What do you think?
Rate this book
Key To the Bloodbound
Hazel Schade didn’t ask for glowing eyes, cryptic visions, or a best friend who can literally talk to trees. But here she is—dodging shadows, lying to her mom, and maybe falling for a shapeshifter with too many secrets. Something strange is stirring in the woods of Stonehollow. Magic is waking, old powers are shifting, and Hazel’s family history isn’t just complicated… it’s cursed. Willow, her fiercely protective druid bestie, swears the abandoned quarry is giving off weird vibes. Hazel would laugh—if the wind weren’t whispering her name and the ominous smoke clouds didn’t try to choke her whole last Friday. Three sacred keys. A Bloodbound legacy. And a darkness that knows her name. Power comes with a price. Hazel’s is written in blood. And blood...rules all.
349 pages, Hardcover
Published December 25, 2025
2 people are currently reading
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 19, 2026
Key to the Bloodbound
By Tesia Mentzer
No Spoiler Review
YA Shifter/Witch romantasy
This was a fantastic read! The trope is not original, coming-of-age/powers awaken, but I don’t mind as long as the author owns it and crafts a story that engages and draws the reader in. T. Mentzer did exactly that with her debut novel and first installment in the Rift Series. Right off the bat, I appreciated the Cast of Characters presented at the very front of the book. This makes it easier to get to know the players as they develop throughout the story. Targeting young adult audiences, there is no spice but plenty of romantic tension.
During the week leading up to Hazel Schade’s 18th birthday, strange things begin happening. Odd shadows, eerie feelings, strange dreams, and visual distortions. And those are just the personal effects. When lights start flickering, fire alarms go off, coffee cups explode, she becomes doubly concerned. In this tale, the mystic arts intertwine shape shifting, warlock/witchcraft, and druidic magic—each portrayed by one of the three main characters, Hazel, cursed with the blood of her evil grandsire, Cole, whose shifter totems are a crow, a fox, and a fierce panther he cannot control, and Willow, her childhood druid guardian and best friend.
With dreams come portents. Secrets unveil more questions. Secrets kept from her by the ones she trusted above all else. Until they can no longer be contained, and her birthright is exposed. Suddenly, Hazel has a job to do. With no literal clue how to do it. With the help of her two friends, she must risk it all to figure just what the problem is, how it affects her, and what she is supposed to do about it.
Key to the Bloodbound is a fast-paced young adult adventure full of magic, mayhem, slow-burning romance, and unfailing friendship between friends who will stop at nothing to unearth the truth and protect each other in the process.
I give Bloodbound four solid stars and eagerly look forward to future installments.
By Tesia Mentzer
No Spoiler Review
YA Shifter/Witch romantasy
This was a fantastic read! The trope is not original, coming-of-age/powers awaken, but I don’t mind as long as the author owns it and crafts a story that engages and draws the reader in. T. Mentzer did exactly that with her debut novel and first installment in the Rift Series. Right off the bat, I appreciated the Cast of Characters presented at the very front of the book. This makes it easier to get to know the players as they develop throughout the story. Targeting young adult audiences, there is no spice but plenty of romantic tension.
During the week leading up to Hazel Schade’s 18th birthday, strange things begin happening. Odd shadows, eerie feelings, strange dreams, and visual distortions. And those are just the personal effects. When lights start flickering, fire alarms go off, coffee cups explode, she becomes doubly concerned. In this tale, the mystic arts intertwine shape shifting, warlock/witchcraft, and druidic magic—each portrayed by one of the three main characters, Hazel, cursed with the blood of her evil grandsire, Cole, whose shifter totems are a crow, a fox, and a fierce panther he cannot control, and Willow, her childhood druid guardian and best friend.
With dreams come portents. Secrets unveil more questions. Secrets kept from her by the ones she trusted above all else. Until they can no longer be contained, and her birthright is exposed. Suddenly, Hazel has a job to do. With no literal clue how to do it. With the help of her two friends, she must risk it all to figure just what the problem is, how it affects her, and what she is supposed to do about it.
Key to the Bloodbound is a fast-paced young adult adventure full of magic, mayhem, slow-burning romance, and unfailing friendship between friends who will stop at nothing to unearth the truth and protect each other in the process.
I give Bloodbound four solid stars and eagerly look forward to future installments.
January 12, 2026
Key To the Bloodbound is a dark, magical ride packed with mystery, danger, and just the right touch of romance. Hazel Schade is a great heroine, relatable, stubborn, and brave, even when she has no idea what she’s walking into. Between glowing eyes, cursed bloodlines, and a shapeshifter with too many secrets, her world turns upside down fast.
The story builds an eerie, atmospheric setting where the woods feel alive and magic hums beneath the surface. The tension stays high, the secrets keep piling up, and the stakes feel real. Willow is a standout best friend, and the Bloodbound mythology adds depth and intrigue.
If you love supernatural fantasy with strong friendships, hidden legacies, and a slow burn mystery, this book is an exciting start to a thrilling trilogy.
The story builds an eerie, atmospheric setting where the woods feel alive and magic hums beneath the surface. The tension stays high, the secrets keep piling up, and the stakes feel real. Willow is a standout best friend, and the Bloodbound mythology adds depth and intrigue.
If you love supernatural fantasy with strong friendships, hidden legacies, and a slow burn mystery, this book is an exciting start to a thrilling trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews