Unbound

by Christy Healy Narrated by Gary Furlong, Alison McKenna

Overview

For fans of Hannah Whitten and Rebecca Ross, Unbound is a gender-bent reimagining of the classic tale of a monstrous beast and the beauty determined to tame it, set against the lush backdrop of Irish mythology and folklore.

Rozlyn Ó Conchúir is used to waiting-waiting for the king, her father, to relent and allow her to leave the solitude of her tower; waiting for the dreaded and mysterious Beast of Connacht to at last be defeated; waiting for the arrival of the man destined to win her heart and break the terrible curse placed on her and her land. So when she meets Jamie-a charming and compelling suitor-she allows herself to hope that her days of solitude and patience are over at long last.

But as she finds her trust betrayed-and newer, more sinister threats arising-Rozlyn learns that some curses are better left unbroken ...

Editorial Reviews

author of The Hurricane Wars Thea Guanzon

Unbound is a decadent eldritch fairy tale that ensnares the reader in its dark and tangled web. Healy’s sumptuous prose brings Celtic myths to life and retains a dreamlike quality even while plunging into the nightmares that lurk within the human heart. Hurray for monstrous protagonists and the men that love them!”

bestselling author of The Magician’s Daughte H. G. Parry

A heartfelt story of monsters and myth, love and curses, and a heroine coming into her own ferocious power. Readers who love thorny, twisted romance and Celtic legend will be enchanted by Unbound.”

Kirkus Reviews

2023-10-21
A powerful young queen learns to control the magic she wields and embraces her true nature in a world full of ancient gods, terrifying monsters, and treacherous men.

Rozlyn Ó Conchúir is a monster. Cursed by a vengeful witch on the night she was born, she spends most of her youth locked away from the world, feared by those she loves and despised for reasons she can’t comprehend. With only books to keep her occupied, Rozlyn waits for the Beast of Connacht—the winged monster that terrorizes her father’s kingdom—to be defeated so she can finally leave her tower and live the life she dreams of. As the years pass, Rozlyn becomes increasingly cold and malicious, fueled by loneliness and heartache. It’s only when she meets Jamie, one of the handsome and charming suitors chosen by her father to try to bring the curse to an end, that things begin to change. But as Jamie’s motivations come to light, and the pull of magic beneath her skin grows stronger, Rozlyn learns that sometimes the only person you can truly trust is yourself. While it’s easy to compare this book to “Beauty and the Beast”—the similarities become increasingly obvious as Rozlyn takes on her monstrous form—other influences are in play, too. The Thousand and One Nights is present in Jamie’s attempts to woo Rozlyn by recounting stories of love and war each time he visits her. The tales that Jamie weaves are peppered with Irish mythology, and a pantheon of ancient gods and unsettling fairy folk make appearances. Healy has also clearly taken inspiration from Grendel’s mother, and even goes so far as to have Rozlyn reading Beowulf. The resulting tale, told in chapters alternating between Rozlyn’s and Jamie’s points of view, is a delightful amalgamation that readers will find familiar but that stands on its own as a delightful, heart-clenching story of love and betrayal.

An impressive feat of worldbuilding full of unexpected twists for fans of monstrous women.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159257338
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	01/16/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

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