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Starborn Bound
508 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 31, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Anya lived an ordinary life on Earth until one day a power that had been suppressed by a spell awakens with such ferocity that it turns her entire world upside down.
With dangerous people suddenly hunting her, Anya is forced to leave everything she has ever known behind and is taken to a magical realm by her new protector, Jason Vale.
Torn away from everyone she loves, she must learn to control her magic, train to fight, and adapt to a life she never asked for. As the dangers around her grow, Anya begins to wonder if she will survive long enough to discover the truth about who she really is.
One thing is certain: Jason takes his role as her protector very seriously.
Ok this book is amazing .
The world building at the start was so good I could almost picture everything and everyone . Everything was explained so well.
The chemistry between Anya and Jason is literally unworldly . It had me feeling all kinds of things . The story was so good I couldn’t stop reading .
I love that Anya has a Pomeranian/ ferocious lion sidekick . Cece is adorable and scary in equal amounts.
It has everything from villains, bitchy ex girlfriends, yearning MMC, and a feisty FMC
it’s a slow burn but totally worth the wait !
This ends in a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next book
PROTECTIVE MMC
MAGICAL REALM
SLOW BURN
FORBIDDEN LOVE
FORCED PROXIMITY
FOUND FAMILY
Anya lived an ordinary life on Earth until one day a power that had been suppressed by a spell awakens with such ferocity that it turns her entire world upside down.
With dangerous people suddenly hunting her, Anya is forced to leave everything she has ever known behind and is taken to a magical realm by her new protector, Jason Vale.
Torn away from everyone she loves, she must learn to control her magic, train to fight, and adapt to a life she never asked for. As the dangers around her grow, Anya begins to wonder if she will survive long enough to discover the truth about who she really is.
One thing is certain: Jason takes his role as her protector very seriously.
Ok this book is amazing .
The world building at the start was so good I could almost picture everything and everyone . Everything was explained so well.
The chemistry between Anya and Jason is literally unworldly . It had me feeling all kinds of things . The story was so good I couldn’t stop reading .
I love that Anya has a Pomeranian/ ferocious lion sidekick . Cece is adorable and scary in equal amounts.
It has everything from villains, bitchy ex girlfriends, yearning MMC, and a feisty FMC
it’s a slow burn but totally worth the wait !
This ends in a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the next book
PROTECTIVE MMC
MAGICAL REALM
SLOW BURN
FORBIDDEN LOVE
FORCED PROXIMITY
FOUND FAMILY
June 16, 2026
I received an ARC of Starborn Bound and this is my honest review.
Starborn Bound is a fast, addictive romantasy with a classic but very enjoyable setup: a seemingly normal girl discovers she has dangerous magic, is pulled into a world of realms, prophecies, Protectors, forbidden power, and enemies who have been waiting for her awakening.
Anya was a very accessible protagonist for me. She reacts to the impossible with the right mix of panic, humour, curiosity, and stubbornness, which made her easy to follow as the world kept getting bigger around her. Jason has exactly the kind of broody, disciplined, protective energy that works well in this kind of story, and the tension between them builds nicely. Their relationship has that forbidden, emotionally charged quality that makes you want them to give in while also knowing the consequences are going to hurt.
The world itself is one of the book’s biggest strengths. The Veiled Realms, the Protectors, the different types of magic, the Shadowbound, Peradon, and the political structure all give the story a wide fantasy scope. I also appreciated that the antagonist has a tragic motivation behind her actions, which gives the conflict more depth.
Because this is the first book in a series, there is a lot of setup, and some sections feel exposition-heavy while the rules, history, and magic system are being explained. That said, the pace keeps moving, the romance keeps pulling you forward, and the final stretch really raises the stakes.
The ending is a proper cliffhanger, so be prepared to want book two immediately. I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy romantasy with magical awakenings, protector dynamics, forbidden romance, betrayals, prophecy, and high-stakes realm-spanning conflict.
