey! It’s queer, magical, paranormal, with a diverse cast and romance mixed in! And the ending left me wanting so much more! Perfect for those that like magic, especially if you’re into the zodiac!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The first thing you need to know about Bound by Fury is how eloquently it is written. Each sentence, every word falls into a perfect poetic and lively place, painting a vivid picture chapter after chapter.
Noelle Monét can write her a$$ off. Of that there is no doubt. She hits the right tone, captures your imagination, all the while pulling you with strong teenage emotion. The pacing was aight. A little slower than I prefer in some places, but the book spends about the first 50-60% building to some very dramatic conclusions that make your heart race. The balance is just about right for book 1 in a series.
What was this book about? Well! It centers on Harper. We meet her as she is dealing with the death of a close loved one. It is devastating and also highlighted by some strange things happening to her. You feel her confusion and also her determination to figure out the mysteries that surround her personally and physically. Hers is the main POV in the book, giving us a deep dive into all she is experiencing. It can get a little heavy with the teen drama and angst, but this is a YA book, so it is to be expected.
Harper strides headfirst into a world that includes old friends and new ones. She fights to solve mysteries that stretch centuries and has a difficult time finding her way until things upend completely.
This is a book for YA lovers, witchy mystery lovers, and those who love a historical twist to lore. It explores some dark themes but delivers in terms of satisfying answers to the big questions unearthed in the story.
For me, it was an interesting book with compelling writing. A pleasing balance between mystery and the paranormal. Truly a very strong start for a debut author and a very strong 4 stars for me.
Noelle Monét can write her a$$ off. Of that there is no doubt. She hits the right tone, captures your imagination, all the while pulling you with strong teenage emotion. The pacing was aight. A little slower than I prefer in some places, but the book spends about the first 50-60% building to some very dramatic conclusions that make your heart race. The balance is just about right for book 1 in a series.
What was this book about? Well! It centers on Harper. We meet her as she is dealing with the death of a close loved one. It is devastating and also highlighted by some strange things happening to her. You feel her confusion and also her determination to figure out the mysteries that surround her personally and physically. Hers is the main POV in the book, giving us a deep dive into all she is experiencing. It can get a little heavy with the teen drama and angst, but this is a YA book, so it is to be expected.
Harper strides headfirst into a world that includes old friends and new ones. She fights to solve mysteries that stretch centuries and has a difficult time finding her way until things upend completely.
This is a book for YA lovers, witchy mystery lovers, and those who love a historical twist to lore. It explores some dark themes but delivers in terms of satisfying answers to the big questions unearthed in the story.
For me, it was an interesting book with compelling writing. A pleasing balance between mystery and the paranormal. Truly a very strong start for a debut author and a very strong 4 stars for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Girls made of magic and starlight. An elite school shrouded in sinister mysteries. One boy who makes her heart quiet, and another who makes it race. Harper grew up on her Gigi's stories of witchcraft and lore, but she's left with more questions than answers when her strange powers begin to manifest the day that Gigi dies. Harper attends Black Mountain Academy hoping to find answers, but the more she digs into the school's dark history, the more questions she unearths. And time is running out, because someone is willing to commit any crime to keep the past hidden—including murder.
If this book doesn't become an instant bestseller when it hits the market, then I'm a 400-foot tall purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings! I was hooked from page one, and I absolutely ate up the twists and turns. From that one scene that had me screaming out loud, "Girl, nooooo! Don't go in the cabin!" (IYKYK) to the sweet, found family moments, I loved every part of this story. I was captivated by the zodiac magic system, and I'm excited to learn more about it in book two (because there had better be a book two!). The tension strung taut between all of the characters—especially Harper and her boys—was so well done, and I loved the southern vibes woven throughout. The dialogue was perfection, and I could just hear those twangs. The intersectionality between queerness, blackness, feminism, and body positivity was extremely well done, with some aspects more subtly highlighted than others, and each one an important piece of who Harper is. And the female rage? Supporting women's wrongs? Girl, I am so here for it! I absolutely cannot wait for book two!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.
If this book doesn't become an instant bestseller when it hits the market, then I'm a 400-foot tall purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings! I was hooked from page one, and I absolutely ate up the twists and turns. From that one scene that had me screaming out loud, "Girl, nooooo! Don't go in the cabin!" (IYKYK) to the sweet, found family moments, I loved every part of this story. I was captivated by the zodiac magic system, and I'm excited to learn more about it in book two (because there had better be a book two!). The tension strung taut between all of the characters—especially Harper and her boys—was so well done, and I loved the southern vibes woven throughout. The dialogue was perfection, and I could just hear those twangs. The intersectionality between queerness, blackness, feminism, and body positivity was extremely well done, with some aspects more subtly highlighted than others, and each one an important piece of who Harper is. And the female rage? Supporting women's wrongs? Girl, I am so here for it! I absolutely cannot wait for book two!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.
