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The Binding
"I don't want your submission, Amaria," I murmured, staring down at her exposed throat. "I want the war in you. The ache. The fire. The part that thinks it's too much—because that's the part of you I'd kneel for."
Eryndor
DYSTOPIAN DARK FAE ROMANTASY TRILOGY
The day the Veil shattered, the world broke—and every soul was marked. Every fae now bears a soulmark. Luminar or Shadowmarked. Revered or enslaved.
But our fae heroine was born with both.
And he was forged to destroy her.
Some say their bond is prophecy.
Others call it a curse.
Either way—if it completes, it could end the war…
or end the realm
Dark fae trilogy, Real enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fated mates, morally gray, the chosen one, found family, and level 3 spice but with deep themes and epic fantasy world.
Eryndor
DYSTOPIAN DARK FAE ROMANTASY TRILOGY
The day the Veil shattered, the world broke—and every soul was marked. Every fae now bears a soulmark. Luminar or Shadowmarked. Revered or enslaved.
But our fae heroine was born with both.
And he was forged to destroy her.
Some say their bond is prophecy.
Others call it a curse.
Either way—if it completes, it could end the war…
or end the realm
Dark fae trilogy, Real enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fated mates, morally gray, the chosen one, found family, and level 3 spice but with deep themes and epic fantasy world.
429 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
Celeanne Dorrington
5 books334 followersTo sum it up for my trope lovers:
Indie author in my villain origin story era. Morally gray FMC energy with a 'knife-to-the-throat' vibe and a “burn the world for the ones I love” devotion.
I'm now choosing sovereignty over compliance daily and I will not apologize for it or ask permission.
To my readers:
“Let them have their villain. I will be theirs and everyone else’s. But never for you.”
— Slade Ravinger
For those who enjoy diving deeper:
I’ll attempt to solidify some of the prominent experiences that contributed to the creation of this series:
Foundationally, I have formal education in the following: creative writing, screenplay writing, visual arts, philosophy, and political science.
Public exposure that has contributed: my experience in the music industry, experience as a professional screenplay writer and associate producer, a published author, and our favorite artistic ingredient: pain and suffering.
Internal world attribution: lineage-based tantra training, lineage-based shamanism guidance, traditional teacher training in Kundalini yoga, and lastly, I’ve landed in my home of Shaktism, with my beloved Kali Maa.
As you can imagine this catastrophic combination of experiences led to being: a full-blooded anarchist, painfully rebellious, a bleeding sensitive heart, magical af, reclusive, with a strong dose of feral.
And lastly, on a personal note: this series represents my coming into sovereignty and my liberation. I fought armies of inner demons to be here with you today.
I welcome you into my realm with open arms and heart offered freely. May you fall in love, may you cry, may you laugh, may your soul be reforged. May we taste unity and liberation for just a moment together as we co-create as reader and writer.
Indie author in my villain origin story era. Morally gray FMC energy with a 'knife-to-the-throat' vibe and a “burn the world for the ones I love” devotion.
I'm now choosing sovereignty over compliance daily and I will not apologize for it or ask permission.
To my readers:
“Let them have their villain. I will be theirs and everyone else’s. But never for you.”
— Slade Ravinger
For those who enjoy diving deeper:
I’ll attempt to solidify some of the prominent experiences that contributed to the creation of this series:
Foundationally, I have formal education in the following: creative writing, screenplay writing, visual arts, philosophy, and political science.
Public exposure that has contributed: my experience in the music industry, experience as a professional screenplay writer and associate producer, a published author, and our favorite artistic ingredient: pain and suffering.
Internal world attribution: lineage-based tantra training, lineage-based shamanism guidance, traditional teacher training in Kundalini yoga, and lastly, I’ve landed in my home of Shaktism, with my beloved Kali Maa.
As you can imagine this catastrophic combination of experiences led to being: a full-blooded anarchist, painfully rebellious, a bleeding sensitive heart, magical af, reclusive, with a strong dose of feral.
And lastly, on a personal note: this series represents my coming into sovereignty and my liberation. I fought armies of inner demons to be here with you today.
I welcome you into my realm with open arms and heart offered freely. May you fall in love, may you cry, may you laugh, may your soul be reforged. May we taste unity and liberation for just a moment together as we co-create as reader and writer.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
May 6, 2026
I’m giving The Binding by Celeanne Dorrington 4 stars, it was such a strong continuation of the story. I loved how many layers this installment brought in, especially the memory loss arc, the dragons, and the vivid magical elements throughout. Everything felt immersive and emotionally charged, and the stakes stayed high in a way that kept me invested the entire time.
My only real issue was the ending. After so much buildup, the final confrontation with the king felt rushed compared to the rest of the book. There was noticeably more time spent on the rebonding scene than on the actual battle, which threw off the pacing a bit. That said, I did enjoy the happy ending, and the epilogue completely won me over, it teased just enough of what’s next to leave me wanting more. I’m especially hoping we get more of Dreadscale in future installments.
My only real issue was the ending. After so much buildup, the final confrontation with the king felt rushed compared to the rest of the book. There was noticeably more time spent on the rebonding scene than on the actual battle, which threw off the pacing a bit. That said, I did enjoy the happy ending, and the epilogue completely won me over, it teased just enough of what’s next to leave me wanting more. I’m especially hoping we get more of Dreadscale in future installments.
May 23, 2026
**Arc reader** MY REVIEW is my true and honest opinion ** (you'll understand why if you just start reading this trilogy like you know you want too!!)
I honestly don’t even know where to start.
From the very beginning of Book 1 to the final pages of Book 3, Celeanne Dorrington has created a dark fae romantasy trilogy that is emotional, intense, heartbreaking, and absolutely unforgettable.
This trilogy takes you on such a powerful journey. The characters don’t just feel like characters by the end — they feel like family. You grow attached to them, root for them, hurt for them, and suffer right alongside them. The obstacles they face in this final book will drive you mad, break your heart, and keep you turning the pages because you will not be okay until you know how it ends.
The tension between the FMC and MMC is so intense. The wanting, the needing, the pain, the frustration — it is everything you want in a true enemies-to-lovers slow burn. Their bond is complicated, emotional, and powerful, and the way their story unfolds will have you feeling every single moment.
And one character in particular? The fear, hurt, and heartbreak surrounding them will absolutely make you cry.
Celeanne Dorrington’s writing throughout this trilogy is truly art. The way she describes the world, the emotions, the danger, and the relationships makes you feel like you are right there inside the story, experiencing the adventure with them. Every detail feels vivid, every emotion feels real, and every character leaves a mark.
If you are looking for a dark fae romantasy filled with real enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fated mates, morally gray characters, chosen one energy, found family, deep emotional themes, epic fantasy world-building, and spice woven into a story with real heart — I cannot recommend this trilogy enough.
I truly believe this will be one of the best romantasy trilogies of 2026, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to read it and share my thoughts.
I cannot wait to see what Celeanne Dorrington writes next.
I honestly don’t even know where to start.
From the very beginning of Book 1 to the final pages of Book 3, Celeanne Dorrington has created a dark fae romantasy trilogy that is emotional, intense, heartbreaking, and absolutely unforgettable.
This trilogy takes you on such a powerful journey. The characters don’t just feel like characters by the end — they feel like family. You grow attached to them, root for them, hurt for them, and suffer right alongside them. The obstacles they face in this final book will drive you mad, break your heart, and keep you turning the pages because you will not be okay until you know how it ends.
The tension between the FMC and MMC is so intense. The wanting, the needing, the pain, the frustration — it is everything you want in a true enemies-to-lovers slow burn. Their bond is complicated, emotional, and powerful, and the way their story unfolds will have you feeling every single moment.
And one character in particular? The fear, hurt, and heartbreak surrounding them will absolutely make you cry.
