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Bound by Fury
Not yet published
Expected 18 Aug 26Legendborn 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 book67 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 - 18 of 18 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
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
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!
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!
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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.
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.
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.
November 19, 2024
I had the pleasure of reading this in the early early early stages of Noelle's writing career. Even back then, I knew this book was going places! Cannot wait to read the final version!
December 9, 2024
5 stars because noelle hits every time
August 9, 2025
This was one of my most anticipated debuts, and it did NOT disappoint. I can't recommend this one highly enough!
Want to Read
October 24, 2025"A debut contemporary fantasy pitched as Legendborn meets Mystic Falls, where a rage-inducing encounter awakens abilities in a sixteen-year-old bisexual disaster named Harper, leading her to an elite boarding school in the North Carolina Mountains, where she unravels a tale that spans generations, but the truth about her family's connection to the town's racist pas comes at a price—becoming a prophecy incarnate."
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews