I really wanted to like this book. But it was so drawn out and dry. It just didn't grab or keep my attention.

WILDBOUND was an exhilarating sequel to FORESTBORN, which was a favorite book of last year for me. This time we have two POVs: Rora and Helos, as they find themselves and their world on the brink of war from King Johl. I thought that the choice to utilize these two POVS paid off as we get to see what was happening with the Telyan army and what's happening in Eradain, which broadens our understanding of this world Becker has created. I ended up loving this one almost as much as I loved FORESTBORN, with all of its unique premise and worldbuilding, swoony romantic moments and plot twists that made your mind spin. I think my favorite moments came from the interactions between Rora and Johl. After that big reveal in book 1 (which I won't spoil), I loved seeing their complex interactions and how Rora struggles with how to view him. Johl is a great and multilayered villain who I plain old savored. I also loved all of the romantic relationships in this book, Weslyn and Rora, Helos and Finlay, all of them were so well-written. I appreciated that, while the romances were definitely there, they didn't overtake the character's story arcs but complimented them really well. I also want to commend Becker with creating a battle scene that didn't drag or make me feel lost inside of it. An epic YA Fantasy duology that kept my heart pounding from beginning to end and with characters you can't help but be invested in, WILDBOUND is a fantastic conclusion to Rora and Helos's stories, and I highly recommend it!