Starborn Bound is a fast, addictive romantasy with a classic but very enjoyable setup: a seemingly normal girl discovers she has dangerous magic, is pulled into a world of realms, prophecies, Protectors, forbidden power, and enemies who have been waiting for her awakening.
Anya was a very accessible protagonist for me. She reacts to the impossible with the right mix of panic, humour, curiosity, and stubbornness, which made her easy to follow as the world kept getting bigger around her. Jason has exactly the kind of broody, disciplined, protective energy that works well in this kind of story, and the tension between them builds nicely. Their relationship has that forbidden, emotionally charged quality that makes you want them to give in while also knowing the consequences are going to hurt.
The world itself is one of the book’s biggest strengths. The Veiled Realms, the Protectors, the different types of magic, the Shadowbound, Peradon, and the political structure all give the story a wide fantasy scope. I also appreciated that the antagonist has a tragic motivation behind her actions, which gives the conflict more depth.
Because this is the first book in a series, there is a lot of setup, and some sections feel exposition-heavy while the rules, history, and magic system are being explained. That said, the pace keeps moving, the romance keeps pulling you forward, and the final stretch really raises the stakes.
The ending is a proper cliffhanger, so be prepared to want book two immediately. I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy romantasy with magical awakenings, protector dynamics, forbidden romance, betrayals, prophecy, and high-stakes realm-spanning conflict.
June 8, 2026
3.5 for me.
Anya thought she was just an ordinary human until she wasn't and her world changed. She leaves Earth and all her family and friends behind when she is taken to a magical world that can protect her and her special magic from those who are hunting her for their own benefit. Jason Vale is assigned as her protector, but lines between them blur immediately as they are drawn to each other. As time progresses and Anya trains, the tension between her and her protector rise until they can no longer take the tension. The story ends on a cliffhanger that left me ready for more.
This was a great debut novel. The world was rich and creative. I loved the monsters in the wild and I wished that section of the book was longer because it was my favorite part. When Anya bonds with her creature, I was so excited!! I cannot wait for more of that in book 2. The tension between Jason and Anya was ... wow!! I enjoyed that this book was just kissing and not spicy. It had all the romantic tension and yearning without the explicit content.
The beginning sucked me in immediately, the middle dragged just a bit with all the training, and the ending was jammed with events. For me the pacing was a little all over the place. Some of the training and academic moments felt a bit like information dumping, but this was a great debut and I definitely want to read the next book.
Tropes:
Bodyguard romance
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Romance
Found Family
Hidden Identity
Quote:
"The more you protect something, the more tempting it becomes to steal."
"When something can't be controlled..." "It gets erased."
"bad decisions are better with friends."
Anya thought she was just an ordinary human until she wasn't and her world changed. She leaves Earth and all her family and friends behind when she is taken to a magical world that can protect her and her special magic from those who are hunting her for their own benefit. Jason Vale is assigned as her protector, but lines between them blur immediately as they are drawn to each other. As time progresses and Anya trains, the tension between her and her protector rise until they can no longer take the tension. The story ends on a cliffhanger that left me ready for more.
This was a great debut novel. The world was rich and creative. I loved the monsters in the wild and I wished that section of the book was longer because it was my favorite part. When Anya bonds with her creature, I was so excited!! I cannot wait for more of that in book 2. The tension between Jason and Anya was ... wow!! I enjoyed that this book was just kissing and not spicy. It had all the romantic tension and yearning without the explicit content.
The beginning sucked me in immediately, the middle dragged just a bit with all the training, and the ending was jammed with events. For me the pacing was a little all over the place. Some of the training and academic moments felt a bit like information dumping, but this was a great debut and I definitely want to read the next book.
Tropes:
Bodyguard romance
Forced Proximity
Forbidden Romance
Found Family
Hidden Identity
Quote:
"The more you protect something, the more tempting it becomes to steal."
"When something can't be controlled..." "It gets erased."
"bad decisions are better with friends."
July 14, 2026
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Five‑Star Review
A brilliant romantic fantasy with characters you can’t help but love. Anya and Jason are fantastic leads, and the supporting cast adds so much depth to the story. Val and Kade are wonderfully loveable, while Thaddyn is written so well that he’s incredibly easy to detest — in the best way.