Celeanne Dorrington’s writing throughout this trilogy is truly art. The way she describes the world, the emotions, the danger, and the relationships makes you feel like you are right there inside the story, experiencing the adventure with them. Every detail feels vivid, every emotion feels real, and every character leaves a mark.
If you are looking for a dark fae romantasy filled with real enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fated mates, morally gray characters, chosen one energy, found family, deep emotional themes, epic fantasy world-building, and spice woven into a story with real heart — I cannot recommend this trilogy enough.
I truly believe this will be one of the best romantasy trilogies of 2026, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to read it and share my thoughts.
I cannot wait to see what Celeanne Dorrington writes next.
July 10, 2026
Not deleting just editing to add my review to book 3 that this is actually ON!
This second book of the series did not disappoint! All the emotions! I love a fiesty FMC and Amaria definitely is that. The scene when she turns someone to dust because her anger and grief are just too big... so moving, haunting even, and makes me glad I don't have that kind of power. How many people would have suffered my wrath in my lifetime if I could unmake them? Moving immediately on to book 3!!
And I was very glad i jumped straight into 3! This series finished out strong. I sincerely enjoyed this even. When I was yelling at it! Maybe especially then. Whats a book that cant make you feel stuff? This one definitely made me feel stuff and feel it deeply. Also, the bond between non blood sisters cannot be valued enough!
This second book of the series did not disappoint! All the emotions! I love a fiesty FMC and Amaria definitely is that. The scene when she turns someone to dust because her anger and grief are just too big... so moving, haunting even, and makes me glad I don't have that kind of power. How many people would have suffered my wrath in my lifetime if I could unmake them? Moving immediately on to book 3!!
And I was very glad i jumped straight into 3! This series finished out strong. I sincerely enjoyed this even. When I was yelling at it! Maybe especially then. Whats a book that cant make you feel stuff? This one definitely made me feel stuff and feel it deeply. Also, the bond between non blood sisters cannot be valued enough!
May 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶
🖤Forced proximity
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
🖤 Fated mates
⚔️ Found family
🖤Banter for dayssss
⚔️ The slowest of slow burns
The Binding picks up immediately where The Lost Thread leaves us with Maxx, Serenya, Caden and Amaria escaping the kingdom but leaving Eryndor behind to seal his fate with Vivienne, his bride to be. They need a plan to go back and save Eryndor from his bride to be and his father, and as luck would have it an opportunity presents itself rather quickly. The rest of the book focuses on executing the prophecy so that the Veil can be saved.
I enjoyed the whole trilogy but book 2, The Lost Thread, was my favorite. It was more character-driven and I'm a sucker for great characters. The Binding was truly the culmination of all the set up and anticipation that built in the previous books. I don't want to spoil anything but the ending was not at all what I expected, and I was okay with that 🙃
Dorrington could write a master class in slow burns 🔥 In the 1st book our MCs were true enemies and that continued for about 80% of the 2nd book, and then they finally became lovers only to have their love ripped away. I don't want to spoil book 3 but I'll just say you get the pay off you've been waiting for 😏
A few of my favorite moments from The Binding:
*The dog thinking it's a dragon 🐉
*"Coincidental proximity" 🐶 🐉
* Amaria and Eryndor testing their new armor 🥵
*Serenya bonding a dragon 🐉
*Maxx's rant about cheating death and the team bonding that follows 😅
*"Bring her back" 😢
🌶
🖤Forced proximity
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
🖤 Fated mates
⚔️ Found family
🖤Banter for dayssss
⚔️ The slowest of slow burns
The Binding picks up immediately where The Lost Thread leaves us with Maxx, Serenya, Caden and Amaria escaping the kingdom but leaving Eryndor behind to seal his fate with Vivienne, his bride to be. They need a plan to go back and save Eryndor from his bride to be and his father, and as luck would have it an opportunity presents itself rather quickly. The rest of the book focuses on executing the prophecy so that the Veil can be saved.
I enjoyed the whole trilogy but book 2, The Lost Thread, was my favorite. It was more character-driven and I'm a sucker for great characters. The Binding was truly the culmination of all the set up and anticipation that built in the previous books. I don't want to spoil anything but the ending was not at all what I expected, and I was okay with that 🙃
Dorrington could write a master class in slow burns 🔥 In the 1st book our MCs were true enemies and that continued for about 80% of the 2nd book, and then they finally became lovers only to have their love ripped away. I don't want to spoil book 3 but I'll just say you get the pay off you've been waiting for 😏
A few of my favorite moments from The Binding:
*The dog thinking it's a dragon 🐉
*"Coincidental proximity" 🐶 🐉
* Amaria and Eryndor testing their new armor 🥵
*Serenya bonding a dragon 🐉
*Maxx's rant about cheating death and the team bonding that follows 😅
*"Bring her back" 😢
May 15, 2026
ARC REVIEW - Advanced Copy Given By Author
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(yes I have I gave it 6 stars) Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
For book 3 it’s picks up exactly where book 2 ended and I am so happy about that. Sometimes people would do a time skip but nope they just picked up where it ended. I had only gotten to about 15% of the book before the giggling started. It got to the point where some of those scenes had me wanting to start back drawing, and I probably will. The scene between the dog and the dragon was perfect especially with Maxx being vocal. Serenya had me worried about her so much but I love that Maxx and Dreadscale was there to support her and care for her. I loved the flow of the book it didn’t feel rushed like I thought it would since it is the last book. I was hooked on book 1, held my breath on book 2 and this final book gave me the satisfaction I needed.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(yes I have I gave it 6 stars) Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
For book 3 it’s picks up exactly where book 2 ended and I am so happy about that. Sometimes people would do a time skip but nope they just picked up where it ended. I had only gotten to about 15% of the book before the giggling started. It got to the point where some of those scenes had me wanting to start back drawing, and I probably will. The scene between the dog and the dragon was perfect especially with Maxx being vocal. Serenya had me worried about her so much but I love that Maxx and Dreadscale was there to support her and care for her. I loved the flow of the book it didn’t feel rushed like I thought it would since it is the last book. I was hooked on book 1, held my breath on book 2 and this final book gave me the satisfaction I needed.
May 2, 2026
Thank you Celeanne Dorrington, again, for the ARC of this trilogy. I can’t believe I finished them. I’m going to have to reread them just to live in that world again.
I loved this series. My heart hurt, was ripped out, thrown in the void and spat back out and it was worth it. In the best possible way.
The enemies to lovers, the yearning, the friendship turned into found family. It was perfection.
Amaria- fierce badass fmc.
Eryndor- hot, self-sacrificing mmc
I seen myself in both characters.
Serenya- my heart was breaking for her and I loved her.
Maxx- WHAT A MAN.
Dreadscale- ugh. I need one.
I loved these characters, I loved their growth, and their love and protectiveness of each other.
11/10 would recommend.
I loved this series. My heart hurt, was ripped out, thrown in the void and spat back out and it was worth it. In the best possible way.
The enemies to lovers, the yearning, the friendship turned into found family. It was perfection.
Amaria- fierce badass fmc.
Eryndor- hot, self-sacrificing mmc
I seen myself in both characters.
Serenya- my heart was breaking for her and I loved her.
Maxx- WHAT A MAN.
Dreadscale- ugh. I need one.
I loved these characters, I loved their growth, and their love and protectiveness of each other.
11/10 would recommend.
May 17, 2026
"But promises were just pretty lies you told people when the truth was too ugly."
Ratings: 5⭐ 3🌶️
My thoughts:
I was extremely happy with the way this trilogy ended. It was another roller coaster emotional read. My heart broke so many times for these characters. The tension between Eryndor and Amaria was INTENSE. And the slow burn was TOTALLY worth it. I also really enjoyed the incorporation of the dragons into this world.
Overall, this trilogy will hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you to Celeanne Dorrington for the eARC opportunity.
The Binding
Celeanne Dorrington
Fantasy Romance
Heirs of the Shattered Veil, # 3
Note: I keep my traditional/full reviews on my blog: lamplightchapters.com
Ratings: 5⭐ 3🌶️
My thoughts:
I was extremely happy with the way this trilogy ended. It was another roller coaster emotional read. My heart broke so many times for these characters. The tension between Eryndor and Amaria was INTENSE. And the slow burn was TOTALLY worth it. I also really enjoyed the incorporation of the dragons into this world.
Overall, this trilogy will hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you to Celeanne Dorrington for the eARC opportunity.
The Binding
Celeanne Dorrington
Fantasy Romance
Heirs of the Shattered Veil, # 3
Note: I keep my traditional/full reviews on my blog: lamplightchapters.com
May 21, 2026
This series absolutely blew me away. My avid reader buddies talk about god tier books and I didn't fully grasp that until this series. For me.. this IS god tier! Even though this is a "fantasy" story - Celeanne's characters feel so real - their successes, challenges, pains and pleasures are written so well you feel everything! You will laugh, giggle, get teary-eyed, and all out bawl - while you cheer for all of your favorite characters... and there will be several. The minute this becomes available (I was highly blessed to be on the ARC team for the full trilogy) buy it!! You will not regret it!!
May 5, 2026
Book 1 reels you in, book 2 breaks you open, book 3 devours you. This book is perfect. This series is perfect. This stays unpredictable in the best ways and is such a beautiful end to this trilogy. The banter in this whole series is delightfully unhinged and the slow burn is to die for! This has everything we love from the first 2 but turns it up a notch with action and the journey of fulfilling a prophecy. Mark my words, this series is the next to blow up. So so excited for what comes next from Celeanne!
May 9, 2026
This final book of the Heir of the Shattered Veil was written to perfection. It tied up all the loose ends. Keep me wanting more the entire read.
Amaria and Eryndor have a beautiful complicated love story. I have fallen in love with this story that I was sad to see it end.
This is definitely a type of romantasy you won't find anywhere else. Celeanne keeps you on the edge of your seat and doesn't let up when things get going they keep rolling. There wasn't a spot where I lost interest.
10/10 recommend 👌
Amaria and Eryndor have a beautiful complicated love story. I have fallen in love with this story that I was sad to see it end.
This is definitely a type of romantasy you won't find anywhere else. Celeanne keeps you on the edge of your seat and doesn't let up when things get going they keep rolling. There wasn't a spot where I lost interest.
10/10 recommend 👌
June 8, 2026
I received this book as an ARC for my honest review.
This book picked up right after book 2 ended and brought more excitement. The relationship between the main characters continued to develop and by the end I was on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down.
I loved the world building that continued in this book and overall saw a great plot lines.
Still a lot of editing that needs to be done but this book seemed to have less than the first two.
I will definitely buy a copy of these books.
This book picked up right after book 2 ended and brought more excitement. The relationship between the main characters continued to develop and by the end I was on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down.
I loved the world building that continued in this book and overall saw a great plot lines.
Still a lot of editing that needs to be done but this book seemed to have less than the first two.
I will definitely buy a copy of these books.
June 28, 2026
FULL BODY CHILLS!! I’m so grateful I got to be an ARC reader for this full trilogy.
Book 3 picked up exactly where booked two left off and this author writes in a way that makes you feel everything that is happening in this story. This is one of those fantasy series that definitely made God tier for me.
The love, the sacrifice, the fears, the torture, the pain I physically felt while reading this series, the unadulterated joy, and never knowing how this was gonna end or where the story was gonna go makes this world hard to beat. I’m so sad it’s over….. for now 😈
Book 3 picked up exactly where booked two left off and this author writes in a way that makes you feel everything that is happening in this story. This is one of those fantasy series that definitely made God tier for me.
The love, the sacrifice, the fears, the torture, the pain I physically felt while reading this series, the unadulterated joy, and never knowing how this was gonna end or where the story was gonna go makes this world hard to beat. I’m so sad it’s over….. for now 😈
May 15, 2026
Omg. This was such an emotional ride. Then to end on a cliff of a new story. It was fantastic. I loved every minute of it. It was much faster paced than book 2. Some much came to a head and finally concluded. The King was a great antagonist, it was so easy to literally hate him and hope for his downfall.
"I would rather die beside you than live a thousand years without you."
"You are the wound in the world I was born to bleed for."
"I would rather die beside you than live a thousand years without you."
"You are the wound in the world I was born to bleed for."
June 18, 2026
ARC Review
Where do I even begin! This book was simply amazing! All the emotions I went through in this book, all the worry I had that nothing was going to get better. My heart just bled for Serenya, I couldn't imagine going through what she did. All while her friends had to stand by not being able to help her. I couldn't be more obsessed with this entire series! Best series I have read this year so far!
Where do I even begin! This book was simply amazing! All the emotions I went through in this book, all the worry I had that nothing was going to get better. My heart just bled for Serenya, I couldn't imagine going through what she did. All while her friends had to stand by not being able to help her. I couldn't be more obsessed with this entire series! Best series I have read this year so far!
June 19, 2026
This book was intense, thrilling, heartbreaking and completed the series perfectly. I honestly took my time reading it because I just didn’t want it to end. Looking forward to what Celeanne comes up with next. I genuinely want this series to be the next biggest thing. She deserves the recognition for this masterpiece.
May 19, 2026
This was the perfect wrap to this trilogy, leaving space for more to come from this world and questions that making you wanting more of all the characters but also giving you closer to this chapter of their lives. Whether its Dreadscale, Maxx, and Serenya or Ameria and Eryndor. This book is full of rangs of emotion that you will no doubt feel along side each of them no matter who's pov it is.
June 21, 2026
That was the happiest HEA I've ever read. 😍😍
But seriously....Major points for a trilogy that kept it's momentum from the start of Book 1 all the way to the Epilogue of this final book.
I can't wait to see what comes next from this author. I suspect she's not anywhere done yet. 🥰😍
But seriously....Major points for a trilogy that kept it's momentum from the start of Book 1 all the way to the Epilogue of this final book.
I can't wait to see what comes next from this author. I suspect she's not anywhere done yet. 🥰😍
July 28, 2026
Oh this book was so hard to finish. I absolutely fell in love with characters and plot from the beginning. Everything started to feel misplaced, or the details redundantly explained all on the same page in multiple paragraphs. The tension was epic though and I loved the side characters. She writes friendships way better than romance… FMC was half out of it coming off a battlefield and he has sex with her for their first time. The second time is at the end of the book while she is trying to save the world and she’s tied to an alter. Idk. Just very off… I did not expect the romance to culminate into terrible 50 shades vibes… their love story deserved more than that. She could have done so much more with this story. (ARC reader)
May 27, 2026
I stayed up to finish and I still need time to gather my emotions 😭
But first, THANK YOU Celeanne for not only providing book 2 and book 3 Advance Reader Copy at the same time but for also sharing this story with us 😭🫶🏽
My thoughts still pending.. full review coming when I can feel my emotions again
———-
My emotions are not well still. This book lives rent free in my brain.
I have not found a single book to read that even comes close to this. No literally, it’s been a month and I haven’t found a book that could get this one out of my brain.
There’s stories that live with you for a long time and this is one of them.
I truly, truly enjoyed this story, the writing, the characters, the world.
I can’t begin to write out everything because it’ll spoil it but please buckle up, grab some tissues and a punching bag.
But first, THANK YOU Celeanne for not only providing book 2 and book 3 Advance Reader Copy at the same time but for also sharing this story with us 😭🫶🏽
My thoughts still pending.. full review coming when I can feel my emotions again
———-
My emotions are not well still. This book lives rent free in my brain.
I have not found a single book to read that even comes close to this. No literally, it’s been a month and I haven’t found a book that could get this one out of my brain.
There’s stories that live with you for a long time and this is one of them.
I truly, truly enjoyed this story, the writing, the characters, the world.
I can’t begin to write out everything because it’ll spoil it but please buckle up, grab some tissues and a punching bag.
July 14, 2026
This was good. Not as good as the second book - which is hands down the best of the three - but still a satisfying end to the trilogy. I will admit to being nervous about the dom/sub relationship the author mentioned in the content notes, but what I read of it wasn't as bad as I expected. That said, I didn't read all of the sex scenes in their entirety, so I may have missed something. Polyamory isn't my thing either, so despite my love for the characters involved, I won't be reading the follow-up duology. Also, this might be the first time I've ever read a scene in which .
My biggest pet peeve (and this is something that actually happened in the second book but is relevant to something mentioned in this book) is the way the term "courage without cruelty" is thrown about, as if Amaria hadn't hogtied Eyrendor in the second book and dragged him home by the hair when she found out who his father was. Those actions were breathtakingly cruel, made worse by the fact that she framed them as justice because, in her opinion, Eyrendor had the opportunity to stop the oppression of the shadowmarked and chose not to. The only problem with that thought process is that Amaria knew - both through the memories she'd seen and through Eyrendor's own actions - that his life had been one of vicious oppression and unimaginable pain. He didn't have the freedom to make his own choices. He had to stab himself in the heart to free himself from his father's control, so yeah. She tried to justify it as righteous fury, but the reality is she was so far out of line that it was sickening.
I will allow room for the possibility that Amaria's actions in that case were meant to serve as proof that she was not yet worthy of , but I'm not convinced that's actually supposed to be the case. I'm bothered by the fact that Amaria never explicitly apologizes for her actions, even though every single thing Eyrendor does throughout the rest of the second book essentially proves how incredibly wrong she was about him (and, oh by the way, he failed miserably in his quest to make her hate him). And Eyrendor...he's so wrecked, and so in love with her, and so convinced of his own unworthiness, that he just keeps on sacrificing for her as if he doesn't matter at all in the equation, and if that's not a trauma response (that also proves how wrong she was about him), I don't know what is.
So, yeah.
I still love the writing and the romance, the banter and Maxx's hilarious one-liners, and for these reasons - and more - I will overlook the kinky sex stuff and misplaced feminine rage and say that, yeah, this series was worth my time and money.
Heat index: 4ish sex scenes with varying degrees of detail and sexual dialogue. Dom/sub relationship mentioned in content warnings at the front of the book.
Profanity meter: intermittent harsh profanity.
My biggest pet peeve (and this is something that actually happened in the second book but is relevant to something mentioned in this book) is the way the term "courage without cruelty" is thrown about, as if Amaria hadn't hogtied Eyrendor in the second book and dragged him home by the hair when she found out who his father was. Those actions were breathtakingly cruel, made worse by the fact that she framed them as justice because, in her opinion, Eyrendor had the opportunity to stop the oppression of the shadowmarked and chose not to. The only problem with that thought process is that Amaria knew - both through the memories she'd seen and through Eyrendor's own actions - that his life had been one of vicious oppression and unimaginable pain. He didn't have the freedom to make his own choices. He had to stab himself in the heart to free himself from his father's control, so yeah. She tried to justify it as righteous fury, but the reality is she was so far out of line that it was sickening.
I will allow room for the possibility that Amaria's actions in that case were meant to serve as proof that she was not yet worthy of , but I'm not convinced that's actually supposed to be the case. I'm bothered by the fact that Amaria never explicitly apologizes for her actions, even though every single thing Eyrendor does throughout the rest of the second book essentially proves how incredibly wrong she was about him (and, oh by the way, he failed miserably in his quest to make her hate him). And Eyrendor...he's so wrecked, and so in love with her, and so convinced of his own unworthiness, that he just keeps on sacrificing for her as if he doesn't matter at all in the equation, and if that's not a trauma response (that also proves how wrong she was about him), I don't know what is.
So, yeah.
I still love the writing and the romance, the banter and Maxx's hilarious one-liners, and for these reasons - and more - I will overlook the kinky sex stuff and misplaced feminine rage and say that, yeah, this series was worth my time and money.
Heat index: 4ish sex scenes with varying degrees of detail and sexual dialogue. Dom/sub relationship mentioned in content warnings at the front of the book.
Profanity meter: intermittent harsh profanity.
May 2, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I am so thankful to the author for providing book 3 ARC at the same time as book 2 ARC. I don’t think I would have survived the emotional roller coaster having to wait.
Book 2 was meant to break you. Tear you down and make you feel lost. Book 3 was literally the Binding. It pulls you back together.
Our ragtag rebels have been knocked down. Eryndor is married, Caden is broken, Serenya is forgetting, Maxx is terrified and Dreadscale is having to face what’s happened to his people. Amaria is finally ready to let her walls down. Shes not hiding anymore but fully embracing her destiny and the one meant to walk the path with her. Eryndor sacrificed so much for her, she now realizes and is prepared to do whatever it takes to get him back.
We’re heading to the last stronghold, Dreadscales homeland in Skal’Varin to regroup, plan and find a way to save the world. We get more dragons, more bindings and more creature friends.
We get the climatic battle with the king, where it seems like all hope is lost. We see all of our characters who have been fighting their own battles, come into their strengths and be willing to give it all for the ones they love. We see the prophecy (which looks grim but we’ve seen it change once, it can change again) come into full swing and all the pieces connect one by one. The Griffins, the Red Wolf line, all of it coming together.
The cliffhanger at the end for a future series had me gasping. I did not expect the story to continue in that way but i’m stoked to see what a new / spinoff would entail! More of these characters would be amazing.
Spoilers Below ************
We finally get our HEA!!!!! Amaria and Eryndor finally are able to mend their bond fully the way it was supposed to be. The true mirrored pair fighting for centuries to return to one another. Now they get to simple be together. Serenya regains her memories and is with Maxx and Dreadscale. She has her own dragon, they have the hatchlings, the dog and Dreadscales two dragons. Caden is healing, choosing his own life. The veil is healed, the babies are born without any marks.
Tropes:
- yearning
- Praise kink to the extreme
- Feminine rage
- Girlhood
- The chosen ones / prophecy
Favorite Quotes:
- Some things don’t get fixed. They get carried.
- "I belong to you. I have belonged to you since the first day you tried to stab me in that sparring ring. And I would have let the King drain me to a husk before I let another female have what is yours”
- I am yours Little Fox. Completely. Untouched. Yours.
- You are not just the one I love. You are the wound in the world I was born to bleed for.
I am so thankful to the author for providing book 3 ARC at the same time as book 2 ARC. I don’t think I would have survived the emotional roller coaster having to wait.
Book 2 was meant to break you. Tear you down and make you feel lost. Book 3 was literally the Binding. It pulls you back together.
Our ragtag rebels have been knocked down. Eryndor is married, Caden is broken, Serenya is forgetting, Maxx is terrified and Dreadscale is having to face what’s happened to his people. Amaria is finally ready to let her walls down. Shes not hiding anymore but fully embracing her destiny and the one meant to walk the path with her. Eryndor sacrificed so much for her, she now realizes and is prepared to do whatever it takes to get him back.
We’re heading to the last stronghold, Dreadscales homeland in Skal’Varin to regroup, plan and find a way to save the world. We get more dragons, more bindings and more creature friends.
We get the climatic battle with the king, where it seems like all hope is lost. We see all of our characters who have been fighting their own battles, come into their strengths and be willing to give it all for the ones they love. We see the prophecy (which looks grim but we’ve seen it change once, it can change again) come into full swing and all the pieces connect one by one. The Griffins, the Red Wolf line, all of it coming together.
The cliffhanger at the end for a future series had me gasping. I did not expect the story to continue in that way but i’m stoked to see what a new / spinoff would entail! More of these characters would be amazing.
Spoilers Below ************
We finally get our HEA!!!!! Amaria and Eryndor finally are able to mend their bond fully the way it was supposed to be. The true mirrored pair fighting for centuries to return to one another. Now they get to simple be together. Serenya regains her memories and is with Maxx and Dreadscale. She has her own dragon, they have the hatchlings, the dog and Dreadscales two dragons. Caden is healing, choosing his own life. The veil is healed, the babies are born without any marks.
Tropes:
- yearning
- Praise kink to the extreme
- Feminine rage
- Girlhood
- The chosen ones / prophecy
Favorite Quotes:
- Some things don’t get fixed. They get carried.
- "I belong to you. I have belonged to you since the first day you tried to stab me in that sparring ring. And I would have let the King drain me to a husk before I let another female have what is yours”
- I am yours Little Fox. Completely. Untouched. Yours.
- You are not just the one I love. You are the wound in the world I was born to bleed for.
May 19, 2026
4.5 stars
We have reached the end of one of the most epic trilogies I have ever read. I’m so sad it’s over but so glad I got to be part of the experience. This has been the best ARC/street team experience.
The third and final book picks right back up where the second book left off and we are immediately thrown into action! I loved that we didn’t have to wait for certain situations, certain someone’s (iykyk), to be dealt with. What a way to go 😂
The character development continues to be the best part of these stories to me. We get to learn more about the stoic Dreadscale’s backstory and see more into his personal life. We get to learn more about a new, important character and watch him heal and grow.
Maxx continues to be my favorite character of all time.
And poor baby Serenya 😢 she needs a break!
Everyone suffers so much in this series.
Again, I cannot get over how well Celeanne handles dark themes and humor. These books are very dark and usually I would feel heavy after reading something like this. But there is so much humor throughout that I didn’t feel weighed down.
There are huge plot twists and surprises thrown in that really throw a wrench in the teams plans to defeat the king, adding excitement and mystery to the plot. Pretty sure my jaw dropped a few times.
The prophecy continues to unravel and things start to come together.
The tension and yearning is OFF the charts! Holy smokes. Celeanne is the queen of tension.
The world building continues to be just as detailed and immersive.
There’s more dragons!!! And new creatures are introduced.
There is a lot of spice in this book. As someone who doesn’t read spice, I skipped over it. I knew there was spice going into it, so I am not upset by that. However, a crucial part of the ending had spice intertwined with it, making it hard to skip without also missing vital details of the ending. That was the only issue I had with the story. It made it hard to skip towards the end. If you prefer closed door scenes, just know this ahead of time!
I was very satisfied with how everything wrapped up towards the end. I was worried about how things would resolve, especially the closer I got to the end, but I didn’t feel like things were unresolved or that the ending was too abrupt, which I often do with fantasy novels. I also love that it’s open ended and we will most likely get to be visiting some of these characters again soon ❤️ Overall, the series as a whole was a 5 star read for me!
You do not want to miss what, I have a feeling, is going to be one of the most successful releases of 2026!! Keep an out for it this month!!
We have reached the end of one of the most epic trilogies I have ever read. I’m so sad it’s over but so glad I got to be part of the experience. This has been the best ARC/street team experience.
The third and final book picks right back up where the second book left off and we are immediately thrown into action! I loved that we didn’t have to wait for certain situations, certain someone’s (iykyk), to be dealt with. What a way to go 😂
The character development continues to be the best part of these stories to me. We get to learn more about the stoic Dreadscale’s backstory and see more into his personal life. We get to learn more about a new, important character and watch him heal and grow.
Maxx continues to be my favorite character of all time.
And poor baby Serenya 😢 she needs a break!
Everyone suffers so much in this series.
Again, I cannot get over how well Celeanne handles dark themes and humor. These books are very dark and usually I would feel heavy after reading something like this. But there is so much humor throughout that I didn’t feel weighed down.
There are huge plot twists and surprises thrown in that really throw a wrench in the teams plans to defeat the king, adding excitement and mystery to the plot. Pretty sure my jaw dropped a few times.
The prophecy continues to unravel and things start to come together.
The tension and yearning is OFF the charts! Holy smokes. Celeanne is the queen of tension.
The world building continues to be just as detailed and immersive.
There’s more dragons!!! And new creatures are introduced.
There is a lot of spice in this book. As someone who doesn’t read spice, I skipped over it. I knew there was spice going into it, so I am not upset by that. However, a crucial part of the ending had spice intertwined with it, making it hard to skip without also missing vital details of the ending. That was the only issue I had with the story. It made it hard to skip towards the end. If you prefer closed door scenes, just know this ahead of time!
I was very satisfied with how everything wrapped up towards the end. I was worried about how things would resolve, especially the closer I got to the end, but I didn’t feel like things were unresolved or that the ending was too abrupt, which I often do with fantasy novels. I also love that it’s open ended and we will most likely get to be visiting some of these characters again soon ❤️ Overall, the series as a whole was a 5 star read for me!
You do not want to miss what, I have a feeling, is going to be one of the most successful releases of 2026!! Keep an out for it this month!!
May 4, 2026
The Binding is the third installment in The Heirs of the Shattered Veil trilogy by Celeanne Dorrington. This book immediately picks up where book 2 ended, there wasn't a drawn out build-up or recapping like I've seen in other book series. The plot moves at a steady pace constantly on this build toward the 'main event' (I'm trying to not give any spoilers!). The pacing was good overall; there were a few moments that I thought to myself 'let's just move on' or 'was this needed', but ultimately every one of those thoughts were taken back and everything came together in a way that felt cohesive and satisfying for a final installment.
Amaria has tremendous growth the comes to its peak in this book. One thing I felt was a little rushed with Amaria was how quickly she went from letting fear overcome her to being the bravest we've seen throughout the entire series. It all happened in a couple paragraphs and I get the journey overall, but that little piece just felt a bit rushed. I especially appreciated the writing of how she handled Serenya's memory loss progression. I think Serenya's battle is really touching and having the friends stay by her side and never let her feel 'less-than' was beautiful. It's a similar battle of Alzheimers or dementia, so this may be a difficult portion of the book for some readers.
The world-building is lighter in this book compared to books 1 and 2, but we do find the Dragonborn mountains in this book. It may be my love for dragons, but I want to go live there! There are some very funny scenes that take place at the mountains with Maxx...I wasn't really a Maxx fan before this book, but he redeemed himself for me!
Amaria and Eryndor finally get out of their heads and find what is happening between them; Amaria finds a family she didn't realize she was missing, and good conquers evil...The Binding, and this entire series left a strong and emotional impact. There was a bit a tear shedding along the way; but the writing, the plot, the characters...it was all perfect and it all tied the ending of the trilogy together perfectly.
Overall, The Binding is a beautiful conclusion to The Heirs of the Shattered Veil. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy true slow burn, enemies to lovers, found family, good vs evil tropes. And of course, anyone who has followed the series from the beginning.
Amaria has tremendous growth the comes to its peak in this book. One thing I felt was a little rushed with Amaria was how quickly she went from letting fear overcome her to being the bravest we've seen throughout the entire series. It all happened in a couple paragraphs and I get the journey overall, but that little piece just felt a bit rushed. I especially appreciated the writing of how she handled Serenya's memory loss progression. I think Serenya's battle is really touching and having the friends stay by her side and never let her feel 'less-than' was beautiful. It's a similar battle of Alzheimers or dementia, so this may be a difficult portion of the book for some readers.
The world-building is lighter in this book compared to books 1 and 2, but we do find the Dragonborn mountains in this book. It may be my love for dragons, but I want to go live there! There are some very funny scenes that take place at the mountains with Maxx...I wasn't really a Maxx fan before this book, but he redeemed himself for me!
Amaria and Eryndor finally get out of their heads and find what is happening between them; Amaria finds a family she didn't realize she was missing, and good conquers evil...The Binding, and this entire series left a strong and emotional impact. There was a bit a tear shedding along the way; but the writing, the plot, the characters...it was all perfect and it all tied the ending of the trilogy together perfectly.
Overall, The Binding is a beautiful conclusion to The Heirs of the Shattered Veil. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy true slow burn, enemies to lovers, found family, good vs evil tropes. And of course, anyone who has followed the series from the beginning.
May 13, 2026
It has taken me a minute to put into words how I feel about this story. The Binding was given to me as an ARC. Right off the bat, what a fucking ride. This was so intense and I loved it.
Over the three books; The First Scar, The Lost Thread, and The Binding, the story came together like the most beautifully intricate tapestry. These characters were flawed, especially the fmc and mmc, but also they were characters of convictions even if they are wrong and need correction. My favorite characters since book one all the way to the end was actually three side characters, Maxx, Serenya, and Dreadscale. I just adore them and their dynamic with eachother and in relation to the main characters. The found family is strong in this series which I am obsessed with. Found family is one of my all ult tropes. This is not to say our two main characters aren't great, they definitely are, but those 3 side characters just instantly pulled my heartstrings.
The world is just as complex, its harsh, and unforgiving. The conflict throughout this had been, and what i can only describe as unyeilding. I will say that I felt that the magic system is intense and Celeanne Dorrington does not hold your hand about it. So, when reading this, do pay close attention.
The ending...maybe the last 15% of the book had me in a rollercoaster. Not just emotionally, but also being unsure how I felt about the events unfolding. I am satisfied with the ending, but I think another part of me feels like something is missing. Correction, it's not that something is missing, but rather I still had questions. This story in particular is ending, however it's not the last time we are going to get to be in this world and perhaps that's where my questions will be answered. I'm actually so excited to see where that goes! For those who know, "We have need of the Keeper."
I rate this book 4.5☆. The spice is at a 4🌶, there's a few scenes that are explicite, but really the tension is the focus. The tension is agonizing through out the whole series, but in this book it's like laser focused tension. This is not a spice for the sake of spice kind of story. Overall the series is 4.5☆ as well. Definitely look forward to the trilogy. Currently out is the Keeper's Codex. Get your hands on that and soon the trilogy!
Over the three books; The First Scar, The Lost Thread, and The Binding, the story came together like the most beautifully intricate tapestry. These characters were flawed, especially the fmc and mmc, but also they were characters of convictions even if they are wrong and need correction. My favorite characters since book one all the way to the end was actually three side characters, Maxx, Serenya, and Dreadscale. I just adore them and their dynamic with eachother and in relation to the main characters. The found family is strong in this series which I am obsessed with. Found family is one of my all ult tropes. This is not to say our two main characters aren't great, they definitely are, but those 3 side characters just instantly pulled my heartstrings.
The world is just as complex, its harsh, and unforgiving. The conflict throughout this had been, and what i can only describe as unyeilding. I will say that I felt that the magic system is intense and Celeanne Dorrington does not hold your hand about it. So, when reading this, do pay close attention.
The ending...maybe the last 15% of the book had me in a rollercoaster. Not just emotionally, but also being unsure how I felt about the events unfolding. I am satisfied with the ending, but I think another part of me feels like something is missing. Correction, it's not that something is missing, but rather I still had questions. This story in particular is ending, however it's not the last time we are going to get to be in this world and perhaps that's where my questions will be answered. I'm actually so excited to see where that goes! For those who know, "We have need of the Keeper."
I rate this book 4.5☆. The spice is at a 4🌶, there's a few scenes that are explicite, but really the tension is the focus. The tension is agonizing through out the whole series, but in this book it's like laser focused tension. This is not a spice for the sake of spice kind of story. Overall the series is 4.5☆ as well. Definitely look forward to the trilogy. Currently out is the Keeper's Codex. Get your hands on that and soon the trilogy!
June 1, 2026
ARC Review: I'm giving this a solid 4 stars and 3 chili peppers. I was surprised to see multiple reviews saying this book has a lot of spice. I am assuming that those readers don't read a lot of spice, or very spicey books. This had a few scenes, but I wouldn't consider it very spicey. That said, spice is a spectrum and it definitely depends on what you're used to.
I felt this book was stronger than book two. If you read my review of book two, you know that the 6 foot rule which sometimes was iron-clad and sometimes seemed to have been forgotten completely made my eye twitch. I was excited coming into this book that that distraction would be gone. Then they suddenly couldn't get too close? I had a moment of panic that this was going to destroy book three for me, but it DID NOT. I think it was handled very well and consistently throughout and only increased the yearning. That willow branch scene... come ON.
It was good that Maxx got more time in this book. His humor is really necessary in cutting through the seriousness of what the characters are facing. It's a thread that carries through from start to finish and was well done. "Bring her home."
I was teetering on five star going into the end of the book, but there were just a couple things that kept me at four. One is the giant question mark about who rules now? The King is dead, who is in control? By the end, weeks have gone by and all our main characters are still in Skal'Varin. Have they forgotten there's a capital city and thousands of people now leaderless? It's not even discussed. Another, and maybe this was silly, but orgasms being what seals the tear? When Eryndor is tying Amaria to the stake, I was expecting this powerful, emotional, gut-wrenching scene. Then he ripped her shirt off and I was like wait what? There's still battle raging behind them, griffins holding off riftborn nightmares, and they're just gonna triple orgasm on the altar to save the world? It felt awkward to me. And I love spicey spice. It just felt weirdly placed to me. Especially with her bound. Third, and again, maybe this is just me, but I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for Amaria to say the L word back... and then the book ended.
So that's it. Solid 4 for me. I enjoyed the series.
I felt this book was stronger than book two. If you read my review of book two, you know that the 6 foot rule which sometimes was iron-clad and sometimes seemed to have been forgotten completely made my eye twitch. I was excited coming into this book that that distraction would be gone. Then they suddenly couldn't get too close? I had a moment of panic that this was going to destroy book three for me, but it DID NOT. I think it was handled very well and consistently throughout and only increased the yearning. That willow branch scene... come ON.
It was good that Maxx got more time in this book. His humor is really necessary in cutting through the seriousness of what the characters are facing. It's a thread that carries through from start to finish and was well done. "Bring her home."
I was teetering on five star going into the end of the book, but there were just a couple things that kept me at four. One is the giant question mark about who rules now? The King is dead, who is in control? By the end, weeks have gone by and all our main characters are still in Skal'Varin. Have they forgotten there's a capital city and thousands of people now leaderless? It's not even discussed. Another, and maybe this was silly, but orgasms being what seals the tear? When Eryndor is tying Amaria to the stake, I was expecting this powerful, emotional, gut-wrenching scene. Then he ripped her shirt off and I was like wait what? There's still battle raging behind them, griffins holding off riftborn nightmares, and they're just gonna triple orgasm on the altar to save the world? It felt awkward to me. And I love spicey spice. It just felt weirdly placed to me. Especially with her bound. Third, and again, maybe this is just me, but I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for Amaria to say the L word back... and then the book ended.
So that's it. Solid 4 for me. I enjoyed the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don’t think I’m ever going to stop thinking about this trilogy.
Some books are entertaining, but every once in a while you find one that completely pulls you in. Heirs of the Shattered Veil was that series for me.
From the very first pages of The First Scar to the final chapter of The Binding, I became completely invested in these characters. By the end, they didn’t feel like fictional people anymore—they felt like friends I had laughed with, cried for, and rooted for every step of the way.
The final book delivered everything I had hoped for. It was emotional, heartbreaking, exciting, and incredibly satisfying. There were scenes that had me smiling, others that absolutely wrecked me, and more than one moment where I had to put the book down just to process everything that had happened. The emotional payoff was worth every page.
The romance was one of my favorite parts of the series. The slow burn was beautifully done, full of tension, longing, sacrifice, and genuine emotional growth. Every moment between the main characters felt earned, making their journey all the more rewarding.
And the dragons… they completely stole my heart. The bonds between riders and dragons, the loyalty, the magic, and the emotion woven into those relationships made this world feel so unique. They weren’t just companions—they became some of my favorite characters in the series.
The world-building is immersive without becoming overwhelming, and Celeanne Dorrington’s writing made every setting, battle, and emotional moment easy to picture. I never felt lost, only more invested with each chapter.
My only complaint is that I wasn’t ready for the story to end. I could have happily spent hundreds more pages with these characters and this world.
If you enjoy:
* Enemies to lovers
* Dragons
* Fae fantasy
* Slow-burn romance
* High-stakes adventure
* Emotional character arcs
* A touch of spice
…I highly recommend giving this trilogy a chance.
This wasn’t just a five-star read—it was one of those rare series that stays with you long after you’ve finished the final page. I’ll definitely be thinking about these characters and this world for a very long time.
⭐ 5/5 stars. One of my favorite fantasy trilogies I’ve read this year.
I don’t think I’m ever going to stop thinking about this trilogy.
Some books are entertaining, but every once in a while you find one that completely pulls you in. Heirs of the Shattered Veil was that series for me.
From the very first pages of The First Scar to the final chapter of The Binding, I became completely invested in these characters. By the end, they didn’t feel like fictional people anymore—they felt like friends I had laughed with, cried for, and rooted for every step of the way.
The final book delivered everything I had hoped for. It was emotional, heartbreaking, exciting, and incredibly satisfying. There were scenes that had me smiling, others that absolutely wrecked me, and more than one moment where I had to put the book down just to process everything that had happened. The emotional payoff was worth every page.
The romance was one of my favorite parts of the series. The slow burn was beautifully done, full of tension, longing, sacrifice, and genuine emotional growth. Every moment between the main characters felt earned, making their journey all the more rewarding.
And the dragons… they completely stole my heart. The bonds between riders and dragons, the loyalty, the magic, and the emotion woven into those relationships made this world feel so unique. They weren’t just companions—they became some of my favorite characters in the series.
The world-building is immersive without becoming overwhelming, and Celeanne Dorrington’s writing made every setting, battle, and emotional moment easy to picture. I never felt lost, only more invested with each chapter.
My only complaint is that I wasn’t ready for the story to end. I could have happily spent hundreds more pages with these characters and this world.
If you enjoy:
* Enemies to lovers
* Dragons
* Fae fantasy
* Slow-burn romance
* High-stakes adventure
* Emotional character arcs
* A touch of spice
…I highly recommend giving this trilogy a chance.
This wasn’t just a five-star read—it was one of those rare series that stays with you long after you’ve finished the final page. I’ll definitely be thinking about these characters and this world for a very long time.
⭐ 5/5 stars. One of my favorite fantasy trilogies I’ve read this year.
June 3, 2026
ARC Review – The Binding
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️.5
What a satisfying ending to this trilogy ❤️
After the emotional damage from book two, I was really looking forward to seeing how everything would come together in The Binding, and overall I really enjoyed where the series ended. Watching all the pieces finally connect, the prophecy, the bonds, the Veil, the dragons, the rebellion, made this feel like a true culmination of the story.
This book definitely leans heavier into the emotional side of the series. The characters have all been broken down in different ways, and seeing them slowly rebuild themselves and each other was one of my favorite aspects of the book. Amaria especially has come such a long way from the girl we met in book one, and I loved finally seeing her fully embrace both herself and her destiny.
And Eryndor 😭
The yearning, the devotion, the sacrifice… this man was made to emotionally destroy readers.
“You are not just the one I love,” I whispered, the truth ripping out of me at last. “You are the wound in the world I was born to bleed for.”
That line alone deserves five stars.
The romance and spice definitely ramp up more in this installment compared to the previous books (🌶️2.5 for me), and after all the slow burn tension throughout the trilogy, it felt earned. Readers finally get the emotional payoff they’ve been waiting for.
That said, the pacing was a little uneven for me. Some sections dragged and lost my attention at times, while other major moments felt rushed considering how important they were to the overall story. Even so, I was emotionally invested enough in these characters that I still really enjoyed the journey and was satisfied with the ending.
And while we do get our HEA, the ending leaves just enough open for future stories in this world, which honestly made me really excited.
Tropes / Themes:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Slow burn romance
✨ Yearning & devotion
✨ Dragons
✨ Found family
✨ Chosen one / prophecy
✨ Feminine rage
✨ Morally grey MMC
✨ High stakes fantasy
Overall, this was a strong conclusion to a trilogy that completely emotionally tortured me from beginning to end, in the best way possible.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️.5
What a satisfying ending to this trilogy ❤️
After the emotional damage from book two, I was really looking forward to seeing how everything would come together in The Binding, and overall I really enjoyed where the series ended. Watching all the pieces finally connect, the prophecy, the bonds, the Veil, the dragons, the rebellion, made this feel like a true culmination of the story.
This book definitely leans heavier into the emotional side of the series. The characters have all been broken down in different ways, and seeing them slowly rebuild themselves and each other was one of my favorite aspects of the book. Amaria especially has come such a long way from the girl we met in book one, and I loved finally seeing her fully embrace both herself and her destiny.
And Eryndor 😭
The yearning, the devotion, the sacrifice… this man was made to emotionally destroy readers.
“You are not just the one I love,” I whispered, the truth ripping out of me at last. “You are the wound in the world I was born to bleed for.”
That line alone deserves five stars.
The romance and spice definitely ramp up more in this installment compared to the previous books (🌶️2.5 for me), and after all the slow burn tension throughout the trilogy, it felt earned. Readers finally get the emotional payoff they’ve been waiting for.
That said, the pacing was a little uneven for me. Some sections dragged and lost my attention at times, while other major moments felt rushed considering how important they were to the overall story. Even so, I was emotionally invested enough in these characters that I still really enjoyed the journey and was satisfied with the ending.
And while we do get our HEA, the ending leaves just enough open for future stories in this world, which honestly made me really excited.
Tropes / Themes:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Slow burn romance
✨ Yearning & devotion
✨ Dragons
✨ Found family
✨ Chosen one / prophecy
✨ Feminine rage
✨ Morally grey MMC
✨ High stakes fantasy
Overall, this was a strong conclusion to a trilogy that completely emotionally tortured me from beginning to end, in the best way possible.
May 3, 2026
I just closed The Binding and I’m honestly not sure how to go back to the real world. Celeanne Dorrington has done it again, but this time she turned the emotional dial up to eleven. If The Lost Thread was the book that gutted us, this is the one that painstakingly puts you back together—though not without a few more scars along the way.
The evolution of the "forced proximity" trope in this book was absolute genius. After spending two books desperate for Amaria and Eryndor to just touch, seeing them trapped in a tiny stone room in Skal'Varin with nothing but a single bed and a decade's worth of yearning was almost too much to handle. The scene where Eryndor builds Amaria a "nest" of furs on the cold floor because he's too noble to take the bed? My heart couldn't take it. The tension when she makes him that healing salve for his bruises—because it’s the only way she can "touch" him without breaking the world—was so intimate and heavy.
But can we talk about the found family in this book? The dynamic with Maxx, Serenya, and Dreadscale has officially become one of my all-time favorites. The "dinner party disaster" where they literally turn a feast into a battlefield—and Amaria ends up with gravy in her hair—was the exact bit of levity I needed before the final showdown. And Maxx being "adopted" by a baby copper dragon who uses him as a heating pad? I was cackling.
The ending, though... I was bracing for a total tragedy because of that "trembling sacrifice" prophecy, but the twist about "trembling surrender" and the power of choice was so much more powerful. Watching Amaria stop being just a "vessel" and finally decide she was worth protecting, too, was the character growth I’ve been waiting for since book one.
It’s rare for a series to stick the landing this well. It’s high-stakes, spicy, heartbreaking, and ultimately so hopeful. I’m going to miss these characters so much (and yes, even the tiny, tattered-cape-wearing dog). If you haven't started this series yet, what are you even doing? Get the tissues ready and dive in!
The evolution of the "forced proximity" trope in this book was absolute genius. After spending two books desperate for Amaria and Eryndor to just touch, seeing them trapped in a tiny stone room in Skal'Varin with nothing but a single bed and a decade's worth of yearning was almost too much to handle. The scene where Eryndor builds Amaria a "nest" of furs on the cold floor because he's too noble to take the bed? My heart couldn't take it. The tension when she makes him that healing salve for his bruises—because it’s the only way she can "touch" him without breaking the world—was so intimate and heavy.
But can we talk about the found family in this book? The dynamic with Maxx, Serenya, and Dreadscale has officially become one of my all-time favorites. The "dinner party disaster" where they literally turn a feast into a battlefield—and Amaria ends up with gravy in her hair—was the exact bit of levity I needed before the final showdown. And Maxx being "adopted" by a baby copper dragon who uses him as a heating pad? I was cackling.
The ending, though... I was bracing for a total tragedy because of that "trembling sacrifice" prophecy, but the twist about "trembling surrender" and the power of choice was so much more powerful. Watching Amaria stop being just a "vessel" and finally decide she was worth protecting, too, was the character growth I’ve been waiting for since book one.
It’s rare for a series to stick the landing this well. It’s high-stakes, spicy, heartbreaking, and ultimately so hopeful. I’m going to miss these characters so much (and yes, even the tiny, tattered-cape-wearing dog). If you haven't started this series yet, what are you even doing? Get the tissues ready and dive in!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2026
This my honest review, and thank you so much to Celeanne Dorrington for giving me the honour of me a digital copy of the ARC.
Where do I even begin with this book. This book both absolutely broke me and then mended me. I have not had a book emotionally destroy me as much as this book has in quite some time. We start off right after the end of book 2 and that's what I absolutely love about this series. There's no time gaps, we get to see everything unfold right from where it left off and oh boy did book 2 end on a absolutely soul crushing end. Just when you though that the stakes were high enough they were raised even more. Our characters have already been through so much, and they will have to face even greater odds to not only save themselves but try save the realms. I cried through so many parts of this books, Amaria and Eryndor, and oh poor sweet Serenya, that scene just gutted me. How can I forget about Maxx, the sweet crazy man that we can't get enough of.
I thought I loved the yearning and tension in book 2 but this book did it for me. That tension between them?? Ooh I ate it up. While book 2 was close proximity this was a bit different and I absolutely loved every yearning, tension filled second of it. I loved these characters or should I say family so much and I really can't wait to read this series again, to go through all these emotions again, because this has become one of my favourite series and it really deserves so much love and attention. I can't wait to see the direction this series spins off in, and i hope we get to see more Dreadscale.
You definitely need to give this series a try, it is true enemies to lovers, with such a delicious slow burn, with tons of tension and yearning. Throw in a prophecy, found family, animal companions in this book, and a beautifully built dystopian world. You will sobbing and you will be happy about it by the end.
Where do I even begin with this book. This book both absolutely broke me and then mended me. I have not had a book emotionally destroy me as much as this book has in quite some time. We start off right after the end of book 2 and that's what I absolutely love about this series. There's no time gaps, we get to see everything unfold right from where it left off and oh boy did book 2 end on a absolutely soul crushing end. Just when you though that the stakes were high enough they were raised even more. Our characters have already been through so much, and they will have to face even greater odds to not only save themselves but try save the realms. I cried through so many parts of this books, Amaria and Eryndor, and oh poor sweet Serenya, that scene just gutted me. How can I forget about Maxx, the sweet crazy man that we can't get enough of.
I thought I loved the yearning and tension in book 2 but this book did it for me. That tension between them?? Ooh I ate it up. While book 2 was close proximity this was a bit different and I absolutely loved every yearning, tension filled second of it. I loved these characters or should I say family so much and I really can't wait to read this series again, to go through all these emotions again, because this has become one of my favourite series and it really deserves so much love and attention. I can't wait to see the direction this series spins off in, and i hope we get to see more Dreadscale.
You definitely need to give this series a try, it is true enemies to lovers, with such a delicious slow burn, with tons of tension and yearning. Throw in a prophecy, found family, animal companions in this book, and a beautifully built dystopian world. You will sobbing and you will be happy about it by the end.
May 10, 2026
The Binding by Celeanne Dorrington, is book 3 of The Heirs of the Shattered Veil trilogy. The realms of Nhalivar whispers in your ear beckoning you to answer the call. This series is a fantasy book set in a fae world where duality isn't just a split, it is a personality. Each face marked by shadow or light. All are classified by it, made or destroyed depending on your mark and the magics they contain.
Becoming... that's what this series is truly about. They were all becoming exactly who and what they were meant to be. Through defeat, through victory, through friendship, family and love. When you take all the broken parts that you believed would shatter you completely. But instead of shattering, you find truth. Staring you hard in the face. Challenging you, encouraging you. Is anything more meaningful? I think not.
When surrender feels like faith. After every piece had been broken and shattered. When you have taken all the shards, picked them up, and thrown them away. Then rebuilt yourself from the bit that remained. Choosing what pieces and where they will go. Forged those pieces out of spirit and soul into who you are and what you become.
This series takes you for a journey of breath and essence. It will tear down your walls, make you cry, laugh. Then it will shatter you completely. Trust me, relinquish all of those parts. Because then the story becomes a piece of you. It enlightens all the best parts of life. Leaves them there for your memory. Always there, breathing existence back into them whenever you choose. Every great component in this epic series is thought through: mending of character, world building, and soul. Celeanne Dorrington is the sorceress of worlds that will stay with you and carry on through generations. Stories becoming lore.
I'd like to thank the author for gifting me this ARC for my honest review.
Becoming... that's what this series is truly about. They were all becoming exactly who and what they were meant to be. Through defeat, through victory, through friendship, family and love. When you take all the broken parts that you believed would shatter you completely. But instead of shattering, you find truth. Staring you hard in the face. Challenging you, encouraging you. Is anything more meaningful? I think not.
When surrender feels like faith. After every piece had been broken and shattered. When you have taken all the shards, picked them up, and thrown them away. Then rebuilt yourself from the bit that remained. Choosing what pieces and where they will go. Forged those pieces out of spirit and soul into who you are and what you become.
This series takes you for a journey of breath and essence. It will tear down your walls, make you cry, laugh. Then it will shatter you completely. Trust me, relinquish all of those parts. Because then the story becomes a piece of you. It enlightens all the best parts of life. Leaves them there for your memory. Always there, breathing existence back into them whenever you choose. Every great component in this epic series is thought through: mending of character, world building, and soul. Celeanne Dorrington is the sorceress of worlds that will stay with you and carry on through generations. Stories becoming lore.
I'd like to thank the author for gifting me this ARC for my honest review.
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