February 28, 2026
Digital Arc provided by NetGalley and Simon Teen.
Bound by Fury by Noelle Monét is everything its blurb offers it to be. This riveting tale follows Harper as she learns that her grandmother’s (Gigi) magic filled stories are more truth than fiction. She receives a mysterious invite to a mysterious and elite boarding school in the Appalachians.
Cue insane tension between two boys, discovering new, lifelong friends and strange disappearances, this book was quite an adventure.
I think that it was paced well, and I did enjoy the flashbacks as they were a necessary part of the storyline and helped to fill in gaps. There were some aspects of the book where I thought that it got a little cyclical. The high tension scenes were certainly described with such vivid detail that I wondered if we were still in the YA category. Harper was such an independent, refreshing character who had no choice but to adapt to what was happening around her and the many unanswered questions that she faced. At times, her decisions did affect her relatability. I’m intrigued to see how the author further develops her character.
I did enjoy the diversity of the characters and thought that they were well written. The author wrote the story in a way that it could be easily followed, and I look forward to the continuation of it.
Bound by Fury by Noelle Monét is everything its blurb offers it to be. This riveting tale follows Harper as she learns that her grandmother’s (Gigi) magic filled stories are more truth than fiction. She receives a mysterious invite to a mysterious and elite boarding school in the Appalachians.
Cue insane tension between two boys, discovering new, lifelong friends and strange disappearances, this book was quite an adventure.
I think that it was paced well, and I did enjoy the flashbacks as they were a necessary part of the storyline and helped to fill in gaps. There were some aspects of the book where I thought that it got a little cyclical. The high tension scenes were certainly described with such vivid detail that I wondered if we were still in the YA category. Harper was such an independent, refreshing character who had no choice but to adapt to what was happening around her and the many unanswered questions that she faced. At times, her decisions did affect her relatability. I’m intrigued to see how the author further develops her character.
I did enjoy the diversity of the characters and thought that they were well written. The author wrote the story in a way that it could be easily followed, and I look forward to the continuation of it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall, I found this to be a great read!
There is so much to love about this book—from the Appalachian Mountains setting, to the intriguing yet mysterious characters, to the mysterious magic. The worldbuilding was fascinating to read about, especially as more and more was revealed.
One thing I really liked about this book was the use of flashbacks—they were a pivotal part of the storyline, as they helped fill in the gaps, so I’m glad that the author included them. I will say that some of the monologues had some info-dumping, though I understand why the author did so.
I loved the diversity present in this book, and I thought all the characters were well written.
I liked Harper a lot as our main character! She definitely felt like a YA protagonist who adapts to what is happening around her despite there being so many unanswered questions.
I think the romance could have been a bit stronger, as it was clear right off the bat which of the boys would be end game for Harper. I liked how the author threw in some twists and turns to make me question it though.
Although this first book isn’t even out yet, I look forward to reading the sequel in the future!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing (Margaret K. McElderry Books) for allowing me to read the eARC!
There is so much to love about this book—from the Appalachian Mountains setting, to the intriguing yet mysterious characters, to the mysterious magic. The worldbuilding was fascinating to read about, especially as more and more was revealed.
One thing I really liked about this book was the use of flashbacks—they were a pivotal part of the storyline, as they helped fill in the gaps, so I’m glad that the author included them. I will say that some of the monologues had some info-dumping, though I understand why the author did so.
I loved the diversity present in this book, and I thought all the characters were well written.
I liked Harper a lot as our main character! She definitely felt like a YA protagonist who adapts to what is happening around her despite there being so many unanswered questions.
I think the romance could have been a bit stronger, as it was clear right off the bat which of the boys would be end game for Harper. I liked how the author threw in some twists and turns to make me question it though.
Although this first book isn’t even out yet, I look forward to reading the sequel in the future!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing (Margaret K. McElderry Books) for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow. I have been blown over by Bound by Fury and may be giving this a re-read very soon!
BBF pulled on so many nostalgic feelings for me, I too, like Harper, spent my summers in the Blue Ridge Mountains growing up, at one point I lived right by the Biltmore Estate and passed it daily to/from Asheville High. Honestly the only part missing was someone shopping at Ingles!
Again like Harper, I lost my paternal grandmother at a young age. It’s been nearly 30yrs and I still feel the depth of that grief, words that never got spoken, love that wrapped me in everything I needed but then was just … gone.
Harper is 16, and even through her grief she is discovering her true self. Making decisions, oftentimes poorly as a 16yo does, but seeking out her legacy, building friendships, and trying to fix a childhood friendship triangle. All while being submerged into myth, dangerous mystery, folklore, and a prophecy that’s been 100 years in the making.
The last 20% was so action packed I had to slow my own heart rate, slow my reading speed, and fully immerse in the terror, anger and heartache. A riveting, grab you by the wrists and hold you to your seat debut. Again I say, wow.
Thank you Noelle Monet, Netgalley, and Simon & Schuster children’s publishing imprint Margaret K McElderry books for this advanced reader copy!
BBF pulled on so many nostalgic feelings for me, I too, like Harper, spent my summers in the Blue Ridge Mountains growing up, at one point I lived right by the Biltmore Estate and passed it daily to/from Asheville High. Honestly the only part missing was someone shopping at Ingles!
Again like Harper, I lost my paternal grandmother at a young age. It’s been nearly 30yrs and I still feel the depth of that grief, words that never got spoken, love that wrapped me in everything I needed but then was just … gone.
Harper is 16, and even through her grief she is discovering her true self. Making decisions, oftentimes poorly as a 16yo does, but seeking out her legacy, building friendships, and trying to fix a childhood friendship triangle. All while being submerged into myth, dangerous mystery, folklore, and a prophecy that’s been 100 years in the making.
The last 20% was so action packed I had to slow my own heart rate, slow my reading speed, and fully immerse in the terror, anger and heartache. A riveting, grab you by the wrists and hold you to your seat debut. Again I say, wow.
Thank you Noelle Monet, Netgalley, and Simon & Schuster children’s publishing imprint Margaret K McElderry books for this advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon &Schuster Publishing for this ARC!
Well, where to begin? Southern Gothic. Dark Academia. Feminine Rage. Generational Trauma. Witchcraft. Black Female Main Character.
If any or all of these things appeal to you I highly recommend this book.
I will say that the love triangle was a bit juvenile but this is a YA novel so I took that into consideration of course.
But the meat of the story and the main characters is solid and engaging. The descriptive, lush, atmospheric language immerses the reader in the setting of this place. Appalachia is portrayed as this haunted realm deep seated with beauty, horror, trauma, and magic.
Harper is a protagonist with many flaws, but her simmering rage is never out of place. She confronts challenges. And pushes back against the racism and misogyny engrained in the academy she attends. Parts of her and her story reminding me of the Legendborn series by Tracey Deonn.
I would recommend this book to librarians and students looking for a diverse and strong cast of characters (of color. queer, and disabled), a deep lore, evocative writing, and a powerful magic system.
Well, where to begin? Southern Gothic. Dark Academia. Feminine Rage. Generational Trauma. Witchcraft. Black Female Main Character.
If any or all of these things appeal to you I highly recommend this book.
I will say that the love triangle was a bit juvenile but this is a YA novel so I took that into consideration of course.
But the meat of the story and the main characters is solid and engaging. The descriptive, lush, atmospheric language immerses the reader in the setting of this place. Appalachia is portrayed as this haunted realm deep seated with beauty, horror, trauma, and magic.
Harper is a protagonist with many flaws, but her simmering rage is never out of place. She confronts challenges. And pushes back against the racism and misogyny engrained in the academy she attends. Parts of her and her story reminding me of the Legendborn series by Tracey Deonn.
I would recommend this book to librarians and students looking for a diverse and strong cast of characters (of color. queer, and disabled), a deep lore, evocative writing, and a powerful magic system.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dark Academia set in haunted Appalachia? Heck yes!
I knew from the outset I was going to love this book. It’s billed as Legendborn meets Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and I love Legendborn so much! Harper’s Gigi used to tell her stories about Black girls having magic from the stars, thinking they were just stories. But then Gigi dies, and the truth about Harper’s true identity and background start to slowly become exposed as she accepts a full scholarship to Black Mountain Academy.
Gigi used to tell her that that school was dangerous, even though she was an alumnus. In order to deal with her grief, Harper accepts a full scholarship, and meets her found family.
The love triangle between Harper, Kai and Lucas reminded me of Legendborn, but other than that, the author made this story her own. I liked the pacing, I liked the world building, the magic system, and I really liked the friendships Harper made at BMA.
I can’t wait to read the sequel!
Read
March 13, 2026i found the worldbuilding to be clunky and overall pretty weak… especially when compared to legendborn. i initially rated legendborn a 3 but there was genuinely so much thought put into that book to where i can appreciate it even more next to books that have come out over the years that are similar but never as good. this is tackling v similar themes and it’s just mid. i liked the prose at times but even at points it was kinda doing a lot. petty but seeing ariana grande mentioned kinda took me out of the book too. yeah this just didn’t work for me which is sad because i remember adding this because the author mentioned TVD but the TVD aspects were fumbled. i didn’t add a number rating because this isn’t a thoughtful review, im being unfair by comparing it to TVD and Legendborn, and i genuinely wanted to like it because of the bonnie bennett revenge intention the author had.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The main character Harper, learns that the magical stories she was told by her grandmother held a lot more truth than she thought. It all unravels when she gets an invite to a boarding school in the Appalachians and well the rest is history.
Great dark academia vibes with some supernatural elements added in there as well. It fits the vibe I was hoping for when I requested this eARC.
I really liked the flashbacks and how they played into the plot. It was also nice to see a main character like Harper in YA. She was given no choice but to deal with the things going on in her life and the character development for her is really good.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Maybe
Favorite Character(s): Gigi and Harper
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🔮🔪🌲
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Racism, Violence
Minor: Death
Great dark academia vibes with some supernatural elements added in there as well. It fits the vibe I was hoping for when I requested this eARC.
I really liked the flashbacks and how they played into the plot. It was also nice to see a main character like Harper in YA. She was given no choice but to deal with the things going on in her life and the character development for her is really good.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: First Person
Sad Level: 💧💧
Would I Recommend? Maybe
Favorite Character(s): Gigi and Harper
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🔮🔪🌲
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Racism, Violence
Minor: Death
May 19, 2026
Big thank you to Noelle Monét and NetGalley for providing an eARC of Bound by Fury for me to review honestly. I wasn’t paid to read and review this book.
I don’t know where to start with Bound by Fury, not in a bad way, that ending has me staring at the wall. What the heck am I meant to read now? How can I top this?!
Anyway, what I will say is that Noelle is an INCREDIBLE writer, she really managed to depict her personal grief on the page amazingly well, as well as going through the various stages of it. Harper is written as a multi-layered character, she has a lot of depth and personality. Even though I’m an ashy white woman from England, I can imagine that Bound by Fury will be fantastic representation for Black teenage girls.
Easy rating of 5 stars, please read this if you can. It’s a book I’m not going to be able to stop thinking about for a while.
I don’t know where to start with Bound by Fury, not in a bad way, that ending has me staring at the wall. What the heck am I meant to read now? How can I top this?!
Anyway, what I will say is that Noelle is an INCREDIBLE writer, she really managed to depict her personal grief on the page amazingly well, as well as going through the various stages of it. Harper is written as a multi-layered character, she has a lot of depth and personality. Even though I’m an ashy white woman from England, I can imagine that Bound by Fury will be fantastic representation for Black teenage girls.
Easy rating of 5 stars, please read this if you can. It’s a book I’m not going to be able to stop thinking about for a while.
Did Not Finish
July 18, 2026I won this arc in a giveaway from the author.
I was absolutely so excited for this book based on the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comp, but it unfortunately did not work for me.
DNF at 40pg
The reason this didn’t work for me is the writing style. It is overly descriptive and atmospheric. It spends so much time “setting up” the surroundings that I lose track of what the words are actually saying. At some point, my eyes glaze over and I can’t focus on what’s actually happening due to the overabundance of similes and metaphors about the sky or the trees or the heat. It’s a personal preference that I just can’t get over here. It’s too wordy for me, so much that I am distracted from the actual story.
I am sure this is a lovely book and I hope that other readers will find it and love it. It just wasn’t a book for me.
I was absolutely so excited for this book based on the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comp, but it unfortunately did not work for me.
DNF at 40pg
The reason this didn’t work for me is the writing style. It is overly descriptive and atmospheric. It spends so much time “setting up” the surroundings that I lose track of what the words are actually saying. At some point, my eyes glaze over and I can’t focus on what’s actually happening due to the overabundance of similes and metaphors about the sky or the trees or the heat. It’s a personal preference that I just can’t get over here. It’s too wordy for me, so much that I am distracted from the actual story.
I am sure this is a lovely book and I hope that other readers will find it and love it. It just wasn’t a book for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bound by Fury is an incredible debut from an author to watch! It is magical, beautifully written, and filled with rage. Harper, the protagonist, is pissed! And she has good reason to be: "Black women are always accused of being aggressive. Like we don't have good reason to be. Like we don't deserve to melt the world with our rage."
