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Stone Bound
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September 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for providing an ARC of Stone Bound in exchange for my honest review.
Promises a dark academia setting with military training, childhood besties, and a "temple stone" power system. While the initial premise had great potential, the execution ultimately falls flat due to major structural, pacing, and editing issues.
The core concepts, such as the Infidium’s political intrigue and the cygnet powers, were engaging.
BUT
The writing relies heavily on dramatic yet vague adjectives, repetitive phrasing, and jarring similes. So the prose feels mechanical and overly formulaic, lacking an authentic narrative voice. There are significant continuity issues, such as characters introducing themselves twice, or sudden shifts between past and present tense. There were abandoned plot threads. Despite the "childhood friends" trope, we never see the foundation of Peyton and Jude’s bond, making their romance and Jude's extreme protectiveness feel unearned. Side characters, like Peyton's supposedly close friend, disappear for vast portions of the book. The military structure and overarching conflict remain underdeveloped...
Somewhere in the middle, I started to feel like the story was losing its direction, with different ideas being introduced without being fully connected. That made it difficult for me to stay invested in the story, and I can't see myself giving it more than one star.
AND in addition, there are a lot of other plot inconsistencies, which made me wonder whether AI had been used to write the book or to heavily edit the outline, making the descriptions and character dialogue feel distinctly non-human. Even the cover itself gave me a similar impression. It has an AI-generated feel.
Promises a dark academia setting with military training, childhood besties, and a "temple stone" power system. While the initial premise had great potential, the execution ultimately falls flat due to major structural, pacing, and editing issues.
The core concepts, such as the Infidium’s political intrigue and the cygnet powers, were engaging.
BUT
The writing relies heavily on dramatic yet vague adjectives, repetitive phrasing, and jarring similes. So the prose feels mechanical and overly formulaic, lacking an authentic narrative voice. There are significant continuity issues, such as characters introducing themselves twice, or sudden shifts between past and present tense. There were abandoned plot threads. Despite the "childhood friends" trope, we never see the foundation of Peyton and Jude’s bond, making their romance and Jude's extreme protectiveness feel unearned. Side characters, like Peyton's supposedly close friend, disappear for vast portions of the book. The military structure and overarching conflict remain underdeveloped...
Somewhere in the middle, I started to feel like the story was losing its direction, with different ideas being introduced without being fully connected. That made it difficult for me to stay invested in the story, and I can't see myself giving it more than one star.
AND in addition, there are a lot of other plot inconsistencies, which made me wonder whether AI had been used to write the book or to heavily edit the outline, making the descriptions and character dialogue feel distinctly non-human. Even the cover itself gave me a similar impression. It has an AI-generated feel.
September 21, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Jocelyn James for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I'm going to TRY not to be overly harsh, because I know it takes guts to be an indie debut author.
Think Fourth Wing but without the dragons, Divergent vibes in the first 15%, and a bit more chaotic and messier than Powerless....Think Basgiath and Battle Brief except we don't really ever get to find out who the enemy is.
Pros:
- The premise is very enticing - I'm usually a sucker for dark academy, childhood besties, and an FMC who tries her best.
- The idea of a "temple stone" giving you cygnet powers that emerge after you pass a trial - I'm also a fan of this.
- I also love the friends we find along the way, and the found family that usually happens in a dark academy setting.
- It teased political intrigue and the Infidium (the governing body) perhaps being corrupt
- This world really had so much potential, given that it was military training, a childhood bestie who mysteriously disappeared that you hadn't seen for a long time, etc.
- Jude's cygnet is very cool - I wasn't anticipating
- The side plot of Peyton finally revealing to Jude why she was so angry (that he disappeared and then she got was a sweet moment of closure, and I did like Jude's "touch her and die" mentality right after. However I really wish he found the guy who did it??
Cons:
- oh..so many :( All the potential goodness that could have come up from all the pros above, REALLY all fell short. ~SPOILERS AHEAD. ~
- Basically, the whole thing felt like manufactured drama. The language was needlessly dramatic when nothing that dramatic was happening, and then when some REAL tension was happening, a random comedic moment would happen that would interrupt the flow of whatever dramatic plot was occurring (a perfect example is when Jude is "training" Peyton with her cygnet powers in the final 10% of the book - if you can even call what he was doing training - and Graydon appears out of nowhere to make fun of them for being romantic?? It was so jarring).
- We NEVER get to find out what Peyton and Jude's relationship was built on, what it was like before they re-encountered each other in Sector 11. Which made the tension and yearning feel VERY manufactured. The only thing that was believable was Peyton's frustration that Jude suddenly disappeared a few years ago - but I never understood why this was such a "mystery" to her, considering she was abducted in the middle of the night to join Sector 11 - you would think that she would assume the same thing happened to him against his will.
- SO many plot inconsistencies - When Graydon encounters Peyton in the halls after a villager's body is discovered, he says "nice to finally meet you," but in the middle of the book, they have the whole scene where Graydon, Kross, and Jude follow Peyton's friends to the pub on her birthday to dance with her. Graydon even dances with her as Jude watches. Did I imagine that whole thing?? Another one was when General Thorndon was announcing the pairings for the 12th Moon Trials, he says "and last but not least - Peyton vs." the other girl, but then after that it says he continues reading names...Also why are the 12th Moon Trials basically just a sparring match on top of a cube?? And the rules make no sense - if you win you get a temple stone, but if both people yield, they also both get a temple stone??? Nothing is making sense. Also they reference a villager's body being found dead at the willow tree where Peyton mysteriously woke up a little prior - but there's no explanation of why the body was brought all the way back to the Sector (also kind of unbelievable that they would find a body without any signs of violence a suspicious death, just felt very unrealistic)
- Way too many plot things were teased but never rounded back to - during Peyton's chapters she keeps alluding to the fact that her mom already lost her dad and so Peyton can't NOT survive and hurt her mom again - but why can't I for the life of me remember what happened to her dad in the science sector? did he die? did he uncover something the Infidium didn't want him to know? why do we never talk about it ever again??
- The overuse of very dramatic but vague adjectives and phrases. I'm pretty sure the sentence "This felt wrong." or "Something was not right." or "This was wrong, very wrong." was repeated so many times. Sentences like "my nerves are louder than the chill" or "Jude was power and grace and danger" or "my mouth was dry, but impossibly also watery". Also the overuse of similes and phrases like "the word hits like a release," and "Janessa's dagger comes down in a blur, a killing blow if she were real," and "Jude's eyes were deep, deeper than a few minutes ago" started making me think that AI was used to write this - because no human talks like this.
- The side characters came off super likable in the beginning (we get to meet Davina, Nayeli, Rowan, Beau, etc). But they're not described in away where there's any memorable features of characteristics of any of them that make them really stick. We also don't really see Davina for like more than 75% of the book? which is bizarre if they're besties from childhood. All we know is that Rowan likes to joke.
- Jude is randomly very psychotically protective of Peyton in a way that makes him come off as crazy, not hot. When he randomly almost suffocates some unnamed "kid" for being close to Peyton, or when he talks about Taidem like "he doesn't get to be the one to be concerned about her" like Jude, my man, we don't even really know why you like Peyton in the first place, other than you guys had some fun memories together as a child.
- WAY TOO BIG OF A CLIFFHANGER when I, as a reader, don't even know what the stakes are. Peyton gets her cygnet, it's revealed to be
- Very minimal worldbuilding - we never really get to know the magic system, what the druids are up to (are they even evil?? unclear), or even the structure of this weird military academy that they're in. Jude is somehow the heir prince to the throne, but also a cohort commander, and they're kind of in a war with the druids, but not really?
- A huge amount of editing errors that need to be cleaned up - repeated sentences, weird punctuation , sometimes switching between past and present tense.
Over all, Sector 11 had really so much potential. The beginning started off strong, but it just got way too chaotic in the middle, where it felt like even the author didn't know which direction she wanted to go with this.
I'm going to TRY not to be overly harsh, because I know it takes guts to be an indie debut author.
Think Fourth Wing but without the dragons, Divergent vibes in the first 15%, and a bit more chaotic and messier than Powerless....Think Basgiath and Battle Brief except we don't really ever get to find out who the enemy is.
Pros:
- The premise is very enticing - I'm usually a sucker for dark academy, childhood besties, and an FMC who tries her best.
- The idea of a "temple stone" giving you cygnet powers that emerge after you pass a trial - I'm also a fan of this.
- I also love the friends we find along the way, and the found family that usually happens in a dark academy setting.
- It teased political intrigue and the Infidium (the governing body) perhaps being corrupt
- This world really had so much potential, given that it was military training, a childhood bestie who mysteriously disappeared that you hadn't seen for a long time, etc.
- Jude's cygnet is very cool - I wasn't anticipating
- The side plot of Peyton finally revealing to Jude why she was so angry (that he disappeared and then she got was a sweet moment of closure, and I did like Jude's "touch her and die" mentality right after. However I really wish he found the guy who did it??
Cons:
- oh..so many :( All the potential goodness that could have come up from all the pros above, REALLY all fell short. ~SPOILERS AHEAD. ~
- Basically, the whole thing felt like manufactured drama. The language was needlessly dramatic when nothing that dramatic was happening, and then when some REAL tension was happening, a random comedic moment would happen that would interrupt the flow of whatever dramatic plot was occurring (a perfect example is when Jude is "training" Peyton with her cygnet powers in the final 10% of the book - if you can even call what he was doing training - and Graydon appears out of nowhere to make fun of them for being romantic?? It was so jarring).
- We NEVER get to find out what Peyton and Jude's relationship was built on, what it was like before they re-encountered each other in Sector 11. Which made the tension and yearning feel VERY manufactured. The only thing that was believable was Peyton's frustration that Jude suddenly disappeared a few years ago - but I never understood why this was such a "mystery" to her, considering she was abducted in the middle of the night to join Sector 11 - you would think that she would assume the same thing happened to him against his will.
- SO many plot inconsistencies - When Graydon encounters Peyton in the halls after a villager's body is discovered, he says "nice to finally meet you," but in the middle of the book, they have the whole scene where Graydon, Kross, and Jude follow Peyton's friends to the pub on her birthday to dance with her. Graydon even dances with her as Jude watches. Did I imagine that whole thing?? Another one was when General Thorndon was announcing the pairings for the 12th Moon Trials, he says "and last but not least - Peyton vs." the other girl, but then after that it says he continues reading names...Also why are the 12th Moon Trials basically just a sparring match on top of a cube?? And the rules make no sense - if you win you get a temple stone, but if both people yield, they also both get a temple stone??? Nothing is making sense. Also they reference a villager's body being found dead at the willow tree where Peyton mysteriously woke up a little prior - but there's no explanation of why the body was brought all the way back to the Sector (also kind of unbelievable that they would find a body without any signs of violence a suspicious death, just felt very unrealistic)
- Way too many plot things were teased but never rounded back to - during Peyton's chapters she keeps alluding to the fact that her mom already lost her dad and so Peyton can't NOT survive and hurt her mom again - but why can't I for the life of me remember what happened to her dad in the science sector? did he die? did he uncover something the Infidium didn't want him to know? why do we never talk about it ever again??
- The overuse of very dramatic but vague adjectives and phrases. I'm pretty sure the sentence "This felt wrong." or "Something was not right." or "This was wrong, very wrong." was repeated so many times. Sentences like "my nerves are louder than the chill" or "Jude was power and grace and danger" or "my mouth was dry, but impossibly also watery". Also the overuse of similes and phrases like "the word hits like a release," and "Janessa's dagger comes down in a blur, a killing blow if she were real," and "Jude's eyes were deep, deeper than a few minutes ago" started making me think that AI was used to write this - because no human talks like this.
- The side characters came off super likable in the beginning (we get to meet Davina, Nayeli, Rowan, Beau, etc). But they're not described in away where there's any memorable features of characteristics of any of them that make them really stick. We also don't really see Davina for like more than 75% of the book? which is bizarre if they're besties from childhood. All we know is that Rowan likes to joke.
- Jude is randomly very psychotically protective of Peyton in a way that makes him come off as crazy, not hot. When he randomly almost suffocates some unnamed "kid" for being close to Peyton, or when he talks about Taidem like "he doesn't get to be the one to be concerned about her" like Jude, my man, we don't even really know why you like Peyton in the first place, other than you guys had some fun memories together as a child.
- WAY TOO BIG OF A CLIFFHANGER when I, as a reader, don't even know what the stakes are. Peyton gets her cygnet, it's revealed to be
- Very minimal worldbuilding - we never really get to know the magic system, what the druids are up to (are they even evil?? unclear), or even the structure of this weird military academy that they're in. Jude is somehow the heir prince to the throne, but also a cohort commander, and they're kind of in a war with the druids, but not really?
- A huge amount of editing errors that need to be cleaned up - repeated sentences, weird punctuation , sometimes switching between past and present tense.
Over all, Sector 11 had really so much potential. The beginning started off strong, but it just got way too chaotic in the middle, where it felt like even the author didn't know which direction she wanted to go with this.
September 18, 2026
2.5 stars | DNF at around 60%
I really wanted to like Stone Bound. I kept giving it the benefit of the doubt, hoping that at some point everything would click into place and the story would find its own identity. Unfortunately, at around 60%, I had to admit that this book just wasn't working for me.
Very early on, I was reminded of Divergent, especially with the division of society into sections and the Sectionless. But as the story progressed, it was the similarities to Fourth Wing that became increasingly difficult for me to overlook. A young woman who had prepared for an entirely different path and wanted to follow in the footsteps of her late father suddenly thrown into military training, a childhood friend already in the same sector, sparring, lessons on war strategies and the general structure of the training all felt extremely familiar.
I don't mind books using familiar concepts. There are only so many completely new ideas, especially within the same genre, and a familiar setup can still become something entirely its own. But I kept waiting for Stone Bound to take those elements and do something new with them. By the time I stopped reading, I was still waiting.
One of the ideas that initially made me genuinely curious was the emphasis on being "useful." The society in Stone Bound seems to place enormous importance on whether a person can fulfill a useful function, and I immediately saw the potential for an interesting criticism of our own productivity-driven society. We so often tie a person's value to what they accomplish, how productive they are, or what they contribute, as though simply being a person isn't enough. I was really hoping the book would question that idea and explore what happens when a society decides that someone's worth depends on their usefulness. Unfortunately, by the point where I stopped reading, I didn't feel that this potential had actually been explored.
That became a recurring problem for me. Interesting concepts, conflicts and pieces of worldbuilding would appear, receive a little attention, and then the story seemed to move on to something else. Instead of getting the feeling that there was a huge, fully developed world underneath the story and that I was slowly being allowed to discover pieces of it, the world often felt pieced together as the story progressed.
I had a similar problem with the magic system. There simply wasn't enough explanation or depth for me to really understand how it worked or become fascinated by it.
The biggest problem, however, was that I couldn't connect with the characters. Even during scenes that were clearly supposed to carry emotional weight, I remained strangely detached. Later on, the story briefly started building more tension and the ensemble interacted more, which made the reading experience noticeably better. I genuinely hoped that was the moment the book would finally pull me in. Unfortunately, it didn't last for me.
There were also quite a few editing issues that repeatedly pulled me out of the story. Similar descriptions appeared very close together, sentences and ideas were sometimes repeated, and I encountered several typos. Another thorough editing pass could have made a significant difference here.
Eventually, reading started to feel like something I was forcing myself to do rather than something I wanted to do, so I decided to stop at around 60%.
What makes this especially disappointing for me is that I do think there are interesting ideas underneath it all. The concept of usefulness and personal worth in particular could have become one of my favorite aspects of the story. I just wish those ideas, the world and the characters had been given more depth and room to develop.
Stone Bound is a debut, and while this one ultimately wasn't for me, I hope future books give the author's own ideas more space to take center stage.
I really wanted to like Stone Bound. I kept giving it the benefit of the doubt, hoping that at some point everything would click into place and the story would find its own identity. Unfortunately, at around 60%, I had to admit that this book just wasn't working for me.
Very early on, I was reminded of Divergent, especially with the division of society into sections and the Sectionless. But as the story progressed, it was the similarities to Fourth Wing that became increasingly difficult for me to overlook. A young woman who had prepared for an entirely different path and wanted to follow in the footsteps of her late father suddenly thrown into military training, a childhood friend already in the same sector, sparring, lessons on war strategies and the general structure of the training all felt extremely familiar.
I don't mind books using familiar concepts. There are only so many completely new ideas, especially within the same genre, and a familiar setup can still become something entirely its own. But I kept waiting for Stone Bound to take those elements and do something new with them. By the time I stopped reading, I was still waiting.
One of the ideas that initially made me genuinely curious was the emphasis on being "useful." The society in Stone Bound seems to place enormous importance on whether a person can fulfill a useful function, and I immediately saw the potential for an interesting criticism of our own productivity-driven society. We so often tie a person's value to what they accomplish, how productive they are, or what they contribute, as though simply being a person isn't enough. I was really hoping the book would question that idea and explore what happens when a society decides that someone's worth depends on their usefulness. Unfortunately, by the point where I stopped reading, I didn't feel that this potential had actually been explored.
That became a recurring problem for me. Interesting concepts, conflicts and pieces of worldbuilding would appear, receive a little attention, and then the story seemed to move on to something else. Instead of getting the feeling that there was a huge, fully developed world underneath the story and that I was slowly being allowed to discover pieces of it, the world often felt pieced together as the story progressed.
I had a similar problem with the magic system. There simply wasn't enough explanation or depth for me to really understand how it worked or become fascinated by it.
The biggest problem, however, was that I couldn't connect with the characters. Even during scenes that were clearly supposed to carry emotional weight, I remained strangely detached. Later on, the story briefly started building more tension and the ensemble interacted more, which made the reading experience noticeably better. I genuinely hoped that was the moment the book would finally pull me in. Unfortunately, it didn't last for me.
There were also quite a few editing issues that repeatedly pulled me out of the story. Similar descriptions appeared very close together, sentences and ideas were sometimes repeated, and I encountered several typos. Another thorough editing pass could have made a significant difference here.
Eventually, reading started to feel like something I was forcing myself to do rather than something I wanted to do, so I decided to stop at around 60%.
What makes this especially disappointing for me is that I do think there are interesting ideas underneath it all. The concept of usefulness and personal worth in particular could have become one of my favorite aspects of the story. I just wish those ideas, the world and the characters had been given more depth and room to develop.
Stone Bound is a debut, and while this one ultimately wasn't for me, I hope future books give the author's own ideas more space to take center stage.
September 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
I received an advance copy of Stone Bound in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun and addictive start to a new romantasy series!
The premise immediately pulled me in. Peyton has spent her entire life believing she knows exactly where her future is headed, only to have everything completely ripped away from her when she is placed in a brutal military academy instead. Add deadly training, secrets, forbidden magic, political tension, and the future king who also happens to be the childhood best friend who broke her heart? Yeah, I was interested.
Peyton was probably one of my favorite parts of the book. She is thrown into a situation she was never prepared for, but she refuses to let everyone around her decide what she is capable of. I really enjoyed watching her become stronger and more confident throughout the story. She can be stubborn, but honestly, considering everything happening to her, I understood it.
And then there is Jude.
The childhood-friends-to-lovers tension between Peyton and Jude was definitely what kept me turning pages. There is so much history between them, along with hurt feelings, protectiveness, longing, and all the things neither of them seems capable of just SAYING to each other. 😂 I loved the moments when his whole future-king-and-commanding-officer persona started falling apart whenever Peyton was involved.
The yearning was absolutely there.
I also really enjoyed the academy setting, the trials, and the friendships Peyton develops along the way. There are some genuinely tense moments where the military environment feels dangerous, and I liked slowly realizing that there is much more going on in Anvarus than Peyton has been allowed to understand.
My biggest issue was that I wanted more from the worldbuilding. The Sectors, the Infidium, the political structure, and especially the magic are all really interesting concepts, but at times I felt like I was only getting little pieces when I wanted the entire picture. The forbidden magic in particular made me SO curious, and I really hope the next book digs much deeper into how it works and why everyone is so afraid of it.
There were also a few moments where the pacing or character development felt a little rushed, and some things introduced earlier left me expecting a bigger payoff later. Since this is the first book in a series, though, I’m hoping several of those threads are intentionally being saved for the sequel.
