A great book! The second in the Soulbound Saga

I've read the summoner series years ago and discovered Taran Matharu started writing adult books so I couldn't wait to read it. The Dragon Rider was immensely enjoyable and this book didn't disappoint.

There is great character development and plot. I can't wait to read the next book!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

4.5⭐️

As the growing threat of the Sabine Empire intensifies, the tribes of the Great Steppe must unite if they want to survive. Jai must fulfil his destiny, following in his father’s footsteps to become the leader his people need him to be. However, time is running out for him. He must work swiftly to develop his magical abilities, gain knowledge, and transform into a formidable warrior if he has any chance of saving his people and the woman he loves…

I loved The Dragon Rider and have been eagerly anticipating its sequel. It didn’t disappoint!

The pacing is slow, but it fits perfectly with the narrative. The Tainted Khan’s true strength lies in the character development of Jai. It’s not rushed and it feels authentic. At the start we see a boy and by the end, we have a honed warrior and strategist with a realistic chance of withstanding the threat of the Sabine Empire.

The book incorporates a diverse blend of cultural lore, transporting you into a rich and fantastical world.

It concludes on a cliffhanger, which I anticipated but nonetheless I’m excited to see where the next book takes it. All in all a great sequel!

This starts off immediately after the events of Dragon Rider I really liked this as it had the start of book two feel very cohesive and the set up felt very natural to overall progression of the plot. The Tainted Khan, expanded the world and through Jai we learn more about the Steppefolk and the tradition of a tribe. I loved learning about their culture and we are introduced to great side characters as a result. Really liked book 2 and I’m excited to continue this series as I find the writing really accessible and the plot to be captivating.

4.5 ⭐

The Tainted Khan is the second book in The Soulbound Saga series and picks up directly from the events in Dragon Rider (book 1).

The pacing in this one is slower than book one but for good reasons, it takes its time with the story telling and the world building and lore is very immersive. We see a fair bit of character development in Jai due to the situations he faces throughout the story, he continues to build on his connection with Winter and his soulbound skills, whilst also dealing with the threat of rival clans and the sabine empire. The story has a lot more political intrigue this time around which was implemented well and added to the enjoyment. It definitely kept me hooked from start to finish and I can't wait for the next installment (especially with that ending!).

I highly recommend checking out this series if you haven't already!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC of The Tainted Khan in return for an honest review.

A solid next installation in this series. Matharu keeps improving as a writer which is a delight to see.

Thank you NetGalleyUk and HarperCollins Uk, Harper Fiction, for an eARC of The Tainted Khan in return for an honest review.

The Tainted Khan is the second book in The Soulbound Saga series, following the first book Dragon Rider. In this story we pick up with Jai separating from the rest of the characters in the Steppe, the land from where he originated, ready to regain the title of Khan, his birthright. This is an epic adventure from him learning the basics about life within the tribe to all of the obstacles he must cross, both to gain the trust of the people, and to wage war against their enemies.

What drew my attention to the first book was the storyline of the dragons. I felt like this was a little slow over the first 100 pages of this second book, as there was very little of Winter (Jai's dragon) in it; the book definitely picked up more as it progressed and I was very happy with how much page time we then got with Winter. This is a longer book than I would normally read, but I think the length of this (over 500pages) was perfect. The author spent the time to show us more depth to Jai, and even though he read a little young, I was rooting for him and pleased with the character progress that we got with him. I look forward to spending more time with Jai, in this world, in the next one.

I recommend this is If you like epic political fantasies, with dragons, gorgeous descriptions of the natural scenery, and well written fight scenes.

This is a slow burn sequel to Dragon Rider. The pace is slow, but it's a very good read as we immerse ourselves in the world of the Sithia, Jai's people.

The Tainted Khan focuses on Jai's journey through the levels of the soulbound as he comes to grips with becoming one of the Sithia. The book is about Jai's development as a character.

That said, there is still plenty of action, especially in the latter half of the book that keeps the plot moving forward nicely. The cliffhanger at the end sets up a nice ending for the series.

This is a very solid read and I'm looking forward to the next.

Just an absolutely beautiful series. Brings such beautiful imagery and world building.
Super exciting read, I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 3 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the eARC.
This book has great worldbuilding, characters development and political intrigue. Jai navigated his role as a hostage to the Valor (yes, he became a hostage again) then he was thrust into a world of politics and his role as a ruler all of a sudden, but he used his wisdom, the knowledge that he gained from the Valor as well as Leonid's and what he knew of his father's past to navigate all of it skillfully. I hated how he sometimes 'lost himself for a moment' while looking at/ being forcefully kissed by another woman and having to remind himself of Erica.
The worldbuilding is extensive, the author created an entire culture, their traditions (fair warning, I found some of them a bit grotesque like when they drank khiroi blood or mixed it with milk) and way of living from scratch. While this was amazing, it took about the first 100 pages to achieve this which made me almost DNF the book at the beginning, but I stuck through and it was worth it. The pacing completely changes after that and you find yourself thrust from one event into the other.
The focus in this book is mainly on Jai's getting to know his people's way, settling into his role as a khan and ruling his people while getting ready to face the sabines which is normal for a second book (as it acts as a bridge in the series), so Winter didn't have a main role here , it was all up to Jai. you will meet lots of new characters. I loved some of them and hated others, I want to elaborate, but can't do so without spoiling. I found some of the decisions made by the characters in this book to be not in line with their personality or it was as if they suddenly changed.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I really liked it.

I rated this book 5 stars because I couldn't put it down for a second. It was so good and the author is a genious! I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.