Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 07/08/2022 Gr 4–8—Shadow beasts have been ravaging the land daily during the time of gloaming, the line between day and night, safety and terror. Everyone is expected to be inside during the darkness, lest they be killed by the shadow beasts. The creatures come in different forms, ranging from spiderlike to wolflike, and can only be destroyed by the few children who have immunity. Nora is one of them. Most immune children begin training at age seven, but Nora's father refuses to let her join the National Council. After he is killed by one of the monsters, she decides to join the trainees in hunting the shadow beasts. What ensues is one adventure after another as Nora, who reads as white, and her close-knit group of fellow cadets, who appear to be from varying cultures and backgrounds, take on the beasts. A mystery connected to Nora's father and why the beasts have become so numerous unfolds along the way. Magras's writing is fast-paced and engaging, and this volume leaves room for a sequel or two. The fantasy page-turner centers around the strength of friendship and the importance of working together, along with using creativity and ingenuity to problem solve. VERDICT A satisfying adventure, and one to hand to fans of Amari and the Night Brothers.—Tracy Cronce - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2022 Percy Jackson meets The Witcher in this fast-paced middle-grade fantasy filled with creatures of the night. Brannland has been overrun by Shadow Beasts, or Umbrae, who come out at night and whose attacks are quick and deadly. Only young knights immune to Umbrae venom are able to fight them, and they train for years to do so. After an Umbrae kills her father and attacks her and her mother, immune 12-year-old Nora decides to join the knights and help fight the shadow beasts. With no formal training, Nora has a rough start, but her natural talent and courage help her prove that she has what it takes to be a knight. As she trains, the knights become close friends and begin to search for answers as to why so many Umbrae are appearing. Nora proves to be an endearing and courageous protagonist, even as she struggles with loss and the initial friction with her team, and readers will be equally enchanted by the world of Brannland and the mythology behind the Umbrae. A thrilling fantasy. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.