Overall, Stone Bound was a really enjoyable read with a strong FMC, deadly academy vibes, found family, forbidden magic, political intrigue, and a slow-burn romance full of unresolved feelings.
And after that ending, I definitely have questions.
A LOT of questions.
I’m very curious to see where Peyton and Jude’s story goes next — especially now that the secrets surrounding Peyton, her power, and the kingdom are starting to unravel.
If you enjoy military academies, childhood friends-to-lovers, protective princes, dangerous trials, forbidden magic, and lots of yearning, I think this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of Stone Bound. 💛
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
I received an advance copy of Stone Bound in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun and addictive start to a new romantasy series!
The premise immediately pulled me in. Peyton has spent her entire life believing she knows exactly where her future is headed, only to have everything completely ripped away from her when she is placed in a brutal military academy instead. Add deadly training, secrets, forbidden magic, political tension, and the future king who also happens to be the childhood best friend who broke her heart? Yeah, I was interested.
Peyton was probably one of my favorite parts of the book. She is thrown into a situation she was never prepared for, but she refuses to let everyone around her decide what she is capable of. I really enjoyed watching her become stronger and more confident throughout the story. She can be stubborn, but honestly, considering everything happening to her, I understood it.
And then there is Jude.
The childhood-friends-to-lovers tension between Peyton and Jude was definitely what kept me turning pages. There is so much history between them, along with hurt feelings, protectiveness, longing, and all the things neither of them seems capable of just SAYING to each other. 😂 I loved the moments when his whole future-king-and-commanding-officer persona started falling apart whenever Peyton was involved.
The yearning was absolutely there.
I also really enjoyed the academy setting, the trials, and the friendships Peyton develops along the way. There are some genuinely tense moments where the military environment feels dangerous, and I liked slowly realizing that there is much more going on in Anvarus than Peyton has been allowed to understand.
My biggest issue was that I wanted more from the worldbuilding. The Sectors, the Infidium, the political structure, and especially the magic are all really interesting concepts, but at times I felt like I was only getting little pieces when I wanted the entire picture. The forbidden magic in particular made me SO curious, and I really hope the next book digs much deeper into how it works and why everyone is so afraid of it.
There were also a few moments where the pacing or character development felt a little rushed, and some things introduced earlier left me expecting a bigger payoff later. Since this is the first book in a series, though, I’m hoping several of those threads are intentionally being saved for the sequel.
Overall, Stone Bound was a really enjoyable read with a strong FMC, deadly academy vibes, found family, forbidden magic, political intrigue, and a slow-burn romance full of unresolved feelings.
And after that ending, I definitely have questions.
A LOT of questions.
I’m very curious to see where Peyton and Jude’s story goes next — especially now that the secrets surrounding Peyton, her power, and the kingdom are starting to unravel.
If you enjoy military academies, childhood friends-to-lovers, protective princes, dangerous trials, forbidden magic, and lots of yearning, I think this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of Stone Bound. 💛
September 23, 2026
Advanced reader copy for NetGalley.
All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not swayed by it being a ARC.
I enjoyed this book, maybe not as much as I was hoping but still it was a nice easy read and I found myself flying through it. I really liked the premise of the book and it had some of my favourite tropes intertwined, however it reminded me a lot of Divergent and at times that wasn’t a good thing for me.
When it comes to the characters, I found myself drawn to the side ones more than the main. There wasn’t anything wrong with Peyton and Jude, I just found them to be repetitive and at times a bit hit and miss. Their friends though were great and because of them and the others in their squad, I wasn’t displeased. The apposed side characters also put me in the mind of the ‘bad’ guys from Divergent and it meant I found it hard to enjoy those parts of the story.
I thought it was a stand alone, because there isn’t any indication I can see on Goodreads/Fable to suggest otherwise, however it ended on a cliffhanger and I’ll be sure to look out for the next, where ever that is announced.
This book is perfect for people who l like slow burn, enemies to lovers, magic and trails. It might not end up being the book of the year for you, but it’s an easy read and has some nice elements.
All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not swayed by it being a ARC.
I enjoyed this book, maybe not as much as I was hoping but still it was a nice easy read and I found myself flying through it. I really liked the premise of the book and it had some of my favourite tropes intertwined, however it reminded me a lot of Divergent and at times that wasn’t a good thing for me.
When it comes to the characters, I found myself drawn to the side ones more than the main. There wasn’t anything wrong with Peyton and Jude, I just found them to be repetitive and at times a bit hit and miss. Their friends though were great and because of them and the others in their squad, I wasn’t displeased. The apposed side characters also put me in the mind of the ‘bad’ guys from Divergent and it meant I found it hard to enjoy those parts of the story.
I thought it was a stand alone, because there isn’t any indication I can see on Goodreads/Fable to suggest otherwise, however it ended on a cliffhanger and I’ll be sure to look out for the next, where ever that is announced.
This book is perfect for people who l like slow burn, enemies to lovers, magic and trails. It might not end up being the book of the year for you, but it’s an easy read and has some nice elements.
September 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Stone Bound was a fun and easy read with a lot of potential. I really enjoyed the magical academy setting, the trials, the friendships, and the slow-burn relationship between Peyton and Jude. Their history and unresolved feelings made their relationship interesting, and I liked watching Peyton find her place in this new world.
I did wish the worldbuilding and character development had been a little stronger. There were so many interesting ideas surrounding the magic, the Sectors, the Infidium, and the larger conflict, but I often wanted more detail and explanation. I also felt like some character relationships and emotional moments could have used more development. There were a few editing and continuity issues that occasionally pulled me out of the story as well.
Despite its faults, I still had a good time reading it, and the ending definitely made me curious about what comes next. There is a lot of potential here, and I'm interested to see how the world, characters, and story develop in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Stone Bound was a fun and easy read with a lot of potential. I really enjoyed the magical academy setting, the trials, the friendships, and the slow-burn relationship between Peyton and Jude. Their history and unresolved feelings made their relationship interesting, and I liked watching Peyton find her place in this new world.
I did wish the worldbuilding and character development had been a little stronger. There were so many interesting ideas surrounding the magic, the Sectors, the Infidium, and the larger conflict, but I often wanted more detail and explanation. I also felt like some character relationships and emotional moments could have used more development. There were a few editing and continuity issues that occasionally pulled me out of the story as well.
Despite its faults, I still had a good time reading it, and the ending definitely made me curious about what comes next. There is a lot of potential here, and I'm interested to see how the world, characters, and story develop in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2026
I really enjoyed the premise and the storyline but I would have loved to see more details on the world building. I’m excited to see how the characters and plot develop in the next book. The editing and proofreading pulled focus for me - a couple of repetitive descriptions pages apart and changes in tenses ended up feeling frustrating. However the slow build and history between the main characters kept me reading and I will definitely pick up the next one.
*I read this as an ARC from BookSirens*
*I read this as an ARC from BookSirens*
September 18, 2026
I got a copy from NetGalley
I liked the premise of the story. It’s the sort of book I’d read for entertainment. It reminds me of a mix between Divergent and Fourth Wing; it isn’t a book with a groundbreaking story, but it has a decent plot that made me want to keep reading! It ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m curious about the next book.
Negative points: The proofreading was not carried out to the highest standard, and there are issues that end up disrupting the reading experience.
The book had great potential, and I hope the author will consider a new edition with an improved text revision.
I liked the premise of the story. It’s the sort of book I’d read for entertainment. It reminds me of a mix between Divergent and Fourth Wing; it isn’t a book with a groundbreaking story, but it has a decent plot that made me want to keep reading! It ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m curious about the next book.
Negative points: The proofreading was not carried out to the highest standard, and there are issues that end up disrupting the reading experience.
The book had great potential, and I hope the author will consider a new edition with an improved text revision.
Review of advance copy
3.5 but rounding up for indie debut.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a mixed read for me. The writing is technically competent, and the premise has considerable potential. Where I struggled was with the overall execution.
The worldbuilding often felt underdeveloped, and I found myself wanting a clearer understanding of the larger conflict, the enemy, and the stakes driving the story. The academy is introduced as a dangerous military environment, but many scenes felt much lighter in tone (like going to the pub), making it difficult for me to gauge how seriously I was meant to take the danger.
I also felt some of the characterization could be strengthened. Certain emotional reactions and relationship developments felt rushed, and several character details introduced early on that I expected to have greater significance later in the story ultimately didn't (she does ballet once, then never again).
The novel also relies on many familiar romantasy and fantasy tropes and elements. While there's nothing inherently wrong with using popular genre conventions, I found myself wanting a stronger sense of what makes this world and these characters unique. A more distinctive voice and deeper exploration of the magic system and worldbuilding would help the story stand out.
Overall, I think this story has some compelling ideas. With another round of developmental revisions and proofreading, I believe it could become a much stronger novel. Readers who enjoy magical academies, hidden powers, and romantasy will likely still find plenty to enjoy here, even though it ultimately wasn't a perfect fit for me.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a mixed read for me. The writing is technically competent, and the premise has considerable potential. Where I struggled was with the overall execution.
The worldbuilding often felt underdeveloped, and I found myself wanting a clearer understanding of the larger conflict, the enemy, and the stakes driving the story. The academy is introduced as a dangerous military environment, but many scenes felt much lighter in tone (like going to the pub), making it difficult for me to gauge how seriously I was meant to take the danger.
I also felt some of the characterization could be strengthened. Certain emotional reactions and relationship developments felt rushed, and several character details introduced early on that I expected to have greater significance later in the story ultimately didn't (she does ballet once, then never again).
The novel also relies on many familiar romantasy and fantasy tropes and elements. While there's nothing inherently wrong with using popular genre conventions, I found myself wanting a stronger sense of what makes this world and these characters unique. A more distinctive voice and deeper exploration of the magic system and worldbuilding would help the story stand out.
Overall, I think this story has some compelling ideas. With another round of developmental revisions and proofreading, I believe it could become a much stronger novel. Readers who enjoy magical academies, hidden powers, and romantasy will likely still find plenty to enjoy here, even though it ultimately wasn't a perfect fit for me.
Review of advance copy
Stone Bound has a really promising premise, and for a debut novel, I think there’s a solid foundation to build on. I’m rounding up to 3 stars because I want to support a new author and I genuinely look forward to seeing how Jaci Bennett grows as a writer.
For me, though, the execution didn’t quite meet the concept. The story would have benefited from stronger editing, particularly around plot development and character relationships. There were also a few distracting shifts between past and present tense and between first- and third-person narration between chapters. Because the characters weren’t developed enough, I never felt invested in them, and the plot often felt disconnected.
I think there’s real potential here, and I’d definitely be interested in reading what the author writes next. She’s soon to be a published author, which is amazing!
Thank you to Book Sirens for giving me this advance copy in exchange for my voluntary review.
For me, though, the execution didn’t quite meet the concept. The story would have benefited from stronger editing, particularly around plot development and character relationships. There were also a few distracting shifts between past and present tense and between first- and third-person narration between chapters. Because the characters weren’t developed enough, I never felt invested in them, and the plot often felt disconnected.
I think there’s real potential here, and I’d definitely be interested in reading what the author writes next. She’s soon to be a published author, which is amazing!
Thank you to Book Sirens for giving me this advance copy in exchange for my voluntary review.
September 18, 2026
This book is like if the dauntless faction from Divergent was set in a magic academy which was a major plus for someone who grew up on those vibes and continues to live for that vibe ! I don't know if it was due to it's particular type of worldbuilding that it emplyed with all the sectors, and the academy, but it did give me some pretty strong YA vibes in terms of the worldbuilding and the writing rather than NA, and that stayed pretty consistent throughout except when it came to Jude and Peyton's relationship. But, if you do feel the same starting this one, don't let that stop you because it's definitely worth the read !
Jude and Peyton were fun characters to read and I really enjoyed the banter they had, and I'm not usually one for a friends-to-lovers story as I feel I find books with it so rarely but this was nice ! I just wish we had a deeper dive into their relationship prior to the main story starting, about their friendship, to help me actually feel invested in them from the get go. I really only started to like them together later on, and I actually put a major part of it down to Jude's personality being so fun lol that and he was a generally very nice guy ! I need the nice guys in fiction !
Peyton was a good MC and I enjoyed her personality and who she became throughout the book. But again, I did wish that I got to know more about her and her drive as a person. I felt we didn't get as much on her and her father, her life with her mother, her passion for knowledge, reading etc in a way that felt genuinely developed. As the story went on though I found she grew into a really interesting character that brought something genuinely new to the plot.
As for characters outside of the main two, I wish we got more of Kross and Graydon. They were so funny and helped me understand more of Jude's personality in a way that you didn't get when he was acting as the Commander, or the Prince. Peyton's new found friends I felt we didn't really see as much of them as we could have to provide a real feel for who they all were individually. I liked them all just enough to feel decently connected to them as characters but hopefully there will be more of them in the next of the series !
As for the writing, it was a pretty solid debut ! Again, I didn't always feel that it was written as a New Adult book and was more Young Adult, but it didn't dim my enjoyment of the book at all. There was so much about this that was super fun to read about, the use of the druids, the magic system and the trials ! And I'm excited for the next book to get into these elements a lot more. I really liked how this book came to a head at the end, I find I rarely read a fantasy book where the ending is really shocking to me and I don't expect it, but the end to this one felt like it was finally bringing the stakes into the book that I was hoping for. I actually think the sequel to this will really be worth the read, with this one as its foundation, even though it's a bit underdeveloped in areas, this series will have a real chance of being a hit with a lot of people.
Overall, this book was a great, fun read that had some solid plot points and worldbuilding elements that I hope will be developed more as the author expands on this series ! Very excited for the next book and now am majorly depressed on how long I know I'm going to have to wait on it 😭
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Jocelyn James, for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jude and Peyton were fun characters to read and I really enjoyed the banter they had, and I'm not usually one for a friends-to-lovers story as I feel I find books with it so rarely but this was nice ! I just wish we had a deeper dive into their relationship prior to the main story starting, about their friendship, to help me actually feel invested in them from the get go. I really only started to like them together later on, and I actually put a major part of it down to Jude's personality being so fun lol that and he was a generally very nice guy ! I need the nice guys in fiction !
Peyton was a good MC and I enjoyed her personality and who she became throughout the book. But again, I did wish that I got to know more about her and her drive as a person. I felt we didn't get as much on her and her father, her life with her mother, her passion for knowledge, reading etc in a way that felt genuinely developed. As the story went on though I found she grew into a really interesting character that brought something genuinely new to the plot.
As for characters outside of the main two, I wish we got more of Kross and Graydon. They were so funny and helped me understand more of Jude's personality in a way that you didn't get when he was acting as the Commander, or the Prince. Peyton's new found friends I felt we didn't really see as much of them as we could have to provide a real feel for who they all were individually. I liked them all just enough to feel decently connected to them as characters but hopefully there will be more of them in the next of the series !
As for the writing, it was a pretty solid debut ! Again, I didn't always feel that it was written as a New Adult book and was more Young Adult, but it didn't dim my enjoyment of the book at all. There was so much about this that was super fun to read about, the use of the druids, the magic system and the trials ! And I'm excited for the next book to get into these elements a lot more. I really liked how this book came to a head at the end, I find I rarely read a fantasy book where the ending is really shocking to me and I don't expect it, but the end to this one felt like it was finally bringing the stakes into the book that I was hoping for. I actually think the sequel to this will really be worth the read, with this one as its foundation, even though it's a bit underdeveloped in areas, this series will have a real chance of being a hit with a lot of people.
Overall, this book was a great, fun read that had some solid plot points and worldbuilding elements that I hope will be developed more as the author expands on this series ! Very excited for the next book and now am majorly depressed on how long I know I'm going to have to wait on it 😭
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Jocelyn James, for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this ARC free through Booksirens in exchange for my honest review.
Let me just start off by saying for this book to be this Indie author's debute it is pretty freaking good.
This story takes place primarily in a brutal military "academy". The author does a good job in making you feel like you are in the center of that place. I could imagine the classrooms, the professors, the hallways, the sparring mats and fields. I could feel all the cuts and bruises along with all the tension and anxiety, but at the same time there was banter between the characters and humorous moments. With that being said, I did wish that there had been more world building and more background information about our main characters Jude and Peyton. We do get glimpses into their childhood several times throughout the story, but I just really wanted more. And there is a rather big revelation that is made by one of the main characters, that I feel for what it involved and may also come up in the future, we needed to know more or there should have been references to it before the big reveal.
I liked Peyton as the FMC and she has a great character development throughout the story. I didn't find her whiny or needy and with the circumstances she was given she very well could have been. So I give the author kudos for writing Peyton so well. I also really just loved Jude as the MMC. He is several things to our FMC. He is her childhood friend, her Commander that leads her cohort, and he is the Prince and future King of their kingdom. But again, kudos to the author for writing Jude's character so well, because he could come off like most MMC's in a romantasy story. That is cruel, hard with little emotions, and above and beyond arrogant. Jude is arrogant in a self confident kind of way, he is protective but not smothering or controlling, and he does have emotions- especially when it comes to Peyton. I liked everything about Jude.
There is found family in this story and I kind of wish we could have gotten some insight and a little more background on them. I felt like a couple of them really had potential to be more interesting but ended up falling a little flat. Davina was one of these characters. She started out in the beginning of the story as being Peyton's ride or die, so to speak, but then she kind of just fell out of the story and popped once in a while. Almost like an after thought.
The enemy or the "big bad" is not a major focus in the story. Our MMC and a couple of his buddies have a run in with them and there is an incident in the forest with one (I think) and they are talked about here and there but then that's really all. I needed way more on that part. The ending is a cliffhanger and a rude one at that. 😬 The last, I would say 20%, of the book had me gripped!
All in all this story was pretty good. It would do it well to have it gone over for editing and grammatical errors. As there were many instances of past and present tense being used incorrectly and repetitive phrasing, which of course, as the reader, threw me completely out of the rhythm of the story. Even with all that said, I very much look forward to the second book in this story.
Let me just start off by saying for this book to be this Indie author's debute it is pretty freaking good.
This story takes place primarily in a brutal military "academy". The author does a good job in making you feel like you are in the center of that place. I could imagine the classrooms, the professors, the hallways, the sparring mats and fields. I could feel all the cuts and bruises along with all the tension and anxiety, but at the same time there was banter between the characters and humorous moments. With that being said, I did wish that there had been more world building and more background information about our main characters Jude and Peyton. We do get glimpses into their childhood several times throughout the story, but I just really wanted more. And there is a rather big revelation that is made by one of the main characters, that I feel for what it involved and may also come up in the future, we needed to know more or there should have been references to it before the big reveal.
I liked Peyton as the FMC and she has a great character development throughout the story. I didn't find her whiny or needy and with the circumstances she was given she very well could have been. So I give the author kudos for writing Peyton so well. I also really just loved Jude as the MMC. He is several things to our FMC. He is her childhood friend, her Commander that leads her cohort, and he is the Prince and future King of their kingdom. But again, kudos to the author for writing Jude's character so well, because he could come off like most MMC's in a romantasy story. That is cruel, hard with little emotions, and above and beyond arrogant. Jude is arrogant in a self confident kind of way, he is protective but not smothering or controlling, and he does have emotions- especially when it comes to Peyton. I liked everything about Jude.
There is found family in this story and I kind of wish we could have gotten some insight and a little more background on them. I felt like a couple of them really had potential to be more interesting but ended up falling a little flat. Davina was one of these characters. She started out in the beginning of the story as being Peyton's ride or die, so to speak, but then she kind of just fell out of the story and popped once in a while. Almost like an after thought.
The enemy or the "big bad" is not a major focus in the story. Our MMC and a couple of his buddies have a run in with them and there is an incident in the forest with one (I think) and they are talked about here and there but then that's really all. I needed way more on that part. The ending is a cliffhanger and a rude one at that. 😬 The last, I would say 20%, of the book had me gripped!
All in all this story was pretty good. It would do it well to have it gone over for editing and grammatical errors. As there were many instances of past and present tense being used incorrectly and repetitive phrasing, which of course, as the reader, threw me completely out of the rhythm of the story. Even with all that said, I very much look forward to the second book in this story.
