Stone Bound

by Jocelyn James

Genres: Fantasy

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2026

Reviews

[ੈ♡‧₊˚ Thais · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and author Jocelyn James for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m so glad I got to read it. 💖

❥๑━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━๑❥

🌙 Review: Stone Bound by Jocelyn James
𓍊𓋼𓍊 3☆

❝I would never choose to leave you, Peyton. I’ve had enough things in my life chosen for me,❞ my voice dropped, rougher now. ❝And if there is one thing in this world I get to choose, it’s you.❞

❥๑━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━๑❥

I finished Stone Bound feeling like I'd enjoyed the story overall, but something was missing for it to really win me over. You know when a book has an interesting premise, a world full of possibilities, and a plot that keeps you turning the pages, but by the time you reach the end, you realize it didn't leave much of a lasting impression? That's pretty much how I felt about this one.

The story takes place in Anvarus, a kingdom where almost everything is controlled by the Infidium, a council that determines its citizens' futures through something called the Vocaris Rite. This test decides which sector each young person will be assigned to and, ultimately, what role they'll play in society.

Our main character, Peyton Lancaster, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps and joining the science sector. Unfortunately, those plans fall apart when she's assigned to Sector 011, a brutal military division where simply surviving the training is a challenge in itself.

And I have to say, this was one of my favorite aspects of the book. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding, the different sectors, the military training, the mysteries surrounding the stones, and especially the political intrigue behind it all. The author has created a world with so much potential, and I genuinely found myself wanting to know more about what's really going on in Anvarus.

The pacing is also pretty good. There's enough happening to keep the story moving, and the challenges Peyton faces make it easy to stay invested in her journey. I enjoyed watching her adjust to a reality that's completely different from the future she'd spent her entire life preparing for. The supporting characters also have their moments, especially Nayeli and Davina, who bring some much-needed lightness to an otherwise tense atmosphere.

But here's where things fell a little flat for me: the romance.

I really, really wanted to love Peyton and Jude together. They have a shared history, unresolved feelings, a complicated power dynamic, and pretty much all the ingredients for a romance filled with tension and emotional depth. On paper, it sounds like exactly the kind of relationship I'd usually fall for. Unfortunately, I just don't think their connection was developed as well as it could have been.

I wanted more chemistry, more passion, and, most importantly, more of that emotional buildup that makes you fall in love with a couple as they're falling for each other.

And it's not that they don't have romantic moments or steamy scenes, because they definitely do. The problem is that even during those moments, I couldn't quite feel the intensity the story seemed to be going for. At times, it felt like their feelings were already established and I was just supposed to accept that they belonged together. But I wanted to see more of how they got there.

I think the author relied a little too heavily on their shared past instead of allowing their relationship to develop more naturally in the present. I wanted more meaningful conversations, more vulnerability, more emotional tension, and those little moments that make a romance feel real. Because, for me, attraction alone isn't enough. I need to actually feel the connection between the characters, not just be told it's there.

Jude was another character I wish we'd gotten to explore on a deeper emotional level. He has his own struggles, responsibilities, and a complicated position within this world, but I felt like some of his actions and shifts in behavior needed more development. Their relationship had so much potential to become one of the strongest parts of the book, yet it ended up being the aspect I struggled to connect with the most.

And I think that pretty much sums up my experience with Stone Bound: I loved the potential of the story more than I loved the way certain parts of it were executed.

I wouldn't call this a bad book at all. Quite the opposite, actually. The premise is compelling, the world is intriguing, and there are enough unanswered questions to make me curious about what happens next. I just think that, since this is the first book, the author spent so much time introducing the world and setting things up for future installments that some of the relationships and emotional development ended up taking a back seat.

I finished the book feeling generally satisfied, but without that feeling of having discovered a story that's going to stay with me for a long time.

That being said, I do want to continue the series because I genuinely believe there's a lot of potential here. I'm hoping the next books give the characters more room to grow, explore the conflicts in greater depth, and, most importantly, develop Peyton and Jude's relationship with a little more care.

At the end of the day, Stone Bound was an enjoyable read, just not an unforgettable one. It has all the right ingredients to become something really special. I just think those elements need a little more time and attention to truly shine. And I'm genuinely hoping the next installments deliver the emotional depth I felt was missing from this one.

[Walindor · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Irena · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 we would get a shifter in a dark academy setting
- The side plot of Peyton finally revealing to Jude why she was so angry (that he disappeared and then she got assaulted shortly after he disappeared from the castle 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 some uncontrollable screaming that predicts death, and control over storms?? It's giving temu Violet Sorrengail, and then suddenly someone just puts a bag over her head??
- 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.

[Darlingvbookish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley & Jocelyn James for the opportunity to read and review..

Here goes...
The story starts very interesting. About magic, different sectors, the girl gets sent basically to the military sector when she wanted basically the science one to follow her dad's footsteps. There Peyton sees her friend Jude, whom she thought was dead. There were just so many things left unanswered since the beginning. And many dialogs that didn't make much sense? I struggled a little bit connecting to the FMC & MMC because they have feelings for each other, but 38% in and there are no meaningful interactions to them feeling that way or even flashbacks to see how their relationship was to have those feelings? Being honest, the story is very intriguing at the beginning and maybe for someone it is their cup of tea. But for me, I think maybe a little bit more explaining of this universe, how the magic worked or even the things that were happening because once some situations happened there was no explanation, we just moved on to another topic. If there would've been more context perhaps it would've kept me invested? Ended up DNF'ing around 66% unfortunately.

[Fox Glaese · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Karina Berezhna · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. 💛

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Hoshi · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Jocelyn James for providing an ARC of Stone Bound in exchange for my honest review.

I very much liked the premise of this book. Fourth Wing, without the dragons. A military academy setting with cygnets that can give you various powers. But first Peyton has to get through her first year at the academy. Cue the handsome prince Jude, her love interest and commander. The book switches perspectives between Jude and Peyton, but Peyton is the main character.

What I liked?
- The premise of the military academy. I love these kind of Forth Wing-type books.
- The love story. I am a total sucker for these love stories and it was an engaging read. I really read through this book easily and wanted to read on.
- The side characters are a plus. There a lot of friends we find along the way that I really liked.

What could be better?
- There where some gaps in the timeline, which where not explained properly or where genuinely incorrect with previous information. There where some inconsistencies, which is a shame.
- The world building leaves something to be desired. I did not really felt pulled in or felt the stakes, even though in the 'battle briefs' some information was covered. But it felt a bit flat for me.
- The side characters could get some more screentime. Especially Davina. She should be the best friend, but gets no time in later parts of the book.

[Sue Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️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.

[Charlotte Coyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

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*

[Ana Lúcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[kylie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book had quite a few hallmarks of AI, so that negatively clouded my reading experience. It was very similar to Fourth Wing and Divergent as well. Because of these similarities, I had a hard time getting into the book and reading it. It felt like all the characters and their relationships to Peyton, the FMC, were not developed and I had a hard time connecting with them. If you’re looking for a romance book, I would say skip this one. I also think the more interesting parts of the story were not explained throughly enough, like the setting they are in and their cygnets. Speaking of cygnets, Peyton’s was unsurprising because of the Fourth Wing inspiration. The book ended on a cliffhanger that didn’t make me want to read the rest of the series. Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin Cantrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[yas · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

unfortunately this just was not for me. i can start with some positives though.

im such an enemies to lovers fan esp in romantasy but sometimes its nice to get a little break from that. i liked the friendship to lovers dynamic that was supposed to be going on. I don’t think it translated the best without seeing more of their prior friendship background. I also think the writing style had a lot of potential! there were lots of good plot ideas i just don’t think they were executed the best.

i’m honestly not too sure where this went wrong for me. the writing is actually pretty good and the plot has an interesting concept i think it just might have not been as fleshed out as it needed to be. i genuinely felt like i was missing information in the way that Peyton kept going from person to person and class to class and nothing ever happened. there were moments where information was revealed that just didn’t make sense for the main character to figure out so early on. the world building was almost non existent- we don’t even know who the enemy is that they are supposedly fighting against until almost 40% into the story. Jude does not come across as what he’s meant to be. I think he was supposed to be this protective friend to lover interest but he kinda comes across as overbearing and i think we really lose sight of his role in the kingdom. Peyton had more character potential than Jude but ultimately they both felt very flat making all of their decisions feel willy nilly. Peyton had zero motivations after both getting into the sector of her dreams. Her lack of motivations made it really hard to see where this was going. some smaller things that i noticed that plays a apart in peyton falling flat: everything is a shock or surprise or is a hard hitting “revelation” how can this girl know truly nothing about her own world? she is constantly surprised or stunned into silence by almost everything that happens to her in the first part of the story. the pacing of this is also a little strange. there will a brief mention of “training for months” that i assume is supposed to be a time skip? but i just don’t think a time skip is necessary when nothing has happened in the book. Some of the rules of the world just simply do not make sense. a similar issue has been brought up about fourth wing but why would they intentionally kill off “the weak” ones in this sector when they could use them in literally any other sector. it does not make sense to have a weed week in this situation esp if they’re gearing up for war.

i think a lot of these issues could have been solved by having that world building context. Having a nameless enemy makes it incredibly difficult to stay interested if even our main characters can’t even really say/talk about what’s going on in their story. when they finally find out that they are fighting druids it’s never really brought up again? I couldn’t even really tell you what the plot of this is supposed to be because ultimately nothing really happened this entire book. the timeline of everything feels so messy and the lack of concrete plot and world building kind of makes you feel like “why am i even reading this”

the writing as i mentioned was actually not bad and i think has a lot of potential, however, this could have 100% benefited by going through another round of editing. there were many repetitive phrases, sentences, and even some spelling errors.

i think overall this had a lot of potential, but needs some serious reworking when it comes to plot, characters , timeline, and the setting. i would unfortunately give this 1.5 stars just because with all of the above, i was really struggling to get through this.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Yazmin Reeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of fantasy romance - particularly stories involving dangerous trials, forbidden magic and a strong romantic storyline - StoneBound immediately sounded like something I would enjoy, and I flew through it!

Peyton is unexpectedly thrown into a brutal military academy and forced to prove that she belongs there, all while trying to understand the forbidden magic awakening within her. Add Jude - her childhood best friend, future king and the person who broke her heart - and there was more than enough to keep me turning the pages.

I really enjoyed Peyton and Jude’s relationship, and I particularly loved the way the book flits between their POVs. Seeing the same world and their relationship through both of their eyes added so much, especially because of their shared history and the things they don’t necessarily say to one another. The protective moments, unresolved feelings and tension between what Jude is expected to do and what he actually wants were some of my favourite parts.

And then there was the Ball!

The scene involving Peyton’s mother genuinely had me in tears. It was such an emotional moment and probably one of the scenes that affected me most in the whole book. To then follow that with the Ball scene between Jude and Peyton gave me an entirely different set of emotions! The contrast between those scenes worked so well and really showed how quickly this book could make me go from emotional to completely invested in the romance.

The military academy setting and trials needed expanding upon. There are definitely elements that will appeal to readers who enjoy books such as Fourth Wing, but StoneBound has its own world, magic and story developing underneath that familiar setup.

If I had one criticism, it’s that I wanted more of Jude. I loved having both Peyton and Jude’s POVs, but there were moments where I felt Jude’s experiences and emotional development could have been explored more deeply.

The abuse storyline felt slightly unfinished for me. It was a significant and upsetting experience for Peyton, and I expected to spend a little more time with her afterwards processing what had happened. I didn’t need more from the scene itself, but I did want more of Peyton’s emotional response and recovery, as it felt as though the story moved on before that part of her experience had been fully resolved.

There were also places where I would have loved a little more depth and explanation around the world and magic system, particularly because some of the ideas introduced are really interesting. At times I wanted the story to slow down slightly and allow some of those moments and relationships a little more room to breathe.

Having said that, it was incredibly easy to read. I repeatedly found myself saying I’d read one more chapter and then carrying on, which is always a very good sign!

I’m now really interested to see where Peyton ends up. There are so many unanswered questions surrounding her, her abilities and what her future looks like that I absolutely want to continue with the series.

A really enjoyable start to the Lost Flame series, with forbidden magic, deadly trials, childhood friends-to-lovers, a protective future king, emotional moments I wasn’t expecting and plenty still left to uncover.

I’m definitely ready for book two!

[Jillian · Rating 1.75 out of 5]

Picked this up on Netgalley based on the interesting premise. If you enjoy fantasy, then there are components that you'll like - academy/trials, power earned and manifested through a stone that gives unique powers to each wielder, a kingdom at war with others who have a fundamentally different view on how magic should be used.

But, oh boy, this book was rough.

It had to be a first draft. The book goes back and forth between present and past tense, switching in almost every chapter, sometimes within a sentence. Everything hits. Everything is sharp. Breath catches. Things break or won't break or are at risk of breaking. Often a paragraph will be a complete rehash of what the previous paragraph was about. 100 pages could have been dropped if the redundant text was removed. Things happen twice in a scene. For example: Jude and Peyton go to talk to someone, he lets them into his house and closes the door. Half a page later they are being ushered inside. These weird inconsistencies and repetitions happen a lot.

Jude is fine as an MMC. Peyton is a mess as MFC. She's been training to be a scientist but was forced into being a soldier. You would expect her to use her intelligence to survive and eventually thrive. But, no, within weeks she is already a better fighter than an upperclassman with a personal vendetta. She is in a tactical training class where they are told to ask questions, analyze, impress the instructor but almost immediately Peyton asks the wrong question and she needs to keep quiet or draw the wrong attention. But, like, it's an obvious question. And she's the gorgeous, capable teammate who is at the center of their cohort. Why? Because she's the main character and she's special.

The world building was also a mess. Even time was confusing. The Twelfth Moon Trials is when they prove their worth to gain a temper stone. Spoiler, it's just a fight against another cadet, winner gets a stone, loser may or may not. But twelve moons - 12 nights? 12 months? A specific day like the summer solstice? Who knows? Who cares? Within a few days Peyton is already stronger, sharper. Weeks pass. Then months have passed. Then it's only weeks again. Also, Jude makes a comment that they get their stones in their 3rd year early in the book. But then it is part of the first year training. You don't get a sense of how magic works in this world in the everyday capacity. They talk about using lesser magic but it is just dropped in without context of when/who learns it.

This book does have an explicit sex scene. Peyton has two orgasms their first time together and both times she is pushed over the edge by him telling her to. Even the single sex scene is repetitive....

The ending is technically a cliffhanger but somehow 300 pages in, nothing has really happened. It didn't ramp up into a cliffhanger (which I hate but not the point) but this book didnt even have a proper rising action or climax. Sure, they had the trials and she got her power and needs to keep it secret (remember, she is special so she has the rarest power possible) but then the book ends with her being nabbed by someone.

Additonal comment that is just petty: it really annoyed me that Peyton referred to her mom by her first name in her own POV

[Shawnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Taya F. · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[GrabaBookBookClub · Rating 2 out of 5]

📚 STONEBOUND BY JOCELYN JAMES 📚
Book Review by Grababookclub 🖤✨

🔥 FANTASY, FORBIDDEN MAGIC AND A DESTINY THAT REFUSES TO PLAY BY THE RULES!

Some books promise a little fantasy, a little romance, and a world to escape into. Others promise danger, secrets, impossible choices, and characters forced to challenge everything they thought they knew. Stonebound certainly brings an intriguing mix of fantasy and romantic tension to the table.

Jocelyn James introduces readers to a world where destiny is dictated by power, expectations can become a prison, and the future is not always ours to choose.

What caught my attention was the combination of a military academy setting, forbidden magic, high-stakes trials, and a complicated connection between characters whose shared history adds another layer of tension to the story.

I particularly enjoy fantasy that gives its characters something meaningful to fight for, whether that means challenging the world around them, discovering their own strength, or questioning the rules they have always been expected to follow.

And let’s be honest, a fantasy romance with secrets, loyalty, and a little emotional conflict knows exactly how to keep readers turning those pages! 🖤

✨ WHAT STANDS OUT?
📖 An intriguing fantasy setting.
🔮 Forbidden magic and mysterious powers.
👑 Duty versus the desires of the heart.
⚔️ High-stakes trials and personal challenges.
❤️ A complicated connection that adds emotional tension.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

Stonebound didn’t really leave me feeling anything particularly special. I was definitely interested enough to keep reading, but I found myself in an awkward position, continually hoping the story would improve and become more engaging for me.

Unfortunately, that moment never really came. However, I wouldn’t say this was a bad read. It simply didn’t connect with me in the way I had hoped, and I think it is best left to other readers to decide whether it is the right book for them.

Jocelyn James offers an interesting premise with plenty of potential for readers who enjoy fantasy worlds filled with secrets, magic, complicated loyalties, and romantic tension.

📚 Grababookclub verdict: This wasn’t quite the reading experience I had hoped for, but it may still appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy, forbidden magic, difficult choices, and characters caught between destiny and desire.

⭐ ⭐ A fantasy read that invites curiosity and leaves the final decision to its readers!

#Grababookclub #Stonebound #JocelynJames #BookReview #FantasyReads #Romantasy #Bookstagram #BookTok #FantasyBooks

[Ashley Cohoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐✨☆☆ (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.

[lassii · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 🤍

[Tay · Rating 4 out of 5]

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🖤

[Yolanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌶️

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

[Isabella Montclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kay · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

I DNF'd this book at 50%, and here's why.

1. The first reason is on me. I didn't read the sample, but instead went only off the visible blurb, so I didn't catch that the FMC was an 18-year-old schoolgirl. This is only my preferred genre when it's done really well (see Poppy Balfour, Celeana Sardothien, Jude Duarte and Violet Sorrengail - more about her later), and typically I am reading this style when it's an established book that BookTok has convinced me to read.
2. Ms James was sorely let down by her editor. There are time/continuity errors all over the place. At one point, a critical character changes gender within the same paragraph.. There is chronic overuse of the same descriptors (leather stretched by muscled shoulders blah blah), also within the space of the same paragraph. To me, these are basic writing elements that an editor should've caught and polished out.
3. The setting is too alike many other romantasy books - especially Fourth Wing. Military academy. Magic cygnets (signet, anyone?) awakened by a coming-of-age ritual. Dark magicians that draw their power from the earth itself (my mind went straight to venin).
4, The FMC and MMC are one-dimensional - maybe because they seem too like Violet and Xaden, or Wren and Cross from Silver Elite if we are to believe this is really a dystopian fantasy. I wanted more emotion, especially given the opportunity to go deeper into a character's mind, as having a dual narrator POV offers.

This book has potential to be a gripping read, but I think the author and editor need to give it another, final pass to really shape it into something far better than the current offering.

I received this digital copy of the ARC from NetGalley, and all opinions are my own.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Astraea Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[JoAngeli Kasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I could not put this down.

If you loved Violet Sorrengail's arc in Fourth Wing, you will recognize what James is doing here. Her heroine spends the entire book discovering she is capable of considerably more than she believed, and the discovery costs her the life she thought she was supposed to want.

That is the part I keep thinking about. It is not just that she is stronger than she knew. It is that the life she had planned for was never the one she was called to, and giving up a future you had already arranged yourself around is its own kind of grief, even when what replaces it is extraordinary.

She is blessed with a signet so rare that nobody can tell her what it means, and the real question of the book is not whether she can wield it. It is whether the signet is something she has or something she is. That is an identity question rather than a power one, and it is the better question.

And then there is a cliffhanger in the middle of all of it, and I am still turning it over.

I need the next book.

⭐️ 4.5/5

⚠️ Content warnings: attempted sexual assault, trauma and recovery, violence.

As a therapist, I want to name what I appreciated most. Late in the book we learn she survived an attempted sexual assault, and James handles her recovery with genuine care. It is not used as backstory to explain her away, and it is not resolved neatly. It sits where it actually sits in a person, present and worked through and not finished.