Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/15/2023 Fifty years after a falling star wreaked havoc on the prehistoric landscape, two dinosaur kingdoms are locked in a never-ending war. Eleri, a young oryctodromeus, dreams of being a storyteller, not a soldier; but when he inadvertently saves a foe’s life, he finds himself exiled to the dreaded Deadlands, a scorched desert left to lawless carnivores and offering endless ways to die. Eleri happens upon exiles from the enemy kingdom, and while they’re all desperate enough to put aside their animosity, it’s unclear how long the uneasy truce will last. When they learn of a traitorous plot to take down both kingdoms, they realize they’ll have to work together to save their worlds and return home. The terrific series opener is packed with detailed dinosaur data and humorous asides, and the world building is well developed, with intricate mythologies, governments, and histories in place from the start. The growing rapport between species is a delight, and though the focus is on friendship and family, there are deeper meditations on morality and war. A treat for any dinosaur devotee. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.