The mix of magic, danger, and forbidden connection kept me hooked from start to finish.
I’ve already recommended this book to all my friends and family, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the next instalment takes these characters.
A thoroughly good book with a great storyline — I would absolutely recommend it to anyone - and EVERYONE!
A brilliant romantic fantasy with characters you can’t help but love. Anya and Jason are fantastic leads, and the supporting cast adds so much depth to the story. Val and Kade are wonderfully loveable, while Thaddyn is written so well that he’s incredibly easy to detest — in the best way.
The mix of magic, danger, and forbidden connection kept me hooked from start to finish.
I’ve already recommended this book to all my friends and family, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the next instalment takes these characters.
A thoroughly good book with a great storyline — I would absolutely recommend it to anyone - and EVERYONE!
May 28, 2026
I enjoyed this book so much. It was my first arc and I thank Laura for sending me an advanced copy. It has everything you’d want, a story about coming into power, a forbidden love, friendship and suspense. As soon as it’s released I recommend you get yourself a copy! 🥰 x
July 2, 2026
Fantastic debut
I think it was a solid story. A wonderful up and coming author, as debuts go I have no problem saying it’s one of the best.
I think it was a solid story. A wonderful up and coming author, as debuts go I have no problem saying it’s one of the best.
June 16, 2026
This is a great debut book! Laura has done an immaculate job with worldbuilding and creating an essence in the book that keeps the reader going. The stakes are high, it keeps going and even the characters are very much ones you both cheer for and feel. The use of several POVs were a great decision, and it helped out much to built the appreciation for the characters. Just saying, the ending… yeah leave us hanging girl!! what a cliffhanger. I applaud this book, I really enjoyed it throughout! I am looking forward to reading the next one, thank you so much for having me as an ARC reader for this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced reader review.
4.5 stars
The prologue is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It instantly draws you in and sets up one of the main themes for the book, is the villain really a villain or is she completely justified in her cause?
We follow Anya who thinks she’s a normal 21 year old student with a passion for science. While she’s conducting an experiment in the lab her powers unbind and suddenly she has the attention of the Veiled Realms and, in particular, one very handsome protector sent to retrieve her - Jason.
The magic system in this book is unique, there is colour coded magic with particular colour sets linked to each planet in the realms and elemental magic woven into all the magic types. Shadow magic is outlawed as dark magic in these realms and your magic type is closely tied to what career path you might take.
Anya is taken to Veryyon, the protector outpost, and there she meets the elders and begins learning about her magic, the new realm she’s now a part of and the dark powers that want to get there hands on her. As Anya begins this process it’s very noticeable that the information she’s given and the lessons she is taught are heavily filtered and controlled by the elders which lends to the second theme of this books - who can we trust? My answer was nobody. Even Jason, whilst truly in love with Anya was often swayed by his need to protect her, his loyalty to the elders and his inability to defy the council due to the risk to his career.
Jason is bound by his protectors oath not to fall for his charge as an emotional tie may blur his judgment so naturally he completely falls for Anya and we get delicious yearning and forbidden romance throughout the book.
Jason’s two best friends add an element of found family to the story as they bring Anya into their group and the banter between the group brings well time tension breakers and comic relief.
The addition of a mysterious and broody new recruit in the second half of the book ups the tension between Jason and Anya and triggers a series of twists and turns that ultimately lead to a jaw dropping cliffhanger. I truly cannot wait to see where the next book takes us!
4.5 stars
The prologue is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It instantly draws you in and sets up one of the main themes for the book, is the villain really a villain or is she completely justified in her cause?
We follow Anya who thinks she’s a normal 21 year old student with a passion for science. While she’s conducting an experiment in the lab her powers unbind and suddenly she has the attention of the Veiled Realms and, in particular, one very handsome protector sent to retrieve her - Jason.
