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Hellbound
Not yet published
Expected 28 Aug 26Throne of Glass meets the Mindf*ck Series in this dark romantasy where a bladesmith enters the king's deadly trials to become his next spymaster—except she's the serial killer he's desperate to catch.
"She was asking to be killed."
Ksenia is executed for forging illegal blades—one of which costs her soul. To reclaim it, she strikes a blood pact with a vengeful goddess and is resurrected in a new body with a rage-driven infiltrate the castle and destroy the man who stole her soul.
The first step? Win the king's deadly trials to become his next spymaster. She's assigned to work with Bohdan, the bastard prince and captain of the royal guard, to expose and address any threats to the crown before the enemy can find them. And lately, there's been a serial killer tearing through the kingdom.
The problem? She IS the killer. And the king is her next target.
Can Bohdan stop her? Let him try. She kind of likes it.
In this dark romantasy of resurrection and revenge, two people standing on opposite sides of the same blade have a way of drawing blood--and something far more dangerous. Perfect for readers who crave morally gray heroines, enemies-to-lovers tension, deadly competitions, and forbidden romance.
"She was asking to be killed."
Ksenia is executed for forging illegal blades—one of which costs her soul. To reclaim it, she strikes a blood pact with a vengeful goddess and is resurrected in a new body with a rage-driven infiltrate the castle and destroy the man who stole her soul.
The first step? Win the king's deadly trials to become his next spymaster. She's assigned to work with Bohdan, the bastard prince and captain of the royal guard, to expose and address any threats to the crown before the enemy can find them. And lately, there's been a serial killer tearing through the kingdom.
The problem? She IS the killer. And the king is her next target.
Can Bohdan stop her? Let him try. She kind of likes it.
In this dark romantasy of resurrection and revenge, two people standing on opposite sides of the same blade have a way of drawing blood--and something far more dangerous. Perfect for readers who crave morally gray heroines, enemies-to-lovers tension, deadly competitions, and forbidden romance.
539 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 28, 2026
About the author
Ava Do
1 book30 followersAva Do is an Asian American producer in the gaming industry based in Southern California, and video games are among her greatest sources of inspiration.
She's loves reading and writing gothic dark romantasy because she's drawn to female rage, revenge and more insidious topics with teeth. She loves to write women who might be the villains in someone else's story, but are absolutely the heroes in hers.
She's loves reading and writing gothic dark romantasy because she's drawn to female rage, revenge and more insidious topics with teeth. She loves to write women who might be the villains in someone else's story, but are absolutely the heroes in hers.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 15, 2026
ARC Review:
Hellbound by Ava Do has you hooked right from the start, throwing you right into the chaos and action. We meet Ksenia, who is helping her sister get some kids to safety - they’re being hunted, seen almost like rebels against the crown.
We immediately are met with a huge twist of events that start to lead Ksenia into her “villain arc”, her need for vengeance feeds her actions. To get closer to the King she takes part in deadly trials, each trial pertains to certain traits a King’s Spymaster should master. But of course, the trial master is none other than Bohdan, the illegitimate crowned Prince.
Bohdan is your closed off, broody, “don’t stand in my way” type of Prince. He carries out actions with little hesitation, takes what he wants…unfortunately, he says he doesn’t want Ksenia but it wouldn’t be an enemies-to-lovers without a little denial of feelings. The tension between them is so thick you can feel the hatred they have for one another. So of course I’m going to be sitting kicking my feet giggling when the King decides they need to work together into finding who this serial killer is, as they seem to be targeting those close to the King, and he’s worried he’s next. Which is fair…because he is the next target.
But what’s the catch? The catch is the serial killer Bohdan and Ksenia are after, is Ksenia. How far can she go undetected, uncaptured and unidentified?
There were so many twists and secrets revealed that it kept me on my toes, kept me wanting more. And speaking of wanting more, Bohdan and Ksenia, the chemistry and intensity between the two of them only grows more as their little cat-and-cat game continue. There is no cat-and-mouse game between them, they both grapple with trying to one up each other at every chance they get.
I devoured Hellbound, I couldn’t get enough. I didn’t want to reach the end as I have so many questions I need answers to! So now, I sit and wait for book 2.
Hellbound by Ava Do has you hooked right from the start, throwing you right into the chaos and action. We meet Ksenia, who is helping her sister get some kids to safety - they’re being hunted, seen almost like rebels against the crown.
We immediately are met with a huge twist of events that start to lead Ksenia into her “villain arc”, her need for vengeance feeds her actions. To get closer to the King she takes part in deadly trials, each trial pertains to certain traits a King’s Spymaster should master. But of course, the trial master is none other than Bohdan, the illegitimate crowned Prince.
Bohdan is your closed off, broody, “don’t stand in my way” type of Prince. He carries out actions with little hesitation, takes what he wants…unfortunately, he says he doesn’t want Ksenia but it wouldn’t be an enemies-to-lovers without a little denial of feelings. The tension between them is so thick you can feel the hatred they have for one another. So of course I’m going to be sitting kicking my feet giggling when the King decides they need to work together into finding who this serial killer is, as they seem to be targeting those close to the King, and he’s worried he’s next. Which is fair…because he is the next target.
But what’s the catch? The catch is the serial killer Bohdan and Ksenia are after, is Ksenia. How far can she go undetected, uncaptured and unidentified?
There were so many twists and secrets revealed that it kept me on my toes, kept me wanting more. And speaking of wanting more, Bohdan and Ksenia, the chemistry and intensity between the two of them only grows more as their little cat-and-cat game continue. There is no cat-and-mouse game between them, they both grapple with trying to one up each other at every chance they get.
I devoured Hellbound, I couldn’t get enough. I didn’t want to reach the end as I have so many questions I need answers to! So now, I sit and wait for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hellbound or HellYeah?
Are you tired of the same fantasy romance tropes and need something new to freshen up your reading list? Look no further as I humbly present to you Hellbound! With the beautiful cover done by a talented artist, amazing world building and writing style by a DEBUT author what more could you possibly want?
If you said true enemies to lovers, slow burn that burns so good, shocking twists and turns well Hellbound has that for you too. It also offers spice that keeps on spicing with yearning that is deadly just like the FMC.
Okay now that I'm done with the infomercial I just want to say that Hellbound really is a refreshing story. The writing style is so immersive and stays very true to its identity.
Additionally, every character has a purpose, every side character is thought out and is given a reason for being there. You get invested in characters, you hate them, you love them, you love to hate them. I also want to add I visibly cringed multiple times from one specific character because he was so well written that I feel like I could smell him (gag).
If that isn't enough to convince you then maybe the FMC could convince you. Ksenia's journey is such a wild ride. From the very beginning her path is 100% jaw on the floor rollercoaster level of excitement. The trials she faces, the moral decisions that she has to make and even the things she has to do in order to survive make her such a strong character. Not to mention her relationship with Bohdan which is so fun. The banter, the stab or be stabbed. PLEASE don't get me started.
Hellbound releases August 28th and you won't want to miss it! ;)
PS: Yes I will have a future Ava shelf and I pray to the stabby stab gods that there will be future special editions to line my treasure trove.
Are you tired of the same fantasy romance tropes and need something new to freshen up your reading list? Look no further as I humbly present to you Hellbound! With the beautiful cover done by a talented artist, amazing world building and writing style by a DEBUT author what more could you possibly want?
If you said true enemies to lovers, slow burn that burns so good, shocking twists and turns well Hellbound has that for you too. It also offers spice that keeps on spicing with yearning that is deadly just like the FMC.
Okay now that I'm done with the infomercial I just want to say that Hellbound really is a refreshing story. The writing style is so immersive and stays very true to its identity.
Additionally, every character has a purpose, every side character is thought out and is given a reason for being there. You get invested in characters, you hate them, you love them, you love to hate them. I also want to add I visibly cringed multiple times from one specific character because he was so well written that I feel like I could smell him (gag).
If that isn't enough to convince you then maybe the FMC could convince you. Ksenia's journey is such a wild ride. From the very beginning her path is 100% jaw on the floor rollercoaster level of excitement. The trials she faces, the moral decisions that she has to make and even the things she has to do in order to survive make her such a strong character. Not to mention her relationship with Bohdan which is so fun. The banter, the stab or be stabbed. PLEASE don't get me started.
Hellbound releases August 28th and you won't want to miss it! ;)
PS: Yes I will have a future Ava shelf and I pray to the stabby stab gods that there will be future special editions to line my treasure trove.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A huge thank you to Ava for the eARC!
Ksenia is the kind of FMC who refuses to back down. Every trial she faces leaves her bloodier, hungrier, and one step closer to the only thing driving her; vengeance. I loved how each trial peeled back another layer of her character.
The MC Bhodan is exactly the person she needs to break to achieve her goal, but as they're forced into close proximity, the lines between them begin to blur. Their chemistry builds at the perfect pace, creating so much tension that I was constantly desperate to see what would happen next.
The writing is engaging and easy to follow, with immersive world-building that pulls you in from the start. Some characters will have you wanting to reach through the pages and throat-punch them (iykyk), while others will have you loving them one minute, questioning them the next, and then completely breaking your heart.
The final few chapters? I was pacing the room and frantically turning the pages because I needed to know what happened next.
If you're a fan of:
• A morally grey FMC
• Enemies to lovers
• Slow-burn romance
• High-stakes trials
• Revenge-driven blood lust
...then I definitely recommend picking this one up.
"She had come back from the dead with a vengeance, defying the laws of life and death and crossing the space between."
I'm officially unwell after the ending.
Book two, please and thank you. 🙏
Ksenia is the kind of FMC who refuses to back down. Every trial she faces leaves her bloodier, hungrier, and one step closer to the only thing driving her; vengeance. I loved how each trial peeled back another layer of her character.
The MC Bhodan is exactly the person she needs to break to achieve her goal, but as they're forced into close proximity, the lines between them begin to blur. Their chemistry builds at the perfect pace, creating so much tension that I was constantly desperate to see what would happen next.
The writing is engaging and easy to follow, with immersive world-building that pulls you in from the start. Some characters will have you wanting to reach through the pages and throat-punch them (iykyk), while others will have you loving them one minute, questioning them the next, and then completely breaking your heart.
The final few chapters? I was pacing the room and frantically turning the pages because I needed to know what happened next.
If you're a fan of:
• A morally grey FMC
• Enemies to lovers
• Slow-burn romance
• High-stakes trials
• Revenge-driven blood lust
...then I definitely recommend picking this one up.
"She had come back from the dead with a vengeance, defying the laws of life and death and crossing the space between."
I'm officially unwell after the ending.
Book two, please and thank you. 🙏
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews