
In the third installment of the bestselling Legendborn Cycle, "Oathbound" plunges protagonist Bree Matthews into a world of isolation and dangerous alliances. Having exiled herself from the Legendborn Order and cut ties with friends to protect them, Bree finds herself bound to the enigmatic Shadow King, who trains her to wield her formidable powers. This young adult fantasy, blending Southern Black Girl Magic with Arthurian legend, explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the heavy cost of power. As the Legendborn face war and internal strife, Bree must navigate her new role, uncover hidden secrets, and confront escalating threats, including mysterious kidnappings and the deaths of powerful Merlins. Parents should be aware of moderate fantasy violence and intense situations suitable for the 12-18 age range.
Bree Matthews is alone. She exiled herself from the Legendborn Order, cut her ancestral connections, and turned away from the friends who can’t understand the impossible cost of her powers. This is the only way to keep herself—and those she loves—safe. But Bree’s decision has come with a terrible price: an unbreakable bargain with the Shadow King himself, a shapeshifter who can move between humanity, the demon underworld, and the Legendborn secret society. In exchange for training to wield her unprecedented abilities, Bree has put her future in the Shadow King’s hands—and unwittingly bound herself to do his bidding as his new protégé. Meanwhile, the other Scions must face war while their Round Table is fractured, leaderless, and missing its Kingsmage, as Selwyn has also disappeared. When Nick invokes an ancient law that requires the High Council of Regents to grant him an audience, the Order’s Merlins imprison him. No one knows what he will demand of the Regents...or what secrets he has kept hidden from the Table. As a string of mysterious kidnappings escalates and Merlins are found dead, it becomes clear that no matter how hard Bree runs from who she is, the past will always find her.