Soul Bound

by Hannah Kingsley

The powerful new fantasy romance for fans of Lauren Roberts, Rebecca Ross and Stephanie Garber.

'You are my dearest destruction, my beguiling foe … and my Fated choice.''Fresh, fun, and compulsively moreish… A flawlessly executed enemies-to-lovers romance, with depth, heart, and just the right amount of spice!' – Charlotte Cross, author of The Brides.

'A fresh, exciting concept, full to the brim with yearning…The tension? Stunning. The spice? Delicious. Romantasy fans are going to devour this!'– Abbie Eaton, author of Dragonhart.

Renza Di Maineri is the leader of a realm on the brink of collapse. With time running out, she is forced to turn to the enigmatic Idris Patricelli.

But the arrival of Idris’s promised mercenaries unleashes death upon the city of Halice, exposing a traitor lurking within their innermost ranks. For the second time, Renza realizes that Idris may be the very man Fate has destined her to destroy, yet he is also the only one she can trust.

As chaos threatens to engulf her home, Renza finds herself drawn irresistibly closer to her soulhate. Can she walk the line between duty and desire to save the city she loves?

Praise for Hannah Kingsley'This book is frankly GENIUS. I couldn't put it down, nor could I stop thinking about it when I'd finished. If you're looking for political intrigue, morally ambiguous characters and a super portayal of enemies this book is for you’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of my top 10 reads and I cannot wait to read more… a must read for any romantasy fans’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'What a unique premise! I had a blast with this one. So delightful. What a twist on a beloved formula!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I LOVED this! A very entertaining enemies-to-lovers style book and I thought that it was so well done and had great banter, great characters, and interesting plot’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I could not put this book down… highly recommend this book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An unexpected favorite this year with a cast of interesting characters, a nicely executed plot with exciting mystery elements to it. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'It had a strong fantasy element that I was looking for… I was invested in the characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The concept of Soulmates and Soulhates adds a fresh, exciting twist to the enemies-to-lovers trope… an irresistible read that’s impossible to put down’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'There is so much to this book that I absolutely love and adore, I am a huge fan of enemies to lovers and I love the idea of there not only being soulmates but there also being soulhates’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The concept of “soulhate" is refreshingly unique, and I found myself captivated, devouring the book in a single day’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Romantasy, Audiobook

455 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2026

Reviews

[Singer_of_Stories · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I absolutely devoured this book. While I enjoyed the first book, I can definitely say that I enjoyed this one more. The tensions and stakes were high, and I was at the edge of my seat the whole time. I especially appreciated how well Hannah Kingsley described the bonds in the story. I felt like I could never forget the physicality of the characters and the real physical tension they were living with which definitely helped explain some of the more erratic decisions. I'm a bit sad this is an ARC because it means I'm going to have to wait a while to figure out what happens next, and I'm not excited about that.

That all being said, there were a few things that were detractors for me. Be warned that this book had more sexually explicit content than the first book (about two very steamy scenes and two much more explicit scenes), but you can skip them without losing any plot information (which is what I did). I also found that some of the descriptions were a bit odd at times, which occasionally took me out of the story.

On the whole, though, if you're looking for a politics-heavy story that also has a romance plotline, I'd say give this series a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

Oh we are so back! We’re dropped back in the aftermath of the betrayals of book 1, the political strife and lack of faith is nothing short of pure destruction for the city of Halice. Our FMC is trying to hold a lot together in this book, somehow much more than book 1. Her soulhate Idris is also a topic of constant controversy during book 2 as it brings our FMC passion and turbulence that makes for a fun and chaotic side romance plot.

Book 2 really shows us the lengths people will go to, to win. There’s more secrets than before and treachery at the heart of book 2 leads to even more twists and turns than before. Everyone in this book is tested and I look forward to seeing where the events of book 2 might lead us in book 3, I feel like we’re only just scratching the surface on how wild things are going to get. I’m just hoping our girl can trust someone soon.

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ Can you fall for your Soul Hate? Asking for a friend lol

This book was so beautiful, so immersive and just... uhhh! I loved it!
And, okay, so the cliffhanger didn’t fully kill me, but I do need book 3 STAT!

Full RTC!

This is an ARC review! Thank you so much, NetGalley and publisher, for granting it to me!

[Bente Kato · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Sleep well, my dearest nemesis. Tomorrow, we battle.”

🌟 rating: 2 (DNF)
📚 Genre: Romantic fantasy
🗓️ Publication date:09-01-2026———Arc received from netgalley and harpercollinsuk
🌺 Tropes: Soul mates/hates, who did this to you?, jealousy
👫 POV: single
🌶️ level: 1.5
#️⃣ pages: 432

Thank you harpercollinsuk for providing me with an arc of this book trough netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is very political, and I don’t necessarily think that’s bad. It just comes with a lot of political situations and settings and meetings that sometimes made the story drag a little bit for me. I do think the author writes well and this very much helps the world building.

