Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2021 This conclusion to Joy's debut, A River of Royal Blood (2019), is adorned with revelations as Eva, her guards, and ruthless sister, Isa, flee Ternain to find Eva's late father's kin and allies to the north. The journey proves to be deadly fast, but thanks to an entwining spell, the sisters can only die at each others' hand. With the binding on her magick removed, Eva is undergoing a breathtaking transformation, but Baccha's absence leaves her training alone. As Myre teeters on the edge of revolution, there is more at stake than just a race to the throne. Tensions are high in this sequel and Joy's language is just as melodious, her world-building just as spell-binding. But traveling through the landscape of a fantasy means new discoveries and, in general, more information. Although well-developed, the pauses revealing Myre's prickly history are jarring compared to the gradual unfolding in the debut, which can make the story lose its momentum. Still, there's no denying Joy's talent, and readers will bask in the sisters' character arcs and the book's gratifying ending. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2021 Gr 8 Up—The heirs to the throne of Myre are on the run, and the Queendom is buzzing with the energy of revolution. Eva is reeling from the truth of her identity, and a bit lost without Baccha to help her master her magick. She's convinced that the best way forward is to forge peace with her sister and take the Ivory Throne, but Isa won't make it easy and with the unrest in the kingdom growing, Eva has to find a way through the seemingly impossible. Joy's careful handling of race, colonialism, and systemic oppression is taken to another level as Eva sees the true impact of her family's legacy throughout the queendom. At its core, this story dives deep into the themes of family, belonging, identity, and sibling rivalry. These themes are adeptly blended with a fast-paced plot and incredible world building. Joy also fills Myre with an authentically diverse cast of creatures with varying cultures, beliefs, skin tones, and sexualities. Eva and Isa are both biracial with a dark-skinned father and a fair-skinned mother. Readers will root for Eva as she tries to navigate the waters of a life she never truly expected. VERDICT The stakes are incredibly high in this stunning conclusion to the duology. Highly recommended for all collections.—India Winslow, formerly at Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.