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The Rootbound Bride #2
The First Covenant
The ground under the Sedgewick estate has been keening for generations. Elspeth Hargrove was raised to hear it.
Autumn, 1700. She is sent to Aldermere to marry a man she has never met, and finds a house being pulled off true by something underneath. It has been reaching up through the stone for longer than anyone on the hill will admit, and from the moment she lays her palm on the gatepost, it has been reaching for her.
Elspeth will not run. She will do something worse. She will sit down with paper and draft a twelve brides across three hundred years, numbered, with a termination clause and a door written in for the last of them. Then she will put her own name first.
Her grandmother taught her to read stone, to tell a wall that will hold from a wall that is about to fail. This house is failing. No fire is lit in the hall on a cold October day, and still the flagstones are warm, and the warmth is coming from below.
Her husband, James, tends the garden with rough hands and keeps exactly six feet between them, a man bound to a bargain no one ever explained to him. He is going to help her build the door. It will take her away from him.
Book One of The Rootbound Bride, where the covenant begins. Each novel in the trilogy follows its own couple, and the trilogy ends in a happily-ever-after.
For readers of Mexican Gothic, The Bear and the Nightingale, Piranesi, and The Familiars.
Marriage of arrangement · diagnostic heroine and builder hero · touch as language · folk horror · forbidden bond with an ancient entity · sacrifice for the women who come after
two peppers out of five (low, open door). A slow burn with one sensual, non-graphic love scene.
marriage of arrangement, supernatural body horror, pregnancy and childbirth on the page, religious imagery (early-eighteenth-century setting), period-typical patriarchy. This book ends love that outlasts loss, not a traditional happily-ever-after. The trilogy's HEA comes in Book Three.
Read it in Kindle Unlimited. Then continue with The Botanist's Sleep, Book Two.
Autumn, 1700. She is sent to Aldermere to marry a man she has never met, and finds a house being pulled off true by something underneath. It has been reaching up through the stone for longer than anyone on the hill will admit, and from the moment she lays her palm on the gatepost, it has been reaching for her.
Elspeth will not run. She will do something worse. She will sit down with paper and draft a twelve brides across three hundred years, numbered, with a termination clause and a door written in for the last of them. Then she will put her own name first.
Her grandmother taught her to read stone, to tell a wall that will hold from a wall that is about to fail. This house is failing. No fire is lit in the hall on a cold October day, and still the flagstones are warm, and the warmth is coming from below.
Her husband, James, tends the garden with rough hands and keeps exactly six feet between them, a man bound to a bargain no one ever explained to him. He is going to help her build the door. It will take her away from him.
Book One of The Rootbound Bride, where the covenant begins. Each novel in the trilogy follows its own couple, and the trilogy ends in a happily-ever-after.
For readers of Mexican Gothic, The Bear and the Nightingale, Piranesi, and The Familiars.
Marriage of arrangement · diagnostic heroine and builder hero · touch as language · folk horror · forbidden bond with an ancient entity · sacrifice for the women who come after
two peppers out of five (low, open door). A slow burn with one sensual, non-graphic love scene.
marriage of arrangement, supernatural body horror, pregnancy and childbirth on the page, religious imagery (early-eighteenth-century setting), period-typical patriarchy. This book ends love that outlasts loss, not a traditional happily-ever-after. The trilogy's HEA comes in Book Three.
Read it in Kindle Unlimited. Then continue with The Botanist's Sleep, Book Two.
- GenresAmazon
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2026
About the author
Luna Asli Kolcu
12 books125 followersI write nightmares people can enjoy and dreams with teeth.
Horror, fantasy, and whatever lives where they blur. Stories about grief, memory, identity, and love that refuses to die quietly.
I grew up between Anatolia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the steppes. Old places. My writing comes from there too. Myths and half-remembered legends.
Born and raised in Istanbul, studied in London. Now I live in a 17th-century stone farmhouse in rural Catalonia with the love of my life (who is an amazing artist), my kids, five dogs, a deeply judgmental cat named Galadriel who supervises every draft.
Horror, fantasy, and whatever lives where they blur. Stories about grief, memory, identity, and love that refuses to die quietly.
I grew up between Anatolia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the steppes. Old places. My writing comes from there too. Myths and half-remembered legends.
