I loved Dragon Rider, so I was excited to read The Tainted Khan to continue Jai’s journey. It’s half political machinations, half battle strategy, half personal journey (how many halves was that?). The world building here is masterful, and it’s all done on a personal level. It’s not just Jai observing the different cultures. It’s Jai living immersed in them. The downside of this is that it’s a slow-building middle book. But emphatically worth reading because of the incredible first book and the incredible third book that I know Matheru will produce.

For Fans of:
- The Hobbit

This book includes:
- reconnection with ancestral lands and cultural practices
- Familiars (dragons, griffons, and more!)
- battles to the death
- insurmountable odds
- old allies
- new friends (Feng ily)
- a great battle
- huge cliff hanger

This is another masterful book from Taran Matharu. "The Tainted Khan" is extremely fast paced, with back to back action as Jai risks everything to save his people. Over and over again, Jai comes up against near impossible odds, but he is willing to fight against any adversary if it means he will have even an opportunity to make a difference.

One element I particularly enjoyed was Jai's continued exploration of his relationship to Leonid through the old emperor's diary. Their dynamic was the first element of "The Dragon Rider" that really captured my attention, and seeing it develop further in book 2 was very satisfying for me. I also loved exploring the connection between Jai and Winter, as their relationship became more complex through conflict.

I really can't recommend this series enough to all of my friends looking for a plot driven story with nonstop action and a main character with endless grit and resilience. I love Jai and his journey and can't wait for the next book in the series.

I received this eBook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Taran Matharu, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

I enjoyed my time continuing Jai's story in this amazing world. I loved to see his growth as a person, his growth with his dragon, and rising growth of power with his people. This book really creates lots of tension for the next novel(s) to come in this series. I am looking foward to reading the next one and continuing on this journey with Jai.

This was a strong sequel in the Soulbound Saga series, it had that epic fantasy element that I was looking for and was hooked from the first page. The characters had that feel that I wanted and was engaged with what was happening with them. Taran Matharu has a strong writing style and had that element that I wanted. I really enjoyed how good the concept was and how it was used in the storyline. I hope there is more in this series and from Taran Matharu.

3.5 Stars!

This second installment in this series, I think suffers from a uneven pacing. The MMC, Jai spends a lot of time in the first half of this book learning the ways of the Steppefolk, and the reader is kinda led by the hand through a new culture and terms and new characters. There are moments of action and political intrigue, but they were far apart and not exciting.

Once Jai makes a step up in leadership, then the story gets more interesting. But, the story did lull again when Jai leaves the clan and begins learning more about what it means to be soulbound and more about the magic in this world. He meets up with some familiar characters again and that was really nice to see.

The last 50 pages of this book were a wild ride, but I don't know if it quite made up for the first 500 either. I really appreciate what this author is doing here, a fantasy world inspired by different people groups (Romans, Mongols, Nordic, etc.) all in their struggles with one another. Adding in the creatures and soulbonding with them is such a great concept! I just wish that some of the Steppe people part was more condensed. I will be continuing with the series, as the Epilogue did a good job of peaking my interest in the next installment!

I was waiting for the ending of this one, because as the reader I got that as soon as the secret room in the first book was shown. So much for your worldview Jai! Taran Matharu's "The Tainted Khan" is out now and is a fantastic continuation of the Soulbound Saga.

After the prison break Jai has made it to the Steppe, home of the people he dreams about and has never met. As the son of Rohan he thought it would all be smooth once he get there. NOPE, guy has been kept purposely ignorant of his culture and is now getting some revelations about his people. Now Jai is fighting for his life, a place in the soctiey he has dreamed about, all while juggling a growing dragon, and the looming Sabine invasion. Easy right?

Reasons to read:
-More cultivation story with neat animals, now with murder birds
-Those are definitely wooly rhinos
-World gets more fleshed out with the different groups from the Steppes
-Winter has gotten bigger
-Revelations!

Cons:
-OK now I don't know what's going to happen aside from a super awkward family dinner maybe

Whoa, this was such a huge improvement over the first book! Jai grew so much throughout the course of this book.

This book was long. I feel like parts of it could have been cut out to make the pace faster. I also feel that it took too long to mention Erica or to give background on what happened in the first book. I liked the story just could have used some better editing. Made me think of The Game of Thrones with the Khaleesie and Danerys conquering the tribes.

I loved this. I was worried going into The Tainted Khan that it would suffer from "second book syndrome" but it exceeded my expectations. In this book we really got to see Jai come into his own and learn about the Great Steppe and it's people. We also had the opportunity to join him as he returned to the place of his birth.

The main switch from Dragon Rider to The Tainted Khan in my mind, was the shift to regional politics and away from learning what it meant to be soulbound (though there is a good chunk of this partway through the book as well). The majority of this book focuses on the customs and organization of the tribes of the Great Steppe and Jai's return to, and place within, his father's tribe, the Kidara.

