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Forever Boundless
"Forever Boundless" is a Boys Love Adult Fantasy novel.
Zhao Lhan, a blind fallen God, is withering on the roadside of the Grasslands. A year has passed since he killed his closest friend Mingxia and guilt haunts him with the fevor of a living-thing. Around him, the human world is plagued by disasters and riddled with death. As he lets winter tip him closer to his own demise, he realises the prophecy whispering through Godlind may have depicted more truth than he once chose to believe. A messenger delivers the confounding news that Mingxia has somehow returned from death. The knowledge changes Zhao Lhan’s trajectory as he leaves the roadside to confirm if the past that has been haunting him has returned from death and if the prophecy which dooms humankind is built from more than just whispers.
As the pair find each other once again, Zhao Lhan struggles to bury the feelings that he’s been suppressing for the past year. Little do they know, the closer they become the farther they will fall when Mingxia reveals the truth behind his revival.
Trigger
Depictions of violence.Depictions of suicide and attempted suicide.References to sexual exploitation.Child death.War crimes.Reference to child abuse.This book is recommended for people over the age of 16.
Zhao Lhan, a blind fallen God, is withering on the roadside of the Grasslands. A year has passed since he killed his closest friend Mingxia and guilt haunts him with the fevor of a living-thing. Around him, the human world is plagued by disasters and riddled with death. As he lets winter tip him closer to his own demise, he realises the prophecy whispering through Godlind may have depicted more truth than he once chose to believe. A messenger delivers the confounding news that Mingxia has somehow returned from death. The knowledge changes Zhao Lhan’s trajectory as he leaves the roadside to confirm if the past that has been haunting him has returned from death and if the prophecy which dooms humankind is built from more than just whispers.
As the pair find each other once again, Zhao Lhan struggles to bury the feelings that he’s been suppressing for the past year. Little do they know, the closer they become the farther they will fall when Mingxia reveals the truth behind his revival.
Trigger
Depictions of violence.Depictions of suicide and attempted suicide.References to sexual exploitation.Child death.War crimes.Reference to child abuse.This book is recommended for people over the age of 16.
447 pages, Paperback
Published October 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 15, 2026
4.8/5
"This is my warning to you.
This book will not end in the way you wish it to.
I give you this chance to close the page, hide it in a forgot spot and live happily without walking down this lonely road." - E.M Howis Author
If you're looking for yearning, slow burn, dark fantasy, danmei inspired standalone with lovable characters, great plot, and wanting a story to impact on your life with multiple POV's? This one, forever BOUNDLESS is the one you're looking for! Need a standalone with a mixture of yuwu and tgcf? forever BOUNDLESS! And the angst!! Absolutely perfect!
Zhao Lhan, a fallen god has became blind with his meridians cut, living in the grassland. His memories haunting his dreams every night, to a day he doesn't want to remember. Yearning for the one he loves most
Mingxia a half-blood god/human wants to save the people of the grasslands. He has a kind soul, giving what he can for the people, never letting go of what and who is most important.
I'm enjoying the raw emotions these characters are feeling. You read what they're truly feeling, what they're going through, and how much it affects them. Also the devotion the two main couple have for one another!
A piece of my souls has gone with this novel. Boundless will forever be apart of me, never forgotten.
I want to thank the author E.M Howis for letting me read and review their book. I'm so happy that I got to be a part of this🫂
"This is my warning to you.
This book will not end in the way you wish it to.
I give you this chance to close the page, hide it in a forgot spot and live happily without walking down this lonely road." - E.M Howis Author
If you're looking for yearning, slow burn, dark fantasy, danmei inspired standalone with lovable characters, great plot, and wanting a story to impact on your life with multiple POV's? This one, forever BOUNDLESS is the one you're looking for! Need a standalone with a mixture of yuwu and tgcf? forever BOUNDLESS! And the angst!! Absolutely perfect!
Zhao Lhan, a fallen god has became blind with his meridians cut, living in the grassland. His memories haunting his dreams every night, to a day he doesn't want to remember. Yearning for the one he loves most
Mingxia a half-blood god/human wants to save the people of the grasslands. He has a kind soul, giving what he can for the people, never letting go of what and who is most important.
I'm enjoying the raw emotions these characters are feeling. You read what they're truly feeling, what they're going through, and how much it affects them. Also the devotion the two main couple have for one another!
A piece of my souls has gone with this novel. Boundless will forever be apart of me, never forgotten.
