Rating: 4.5⭐️

Direbound is the debut fantasy novel by Sable Sorensen, a pen name of two co-authors and friends creating their first fantasy/paranormal series. 

Direbound is, for the most part, a very successful romance fantasy thriller. Direbounds narrative is full of giant dire wolves, a horrific physically demanding mountain trial the main characters have to undergo. And for those that survive? They become part of a terrifying murderous academy of bonded pairs ,in a story that includes an enemies to lovers potential love story, missing children, and terror everywhere. 

There are many elements I found absolutely fascinating, things that held my attention and kept me riveted to this world and ongoing drama. 

I found I was totally involved in the main character of Meryn Cooper, alley cat street fighter of the Eastern Quarter who turns to the army when a family tragedy strikes.  Her unexpected journey into a new path than the one she envisioned for herself. She’s tough, well rounded, and credible in every aspect of her journey.  Well, except one. 

Her character, that of the twins, Isabel and Venna, one of the sisters is hearing impaired being a factor and the use of sign language in their stories, and the Rawbonded brutality of this story is a very well written aspect of Direbound. 

Another important aspect of the story is the bonding between the wolves and their human bondmates. It’s unlike other stories, it’s far more complex, pack like and brutal than other similar tales. The raw energy, high emotional intelligence of the wolves and constant tension and conflict between them is a great way to keep the reader engaged and guessing here. 

Survival isn’t guaranteed, and some of the characters are more relatable than others. 

There’s plenty of mystery and chaos and drama mixed in with the murderous conflicts and bonding events. 

The relationships between characters make and break the story for me. Yes to all the wolf/human dynamics. And those relationships between the humans fighting for survival and final bond rights. Those are believable. 

But outside of those? It’s that boyfriend aspect that drags everything down. 

Things that absolutely irritates me as a reader? A nickname of endearment like Kitten. One it’s has a displaced terminology aspect associated with it for the type of the locations and world foundation the author is creating here. However, more importantly, its usage indicates a different issue for the character, one I believe is telegraphed too soon.  See boyfriend that bothers me above. That entire element just isn’t as well written. 

But the story is a gripping tale and it keeps me invested in its journey. Especially when the ending is so dramatically shocking. 

That’s a great way to end. 

Now quickly let’s talk about why I think this book deserves a better reading. The PR should let it stand on its own merits. 

What this isn’t is what the PR releases desperately wants it to be “Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in dark action-packed fantasy series!” No, and I wish every heavy handed PR group would stop this kind of release approach. It does a disservice to the authors, readers and actually the book by not letting them see it on its own without a preconceived notion.

Direbound: A Dark Romantasy (The Wolves of Ruin Book 1) by Sable Sorensen is a terrific debut novel. It has some fantastic elements that make it stand out on its own right as a paranormal/fantasy thriller. This includes that great wolf bond aspect of the book. 

And a woman character that is strong and well developed in Meryn Cooper. 

I’m definitely recommending this book and looking forward to reading more in the series. 

Cover design by Ivy at Beautiful Covers

Map © 2025 by Andrés Aguirre Jurado

The Wolves of Ruin trilogy :

Direbound #1

Furybound #2 – July 30,2025

Direbound 3 – November 25,2025

Buy link

        Direbound: A Dark Romantasy (The Wolves of Ruin Book 1)

    

Blurb 

Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them…

Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting.

And Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will.

Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife.

To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself.

Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life.

And the castle is hiding dark secrets…

— Direbound: A Dark Romantasy (The Wolves of Ruin Book 1) by Sable Sorensen

Direbound is set in a dark fantasy world and contains dark subject matter and adult romance. Content warnings for this book include gruesome, explicit on-page violence; self harm; mental health issues including anxiety, depression and psychosis; domestic abuse; parental death; and explicit sexual content including elements of dubcon.