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Tethered by Deception
Lilith
Shattered by betrayal, she races to escape the palace before the prince drags her deeper into his ruthless plans. Yet, the further she digs into the truth of his obsession, the more she realizes her freedom is not her salvation—it demands a sacrifice that could alter the fate of the realm…but destroy her in the process.
FeliciaImprisoned by the newly risen cult, the Apostles of The Reckoning, she must reach Lilith before the Void engulfs the kingdom. But she is not alone.
The Apostles have taken others, innocent souls, as prisoners under the Temple, and she may be their last hope.
Shattered by betrayal, she races to escape the palace before the prince drags her deeper into his ruthless plans. Yet, the further she digs into the truth of his obsession, the more she realizes her freedom is not her salvation—it demands a sacrifice that could alter the fate of the realm…but destroy her in the process.
FeliciaImprisoned by the newly risen cult, the Apostles of The Reckoning, she must reach Lilith before the Void engulfs the kingdom. But she is not alone.
The Apostles have taken others, innocent souls, as prisoners under the Temple, and she may be their last hope.
- GenresFantasy
431 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 24, 2026
As expected, this book did not leave my hands, until I stared at the last page like I could scare it into giving me just one more chapter.
The fire, the rage, and the unyielding loyalty Lilith shows had me absolutely smiling and kicking my feet. Watching her come into her power a little more was truly one of the most satisfying experiences ever.
The extra POVs had me both biting my nails into stumps and my mind was constantly asking the question, “what next?!”.
My only complaint; is that I needed book three in my hands, like, last week.
Thank you Katherine for not only yet another amazing story, but sending me an eARC🤍
The fire, the rage, and the unyielding loyalty Lilith shows had me absolutely smiling and kicking my feet. Watching her come into her power a little more was truly one of the most satisfying experiences ever.
The extra POVs had me both biting my nails into stumps and my mind was constantly asking the question, “what next?!”.
My only complaint; is that I needed book three in my hands, like, last week.
Thank you Katherine for not only yet another amazing story, but sending me an eARC🤍
Review of advance copy received from Author
Was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC copy. Thank you katherine.
I discovered this author through a local book event coming up. I read the first book bound by runes in 2 days only to realize it was a series!! I couldn't wait for the second book and now I cant wait for the third!!
I very much enjoyed this book, I enjoyed Lilith's character development and the wrath of the female characters in this book. Don't want to give spoilers so thats all im saying!
The only downside of this book? Cliffhanger ending.. again!! And the wait for book 3!
I discovered this author through a local book event coming up. I read the first book bound by runes in 2 days only to realize it was a series!! I couldn't wait for the second book and now I cant wait for the third!!
I very much enjoyed this book, I enjoyed Lilith's character development and the wrath of the female characters in this book. Don't want to give spoilers so thats all im saying!
The only downside of this book? Cliffhanger ending.. again!! And the wait for book 3!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review — thank you Katherine Scheirer for the gifted eARC.
Book: Tethered by Deception
Series: The Cursed Runes (#2)
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Rating: 3.5⭐️
3/5 Relationships
4/5 Characters
3.5/5 Plot
3.5 🌶
*:✿˚⋆ SPOILER FREE REVIEW *:✿˚⋆
I really enjoyed the first installment of this series, and could not wait to start this sequel. I did a reread of book one in preparation, and since we pick up exactly where we left off, it was very easy to dive right back in.
— Plot —
I love the overall plot of this series. It blends fantasy with eeriness so well, and I was very excited to see it unfold further. I was especially curious to learn more about the Void and how it would reshape our understanding of the story.
While we did receive some important information, I was a little disappointed that we didn’t dig deeper into the mystery of the Void. Since this isn’t the final installment, I’m assuming we’ll learn more in the next book — but my curiosity definitely wasn’t fully satisfied here.
This installment focused more on who Demetrius is and why he did what he did, as well as Lilith’s development and self-discovery — which I did enjoy. I just found myself wanting a bit more depth on the broader plot.
