Firstly, thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for this eArc.

The Tainted Khan picks up right where Dragon Rider ended.
The beginning might feel slow to some readers, but I really enjoyed it, we got to really understand Jai's family and tribe history. Jai's growth throughout the book was really good to see.
There were a lot of new characters that were great to meet and understand them and their relationship with Jai further.

As the book progressed we got more and more time with Winter which I was really happy about and really enjoyed getting to know her better too.
The chapters being so short were also really enjoyable, it made picking it up during a really busy week easy as I was able to get a couple of chapters done in short bursts.

The ending of this book left on such a massive cliff hanger, I am so excited for book 3 already!

Thank you to Taran Matharu, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Definitely isn’t suffering from second book syndrome! Full review to come ✨

This is the sequel to Dragon Rider, which I absolutely loved so I was beyond excited to receive the ARC via NetGalley!

There was a slow start to the book, which I found a bit jarring after the high action ending to Dragon Rider, I had wanted that action to continue. But I can see that this is necessary as Jai learns about his people, their customs and way of life. There’s a huge amount of character growth for Jai, and I really enjoyed discovering his orgins alongside him.

As the pace picks up for the second half, so does the tension and action. There’s less dragons in this book, but I loved meeting other soulbound creatures. The last 15 % had me on the edge of my seat and that ending!

I can’t help but feel like it’s hotting up to be an epic action packed book 3 and I can’t wait!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the arc for review

Taran Matharu burst onto the scene with Dragon Rider, so there is a certain level of pre-build hype and expectation that comes with its sequel The Tainted Khan.

Unfortunately, the tricky second book of the trilogy is not quite the smash out of the gates that the first book was and instead is a solid continuation that is somewhat let down by a slower pace and what feels like a lot of unnecessary padding.

The sequel follows Jai - the only heir to the throne - and his continued attempts to become a dragon rider, while trying to balance life and expectations of two very different cultures, the one he was raised in and the dragon rider's culture he was torn from.

Fans of the first book will still find a lot to love here and it sets things up for an exciting next chapter in the Soulbound Saga.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. There was a part in the middle that felt rather boring and dragged out, but this changed towards the 60% mark. We got to see so much more about the culture of Jai's people and their customs. Winter is honestly such a cute dragon and I found myself smiling every time she came on the page. I hope that we'll see a certain character from book 1 in the next book again. And the epilogue?!?! I definitely have to go back to book 1 to see if there were any signs, because my jaw was on the floor when I read that.
All in all, this was a pretty solid second book and I'm excited to see where the story will go in the future books.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an early copy of The Tainted Khan by Taran Matharu, and wow-what a ride! From the very first page, I was completely pulled into this gripping fantasy world. The world-building is incredibly rich and vivid, and you can really tell how much thought and care has gone into creating it. There's a brilliant mix of political tension, deep lore, and heart-racing action that kept me totally hooked.
The characters are layered and genuinely interesting, especially the protagonist, whose journey is both emotional and powerful. I loved seeing their growth unfold alongside all the chaos and adventure. There were one or two slower parts, but overall the pacing kept me turning the pages, always keen to know what was coming next.
What really impressed me was just how immersive the whole world was.
If you're into high fantasy with a great mix of adventure, intrigue, and strong characters, l'd definitely recommend picking this one up!

I was really looking forward to reading The Tainted Khan and was not disappointed as this was a totally immersive follow up to Dragon Rider
The book begins pretty much as soon as the previous book and we are taken straight to the land of the steppes, the land of the tribe that Jai came from and where he hopes to find a home. The first part of the book is quite slow paced as both the reader and Jai learn about the lives of the tribes that make their home in this huge land. I really enjoyed reading about the lives of the Sithia and seeing Jai begin to find his place with his own people after so many years of being a hostage
The pace really begins to pick up once Jai is reunited with his father’s tribe and tries to claim his rightful place among them. My only real criticism is that Jai’s path was almost a little too easy and he seemed to be able to make the right decisions very quickly. However, I still enjoyed his growth as a character and the way he began to take control of events.
The growth of his soulbound with the baby dragon was lovely to read and although the book started off badly for the little dragon, she quite soon managed to win over the hearts of the ?????? and I enjoyed how the bond between them developed. There were also some great new character . I loved Feng and Sithri and Nazeem was a really oily corrupt politician that you justcouldn’t wait to get his comeuppance. We also meet a couple of familiar faces when Jai takes Winter off on a quest to learn more about his magic.
This was a solid second book in the trilogy which gave us a lot more information about the world and its magic as well as allowing Jai to really grow as a character. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the ending sets the scene up brilliantly for a fascinating third book.
Huge thanks as always to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Taran Matharu delivers a gripping fantasy adventure in The Tainted Khan, plunging readers into a richly imagined world teeming with danger, ambition, and intrigue. From the first chapter, the narrative pulses with energy, weaving together layered conflicts and a setting that feels as real as it is fantastical. The intricate dynamics of power, culture, and history unfold with a natural ease, creating a universe that’s both expansive and immersive.

At the heart of the story is a protagonist whose growth is as captivating as the battles they face. The emotional depth and moral complexity of the characters add weight to the fast-paced action, making each twist hit harder. While the tempo occasionally takes a breath to build atmosphere, the momentum never truly falters. With a world full of promise and a plot that sets the stage for even greater things, The Tainted Khan is a standout addition to the genre—perfect for readers who crave high-stakes fantasy with depth, heart, and edge.

Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 5 stars.

This story still remains incredible, following on from book 1 we continue on this journey over what will become of the great steppe and it’s people. The sabine’s still appear set on conquering, but the people of the steppe don’t know this for certain and they are on the fence about striving for peace or meeting war head on. At the heart of this conflicting position is Jai, I feel like he’s gone through so many trials and tribulations and this part of his story is no different. We really get to see Jai grow as a person and potentially a leader.

We get to meet so many new characters and explore more of the terrain of this world, it’s so vast and I really loved that we got more information and to explore the many traditions of the people of the Great Steppe.

I will say that epilogue was wild, and after reading it now everything just makes sense, it feels silly not to predict. I can’t wait to see how this affects everything in the next book.

I was so exited to delve back into this world and I was not disappointed. The world building continues to be complex and interesting. Although the first third of the book is a little slow I did appreciate learning as Jai learnt about his culture.

The political intrigue continues to be an exciting storyline with addition of Jai’s uncle and the snake that is Nazeem. I will not say more without spoilers but I have a visceral reaction to that character.

And that ending I will be counting the days till the next book.

Thank you negalley and Harper Collins for the eARC.

Thank you to the publishers for granting me an arc.

I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first one. It was great to see Jai taking charge of his own fate and destiny, though he would never have done it without the help of companions he met along the way.

Looking forward to book 3!

The story continues after Jai's escape from the prison with Erica and the Huddites.

Personally, there is too much talk of mana and soulbreathing and Jai's thoughts are repetitive.

I found the pacing slow, and it only really picked up in the last 50 pages. If you enjoyed book one and didn't mind that, you will likely enjoy this too.

The following review contains HEAVY SPOILRES!!!!!

Dragon Rider was one of my favorite reads because it had such a unique feeling and atmosphere. I was really excited to read The Tainted Khan, but sadly this book turned out to be a huge heartbreak for me.
I am confused by the huge writing style difference between the two books that I'm like “What happened?!” .
The pacing was excruciatingly slow that 70% in, and you feel like you haven't moved an inch from the starting point.
The biggest disappointment in my opinion was Jai's character and the lack of growth for him.
The same stumbling and unexperienced Jai from Dragon Rider we saw the same in The Tainted Khan. Although in the first book it was normal for him to be so unaware of the world around him because he was locked inside the palace for so many years, by the second book, he already went through so many things to be this foolish.
Like he is not doing anything, and he is stumbling from one person to another to hold his hand and guide him and tell him what to do, and I never took him seriously and certainly not as a khan.
I was fuming at the way he threw around the most precious thing he got—the diary with all that experience and information given to him in a golden platter. Yet, he gave it carelessly to anyone who asked to read it, without realizing what vital information it holds. And at the end of the day, the small bits that he contributed were things stolen from the same diary.
The love interest between them felt kind of childish and strange given that both of them are rulers of their people, yet somehow they didn't make a decent conversation about what is that between them what they feel(Jai mentioned he doesn't feel worthy of her and the topic wasn't raised again to be solved) and what it means for them.
Furthermore, there were repetitions of things that were already covered, and I don't know how many times I read the word “sniffed” used frequently as a reaction or maybe as a substitute for shrug?
The review got a bit emotional, bordering on a rant, but I really felt heartbroken that one of my most anticipated reads wasn't what I hoped it would be.

Maybe it’s just me, but The Tainted Khan didn’t quite live up to the momentum I was expecting. In fact, the pacing felt completely off—I would’ve loved a slower, more immersive build in book one, but this sequel slows down just when it should be ramping up.

Jai’s long-awaited journey to connect with his people ends up being more disheartening than enlightening. He’s constantly reminded he doesn’t belong, and the clan’s interest in him seems more transactional than personal. There are big themes at play—identity, belonging, survival—but I never felt emotionally pulled in. The third-person POV created just enough distance that I struggled to connect with Jai’s internal journey.

One of the biggest disappointments for me was the reunion with Erica. After everything they’d been through, I expected tension, catharsis, *something*—but it was flat, brief, and surprisingly dull. A real missed opportunity for emotional weight.

And the magic? Pretty much on autopilot. We don’t dive much deeper into the system, and instead get repetitive beats like “I used mana” and “I refilled mana” over and over again. It started to feel like a checkbox rather than something that enriched the world or plot.

The battle scenes were plentiful, but not in a satisfying way. They popped up at odd moments, often felt oddly placed, and wrapped up with jarring speed or resolution that left me scratching my head. It was hard to feel any real tension or stakes when the rhythm felt so inconsistent.

As for Winter, Jai’s dragon—she was barely there unless the plot urgently needed her, and their bond came across as awkwardly sentimental rather than genuinely moving. I wanted to feel something there, but it just didn’t land.

The worldbuilding around the tribes had potential, but it leaned heavily on explanation and felt a bit flat. I was hoping for more cultural richness—traditions, costumes, daily life—but most of it stayed on the surface.

Overall, The Tainted Khan feels like a more introspective second act, but not in a way that resonated for me. The pacing was off, the emotional moments didn’t quite hit, and the things I loved from the first book—magic, character dynamics, depth—felt like they were either missing or muted.

Still curious to see how it all wraps up, but definitely hoping for more spark in the next one.

Thank you Harper Voyager for allowing me to read an eARC of this book!! I rated this one 4.5 ⭐️ I loved this book just as much as Dragon Rider! This series deserves way more hype! The battles, the trials, the YEARNING! It is one of a kind! A lot more world building in this book, I can’t wait to read book 3 especially after that last line!

The Tainted Khan by Taran Matharu is an action-packed, immersive fantasy that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Matharu’s world-building is exceptional, creating a vivid and detailed setting that draws you in immediately. The political intrigue, rich lore, and high-stakes adventure all blend together seamlessly, making for a thrilling and enjoyable read.

The characters are well-developed, with complex motivations that evolve throughout the story. The protagonist’s journey is both compelling and emotional, and Matharu does a fantastic job of balancing action with character growth. There were a few moments where the pacing slowed slightly, but overall, the story kept me engaged and eager to see what happened next.

What really stands out in The Tainted Khan is the depth of the world and the stakes of the story. It’s clear that Matharu has crafted a series with incredible potential, and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us.

Overall, The Tainted Khan is a fantastic read for fans of high fantasy, filled with adventure, intrigue, and well-rounded characters. Highly recommend!

Thank you for allowing me to read this book early - and what a book! Wow!
I loved the first instalment and was worried that this wouldn't live up to my expectations on the continuation - but I think I loved this more. Action packed enough that it didn't feel slow or stuck but it wasn't at the detriment of the story progressing, beautifully written.
Move over Fourth Wing/Iron Flame - Dragon Rider/Tainted Khan have you beat!

The long awaited sequel to Dragon Rider, The Tainted Khan is another action packed, high tension adventure that will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Thank you Taran Matharu and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

This book was as solid as the first installment! The dragon storyline intrigued me and had me hooked the story the entire time, despite the lag in the first few pages. Taran Matharu filled this booked up with action-packed scenes that had me envisioning it all in my head like a seamless movie in my head!

If you love political fantasy with the epic plotlines, dragons & atmospheric scenery, you'll enjoy this one for its fight scenes!

This book continues off from the ending of Dragon Rider and what a ride this book was

While it was slow to start this almost worked in its favour as it builds in the differing cultures and Jai’s feelings toward not knowing his own people.
I loved the glimpse into the Steppefolk and the way they are vastly different from the main culture in book 1, but they are complicated and not as they were painted to be from the eyes of the sabines.

Jai as a character really grew on me. I loved his journey here how he really came into his own.

There were parts that were predictable but in a way an old family book might be, I knew the point the characters would get to but not the path they’d take to get there.

The magic system was explored a lot more here (for the better) and I loved learning about it, learning more about dragons and the like and how mana works. Fascinating! Probably some of the best parts of the book for me

This book doesn’t shy away from making you as the reader uncomfortable. In part because of how the tribes work but also because it brings into question the morality of some choices.


Highly highly recommended if anyone is a dragon lover