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Dire Bound

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Dire Bound

By: Sable Sorensen
Narrated by: Avery Caris, Gabriel Michael
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in this spicy, page-turning romantasy where humans and direwolves forge unbreakable bonds and fight for survival at all costs.

Narrated in duet style by Romantasy Royalty, Avery Caris and Gabriel Michael.

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

Meryn Cooper has always hated the Bonded, elite warriors who form mental links with the massive, vicious direwolves they ride. While they live in luxury, Meryn struggles to keep her family out of poverty. When her little sister, Saela, is kidnapped - stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting - Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army and is thrown into the deadly Bonding Trials, where any mistake will cost her life.

Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness.

Everything is a competition, and everyone is out to get her - everyone except the dangerously handsome crown prince, whose attention adds another target to her back. In the castle, every smile hides a knife … and the halls hide dark secrets.

It’s bond or bleed. Duel or die. Failure is ruin.

*This audiobook includes a brand-new bonus chapter from Stark Therion’s perspective.*

'A God Tier Fantasy book!!! I just finished and still trying to mentally and emotionally recover to what just happened to me. You need to read it IMMEDIATELY.'

'What an incredible read!! … I am blown away … The romance, the anguish, the BANTER! I love a book with good banter and this was FULL OF IT!'

'I. Am. OBSESSED. … Left me spiraling in the best way possible. The morally grey anti-hero? Perfection. The slow-burn tension? Electric … I was completely immersed.'

TROPES:
Slow burn romance
Found family
Morally grey characters
One bed
Touch her and die
Who did this to you
Secret royals
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Hidden powers
Fated mates
Vampires vs. wolves!

© Sable Sorensen 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Action & Adventure Dragons & Mythical Creatures Fantasy Military Survival Heartfelt Royalty Wolf
All stars
Most relevant
a great story!
really well paced and the narration was amazing.
I got a little frustrated at the fmc but it was necessary for her character arc.
really enjoyed this.

sooooo good

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I love the direwolves, most of the characters and the concept of it all. The trials were exciting and I really enjoyed so much of the story. The one thing that drove me insane was the FMC's attitude and naivety. It was so frustrating the entire book!! But the ending was good, everything came together and I think book 2 will be so much better. I am looking forward to it!

Loved but drove me nuts

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I’ve heard it before, “fourth wing but with dire wolves” but I don’t think the comparison is a negative nor should it take away from how good this book is, in its own right.
There is actually potential for this to be better.
Although in an academy setting, I thought the wider political world and relationships outside the main book 1 romance are more intriguing. Hopefully a shift into non-academy book 2 will not be as jarring as fourth wing.
I also liked that the romance isn’t resolved in book one. There is so much potential for a new romance to develop in future books. I don’t want to know the end game in book 1.
The twists, development and change of the ‘villain’ was really well done throughout. I had suspicions, but did not expect everything.
(I wish I could give this 4.5 stars - def deserves more than 4, just not quite 5)

Great book. Yea, it is a bit “like fourth wing with dire wolves” but definite potential for this to be better?!

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That was soo good!! Highly recommend! Can’t wait for the next book!!! The first book is definitely setting up for the rest of the series but in a really good / intriguing way, I thoroughly enjoyed uncovering the secrets in the story through the badass FMC’s POV it was sooo good!! Favourite fantasy of this year! Also the narrators nailed it!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing!!

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voice actors were amazing in their performance! Definitely worth the listen. I think this will be one story that sticks in my mind like an obsession. Already can't wait for the next instalment to come next year!

Loved the duet naration! Amazing story!

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