4/5

For fans of: Beauty and the Beast, Gender Bend, Fairytale retelling, lovers-to-enemies, curses, monsters, witches, gods, Ireland, Irish mythology, Irish folklore, Irish monsters

The Big Questions:

• What genre is this in? Fantasy

• Are there any swoon-worthy characters? Jamie is ridiculously charming, god-level handsome, and obsessively driven

• Is it spicy? Fade to black

• Is it violent or gory? Monster fighting and gore galore

• Should I buy, borrow, or pass on this book? If you love fairytale retellings, buy it! If you love fantasy, borrow it!

Synopsis: Rozlyn Ó Conchúir is used to waiting—waiting for the king, her father, to relent and allow her to leave the solitude of her tower; waiting for the dreaded and mysterious Beast of Connacht to at last be defeated; waiting for the arrival of the man destined to win her heart and break the terrible curse placed on her and her land. So, when she meets Jamie—a charming and compelling suitor—she allows herself to hope that her days of solitude and patience are at long last over.

But as she finds her trust betrayed and with newer, more sinister threats arising, Rozlyn learns that some curses are better left unbroken …

For fans of Hannah Whitten and Rebecca Ross, Unbound is a gender bent re-imagining of the classic tale of a monstrous beast and the beauty determined to tame it, set against the lush backdrop of Irish mythology and folklore.

Review: I have finally found a book where the main couple is in their early 30s, have some relevant life experiences, are in a complicated relationship, and all within a fantasy setting. So first, the relationship. This is so Dramione-coded with the banter, the bickering, and the competition. Jamie knows how to push Rozi’s buttons to get her out of her shell. Rozi knows how to keep Jamie enthralled with her wit and hard-to-get playfulness. But the pain of their complicated past is very real and very destructive. Told from past and present POVs, Rozi has every right and reason to not trust her husband’s approach to her magic and his intentions. As the story unfolds, Jamie has every right and reason to keep chasing Rozi and convince her of his intentions no matter how hard she denies him.

Plot-wise, Part I ebbs and flows wonderfully full of monster hunting and dramatic tension building, but Part II hits like a train and you really don’t know how this story will end or how their relationship could unfold when Rozi and Jamie have their own competing agendas for breaking the curse. Ultimately, I don’t know if I agree with the ending of the story. It is decisive to say the least, but the journey was so much fun with monster slaying, magic, and drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance copy of this book.