The magic system in this book is unique, there is colour coded magic with particular colour sets linked to each planet in the realms and elemental magic woven into all the magic types. Shadow magic is outlawed as dark magic in these realms and your magic type is closely tied to what career path you might take.
Anya is taken to Veryyon, the protector outpost, and there she meets the elders and begins learning about her magic, the new realm she’s now a part of and the dark powers that want to get there hands on her. As Anya begins this process it’s very noticeable that the information she’s given and the lessons she is taught are heavily filtered and controlled by the elders which lends to the second theme of this books - who can we trust? My answer was nobody. Even Jason, whilst truly in love with Anya was often swayed by his need to protect her, his loyalty to the elders and his inability to defy the council due to the risk to his career.
Jason is bound by his protectors oath not to fall for his charge as an emotional tie may blur his judgment so naturally he completely falls for Anya and we get delicious yearning and forbidden romance throughout the book.
Jason’s two best friends add an element of found family to the story as they bring Anya into their group and the banter between the group brings well time tension breakers and comic relief.
The addition of a mysterious and broody new recruit in the second half of the book ups the tension between Jason and Anya and triggers a series of twists and turns that ultimately lead to a jaw dropping cliffhanger. I truly cannot wait to see where the next book takes us!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Starborn Bound
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Laura for sending me your book and allowing me to read and review it before release day. I feel so lucky to have been able to experience this story early ✨
Starborn Bound throws you straight into the action from the very first pages. One moment Anya is living a normal life, and the next she’s forced to face the truth about who and what she really is. Her awakening as a Starborn completely changes everything, and from there the story never slows down.
I absolutely loved the relationship between Anya and Jason. The protector dynamic mixed with forced proximity created so much tension, especially with their relationship feeling like something that should never happen. Their chemistry was incredible and had me hooked the entire time.
The magic system felt fresh and unique. Even though fantasy books often include magic, this one stood out and felt completely its own. I also really loved how we discovered Anya’s identity alongside her. Because she’s learning about herself at the same time as the reader, it made her journey feel much more personal and emotional.
The found family element was another huge highlight for me. Val quickly became one of my favourite characters, and Kade’s bond with Anya gave such strong protective brother energy that I adored.
The world building was beautifully done too. Every planet felt vivid and immersive, especially Val’s planet, which I could picture so clearly while reading.
The writing flowed effortlessly, making this such an addictive read, and now I desperately need more immediately 😍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Laura for sending me your book and allowing me to read and review it before release day. I feel so lucky to have been able to experience this story early ✨
Starborn Bound throws you straight into the action from the very first pages. One moment Anya is living a normal life, and the next she’s forced to face the truth about who and what she really is. Her awakening as a Starborn completely changes everything, and from there the story never slows down.
I absolutely loved the relationship between Anya and Jason. The protector dynamic mixed with forced proximity created so much tension, especially with their relationship feeling like something that should never happen. Their chemistry was incredible and had me hooked the entire time.
The magic system felt fresh and unique. Even though fantasy books often include magic, this one stood out and felt completely its own. I also really loved how we discovered Anya’s identity alongside her. Because she’s learning about herself at the same time as the reader, it made her journey feel much more personal and emotional.
The found family element was another huge highlight for me. Val quickly became one of my favourite characters, and Kade’s bond with Anya gave such strong protective brother energy that I adored.
The world building was beautifully done too. Every planet felt vivid and immersive, especially Val’s planet, which I could picture so clearly while reading.
The writing flowed effortlessly, making this such an addictive read, and now I desperately need more immediately 😍
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Starborn Bound completely pulled me in from the very first chapter and never let go. One moment Anya is living a normal life, and the next she’s discovering she has magic and being thrown into an entirely new universe filled with danger, secrets, and planets she never even knew existed. The pacing was addictive, with constant action balanced perfectly with emotional moments and character development.
I absolutely loved the relationship between Anya and Jason. The protector dynamic mixed with forced proximity created so much tension, and their chemistry was incredible from the start. Watching Jason slowly fall for her while trying to keep his distance had me hooked the entire time. And honestly… blond MMCs will always have a special place in my heart 😍
The world building was phenomenal. Every planet felt vivid and immersive, and the different magic “colours” made the magic system feel so unique and fresh. I also loved discovering everything alongside Anya, because learning the truth about who she is at the same time she does made her journey feel even more personal and emotional.
The found family aspect was another huge highlight for me. Val and Kade completely stole my heart, and the protective sibling energy they had toward Anya made me love them even more.
Laura M. Merrin created such an engaging and beautifully written fantasy world that I never wanted to leave. So many questions were left unanswered in the best possible way, and now I’m desperately waiting for book two already.
✨ Found family
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Protector romance
✨ Off-limits feelings
✨ Unique magic system
Starborn Bound completely pulled me in from the very first chapter and never let go. One moment Anya is living a normal life, and the next she’s discovering she has magic and being thrown into an entirely new universe filled with danger, secrets, and planets she never even knew existed. The pacing was addictive, with constant action balanced perfectly with emotional moments and character development.
I absolutely loved the relationship between Anya and Jason. The protector dynamic mixed with forced proximity created so much tension, and their chemistry was incredible from the start. Watching Jason slowly fall for her while trying to keep his distance had me hooked the entire time. And honestly… blond MMCs will always have a special place in my heart 😍
The world building was phenomenal. Every planet felt vivid and immersive, and the different magic “colours” made the magic system feel so unique and fresh. I also loved discovering everything alongside Anya, because learning the truth about who she is at the same time she does made her journey feel even more personal and emotional.
The found family aspect was another huge highlight for me. Val and Kade completely stole my heart, and the protective sibling energy they had toward Anya made me love them even more.
Laura M. Merrin created such an engaging and beautifully written fantasy world that I never wanted to leave. So many questions were left unanswered in the best possible way, and now I’m desperately waiting for book two already.
✨ Found family
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Protector romance
✨ Off-limits feelings
✨ Unique magic system
Review of advance copy
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC.
Some books hook you with action. This one hooked me with longing. Starborn Bound is a story filled with star-crossed love, impossible choices, dangerous magic, and the kind of devotion that hurts. At the center is Anya, a young woman surrounded by people making decisions about her future while darker forces seek power for their own gain.
What kept me turning the pages was Jason. Bound by an oath that threatens to destroy him if he gives in to his feelings, he carries the weight of duty while constantly battling temptation. The tension between what he wants and what he believes he must do creates some of the strongest emotional moments in the book.
I especially enjoyed the blend of magic, looming darkness, and the protector dynamic. The story asks how much someone should sacrifice for duty—and what happens when love demands something different.
If you enjoy:
Star-crossed lovers
Unrequited or forbidden love
Protector romance dynamics
Oaths and magical bonds
Found-family style alliances
Fantasy with high emotional stakes then Starborn Bound may be worth adding to your TBR.
Some books hook you with action. This one hooked me with longing. Starborn Bound is a story filled with star-crossed love, impossible choices, dangerous magic, and the kind of devotion that hurts. At the center is Anya, a young woman surrounded by people making decisions about her future while darker forces seek power for their own gain.
What kept me turning the pages was Jason. Bound by an oath that threatens to destroy him if he gives in to his feelings, he carries the weight of duty while constantly battling temptation. The tension between what he wants and what he believes he must do creates some of the strongest emotional moments in the book.
I especially enjoyed the blend of magic, looming darkness, and the protector dynamic. The story asks how much someone should sacrifice for duty—and what happens when love demands something different.
If you enjoy:
Star-crossed lovers
Unrequited or forbidden love
Protector romance dynamics
Oaths and magical bonds
Found-family style alliances
Fantasy with high emotional stakes then Starborn Bound may be worth adding to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc review*
Starborn bound is about girl named Anya. One minute she’s a college student, the next shes discovered she has magic and is being dragged across the universe to planets she’s never heard of by a protector. All to keep her safe.
Jason is a sworn protector, his job is to train Anya and keep her safe from anyone who would want to use her magic for evil. Slowly he begins to fall…
I’m also obsessed with blonde mmcs!!!!
