Bloodbound

by J.A. Good

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy

482 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

J.A. Good is the author of the adult fantasy romance Forged in Fire Series. She is a northerner living in Florida who’s love of books and new worlds inspired her to create her own. She is a pediatric intensive care nurse at night and a writer, mom, wife, and cat enthusiast during the day. When she isn’t naming all the dinosaurs with her toddlers you can find her staring at her book collection with her cats lamenting her lack of castles and magic.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review


2.75 rounded up
The artwork/book cover drew me into the arc signups for this book. The blurb seemed interesting.

The book itself has potential..it moved very quick, the relations seemed forced, and often in contradiction. One minute we are told one thing, but then shown something that contradicts what we were told. I would think at times we could have assumed it was an unreliable narrator, but I do not think that is what is happening.



This story would have worked better if the full bonding took place later. For example they got the members of the rings and had to train and do things and then later would get bonded to be able to speak telepathically. The amount of lead up in the first two chapters to never having your own thoughts to being able to shield from each other within moments...why have them in each others head? How did they no spill secrets earlier? How come everyone would comment Isa's mind was an open door all the time one minute to then saying they couldnt hear her the next? Removing the mind connection would make the secrets and the plot function better.

From the first chapter we see that CAS has 0 clue about what Isa likes. He touches her when she doesnt like it, clearly he does not respect her boundaries or understand her yet for some reason the author keeps writing "cas always knows her so well" dude you literally showed us from our first introduction he does not know her.

the fighting scene where Cas realizes Niko and Isa have a thing- no one else who was watching seemed to notice. They were fighting. That he ran over to say you never let me touch you like that/are you fucking him! and then later to still try to highlight CAS as a great person is odd.

Isa is told she is being used as bait very early on to get her commander in trouble, but hides info from her ring, doesnt ask any questions.


The relation between Isa and Niko seems extremely forced. His behavior towards her on the page is no different than we see him with anyone else...And then suddenly Zehra says "Isa dont look at him like that go fuck someone else" and its as though that plants the thought in her head rather than there being actual chemistry. And, for as often as in the first few chapters Isa says he is the enemy and she is told he is using her, she never truly confronts him, asks for information even after they are risking their ring by having sex, nor does she act like he is an enemy.

That ISA didnt know about the second binding/ actual curse mark until the memory potion ...but they used that information to justify why She and Niko were sleeping together also didnt make much sense to me. Like they knew she had to accomplish things, and Merricks commentary of needed dick to get her out of depression is 100% accurate.

[Liz (this_scorpioreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I was drawn to this series by the art and let me tell you it did not disappoint.

I really enjoyed this world, such a unique magical system based on threads, and different classes of magical wielder.

Isa is hard, curse marked, she’s cut herself off, feared by her fellow Eshari. But she’s also vulnerable, fearless and willing to break herself again and again for those she cares about.

I loved her strength, her grit and her willingness to sacrifice for her ring.

Niko, oh Niko, the Commander, her enemy and yet …. he’s steel, but then everything Isa doesn’t know she needs.

Such amazing found family, I loved how Ring Six grew and shaped together.

That ending? Looking forward to book 2 already

Thanks to the author for the advance review copy

[Veronica Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What binds me is not choice, but vow.
My pulse is not my own.
My weakness endangers the Ring.
My failure wounds more than me.
I do not fall alone.
If I falter, they bleed.
If I forget, they die.
We rise together. Or we’re buried thread-bound.”

-SECTION I of The Eshani Codex

J.A. Good has done it again and this is her best one yet. I haven't felt this emotionally attached (or destroyed) by a book since the Hunger Games and if you know me then…phew, buddy, you know that means something. What a breath of fresh air, what a unique and bad-a** concept in a world of books that are starting to blend together into ceaseless gray.

Bloodbound is bright red and dangerous.

Spicy, rich, and dark. We all like to say a book, a movie, a play, a song lives rent free in our head but I'm not lying when I say Bloodbound has moved in, taken up residence, and will be staying for a long, LONG time. I dream about these characters. This book INSPIRED me to start drawing again after such a long dry streak because the characters mean that much to me and I want as much of them as I can possibly get.

If the romance doesn't get you, the found family will I PROMISE. Ring Six is so utterly and profoundly imperfectly perfect…the banter, the warmth, the personality each character brings to the table is visceral and cannot be topped. It reminded me a lot of the crew's relationship from One Piece but make it psychic and at an academy. I live for the steady friendship between Isa and Zahara, the ribbing only Merrick knows how to dish out. Cael's shy, clever nature, and Eryn's no-nonsense but “i secretly care about all of you” attitude.
This will be a world you just want to enter. To live and breathe…………….and as for the romance
MY GODS. I thought fanfic Draco was the only white/blonde MMC that could steal my heart but here comes Niko, sailing out of the black.
Is he every red flag I ever knew? Probably. Will that stop me (or Isa) from yeeting ourselves head first into this situationship? Absolutely not. Strap the heck in.
I could write essays, dissertations, whole BOOKS on my feelings for this upcoming series. I am zero percent surprised that it's going viral. If this author doesn't snatch up a trad deal or become the next booktok sensation, I'll completely lose faith in the fantasy industry!

That is all, but remember: What is Broken May Still Bind

[Gabys_Vault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six souls
One bond
No escape

This was the first phrase I read when I first applied for the ARC and let me tell you: This book is amazing! 🤩 It has a Dark Magical academy setting, We have lots of morally gray characters and a great story!

The book is about six strangers that are forced to make a blood soul bound, each of them have a special ability so they get a mental bond communication, which you might imagine, 😜 it allows them to hear each other's thoughts unless, they learn how to block them. So, picture this: You are forced to bond, if you don’t block your comrades you can hear the others thinking and as you are part of a Ring, some kind of Army unit, you get to have a commander who is also bond to you and is HOT! 🌶️

I don’t know about you folks, but this got me reading non-stop. The story is really well constructed, you learn a lot about the lore and the background of all the characters. I really value that. The characters are complex and grow as the story advances and you find that there are multiple plots happening so you are never bored.

I don’t know about you but, This is a 5/5 Star read. You get to have everything you need in a book to make it awesome and we also have Spice :) 🌶️🔥

I want to thank J. A Good for trusting and allowing me to read the ARC. :)

[Amara F · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was given this book as an eArc but my review is based solely on my own thoughts and opinions*

I haven’t gotten excited for a book in awhile. I’ve read good books don’t get me wrong but this one i got hooked from the beginning. It is exactly how it’s described, found family like Naruto but with the vibes of fourth wing and Direbound.

I think it’s super unique the idea of threads and that the bond isn’t with some creature like dragon or wolf, it’s with 5 other people. I like how it happens so fast at the beginning of the book. You see the chaotic-ness that is them learning to work as a team and to shield their emotions and thoughts from each other.

The found family is great, each character has their own personality and look and offer unique qualities to the team. They are essentially the outcasts really.

As previously stated, the bonds idea is super unique and the magic system is with threads. So you’re seeing threads of magic being pulled and used.

The romance is top notch. Major xaden and Violet vibes. He’s the enemy sent here for a “truce” and to learn their ways. She’s apart of the group to be used as a pawn since she’s cursed for who her mother was. The mmc is quiet and stern and bada** but he shows subtle personality traits just for her. Swoon.

[Brandi Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Advanced Reader Copy from J.A. Good*

Easy easy 5 stars!! 🌟

I was semi worried in the beginning that the magic system would be too dense for me, but it was one of those worlds that it just clicks and makes sense as you go. The magic system was super unique and so interesting! The characters were loveable and realistic!

The story felt fleshed out and pace moved along quickly! This was very much a “just one more chapter” type of book and then all of a sudden it’s 3am!

I am absolutely DYINGGGGG for the next book to find out what happens!!!

[Sinead Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is perfect for fans of the academic setting with the darker theme matching the plot perfectly. I loves the found family, the romance was exquisite and the language flowed like water. This book was so easy to read but most important of all enjoyable. It sucked me in from beginning to end! I can't wait to see if more books will follow!
Thank you to J.A Good for giving me an arc copy to read and the chance to discover this amazing story.

[Ginna Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC received from J.A. Good*

My heart was beating out of my chest towards the end! The build-up was so good and the knowledge of knowing the "other shoe would drop" (so to speak) was intense. I LOVED the found family aspect in this too. The relationship building got stronger toward the end and gave me all the warm feels. I honestly can't wait for this audio to be released, it's going to be amazing.