Review: Godbound by Masha Sova

June 6, 2026

Synopsis:

They branded her a sinner.
She chose to become a threat.

In a kingdom where a forgotten goddess’s curse has become law—where purity is power and desire is a death sentence—Raylane has lived her life playing the perfect girl. Obedient. Untouched. Destined for the crown.

All so she might one day reshape a realm that damns cursed women like her mother… women who dared to fall in love.

Until one kiss ruins everything.

Branded impure and cursed with rot-magic that spreads by touch, Raylane is cast into the Trial of the Bound—a brutal arena where champions fight to the death, gods revel in blood, and power feeds on the prayers of the crowd.

Her only hope of survival? Swear fealty to the very goddess who cursed her. In return, the goddess tears a shadowbeast from another world and binds him to Raylane’s side—feral, unwilling, and the only one who can help her tame the power threatening to consume her.

He doesn’t want her. Doesn’t trust her. But their fates are entwined, and every step toward mastery binds them tighter.

As her power grows and their bond deepens, Raylane must make an impossible win the trial, free the cursed, and unleash a forgotten goddess bent on reclaiming the world… or lose everything to save those who now pray for her death.

One path leads to love.
The other, to mercy.
Both end in ruin.

Review:

The beginning drew me in immediately. A world where women are suppressed and cursed is always a way to get my attention – especially when they are held to a completely different standard than men and are always the ones blamed. Cursing all women for a man who cheated feels a bit excessive, but it certainly makes for a compelling story nonetheless.
When we meet Ray, she is looking forward to marrying the man she grew up with and trusts. Her goal is to stand up for all these women who have been wrongfully punished. Having grown up knowing her mother was one of those impacted by the curse and (unfairly – maybe) blamed, she understands that things are rarely as black and white as they seem. I was really looking forward to uncovering what truly happened.
Ray is betrayed by someone close to her, setting her carefully planned life on a completely different path. Helping a friend further complicates matters, and soon she is faced with situations where she must fight for her life. This is only the beginning of her journey and her fight for what is right.

Colour me impressed. I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, and honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. Ray is one of the best characters I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. The impossible situations she faces, her struggle to stay true to herself while protecting those around her, and her desire to change the lives of so many others make her incredibly compelling. Watching her be repeatedly disappointed by those who should care for her most was truly heartbreaking.
This is a book I will remember for a long time, and I can only hope you pick it up on your own reading journey. Absolutely worth my time.

🌙 Recension: Godbound (The Skyburn War #1) by Masha Sova
📚 Genre: Dark Romantasy
📅 Release Date: June 6, 2026
📗 available in various formats
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 455
⭐️ 5/5