— Characters —
I really enjoyed the character development in this book. We had already explored several characters in the previous installment, but this one gave us much deeper insight.
The multi-POV format works very well here. It not only expands our understanding of certain characters but also allows us to see their internal motivations in a way we never could through Lilith’s perspective alone. This added valuable nuance to many actions and decisions.
Lilith’s POV especially showed strong growth. I loved the buildup of feminine rage within her and the satisfying resilience and determination that followed. I was also very grateful that we gained a better understanding of the origins of her runes.
We’re also introduced to a few new characters (no spoilers!), and their presence made the story even more intriguing. I’m genuinely excited to see how they will impact future installments.
— Worldbuilding —
The worldbuilding expanded primarily through the introduction of new characters and what they may bring to the world moving forward.
However, there wasn’t much additional development of the world we already knew. This is where I especially wished we had learned more about the Void and its origins. Hopefully that deeper exploration is coming in the next book.
Overall, the new additions answered some questions but feel poised to have a bigger impact later in the series.
— Relationships —
This was the hardest category for me to rate and probably my least favorite aspect of the book.
In the first installment, the angst and slow burn felt very natural. Here, at times, it felt a bit forced. I enjoyed the yearning, but the push-and-pull dynamic occasionally felt inconsistent — almost present solely to maintain the slow burn.
I did love seeing the relationship from Demetrius’s POV, which added another layer of yearning. However, if I’m being completely honest, the “morally gray” aspect of his character felt a bit too gray for me in this book.
At times, Demetrius’s actions and values felt genuinely awful and difficult for me to reconcile. I love a morally gray MMC, but there were many moments where I found myself rooting for Lilith to find love elsewhere.
Even though we learn more about why Demetrius is the way he is, the way he sometimes bulldozes over Lilith’s emotions and values to get what he wants had me wanting to shake some sense and empathy into him.
I was also a little disappointed that Lilith didn’t stand her ground more consistently. At times, it felt like she would firmly hold to her values — only for her attraction to override things she previously viewed as unforgivable. Given how strong-willed and empathetic she is, this occasionally felt slightly out of character to me.
That said, we do see glimpses of a version of Demetrius that I genuinely loved and wish had been more prominent. Most of those moments occurred when Lilith was involved, and I truly do believe they are meant to be together. My main struggle was that outside of those moments, he often felt far beyond morally gray.
I am very intrigued to see how their relationship evolves now that we have more context for who they are and why they behave the way they do.
— Writing —
The writing was occasionally a bit choppy, but the overall tone and flow remained consistent throughout.
— Cliffhanger —
The cliffhanger here wasn’t as intense as book one. The first installment left me completely shook and desperate for the sequel. This ending was more of an “I’m excited to see what happens next” kind of cliffhanger — which is still enjoyable, just less urgent.
— Final Thoughts —
Overall, I don’t think this installment was quite as strong as the first. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it — because I really did — but I do wish we had gotten more depth regarding the Void, the new characters, and the broader world.
I also would have loved to see more yearning and more meaningful work toward forgiveness where Demetrius is concerned.
That said, I loved the feminine rage that Lilith and Felicia brought to the story, as well as the added depth given to returning characters. I’m still very excited to see where this series goes, and I will definitely be rereading this installment before the next release.
Book: Tethered by Deception
Series: The Cursed Runes (#2)
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Rating: 3.5⭐️
3/5 Relationships
4/5 Characters
3.5/5 Plot
3.5 🌶
*:✿˚⋆ SPOILER FREE REVIEW *:✿˚⋆
I really enjoyed the first installment of this series, and could not wait to start this sequel. I did a reread of book one in preparation, and since we pick up exactly where we left off, it was very easy to dive right back in.
— Plot —
I love the overall plot of this series. It blends fantasy with eeriness so well, and I was very excited to see it unfold further. I was especially curious to learn more about the Void and how it would reshape our understanding of the story.