The side characters in this novel are fully realized. I loved Daisy in particular and can't wait to see her friendship with Harper grow in the next book.
The prose in this novel was beautifully written and the descriptions were vivid enough that I could perfectly picture each scene.
I'm foaming at the mouth for the sequel to see what happens to Harper and crew. The stakes are high and deadly!
The side characters in this novel are fully realized. I loved Daisy in particular and can't wait to see her friendship with Harper grow in the next book.
The prose in this novel was beautifully written and the descriptions were vivid enough that I could perfectly picture each scene.
I'm foaming at the mouth for the sequel to see what happens to Harper and crew. The stakes are high and deadly!
May 28, 2026
I’m obsessed. This book was so incredible. The writing is impeccable. There were so many beautiful and haunting lines. The characters are well-crafted. They felt like true complex characters. The love triangle is unbelievable. I couldn’t decide who I liked more; it felt like a tug-of-war. There was so much attention to detail with the history and the magic system. I adore that the main character is bisexual and that some of her friends are queer, too. Noelle Monét is an author to watch out for they are going to take the publishing world by storm. I can’t believe this is their debut novel. I’m begging anyone reading this review to pick up this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle Monét, and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Noelle Monét, and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
July 9, 2026DNF at 23%.
I know this is a YA book and I have to get in the mindset of a teenager reading this but I really struggled reading this one. There were points that were just overly dramatic, even for a teen novel, that I just couldn’t get past. The beginning was slow paced and I felt myself bored unfortunately right from the start. I also didn’t completely love the writing. I did at least give it to when our main character arrives as the academy to see if things would get better but then that’s when the cringe started to set in. I am sure that there are teens out there that will love this book though!!
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advanced copy.
I know this is a YA book and I have to get in the mindset of a teenager reading this but I really struggled reading this one. There were points that were just overly dramatic, even for a teen novel, that I just couldn’t get past. The beginning was slow paced and I felt myself bored unfortunately right from the start. I also didn’t completely love the writing. I did at least give it to when our main character arrives as the academy to see if things would get better but then that’s when the cringe started to set in. I am sure that there are teens out there that will love this book though!!
Thank you to Simon Teen for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Perfect for fans of LEGENDBORN and of course, the beloved Bonnie Bennett this book had me in a chokehold from start to finish. Noelle’s prose are both accessible and haunting as she takes us through an Appalachian setting and a magical school.
As a girlie from the 2000’s I got all the feels that I wanted to have. Someone to root for. An interesting magic system and a plot that kept me intrigued.
When it comes to dual timeline/flashbacks I’m a hard reader to convince, but Noelle kept me totally on board with this book. Harper is such a dynamic character who is easy to root for.
As a girlie from the 2000’s I got all the feels that I wanted to have. Someone to root for. An interesting magic system and a plot that kept me intrigued.
When it comes to dual timeline/flashbacks I’m a hard reader to convince, but Noelle kept me totally on board with this book. Harper is such a dynamic character who is easy to root for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a book with gorgeous, descriptive writing that also delivers true to the heart dialogue, and that's exactly what you'll find in Bound by Fury. And because of the carefully crafted writing, the world of Black Mountain Academy came to life, as did the characters, especially Harper. She was full of emotion—wounded with grief at the loss of her beloved grandmother, her absent father; and struggling to understand the fractured friendships of two boys who had always meant so much to her—and the way this linked with her growing power, was beautifully done.
November 13, 2025
"Bound By Fury" crackles with star-born power, generational fury, and a heroine who refuses to break—even when the world demands it. A haunting, electric blend of ancestral magic, first love, and rebellion, it is unputdownable: furious, harrowing, and breathless until the very last page. This is what happens when a girl discovers the universe has been waiting for her—and so has the enemy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bound by Fury by Noelle Monét completely pulled me into its world. The chemistry was electric from the very beginning, but what kept me turning the pages was the emotional tension simmering beneath every interaction. Every conversation felt loaded with unspoken feelings, making the slow unraveling of the relationship even more satisfying.
Read
July 6, 2026⭐🌙 Bound by Fury 🌙⭐
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• YA Fantasy
• Magic Academy
• Haunted School
• Love Triangle
• Family Secrets
• Grumpy x Sunshine
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• YA Fantasy
• Magic Academy
• Haunted School
• Love Triangle
• Family Secrets
• Grumpy x Sunshine
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
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