Review of Soulbound by Heather Brewer

[shreya gunna]

This book was one of those that are very unique because you've never read anything like them before. Miss Brewer created a completely different story that didn't involve the common vampires, werewolves, or angels that we see in most YA books these days. Not to say I don't enjoy reading about said mythical creatures, but it's nice to read something fresh-of-the-block once in a while. This book earned bonus points from me just because of that, and I'm very happy to say that I finished it in all of about 3-4 hours. It was a very easy and light read so it wen't by very quickly, but it also flowed very well together so it felt like I was done in about a few minutes, haha. So writing all that, what I'm trying to say is that this book was different, engaging, and a fun read.


Our main character Kaya has been kept hidden since she was a child, by her parents, who never want her to face the burdens they did when they were younger. Kaya knows she's a healer, and that she has a Barron out there that was soulbound to her, but she knows that person is gone ever since she was a child. But Barrons and healing never really mattered to Kaya as she grew up in a common village surrounded by the 'normal' people who have no real idea that's there more to the world then they're used to. But everything changes for Kaya when her best friend gets hurt, and she receives an ominous letter from the Academy that her parents had attended, and had never wanted Kaya to step foot into. But the options offered to Kaya are very limited, and in the end, she has no choice but to except her fate as a healer. When she arrives at the Academy, she learns so much more about herself and about the dangers that her world holds for her. Trying to balance school-work, an erratic attraction towards two strangers, one being her bound Barron, and all the while sneaking about the Academy, is definitely something Kaya can't handle. As her determination to be able to fight grows rapidly, so do her skills. But there are foreboding consequences that someone like Kaya can't even imagine, and all she understands is that she must never get found out. But with shadows lurking everywhere, traitors watching your every step, and deaths of fellow students popping up out of nowhere, Kaya will need all her courage to handle the worst of the truths and the best of the opponents.


The main character Kaya is someone you'd get to like as you read more about her, and as the book moves along. She does have those tiny tendencies of her that annoyed me and which I will be getting to later, but for now let's concentrate on her pros. In the beginning of the book, I never pegged Kaya as someone who was either brave or courageous. This made sense because she was born a healer and none of those qualities mentioned above were required from her. There were also some scenes in the first couple of chapters that made me cringe and think, oh no...not another damsel in distress, this girl needs to stop making wide eyes, freezing, and squealing at moments of panic. But I have to say she sure did redeem herself by the end of the book. She showed that she's not a coward and she wants to learn how to fight and not just stand in the sidelines and watch people fight. Brownie points from me there people. And by the end she was even handing some of the best warriors in the academy their asses; by that point, I was already out of my seat cheering her on. Kaya showed tremendous growth throughout the novel. I have very little to say about her....cons. The reason she annoyed be was because of her cheesy relationship to the Barron she was bound to at her school. Just because he's cute, warm, sweet, and gives you roses doesn't mean there's a requirement that you should love him, and forget about finding someone you want to actually be with. She could've done better (*wink wink* she does do better by the end, heehee).

Yes, I am very very verrrry, NOT pleased to say there is a love triangle, and no, not one that particularly appealed to my taste. Probably because, as I said before, it's simple, I just did not  like the Barron she was bound to. He was too sweet, and even though he wasn't supposed to be portrayed as a snob, he kind of came across to me that way. One major flaw about him that made me want to choke him, lol, was his occasional shows of possessiveness. It's like he didn't want Kaya near anyone just because she was bound to him. I'm not like Kaya, I'm not going to think that the way he's acting is common, because it shouldn't be. He needs to back off a little. The other love interest is much better. I'm on his team, and will be for the rest of the books to come. I felt like Kaya had way more chemistry with him than she did with her Barron. He might have been a bit jerky at first, but I'd take jerky over sickeningly sweet any day. 

Soulbound by Heather Brewer was refreshing but the writing style wasn't close to being flawless at all. I feel like with more practice, and more detail, this book could've made it to my favorites list. I still adored the whole plot of this story and loved the new ideas that Brewer has created and put into her debut novel. And I will be looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and hoping that next time, it will definitely take it's place onto my favorites list. 

My Rating:

3/5 stars- I liked it, but it could've been better with more details and more growth shown in the characters other than the protagonist. 

Check our more of my reviews at: http://chocolatecoatedreviews.blogspot.com