Tethered (The Binding Chronicles Book 1)

Nachdem ich bereits die A Game of Love and Betrayal-Reihe gelesen und sehr gemocht habe, war ich gespannt auf den Auftakt der Binding Chronicles. Der Schreibstil ist wie gewohnt angenehm und die Welt, die hier aufgebaut wird, hat definitiv Potenzial. Allerdings fiel es mir bei Tethered schwer, richtig in die Geschichte hineinzufinden. Für mich kam die Handlung nicht so recht in Fahrt – vieles fühlte sich eher wie ein langsamer Aufbau an. Was bei einer Serie im Fantasy Bereich ja nicht ungewöhnlich ist. Es läuft klar auf eine Slow Burn Story hinaus, was eigentlich etwas ist, das ich auch gerne mag, dennoch hätte ich mir an manchen Stellen mehr Dynamik oder Spannung früher gewünscht. Vielleicht hätte ich zu einem anderen Zeitpunkt noch einen Punkt mehr vergeben, weil Worldbuilding und Charakterentwicklung Zeit brauchen und die Grundlage dafür durchaus solide gelegt wurde. Für mich daher 3 Sterne – kein schlechtes Buch, aber es konnte mich nicht so fesseln wie die andere Reihe der Autorin.

Luna is sold into an arranged marriage with the Prince of Darkness, Sebastian. It's supposed to unite their lands, strengthen alliances, all that good political stuff—but surprise! Being bound to a broody vampire prince isn't nearly as glamorous as one might think. Especially when said binding goes terribly wrong, leaving Luna and Sebastian tethered together in ways neither of them understands. Cue the forced proximity, stolen glances, and a whole lot of tension. Sounds promising, right? Well... yes and no. Let's start with Sebastian. He's got the whole tortured, brooding vampire aesthetic down to an art form, and his devotion to Luna—though mostly expressed through moody silence and intense staring—can be oddly endearing. But here's the problem: these two never talk. Ever. Instead of addressing their problems like functional beings, they opt for emotional dodgeball, running in circles until you're left screaming at the pages. The tension is there, the chemistry exists, but the sheer lack of communication makes it exhausting. The world-building had so much potential—a ruthless Queen, exiled vampires, the mystery surrounding Luna's half-brother—but it always felt like it was playing second fiddle to the will-they-won't-they routine that overstayed its welcome. And the romance? While there were definitely some swoon-worthy moments, the overall depth was lacking. I wanted to love them, I really did, but watching these two fumble their way through avoiding real conversations was like witnessing a slow-motion car crash. Painful, yet impossible to look away from. Final verdict: I'm not dying to pick up book two, but I might give it a shot—if only to see if Luna and Sebastian can finally learn how to use their words. The setup is strong, Sebastian has potential, and I'd love to see this world shine beyond the miscommunication Olympics. Fingers crossed for less frustration and more actual development in the sequel.

I started this book because a Tiktok said, that she thought she would die in her wedding night, but he has already fallen for her ... After a few chapter, I realized, that this isn't really the truth. He falls first, but NOT before or during their wedding. So you could say, I came for this little info, but stayed for the rest ;) The relationship of these two is really wholesome and relatable. Of course they got their lows, but in the end, they are really cute together. But this book has more then two love interests, which are tied together and can't really be apart. We got a murder, a attempted murder, a cut of communivation for Luna and one big conspiracy. And the end was really amazing! I am glad, that the next book is already released!!!