This book really opened the world up for future adventure as well. We witness other movers and shakers and learn more about the scattered resistance to the Sabine Empire. We also hear more about the original war between the Steppe and the Sabines and witness changes to the Steppe that have happened since its end.

I'm sad to have finished The Tainted Khan because now I'll once again be stuck waiting for the story to continue.

I got this arc after the book came out but thank you for the copy. This was a great follow up to Dragon Rider although I appreciated that it felt different than the first one, as there are more characters involved. I liked that it felt we really picked up just as we left off in book one when book two started.

The Tainted Khan is a book I've really been looking forward to! I absolutely devoured Dragon Rider last year. I love a good epic fantasy and dragons are my favorite mythical creatures, so how could I resist? The Tainted Khan really took us on a wild ride as Jai is back in his homeland for the first time since he was a child. He has to navigate a world that is no longer familiar and convince his people that he is the son of the former High Khan. I really loved Jai's bond with Winter during this book. As Winter grows and Jai becomes more experienced , their soulbond strengthens and becomes something special and beautiful. Jai faces many obstacles in this book and has to figure out how to overcome them with strength, creativity, and cunning. I loved it!

The Tainted Khan was everything I wanted it to be and more. Thank you for picking up right where you left off; I would've slightly died inside as I was foaming at the mouth for us to jump right back in. I actually think this book was better than the first. The action was great, the description was delicious, and Jai's character progression was so well done.

2.75 stars. I really, really loved "Dragon Rider," the first book of this series. It straddled the line between regular fantasy and high fantasy and it teased at a much bigger world I was so excited to learn about. But most of what I HOPED would happen did not happen in this second book. Instead, we got hundreds of pages of the political workings of the Steppe tribes interspersed with Jai soul breathing. Over and over again. At the end of the day, I don't feel like the plot progressed in the slightest and Jai seemed like a whole new character in this second book. Winter, the dragon, is barely pertinent to the story (which considering the first book is called "Dragon Rider," you'd assume she'd be a major plot point for most of the series). I will still continue with the series, but if book 3 doesn't actually move the plot forward, I'll be quitting after that. This feels like it could be a really solid trilogy and is instead going to be dragged out for 5-6 books.

Dear Diary,

Just finished The Tainted Khan and… wow. This book was epic in so many ways. The pacing, the stakes, the way everything escalated—it kept me hooked. There was one plot twist I totally saw coming from a mile away (not mad, just proud of myself), but that ending? Total curveball. I did not see that coming, and now I desperately need Book Three like, yesterday.

If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t mind a little less gore next time—there were moments I had to put the book down and just breathe. Some extra romance and a touch more political intrigue would really balance things out, I think. The world is so rich, and there’s so much potential for deeper dynamics beyond the battlefield.

Also, very important PSA: you absolutely need to read Book One first. Book Two builds heavily on the foundation set there, and jumping in out of order would not only be confusing but would seriously spoil the emotional punches of the first novel.

All in all, I’m emotionally wrecked—but in the best way. Onward to Book Three… whenever it decides to exist.

Love,
A slightly traumatized but very satisfied reader

The Tainted Khan was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, and it absolutely delivered. After loving Dragon Rider, I reread it in preparation for this second installment—and I’m so glad I did. This sequel picks up shortly after the events of book one, and I appreciated how seamlessly it continued the story. So often second books feel like a tonal shift or a jarring transition, but this one stayed true to the original while diving deeper into its core themes.

Although it’s billed as adult fantasy, I’d say the series straddles the line between YA and adult—especially in its pacing and tone. That said, The Tainted Khan doesn’t shy away from the harsher edges of its world. It delves into the brutal realities of tribal warfare, shifting allegiances, and political intrigue, with characters frequently forced into moral dilemmas that test their loyalty and sense of identity.

The first quarter of the book is slower-paced as it leans into these deeper thematic explorations. If you found book one a bit slow, you might find this one even more of a challenge. Personally, I loved the additional depth—especially the continued development of the magic system and Jai’s struggle to master it. His connection with Winter, his dragon-animal companion, also gets more attention here, and that relationship remains one of the emotional anchors of the story.

There’s something really compelling about how this book broadens the world too—with terror birds, dragons, woolly mammoths, and other creatures tied to the various tribes, there’s a constant sense of discovery. At its heart, though, this is Jai’s hero’s journey. While the arc can be somewhat predictable—we know he’ll rise to the challenge—it’s the how that keeps it interesting. His internal battles, especially as he reconciles personal desire with responsibility, heritage, and the expectations of those around him, add emotional richness to the narrative.

One of my favorite elements was the inclusion of Leonid’s diary. I loved how important it became by the end of the book, and I suspect many readers will find themselves flipping back to revisit earlier entries with new context.

Ultimately, The Tainted Khan gave me exactly what I wanted: a deeper, richer continuation of a story and world I’ve come to love. Book three can’t come soon enough—especially as I’m eager to learn more about the Dansk and their mysterious role in this saga.

I did not finish this book. I found the story hard to get into and was disappointed. I would have liked some recap of the events of the first book as well. I thought the first book was ok, so I didn’t have high expectations for the second but it was definitely a let down.

Taran Matharu continues the exciting tale of Jai who has escaped from the Sabine Empire where he was raised as a hostage. In the great steppe of his father’s people there are many tribes wandering the waste lands , one of them ruled by his uncle. Jai not only has to learn to survive the desert people that he had left as a baby, he also has to increase the magical abilities that come from his bond to his growing dragon Winter. Once he finds his uncle’s tribe, he must become not only The Tainted Khan (hard from Harper Voyager) , but somehow unite the scattered tribes against the Sabine Empire, now led by the man who had killed Jai’s brothers. I really like this series and look forward to the final book.

After really enjoying the first book, this one was sadly a bit of a disappointment for me. I love Winter, and the book definitely had its enjoyable parts, but overall, it was way too long, and I really considered DNFing multiple times because of how bored I was during the slower parts. I loved all the moving parts of the first book but this one just had a very different feel for me. I don’t think I will be continuing this series.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalleyUk and HarperCollins Uk, Harper Fiction, for an eARC of The Tainted Khan in return for an honest review.

The Tainted Khan is the second book in The Soulbound Saga series, following the first book Dragon Rider. In this story we pick up with Jai separating from the rest of the characters in the Steppe, the land from where he originated, ready to regain the title of Khan, his birthright. This is an epic adventure from him learning the basics about life within the tribe to all of the obstacles he must cross, both to gain the trust of the people, and to wage war against their enemies.

What drew my attention to the first book was the storyline of the dragons. I felt like this was a little slow over the first 100 pages of this second book, as there was very little of Winter (Jai's dragon) in it; the book definitely picked up more as it progressed and I was very happy with how much page time we then got with Winter. This is a longer book than I would normally read, but I think the length of this (over 500pages) was perfect. The author spent the time to show us more depth to Jai, and even though he read a little young, I was rooting for him and pleased with the character progress that we got with him. I look forward to spending more time with Jai, in this world, in the next one.

I recommend this is If you like epic political fantasies, with dragons, gorgeous descriptions of the natural scenery, and well written fight scenes.

Jai finally made it to the Steppe, his birthplace & his people, only to find that its inhabitants aren't exactly waiting with open arms to receive him. Nor is his freedom or safety guaranteed. Jai needs an army to fight the Sabines, but first he needs to learn the language and culture of his own people. He needs to become a leader instead of a hostage servant. And he needs to grow stronger, because despite all the trials he faced on his way to the Steppes and freedom, there's still worse to come. 

Like the first book, this sequel was a fantastic mix of progression fantasy, politics, magic, and war. The world building added so much depth - a whole new culture, as different from the civilized city dwelling Sabines as night is from day. I really like how the plot constantly changed between fighting to exploring, from learning magic to strategizing for war. From making new friends to searching for old ones and then to meeting old foes. There was a lot covered in this book, and I love how each page was a new moment and not a dull repetition of swords swinging & slaying.

Jai came to the Steppes expecting to find the legendary people who had almost defeated Leonid. He came looking for his father's great army, but the stories from history don't match the current reality. He'll need to use every strategy he ever learned from his enemy, need to stretch his creativity and his every last fiber of strength & mana to not just survive, but to fight and to win.

I enjoyed how Jai arrived as a stranger to his people and their culture, knowing more about the people who enslaved him than he does about his own. Jai comes to appreciate his homeland and people, but has to fight to overcome their prejudices and their disinterest at restarting a war they don't see coming for them. 

It's war. It's bloody, it's messy. It's harder to appreciate a war, brilliant strategies and all, than it is to appreciate a duel, which is easier to follow & root for. I'm not a big fan of war plots, but the book was very well written, and even the battles, which didn't take up a large part, was easy to get through, while adding the suspense and weight it needed.

My favorite parts in this book were at the Jedi type of magic school and also the plot twist at the end that I suspected, from hints dropped throughout the book, but still is a brilliant plot twist that I'm eagerly waiting to see how it will affect Jai and the story.

While trying to raise up an army, Jai also learns more about his father, finding himself walking down the same path. Gathering an army of a scattered, disbanded people to fight against the same old enemy. But this time, Jai needs to learn the lessons from history, of past defeat, and find a way to win where his father and people lost.