September 20, 2026
2.5/5 ⭐️
Received this as an ARC on NetGalley
The premise of this book sounded really interesting, and I oh so wanted to love it! It felt very dystopian fantasy, which are my two most favorite genres to read, so whenever I find them combined it makes my day!
The concept behind Stone Bound is rather interesting, and while I liked the idea behind a lot of plot elements, there wasn’t enough world building or plot development or anything that made them stand out or really memorable. There were so many similarities to Fourth Wing (with a dash of Divergent) in ways that didn’t feel unique that made it hard for me to connect with the story as it’s own separate book.
Likewise, the characters all seemed interesting upon first meeting them on page; but there didn’t feel to be enough growth or time with them to fully connect enough to truly care about them. Davina is said to be Peyton’s best friend, and yet she’s almost nowhere to be found. Another character named Nayeli is the one to take over that role, even though she doesn’t take the best friend role over. Jude’s friends also felt as if they were just there to push plot along rather than being their own person. I also don’t really know what Taidem’s purpose was as a character? Was he meant to have a small crush or be a rival to Jude? Peyton and Jude’s relationship has a lot of potential, but again, it was never really explored other than the bare minimum and somehow they still have their “fun time”? I personally would have enjoyed seeing more depth with the characters interacting instead of just being told “I like you”.
There’s also a scene with a Druid, and then it doesn’t really get mentioned again? I definitely wanted more of that (or at least hints and small peaks into Druid lore) because it felt like it was going to be super important, and then suddenly it’s just not really talked about again.
The stones and Peyton’s power that she gets at the end all felt unique and I wanted to learn more about them, but they were never really given depth. You get a conversation saying what they are, but then nothing more.
The magic system likewise felt thrown at you, instead of feeling like a natural part of the world building. My biggest issue with this book was the “lack of depth” that a lot of aspects seemed to have. They were introduced as concepts, but never fully explored or shown what makes this book different as it’s own standalone.
Overall not a bad book, but one that could have used a few more passes with an editor to really push it into being something great.
Received this as an ARC on NetGalley
The premise of this book sounded really interesting, and I oh so wanted to love it! It felt very dystopian fantasy, which are my two most favorite genres to read, so whenever I find them combined it makes my day!
The concept behind Stone Bound is rather interesting, and while I liked the idea behind a lot of plot elements, there wasn’t enough world building or plot development or anything that made them stand out or really memorable. There were so many similarities to Fourth Wing (with a dash of Divergent) in ways that didn’t feel unique that made it hard for me to connect with the story as it’s own separate book.
Likewise, the characters all seemed interesting upon first meeting them on page; but there didn’t feel to be enough growth or time with them to fully connect enough to truly care about them. Davina is said to be Peyton’s best friend, and yet she’s almost nowhere to be found. Another character named Nayeli is the one to take over that role, even though she doesn’t take the best friend role over. Jude’s friends also felt as if they were just there to push plot along rather than being their own person. I also don’t really know what Taidem’s purpose was as a character? Was he meant to have a small crush or be a rival to Jude? Peyton and Jude’s relationship has a lot of potential, but again, it was never really explored other than the bare minimum and somehow they still have their “fun time”? I personally would have enjoyed seeing more depth with the characters interacting instead of just being told “I like you”.
There’s also a scene with a Druid, and then it doesn’t really get mentioned again? I definitely wanted more of that (or at least hints and small peaks into Druid lore) because it felt like it was going to be super important, and then suddenly it’s just not really talked about again.
The stones and Peyton’s power that she gets at the end all felt unique and I wanted to learn more about them, but they were never really given depth. You get a conversation saying what they are, but then nothing more.
The magic system likewise felt thrown at you, instead of feeling like a natural part of the world building. My biggest issue with this book was the “lack of depth” that a lot of aspects seemed to have. They were introduced as concepts, but never fully explored or shown what makes this book different as it’s own standalone.
Overall not a bad book, but one that could have used a few more passes with an editor to really push it into being something great.
September 22, 2026
⭐⭐✨☆☆ (2.5/5 stars)
Stone Bound by Jocelyn James had a premise that sounded right up my alley- dark academia, military training, hidden powers, childhood friends, and a mysterious magical system. There were definitely pieces here that I enjoyed, and I could see so much potential in the world and the overall concept. Unfortunately, the execution just never fully came together for me.
The beginning pulled me in, but as the story went on, I found myself wanting a lot more explanation about the world, the magic system, and the larger conflict. There were so many interesting ideas introduced, but several of them felt like they were touched on briefly and then left behind. I especially wanted a better understanding of the sectors, the Infidium, the druids, and what exactly everyone was fighting for. Because those pieces weren't developed enough, I never felt like I completely understood the stakes.
I also struggled to really connect with Peyton and Jude's relationship. I liked the idea of childhood friends reconnecting under very different circumstances, but I wanted more background on what their relationship had actually been like before they were separated. Without that foundation, some of the longing, tension, and protectiveness between them felt a little rushed. I had a similar issue with many of the side characters- they were likable enough, but I wanted more development so I could actually become attached to them.
There were also quite a few moments where the tone or pacing felt uneven, along with some editing and continuity issues that pulled me out of the story. At times it felt like there were too many plot threads competing for attention instead of a few being given the space to really develop.
That said, I do think there are some genuinely fun ideas here. The temple stones, the cygnet powers, the trials, and the academy setting all have a lot of potential, and the ending definitely sets up some interesting possibilities for the rest of the series.
Overall, Stone Bound wasn't quite the romantasy I was hoping it would be, but I can see the foundation for a series that could become much stronger as the world and characters are developed further. For a debut, there are some promising ideas here- I just wanted more depth, clarity, and polish to really pull me into the story.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Stone Bound by Jocelyn James had a premise that sounded right up my alley- dark academia, military training, hidden powers, childhood friends, and a mysterious magical system. There were definitely pieces here that I enjoyed, and I could see so much potential in the world and the overall concept. Unfortunately, the execution just never fully came together for me.
The beginning pulled me in, but as the story went on, I found myself wanting a lot more explanation about the world, the magic system, and the larger conflict. There were so many interesting ideas introduced, but several of them felt like they were touched on briefly and then left behind. I especially wanted a better understanding of the sectors, the Infidium, the druids, and what exactly everyone was fighting for. Because those pieces weren't developed enough, I never felt like I completely understood the stakes.
I also struggled to really connect with Peyton and Jude's relationship. I liked the idea of childhood friends reconnecting under very different circumstances, but I wanted more background on what their relationship had actually been like before they were separated. Without that foundation, some of the longing, tension, and protectiveness between them felt a little rushed. I had a similar issue with many of the side characters- they were likable enough, but I wanted more development so I could actually become attached to them.
There were also quite a few moments where the tone or pacing felt uneven, along with some editing and continuity issues that pulled me out of the story. At times it felt like there were too many plot threads competing for attention instead of a few being given the space to really develop.
That said, I do think there are some genuinely fun ideas here. The temple stones, the cygnet powers, the trials, and the academy setting all have a lot of potential, and the ending definitely sets up some interesting possibilities for the rest of the series.
Overall, Stone Bound wasn't quite the romantasy I was hoping it would be, but I can see the foundation for a series that could become much stronger as the world and characters are developed further. For a debut, there are some promising ideas here- I just wanted more depth, clarity, and polish to really pull me into the story.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2026
This was a fun and easy romantasy to get through, and while I definitely had some issues with it, I still really enjoyed it.
Peyton was probably one of my favorite parts. I liked that she wasn’t suddenly amazing at everything the second she arrived at Sector 011. She struggled, failed, got hurt, and actually had to work to become stronger.
And then there’s Jude 😂
Childhood best friend, commander, future king, extremely protective… obviously this man worked for me. I really liked their history and all the little moments between them - the late-night training, his dagger, the birthday card, him braiding her hair. Their relationship was definitely one of the main reasons I kept reading.
I also really enjoyed the found family, especially Nayeli, although I wish some of the side characters had been developed more. Davina especially felt important in the beginning and then almost disappeared from the story.
My biggest issue was the world-building. I LOVE the idea of the Sectors, Infidium, Temple Stones, cygnets and druids, but I still finished the book feeling like I didn’t completely understand how everything worked. I wanted more explanation about the magic and even the academy itself. Sometimes the training didn’t make much sense either - these completely inexperienced students are basically thrown into combat and expected to figure it out 😭
The middle also became a little repetitive for me. Training, classes, Peyton doubting herself, Jude worrying about Peyton… repeat. Some of the dialogue felt a little awkward too, and there were moments where things were explained more than once when I already understood what was happening.
BUT the last part was easily my favorite.
Peyton losing control of her body, the black streaks in her hair, the Wailing Woman, the cave… finally I was like OKAY, NOW WE’RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.
And then THAT ENDING???
She finally gets out of the forest. Sector 011 is right there. I’m thinking she’s safe...
and someone puts a bag over her head.
THE END 😭
There are definitely things that could have used more development and polish, but for a debut, there’s a lot of potential here. And apparently the cliffhanger did its job because I absolutely want book two 😂
⭐️ 3.5/5
Thank you to Jocelyn James and NetGalley for the ARC 🤍
Peyton was probably one of my favorite parts. I liked that she wasn’t suddenly amazing at everything the second she arrived at Sector 011. She struggled, failed, got hurt, and actually had to work to become stronger.
And then there’s Jude 😂
Childhood best friend, commander, future king, extremely protective… obviously this man worked for me. I really liked their history and all the little moments between them - the late-night training, his dagger, the birthday card, him braiding her hair. Their relationship was definitely one of the main reasons I kept reading.
I also really enjoyed the found family, especially Nayeli, although I wish some of the side characters had been developed more. Davina especially felt important in the beginning and then almost disappeared from the story.
My biggest issue was the world-building. I LOVE the idea of the Sectors, Infidium, Temple Stones, cygnets and druids, but I still finished the book feeling like I didn’t completely understand how everything worked. I wanted more explanation about the magic and even the academy itself. Sometimes the training didn’t make much sense either - these completely inexperienced students are basically thrown into combat and expected to figure it out 😭
The middle also became a little repetitive for me. Training, classes, Peyton doubting herself, Jude worrying about Peyton… repeat. Some of the dialogue felt a little awkward too, and there were moments where things were explained more than once when I already understood what was happening.
BUT the last part was easily my favorite.
Peyton losing control of her body, the black streaks in her hair, the Wailing Woman, the cave… finally I was like OKAY, NOW WE’RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.
And then THAT ENDING???
She finally gets out of the forest. Sector 011 is right there. I’m thinking she’s safe...
and someone puts a bag over her head.
THE END 😭
There are definitely things that could have used more development and polish, but for a debut, there’s a lot of potential here. And apparently the cliffhanger did its job because I absolutely want book two 😂
⭐️ 3.5/5
Thank you to Jocelyn James and NetGalley for the ARC 🤍
September 25, 2026
4 stars, would have been higher but a few writing inconsistencies has me apprehensive to go higher.
With that said, Jude full sent himself straight onto my list of permanent book boyfriends because, oh honey, JUDE.
Stone Bound has an academy setting with training, sparring, deadly trials, found family, forbidden magic, and an FMC who has to prove she belongs in a world she was never supposed to be part of. You may be thinking well this sounds familiar… and it was but added it’s own spin on the storyline. Truly though, if you loved Fourth Wing and Divergent, I think you are going to eat this one up like I did!
Peyton starts out completely out of her element, but watching her grow into herself was one of my favorite parts. She is determined to prove she can hold her own, and as the story progresses she undeniably becomes the total badass she always was meant to be.
Im also intrigued by the magic system. Peyton’s cygnet feels unique, and I am so curious to see what she is capable of once she actually learns how to master it.
Now back to Jude. 🤤
For the first half of this book I was genuinely afraid to let myself get attached to him because I was convinced the author was going to do me dirty and somehow turn him into the villain.
Once I finally accepted that was not where we were headed? DONE FOR.
The connection between Jude and Peyton had me constantly trying to figure out exactly what was pulling them toward each other and whether their cygnets something to do with it.
If they are not endgame, I may actually riot.
A few favorite lines because this book had some good ones:
“Mentally, I was a slut. Physically, I was scared of intimacy. Spiritually, I hated men.”
“Commander of Chaos mode.”
“I wasn’t letting her get drunk with idiots who couldn’t protect a shoelace.”
“I’ll burn kingdoms for her.”
This was such a fun start to the series. The academy setting pulled me in, Peyton’s growth kept me hooked, the magic left me with plenty of questions, and Jude clearly made himself unforgettable.
I received an ARC of Stone Bound and all opinions are my own🖤
With that said, Jude full sent himself straight onto my list of permanent book boyfriends because, oh honey, JUDE.
Stone Bound has an academy setting with training, sparring, deadly trials, found family, forbidden magic, and an FMC who has to prove she belongs in a world she was never supposed to be part of. You may be thinking well this sounds familiar… and it was but added it’s own spin on the storyline. Truly though, if you loved Fourth Wing and Divergent, I think you are going to eat this one up like I did!
Peyton starts out completely out of her element, but watching her grow into herself was one of my favorite parts. She is determined to prove she can hold her own, and as the story progresses she undeniably becomes the total badass she always was meant to be.
Im also intrigued by the magic system. Peyton’s cygnet feels unique, and I am so curious to see what she is capable of once she actually learns how to master it.
Now back to Jude. 🤤
For the first half of this book I was genuinely afraid to let myself get attached to him because I was convinced the author was going to do me dirty and somehow turn him into the villain.
Once I finally accepted that was not where we were headed? DONE FOR.
The connection between Jude and Peyton had me constantly trying to figure out exactly what was pulling them toward each other and whether their cygnets something to do with it.
If they are not endgame, I may actually riot.
A few favorite lines because this book had some good ones:
“Mentally, I was a slut. Physically, I was scared of intimacy. Spiritually, I hated men.”
“Commander of Chaos mode.”
“I wasn’t letting her get drunk with idiots who couldn’t protect a shoelace.”
“I’ll burn kingdoms for her.”
This was such a fun start to the series. The academy setting pulled me in, Peyton’s growth kept me hooked, the magic left me with plenty of questions, and Jude clearly made himself unforgettable.
I received an ARC of Stone Bound and all opinions are my own🖤
September 27, 2026
🌶️
Content Warning: violence, death
+~ I loved this book cover and title so I was intrigued about this book. It starts off with 18 year olds taking a test to determine what sector they will be in and Peyton is trying into alchemy to follow her dad’s footsteps but when that doesn’t happen and she’s thrown into the sector that basically is the military she is devastated but has to learn quick to survive. I like a story with a military academy and trials, but I didn’t understand why as new students they get thrown into sparring without being taught how to spar first. Jude is Peyton’s childhood best friend but now the leader of her unit and he does no teaching at all which was confusing. So there were moments in the book like that where there needed to be more detail or explanation about something. There were also some things mentioned at one part of the book and never touched on again so it felt disjointed in some areas.
+~ I like that there is magic but we need to learn more about the magic. So the world building is interesting but I just needed more information. I loved the found family aspect of the story but what happened with Peyton’s best friend Davina? They are close in the beginning, then get thrown into the same sector and then barely have scenes together. That was strange to me.
+ I like Peyton as a character, she has a lot of growth and is a very resilient character.
+~ For the most part I thought this was a quick read but there were grammatical errors so more editing would really be great. I had to stop and reread a phrase. Also, I enjoyed the ex-childhood friends to lovers storyline, it’s what made me keep reading but there were some awkward dialogue or moments between Peyton and Jude.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I think this one has tons of potential, especially for an indie author, it just needs some polish. I found it to be a quick read and I enjoyed the romance for the most part but would like more information on the world building and magic.
Read if you like:
military academy
trials
ex-childhood to lovers
Content Warning: violence, death
+~ I loved this book cover and title so I was intrigued about this book. It starts off with 18 year olds taking a test to determine what sector they will be in and Peyton is trying into alchemy to follow her dad’s footsteps but when that doesn’t happen and she’s thrown into the sector that basically is the military she is devastated but has to learn quick to survive. I like a story with a military academy and trials, but I didn’t understand why as new students they get thrown into sparring without being taught how to spar first. Jude is Peyton’s childhood best friend but now the leader of her unit and he does no teaching at all which was confusing. So there were moments in the book like that where there needed to be more detail or explanation about something. There were also some things mentioned at one part of the book and never touched on again so it felt disjointed in some areas.
+~ I like that there is magic but we need to learn more about the magic. So the world building is interesting but I just needed more information. I loved the found family aspect of the story but what happened with Peyton’s best friend Davina? They are close in the beginning, then get thrown into the same sector and then barely have scenes together. That was strange to me.
+ I like Peyton as a character, she has a lot of growth and is a very resilient character.
+~ For the most part I thought this was a quick read but there were grammatical errors so more editing would really be great. I had to stop and reread a phrase. Also, I enjoyed the ex-childhood friends to lovers storyline, it’s what made me keep reading but there were some awkward dialogue or moments between Peyton and Jude.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I think this one has tons of potential, especially for an indie author, it just needs some polish. I found it to be a quick read and I enjoyed the romance for the most part but would like more information on the world building and magic.
Read if you like:
military academy
trials
ex-childhood to lovers
September 23, 2026
I really liked the overall idea behind Stone Bound. It has a fun mix of fantasy concepts, an interesting world, and plenty of potential as the beginning of a series. There were several moments where the story pulled me in, especially when it leaned into its own ideas and worldbuilding.
That said, the further I got into the book, the more it started to remind me of a combination of Divergent and Fourth Wing. Some of the concepts, character dynamics, and story elements felt very familiar, particularly if you have recently read either of those series. At times, some elements felt especially close to Fourth Wing. I actually thought the book was strongest when it moved away from those similarities and focused on its own original concepts. Those sections seemed to flow more naturally and made me much more interested in seeing where this series could go.
There were also a few areas where I think the book could benefit from additional editing before publication. I noticed repeating sentences in a few chapters, and some portions of the story felt rushed or under-explained. One example comes in Chapter 22, when it is mentioned that the main character uses “common magic” to light candles. Unless I missed an earlier explanation, this was the first time I remembered common magic being mentioned or established, which made the moment a little confusing. A little more explanation or earlier foreshadowing of how that magic system works would help the world feel more cohesive.
Overall, Stone Bound is an enjoyable fantasy story with a lot of interesting concepts. I think it has the foundation for a good series, particularly when it embraces its own identity. Readers who enjoy books like Divergent and Fourth Wing may enjoy the familiar elements, although those who have read them recently may also notice quite a few similarities.
I enjoyed the story overall and would be interested to see how the series develops as it becomes more confident in its own world and ideas.
That said, the further I got into the book, the more it started to remind me of a combination of Divergent and Fourth Wing. Some of the concepts, character dynamics, and story elements felt very familiar, particularly if you have recently read either of those series. At times, some elements felt especially close to Fourth Wing. I actually thought the book was strongest when it moved away from those similarities and focused on its own original concepts. Those sections seemed to flow more naturally and made me much more interested in seeing where this series could go.
There were also a few areas where I think the book could benefit from additional editing before publication. I noticed repeating sentences in a few chapters, and some portions of the story felt rushed or under-explained. One example comes in Chapter 22, when it is mentioned that the main character uses “common magic” to light candles. Unless I missed an earlier explanation, this was the first time I remembered common magic being mentioned or established, which made the moment a little confusing. A little more explanation or earlier foreshadowing of how that magic system works would help the world feel more cohesive.
Overall, Stone Bound is an enjoyable fantasy story with a lot of interesting concepts. I think it has the foundation for a good series, particularly when it embraces its own identity. Readers who enjoy books like Divergent and Fourth Wing may enjoy the familiar elements, although those who have read them recently may also notice quite a few similarities.
I enjoyed the story overall and would be interested to see how the series develops as it becomes more confident in its own world and ideas.
September 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for providing me with an advance copy of Stone Bound.
Stone Bound has an incredibly addictive romantasy premise: a young woman forced into a brutal military academy, forbidden magic awakening inside her, deadly trials, and the future king serving as the person she has to answer to.
Peyton's situation immediately creates so much tension. She has spent her life preparing for one future, only to have that future taken away and replaced with a life in a military academy she was never meant to enter. Her determination to prove herself despite being treated as a liability makes her an easy character to root for.
And then there is Jude.
The childhood-best-friends-to-lovers setup combined with the history between Peyton and Jude gives their relationship so much emotional potential. Jude is not only her commanding officer and the future king—he is also the person who broke her heart years earlier. Putting these two together in such a high-pressure environment is practically guaranteed to create tension.
I also really like the concept of the Infidium determining each citizen's future. Peyton's struggle becomes more than simply surviving the academy; it becomes a fight against a system that has already decided who she is supposed to become.
The forbidden magic, Twelfth Moon Trials, political expectations, forced proximity, and slow-burn romance make this feel like a particularly promising addition to the romantasy genre.
Jocelyn James has created a debut with an immediately compelling premise, a fascinating world, and a romance filled with exactly the kind of yearning and tension that romantasy readers love.
I'm very excited to see where Peyton and Jude's story goes next.
Stone Bound has an incredibly addictive romantasy premise: a young woman forced into a brutal military academy, forbidden magic awakening inside her, deadly trials, and the future king serving as the person she has to answer to.
Peyton's situation immediately creates so much tension. She has spent her life preparing for one future, only to have that future taken away and replaced with a life in a military academy she was never meant to enter. Her determination to prove herself despite being treated as a liability makes her an easy character to root for.
And then there is Jude.
The childhood-best-friends-to-lovers setup combined with the history between Peyton and Jude gives their relationship so much emotional potential. Jude is not only her commanding officer and the future king—he is also the person who broke her heart years earlier. Putting these two together in such a high-pressure environment is practically guaranteed to create tension.
I also really like the concept of the Infidium determining each citizen's future. Peyton's struggle becomes more than simply surviving the academy; it becomes a fight against a system that has already decided who she is supposed to become.
The forbidden magic, Twelfth Moon Trials, political expectations, forced proximity, and slow-burn romance make this feel like a particularly promising addition to the romantasy genre.
Jocelyn James has created a debut with an immediately compelling premise, a fascinating world, and a romance filled with exactly the kind of yearning and tension that romantasy readers love.
I'm very excited to see where Peyton and Jude's story goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Stonebound is like Basgiath ( minus the dragons), then adding a couple of doses of Divergent with a smidgen of magic. Overall, it's a good premise for a story. It just needs a little tweaking.
In Anvarus, every year, when they turn 18, each citizen is required to take the Vocaris Rite. A test that will determine their placement in society. For years, Peyton has dreamed of honoring her father and joining his sector and specializing in Alchemy. Shockingly, just days after taking the test, she wakes up in a cell in Sector 11 in their military training facility. Her new commander? He's her childhood best friend who vanished one day - Prince Jude.
The military academy setting is immersive and done really well. The reader is introduced to all the classes and their professors. You sit in on the training, the briefings, etc.
Jude and Peyton have excellent chemistry and tension. I enjoyed reliving their childhood memories. Some of their banter so cute and hilarious.
However, the initial world building stumbles a little. For example, I was left wondering how many sectors there were and what each of their specialties were. Also, did Sector 011's military training academy even have a name?
Also, I felt there was a huge missed opportunity with found family. I felt we actually knew more about Jude and his friends than we did with Peyton and hers. I was hoping to see Peyton develop friendships within her cohort. There weren't a lot of bonding moments or opportunities. Plus Davina, her friend, kinda of disappears as well.
Thank you for choosing me to be an ARC Reader.
In Anvarus, every year, when they turn 18, each citizen is required to take the Vocaris Rite. A test that will determine their placement in society. For years, Peyton has dreamed of honoring her father and joining his sector and specializing in Alchemy. Shockingly, just days after taking the test, she wakes up in a cell in Sector 11 in their military training facility. Her new commander? He's her childhood best friend who vanished one day - Prince Jude.
The military academy setting is immersive and done really well. The reader is introduced to all the classes and their professors. You sit in on the training, the briefings, etc.
Jude and Peyton have excellent chemistry and tension. I enjoyed reliving their childhood memories. Some of their banter so cute and hilarious.
However, the initial world building stumbles a little. For example, I was left wondering how many sectors there were and what each of their specialties were. Also, did Sector 011's military training academy even have a name?
Also, I felt there was a huge missed opportunity with found family. I felt we actually knew more about Jude and his friends than we did with Peyton and hers. I was hoping to see Peyton develop friendships within her cohort. There weren't a lot of bonding moments or opportunities. Plus Davina, her friend, kinda of disappears as well.
Thank you for choosing me to be an ARC Reader.
September 27, 2026
Thank you to Jocelyn James and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book had so much potential with an interesting premise, however I felt frustrated and disappointed consistently throughout this read.
This was a very ‘surface-level’ book. The author needed to dive deeper into every single aspect - world building, lore, magic, druids, sectors, characters, plot line, background, etc. for this story to feel full and complete.
The writing was repetitive, disjointed and lacked creativity. Due to the disjointedness of the writing it created situations and scene that didn’t add up or make any sense. It ultimately left me confused and the plot scattered.
The MFM, to me, was annoying, immature and lacked basic social cues. The love story or romance in this book was non-existent due to the MFMs immaturity and lack of awareness. I eventually began rooting for the 'underdog' Taidem to finally heat things up with Peyton instead of the MMM, Jude.
Lastly, lots of grammatical and spelling errors, which is a pet peeve of mine. Not only did it pull me out of the story but it also makes me wonder whether this book was written organically or if it was guided by AI.
Again, this book had an interesting premise with lots of potential but I felt that overall it needed proper editing and structure with more depth and sharpening.
I am, however, interested in seeing if the next book in this series is written better and if some of these current flaws I mentioned above get fixed.
This was a very ‘surface-level’ book. The author needed to dive deeper into every single aspect - world building, lore, magic, druids, sectors, characters, plot line, background, etc. for this story to feel full and complete.
The writing was repetitive, disjointed and lacked creativity. Due to the disjointedness of the writing it created situations and scene that didn’t add up or make any sense. It ultimately left me confused and the plot scattered.
The MFM, to me, was annoying, immature and lacked basic social cues. The love story or romance in this book was non-existent due to the MFMs immaturity and lack of awareness. I eventually began rooting for the 'underdog' Taidem to finally heat things up with Peyton instead of the MMM, Jude.
Lastly, lots of grammatical and spelling errors, which is a pet peeve of mine. Not only did it pull me out of the story but it also makes me wonder whether this book was written organically or if it was guided by AI.
Again, this book had an interesting premise with lots of potential but I felt that overall it needed proper editing and structure with more depth and sharpening.
I am, however, interested in seeing if the next book in this series is written better and if some of these current flaws I mentioned above get fixed.
September 20, 2026
Beautifully written, fast paced, romantasy fun! Jocelyn James does an incredible job of crafting the romance in Stone Bound- the yearning and the love between Peyton and Jude felt palpable and real to me. Jocelyn has such a gift for describing both feelings and the environment so that you really feel as if you’re in Peyton’s and Jude’s shoes.
The pacing was excellent- the story never dragged for even an instant, but she spent just enough time crafting the dynamic of Peyton’s friend group so that you can grow attached to them. The powers, magic, and setting all felt so ethereal, interesting, and gothic in the coolest way (it definitely felt unsettling at times, when it’s meant to be).
The world was interesting and fun, but I’d love to see more world building in future books- I want to know more about the infidium, what happened to the world, the monarchy, and I’d love to know more about Peyton’s parents and to know Jude’s parents at all (even in memories/conversations). Also, last note- what happened to Davina? I liked her quite a bit and missed her throughout the book- she vanished and I would love to see her again.
Overall- I’d definitely recommend this to any romantasy fan. The romance was, well, romantic and dreamy, and the magic and medieval type setting were very fun. Highly recommend, perfect for a fun night in to get lost in the romance and fun world! I will be not so patiently waiting for book 2.
The pacing was excellent- the story never dragged for even an instant, but she spent just enough time crafting the dynamic of Peyton’s friend group so that you can grow attached to them. The powers, magic, and setting all felt so ethereal, interesting, and gothic in the coolest way (it definitely felt unsettling at times, when it’s meant to be).
The world was interesting and fun, but I’d love to see more world building in future books- I want to know more about the infidium, what happened to the world, the monarchy, and I’d love to know more about Peyton’s parents and to know Jude’s parents at all (even in memories/conversations). Also, last note- what happened to Davina? I liked her quite a bit and missed her throughout the book- she vanished and I would love to see her again.
Overall- I’d definitely recommend this to any romantasy fan. The romance was, well, romantic and dreamy, and the magic and medieval type setting were very fun. Highly recommend, perfect for a fun night in to get lost in the romance and fun world! I will be not so patiently waiting for book 2.
September 20, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
I knew fairly early that Stone Bound was going to be my kind of romantasy.
The combination of romance, magic, danger and an academy/military environment gave the story exactly the atmosphere I was looking for. What really made it work for me, though, was how emotionally invested I became in the characters.
Peyton and Jude's history gives their relationship a foundation that made their connection much easier to believe. I'm a huge fan of childhood-friends-to-lovers when it's done well because there is already so much history underneath every interaction, and that tension really worked here.
I also liked that the romance doesn't completely overshadow the fantasy plot. There are genuine stakes outside the relationship, and the forbidden-magic aspect kept me curious about the world and its rules.
The pacing isn't flawless. There were a couple of sections where I wanted the story to move faster, and certain aspects of the worldbuilding could have been explored in greater depth. But whenever my attention started to drift slightly, something happened that pulled me straight back in.
And the chemistry? Definitely one of the strongest parts.
This gave me so many of the things I look for in romantasy: tension, danger, forbidden elements, emotional history and characters I actually wanted to root for.
Not quite a perfect five-star read, but very, very close.
I knew fairly early that Stone Bound was going to be my kind of romantasy.
The combination of romance, magic, danger and an academy/military environment gave the story exactly the atmosphere I was looking for. What really made it work for me, though, was how emotionally invested I became in the characters.
Peyton and Jude's history gives their relationship a foundation that made their connection much easier to believe. I'm a huge fan of childhood-friends-to-lovers when it's done well because there is already so much history underneath every interaction, and that tension really worked here.
I also liked that the romance doesn't completely overshadow the fantasy plot. There are genuine stakes outside the relationship, and the forbidden-magic aspect kept me curious about the world and its rules.
The pacing isn't flawless. There were a couple of sections where I wanted the story to move faster, and certain aspects of the worldbuilding could have been explored in greater depth. But whenever my attention started to drift slightly, something happened that pulled me straight back in.
And the chemistry? Definitely one of the strongest parts.
This gave me so many of the things I look for in romantasy: tension, danger, forbidden elements, emotional history and characters I actually wanted to root for.
Not quite a perfect five-star read, but very, very close.
September 22, 2026
I don’t usually give reviews that have a negative spin on a book but I really struggled to get into this book.
It started off really good I liked the idea of the sectors but definitely felt like divergent which was amazing as I love that series but I started to see a lot of areas that were either inspired by Fourth Wing or just taken straight from it?
I had to keep going backs a couple of pages to understand who some of the characters were we got a introduction to Davina but I felt no kinship between them. I didn’t get the feel for any of the characters and kept forgetting their names and who they were, this might just be me but I really struggled to keep up with the pace of the book I felt like it was a bit rushed to get to the point?
One thing that bugged me was I don’t actually know if Jude is actually 21 or 19 the 3rd chapter mentions he is 21 and then a couple chapters later in the pub he said he was 19? But he seems to be a 3rd year because he has a stone? I just lost track of him and who he was apart from a prince.
I didn’t get the feel for much world building I just felt like I was excepted to know some things 😅
I like the idea of the book but I just felt it was too close to some of the same concepts we have however I hope the author gets the best out of this with others it just wasn’t for me!
Wishing all the best!
It started off really good I liked the idea of the sectors but definitely felt like divergent which was amazing as I love that series but I started to see a lot of areas that were either inspired by Fourth Wing or just taken straight from it?
I had to keep going backs a couple of pages to understand who some of the characters were we got a introduction to Davina but I felt no kinship between them. I didn’t get the feel for any of the characters and kept forgetting their names and who they were, this might just be me but I really struggled to keep up with the pace of the book I felt like it was a bit rushed to get to the point?
One thing that bugged me was I don’t actually know if Jude is actually 21 or 19 the 3rd chapter mentions he is 21 and then a couple chapters later in the pub he said he was 19? But he seems to be a 3rd year because he has a stone? I just lost track of him and who he was apart from a prince.
I didn’t get the feel for much world building I just felt like I was excepted to know some things 😅
I like the idea of the book but I just felt it was too close to some of the same concepts we have however I hope the author gets the best out of this with others it just wasn’t for me!
Wishing all the best!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I quite like the opening to STONE BOUND—the brief, yet intimate look into what makes Peyton and Jude tick; the introduction to their oldest and newest friends; and the crystal clear picture that formed in my head of the classrooms, hallways, and professors. I found I easily tumbled into the pages, ‘watching’ it all unfold before me. Becoming a witness to every glare, eye roll, smirk, smile, threat, wielding of a blade, jealous stare, sensual embrace, misunderstanding, every bump/bruise/nick/slice, and everything in between.
Author Jaci Bennett’s debut novel is fast paced, magical, mysterious, and exciting.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Jude
FMC:
✨Peyton
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Series:
✨Book 1: The Lost Flame Series
Tropes:
👉military academy romance
👉deadly trials
👉forbidden romance
👉touch her and ☠️
👉friends to lovers
👉forced proximity
👉author’s debut novel
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence, sexual assault - past
💥death
💥grief
💥emotional distress
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Author Jaci Bennett’s debut novel is fast paced, magical, mysterious, and exciting.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Jude
FMC:
✨Peyton
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Series:
✨Book 1: The Lost Flame Series
Tropes:
👉military academy romance
👉deadly trials
👉forbidden romance
👉touch her and ☠️
👉friends to lovers
👉forced proximity
👉author’s debut novel
Triggers:🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, mf, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence, sexual assault - past
💥death
💥grief
💥emotional distress
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Peyton is a girl who grew up in the palace where her mother worked. She strived to follow her father into Sector 007, where she would be surrounded by books and help her kingdom through alchemical work. She takes her placement test, waits the two days, and wakes up in a cell. To her further shock, Jude is there, and he is even better than she remembered. Jude is the Prince whom she grew up with her whole life; he disappeared one day, and now she finally knows where he went. Will she survive? Will they pick up where they left off years ago? Or are they destined to stay separated even though they are in the same place again?
I ate this book up in a day; it had so many things I am looking for in a fantasy novel. Found friends, multiple POV’s, a strong FMC who conquers everything in her path, even when it seems hopeless, a sexy broody prince who has secret powers, and political intrigue that is barely unfolding in this first book. Additionally, it was hilarious; I found myself actually laughing out loud at Jude's mental turmoil over Peyton, very angsty. I can’t wait for the next book!
I received this ARC from Booksirens for free; all opinions are my own and shared freely.
I ate this book up in a day; it had so many things I am looking for in a fantasy novel. Found friends, multiple POV’s, a strong FMC who conquers everything in her path, even when it seems hopeless, a sexy broody prince who has secret powers, and political intrigue that is barely unfolding in this first book. Additionally, it was hilarious; I found myself actually laughing out loud at Jude's mental turmoil over Peyton, very angsty. I can’t wait for the next book!
I received this ARC from Booksirens for free; all opinions are my own and shared freely.
September 28, 2026
I found Stone Bound to be an enjoyable and fairly easy read. I liked the academy setting and the mix of fantasy, magic and trials, and I thought Peyton and Jude were interesting characters to follow throughout the story.
There were definitely some parts of the storyline that kept me interested, and I enjoyed the friendships and the little moments of humour along the way. I also liked the overall idea behind the world and the magic, although I found myself wanting more detail and development in certain areas.
For me, the story felt a little underdeveloped at times, and I would have liked more depth to the characters, relationships and world building. There were some really interesting ideas that I think could have been explored further.
I did enjoy the book overall, though, and the ending definitely left me curious about what happens next. I think there is plenty of potential for the series to grow and develop.
A 3 star read for me, but I’d still be interested in seeing where the next book takes the story. ✨📚
Thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for the opportunity to read this ARC
There were definitely some parts of the storyline that kept me interested, and I enjoyed the friendships and the little moments of humour along the way. I also liked the overall idea behind the world and the magic, although I found myself wanting more detail and development in certain areas.
For me, the story felt a little underdeveloped at times, and I would have liked more depth to the characters, relationships and world building. There were some really interesting ideas that I think could have been explored further.
I did enjoy the book overall, though, and the ending definitely left me curious about what happens next. I think there is plenty of potential for the series to grow and develop.
A 3 star read for me, but I’d still be interested in seeing where the next book takes the story. ✨📚
Thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for the opportunity to read this ARC
September 20, 2026
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is my own honest opinion.
The Premise:
Set in a world of servitude, Peyton finds herself forced into a section of society she didn't want or expect. There she is reunited with a childhood friend, Jude, who she thought was lost to her.
What I Loved:
The premise of the story really got my attention and I'm interested to see what happens in the next book. I hope the banter between Peyton and Jude continues to develop
What Didn't Quite Work For Me:
The writing itself didn't do justice to the story. I found the pacing inconsistent, the tense constantly changed, and the characters were too underdeveloped to form a good appreciation of them. I also would have loved to see more world building so the magic system was clearer.
Overall Thoughts:
This book would appeal to fans of forced proximity tropes. I really hope some further editing improves it before publication.
The Premise:
Set in a world of servitude, Peyton finds herself forced into a section of society she didn't want or expect. There she is reunited with a childhood friend, Jude, who she thought was lost to her.
What I Loved:
The premise of the story really got my attention and I'm interested to see what happens in the next book. I hope the banter between Peyton and Jude continues to develop
What Didn't Quite Work For Me:
The writing itself didn't do justice to the story. I found the pacing inconsistent, the tense constantly changed, and the characters were too underdeveloped to form a good appreciation of them. I also would have loved to see more world building so the magic system was clearer.
Overall Thoughts:
This book would appeal to fans of forced proximity tropes. I really hope some further editing improves it before publication.
September 26, 2026
Rating: 3.75/5 Stars
Stone Bound is an engaging YA fantasy set in a rigid dystopian future that will feel familiar to fans of Divergent. Peyton unexpectedly finds herself assigned to a brutal military academy, where she discovers that Jude, her childhood best friend who vanished years ago, is now her commanding officer. As she struggles to survive the academy's cutthroat environment, Peyton must come to terms with a mysterious new power while learning whether she can trust Jude again.
This was a fun, fast-paced read. While the overall premise was not particularly unique, I remained invested in the story's direction and interested to see how events would unfold. The writing style is exactly what readers would expect from a YA fantasy: accessible, engaging, and easy to read. The characters were likable, and the character development was consistent with what is typically found in the YA genre.
Thank you to Jocelyn James for providing an advance reader’s copy through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Stone Bound is an engaging YA fantasy set in a rigid dystopian future that will feel familiar to fans of Divergent. Peyton unexpectedly finds herself assigned to a brutal military academy, where she discovers that Jude, her childhood best friend who vanished years ago, is now her commanding officer. As she struggles to survive the academy's cutthroat environment, Peyton must come to terms with a mysterious new power while learning whether she can trust Jude again.
This was a fun, fast-paced read. While the overall premise was not particularly unique, I remained invested in the story's direction and interested to see how events would unfold. The writing style is exactly what readers would expect from a YA fantasy: accessible, engaging, and easy to read. The characters were likable, and the character development was consistent with what is typically found in the YA genre.
Thank you to Jocelyn James for providing an advance reader’s copy through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 21, 2026
This gave me serious Divergent meets magic academy vibes and I was completely here for it. The military academy setting is genuinely immersive, I could picture the training grounds, feel the tension and exhaustion, and the classes and trials kept things engaging throughout. Jude might be my favorite part. He's arrogant in a self assured way rather than cruel, protective without being controlling, and actually emotionally present, which is refreshing for this genre. His banter with Peyton is great, and Peyton herself never falls into whiny territory despite everything thrown at her. My main issue is the world building and found family feel underdeveloped. I wanted more on the sectors, more on Peyton and Jude's childhood friendship, and Davina basically vanishes partway through. The last 20 percent gripped me though, and that cliffhanger is rude. Solid debut, excited for book two.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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