I want to thank the author E.M Howis for letting me read and review their book. I'm so happy that I got to be a part of this🫂
Review of advance copy received from Author
After reading this book, I’m absolutely dumbfounded. The yearning, emotional slow burn, and jaw-dropping plot had me completely hooked from beginning to end, and somehow, I was still left wanting more.
I absolutely loved the uniqueness of the storyline. I honestly haven’t read a book quite like this before. The emotional turmoil and intensity created such a surreal reading experience that I genuinely felt like I was right there alongside the characters, experiencing everything with them.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone searching for an unforgettable story filled with yearning, emotional depth, a slow-burn romance, and a plot that will leave you completely stunned.
I absolutely loved the uniqueness of the storyline. I honestly haven’t read a book quite like this before. The emotional turmoil and intensity created such a surreal reading experience that I genuinely felt like I was right there alongside the characters, experiencing everything with them.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone searching for an unforgettable story filled with yearning, emotional depth, a slow-burn romance, and a plot that will leave you completely stunned.
October 19, 2026
Thank you to the author for a copy of the ARC!
This story was such a wild ride from start to end. It's one of those stories where, upon turning to the final page, you just have to sit with yourself for a moment and take it all in. I have no doubt whatsoever that I'll remember Forever Boundless and its characters for many years to come.
As a big fan of danmei novels, I had an inkling that this book would scratch that itch and satisfy the craving I had for a good fantasy danmei to just whisk me away into its world. This book went above and beyond my expectations. The world building is so creative, ranging from the plot itself to all the various places the characters visit, the differences between gods and humans. There were so many twists and turns. What I especially love was how the story didn't feel overwhelming, everything unravelled at the perfect pace. It was so easy to sink into the plot.
The characters were all so distinct, each of them just made me feel so fond in their own ways. The two man characters, Zhao Lhan and Mingxia, had such a deep and close connection. The pining and yearning between them was so wonderfully agonising. It's the fact that they could be sitting right next to each other yet still feel worlds apart (but in a good way, of course). The temptation to reach in and just bonk their head together was SO strong. Although I am not usually big on the friends-to-lovers trope, I fear they've now won me over and made me see the light. The tension between them was so well done, and I'll admit that, yes, at certain points I *was* tearing up.
As for the angst in this story...that needs its own mention. I found it to be perfectly balanced and another aspect that was wonderfully written and portrayed. You can feel the profound weight of all the characters and how the past and present all link up; it was bittersweet and poignant and perfect. As an angst lover--I strongly approve! (But also--ouch!)
So to sum it up: if you love a good fantasy danmei inspired novel, filled with angst and a satisfying slowburn and a plot that'll have you absolutely hooked, then Forever Boundless is the perfect fit!
This story was such a wild ride from start to end. It's one of those stories where, upon turning to the final page, you just have to sit with yourself for a moment and take it all in. I have no doubt whatsoever that I'll remember Forever Boundless and its characters for many years to come.
As a big fan of danmei novels, I had an inkling that this book would scratch that itch and satisfy the craving I had for a good fantasy danmei to just whisk me away into its world. This book went above and beyond my expectations. The world building is so creative, ranging from the plot itself to all the various places the characters visit, the differences between gods and humans. There were so many twists and turns. What I especially love was how the story didn't feel overwhelming, everything unravelled at the perfect pace. It was so easy to sink into the plot.
The characters were all so distinct, each of them just made me feel so fond in their own ways. The two man characters, Zhao Lhan and Mingxia, had such a deep and close connection. The pining and yearning between them was so wonderfully agonising. It's the fact that they could be sitting right next to each other yet still feel worlds apart (but in a good way, of course). The temptation to reach in and just bonk their head together was SO strong. Although I am not usually big on the friends-to-lovers trope, I fear they've now won me over and made me see the light. The tension between them was so well done, and I'll admit that, yes, at certain points I *was* tearing up.
As for the angst in this story...that needs its own mention. I found it to be perfectly balanced and another aspect that was wonderfully written and portrayed. You can feel the profound weight of all the characters and how the past and present all link up; it was bittersweet and poignant and perfect. As an angst lover--I strongly approve! (But also--ouch!)
So to sum it up: if you love a good fantasy danmei inspired novel, filled with angst and a satisfying slowburn and a plot that'll have you absolutely hooked, then Forever Boundless is the perfect fit!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to the author for the ARC!
“I give you this chance to close the page, hide it in a forgot spot and live happily without walking down this lonely road.”
When I read this quote I ended up contemplating whether I made the right choice in wanting to read this ARC but by the end of it I realized that this is a journey I would go on all over again. Was it painful? Yes. Painful, but worth it.
For a standalone book the world-building was done perfectly right. Instead of being lost for like half the book, I could actually get pretty quickly into the story!
I also really liked the beginning. You basically just get thrown into the story where everything has already fallen apart, but it isn’t done in a way that feels too overwhelming. We get glimpses of the past that are scattered throughout the story that slowly clear up what led to the current situation. The pacing is also really nice. Nothing gets dragged on and there aren’t unnecessary fillers. Each character’s POV contributes and helps in bringing the story to life.
I’d recommend this to anyone who likes slow-burn because the slow burn was slow burning!!! Zhao Lan and Mingxia pining for each other even though they are glued to each other 24/7 was everything to me.
I’ll definitely have to buy the physical version because I already miss this duo 3
Lastly, I want to say a huge thank you to the author for providing us with a map (a stunning one at that!) and thank you for not using AI! The illustrations are so beautiful which AI could never replicate.
I also have to add that the final illustration was actually a genius choice, though it did feel like I got a brick thrown at me.
“I give you this chance to close the page, hide it in a forgot spot and live happily without walking down this lonely road.”
When I read this quote I ended up contemplating whether I made the right choice in wanting to read this ARC but by the end of it I realized that this is a journey I would go on all over again. Was it painful? Yes. Painful, but worth it.
For a standalone book the world-building was done perfectly right. Instead of being lost for like half the book, I could actually get pretty quickly into the story!
I also really liked the beginning. You basically just get thrown into the story where everything has already fallen apart, but it isn’t done in a way that feels too overwhelming. We get glimpses of the past that are scattered throughout the story that slowly clear up what led to the current situation. The pacing is also really nice. Nothing gets dragged on and there aren’t unnecessary fillers. Each character’s POV contributes and helps in bringing the story to life.
I’d recommend this to anyone who likes slow-burn because the slow burn was slow burning!!! Zhao Lan and Mingxia pining for each other even though they are glued to each other 24/7 was everything to me.
I’ll definitely have to buy the physical version because I already miss this duo 3
Lastly, I want to say a huge thank you to the author for providing us with a map (a stunning one at that!) and thank you for not using AI! The illustrations are so beautiful which AI could never replicate.
I also have to add that the final illustration was actually a genius choice, though it did feel like I got a brick thrown at me.
October 15, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5 stars
First of all, thank you so much to the author for the ARC! 💗
As a danmei fan, this book gave me all the things I usually love about the genre and MORE. The emotional depth, the relationship, the characters… I was absolutely SOLD.
Despite being a standalone, the plot was so well done and developed, and I never felt like anything was rushed or underdeveloped. Everything had its place, and I was completely invested in the story from beginning to end.
But can we PLEASE talk about the YEARNINGGGGG?! 😭 Because OH. MY. GOD. The way these two are practically attached at the hip, yet the emotional slow burn still manages to get to you? I JUST CAN'T. I LOVE IT. Give me all the longing, all the feelings, all the moments where you want to shake them and hug them at the same time. I eat this stuff UP.
And the multiple POVs? Surprisingly, I absolutely loved them all! I'm not usually the biggest fan of multiple POVs, but here they genuinely added something to the story, and I found myself invested in every perspective. Honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy them this much.
Also, yes, I cried. A LOT. Are we even surprised at this point? 😂😭 But here's the thing: I was HAPPY about it. Sometimes you just need a book that absolutely wrecks your emotions in the best possible way, and this one delivered.
If you're a danmei fan looking for yearning, emotional slow burn, and characters who will make you feel ALL THE FEELINGS, definitely give this one a chance!
My heart is a mess, and honestly? Worth it. 💗
First of all, thank you so much to the author for the ARC! 💗
As a danmei fan, this book gave me all the things I usually love about the genre and MORE. The emotional depth, the relationship, the characters… I was absolutely SOLD.
Despite being a standalone, the plot was so well done and developed, and I never felt like anything was rushed or underdeveloped. Everything had its place, and I was completely invested in the story from beginning to end.
But can we PLEASE talk about the YEARNINGGGGG?! 😭 Because OH. MY. GOD. The way these two are practically attached at the hip, yet the emotional slow burn still manages to get to you? I JUST CAN'T. I LOVE IT. Give me all the longing, all the feelings, all the moments where you want to shake them and hug them at the same time. I eat this stuff UP.
And the multiple POVs? Surprisingly, I absolutely loved them all! I'm not usually the biggest fan of multiple POVs, but here they genuinely added something to the story, and I found myself invested in every perspective. Honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy them this much.
Also, yes, I cried. A LOT. Are we even surprised at this point? 😂😭 But here's the thing: I was HAPPY about it. Sometimes you just need a book that absolutely wrecks your emotions in the best possible way, and this one delivered.
If you're a danmei fan looking for yearning, emotional slow burn, and characters who will make you feel ALL THE FEELINGS, definitely give this one a chance!
My heart is a mess, and honestly? Worth it. 💗
October 21, 2026
I absolutely could not put this book down! From beginning to end, I was completely immersed in the story and found myself drawing parallels between the world within these pages and the one we live in today. There’s something so powerful about a story that feels both captivating and a little too close to reality.
Although the pacing was a bit slower at times, I felt it really allowed the world to come to life. It gave me a deeper understanding of the world these characters were living in, the complexities of their circumstances, and the immense conflict they would have to face. It made the stakes feel that much higher and allowed me to truly appreciate the weight of everything unfolding around them.
The characters were incredibly well written, each with their own unique personalities, struggles, and dynamic stories that made them feel study much more important. And the dynamic between our main leads? Absolutely everything! Their small, intimate moments, the subtle touches, and those little brushes of skin had my heart fluttering so much!
I was so thankful to be given a glimpse into their world and to experience their journey alongside them. By the time I finished, I was left wanting so much more, which is always a sign of a story that has truly captured my heart. I cannot recommend this book enough, and I’m already wishing I could dive right back into this world. Absolutely loved it, and I need MORE!
Although the pacing was a bit slower at times, I felt it really allowed the world to come to life. It gave me a deeper understanding of the world these characters were living in, the complexities of their circumstances, and the immense conflict they would have to face. It made the stakes feel that much higher and allowed me to truly appreciate the weight of everything unfolding around them.
The characters were incredibly well written, each with their own unique personalities, struggles, and dynamic stories that made them feel study much more important. And the dynamic between our main leads? Absolutely everything! Their small, intimate moments, the subtle touches, and those little brushes of skin had my heart fluttering so much!
I was so thankful to be given a glimpse into their world and to experience their journey alongside them. By the time I finished, I was left wanting so much more, which is always a sign of a story that has truly captured my heart. I cannot recommend this book enough, and I’m already wishing I could dive right back into this world. Absolutely loved it, and I need MORE!
October 19, 2026
This ended up being a DNF for me. It wasn't a bad book at all, but it just never fully grabbed my attention. The pacing felt a little slow, and the frequent jumps between timelines made it harder for me to stay immersed in the story. I also found the introduction a bit confusing, which made it difficult to get settled into the book at first.
That said, I did find myself feeling for the characters, and I appreciated how their personalities and stories were gradually revealed as the book progressed. While I enjoyed that aspect, the characters didn't quite live up to the hype I'd heard surrounding them.
Overall, this wasn't a bad reading experience, and I can absolutely see why others enjoy it. It just didn't end up being what I was looking for at this moment. Would I give it another try someday? Maybe. But for now, I'm content leaving it unfinished.
That said, I did find myself feeling for the characters, and I appreciated how their personalities and stories were gradually revealed as the book progressed. While I enjoyed that aspect, the characters didn't quite live up to the hype I'd heard surrounding them.
Overall, this wasn't a bad reading experience, and I can absolutely see why others enjoy it. It just didn't end up being what I was looking for at this moment. Would I give it another try someday? Maybe. But for now, I'm content leaving it unfinished.
October 8, 2026
I really enjoyed Forever Boundless. It took me on quite an emotional journey, and I quickly found myself getting attached to the characters and their stories.
There were definitely some heartbreaking moments, but I also loved the hope, love and friendships throughout the book. I enjoyed the fantasy side of the story and never quite knew what was going to happen next.
Overall, it was a memorable read with characters that stayed with me after I finished. I’d definitely recommend it!
There were definitely some heartbreaking moments, but I also loved the hope, love and friendships throughout the book. I enjoyed the fantasy side of the story and never quite knew what was going to happen next.
Overall, it was a memorable read with characters that stayed with me after I finished. I’d definitely recommend it!
October 18, 2026
I really like this story as someone who has been finding this type of story, a danmei. The emotional slowburning, tragic and the YEARNING. Its my cup of tea.
The emotional depth and their complicated relationship and bonds keeps me on reading this book.
These is a must read book. While reading the book, you are slowly becaming attach to them and hard to let go.
The emotional depth and their complicated relationship and bonds keeps me on reading this book.
These is a must read book. While reading the book, you are slowly becaming attach to them and hard to let go.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews