Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2026 *Starred Review* Flynt and Alder are the youngest sons in the Lionhart family line. Their grandparents were brave heroes, relentless in their quest to bring peace to the land by putting an end to the evil dragon Maude’s reign. Now retired, their daughter, Lenna, and her husband have taken up the mantle to ensure that peace endures throughout the realm. But the hero business isn’t a lucrative one, and when Alder rashly accepts a high-paying quest from a mysterious woman, the boys’ parents go missing. Flynt and Alder set out on their own, determined to find their parents, but their grandparents are quickly on their tail, and soon the four of them are traveling through dangerous and unfamiliar territory. Plenty of sword-and-sorcery action happens along the way, but Lawrence puts a playful spin on it, with gigantic mushrooms defending a bog, and more friends than foes among the otherworldly creatures. A fun twist uncovering the truth about the Lionhart family amplifies the stakes, and a plot thread left dangling nicely lends itself to continuing the story. Lawrence’s crisp, naturalistic artwork is full of dynamic action sequences, playful details, and expressive, refreshingly varied figure design. And, of course, everything a young fantasy fan might want: magic, dragons, adventure, and much more await within these pages. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.