ARC Review: Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter
Title: Blood Bound (Book One of The Cursed Covenant)
Authors: Ellis Hunter (author duo Katie Ellis-Brown & Becky Hunter)
Genre: Romantasy / High Fantasy Romance
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, duel to the death, deep female friendship, political intrigue
Release Date: April 28, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While the copy was provided for free, all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and were not influenced in any way.
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Summary & Story Overview
Blood Bound opens with Astrid, the last Nachstern witch and heir to the Queendom of Arturea, carrying the weight of a generational curse. She is bound by an ancient covenant to duel the heir of the Kingdom of Vatra—the dragon-riding Prince Zryan—in a once-in-a-generation fight for the Heart, the powerful source of all magic. Her queendom is ravaged by a mysterious and deadly Blight, and if she loses the duel, not only will she die, but her people’s last hope dies with her.
Astrid does not enter this fight unprepared. She has her loyal familiar, her carefully crafted potions, and an intelligent, fierce will. Despite her training, she knows the odds are stacked against her, and she’s haunted by the possibility that she may not survive.
Meanwhile, the story shifts to Vatra, where Skylar—a member of a travelling troupe—arrives in the capital. She despises the royalty, especially after the king’s guard murdered her mother, and profits from the spectacle surrounding the duel. But when her best friend disappears, suspected to have been taken for conscription because of their Blooded (dragon-blooded) heritage, Skylar finds herself drawn into the political heart of the kingdom—and into Astrid’s orbit in unexpected ways.
As the duel looms, alliances shift, rebellion brews, and Astrid and Skylar’s lives become entwined. They face not only external foes—royals, rebels, magic—but also inner demons: grief, fear, guilt, and longing. Alongside Astrid’s tense, slow-burn (and occasionally spicy) relationship with Zryan, the novel explores the evolving, profound bond between Astrid and Skylar. Their friendship becomes a central pillar of the story, weaving through themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and hope.
Themes & Strengths
One of the most striking things about Blood Bound is its layered thematic richness. While on the surface it's a high-stakes duel for power (witch vs. dragon rider), the authors lean into deeper real-world resonances: class and wealth disparity, mental health, poverty, grief, and environmental decay / climate change.
Power and Inequality: The tension between Astrid’s queendom and Vatra underscores deep systemic inequality. Vatra—the kingdom that controls the Heart—is far more affluent, and its wealth and magical dominance shape the imbalance between the Vatra and the rest of the realm. The novel doesn’t shy away from exploring the social and political repercussions of that divide.
Mental Health & Grief: Astrid carries trauma, especially after the death of her father. Her emotional wounds and doubt are tangible; she is not just a powerful witch, but a young woman grappling with loss and mental health struggles.
Friendship Between Women: What elevates Blood Bound beyond “just another enemies-to-lovers romantasy” is the bond between Astrid and Skylar. Their friendship is not a side note but the emotional core of the book. It’s beautifully written—raw, real, and emotionally resonant.
Environmental Stakes: The Blight threatening Arturea is more than a plot device. It echoes real-world ecological crisis, making the magical threat feel urgent and grounded.
Characters & Relationships
Astrid is compelling as a heroine because she’s both powerful and vulnerable. Her identity as the last witch heir, her duty as a leader, and her fear of failing her people all make her deeply sympathetic.
Zryan, the dragon-riding heir, is the classic enemy — but not a flat villain. He’s charismatic, formidable, and layered. The slow-burn romance with Astrid is well-paced, building tension in a way that feels earned.
Skylar, perhaps surprisingly, emerges as one of the most memorable characters. Her background, motivations, and fierce loyalty to her friends make her relatable and compelling. Her arc—searching for her missing friend, confronting royalty, and bonding with Astrid—is beautifully done.
Secondary characters (familiars, political figures, rebels) round out the world without overwhelming the story. The familiar (Astrid’s magical companion) adds both whimsy and emotional grounding.
Pacing & Style
I’ll be honest: it took me a little while to get into Blood Bound. The beginning felt slow, and I was initially confused by all the different characters and their relationships. At first, I worried that I wouldn’t connect. But as I pushed on, the story really picked up.
Once the stakes clarified and the characters’ motivations sharpened, I found myself unable to put the book down. I was reading in long stretches—even sneaking it open in the middle of the night to keep going. The tension, both magical and emotional, ratcheted up beautifully.
The prose is evocative without ever tipping into overly flowery territory. It strikes a strong balance between sweeping fantastical worldbuilding—witchcraft, dragon riders, political intrigue—and intimate emotional beats. While the story is told in third-person, the chapters alternate their focus between Astrid and Skylar, allowing the narrative to follow each of them closely. This structure provides depth and nuance to both characters’ journeys without feeling disorienting or abrupt.
Romance & Spice
There's definitely romance in Blood Bound, and it’s an enemies-to-lovers arc between Astrid and Zryan. Their relationship builds slowly, layered with tension, mistrust, attraction, duty and the knowledge that they’ll be on the opposite sides of a deadly duel. I’d rate the spice around 3/5 chili peppers—there are steamy moments, but they're not constant or gratuitous; they feel earned and tied to character development.
However, what surprised me (in the best way) was how much of the emotional core of the story ultimately lies in Astrid and Skylar’s relationship. They begin with tension and distrust—circumstances and loyalties placing them on opposite sides—but necessity forces them to work together. As they slowly form a fragile, tentative bond, the story expands beyond the duel and the romance, showing how shared purpose, vulnerability, and reluctant cooperation can grow into something meaningful. This emphasis on complex, non-romantic female relationships felt refreshing and added emotional depth to the narrative.
Weaknesses / What Didn’t Work for Me
No book is perfect, and Blood Bound has a few moments that didn’t quite land for me:
Confusing Introductions & Character Names: Early on, I found myself sometimes unsure who was who. Some of the naming conventions (titles vs. first names) felt inconsistent, which pulled me out of the story. (As a reader and someone who’s done editorial work, I think streamlining how characters are referred to could help clarity.) I’m hoping this is something that will be addressed through the editing process before publication.
Slow Start: If you’re someone who needs early momentum, it might feel sluggish at first.
Final Thoughts
Despite a slow start, Blood Bound won me over in a big way. By the mid-book, the tension was taut, the stakes felt real, and the characters—especially Astrid and Skylar—had me emotionally invested. The duel, the magic, the rebellion, and the deep friendships all weave together into a high-stakes tapestry that feels classic and yet fresh.
If you love Throne of Glass, Fourth Wing, or Quicksilver-style romantasy, this book will absolutely scratch that itch—but it also delivers something more. It’s a love letter to the romantasy genre, yes, but it’s also a poignant exploration of grief, duty, inequality, solidarity, and the resilient, unbreakable bonds of womanhood. I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series.
I rate this: 4 out of 5 stars.
Spice rating: 3/5
I highly recommend Blood Bound to readers who:
Enjoy high-stakes fantasy with magical duels
Appreciate strong, complicated friendships between women
Don’t mind a slower build to big emotional payoffs
Are looking for a romance that’s thoughtful, not just fiery
Let me know if your comments if you’re adding this one to your TBR!
Limited First-Print Deluxe Edition – With Stunning Sprayed Edges
If you’re a collector (or just appreciate a gorgeous book on your shelf), you’ll want to know about the limited first-printing deluxe edition of Blood Bound. This edition features exclusive sprayed edges, upgraded finishes, and premium production details that make it truly gift-worthy. It’s only available during the initial print run, so once it’s gone…it’s gone.
You can preorder it now to guarantee your copy—perfect for fans who love special editions or anyone building a romantasy-themed collection.
About the Authors – Ellis Hunter
Ellis Hunter is the pen name for Katie Ellis-Brown and Becky Hunter, two friends who share a deep love of fantasy.
Katie Ellis-Brown is an Irish-British writer and editor. She lives in Cornwall with her family and her two familiars (black cats).
Becky Hunter is a UK-based author, book publicist, and romance reader, who shares a household with her two rescue ponies.
They met while working in publishing, bonding over their shared obsession with fantasy. Blood Bound is their debut novel (first in what promises to be a trilogy), and they’ve described it as a “love letter” to the romantasy genre. Through their partnership, Ellis Hunter celebrates the tropes fantasy readers adore—and at the same time subverts them with emotional depth, political stakes, and powerful themes of friendship, class, and resilience.
