Worldbuilding and story is awesome, as expected with the sequel to Dragon Rider. Again, this should go without saying; this is NOT fourth wing. This is more game of thrones coded then anything. I love reading about Jai and Winter's relationship, and how they grow together. I feel like Jai as a character really grows in the sequel, and i am excited for more.

The Tainted Khan is an exciting and engaging installment to this epic fantasy series.

Jai has escaped the Sabine empire, for now. With his young dragon, Winter, he is traveling the steppes in hope of finding his father's tribe. Instead, he comes across the Tainted, a group of outcasts ruled by his uncle. Jai needs to not only master the political maneuvering it takes to rule, but also learn to strengthen his magic and bond with Winter. In order to reclaim his title, Jai must risk everything.

I really enjoyed this second book in the Soulbound Saga. This is truly an epic fantasy, and a lot of time is spent on introducing us to the people of the Steppes and deepening the magic system. It is intricate and expertly woven, and easy to fall into the story. I enjoyed getting to know the dragons a bit more too. I also liked the romance between Jai and Erica, while this blossomed in Book 1, we get a bit more in this book. The romance is not the major storyline, however, but it is a motivation for Jai to win the war so they can be reunited. Jai's character development over these two books is really well done, from being basically a servant to leading an army. The end definitely left me with some questions, so I am hoping that there will be more books in this series. Overall, I felt this was a solid second book in the series, and I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

4.5/5, Rounded up for NetGalley.

What an epic continuation of the series!

The Tainted Khan starts right where Dragon Rider leaves off. This book is all about character growth and our main characters coming into their own strength. The beginning might seem a bit slow, however being a Character Driven Reader, it was so interesting seeing Jai learn about his people that he'd been separated from his whole life.

Seeing Jai take charge while still being humble and true to his character, along with the continued world building, and politics made for an enjoyable read.

And that ending?! WHAT! What a cliffhanger!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eArc.

The Tainted Khan
by Taran Matharu
The Soulbound Saga #2
Fantasy Epic
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: April 22, 2025
Avon and Harper Voyager
Ages: 16+

Jai and Winter are held by the Tainted, a tribe of outcasts, the reason forgotten, but under a banner of trade, he and his dragon are traded to the Kidara, his father's tribe, but his uncle rules, and will not give up the throne.

Knowing that the legionaries and Gryphon Guard of the Sabine Empire are once again coming into the Steppe, to try and claim the lands once again, and will kill any tribe who stands in their way, and capture and enslave the rest, Jai must do something to protect the Steppe and its people.

But if left up to Jai's uncle, the lands would be forfeit for gold and a life of luxury.


Book two of the series was a disappointment. Sure, there were some action scenes, but they were short and few. Most of the book was about Jai's trek... spoilers...

There were some interesting characters and situations, but the story itself was slow due to Jai's need to ascend and the need to breathe mana. It got repetitive, thus boring! Pages of a decent recap of the previous book were needed more! Yeah, the recap was majorly lacking. There was some sprinkling, but it was sporadic, leaving the reader lost until the end, and then the reader is reminded.

There is violence, gore, and death, which makes this book unsuitable for readers under sixteen. There was a minuscule amount of adult content, but it's somewhat tamer than a TV soap opera.

I did like the first book, but this one wasn't as good, leaving me to question if I really want to read the next in the series.

A low...

3 Stars

4 ⭐️
1 🔥❤️‍🔥

After the edge-of-your-seat excitement of Dragon Rider, The Tainted Khan was a much different book. Although it is necessary to build Jai's character, to understand who he is, particularly regarding his heritage, he also needs to know who he is, not just a slave. His growth is vital to the story to come, and this was that book. Winter only added to the story with her utter devotion to Jai and his to her. This book has a slower pace and is much different than the first. As I said, it is necessary for the foundation of the series, and I did enjoy it. I can only imagine how this series will continue, and I'm eager to join in on this adventure.

Thank you, NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager, for the eArc; these opinions are mine.

So good! It picked up right after the end of the first book. It was great to be back in this world.
Jai and Winter both need to get stronger if he is to take his tribe from his uncle. They will all need to be stronger with the Sabine getting closer.

I loved seeing Jai and Winter grow so much. I also loved the reunions. Fantastic battles! And the writing is great as well. Some of the book was predictable, but that ending was not! I need the next one!

The Tainted Khan picks up right where Dragon Rider left off. It was a great middle book that definitely sets up the series for the great battle that has been brewing over the two books.

I really enjoyed the politics of this book! I liked reading about Jai learning about where he came from and stepping into his role within the tribe. I also liked that Jai looked to non violence where he could and tried to forge a new path for the people of the Steepe. The politics and culture in this book were awesome and I’m really looking forward to the next installment.

My only complaint was the first half’s pacing was inconsistent to me. This is mostly because it is a lot of set up. It definitely picks up the second half though.

Thank you for NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC for exchange for an honest review!

I'm continuing to enjoy The Soulbound Saga series! The author does a good job of blending the historical inspiration of the Indo-Scythian nomadic people and the conquering Romans into a fantasy world. Yes, there are dragons, but we're also introduced to a multitude of other beasts that can form magical bonds with humans.

The Tainted Khan starts right where we left Jai at the end of Dragon Rider. This second installment really focuses on Jai's growth as a character and learning about the culture of his people who he was kept from his whole life. I appreciate that he has to struggle through his ignorance and figure out what it means to lead and the sacrifices that come with it. While this is most likely the middle book of a trilogy, there is still a satisfying complete story arc.

I do think this book could have benefited from one more round of edits. There are some instances of words and information that would be repeated from one paragraph to the next. They could have been removed to help this book not feel as slow at times. It wasn't enough to pull me out of the story, but it was still noticeable. I will be continuing the series to see how it all ends for Jai and Winter!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Voyager, for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an incredible follow up to the first in the series. I am really enjoying this author. This book starts off where the previous one left off, though eventually Jai is able to fully grow into a leader. There are a few more surprises that I won't discuss here and there was a part of the book dedicated to training that felt a bit rushed-as it was outside of the main thrust of the story, but nonetheless, this was a very entertaining read. The gathering of forces felt a bit like Daenarys in Game of Thrones, And while there wasn't nearly as much grim in this book as in the first one, I can imagine there being more darkness in the next book. This one felt almost Sanderson-like in the positive things that happened to the protagonist after a rough start. A reader then wonders what horror will come next after the trials of the first book. I cannot wait to read the next one!

As the second book in the Soulbound Saga, this story continues Jai’s journey through the politics of his homeland and development of his magic skills. I enjoyed seeing Jai mature through the book, including his relationships with Winter and his romantic interest. That said, I think the pacing was a bit slow in this book, especially the first half. It falls into that middle book syndrome where it seems to be building towards something bigger but not much happens besides the set up for the next battle. I am looking forward to the next book.

Thank you Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Except for the fact that I thought this book was long winded, especially the first half, I really enjoyed it. I loved learning about the different cultures that Jai encounters and his developing bond with his dragon Winter. But the pacing was on the slow side for most of the book and I did find myself losing interest at times, but I always went back to continue the story.

Jai is a great main character. He is intelligent, kind and only resorts to killing when he had to. He shows some growth in his character in this book, but not quite enough. I loved his friendship with Feng, and how quickly they bonded and learned to trust each other. Jai is a bit of a fish out of water as he re enters his father’s world. Feng helps him navigate the world and is always there with good advice for him. Jai’s journey to become the best version of himself is a long one, and a dangerous one. But he does surround himself with allies and people he trusts.

I loved his relationship with Winter, his bonded dragon. Even when she isn’t in the picture much, he is always thinking about her and her well being. The bonding becomes much stronger as Jai’s magical abilities grows. Once he masters his magic, their relationship and bond grew in leaps and bounds.

The best part of this book is learning all about the different cultures that live on the Steppe. Not just the Kidara, but the other tribes and some of the cultures that live on the fringes of his world. Jai works hard to understand their ways and to bring all of them together to fight against the Sabine Empire.

While the world building was great, the pacing and overall length of the book was long and slow. Although there are short scenes of action in the first half, they weren’t quite enough to break up some of the more mundane parts of the story. Things don’t get really interesting until the second half of the book as Jai goes off on his own to learn more about his bond with Winter and to ascend to a higher level. The fight scenes are well written and full of action, but also seemed a bit on the slow side. I never felt that Jai was ever in real danger, although there were a few times I worried about Winter.

Overall though, if you enjoyed the first book, Dragon Rider, then you will probably like this one as well. I look forward to the next book as there was a bit of a bombshell dropped at the end of this one. Plus I really want to see how Jai’s journey ends.

Absolutely loved dragon rider and was thrilled to be invited to read book 2!

I loved this one even more than the first! The world building and characters development was awesome

After devouring Dragon Rider I knew I needed my hands on this epic continuation immediately. I couldn’t have been more thrilled to be approved for this ARC. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for this amazing opportunity. Now on to my review……

Returning to this amazing world was the highlight of my month! Jai is an amazing MMC with all the determination and foolishness needed to rise above every challenge presented to him. This is an epic continuation with dense world building and a twist at the end that left me tossing my kindle across the room! Only thing I’m mad about is now having to wait even longer for the next in the series.

If you love dense world building, epic adventures, characters you will both hate and love than this is a series for you!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I entered into this book having not read the first one, but the story was so self-contained that it almost read as a stand-alone. While characters and plot moments of the past are mentioned, the book is focused solely on the current situation Jai and his dragon Winter face as he returns to the steppes in hopes of reconnecting with his heritage, reclaiming his title as his father’s son, and building an army big enough to destroy the Sabine Legion even now on its way to conquer the Great Steppes.

Drawing inspiration from Mongolia, the book spends a great deal of time with the tribes and their woolly rhinoceros mounts called khiro. He has to re-learn the language of his childhood as he was given to the Sabine palace as a hostage; he has to learn to fight as they do, to ride a khiro, to maneuver through tribal politics, and eventually to learn how to use his magic.

It’s very much of a coming of age of a young warrior king who makes friends along the way, is too honest for his own good, and does his best to kill as little as necessary — which ends up costing him. He falls in love, learns the truth about his mother, and does his best to become the king his people need hm to be. It’s a fun adventure story with a great deal of world building and some nice plotting.

However, the characters are all a little less developed than I would have personally liked. Jai has a great deal happen to him, but his character never really changes. He gets better clothes and a bigger tent, but he doesn’t really grow as a person. Still. the writing is good, the pace is good, and I was entertained enough to read this book in a single day. It’s easy to read, and I do recommend it if you’re looking for some nice, old-school heroism with a solid Mongolian flavoured world building.

I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

I absolutely loved Dragon Rider, so I was very excited about this sequel. Overall, I did enjoy it, but I did not love it as much as I had hoped to.

Dragon Rider was a book that built with a lot of world building on the front end and a lot of action towards the end. I expected The Tainted Khan to pick up on the momentum from Dragon Rider. Unfortunately, it felt like it put the brakes on the pace from the previous book. It was slow to start with a lot of world building in the beginning. While this is not a pace I generally mind, it is a pace I want in a first book or a standalone, as the pace of a sequel it didn’t work for me.

I did still overall enjoy the story and where it went, I just wish the pace and structure of the story had been sped up.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Second book is even better than the first. Excellently written and still in love with the world building that's been accomplished. The character growth is a chef's kiss and Jai is such a great MC. Seriously, can't say enough good things about this series.

The Tainted Khan is an entertaining sequel to Dragon Rider, but the series does have room for improvement.

I personally find the characters to be a strength of this series. Jai remains extremely likeable and thus it's easy to become invested in his story. Sure, he solves issues with unusual ease, but he remains humble and good-natured about it. The new characters such as Feng and Sindri are a welcome addition to the cast.

Oddly, worldbuilding elements like the magic system and even Winter herself took a back seat during this installment. This is especially evident in the first half of the novel. However, I did enjoy learning about the different cultures Jai encounters.

Plot wise I definitely found the first third of the book the most difficult to get through. Thankfully, the story does pick up and the last hundred pages were a breeze. Matharu ends the story on both a triumphant and conflicting note for Jai which had me both satisfied and curious to see the fall out.

I'm itching to see where The Soulbound Saga goes next.

So I'm about 75% through this book and its so long I'm taking a bit of a break. THAT DOES NOT Mean I don't love it, I just had a lot going on and wanted to write my feedback now and complete my overall review on Goodreads when I'm done.

Ok. so Book one was everything! I love the characters, the world, the background and the direction of the story so much. Book two started and almost felt like a completely different story. We lost our other main characters and even the Dragon for a bit. The story is intriguing and VERY unique and I'm assuming it will all tie back around because thats what Fantasy Series do...so this all feels like important character building.. but it just felt a bit long before getting to the point of this side quest.
So that's where I am. I love that Jai puts his all into learning and accepting his heritage. Hoping and praying romance is coming back into the picture soon and more magic learning and growth from Winter.

The Tainted Khan begins immediately after Dragon Rider ends. I really enjoyed Dragon Rider– while it superficially has a lot in common with standard adventures about an orphaned male protagonist getting a dragon, there’s also political intrigue, adventure, an interesting magic system, and more. I was particularly struck with the elegance of the world-building and how it shapes the characters. For example, Jai is the third son and the son of a concubine– of lower status than his brothers, who are also royal hostages, to the empire. Thus, he’s chosen to tend to the former emperor because, while he may learn a lot of history and politics through osmosis, he’s less likely to ever rule his father’s people. His brothers, by contrast, are mere playthings of the imperial heir so they won’t rise to be dangerous.

In Tainted Khan, we see how Jai’s time with Leonid, the former emperor, has paid off. Initially, Jai finds himself the captive of a tribe of Tainted, steppe people who are considered virtually untouchables by the Great Tribes. With no resources other than his own cleverness and his young dragon Winter, how can Jai return to his father’s tribe and rise to power?

Second volumes in trilogies are tough– even the best ones are often just bridges and lack distinction compared to the first and third– but this one was great. A LOT of stuff happens, we see more of the world (and I LOVE the steppe-inspired fantasy. I can’t recall another other than Elizabeth Bear’s Range of Ghosts), and many of the events feel dangerous and uncertain. I think Jai’s tremendous growth here and the timing feels a little unrealistic, but his inadvertent tutelage under Leonid gives it context. Some readers might also find some fault in the pacing, but I just sat back and watched the story happen.

Highly recommended, but start with Dragon Rider of course.