Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 10/07/2024 To prove he’s mature enough to visit the mainland like his older brother, eight-year-old Dak doubles his chore load, which includes the stinkiest job on his family’s farm: scooping llama poop for fertilizer and fire fuel. He’s soon approached by Fenn, the mysterious, purple-haired girl who lives with the monks next door, and her talking purple llama, Lucy, who request Dak’s help in tracking down magic stones scattered across the kingdom. The first, a fire stone, is guarded by a family of dragons who will only talk to children because they "make the best humans." To get it back, the self-dubbed Team Llama Quest must fetch frost flowers to cure the dragons of fire sickness. But the trio aren’t the only ones to have made this deal, and time isn’t on their side. Reyes (the Heroes of Havensong series) employs fast-paced storytelling to highlight Fenn and Dak’s adventurousness and bravery while gradually revealing world details via fluid and flexible third-person text. Animated spot illustrations by Davault (Misfit Mansion) emphasize the characters’ emotions and body language, elevating the suspense and stakes. Dak and his family have brown skin; Fenn reads as white. Ages 6-9. Author’s agent: Jenniea Carter, New Leaf Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Britt Siess, Britt Siess Creative. (Jan.) - Copyright 2024

School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 Gr 3–6—Dak Evans scoops llama poop on his family's farm in the high hills of Mythic Island, part of the Kingdom of Ravenwood. In this land, 12 magical stones once caused a devastating war but have been hidden away to maintain peace—until now. When a talking llama and a girl named Fenn arrive with urgent news that the stones have been stolen, Dak is thrown into an epic adventure. To recover them, he embarks on a series of quests, from uncovering why dragons are setting a town on fire to locating the elusive alicorns, who possess one of the stones. The storyline is well-paced, engaging, and thoughtfully developed, making for a truly entertaining read. While the text is on the longer side, the numerous expressive grayscale illustrations help maintain readers' attention. Since each book picks up where the last leaves off, the series is best read in order. VERDICT A fantastic new magical series that is highly recommended for collections and sure to capture young readers' imaginations. - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.