Born and raised in Istanbul, studied in London. Now I live in a 17th-century stone farmhouse in rural Catalonia with the love of my life (who is an amazing artist), my kids, five dogs, a deeply judgmental cat named Galadriel who supervises every draft.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 29, 2026
Moody, immersive, and a little unsettling
The First Covenant leans fully into its gothic mood in a way that really worked for me. The atmosphere is thick from the start, with a house that feels as alive and watchful as any character, and the writing has a tactile quality that makes every stone and shadow feel intentional. Elspeth’s ability to read structures is such a cool, unusual detail, and it adds a quiet tension to everything she touches.
James is a really compelling male lead in that quiet, restrained way that fits the story so well. There’s a careful distance to him at first, like he knows more than he’s saying, and watching that slowly shift kept me invested. The dynamic between him and Elspeth builds with a lot of subtlety, and their connection feels tied to the house and land rather than separate from it.
What stood out most is how the story balances romance with something older and more unsettling beneath the surface. It has that dark fairy tale edge where you’re never entirely sure what’s being built or what it might cost. Overall, it’s immersive, a little eerie, and very easy to sink into if you like your romantasy with a strong gothic streak.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the advanced copy, this is my honest review
The First Covenant leans fully into its gothic mood in a way that really worked for me. The atmosphere is thick from the start, with a house that feels as alive and watchful as any character, and the writing has a tactile quality that makes every stone and shadow feel intentional. Elspeth’s ability to read structures is such a cool, unusual detail, and it adds a quiet tension to everything she touches.
James is a really compelling male lead in that quiet, restrained way that fits the story so well. There’s a careful distance to him at first, like he knows more than he’s saying, and watching that slowly shift kept me invested. The dynamic between him and Elspeth builds with a lot of subtlety, and their connection feels tied to the house and land rather than separate from it.
What stood out most is how the story balances romance with something older and more unsettling beneath the surface. It has that dark fairy tale edge where you’re never entirely sure what’s being built or what it might cost. Overall, it’s immersive, a little eerie, and very easy to sink into if you like your romantasy with a strong gothic streak.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the advanced copy, this is my honest review
April 29, 2026
4.5 rounded up.
What the fuck did I just read?
There was a sprinkle or romance- some mystery, many elements of horror and general weirdness.
I couldn’t put it down.
A book that gives the reader goosebumps.
What the fuck did I just read?
There was a sprinkle or romance- some mystery, many elements of horror and general weirdness.
I couldn’t put it down.
A book that gives the reader goosebumps.
July 2, 2026
The story is amazing, the writing is a little repetitive and flowery at times, but I would read other books in this series. I enjoyed the world building and magic system.
May 2, 2026
The First Covenant by Luna Asli Kolcu is the second book in the Rootbound Bride trilogy, but the first book chronologically. I personally have read the first book, The Archivist's Curse already but as stated by the author the books can be read in any order.
I really loved The Archivist's Curse and it was an easy 5star read, but this second book fell a bit flat for me.
The spooky, gothic writing elements are still there and I enjoyed going back in time to the beginning, but I just could not get into the mindset of the FMC, Elspeth and never felt we really got sufficient explanation for her actions throughout. She didn't really feel like a well-rounded character like Elisabeth did in the first entry, she felt like a plot device.
I kept getting the feeling that she's the type of woman who tries to rehabilitate violent dogs, or even worse, holding the belief that you could rehabilitate violent men with the power of love and patience. James, the MMC, does try to argue against her consigning 10 innocent women to a fate worse than death but he's really terrible at arguing and gives into her madness too quickly. He's a bit of a doormat that way and seeing as I disliked both characters, I didn't care about the romance at all.
I'm on to read the third entry now, which from the synopsis seems like it will be more like the first. This book has a ton of explanation of how the covenant was formed, and was built, so I wouldn't recommend skipping it, but maybe read it last 😹
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really loved The Archivist's Curse and it was an easy 5star read, but this second book fell a bit flat for me.
The spooky, gothic writing elements are still there and I enjoyed going back in time to the beginning, but I just could not get into the mindset of the FMC, Elspeth and never felt we really got sufficient explanation for her actions throughout. She didn't really feel like a well-rounded character like Elisabeth did in the first entry, she felt like a plot device.
I kept getting the feeling that she's the type of woman who tries to rehabilitate violent dogs, or even worse, holding the belief that you could rehabilitate violent men with the power of love and patience. James, the MMC, does try to argue against her consigning 10 innocent women to a fate worse than death but he's really terrible at arguing and gives into her madness too quickly. He's a bit of a doormat that way and seeing as I disliked both characters, I didn't care about the romance at all.
I'm on to read the third entry now, which from the synopsis seems like it will be more like the first. This book has a ton of explanation of how the covenant was formed, and was built, so I wouldn't recommend skipping it, but maybe read it last 😹
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
4☆
This is where the tragedy of the Rootbound Bride series begins. When the first Hargrove Bride, Elspeth, arrives at Aldemere the spirit has already affected the soil, plants, house and people. If the spirit does not get what it wants the people, land and crops suffer.
Elspeth is chosen to be the next Hargrove to marry a Sedgewick heir. Yet, Elspeth has the ability to read things; the soil, plants, houses and people. She is an architect, who can diagnose and plan repairs or solutions to structural problems.
It is with her skills that Elspeth discovers that the spirit is lonely and needs a curriculum to learn what human consciousness is. She tries to teach the spirit how to hold without crushing, how to know someone without consuming them, how to think and how to communicate.
With the aid of her patient husband, James, Elspeth creates the covenant between the Hargrove brides, the Sedgewick heirs and the spirit. They architecturally draft lessons the spirit will learn over the course of 300 years and the absorption of eleven brides. They do this with the knowledge that Elspeth will be the first bride to be absorbed. She will be the foundation.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Luna Asli Kolcu for the opportunity!
This series has fully grabbed my heart. I do recommend Kolcu's books to anyone who looks for poetic prose and narrative depth.
This is where the tragedy of the Rootbound Bride series begins. When the first Hargrove Bride, Elspeth, arrives at Aldemere the spirit has already affected the soil, plants, house and people. If the spirit does not get what it wants the people, land and crops suffer.
Elspeth is chosen to be the next Hargrove to marry a Sedgewick heir. Yet, Elspeth has the ability to read things; the soil, plants, houses and people. She is an architect, who can diagnose and plan repairs or solutions to structural problems.
It is with her skills that Elspeth discovers that the spirit is lonely and needs a curriculum to learn what human consciousness is. She tries to teach the spirit how to hold without crushing, how to know someone without consuming them, how to think and how to communicate.
With the aid of her patient husband, James, Elspeth creates the covenant between the Hargrove brides, the Sedgewick heirs and the spirit. They architecturally draft lessons the spirit will learn over the course of 300 years and the absorption of eleven brides. They do this with the knowledge that Elspeth will be the first bride to be absorbed. She will be the foundation.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Luna Asli Kolcu for the opportunity!
This series has fully grabbed my heart. I do recommend Kolcu's books to anyone who looks for poetic prose and narrative depth.
April 24, 2026
Like the other books in this series, there is a haunting quality to the writing that stays with you after the last pages are turned. This is another wonderful peek into this world and it is just as compelling, if not more so than the others. This is the story of Elspeth Hargrove and her time at Aldermere, which I don't want to spoiler by saying more. A sample of the writing from early on, "But the tone was wrong, my grandmother had taught me to hear the difference between a building settling and a building straining, between a wall that sings because it is well-made and a wall that screams because it is about to fail." And another line from a bit later, "The December dawn smelled of frost and yew resin and the dark, cold earth that every English winter produces, the smell of a world gone dormant." to give you an idea of the style. I loved this book and the others. And will happily keep reading this author's writings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My first impression of Elspeth was, she’s very stoic. Her approach to her circumstances, practical—her sister couldn’t fulfill her family’s deal of marriage, so it was up to her. This was a very unusual book. I liked it. I didn’t always understand Elspeth’s sacrifice. The martyrdom was difficult. She is a stronger woman than me. And James. Ugh. He loves her so much. I need tissues. Again. Looking forward to book 3. *** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨James
FMC:
✨Elspeth
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨Bittersweet
Series:
✨Book2: The Rootbound Bride
Tropes:
👉dark fantasy romance
👉gothic romance
👉arranged marriage
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥death
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
MMC:
✨James
FMC:
✨Elspeth
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨Bittersweet
Series:
✨Book2: The Rootbound Bride
Tropes:
👉dark fantasy romance
👉gothic romance
👉arranged marriage
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥death
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 18, 2026
This is the begining of the Rootbound Bride. Elspeth, the first Hargrove Bride, arrives at Aldemere. The spirit has already seeped into the soil, the house, the plants, and the people. Chosen to marry a Sedgewick heir, Elspeth is an architect who can read and repair the living world: soil, wood, stone, and human hearts. Using her rare gift she discovers the spirit is not malicious but lonely, and she bravely designs a curriculum to teach it how to hold without crushing, to know without consuming. With her husband James, Elspeth drafts a three-century covenant—eleven brides, one soul absorbed first: her—becoming the foundation of a long, heartbreaking plan. It's inmersive, poetic atmospheric writting; makes the journey worth savouring. This serie captivate me, it's worth to add to your shelf.
Thank you to the author for the eARC, this is my honest review.
Thank you to the author for the eARC, this is my honest review.
April 30, 2026
Oh what a sad and wonderful story!
I'm glad the first book has the conclusion to the Sedgewick/Hargrove problem. Then you know everything will be alright after those three hundred years. I needed that!!
Elspeth is the builder who reads the ground, James helps in any way, but their life together is doomed before they even met. Everyone has to make sacrifices and the story is so terribly sad! I really suffered with them!
Be advised to read "The Archivists's Curse" beforehand. It's very important and so wonderful, too! Enjoy!
I'm glad the first book has the conclusion to the Sedgewick/Hargrove problem. Then you know everything will be alright after those three hundred years. I needed that!!
Elspeth is the builder who reads the ground, James helps in any way, but their life together is doomed before they even met. Everyone has to make sacrifices and the story is so terribly sad! I really suffered with them!
Be advised to read "The Archivists's Curse" beforehand. It's very important and so wonderful, too! Enjoy!
May 8, 2026
"A haunting, centuries-spanning masterpiece of folk horror." 🌲📜
This is not just a story about a curse; it’s a story about the price of survival and the sheer strength of a woman who refuses to be a pawn in a bargain she didn’t sign. The atmosphere is thick, ancient, and deeply unsettling.
Verdict: The First Covenant is a visceral, beautifully written descent into folk horror and historical mystery. It’s a story about breaking chains, even if it takes lifetimes to do so. A must-read for fans of atmospheric, high-stakes gothic tales. 🌟🕯️
This is not just a story about a curse; it’s a story about the price of survival and the sheer strength of a woman who refuses to be a pawn in a bargain she didn’t sign. The atmosphere is thick, ancient, and deeply unsettling.
Verdict: The First Covenant is a visceral, beautifully written descent into folk horror and historical mystery. It’s a story about breaking chains, even if it takes lifetimes to do so. A must-read for fans of atmospheric, high-stakes gothic tales. 🌟🕯️
June 19, 2026
Get pulled into a tale which will have you wishing the best for her to escape a deal she never made.she is now in a town where something is living under the ground calling for her as its bride. A great tale about getting what she wants and not what they want from her. See if she escapes it all
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great tale
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great tale
October 6, 2026
DNF at 45%.
I think I just don’t care enough to continue anymore. The author has a very particular writing style, and I can’t tell if I like it or hate it. It’s extremely metaphorical and flowery; she uses a lot of words to say not a lot of things. It’s beautiful. But I just don’t think I can read the word “architecture” being used metaphysically one more time.
I think I just don’t care enough to continue anymore. The author has a very particular writing style, and I can’t tell if I like it or hate it. It’s extremely metaphorical and flowery; she uses a lot of words to say not a lot of things. It’s beautiful. But I just don’t think I can read the word “architecture” being used metaphysically one more time.
April 30, 2026
Another beautiful story. I didn't expect this one to tug at my heartstrings. Maybe it was the energies that I felt from reading this book.
I want to thank Book Sirens and the author for giving me an ARC copy for my honest review
I want to thank Book Sirens and the author for giving me an ARC copy for my honest review
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews