Marianna’s review of Dire Bound (The Wolves of Ruin, #1) > Likes and Comments
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This is my favorite ARC of the year I am so happy more people are reading this!!
(I just saw your comment 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I liked it thoooooo)
I enjoyed this book a lot but I also found it predictable and similar to a lot of other books I’ve read and by the end I was like that’s it? Because I don’t like when I can predict what’s going to happen - I want to be surprised and unfortunately this book didn’t have me surprised. But I’m hoping it’ll process more in book 2 and that we get more Stark than Killian.
Noooo I had high hopes for this one
I really enjoyed it for the most part. But it was slow, to a point I was getting bored. And Meryn annoyed me heaps and I wish there has been more with her and Anassa. People kept saying it was like Tairn and Violet which is a huge exaggeration 😅 I also spotted so many of the plot twists ages in advance haha
Agreed. I got bored at parts and sadly it was predictable. I had high hopes because it’s so hyped on tik tok. Parts of it were kind of fun but overall wasn’t a huge hit for me.
Killian gave me such a ick because I knewwwwww he was bad from the beginning. even though the plot was so predictable to me the last 10% sold it for me too. it went hard af at the end
Agree. I felt the same way. It was fine. I will read book 2 for Stark.
100% agree, there has been sooo many 5☆ reviews of this but it's so similar in alot of ways to another book. Only cared when Stark was around, will read book 2 just for him
I had very high hopes for this book. Thinking twice about buying it.
You should read by the orchid and owl. The main character can talk to animals and plants!
Hi marianna. I am such a big fan and I was wondering if you, Larry, and Yana could make me a may tbr because you all inspire me so much. If not that's totally okay. Your amazing please don't stop doing what you love.
Completely agree with your review. I kept drifting as I read this and wanted way more with her Anassa. I finally DNFed.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who felt this way about this book - I saw so many amazing raving reviews… so happy for those who loved but I was so bored, even Stark wasn’t doing it for me!!
you’re so right. the more i think about it, my rating needs to be revised to go down 🥲🤣
This book was mid at best I do not understand what everyone is carrying on about. Especially when I see people say “the spice was spicing” ummm what spice? The awkward kitten scenes with Killian? Barf. That was not good spice- I’d rather have no spice than read that shit.
I think it didn't need to be that long but I definitely enjoyed it.
I didn’t haaaate it. I thought there were some scenes that felt forced, but I’m looking forward to the 2nd one to see what happens.
Agree 100% with this review. I thought it was so predictable and there was so much spice which I struggled with as I didn't like the character!
For a debut novel, I’ve definitely read worse. But I agree with everything you said. Some chapters were good, others were a struggle to get through and Meryn is an annoying toddler. I’m hoping there’s rest of the series will have improvements. It’s a good story just wasn’t done very well.
It kind of felt like a whole book of back story before it gets to the real story. I actually clapped my hands at the end when Stark came to her in the dungeons. Even though it was so predictable. I will read book 2 just for some more Stark.
Yes! Omg everything in this book was so predictable. I did still enjoy the ride but also had to try not to throw up every time Lee/Killian called her kitten. The spice was gratuitous and I hated it because I knew he was evil. It would’ve been more interesting to make him actually be the good guy. That would’ve been a real twist.
I absolutely love your reviews... You could father them all together and make a book out of them and I would buy it. Lol you don't know me from Adam but you're my spirit animal lol
was gonna read this but saw your review…safe to say it’s no longer on my tbr
i actually liked the pacing! and despite it being pretty predictable…. we need to give our girl some grace!!!! she came from a house with little love and grew up in poverty— she believed Killian loved her to a fault; but, in my opinion, not an unrealistic fault😭 her not being a total mastermind gave her some , infuriating yes, but realistic character. i’d rather read a book like this than have a character know everything!! this is book 1 and i think some people do not have patience to flesh out a YOUNG character who has entered a world BEYOND what she knows
It’s never fun when you can predict how it’s a going to go. I think with all the Romantasy I’ve been reading of late it just felt too similar. And when I finished it was just like “that’s it?” Like it was too predictable and none of it surprised me. If there’s a first love interest involved but it’s not the actual main love interest of the series, you know the first male love interest is going to be bad- like Dain, Tamlin, King Midas- so really it just wasn’t a surprise like I saw it coming. But Stark and Anessa are the two reasons I enjoyed the book and I can’t wait for more of them. Unfortunately it took me a moment after I finished to figure out how I was feeling about it. But hopefully things will improve in Fury Bound.
This is a perfect explanation for my feelings on the book. 10/10 review
Every word you wrote is how I feel 1000%
I think the only thing I liked about the book was the direwolves LOL. The fmc's aggression was really throwing me off. I've read a lot of books like this where the FMC gets the short end of the stick in life but I prefer that the FMC be a little bit more intelligent. I mean she's in the strategos pack lol. But I think my biggest annoyance was how she treated her wolf. I prefer the interactions between Violet and Tairn in Fourth Wing. It's really hard to love a character who's just so rude.
The kitten nickname, PISSED ME OFF. Gave me the ick. No thank you, don’t like him. Eat dirt and get off the page
Ai que pena que você não gostou do ritmo!! Achei ok e concordo com você: PRECISO DE UM POV DO STARK URGENTE no segundo livro, acho que vai dar um “algo a mais”
This!! I totally agree with everything you said. I felt it was very predictable, a lot of common tropes. Even down to the “one bed at the inn.” I also think I’ll read book 2, hoping for some redemption for the FMC. Could not stand her, and this is coming from someone who is a big Nesta fan.
Agree entirely! At first hooked, ready for the the story but as it went on it felt clunky, and Meryn just was not super likable or believable to me. Just did not get that strong connection to her. Then it finally picks up in the last 10% of the book but seriously felt anti climatic after all that.
This book reminds me of another popular fantasy series, think dragons, as this book is just as bloody, dark, and brutal. I wonder where this dark fantasy trend originated!
The trigger warnings at novel's beginning are very much needed.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC program.
i’m trying to get past the kitten nickname but it’s sooo hard 😭
Thisssss!! I feel like it borrowed so much from a few books which made it predictable. I like it enough to read the second, but it’s not like a wow let me recommend this.
I’m literally 95% done and I’m annoyed. I actually enjoyed the tension and authenticity of the author being comfortable with the FMC making mistakes and learning, but the end feels rushed and like she ran out of time. It’s not just predictable but being stitched up way too quickly. Not to mention there’s way to little reaction and adjusting to many revelations (she becomes alpha and immediately tells Egith to gather people, doesn’t ask or say please; immediately puts the crown on her head and starts referring to things as her own - no shock or thinking through.) surprisingly I was at a 4-5 star until the last 30%, oddly enough.
Kitten ground my gears but i actually really liked killian until we found out who he was 😭i was holding out hope that maybe we’d get an actual proper love triangle however stark is the clear choice…i mean killian is blonde.
So far, I agree with everything said, but I’m only 70ish% in (and considered quitting). What I want to know is…if the last 10% of the book really picked up, is it worth reading more of the series?
This is exactly what I thought. A book that has no direction or interest until 68% is meh for me. But I will read the second and hope it is a faster take off since this book is a plot builder(for a book with little plot)
Haha I agree with Stark!! He made this book
This review is EXACTLY how I felt about it, you nailed it!
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May 02, 2025 10:12PM
This is my favorite ARC of the year I am so happy more people are reading this!!
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(I just saw your comment 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I liked it thoooooo)
I enjoyed this book a lot but I also found it predictable and similar to a lot of other books I’ve read and by the end I was like that’s it? Because I don’t like when I can predict what’s going to happen - I want to be surprised and unfortunately this book didn’t have me surprised. But I’m hoping it’ll process more in book 2 and that we get more Stark than Killian.
Noooo I had high hopes for this one
I really enjoyed it for the most part. But it was slow, to a point I was getting bored. And Meryn annoyed me heaps and I wish there has been more with her and Anassa. People kept saying it was like Tairn and Violet which is a huge exaggeration 😅 I also spotted so many of the plot twists ages in advance haha
Agreed. I got bored at parts and sadly it was predictable. I had high hopes because it’s so hyped on tik tok. Parts of it were kind of fun but overall wasn’t a huge hit for me.
Killian gave me such a ick because I knewwwwww he was bad from the beginning. even though the plot was so predictable to me the last 10% sold it for me too. it went hard af at the end
Agree. I felt the same way. It was fine. I will read book 2 for Stark.
100% agree, there has been sooo many 5☆ reviews of this but it's so similar in alot of ways to another book. Only cared when Stark was around, will read book 2 just for him
I had very high hopes for this book. Thinking twice about buying it.
You should read by the orchid and owl. The main character can talk to animals and plants!
Hi marianna. I am such a big fan and I was wondering if you, Larry, and Yana could make me a may tbr because you all inspire me so much. If not that's totally okay. Your amazing please don't stop doing what you love.
Completely agree with your review. I kept drifting as I read this and wanted way more with her Anassa. I finally DNFed.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who felt this way about this book - I saw so many amazing raving reviews… so happy for those who loved but I was so bored, even Stark wasn’t doing it for me!!
you’re so right. the more i think about it, my rating needs to be revised to go down 🥲🤣
This book was mid at best I do not understand what everyone is carrying on about. Especially when I see people say “the spice was spicing” ummm what spice? The awkward kitten scenes with Killian? Barf. That was not good spice- I’d rather have no spice than read that shit.
I think it didn't need to be that long but I definitely enjoyed it.
I didn’t haaaate it. I thought there were some scenes that felt forced, but I’m looking forward to the 2nd one to see what happens.
Agree 100% with this review. I thought it was so predictable and there was so much spice which I struggled with as I didn't like the character!
For a debut novel, I’ve definitely read worse. But I agree with everything you said. Some chapters were good, others were a struggle to get through and Meryn is an annoying toddler. I’m hoping there’s rest of the series will have improvements. It’s a good story just wasn’t done very well.
It kind of felt like a whole book of back story before it gets to the real story. I actually clapped my hands at the end when Stark came to her in the dungeons. Even though it was so predictable. I will read book 2 just for some more Stark.
Yes! Omg everything in this book was so predictable. I did still enjoy the ride but also had to try not to throw up every time Lee/Killian called her kitten. The spice was gratuitous and I hated it because I knew he was evil. It would’ve been more interesting to make him actually be the good guy. That would’ve been a real twist.
I absolutely love your reviews... You could father them all together and make a book out of them and I would buy it. Lol you don't know me from Adam but you're my spirit animal lol
was gonna read this but saw your review…safe to say it’s no longer on my tbr
i actually liked the pacing! and despite it being pretty predictable…. we need to give our girl some grace!!!! she came from a house with little love and grew up in poverty— she believed Killian loved her to a fault; but, in my opinion, not an unrealistic fault😭 her not being a total mastermind gave her some , infuriating yes, but realistic character. i’d rather read a book like this than have a character know everything!! this is book 1 and i think some people do not have patience to flesh out a YOUNG character who has entered a world BEYOND what she knows
It’s never fun when you can predict how it’s a going to go. I think with all the Romantasy I’ve been reading of late it just felt too similar. And when I finished it was just like “that’s it?” Like it was too predictable and none of it surprised me. If there’s a first love interest involved but it’s not the actual main love interest of the series, you know the first male love interest is going to be bad- like Dain, Tamlin, King Midas- so really it just wasn’t a surprise like I saw it coming. But Stark and Anessa are the two reasons I enjoyed the book and I can’t wait for more of them. Unfortunately it took me a moment after I finished to figure out how I was feeling about it. But hopefully things will improve in Fury Bound.
This is a perfect explanation for my feelings on the book. 10/10 review
Every word you wrote is how I feel 1000%
I think the only thing I liked about the book was the direwolves LOL. The fmc's aggression was really throwing me off. I've read a lot of books like this where the FMC gets the short end of the stick in life but I prefer that the FMC be a little bit more intelligent. I mean she's in the strategos pack lol. But I think my biggest annoyance was how she treated her wolf. I prefer the interactions between Violet and Tairn in Fourth Wing. It's really hard to love a character who's just so rude.
The kitten nickname, PISSED ME OFF. Gave me the ick. No thank you, don’t like him. Eat dirt and get off the page
Ai que pena que você não gostou do ritmo!! Achei ok e concordo com você: PRECISO DE UM POV DO STARK URGENTE no segundo livro, acho que vai dar um “algo a mais”
This!! I totally agree with everything you said. I felt it was very predictable, a lot of common tropes. Even down to the “one bed at the inn.” I also think I’ll read book 2, hoping for some redemption for the FMC. Could not stand her, and this is coming from someone who is a big Nesta fan.
Agree entirely! At first hooked, ready for the the story but as it went on it felt clunky, and Meryn just was not super likable or believable to me. Just did not get that strong connection to her. Then it finally picks up in the last 10% of the book but seriously felt anti climatic after all that.
This book reminds me of another popular fantasy series, think dragons, as this book is just as bloody, dark, and brutal. I wonder where this dark fantasy trend originated! The trigger warnings at novel's beginning are very much needed.
Thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC program.
i’m trying to get past the kitten nickname but it’s sooo hard 😭
Thisssss!! I feel like it borrowed so much from a few books which made it predictable. I like it enough to read the second, but it’s not like a wow let me recommend this.
I’m literally 95% done and I’m annoyed. I actually enjoyed the tension and authenticity of the author being comfortable with the FMC making mistakes and learning, but the end feels rushed and like she ran out of time. It’s not just predictable but being stitched up way too quickly. Not to mention there’s way to little reaction and adjusting to many revelations (she becomes alpha and immediately tells Egith to gather people, doesn’t ask or say please; immediately puts the crown on her head and starts referring to things as her own - no shock or thinking through.) surprisingly I was at a 4-5 star until the last 30%, oddly enough.
Kitten ground my gears but i actually really liked killian until we found out who he was 😭i was holding out hope that maybe we’d get an actual proper love triangle however stark is the clear choice…i mean killian is blonde.
So far, I agree with everything said, but I’m only 70ish% in (and considered quitting). What I want to know is…if the last 10% of the book really picked up, is it worth reading more of the series?
This is exactly what I thought. A book that has no direction or interest until 68% is meh for me. But I will read the second and hope it is a faster take off since this book is a plot builder(for a book with little plot)
Haha I agree with Stark!! He made this book
This review is EXACTLY how I felt about it, you nailed it!