The concept of soulmates and soul hates is one I found very intriguing and unique in this book (and book 1 as well), and I especially like the idea of what happens when you fall in love with your soul hates and the push and pull that comes with that. And in this book sometimes this was handled well and sometimes it gets repetitive (and feeling a it lazy to brush of all the time with oh this is our soulhate bond we are good now again).
But the point where I decided to DNF this book was when the author tried to play a bit more in the general setting with these soulhate and soulmate bonds that just irritated me to much. (Be aware some small spoilers here!!!!!!!!). I almost came to a DNF when the author brought in a soul hate bond between a father and his (young!!!) son, this just irked me. But I decided to definitely DNF when the author finally brought in a soulmate bonds to create some tension between two side characters that were in a relationship and then have one meet their soulmate. I did get the idea where the author wanted to show that these bonds might not be straightforward and all rainbows and sunshine. But she decided to solve this issue with the soulmate of one of those girls in the relationship being asexual and therefore relieved that her soulmate was already in a loving relationship because she wouldn’t be able to give her certain things and she therefore felt more than a sister. This whole situation just left a very bad taste in my mouth (roughly half way through) and made me decide that maybe this book wasn’t for me.

[SelinaW · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a very intriguing premise of the “soul hate” - the exact opposite of soulmate. It’s very close to what it sounds and beautifully developed in the story. This is a second book in a series and though I enjoyed it, I would have very much liked to have read the first (and will go back to do so now). Even though, the author does a beautiful job describing the world that she built that I never felt lost. The story is full of exciting political intrigue, set in a world not unlike a Roman one. Idris and Renza fight the outside world, malice from inside their own parties and their own reaction to their Fated bond, in order to cling on to the fierce feelings they have for each other. This story is so engagingly fast paced and drags you in right away. I am very much looking forward to the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a shame I didn't read this series from the beginning, but this second volume made a good impression on me with its complex plot. I was a little less convinced by the "soulhate" issue, but that's okay, maybe because I haven't read the first book. We'll see if the next volume will be the conclusion.

Peccato non aver letto questa serie dall'inizio, ma da questo secondo volume, che comunque mi ha fatto una buona impressione per la complessitá della trama. Un po' meno mi ha convinto la questione del "soulhate", ma ok, magari perché non ho letto il primo libro. Vedremo se il prossimo volume sará la conclusione.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[AnnaReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul Bound (and the first book in the series Soul Hate) is a book I had no idea i needed until I got it. I’ve never read anything like these books before.
Everyone heard about the concept of a soulmate or a soulbound but to have a soul hate, someone you hate with every fiber of your body. Wow…now that is a unique concept. And Hannah Kingsley does a terrific job with this.

The two main characters are amazing. Renza and Idris should be hating each other. They should try and kill each other. But no oh no they do the unthinkable. They fall for each other. How crazy is that??

I can’t even begin to describe what I went through while reading this book. I felt elated and terrified and joyful and gutted and I cried and I laughed and yelled and cried again. What a journey.

I can hardly wait what happens next.

I can only recommed Soul Bound.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy. All opnions are my own.

[Stacyfrancesreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul Bound by Hannah Kingsley was one of those sequels that reminded me exactly why I fell so hard for this series in the first place. I picked it up planning to read a few chapters and suddenly it was 2am and I was emotionally attached to everyone in Halice again. Four very deserved stars from me because this book is addictive, dramatic, and deeply unhinged in the best way.

Coming back to Renza and Idris after the ending of Soul Hate felt like stepping straight back into a storm that never really stopped raging. Halice is still on the brink, Renza is still carrying the weight of an entire realm on her shoulders, and Idris is still her Soulhate and her safest place all at once. That push and pull between them is even sharper here, especially because now they know exactly what they are to each other. Or at least, they know what Fate claims they are.

Renza remains a compelling romantasy heroines. She is still giving absolute queen behaviour, still taking no nonsense from anyone, even when her three aunts descend on Halice pretending to be there to “pay their respects”. Agosta is chaos wrapped in charm, Rialta is cold and calculating, and Fiora hides her ambition behind family smiles. Watching Renza navigate them was deliciously tense, especially when you remember just how ruthless she can be when it comes to protecting what is hers.

One of them tries to play clever, but Renza shuts that down with one of my favourite moments in the whole book.

"I don’t care how the Di Maineri act throughout the rest of the continent. Squabble and fight, betray each other and debase our bloodline all you like, but not here. Not with me. I would rather burn our family legacy to the ground.”

And when she's underestimates, Renza reminds people who she is:

“I am Renza Di Maineri. I am devoted to my family, and I am ruthless to my enemies… You could’ve been my family, but you chose to be my enemy. Terrible mistake.”

That is not a woman you cross lightly.

The political intrigue in this book is genuinely so well done. Between the mercenaries, the traitors in their midst, and the constant threat of Halice tearing itself apart, the stakes never drop. I loved meeting Tahira and Royah, especially Tahira as a mercenary leader who does not bow to anyone easily. She fits right into this morally grey world and adds so much texture to the power dynamics around Renza.

And then there is the found family: Michelle, Serra, Emilia, Alfieri, and Giulia all feel even more important here, especially as the story digs into what it means to choose each other over Fate. Michelle and Giulia’s storyline about whether love can be stronger than destiny is quietly heartbreaking. Serra still carries the trauma of solitary confinement and tries to drown it at the bottom of a bottle, and it hurts to watch. Emilia struggling with Renza’s decisions adds friction that feels painfully real. Alfieri, as always, comes in with the emotional truth bomb:

“Those that betray family are not family. Family isn’t blood, it’s a bond. It’s a silent promise.”

This series is so good at making found family feel sacred.

Now. Idris... Let's talk about Idris.

If you thought the yearning was bad in Soul Hate, Soul Bound said actually, let me ruin you... This man is feral, devoted, and painfully in love with a woman he is supposedly destined to destroy. The way he talks to Renza is unhinged in the most romantasy way possible.

“You’re not my distraction, Renza; you are my devotion.”

That line alone had me putting the book down to scream into the void.

Their banter is sharp and flirty, their tension is unbearable, and their emotional connection is devastating. I loved how Renza never lets him have all the power in their dynamic.

When Idris tries to tease her, she snaps right back.

"Suffer.”

Honestly, I adore her.

But underneath all the flirting and chaos is something so much deeper. Their bond is not just lust or Fate. It is choice. Idris knows it. Renza is still fighting it, but the truth keeps slipping out of her anyway.

“You’re mine, and I am yours. We’re inevitable.”

And when Idris answers with

“My sweetest rival, my divine nemesis. My Fated undoing.”

I was done for.

What I really loved in Soul Bound is how the story keeps questioning Fate instead of just accepting it. Renza does not want to be a puppet to the gods. Idris refuses to let their bond be reduced to hate. When Renza finally says: “The gods chose hate, but I choose love. We. Choose. Love.” it feels like the emotional thesis of the whole series.

There were also some genuinely shocking reveals in this book. I will not spoil anything, but I fully gasped more than once. Hannah Kingsley is very good at planting seeds and then ripping the rug out from under you when you think you know what is going on.

Soul Bound is everything I wanted from a sequel: bigger stakes, deeper emotions, messier politics, and a romance that hurts so good. Renza and Idris are still one of the most compelling romantasy pairings I have read in a while, and that ending had me staring at the wall, already desperate for book three.

If you loved Soul Hate, this one is going to absolutely wreck you in the best way. 💔✨

Thanks so much to Hannah Kingsley, One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Mn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 rounded down 💛
Okay, so many things to unpack! Read at your own risk, it contains major spoilers!
First of all, I would like to thank dear author for granting me this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. This review is mine only, and it is never intended for any harm or offence. it is just my opinions gathered in a review<3

I have to admit, i have put this book off until the very last month of deadline, because i simply didnt remember how the first book ended, and i was VERY worried I wouldn't be enjoying it as much just because i didn't remember it. But OH BOY when I started, I COULD NOT put it down! I can't believe the first half of a book, post fights from book 1, could be SO good! I absolutely devoured the first half.

It was also not so hard to get used to the new characters, and i actually connected with them more than i did with serra or emilia, sorry. I said what i said.. They were like a found family when Renza needed it the most, when she was on her lowest.

Speaking of Renza, Renza di Maineri to be full, is a mess. And unfortunately not in a good way in my opinion. And i have a full bulletlist of why.
- Starting with her aunts; even when she thought she shouldn't trust any of her aunts, she did trust all three, got betrayed by all three, got mad she got betrayed because she trusted... Like what are the odds that all three of someone's aunts decide to come on the same day, with all three a plot in their mind.. It isnt very realistic.
- She kept mentioning oh we are di Maineri, oh we are the maineri oh the maineri!. OKAY. WE GET IT. Instead of mentioning it exactly 102!!!! times, maybe just let us know by the actions.
"never trust a di maineri"
" we are di maineri after all"
"i am renza di maineri, will save halice"
"But you are a di maineri"
"You di maineris"
"di maineri name"
"renza die maineri, the youngest elected leader"
"di ma---" anyway. you get the idea. multiply that by 102 times.
- Also, how can you call it a character development if the character NEVER develops at all? Renza kept mentioning oh i will save it(she failed minimum 4 times). Dont worry leave it to me(going to edge of city to talk peace.) I can do this(she cried. she stumbled. she got stunned) she failed. over. and.over. AGAIN. she kept saying I would die for the democracy of this independent city of halice. But there.is.absolutely. NO difference between the first book and this one. NOTHING. 60% in, i am thinking, oh, isnt it time you get to action? something resolves? something ACTUALLY happens? SO MANY DEBATES, SO MANY UNNECESSARY AUNT BETRAYALS. SO MANY UNNCESARY SCENES. how in hell did serra and emilia forgive her for god's sake? just because she nearly died?........ I dont get it.

🗣️"But weren't there any good? You said you loved it?"
Yes. I did. There were absolutely perfects parts of this book aswell. As i do it with every review, i will quote those.
-"trying to sneak up on me, Di maineri?" Idris chuckles." Not everything is about you, Patriceli. Alfieri, do you have a moment?" THE SHOCK IN IDRIS' FACE OMGGGG I LOVE THIS ONE
- Idris being jealous over everything. LOVE IT.
-"Risking you isn't worth it."<3 THE MAN YOU ARE.
"For the record, i always want to see you"
" Protecting you has nothing to do with politics."
Also, the concept!!! The concept that made me start this book. What if you fall for the one you were meant to destroy? Makes me wonder if in the next book we will get a soulmate for eather of them.. It would be SO IRONICALLY TRAGIC. PLEASE DON'T.
I also loved how the bond between Renza and Idris was more specifically explained this time. How they felt, how it feels.
Okay, looking back, i realized Idris carried this book on his shoulders hahahahah
and i absolutely agree with him that he is rightly mad about Renza being a Maestrus. Absolutely. That is so unlike what she stands for.
Thank you for reading💛

[Rebecca Veight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are tentative for Halice after the Great Rebellion and the Holy States are not letting it go. Idris has invited mercenaries to help the situation, while Renza disagrees. This is a decision that may just blow up in their faces. As they work towards stabilizing their home, someone or maybe more than one person are working behind the scenes to force them into failure. Will they be able to save their city, or is outright war inevitable?

We are introduced back into the world of Halice in the middle of an Electi meeting that cleverly lets us know what the situation is at present. Enveloping us is the feel of an Ancient Rome-like world, with the expected political machinations, on the teetering brink of an explosive outcome. The Holy States debacle is not forgotten of course and the pressure from them is on. The author describes the environment and the people with a twinkle in her eye. Color and light are the beloved leads. All else is presented with evocative images of utter vibrancy that echo the emotions of our protagonist. I have always enjoyed how the soul hate is depicted, using lyrical notes of genius, the forced, in forced proximity, is taken to a whole new level. And with them also wanting each other, the turmoil is more than palpable.

In the sequel, we are again privy to Renza's inner thoughts in the most engaging and often chuckle-worthy way. Idris is as swoony, "stupidly arrogant" according to Renza, and hero-like as ever. Their mutual stubbornness, even if their hearts are in the right place, leads to inevitable head-butting. There is a whole new dynamic with the arrival of the aunts and their meddling. The consequences of the events from book one are showing in everything, including the affected characters, weaving into the storyline in a heartwarming or/and gut-wrenching manner. The beloved secondary characters continue to add and be true parts of the story, not props, to which I must applaud the author. The surprises, the hits from known and unknown enemies keep coming. There were moments when I wanted to scream at the book, but that only shows how intelligently the writing gets me invested.

There are instances when the descriptions of things feel like unnecessary hyperbole, hitting a nerve with their timing and repetitiveness. I mean how many mentions do we need of how the High Chamber looks? I still hate the overuse, actually any use of the word creamy in the descriptions. It really needs to go.

Dealing with power struggles and the cruelty they can bring, it showcases the strength of hope, of belief, of the human spirit. Can you truly upend Fate? And is freedom an illusion?

Thrilling, fraught with danger, devious plots and betrayals, this was an amazing sequel. Gifting us with the anticipated and much-appreciated banter, the uplifting relationships that are put to the test, and yearning that steals your breath, it solidifies its place in the favorites column. I cannot wait for the next one.

[Sara Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you found yourself bound to another person by fate? But the fate isn’t to love. It’s to hate.

Renza and Idris are Soulhates, bound to react negatively to each other, bound to each other’s deaths. But they flaunt fate and work together to protect their city. Bound by desire and a deep friendship, they must take on the Holy States empire trying to conquer their country, first by assassination and then by seige. In their desperation they turn to hired mercenaries, but all that does is help them figure out that there are traitors within their circle, perhaps the people closest to them.

Renza is a great pov character: compassionaite, intelligent, brave and strong, full of a sense of justice and ready to fight for what she believes in. She has her moments of weakness but also a wonderful group of friends and a terrific sister to lean on, not to mention her deep seated allyship with Idris. He is absolutely in love with her from the begining. I guessed it as soon as we met him, and he just kept on proving me right as the book went on. Their romance is scorching—at one moment they are physically drawn together and the next the bond makes them want to hurt each other. It is a fine line they walk between desire and death and it just made everything even better.

My only complaint about the book is that we open up in the middle of the conflict, when the Holy States have already attacked, killed the previous Electi Council and many other prominent characters that were in charge of various positions in the city. All the relationships are already formed and we miss out on a lot of that plot. It felt like coming in at book two of a trilogy and I was missing book one. There is enough context and conversation between the surviving characters to understand, but there were several parts where I was confused.

The ending was definitely not what I was expecting and the cliffhanger rather painful. I am in need of the next book ASAP!

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know that feeling when you open a book and within five pages you just know you’re about to become unwell over two people who absolutely should NOT be in the same room together?
Yeah. That was me with Renza and Idris.

This book said:

✨ enemies to lovers but make it fated

✨ soulmates? no. S O U L H A T E S

✨ political intrigue, assassination attempts, and yearning so potent you could bottle it

✨ “I want to kill you but also kiss you” bingo EVERY CHAPTER
Renza Di Maineri is that girl , the kind of fierce, sharp edged leader who’s holding her realm together with grit, strategy, and probably too much caffeine.

When everything is falling apart, she reluctantly turns to Idris Patricelli, a man who radiates “I am dangerous and inconveniently attractive” energy.

Naturally, his arrival brings:

❌ chaos

❌ death

❌ betrayal

❌ the uncomfortable realisation that Fate might be playing a cosmic joke

The tension?
Criminal.

Every scene between them felt like someone rubbing flint and steel together…sparks, heat, and the constant threat of someone getting burned (emotionally… and possibly literally).

The world building is rich, the political scheming keeps the plot humming, and the soulmate/soul hate concept? GENIUS. It takes the classic fated trope, flips it on its head, dunks it in angst, and sprinkles spice on top.

If you love:

🔥 enemies to lovers that actually FEELS like enemies to lovers

🗝 big fantasy stakes + bigger emotions

👀 morally ambiguous, sharp tongued characters

💥 political intrigue that keeps you second guessing

💘 yearning so potent you can hear it humming
…then Soul Bound will eat you alive (in a good way).

The “you are my dearest destruction” line alone made me feral.
Hannah Kingsley, you have my attention. I am already emotionally compromised for book two.

[lena_likes_to_read · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I did not read book one and also did not know this was the second book until around the 70% mark, so my review is slightly based around this fact.

For getting thrown into this world without any prior knowledge of the political landscape and in the midst of a crisis, I caught on fairly quick. This is a huge compliment to Hannah's storytelling, because it is not easy for me to understand foreign politics, let alone when everything is going haywire.

I loved all the small conflicts popping up and getting solved in a less obvious way than I would expect of a fantasy book. They relied much more on diplomatic solutions and did not whip out their swords for every little thing. It was so refreshing to see Renza's silver tongue solve those problems, and keeping calm during the flare-ups of her Soulhate bond. That must be so hard and I applaud her for it.

What did irk me a bit was Idris' lack of communication skills. How can this man be a politician, someone who is known for being eloquent and having no lack of words, keep so much hidden from Renza until it's too late. If she had known about half of his plans beforehand, there wouldn't have been so many big reactions from her and she could've helped flesh them out. They work so much better together than against each other.

Their Soulhate bond did make the romance blooming between them even better. In practice, their not enemies but rather fighting together against the same evil, but their souls hate each other. It makes for such an interesting relationship, their minds warring, trying to figure out why those feelings are there. I love how Renza suppresses them in the beginning because she has been told they are destined to destroy each other and she is against violence.

Thank you Hannah Kingsley and Netgalley for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ Blurb -
You are my dearest destruction, my beguiling foe … and my Fated choice.''Fresh, fun, and compulsively moreish, in Soul Bound Hannah Kingsley takes everything we think we know about soulmates and flips it on its head. A flawlessly executed enemies-to-lovers romance, with depth, heart, and just the right amount of spice!' – Charlotte Cross, author of The Brides.
Renza Di Maineri is the leader of a realm on the brink of collapse. With time running out, she is forced to turn to the enigmatic Idris Patricelli.
But the arrival of Idris’s promised mercenaries unleashes death upon the city of Halice, exposing a traitor lurking within their innermost ranks. For the second time, Renza realizes that Idris may be the very man Fate has destined her to destroy, yet he is also the only one she can trust.
As chaos threatens to engulf her home, Renza finds herself drawn irresistibly closer to her soulhate. Can she walk the line between duty and desire to save the city she loves?
💓 Review -
This is the first book that I have read by the author and even though it's the second book in the series I still enjoyed it and I soon understood what was going on. The story was brilliantly written and had good pacing. The author's writing was so good that sometimes I forgot that I was reading and I felt like I was a character in the book. I loved the place settings in the story and there was a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and the author, Hannah Kingsley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Renza Di Maineri feels like she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. After being betrayed by her lover and protecting Hallice from the Great Rebellion, Renza must turn to her soulhate in order to figure out the next steps. However, in disagreement with him, Idris, her soulhate, decides to bring in three groups of mercenaries to help protect the city. This decision could end up blowing up in their faces, but the Electi decide to hear out the mercenaries once before making a final decision.

First off, I didn't realize this was the second book in the series. While I decided to forge on a head without reading the first one, I will go back to check it out. I felt like you didn't necessarily need to have that background after reading it, but would have made for a better understanding of the bonds and worldbuilding. I really like the concept of soulmates and soulhates - soulhates isn't something we have really seen in books before and I do enjoy how it causes the passion between Idris and Renza. Although, not sure if it's just me, but I thought it was weird to create a soulhate bond between a parent and child, and also thought it was kind of lazy writing to make one person in a soulmate bond be asexual, so that the other person could be with their original partner. The other thing I did enjoy about this book was all the political intrigue - I love plotting, back stabbing. While I do love it, it may have been overused a tad bit in the novel, so that it felt a little redundant and boring. The pacing felt a bit uneven.

I will read the last book because it ended on a cliffhanger, which was honestly kind of annoying because Idris did the same thing to Renza, and she is just trying to save the damn city.

Thanks to Netgalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review.

why did i read? liked the premise and the cover. Would I read again? Not sure.

[Monica Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're back in the early Italian states world of Soul Hate, and the book doesn't lag about jumping right back into the action. Our main characters, Renza and Idris, are serving as Electi and still helping their home city of Halice recover from its betrayal. But the book doesn't hesitate to jump right into the action - many, many schemes are a foot. I enjoyed the political manoeuvring, and the book is very relevant to the current politics - the council meetings include some quite pointed conversations about trickle down economics. The book also has a large cast of characters, which means that quite a diverse perspective is seen and offered.

But there were two things I really loved about the book - the first is that in the second half, Idris and Renza spend some time alone (which is hard in a book with so many characters), and the reader can see what the two are unable to admit - they're deeply in love and the idea of a Soulhate must be more than just pure adversaries. I will say, I do hope that neither of them has a soulmate introduced into the mix in later instalments. The book also subtly follows the characters into authoritarianism - from their POV, it seems like a totally rational idea until the reader understands just how far it has gone.

This book has made me incredibly excited for the next instalment. This is for fans of Rebecca Ross and Abbie Eaton. Thanks to Harper Collins for the early copy.

[Mae of Scotland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul Bound continues the treacherous tale of political machinations and dark conspiracies, leaving you head spinning about who to trust in the fallout of the revolution. The writing is gripping, richly descriptive and had me hanging on every word with anticipation, dread and speculation about the next plot twist. The immersive world draws you into a fraught world of tensions and the beautifully crafted city-state of Halice, a rich culture full of diversity, with Roman Empire vibes, a city of tolerance, featuring extraordinary character diversity and queer representation.

The states were high in the first book, but Hannah Kingsley knows how to double down to make things deadlier and up the antsy with city of Halice on the brink with food supplies dwindling, vultures circling, and trust hanging on a knife edge as protagonists, Renza and Idris, battle their potent hateful urges to forge wills of steel against the Holy State that threats to destroy the city they serve. Another rip-roaring rollercoaster read with a nose-dive cliff-hanger ending that left my heart in tatters! I’m going to be a cat dancing across a hot tin roof for the next book. Hannah Kingsley is an author worth waiting for. Bring on book three, as I need more stat!

Thank you to @onemorechapterhc for approving my request on @Netgalley for a digital ARC of Soul Bound. Soul Bounds releases in the UK on 15th January 2026

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Soul Bound” appears to be more political than “Soul Hate,” which I genuinely liked at first. However, the descriptions and explanations of these politics, and the worldbuilding (again) felt lazily and stiffly written.

I didn’t particularly mind Renza in the first book, but in the second she became increasingly irritating. The FMC’s thought process made me seriously consider dropping the book altogether.

As for the plot—while the initial concept was intriguing, the execution in “Soul Bound” was predictable and dry. The first book didn’t rely heavily on specific tropes aside from enemies-to-lovers (with “lovers” being questionable at best), whereas this installment overflows with them.

I also found that most of the characters irritated me due to a lack of proper introduction and development. Bad characters are simply bad, good characters are simply good—the bad one kicks the puppy, the good one saves it. All the characters, including Renza and Idris, felt too one-dimensional and unrealistically perfect. Characters need depth for readers to become attached to them: let them make mistakes, let them be selfish, let us see their flaws.

Overall, the book feels as though it was written specifically for the BookTok audience, and I couldn’t find the elements to truly engage me or give me something to hold onto.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK-One More Chapter for the ARC.

[CallyMia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars because I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first!
The concept of having a soulhate - the opposite of a soulmate - is what I find interesting in this series, it’s something I’ve not read before and I think it creates an interesting relationship dynamic between the fmc and mmc. Despite being soulhates Idris and Renza have feelings for each other, which is developed further in this book following on from the first book, and I think fighting the part of them which is soulhates alongside their romantic feelings makes for a fun storyline.
The plot was okay, their city/land is in dire need as the economy etc is failing and people are going hungry and there’s no jobs or money, and they are now also faced with a possible invasion / attack. Idris asks 3 different groups of people for help, and when they arrive there is an attack on Idris and Menza is hurt and they have to find out who has betrayed them. I thought the plot was fine but I needed more to make me more invested, it was a bit plain and simple and could have been more in depth and more world building etc.
However, I do like the writing style it makes for a quick easy read and I would recommend this for someone maybe starting out with fantasy books or doesn’t want anything too heavy and just a fun easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renza Di Maineri is holding her realm together by a thread, and then Idris Patricelli shows up—handsome, but infuriating. Whenever they interact - it's messy and chaotic but in the most addicting way if that makes sense? I can't tell you how many times I thought, “Why are these two even in the same room?!”.

The soulhate concept is unique and refreshing —a new twist on the whole fated bond idea. I really enjoyed watching Renza and Idris fight against their feelings for each other. My favorite part of this book was their relationship and romance. It’s slow-burn and actually believable, with little moments that sunk their emotional claws into me. The writing makes the world feel alive and grounded, letting you slip into the mythology naturally without feeling overwhelmed.

The story itself moves at a mostly steady pace, though there are moments that seem a bit slow. My main critique is that I found myself wanting more worldbuilding while I was reading. .


If you like enemies-to-lovers that actually feel like enemies-to-lovers, morally gray characters, tension that never lets up, and a fated bond that comes with chaos and sparks, this is your jam. Renza and Idris will wreck you—in the best way possible.

If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers that actually feel real, morally gray heroes, non-stop drama, and a chaotic fated connection, this book’s got you.

[Valerie York · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soul Bound
By Hannah Kingsley
Soul Bound is the middle novel in a trilogy. It needs to be after its predecessor. It also needs the 3 installment to hopefully conclude. Would have been helpful to know that going. In a fantasy world in the previous installment the Holy States tried to violently take over the city of Halice.

Renza is an Electi in power along 5 others including her Soul Hate named Idris. They are bound nemesises. I felt like I was thrown in trying to figure everything out mid story which I was. I like the MCs. The rest of the characters seemed like a hodge podge squad of who we trust will betray us. The end of this installment is a letdown because there is no resolution and a chug ahead to the next installment. There is lots of political backstabbing and I have not put together the first book from reading the second. I’m I interested enough to pick up the 3rd book in September. Probably.

This is not a satisfying novel out of context. This Soul Hate/ Soul Mate situation is not balanced or explained in enough detail imo.
So I recommend reading series in order and hope the last installment brings satisfaction, explanation and connection. I want the soul hate/ soul mate issue resolved. Some spice, , you do feel their connection and are rooting for them.

Thank you to HarperCollinsUK and NetGalley for a digital copy for my honest review.

[Ranjini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5⭐️

Book Review: Soul Bound by Hannah Kingsley

Blurb:
Soul Bound is the second book in the Soul Hate series. It follows Renza Di Maineri, a newly elected young leader of Halice, and her Soul Hate, Idris Patricelli—her political rival from a powerful and reputed family. Set against political intrigue and an impending war, the story takes us on a journey from soul hate to soul bound. Fate binds them as soul hates, yet forced proximity and undeniable attraction slowly turn their rivalry into romance.

Thoughts:
I really loved this second book, even though I haven’t read the first one—and now I truly wish I had. The author’s writing style is simple, engaging, and very easy to turn pages. Idris quickly became a favourite character. I loved how the FMC and MMC interact despite being soul hates and political rivals; their growing attraction, and the way their bond forms felt compelling and emotional. Both main characters are willing to die for each other, which made their relationship even more powerful.
I also enjoyed the side characters, especially Giulia and Tahira. This book leans heavily into political betrayal and family drama, setting the stage perfectly for the third book. Overall, it’s an easy and enjoyable read if you love enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and political war themes. I’m eagerly waiting for the third book to learn more about Renza and Idris’s story.

[Bai Broadwater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

I loved returning to Renza's world to see what absolute chaos will occur in her world next (this poor girl can never rest, it seems).

The new characters introduced in this story are incredible - the strong, resilient women leaders are eloquently written and perfectly raw. I enjoyed Renza finding more friends and people to find strength and leadership qualities from. And, very obviously, I love Idris (I would have loved to see more of him in this book like the last!)

The language and tone are very similar from the first book; the language is lush, but sometimes feels like there's too many descriptive words, and it pulls me out of the story a bit. I don't love that the villains in these stories are typical archetype "bad guys" - I saw the plot twist coming (a few of them) and it felt very obvious to me what was going to happen in the end. It was also frustrating watching all of Renza's friends turn on her - I know the things they have been through and the damages of war are pressing on their society, but their anger and angst towards only her felt forced.

This was a great second piece of the story, I will be interested to see what the future has in store for Halacia!

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renza Di Maineri es una de las siete Electi que gobiernan la ciudad libre de Halice, un enclave independiente que intenta sobrevivir tras una devastadora rebelión. A sus veintiún años, Renza carga con el peso de la política, las pérdidas familiares y un destino cruel: estar unida por un lazo eterno con su Soulhate, Idris Patricelli, el hombre que el destino marcó como su opuesto, su tormento y su salvación.

Cuando la amenaza de los fanáticos Estados Santos vuelve a acechar y el bloqueo marítimo pone a la ciudad al borde del colapso, Renza e Idris deben dejar de lado su odio ardiente para salvar Halice. Entre conspiraciones, lazos familiares llenos de secretos y un vínculo que mezcla deseo, rabia y destino, ambos descubrirán que la línea entre el amor y la destrucción es tan delgada como su propia humanidad.