While we did receive some important information, I was a little disappointed that we didn’t dig deeper into the mystery of the Void. Since this isn’t the final installment, I’m assuming we’ll learn more in the next book — but my curiosity definitely wasn’t fully satisfied here.
This installment focused more on who Demetrius is and why he did what he did, as well as Lilith’s development and self-discovery — which I did enjoy. I just found myself wanting a bit more depth on the broader plot.
— Characters —
I really enjoyed the character development in this book. We had already explored several characters in the previous installment, but this one gave us much deeper insight.
The multi-POV format works very well here. It not only expands our understanding of certain characters but also allows us to see their internal motivations in a way we never could through Lilith’s perspective alone. This added valuable nuance to many actions and decisions.
Lilith’s POV especially showed strong growth. I loved the buildup of feminine rage within her and the satisfying resilience and determination that followed. I was also very grateful that we gained a better understanding of the origins of her runes.
We’re also introduced to a few new characters (no spoilers!), and their presence made the story even more intriguing. I’m genuinely excited to see how they will impact future installments.
— Worldbuilding —
The worldbuilding expanded primarily through the introduction of new characters and what they may bring to the world moving forward.
However, there wasn’t much additional development of the world we already knew. This is where I especially wished we had learned more about the Void and its origins. Hopefully that deeper exploration is coming in the next book.
Overall, the new additions answered some questions but feel poised to have a bigger impact later in the series.
— Relationships —
This was the hardest category for me to rate and probably my least favorite aspect of the book.
In the first installment, the angst and slow burn felt very natural. Here, at times, it felt a bit forced. I enjoyed the yearning, but the push-and-pull dynamic occasionally felt inconsistent — almost present solely to maintain the slow burn.
I did love seeing the relationship from Demetrius’s POV, which added another layer of yearning. However, if I’m being completely honest, the “morally gray” aspect of his character felt a bit too gray for me in this book.
At times, Demetrius’s actions and values felt genuinely awful and difficult for me to reconcile. I love a morally gray MMC, but there were many moments where I found myself rooting for Lilith to find love elsewhere.
Even though we learn more about why Demetrius is the way he is, the way he sometimes bulldozes over Lilith’s emotions and values to get what he wants had me wanting to shake some sense and empathy into him.
I was also a little disappointed that Lilith didn’t stand her ground more consistently. At times, it felt like she would firmly hold to her values — only for her attraction to override things she previously viewed as unforgivable. Given how strong-willed and empathetic she is, this occasionally felt slightly out of character to me.
That said, we do see glimpses of a version of Demetrius that I genuinely loved and wish had been more prominent. Most of those moments occurred when Lilith was involved, and I truly do believe they are meant to be together. My main struggle was that outside of those moments, he often felt far beyond morally gray.
I am very intrigued to see how their relationship evolves now that we have more context for who they are and why they behave the way they do.
— Writing —
The writing was occasionally a bit choppy, but the overall tone and flow remained consistent throughout.
— Cliffhanger —
The cliffhanger here wasn’t as intense as book one. The first installment left me completely shook and desperate for the sequel. This ending was more of an “I’m excited to see what happens next” kind of cliffhanger — which is still enjoyable, just less urgent.
— Final Thoughts —
Overall, I don’t think this installment was quite as strong as the first. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it — because I really did — but I do wish we had gotten more depth regarding the Void, the new characters, and the broader world.
I also would have loved to see more yearning and more meaningful work toward forgiveness where Demetrius is concerned.
That said, I loved the feminine rage that Lilith and Felicia brought to the story, as well as the added depth given to returning characters. I’m still very excited to see where this series goes, and I will definitely be rereading this installment before the next release.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝙷𝚞𝚐𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙰𝚁𝙲. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗.
I went into this book emotionally unprepared and came out fully feral in the best way. This one is dark dark and I loved every unhinged second of it and you can really see the the author growing into her writing here.
The feminine rage, the tearing down of the patriarchy, and the women standing up and choosing violence for justice was absolute perfection. The magic system also grows a lot in this book and gets way more interesting, and I loved watching the "transformations" happen. The further developments with the Gods was fun and it was like the messiest family drama ever.
I still do not care about the romance, and honestly that’s fine because the women in this book are carrying the entire emotional weight on their backs and doing it beautifully. Sir Ravenor and Andishmand were my favourites and I am desperately hoping we get more mage lore in the future because I am invested now.
Also WHY do I keep finding fantasy books that feel way too relevant to today’s political climate. The brainwashing, the way people will accept whatever they’re told because it’s easier than thinking for themselves. The Apostles can kick rocks. I was filled with pure rage the entire time, which is exactly how you know it’s working. And once again, I am FERAL for the character art sprinkled throughout this book. It adds so much to the reading experience and I will never shut up about it.
I went into this book emotionally unprepared and came out fully feral in the best way. This one is dark dark and I loved every unhinged second of it and you can really see the the author growing into her writing here.
The feminine rage, the tearing down of the patriarchy, and the women standing up and choosing violence for justice was absolute perfection. The magic system also grows a lot in this book and gets way more interesting, and I loved watching the "transformations" happen. The further developments with the Gods was fun and it was like the messiest family drama ever.
I still do not care about the romance, and honestly that’s fine because the women in this book are carrying the entire emotional weight on their backs and doing it beautifully. Sir Ravenor and Andishmand were my favourites and I am desperately hoping we get more mage lore in the future because I am invested now.
Also WHY do I keep finding fantasy books that feel way too relevant to today’s political climate. The brainwashing, the way people will accept whatever they’re told because it’s easier than thinking for themselves. The Apostles can kick rocks. I was filled with pure rage the entire time, which is exactly how you know it’s working. And once again, I am FERAL for the character art sprinkled throughout this book. It adds so much to the reading experience and I will never shut up about it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Katherine for trusting me with an ARC copy of Tethered by Deception 🫶🏻
I thoroughly enjoyed both Bound By Runes & Tethered by Deception.
The FMC’s strength and growth throughout was exceptionally written! The female rage throughout both books was inspiring. I saw myself in Lilith when she said;
“You know what I really want? I want to live my life without anyone trying to manipulate me. I want to wake up in the morning without that feeling of panic and dread” this hit HARD!
The MMC is obsessed and crazy in love (just the way we like them) he has his own battles to face and despite his darkness you do see a softer side to him in small moments.
I connected with all characters throughout and enjoyed the found family aspect.
I can’t wait for the third book!!
• enemies to lovers, to lovers again??
• royal politics
• obsessive MMC
• gods & cults
• feminine rage & wrath
I thoroughly enjoyed both Bound By Runes & Tethered by Deception.
The FMC’s strength and growth throughout was exceptionally written! The female rage throughout both books was inspiring. I saw myself in Lilith when she said;
“You know what I really want? I want to live my life without anyone trying to manipulate me. I want to wake up in the morning without that feeling of panic and dread” this hit HARD!
The MMC is obsessed and crazy in love (just the way we like them) he has his own battles to face and despite his darkness you do see a softer side to him in small moments.
I connected with all characters throughout and enjoyed the found family aspect.
I can’t wait for the third book!!
• enemies to lovers, to lovers again??
• royal politics
• obsessive MMC
• gods & cults
• feminine rage & wrath
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was ready for this book to drop since reading the first one last year, and as one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, it did not miss!
Book 1 focused mostly on the schooling. You meet Lilith and Felicia and The Prince.
Book 2 goes more into detail about the Apostles and shows just how their world is not only falling apart, but the corruption and the unjust practices and system of their world. The plot and background information really shined throughout this book!
I loved how she really highlighted the Apostles and we got to get a few snippets of who Demetrius really is! I loved seeing Lilith’s character development and her becoming a stronger FMC. (Vague, I know, but no spoilers here!)
In true fashion, we were left on a cliffhanger, but the little Easter eggs that were left have me so excited for what’s to come next!
Book 1 focused mostly on the schooling. You meet Lilith and Felicia and The Prince.
Book 2 goes more into detail about the Apostles and shows just how their world is not only falling apart, but the corruption and the unjust practices and system of their world. The plot and background information really shined throughout this book!
I loved how she really highlighted the Apostles and we got to get a few snippets of who Demetrius really is! I loved seeing Lilith’s character development and her becoming a stronger FMC. (Vague, I know, but no spoilers here!)
In true fashion, we were left on a cliffhanger, but the little Easter eggs that were left have me so excited for what’s to come next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was very fortunate to have been selected as an ARC for this book. I don't know how to tell you how much I liked this book without giving spoilers >.<
The twists that this book had had me loosing sleep because I just wanted to know what happened next. Multi POV of two strong FMC. Fantasy with a little sprinkle of spice thrown in. And in all honesty, the plot of the book reminded me of what the world is going through right now.
I know this isn't the longest review ever but really, you need to just go read the book!!!!
The twists that this book had had me loosing sleep because I just wanted to know what happened next. Multi POV of two strong FMC. Fantasy with a little sprinkle of spice thrown in. And in all honesty, the plot of the book reminded me of what the world is going through right now.
I know this isn't the longest review ever but really, you need to just go read the book!!!!
March 6, 2026
Tethered by Deception was such a great read and sequel to the first book Bound by Runes. I was lucky to receive this early however being a first time mom it took me a bit longer to read (no fault but my own). Some of my favorite parts of this book was when Lilith steps into her full power and the friendship that deepened between Felicia and Lilith, it was just so admiring to see their friendship become so strong. Im excited for the next book and already cant wait to see where the story will go next. Definitely recommend this series!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to be sent the arc for this book, I really enjoyed this one. I had to go and read the first book first, and while I enjoyed that one, this book definitely hooked me so quick.
Everything felt heavier and darker in the second book. The romance is messy, aching, and full of yearning, layered with deception! I read it in one night! And the cliff hanger at the end left me wanting more! I cannot wait for the next book ✨
Everything felt heavier and darker in the second book. The romance is messy, aching, and full of yearning, layered with deception! I read it in one night! And the cliff hanger at the end left me wanting more! I cannot wait for the next book ✨
March 22, 2026
I actually really loved this one. The energy is nonstop and it had me hooked from start to finish. I was completely into the vibe of the story and the way it kept me on my toes. There’s this mix of intensity and heart that just makes it impossible to put down. I was cheering and gasping and just living in the world the whole time. I also loved seeing the growth and strength shining through it felt really satisfying and just chef’s kiss
January 31, 2026
This is actually 4.5 stars for me. This book had me questioning everything, is love blind? Are human traits enough to define us? I dont know how i think or feel and i love what this book has done to my brain chemistry. This was much darker than the first book but i cant wait for the next instalment-i need to know what happens next
February 11, 2026
Very dark side is calling Kylo Ren coded. It’s about a 3.7 for me but Goodreads still doesn’t have that for some weirdo reason. Easy to digest quick romantacy. Spice in this book is hot 🥵
I think this is a great series for new romantacy readers and also a great palette cleanser after reading huge world building books. A good time :)
I think this is a great series for new romantacy readers and also a great palette cleanser after reading huge world building books. A good time :)
January 28, 2026
This novel was beautifully written, I loved it from start to finish and that ending! I need more.
- lovers to enemies to lovers
-betrayal
-deception
-forbidden love
-lost memories restored
- do not touch her 😮💨
This was fantastic! Thank you for the arc
- lovers to enemies to lovers
-betrayal
-deception
-forbidden love
-lost memories restored
- do not touch her 😮💨
This was fantastic! Thank you for the arc
Review of advance copy received from Author
Good book, dont want to give away spoilers. Highly recommend. Cant wait for book 3
March 31, 2026
The book was fairly well written but I struggled to connect with the story and really get into it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews