dire bound is the first book in a romantasy series set in a world where humans forge unbreakable bonds with direwolves and fight for survival. we follow Meryn Cooper, a pit fighter in the slums trying to keep her family afloat. one day her little sister, Saela, is kidnapped by Nabbers (immortal monsters), and Meryn enlists in the army to get over the border to save her sister. only problem is, she has to participate in the deadly Bonding Trials where one simple mistake can cost her life. Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle as she bonds to Anassa, a direwolf who refuses to even talk to her. she also needs to survive the other trainees who are trying to kill her for her common blood and her cold instructor, Stark Therion, who is eager to punish any weakness. as the trials go on, Meryn continues to fight for survival and search for her sister, and ends up uncovering dark secrets in the castle. this book was literally everything i wanted and more!! the writing and world building was absolutely perfect and it gave us enough to be intrigued but also left us wanting more!!! the trial scenes were probably some of my favourites as i loved the connections shown between the humans and direwolves. they did get a bit gruesome at times and i did cry on the train at a certain point BUT they were done really really well!! the plot twists had me on the floor and i was screaming into the abyss about them… and THAT ENDING?? give me book 2 now cause i can’t deal