I absolutely loved the world building in this book it was phenomenal!! The descriptions of each planet and each magic “colour” were amazing.
Val and Kade were amazing characters, both like siblings to Jason but took on Anya like she was one of their own.
So many answers were left unsaid!! Cannot wait for book 2 and book 1 isn’t even out yet.
Thank you so much to Laura for allowing me to arc ead this.
•found family
•forced proximity
•off limits crush
Starborn bound is about girl named Anya. One minute she’s a college student, the next shes discovered she has magic and is being dragged across the universe to planets she’s never heard of by a protector. All to keep her safe.
Jason is a sworn protector, his job is to train Anya and keep her safe from anyone who would want to use her magic for evil. Slowly he begins to fall…
I’m also obsessed with blonde mmcs!!!!
I absolutely loved the world building in this book it was phenomenal!! The descriptions of each planet and each magic “colour” were amazing.
Val and Kade were amazing characters, both like siblings to Jason but took on Anya like she was one of their own.
So many answers were left unsaid!! Cannot wait for book 2 and book 1 isn’t even out yet.
Thank you so much to Laura for allowing me to arc ead this.
•found family
•forced proximity
•off limits crush
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌟ARC REVIEW🌟
Starborn Bound by @laura.m.merrin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was amazing all round 🙌🏽
Banter? ✔️
Yearning?✔️
Forbidden Desire?✔️
Sexual Tension?✔️
For anyone that wants to read a Romantasy that has you wanting more the entire way through the book and will have you giggling and kicking your feet then this book is for you!🥰
Not only was the FMC and MMC written perfectly, so we're the side characters😍
Ever told yourself just one more chapter but the book was too good and you ended up finishing it?👀
This book was one of those🔥
Book available from 1st June 2026. Don't miss out!
Starborn Bound by @laura.m.merrin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was amazing all round 🙌🏽
Banter? ✔️
Yearning?✔️
Forbidden Desire?✔️
Sexual Tension?✔️
For anyone that wants to read a Romantasy that has you wanting more the entire way through the book and will have you giggling and kicking your feet then this book is for you!🥰
Not only was the FMC and MMC written perfectly, so we're the side characters😍
Ever told yourself just one more chapter but the book was too good and you ended up finishing it?👀
This book was one of those🔥
Book available from 1st June 2026. Don't miss out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Being near him made everything feel more dangerous, and somehow safer, all at once”
Ohhh my goodness, that cliff hanger. That cannot be the end!! I feel lost.
thank you so much for allowing me to arc read your book, it was so good!
I cannot wait to find out what happens next, I need to know about her family too! So many questions!
I LOVED Val, Kade & Cece😍🥹 everyone needs a friend like Val.
June 5, 2026
Thank you to Laura Merrin for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are entirely my own. Starborn Bound is an incredibly strong, entertaining debut that hits all the right notes for fantasy romance fans. Even though the ending leaves so many answers unsaid, it only makes me more excited to grab the second book. If you love slow-burn protector romances, unique magic systems, and close-knit found families, add this to your TBR immediately!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of an ARC received from author
This book has such a different approach to magic than I expected and I really enjoyed that. What started off feeling somewhat straightforward, slowly transformed into something much deeper and more complex bit by bit.
The story keeps building tension, making you wait for that big "blow" moment the entire time.
If you love slow-burn romances or plot development... this is a slow slooooooow burn. But honestly, that made the payoff even better. Just when you finally think you've reached the happy ending, the book throws in a twist and leaves you hanging on a literal cliffhanger.
This book has such a different approach to magic than I expected and I really enjoyed that. What started off feeling somewhat straightforward, slowly transformed into something much deeper and more complex bit by bit.
The story keeps building tension, making you wait for that big "blow" moment the entire time.
If you love slow-burn romances or plot development... this is a slow slooooooow burn. But honestly, that made the payoff even better. Just when you finally think you've reached the happy ending, the book throws in a twist and leaves you hanging on a literal cliffhanger.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews