Breathe In BooKs: Review: Soulbound

Soulbound
Legacy of Tril, #1

by Heather Brewer
Published by: Dial
Publication Date: June 19, 2012
Formats Available: eBook, Hardcover ~306 pages

Synopsis:
What's worse than being blackmailed to attend a hidden school where you're treated like a second-class citizen? How about nearly getting eaten by a monster when you arrive? Or learning that your soulmate was killed in a centuries-old secret war? And then there's the evil king who's determined to rule the world unless you can stop him...
Meet Kaya, a young woman with the power to heal and the determination to fight. But struggle as she will, she remains tied to three very different men: a hero who has forsaken glory, a tyrannical ruler who wants to use Kaya, and a warrior who's stolen her heart. Kaya learns the hard way that some ties can't be broken...and blood is the strongest bond of all. -from Goodreads

The Cover: The cover represents the characterization of Kaya well. The katana is the weapon of choice for the Barrons and the Chainmail mask represents the importance of the mask Kaya must wear throughout the book. Girl Power!

My Thoughts:

What would you fight for?

In the world of Tril, a war is being fought. An evil king is trying to rid the world of Healers because they are what stand in his way of killing Barrons- the warriors. Each Barron has another half, a Healer that they are Bound to that can heal them with just a touch. Soulbound couples are born. They are destined for each other and have a connection that rivals none other. However, in the unfortunate event that a Healer or a Barron has died, a new pair can be Bound, but the bond will never be as strong as a Soulbound’s.

The premise for Soulbound is beautiful. The idea that there is someone out there that is made to fit you perfectly sounds like a dream. But that is all it is because life is never that clean cut and especially not love. After learning that her Barron died before she could meet him, Kaya is Bound to Trayton, a sweet but naive Protocol-loving Barron. Kaya finds that she has feelings for him and that those feelings are mutual, but he won’t let her be who she wants to be.

Enter Darius, the silver-haired young man with a definite dislike for Kaya. Hoping to find out why he treats her so badly, Kaya sneaks out in the middle of the night to confront him and finds two Graplars inside the school walls. After being bitten and barely surviving, Kaya decides that she will not stand back and let someone else fight for her. Since Trayton would never betray Protocol, she finds someone else who will –Darius. Although training is not easy and Darius seems to go out of his way to make it harder for Kaya, she never falters and never backs down.

Kaya is one of my favorite female leads. She is an outspoken, strong-willed, stubborn, kick ass heroine. Kaya believes that just because she is a Healer it does not mean she can’t fight, can’t protect herself or those she loves. But to the Zettai Council, that is exactly what she and all other Healers are supposed to do. They are there to heal their Barrons and in turn their Barrons will protect them. In fact, at Shadow Academy this stereotype is enforced by the teachers and the headmaster. However, nothing will stop Kaya from learning to fight. The only thing that holds Kaya back at all is the promise of retaliation on her family.

I am not a fan of Trayton. He is too concerned with the rules and has a zealous outlook towards the Zettai Council. When he is angry at Kaya, he acts like a teenage girl and tries to make her jealous. I understand that they have a bond, but he thinks too much of himself. This is demonstrated by the fact that he keeps repeating that he will protect her but has failed to do so multiple times. Darius, on the other hand, is no prize either. He is cocky and can’t handle a little competition.

Soulbound is an amazing book. Between the great characters, the plot that twists around and around, and the beautifully crafted world, Soulbound is destined to be a new favorite in the YA Fantasy genre. The themes and issues that Heather Brewer ties into the story are so intricate and detailed that it left me thinking about it for days after I finished. As for the ending – I knew it, I knew it! I cannot believe the book ended where it did. There are so many questions left unanswered, but I have no doubt they will be addressed in the subsequent books. I will be waiting with baited breath for the next installment!

**Favorite Quote: "Loyalty to anything in such an absolute manner was dangerous."

**Mini Excerpt: "It was almost an impossible thing to do, to stay focused, to stay in the here and now when my world was spinning and turning upside down, but I held on, nodding my promise to him..."