Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was really well done. The world building was complex without being too overwhelming, the characters were wonderful and I enjoyed seeing them all develop. I will definitely be interested in reading more!

A fully immersive and captivating read, full of magic and intrigue. I particularly enjoyed the primary focus on the characters, their interactions and actions that lead them into the storyline. They were very special characters, each with their own development and experiences about life and magic. Aleida, despite being the supposed anti-hero, was probably my favourite. I was thoroughly compelled by her character and story that I spent most of the book rooting for her.
This book is a delightful read and definitely for fans of high-fantasy and magic.

4 Stars - Original YA Fantasy with lots of potential!

Tethered Spirits by T. A. Hernandez tells its story from three perspectives: first of all there is Amar, who is travelling with his two friends to find out why it is that he cannot die (permanently) and also loses his memory whenever he dies (meaning that he has no idea how old he is or who he is). Their paths cross with Kesari, a young girl on a mission of her own. On their heels is Aleida, who is after Amar's immortality and who comes with her own complex backstory.
The original twist to the magic system of this series, which also has lots of potential for further plotlines, is that in this world there are two ways to wield magic. You can be born with a talent for it and be a magician OR you can bond yourself to a magician's soul who has died too young, receiving their magic power and giving the life force of your body in return. Anyone who forms a bond with such a spirit will live only half the years they usually would in return for the power they receive so there is a high price to pay.

Both Kesari and Aleida are bonded to a spirit (Aleida to a particularly powerful one) and their backstories form a significant part of the plot. I thought this was a very interesting concept that can be used to great effect for new twists and turns in future books.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, so I'll just say that I thought it to be very well paced, with interesting turns at every corner, while it still managed to feel very much character driven. The characters were different and distinct and I could relate to their thoughts, doubts and struggles. I also liked them and came to care for them.
I particularly enjoyed the fact that they (and we as a reader) often did not know whatsoever if the course of action they chose would turn out to be the correct one, which is kind of how life is and how a character driven plot should advance. People make decisions and do what feels right - and hope things turn out well in the end.

I would also like to point out that Hernandez stayed away from awkwardly construced love triangles, instead this story centers on the other types relationships there are: friendships, family bonds, but also temporary partnerships of convenience and, most importantly perhaps, one's relationship with oneself.

This first part in the series does end in a sort of conclusion that brings many loose ends together but at the same time there is a reveal that makes it clear that there is still a lot of story to be told.

The only caveat for me personally that prevented me from giving 5 stars is the prose that was a bit too straightforward for my taste. There is nothing bad to be said about it per se: it's competent, it gets the job done well. I just do like a bit of a poetic melody in my books to give a bit more nuance, complexity, richness.

Other than that I will keep an eye out for the continuation of the series and am rather curious how events are going to unfold. If you are looking for YA Fantasy that stays away from the usual well-trodden tropes and offers a quick and easy read, you will enjoy this one for sure!

I have a feeling this will become a favorite series of mine. I absolutely love multiple POV so that was an instant plus to pull me in and keep me interested in every single character. The history surrounding this world was so interesting and I loved that paired with the current story line. I loved the premise of lost memories and the intriguing characters along the way. I can't wait to see this unfold.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Tethered Spirits in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a genuinely unique fantasy? It took a while to get into but the cast is so cool and I can now claim to love 2 sentient balls of fire like a cool kid.

Tethered Spirits is a brilliant read, it is filled with creative world building and amazing characters. This is a book full of so many twists your head will spin, I loved that most I think , this end of this is fantastic and sets the scene perfectly for book two, which I am really looking forward to.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. But I wasn't able to view it as it was archived.

This book was an excellent set up for what will likely be a really great series. The writing was good, and the plot maintained my interest despite being largely centered around one of my least favorite fantasy tropes, the journey/quest. I think the multiple POV really helped to keep things feeling like they were moving forward, and I enjoyed each of the very different perspectives given. The diversity in this book was also a major plus, and I particularly liked that being LGBT+ in this world was normal. I enjoy books about the real-world, often difficult, experiences of LGBT+ people, but it is also nice to get stories where they just get to be normal people (because they are) embraced by the society in which they live.

I really loved the world-building in this story. The magic system was fascinating, and the history of this world felt massive but in a good way. I couldn't get enough of the history and legends revealed throughout the book and enjoyed how the characters were tied to that history in important ways. The traveling did allow for a glimpse into the cultures of many nations, and the author utilized this trope well by making each stop on the travels somehow tied into the ongoing mystery and/or the characters' pasts rather than just random obstacles. By the end of the book, I felt like I had a good understanding of the magic and political systems involved in the story and had a lot of fun learning it along the way.

I loved all the characters in this book. I love a good mystery, especially when it presents itself in the form of amnesia or a hidden identity, and Amar was the poster boy for that here. I particularly enjoyed seeing his reactions and thoughts about losing his memory because they felt real and uninhibited. His interactions with his friends and the process of him growing to trust them again was one of my favorite things to read in the book. I also really appreciated the character of Aleida for her moral ambiguity. She did some pretty awful things, but she did them for a very good reason. This dichotomy made her thoughts, actions, and interactions with the other characters really interesting to me. The final character with a POV in the book was Kesari. She struggled throughout the book to come to terms with her past and overcome her fear of her own power. Her arc of growth was well-written and really made me feel for her. All of the main characters were dealing with trauma in some way, and it was fascinating to see all the different character studies of various ways people handle and heal from painful past experiences and loss.

The author does a really great job of tackling some heavy themes in this book. The events happening really highlighted the negative impacts of imperialism and colonialism and brought them to life in an intimate way using these characters. I liked seeing how one of the characters was determined to make up for their family's role in the subjugation of others and took heartfelt actionable steps to do so. However, I felt the character's self-blaming thoughts about their role in the horrific acts committed was a bit harsh since they were only 17-years-old at the time with extremely limited power to do or change anything. That bit just sort of rubbed me the wrong way given the particulars of the situation, but I agreed with the overall sentiment that people who benefit from oppressive systems and do nothing to try to stop it are guilty to some degree from complicity. As mentioned before, the characters also provided a window into multiple ways to cope with trauma and loss. I particularly liked the way the author portrayed the usefulness of grounding and other healthy techniques of dealing with difficult emotions. Overall, the mental health rep was pretty spot on, which shouldn't come as a surprise since the author is a clinical social worker.

Overall, this was a great book with an interesting world and relatable characters. It felt a bit slow at times but not enough to decrease my enjoyment of the book. I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes next because the ending was excellent and set up some interesting conflict for the next book. Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

3.5 ⭐️

This book is a story of a group of the most mismatched people I’ve ever seen. But nevertheless, I really enjoyed getting to know each one of them.

The language and style of writing used by the author are very lovely and the world-building is very well done. The themes that were approached here are, in my understanding, very well done and I was very impressed to see them represented.

Very impressed by the book, will definitely be looking forward to the next one

Thank you Victory editing and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this amazing book!
Tethered Spirits, a book to be published in the 14th of December was an interesting and enticing read! The story was so beautifully told out that I was left screaming, banging my head, ripping my hair out after I had read the last chapter.
I felt that the author had really focused on the characters, especially Amar. All the characters in the novel had developed, and it was so exciting to see them change and discover new views of their lives. I was especially interested in Kesari who was a girl who had gone from fearing her own magic to realizing who she truly was and taking everything of her into account.
I have to say, the characters stole my heart, and they will always have a special part now that I have read about them.
I hope everyone else who reads this book enjoys it as much as I did! It’s my absolute favorite fantasy book and a great way to almost end the year!