Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/24/2022 Gr 4–7—In this prequel to the "School for Good and Evil" series, Rafal and Rhian, the twin headmasters for the prestigious academy, have encountered something they never expected. The school's Storian, a magic pen that writes the stories of good and evil legends, has made a mistake—or has it? When young troublemaker Aladdin is chosen for the school of good, Rafal, headmaster of evil, accuses Rhian, headmaster of good, of magicking the pen to do his bidding, upending the balance of good and evil and brotherly love. How will the brothers mend this rift and save the school? A colorful cast of fairy-tale royalty pepper the pages with all of the classic elements of a good versus evil showdown. Readers will recognize their favorite characters, from Aladdin to Captain Hook, and relish a fresh take on their origin stories. Main characters are white, and diverse secondary characters round out a rich cast. Readers who have no prior knowledge of the series will find this prequel somewhat disjointed. VERDICT Action-packed and full of adventure, this series prequel is a summer hit. Purchase where the series is popular and hand it to those who have read the series, but encourage new readers to try other books in the canon first.—Maryjean Riou - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/15/2022 In this prequel to Chainani’s New York Times best-selling School for Good and Evil series, we meet Rhian and Rafal, the twin brothers chosen by the Storian (a magical pen that writes the fairy tales of this world) to lead the School for Good and Evil because their love for each other, despite opposing natures, will keep the balance between good and evil. The Storian is supposed to favor neither side: sometimes Good wins, and sometimes Evil, just like in real life. Yet lately, Good has seen victory after victory, leaving Rafal, the Evil School Master, wondering if the pen is playing favorites. This is a story meant to show how the School of Good and Evil came about, and for all its strengths, that purpose results in a slightly overlong, anticlimactic ending. The writing is fun and engaging, however, and there are some truly heart-wrenching scenes as the two brothers struggle against their natures and outside forces. Their love for one another is everything, yet for one brother, it may no longer be enough. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.