___


Espero que en el próximo libro Renza no se deje llevar por los sentimientos hacia Idris, considerando lo que debe estar lista para hacer lo que sea para salvar a su pueblo.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Marie-Hélène · Rating 4 out of 5]

The unique premise of this series is so refreshing. Being connected by Fate to another, a Fated that you have no say or choice in, to love or to hate, is a premise I have never seen done like this before. Defying Fate and defying what’s written in the stars is a storyline I very much appreciate, and Hannah Kingsley does it well.

This second book is a lot more emotional than the first one was, especially after the happenings at the end of Soul Hate. Tensions run high, adversity affects everyone differently, and they need to find their way without and opposite the Holy States so times are hard. This series brings a very interesting interaction between interpersonal relationships in a very high stakes political setting.

I flew through this book at the same speed I flew through the first one. It doesn’t suffer from the terrible second book-syndrome many stories do, although you can tell this is Hannah’s first series. I sometimes miss nuance in interpersonal relationships and in chapter development, but the consistency to mainly Renza’s strong will and sense of justice fits and makes complete sense. I genuinely look forward to the next book and where the story will take us!

[Ifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an advanced reader copy of this book.

Hannah has done it again! I loved the concept of a soul hate in the first book and the tension was just as great in this one! The story sucked me in with political intrigue, action, betrayal, and of course romance! I loved the twists in this one and am seated for the next book especially after the way it ended!

I also like that more of Idris and Renza’s relationship was shown with more depth of them romantically and as political allies and adversaries. Their dynamic was interesting and the tension between them during their arguments and romantically was chefs kiss. The plot was also intriguing to follow and I couldn’t put it down! I love politics in books so this is right up my alley. I predicted some of the twists but they were still great to read!

I cannot wait to see what is in store for Halice next!

[Antonella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Renza Di Maineri, leader of a realm on the brink of collapse, must rely on the enigmatic Idris Patricelli though his mercenaries bring devastation and betrayal to her city. Their bond is fraught with danger, passion, and fate, as Renza struggles to decide whether Idris is her salvation or her destruction.

While the premise is compelling and the tension between Renza and Idris has its moments, the execution didn’t fully land for me. The pacing felt uneven, and though the spice and yearning were present, I wasn’t as swept away as I’d hoped. It was an okay read overall; solid worldbuilding, but not one that lingered after I turned the final page.

If you want to read a romantasy with unique premise give this one a chance, just be aware that this is book two and ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger.

Grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

🎶control by halsey

[Alieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This review will not be coherent and I'm just typing anything I think of sorry)

Thought this was going to be a duology so sad that we don't know the outcome 😭.

What. A. Rollercoaster. The relationship, the politics, everything seemed to go so well at some point, only to crash the next chapter. There was constantly sth going on and I loved it. I'm so happy there was focus on the relationships (and a little added spice) but ALSO on the politics and neither got boring.

When our FMC fought with her loved ones and she starts doubting herself, she even had me believing we were going to find out she was secretly corrupted all along (how weird would that be haha). But that's how well it was written.

In the end, I was suspicious of everything and everyone. She hears a noise? WHAT IF IT'S AN ASSASSIN. She sees a shadow? WHAT IF ASSASSIN? She accepts a drink from someone? ASSASSIN??! She pours herself a drink? ...Assassin?

Would definitely recommend.

[morgs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was even better than book 1!!👏🏼👏🏼

Like the first book in the series, this is quite heavy on the political aspect. I found in this book it was refreshing with the different ways that conflicts were handled, rather than things being sorted out with fighting constantly there were different approaches which I enjoyed reading.

The tension between Renza & Idris in this book was off the charts. I LOVE the constant battle of them needing eachother but also needing to violently attack eachother, but their love always comes through and I adore them. One thing, I wish Idris was a better communicator (which he should be as this politician) with Renza, as some of their issues earlier in the book wouldn’t have happened.

The world building is rich, more so in this book. I wish we’d had a lil more development of side characters maybe? But the constant betrayals and schemes kept me on my toes and overall I really enjoyed this read, I need the next book!!

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul Bound is the highly anticipated SECOND installment in the Soul Hate series, continuing the dramatic fantasy romance saga that blends intense political stakes with a sizzling enemies to lovers. Renza Di Maineri, leader of the besieged city of Halice, must navigate treacherous alliances, internal conspiracies, and the complicated pull toward her supposed bounded soulhate, Idris Patricelli as external dangers threaten everything she holds dear.

📝 Story & Themes: Kingsley deftly layers political intrigue and emotional conflict, forcing Renza to balance duty w| desire as mercenaries, traitors, and threats to Halice’s survival swirl around her. The pull between Renza and Idris flips between danger and devotion, giving the story palpable tension and heart. Makes the story a page turner and engaging.

‼️ I was not aware this was book two. It wasn’t in the book description nor did it allude to it being a sequel. Although I was able to read this book and understood the plot, I did feel like I was missing some backstories between character.

Overall, Soul Bound is a great blend of fantasy and romance that will satisfy lovers of emotionally charged enemies to lovers stories and layered, character driven plots set against epic stakes.

Thank you, HarperCollins Publishers (UK) / One More Chapter for my gifted e-arc 💕