UNBOUND

A young man’s return to his magic-infused home country may put the entire land in peril in Cunningham’s fantasy novel, one in a series.

Mick Dairner, head cook at the Governor’s manor in Iptin Province, dreams of visiting his homeland of Kartha. His beloved great-uncle Dimitri provides incentive when he gives his nephew a mysterious blue-green stone and tells him it’s time he went back (“Kartha is where you belong, and you know it as much as I do”). Mick hasn’t been to Kartha since he was a baby. His parents moved away because his secret magical ability ties him to a prophecy foretelling Kartha’s descent into a catastrophic “sickness.” After the corrupt governor coerces Mick into staying on as the cook indefinitely, Mick strikes a deal that sends him across the sea to Kartha. He quickly makes friends, but some underhanded individuals recognize him, as he’s the spitting image of his grandfather (Dimitri’s twin). Some want his power, or the gifted stone he carries; they threaten and assault Mick and even throw him in a dungeon. When it seems the prophesied sickness has reached Kartha, Mick and his new allies fight to protect their land. Cunningham, in this standalone follow-up to Blood Bound (2023), drops readers into the midst of this swiftly-paced tale. The plot turns keep coming—Mick has no choice but to make alliances with dangerous people, undertake precarious tasks, and suffer double-crossings. He’s just learning his magic capabilities and is, despite studying Kartha maps, unfamiliar with the landscape, so this naive 20-something becomes a virtual punching bag for villains. Fortunately, Mick is surrounded by reliable (and vibrant) characters, from the elderly Dairner twins to the charming Boone, who longs to meet Kartha’s alleged Witch, to Laila, the powerful Witch in question. They all face off against formidable foes, igniting an exhilarating final act and a worthy ending.

This delightfully brisk, magical story thrives with an indelible cast.