What a fun read! Dauntless covers so many spaces I've been looking to see more of in YA Books - fantasy sapphic romance, morally gray and misunderstood cultures (especially exploring colonialism), and mixed loyalties. Bonnin created a unique fantasy world that stands out, not relying on fairytales or commonly known fantasy elements.

Pros: One of my favorite tropes to read is being raised to hate/fear a monster, and then a character arc unveiling the true monster, and Dauntless does that so well. It was also such a satisfying read, the story wraps up well in a setting that left me wanting more but feeling content with where we ended. If more tales came from the unique land of the People, I would be first in line for it!

Cons: I went into this book anticipating it all to be from the perspective of the main character, Seri, and was a bit thrown when the book began to switch perspectives around a few different characters.

An excellent read for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Shatter Me.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Swoon Reads for the eARC of Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin in exchange for my honest review.

What a spectacular debut by Elisa Bonnin.

This book felt like a mix between Beast of Prey and Divergent -- with just enough action and excitement to draw you in. Bonnin created an incredible world, and you'll be hooked from the first page. I was sad every time I had to put the book down, constantly thinking about what could come next. The magic system and world building is complex, and the plot is filled with interesting twists and turns. This book will hold you until you've devoured every page.

I wanted a bit more from the character development -- but you do care about each and every character from the beginning. I wanted to know more about their thoughts and feelings -- especially as a book with a rotating POV.

A solid debut, and a book I'll be purchasing once it's officially released.

4/5 stars.

(DNF'd at Ch 11 / 41%)

The premise of this book is super intriguing! Unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. There is very little exposition (world-building, character introduction / development, etc) which made it very difficult to immerse myself in the story. The main character's background isn't shared with the reader until Chapter 10, at which point I was so detached, I simply didn't care.

This book may be a good option for anyone looking for a quick, service-level read.

This is a stunning YA fantasy debut, more than living up to its super gorgeous cover. From the richly developed character to the detailed world-building, this book basically has it all.

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group and Swoon Reads for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and view expressed are my own and not affiliated with any brand.

This was such a fun book. I really liked the world that Elisa Bonnin created. Such a great debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she is going to write next. All the characters in the book are likable and relatable. The story was easy to read and follow and I really enjoyed it!

This was such a great read! I absolutely loved the main characters and the plot of the story. The author did a great job making the story interesting and keeping it moving. I loved how unique the story was and all that the author brought to it. Great book!

The world of this book was well-rendered, and the writing flowed easily. I also really loved the main character and her relationships with those around her. That said, I did feel the book was slow and a bit uneven.

Elisa A. Bonnin's book Dauntless is an excellent read. I would recommend it to anyone who asks. This book is both fresh and enlightening.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

Thank you, Swoon Reads, for allowing me to read Dauntless early!

This year's debuts are one home run after the other. I really loved reading Bonnin's debut and I am looking forward to reading Stolen City. Dauntless was thrilling and action-packed, but still had enough emotion to avoid being one of those boring all-action, no story, no development narratives. Really a successful debut for Elisa A. Bonnin.

A wonderful fantasy book set in a unique world, and with sapphic representation! This was a thrilling adventure by a new ownvoices author.

Ful review to come and rating may change!

Wow what a read. Never have I been so immersed into a new fantasy world that's unique and surprising at every turn. Reminiscent of Attack on Titan, I was fully invested in everyone's survival and happiness.

And I know this book is mainly about Seri and Tsana, but Eshai and Lavit have my entire heart and soul. I love them so much I can't even. We need more characters like them in YA to show teens that some adults are not just trustworthy, but level headed and understanding.

If you like amazing new settings and characters you'll murder for, you'll love this book.

Yo so let’s book has sapphic representation and it’s fine on voices author? Sign me up!

You will really like the three main leads. They are all unique and compelling and the wiring was super atmospheric.

Also, Aiden Thomas likes and and they’re book was one of my favorite reads from 2021.

An exhilarating, whirlwind of an adventure as a girl tries to navigate her place amongst two worlds while also trying to stop a war from breaking out.

Seri was a character I easily found myself rooting for as she went from shy assistant to dauntless warrior. I absolutely loved this sapphic story!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC!
At first I thought I wouldn’t like this book because I’m not a dystopian fan but I was wrong. This book was great and I would recommend it to everyone!

"En and enshkai. Power and exploration. Knowledge and discovery. Stillness and motion. Serenity and dauntlessness."

Where do I even begin with this review? This book absolutely amazed me. So beautiful, atmospheric, surprisingly emotional, and so gripping from the first page to the very last. I am so happy I was able to read an early version of this book and I can't wait for it to be out in the world, I will be begging any and all readers I know to pick this up. And I will inevitably reread once I snag a hard copy.

First, let's start with the world that Elisa Bonnin has crafted. I was a bit hesitant after the first few chapters, I wondered if I was going to enjoy the setting and if I was going to be able to see it clearly. I felt like the beginning was out of nowhere and just kind of threw us into Seri's story with no direction. But when Eshai came into the picture and Seri's training really began, I quickly became enamored with Bonnin's lush and atmospheric writing. I really felt like I was with Seri, Tsana, and Eshai in the depths of the unknown and known worlds. Bonnin is great at creating atmosphere for readers and I was so sad to leave at the end of the book.

I really found the concept of the beasts, their ability to either be bonded or feral, and the abilities valiants acquired from their killed beasts to be super fascinating. Bonnin is really creative and I really feel like she brought something fresh and new to the table. The fantastical elements weren't super in your face, so I think that this book can appeal to fans of YA fiction and YA fantasy both. The fantasy was practical and well thought out.

These characters... wow. All three leading ladies, Seri, Tsana, and Eshai, are all such powerhouses. I adored them all. They were so different from one another and had their own vices and virtues, which I really appreciated. I think that a lot of authors attempt to portray female strength with hyper-masculine characters that reject the idea of femininity and womanhood as a way to say, "hey, women can be just as strong and brave as all of the leading men that society cherishes so dearly." And while I understand this, I feel like it sometimes defeats the purpose of showcasing strong women. Bonnin's characters maintain their femininity, they don't reject "girlish" behaviors, they do brave and strong things and are also unafraid to show their weaknesses. I can't tell you how many times I've read the classic "heroine starts crying and then immediately stops herself because she thinks it's a weakness" scene. Tsana cried A LOT. And I loved it. Seri never tried to stop her, she held her and let her get it out. Seri grieved, PAINFULLY. She shouldered blame, she felt guilt, and she didn't attempt to ease her sufferings. She welcomed it and handled it gracefully. Eshai let herself fall in love and didn't view romance as something that hinders her ability to lead (another classic heroine move). These women are so brave, intelligent, fierce, and REAL. I couldn't love them more, and I have a little preference for Tsana. I loved all the mistakes she made and all her attempts to redeem them.

Now, let's talk about that beautiful sapphic romance. I fell HARD for Tsana and Seri's story. They had so much chemistry and I was rooting for them so hard. I was a bit disappointed about how much of a subplot it was. I was really hoping their relationship would have been the focus. But I loved the content that we did get. Their hesitant kisses, the shy hand holding, the long glances. I was squealing reading their scenes. They are so so good together. They are now one of my new favorite book couples!

And that ending... SO good. What a beautiful epilogue. I was so happy for Eshai and Lavit and Eshai and Seri had such a tender reunion. What a beautiful friendship they have, I really loved how they were still so supportive and happy for each other despite the time away. And they grew into their new lives so well. I was so happy for Seri and Karai specifically, they are great together and I was so thankful Karai made it out alright in the end. I love their bond! And, I am hoping and wishing and praying and manifesting that we will get a sequel. That ending set one up SO PERFECTLY. Shall I beg? Please, please, please, continue this story. I need more Seri and Tsana! I did not get enough of the sapphic cuteness and I need them to live happily ever after and marry and have the cutest little life ever with Karai and Asai. This is me begging!!!!! There is so much more than can be explored within this world and with these characters. I would devour anything else Bonnin writes about these girls and this world.

Overall, Dauntless was a phenomenal book. I am going to recommend this to... pretty much everyone I know. I won't stop thinking about this book and Seri and Tsana for a good long while.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

Dauntless - 4.5/5 Stars