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Code Bound: A LitRPG/Gamelit Adventure Romance
682 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 31, 2026
About the author
Kendra Moreno
78 books828 followersKendra Moreno is secretly a spy but when she’s not dealing in secrets and espionage, you can find her writing her latest adventure. She lives in Texas where the summer days will make you melt, and southern charm comes free with every meal. She’s a recovering Road Rager (kind of) and slowly overcoming her Star Wars addiction (nope!), and she definitely didn’t pass on her addiction to her son (she did). She has one hellhound named Mayhem who got tired of guarding the Gates of Hell and now guards her home against monsters. She’s a geek, a mother, a scuba diver, a tyrannosaurus rex, and a wordsmith who sometimes switches out her pen for a sword.
If you see Kendra on the streets, don’t worry: you can distract her with talks about Kylo Ren or Loki.
#LokiLives #BringBackBenSolo
To learn more about Kendra Moreno, you can visit her website, kendramorenoauthor.com, or joing her Facebook group, Kendra's World of Wonder.
If you see Kendra on the streets, don’t worry: you can distract her with talks about Kylo Ren or Loki.
#LokiLives #BringBackBenSolo
To learn more about Kendra Moreno, you can visit her website, kendramorenoauthor.com, or joing her Facebook group, Kendra's World of Wonder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 7, 2026
Prepare to be sick of me with how much I’m about to be talking about this book for the foreseeable future. I’m going to be like Oprah handing out this book as a recommendation! I am fully aware we’re only halfway through the year but I’m standing 10 toes down that this will still be my top read of 2026 by the end of the year..because what do you mean this is a LitRPG, and as someone who’s video game credentials consist of super Mario and animal crossing, this book has me in an absolute chokehold!
There wasn’t a single dull moment in this dark dystopian, why choose, LitRPG, the banter, Vespers guild of men that she collects along the way that includes a sometimes bone headed, but sensitive Locke (a formerly enslaved man servant), Cipher who’s currently lacking body, but he does give her XP just for breathing so he’s useful, Havoc the broody warden legend, Stryker the one who’s currently hunting her (verdict still unclear whether he just wants her life force or to take her to pound town..probably both), and then Steve, yeah considering he’s just an orbit a rings with hundreds of eyes with a great sense of fashion despite the lack of body, I’d consider him more the team mascot. Then we have the queen Svetlana destroyer of worlds, slicer of heads, aka her sassy, make men grovel at her feet, feminine empowerment praying mantis familiar. So in other words every single character was interesting and unique.
In Dross life is hard, breathers choose to die on the streets, food is basically non-existent, and it’s pretty much uninhabitable, while the wealthy and powerful live in the Luxe, giving them scraps, but at least Vesper has her bestie Vox. That is until they deceive the wrong gang leader and have no choice but to enter the Harrow. The Luxe’s form of entertainment and promise to a better life. In order to get into the Luxe you must survive the deadly Harrow and level up. Only when the gate opens for them to escape into the Harrow they are torn apart and Vesper gets pulled through alone, not only does she lose her self proclaimed sister, but the price to enter the Harrow is her soul.
I truly cannot do this book justice with any review I write so I will just tell you again that this was my top read of the year, and it also pulled me out of a horrible reading slump. For my millennial book besties I can guarantee you’ll appreciate the funny Titanic, Wolf of Wallstreet, as well as many other nostalgic and absurdly funny references. The absolute feminine rage, and an FMC who is not only a true badass, but doesn’t make poor/dumb decisions. Fun quests, challenges, and minor boss battles that will have you feeling like you’re living within this unique, and creative world. Kendra had me laughing over mosquitoes..literal evil incarnate bugs. I can guarantee you’ll be glued to every single page of this book!
Thank you so much to Kendra Moreno for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review. Now how much XP do I need for book 2?!
There wasn’t a single dull moment in this dark dystopian, why choose, LitRPG, the banter, Vespers guild of men that she collects along the way that includes a sometimes bone headed, but sensitive Locke (a formerly enslaved man servant), Cipher who’s currently lacking body, but he does give her XP just for breathing so he’s useful, Havoc the broody warden legend, Stryker the one who’s currently hunting her (verdict still unclear whether he just wants her life force or to take her to pound town..probably both), and then Steve, yeah considering he’s just an orbit a rings with hundreds of eyes with a great sense of fashion despite the lack of body, I’d consider him more the team mascot. Then we have the queen Svetlana destroyer of worlds, slicer of heads, aka her sassy, make men grovel at her feet, feminine empowerment praying mantis familiar. So in other words every single character was interesting and unique.
In Dross life is hard, breathers choose to die on the streets, food is basically non-existent, and it’s pretty much uninhabitable, while the wealthy and powerful live in the Luxe, giving them scraps, but at least Vesper has her bestie Vox. That is until they deceive the wrong gang leader and have no choice but to enter the Harrow. The Luxe’s form of entertainment and promise to a better life. In order to get into the Luxe you must survive the deadly Harrow and level up. Only when the gate opens for them to escape into the Harrow they are torn apart and Vesper gets pulled through alone, not only does she lose her self proclaimed sister, but the price to enter the Harrow is her soul.
I truly cannot do this book justice with any review I write so I will just tell you again that this was my top read of the year, and it also pulled me out of a horrible reading slump. For my millennial book besties I can guarantee you’ll appreciate the funny Titanic, Wolf of Wallstreet, as well as many other nostalgic and absurdly funny references. The absolute feminine rage, and an FMC who is not only a true badass, but doesn’t make poor/dumb decisions. Fun quests, challenges, and minor boss battles that will have you feeling like you’re living within this unique, and creative world. Kendra had me laughing over mosquitoes..literal evil incarnate bugs. I can guarantee you’ll be glued to every single page of this book!
Thank you so much to Kendra Moreno for allowing me to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review. Now how much XP do I need for book 2?!
June 12, 2026
This book was EVERYTHING I love! Why choose, dark fantasy, dystopian and LitRPG progression!!! I won’t lie I was nervous when I heard it had all that in it just bc it’s a lot to put in one book but it was done SO WELL! Loved the characters and the world and it was fun but also dark and unhinged! Svetlana the praying mantis is EVERYTHING (reminds me of Princess Donut in DCC) definitely recommend checking this out when it’s out!
July 22, 2026
Six MOTHAFUGGIN stars. I don’t even know if I have the words to review this because it’s left my jaw on the floor over that ending!!
I’ve heard a few mutuals rave about this book and I can see why!!, I was lucky enough to receive it as an ARC and omfg this was everything I could have ever wanted in a Lit RPG Dystopian, Fantasy Romance Why Choose. When you think about it you wonder how it could work, but it works so well. Some of it sneaks up on you slowly.
The nostalgia this gave me, imagine mixing the hunger games with the entire Super Mario World video game, and mix in some fantasy elements with banter. At one point I was fan-casting this entire book because it was literally playing like a movie in my head.
Listen I just finished this and I’m literally telling you this is a book I will WILLINGLY come back and reread as a comfort read because it was that good.
Our main character Vesper is struggling in the “slums” in this dystopian world and there’s a chance to live a better life if she enters the “harrow”. Which comes with its own rules and trials, but no one really knows when this gate opens. There’s villians, there’s life or death situations that come into play, and the main plot which I won’t give away because you NEED to read this and experience it on your own. There’s NPC’s, Familiars, really awesome “powers”, found family, a really slow burn subplot.
I’m just obsessed, this releases July 31st!!! The next one releases this year as well so happy reading 🙂♥️
I’ve heard a few mutuals rave about this book and I can see why!!, I was lucky enough to receive it as an ARC and omfg this was everything I could have ever wanted in a Lit RPG Dystopian, Fantasy Romance Why Choose. When you think about it you wonder how it could work, but it works so well. Some of it sneaks up on you slowly.
The nostalgia this gave me, imagine mixing the hunger games with the entire Super Mario World video game, and mix in some fantasy elements with banter. At one point I was fan-casting this entire book because it was literally playing like a movie in my head.
Listen I just finished this and I’m literally telling you this is a book I will WILLINGLY come back and reread as a comfort read because it was that good.
Our main character Vesper is struggling in the “slums” in this dystopian world and there’s a chance to live a better life if she enters the “harrow”. Which comes with its own rules and trials, but no one really knows when this gate opens. There’s villians, there’s life or death situations that come into play, and the main plot which I won’t give away because you NEED to read this and experience it on your own. There’s NPC’s, Familiars, really awesome “powers”, found family, a really slow burn subplot.
I’m just obsessed, this releases July 31st!!! The next one releases this year as well so happy reading 🙂♥️
July 13, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I have a confession to make… I never thought I’d be a LitRPG girlie. Like, ever. The idea of game mechanics being woven into a story was something I was very unsure about. But here we are, and I am happily eating my words because Code Bound was SO much fun.
This book took everything I love about reading and mixed it with something completely new for me. The world building was wild, immersive, and incredibly creative. I loved getting lost in the details and exploring the different worlds, game bosses and creatures in the story.
The banter in this book was hilarious and even though I loved Vesper, Locke, Cipher and the whole crew... The one who's taking home my "favorite character award" is definitely Svetlana, aka the Slicers of Heads, prey mantis side character. She absolutely stole the show.
Then you add in a steamy why choose romance, game play visuals, and the kind of chaotic, whimsical atmosphere that gave me Alice in Wonderland vibes at times... IT ABSOLUTELY WORKED. It was strange, unique, and completely different from what I usually pick up, but that’s exactly what made it such a fun experience.
I went into this book thinking, “This probably isn’t going to be my thing,” and I left thinking, “Okay… I need more LitRPG in my life.” Kendra Moreno created something imaginative, entertaining, and surprisingly addictive, and I’m officially converted.
I have a confession to make… I never thought I’d be a LitRPG girlie. Like, ever. The idea of game mechanics being woven into a story was something I was very unsure about. But here we are, and I am happily eating my words because Code Bound was SO much fun.
This book took everything I love about reading and mixed it with something completely new for me. The world building was wild, immersive, and incredibly creative. I loved getting lost in the details and exploring the different worlds, game bosses and creatures in the story.
The banter in this book was hilarious and even though I loved Vesper, Locke, Cipher and the whole crew... The one who's taking home my "favorite character award" is definitely Svetlana, aka the Slicers of Heads, prey mantis side character. She absolutely stole the show.
Then you add in a steamy why choose romance, game play visuals, and the kind of chaotic, whimsical atmosphere that gave me Alice in Wonderland vibes at times... IT ABSOLUTELY WORKED. It was strange, unique, and completely different from what I usually pick up, but that’s exactly what made it such a fun experience.
I went into this book thinking, “This probably isn’t going to be my thing,” and I left thinking, “Okay… I need more LitRPG in my life.” Kendra Moreno created something imaginative, entertaining, and surprisingly addictive, and I’m officially converted.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have never read a LitRPG before, but the premise sounded interesting. I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this book! I didn’t want to put it down. I just needed more of Vesper, Locke, and the others that they pick up as they make their way through the game.
The video game aspect put a really different spin on the dystopian world, which I thought was really cool. We get to learn about the harsh world of Dross at the beginning, but then get transported to an Earth-inspired setting for the majority of the book. But even though they’re in the Harrow, we still learn about the world. There’s Dross, where the majority of the population are forced to live without enough to eat, and where disease runs rampant. Most people are out for themselves out of necessity, and most people end up dying young due to the cruelty of the world in one form or another. Then there’s Luxe, which we never visit, but it’s where the privileged live, completely separate from those seen as lesser. I very much appreciated how Moreno approached her critique of social hierarchies through the characters’ various encounters in the “real world” and in the game. There are many examples from in the game, but I won’t go into that as I don’t want to give the situations away.
Vesper is our FMC: she is smart and knows how to survive, but hasn’t given up her humanity. Then we have Locke, who Vesper ends up teaming up with despite being warned against it. But Locke. Oh, Locke. I love him so much. He has been traumatized and is vulnerable — not that he wants to show it — but Vesper does see through his facade, and they develop a strong camaraderie and they have each other’s backs through every battle.
We also get a nice amount of feminine rage, which I love. More feminine rage would make the world a better place in my opinion.
As Vesper and Locke continue on, trying to grind and level up, Vesper gets a familiar, who happens to be a praying mantis named Svetlana. Svetlana has a whole lot of attitude but she bonds with Vesper and even Locke starts to warm up to her eventually. There’s also Stevie, who is very over the top but is a lot of fun.
Then, this is where we start to get into the why choose territory. Now, this is quite a slow burn, but the groundwork is definitely being laid for multiple relationships. And might the boyfriends even become boyfriends?? I’m not sure yet, but I most definitely hope so. Anyway, the first addition is Havoc who is a guardian and is there to help protect them, Vesper in particular. Then we have the Leech Stryker, who is definitely dangerous but is also quite intriguing. Stryker is very much a psycho blonde, and you know what, I really do love that type of man. And last but not least, is Cipher, the system who is essentially running the game and guiding Vesper and the others. He is currently a disembodied entity, but he certainly has some mysterious plan to change that. I can’t wait to see how these relationships develop in book two.
And now, a couple of my favourite quotes with no context:
”𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯,” 𝘐 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱. “𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦.”
𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴. “𝘖𝘩, 𝘝𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸.”
“𝘐 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴… 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘯𝘰?”
We end with a cliffhanger, and I have many questions. One of the main unanswered questions is what’s so bad about a Bone Breaker (Locke’s chosen glitch). Everyone seems very serious about their warnings to Vesper, but no one has given her or Locke the full information that they seem to need.
This was such a fantastic read. I was fully into it the entire time, and I can’t wait to see where we go next!
The video game aspect put a really different spin on the dystopian world, which I thought was really cool. We get to learn about the harsh world of Dross at the beginning, but then get transported to an Earth-inspired setting for the majority of the book. But even though they’re in the Harrow, we still learn about the world. There’s Dross, where the majority of the population are forced to live without enough to eat, and where disease runs rampant. Most people are out for themselves out of necessity, and most people end up dying young due to the cruelty of the world in one form or another. Then there’s Luxe, which we never visit, but it’s where the privileged live, completely separate from those seen as lesser. I very much appreciated how Moreno approached her critique of social hierarchies through the characters’ various encounters in the “real world” and in the game. There are many examples from in the game, but I won’t go into that as I don’t want to give the situations away.
Vesper is our FMC: she is smart and knows how to survive, but hasn’t given up her humanity. Then we have Locke, who Vesper ends up teaming up with despite being warned against it. But Locke. Oh, Locke. I love him so much. He has been traumatized and is vulnerable — not that he wants to show it — but Vesper does see through his facade, and they develop a strong camaraderie and they have each other’s backs through every battle.
We also get a nice amount of feminine rage, which I love. More feminine rage would make the world a better place in my opinion.
As Vesper and Locke continue on, trying to grind and level up, Vesper gets a familiar, who happens to be a praying mantis named Svetlana. Svetlana has a whole lot of attitude but she bonds with Vesper and even Locke starts to warm up to her eventually. There’s also Stevie, who is very over the top but is a lot of fun.
Then, this is where we start to get into the why choose territory. Now, this is quite a slow burn, but the groundwork is definitely being laid for multiple relationships. And might the boyfriends even become boyfriends?? I’m not sure yet, but I most definitely hope so. Anyway, the first addition is Havoc who is a guardian and is there to help protect them, Vesper in particular. Then we have the Leech Stryker, who is definitely dangerous but is also quite intriguing. Stryker is very much a psycho blonde, and you know what, I really do love that type of man. And last but not least, is Cipher, the system who is essentially running the game and guiding Vesper and the others. He is currently a disembodied entity, but he certainly has some mysterious plan to change that. I can’t wait to see how these relationships develop in book two.
And now, a couple of my favourite quotes with no context:
”𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯,” 𝘐 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱. “𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦.”
𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴. “𝘖𝘩, 𝘝𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸.”
“𝘐 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴… 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘯𝘰?”
We end with a cliffhanger, and I have many questions. One of the main unanswered questions is what’s so bad about a Bone Breaker (Locke’s chosen glitch). Everyone seems very serious about their warnings to Vesper, but no one has given her or Locke the full information that they seem to need.
This was such a fantastic read. I was fully into it the entire time, and I can’t wait to see where we go next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Code Bound absolutely blew me away! I went into this one expecting to love it because Kendra Moreno has never let me down, but she somehow surpassed every expectation I had. Set in a dystopian future where humanity survives within massive rings known as the Cradle, the story follows Vesper as she enters the Harrow, a brutal, game-like system in which the only way to climb the ranks and escape a life of poverty is to fight, level up, and survive. I was completely hooked from the start and spent the next three days glued to my Kindle, despite having a million other things I was supposed to be doing. Every time I told myself I'd read just one more chapter, I somehow ended up reading five. The most shocking thing might be that this book is over 700 pages, and yet it absolutely flew by!
One of my favorite things was how perfectly it captured the feeling of playing an RPG video game while delivering an immersive dystopian story. As someone who grew up spending countless hours playing RPGs, there was something incredibly nostalgic about watching Vesper level up, gain abilities, and navigate the Harrow. The game mechanics were easy to follow, the progression system was fun and engaging, and I loved discovering new skills, stats, and surprises alongside the characters. Even readers who don't typically pick up LitRPGs could easily enjoy this one, especially if they already love fantasy, dystopian, or sci-fi stories.
The worldbuilding was stellar! The Cradle felt fully realized, and Moreno does an incredible job of making the setting feel both immersive and unsettling. I loved learning about the different tiers of society and seeing just how brutal life could be for those trapped at the bottom. At the same time, there are still so many mysteries surrounding how this world came to be, which left me desperate to uncover more in the future.
I also loved exploring the Harrow alongside Vesper. Each new area felt distinct, with its own challenges, dangers, and surprises that kept the story feeling fresh and exciting. No matter where the characters went, there was always something new to discover or survive. On top of that, Moreno sprinkled in plenty of pop culture references from the '90s and early 2000s. While most of them flew right over the characters' heads, they had me grinning from ear to ear thanks to the nostalgia factor.
Vesper was hands down one of my favorite FMCs in a long time. She's an absolute badass, tough, resourceful, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive, but she never loses the compassion that makes her so easy to love. In a world that constantly demands she put herself first, she still wants to help people, believes there is good in others, and tries to do what she feels is right, even when there are no easy answers. She doesn't always make the perfect choice, but that's what makes her feel so real. Even when she stumbles, her heart is always in the right place, and that had me fully invested in her journey the whole way through.
The side characters completely stole the show. Cipher brought so much humor to the story, and the banter between him, Vesper, and Locke were easily some of my favorite parts of the book. Svetlana, her animal familiar, was absolute chaos in the best possible way and had me laughing out loud multiple times. Stevie, the Ophanim, was another standout, and honestly, I would happily read an entire book focused on him. As for the men, Locke definitely owns my heart at the moment. Havoc feels like a character who is going to grow on me more as he emerges from his grumpy shell, and while I'm still undecided about Stryker, I have a feeling Moreno is going to make me love him whether I want to or not.
What I appreciated most about the romance is that even though this is a why choose series, the relationships aren't the main focus right now. The story takes its time developing those connections, giving us a true slow burn while prioritizing the larger plot, worldbuilding, and character development. Nothing felt rushed or forced, and I'm excited to see where all of these relationships go next.
And then there was that ending! Moreno absolutely ripped my heart out and left me desperate for the next book. The wait for the sequel is going to be pure torture.
If you love RPG video games, dystopian worlds, LitRPGs, found family, slow-burn why choose romance, unforgettable side characters, and stories that completely consume your life while you're reading them, Code Bound needs to be on your TBR immediately.
One of my favorite things was how perfectly it captured the feeling of playing an RPG video game while delivering an immersive dystopian story. As someone who grew up spending countless hours playing RPGs, there was something incredibly nostalgic about watching Vesper level up, gain abilities, and navigate the Harrow. The game mechanics were easy to follow, the progression system was fun and engaging, and I loved discovering new skills, stats, and surprises alongside the characters. Even readers who don't typically pick up LitRPGs could easily enjoy this one, especially if they already love fantasy, dystopian, or sci-fi stories.
The worldbuilding was stellar! The Cradle felt fully realized, and Moreno does an incredible job of making the setting feel both immersive and unsettling. I loved learning about the different tiers of society and seeing just how brutal life could be for those trapped at the bottom. At the same time, there are still so many mysteries surrounding how this world came to be, which left me desperate to uncover more in the future.
I also loved exploring the Harrow alongside Vesper. Each new area felt distinct, with its own challenges, dangers, and surprises that kept the story feeling fresh and exciting. No matter where the characters went, there was always something new to discover or survive. On top of that, Moreno sprinkled in plenty of pop culture references from the '90s and early 2000s. While most of them flew right over the characters' heads, they had me grinning from ear to ear thanks to the nostalgia factor.
Vesper was hands down one of my favorite FMCs in a long time. She's an absolute badass, tough, resourceful, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive, but she never loses the compassion that makes her so easy to love. In a world that constantly demands she put herself first, she still wants to help people, believes there is good in others, and tries to do what she feels is right, even when there are no easy answers. She doesn't always make the perfect choice, but that's what makes her feel so real. Even when she stumbles, her heart is always in the right place, and that had me fully invested in her journey the whole way through.
The side characters completely stole the show. Cipher brought so much humor to the story, and the banter between him, Vesper, and Locke were easily some of my favorite parts of the book. Svetlana, her animal familiar, was absolute chaos in the best possible way and had me laughing out loud multiple times. Stevie, the Ophanim, was another standout, and honestly, I would happily read an entire book focused on him. As for the men, Locke definitely owns my heart at the moment. Havoc feels like a character who is going to grow on me more as he emerges from his grumpy shell, and while I'm still undecided about Stryker, I have a feeling Moreno is going to make me love him whether I want to or not.
What I appreciated most about the romance is that even though this is a why choose series, the relationships aren't the main focus right now. The story takes its time developing those connections, giving us a true slow burn while prioritizing the larger plot, worldbuilding, and character development. Nothing felt rushed or forced, and I'm excited to see where all of these relationships go next.
And then there was that ending! Moreno absolutely ripped my heart out and left me desperate for the next book. The wait for the sequel is going to be pure torture.
If you love RPG video games, dystopian worlds, LitRPGs, found family, slow-burn why choose romance, unforgettable side characters, and stories that completely consume your life while you're reading them, Code Bound needs to be on your TBR immediately.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was absolutely incredible and has become one of my favorite books I’ve read in 2026! Code bound is unlike anything I have ever read before! To me, the storyline and adventure were incredibly unique and thrilling to read. The mixture of dystopian, LitRPG, why choose, and feminine rage kept me glued to every word. I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen to me!
I must start this review with the world and the adventure. This story starts with our MCs living on a planet of ruin, where everyone is fighting to survive. To escape the world of sorrow, people have an opportunity to step into the Harrow. While the Harrow may give them a chance at a better life, there have to survive deadly battles, the wrath of other players, and endure brutal elements of nature. I was enthralled with how the scenery in the Harrow continued to change, giving our MCs new challenges at every step. We didn’t even get the whole map in this book, so I can only imagine what else is to come. In the next books, I’m expecting even harder boss battles, our MCs becoming closer, tension snapping, friendships forming, and so much more! I do not want to say more to avoid spoilers, just know the world building and plot in this book are superb.
When it comes to our characters, I love them all! Vesper is a force to be reckoned with; I am so excited to see her rage burn the world. She has a fighters spirit and mentality, but she remains tender and kind as well. I can see her changing everything when it comes to Harrow and Dross, Cipher knows it too. Which leads me to mention that I did not expect to love a system/computer so much! He is one of my favorite characters and he doesn’t even have a body! Now Locke, another of our MCs, does have a body and he puts it to good use when protecting Vesper. He knows she does not NEED the protection, but he WANTS to protect her. For a man so badly used and tossed out, he makes sure to let Vesper know how much he cares for her, both in his words and his actions. There are two other MCs we meet that I am intrigued to get to know more. From what we see in this book alone, I already know they’re gonna become fan favorites fast. I also love Svetlana so much! But I dare not say more about the new MCs or her to avoid spoilers, so read Code Bound to see all I have left out ;)
I truly could go on and on about this book, but I do not wish to spoil anything. If I am already this captivated by book one, I just know the rest of this series will have me up all night to find out what’s next. This will be a book I recommend forever!
🌶️
Pepper percentage:
.06% of the pages contain spicy content
4.6% of the chapters contain spicy content
I must start this review with the world and the adventure. This story starts with our MCs living on a planet of ruin, where everyone is fighting to survive. To escape the world of sorrow, people have an opportunity to step into the Harrow. While the Harrow may give them a chance at a better life, there have to survive deadly battles, the wrath of other players, and endure brutal elements of nature. I was enthralled with how the scenery in the Harrow continued to change, giving our MCs new challenges at every step. We didn’t even get the whole map in this book, so I can only imagine what else is to come. In the next books, I’m expecting even harder boss battles, our MCs becoming closer, tension snapping, friendships forming, and so much more! I do not want to say more to avoid spoilers, just know the world building and plot in this book are superb.
When it comes to our characters, I love them all! Vesper is a force to be reckoned with; I am so excited to see her rage burn the world. She has a fighters spirit and mentality, but she remains tender and kind as well. I can see her changing everything when it comes to Harrow and Dross, Cipher knows it too. Which leads me to mention that I did not expect to love a system/computer so much! He is one of my favorite characters and he doesn’t even have a body! Now Locke, another of our MCs, does have a body and he puts it to good use when protecting Vesper. He knows she does not NEED the protection, but he WANTS to protect her. For a man so badly used and tossed out, he makes sure to let Vesper know how much he cares for her, both in his words and his actions. There are two other MCs we meet that I am intrigued to get to know more. From what we see in this book alone, I already know they’re gonna become fan favorites fast. I also love Svetlana so much! But I dare not say more about the new MCs or her to avoid spoilers, so read Code Bound to see all I have left out ;)
I truly could go on and on about this book, but I do not wish to spoil anything. If I am already this captivated by book one, I just know the rest of this series will have me up all night to find out what’s next. This will be a book I recommend forever!
🌶️
Pepper percentage:
.06% of the pages contain spicy content
4.6% of the chapters contain spicy content
Review of advance copy
'He takes a step back finally and tips up his chin. “There are no heroes here, player,” he replies. “Only survivors.”' (Ch 41)
Dark Dystopian Romantasy | High-Stakes Games | Why Choose LitRPG | Enemies-to-Lovers | Forced Proximity | Slow-Burn | Morally Grey | Found Family
"Everyone deserves the chance to survive. No matter what your statistics say.' (Ch 9)
Ok, I might have to look more into LitRPG books. This one was fun! Like Jumanji x Tron x Ready Player One x Free Guy or any of the movies and dramas where a human is sucked into a game-based world. And love the humor! I found myself LOLing or snorting a couple of times! The system was so onery, too, and I got a kick out of the players' surprised or appalled reponses. Also, I had a good time trying to guess the creatures. Some of which are just plain awesome, like "Slicer of Heads", 😅 and I want one (though I'll take it and leave the excruciating pain)! *snicker* 🤭
“We will be an unstoppable force of female rage. Men will quiver when they see us, in fear and arousal! We will chop off their heads together, like a perfect, synchronized swim team.” (Ch 25)
This story is easily addicting, which is not a great thing — only since it's almost 700 pages and working full time, I couldn't read it in one or two or even three sittings when I really want to just absorb the entire thing in one go.
Have you ever read a book and be like "Oh.my.God why is it not over yet... what?! another trial, is that really necessary?" And it's so drawn out. Yeah, this book is not like that! This one was like, "Ooo, I wonder what they'll unlock next!" Though I did wish there were more achievements unlocked and special finds or bonus quests. But it's fine as it is, I'm just being extra. 🤣 The adventures, creatures, dangers, and the slow-burn were invigorating.
'His eyes linger. Every time his eyes meet mine, my skin flushes as I think about what it is we’re dancing around. Desire. Hunger. Something else entirely.' (Ch 57)
Vesper is like a magnet for the bizarre and unhinged. They're like a band of misfits. Not to mention badass! Not sure there is a character that I didn't like or that didn't grow on me.
"Cipher’s overly sensual voice echoes in my head, making me shift my weight on my feet. What the fuck is that? And why does he sound so . . . sexy?' (Ch 9)
I did not want it to end, and of course it ended on a wicked cliffhanger!
This has to be one of my favorite books so far this year. I'm going to need a hardcopy!
eARC courtesy of Literally Yours PR / BookSprout
Dark Dystopian Romantasy | High-Stakes Games | Why Choose LitRPG | Enemies-to-Lovers | Forced Proximity | Slow-Burn | Morally Grey | Found Family
"Everyone deserves the chance to survive. No matter what your statistics say.' (Ch 9)
Ok, I might have to look more into LitRPG books. This one was fun! Like Jumanji x Tron x Ready Player One x Free Guy or any of the movies and dramas where a human is sucked into a game-based world. And love the humor! I found myself LOLing or snorting a couple of times! The system was so onery, too, and I got a kick out of the players' surprised or appalled reponses. Also, I had a good time trying to guess the creatures. Some of which are just plain awesome, like "Slicer of Heads", 😅 and I want one (though I'll take it and leave the excruciating pain)! *snicker* 🤭
“We will be an unstoppable force of female rage. Men will quiver when they see us, in fear and arousal! We will chop off their heads together, like a perfect, synchronized swim team.” (Ch 25)
This story is easily addicting, which is not a great thing — only since it's almost 700 pages and working full time, I couldn't read it in one or two or even three sittings when I really want to just absorb the entire thing in one go.
Have you ever read a book and be like "Oh.my.God why is it not over yet... what?! another trial, is that really necessary?" And it's so drawn out. Yeah, this book is not like that! This one was like, "Ooo, I wonder what they'll unlock next!" Though I did wish there were more achievements unlocked and special finds or bonus quests. But it's fine as it is, I'm just being extra. 🤣 The adventures, creatures, dangers, and the slow-burn were invigorating.
'His eyes linger. Every time his eyes meet mine, my skin flushes as I think about what it is we’re dancing around. Desire. Hunger. Something else entirely.' (Ch 57)
Vesper is like a magnet for the bizarre and unhinged. They're like a band of misfits. Not to mention badass! Not sure there is a character that I didn't like or that didn't grow on me.
"Cipher’s overly sensual voice echoes in my head, making me shift my weight on my feet. What the fuck is that? And why does he sound so . . . sexy?' (Ch 9)
I did not want it to end, and of course it ended on a wicked cliffhanger!
This has to be one of my favorite books so far this year. I'm going to need a hardcopy!
eARC courtesy of Literally Yours PR / BookSprout
July 31, 2026
5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+ 1
First of all, thank you so much to Kendra Moreno for another opportunity to read one of your books before release! 🖤 I knew I was going to love this one... I just didn't expect it to completely consume me. ❤️🔥
👾+🏹Imagine Dungeon Crawler Carl meets The Hunger Games, wrapped in a brutal dystopian world with a LitRPG system that constantly forces both the characters and the reader to question where morality ends and survival begins.
"ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇꜱ ᴍᴏɴꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ. ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴠᴇꜱᴘᴇʀᴀ.”
I've always loved dystopian stories, but what truly stood out to me was the social commentary woven so naturally into the worldbuilding. Animals that no longer exist. Things we take for granted today have become myths in Vespera's world. Corruption has consumed everything, leaving people with only one chance at a better life: surviving the Harrow. And sometimes survival comes at the cost of your own moral compass.🌑
You can genuinely feel how much work went into building this world. 👏
The RPG mechanics never felt overwhelming, the quests, boss fights, and progression were incredibly fun, and every challenge felt like I was leveling up alongside Vesper. As someone who spends far too much time playing RPGs, this absolutely scratched an itch I didn't even realize I had. 🎮✨
🦸♀️🦸 And then there are the characters.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it never felt like the world was filled with random NPCs. Every character had a purpose, a personality, and somehow managed to leave an impression. From Locke and Havoc to Svetlana, the sassiest praying mantis familiar I've ever had the pleasure of reading about 🦗👑, I found myself getting attached to every single one of them.😩
“𝘐 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴… 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘯𝘰?”
The banter is hilarious, the pacing never slows down, and there honestly wasn't a single moment where I felt bored. ❤️🔥
“ᴛʜᴀᴛ’ꜱ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪꜱᴛᴀᴋᴇ,” ᴏʀɪᴏɴ ꜱᴀʏꜱ. “ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʜᴇʟʟʜᴏʟᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ.”
It's been a long time since a book completely pulled me into its world like this one did. Every quest, every level, every challenge had me thinking, "just one more chapter"... which, of course, always turned into five. 🫣
If you're a gamer, a dystopian lover, or simply someone who enjoys getting completely lost in an incredibly creative world... this book deserves a spot on your TBR. 🖤
I'd happily grind XP in this world for another 500 pages. Now... where do I sign up for book two? ❤️🔥🎮
First of all, thank you so much to Kendra Moreno for another opportunity to read one of your books before release! 🖤 I knew I was going to love this one... I just didn't expect it to completely consume me. ❤️🔥
👾+🏹Imagine Dungeon Crawler Carl meets The Hunger Games, wrapped in a brutal dystopian world with a LitRPG system that constantly forces both the characters and the reader to question where morality ends and survival begins.
"ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇꜱ ᴍᴏɴꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ. ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴠᴇꜱᴘᴇʀᴀ.”
I've always loved dystopian stories, but what truly stood out to me was the social commentary woven so naturally into the worldbuilding. Animals that no longer exist. Things we take for granted today have become myths in Vespera's world. Corruption has consumed everything, leaving people with only one chance at a better life: surviving the Harrow. And sometimes survival comes at the cost of your own moral compass.🌑
You can genuinely feel how much work went into building this world. 👏
The RPG mechanics never felt overwhelming, the quests, boss fights, and progression were incredibly fun, and every challenge felt like I was leveling up alongside Vesper. As someone who spends far too much time playing RPGs, this absolutely scratched an itch I didn't even realize I had. 🎮✨
🦸♀️🦸 And then there are the characters.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it never felt like the world was filled with random NPCs. Every character had a purpose, a personality, and somehow managed to leave an impression. From Locke and Havoc to Svetlana, the sassiest praying mantis familiar I've ever had the pleasure of reading about 🦗👑, I found myself getting attached to every single one of them.😩
“𝘐 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴… 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴, 𝘯𝘰?”
The banter is hilarious, the pacing never slows down, and there honestly wasn't a single moment where I felt bored. ❤️🔥
“ᴛʜᴀᴛ’ꜱ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪꜱᴛᴀᴋᴇ,” ᴏʀɪᴏɴ ꜱᴀʏꜱ. “ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʜᴇʟʟʜᴏʟᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ.”
It's been a long time since a book completely pulled me into its world like this one did. Every quest, every level, every challenge had me thinking, "just one more chapter"... which, of course, always turned into five. 🫣
If you're a gamer, a dystopian lover, or simply someone who enjoys getting completely lost in an incredibly creative world... this book deserves a spot on your TBR. 🖤
I'd happily grind XP in this world for another 500 pages. Now... where do I sign up for book two? ❤️🔥🎮
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my god, this is easily one of my favorite books I've ever read. I could not put this down once I started!
This is like if you mixed ready player one, hunger games and dungeon crawler carl added in some spice, why choose, witty banter, and so much emotion and action. I am so obsessed!
When I tell you I was so immersed in this book, it literally felt like I was in the game with them too. The writing in this is next level! (pun intended) The way Kendra literally takes all of these different aspects of a LitRPG game and is able to explain it in such a way that anyone could easily understand and grasp. Those games are not easy to play, let alone describe due to how vast and detailed they can get, but Kendra managed to really make you grasp everything that is going on with the players, the world, the mechanics of it all and on top of that really highlight how big the stakes are and how vast this world really can be! I love how this vast this world is and how it really allows for the story to go in any which way. It made me so excited to read because it was hard to predict what would happen next! This book will keep you on your toes and the action and adventure of it had me staying up soo late just to see what was going to happen next!
Then there's the characters - All of them are so uniquely different but have such amazing stories and motivations behind what they do and the why behind it. Most of the players in the Harrow have come from Dross where life is very hard due to the horrible conditions people live in and how great of a divide there is between the lower class and upperclass. It really helped to paint this picture as to how dire the situation is there and why people would even risk their lives for the hope they could survive the Harrow and get a chance at power and luxury.
If you enjoy:
- Why Choose
- Dark Dystopian Fantasy
- LitRPG
- Ready Player One x Hunger Games vibes
- Action & Adventure
- Morally Gray Characters
- Deadly Games
- Found Family
- Touch Her and Die
- Spiceee
This is a story you need to check out!
I know this is going to be a story I think about for a veryy long time. Plus that ending?! I can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you so much to the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
This is like if you mixed ready player one, hunger games and dungeon crawler carl added in some spice, why choose, witty banter, and so much emotion and action. I am so obsessed!
When I tell you I was so immersed in this book, it literally felt like I was in the game with them too. The writing in this is next level! (pun intended) The way Kendra literally takes all of these different aspects of a LitRPG game and is able to explain it in such a way that anyone could easily understand and grasp. Those games are not easy to play, let alone describe due to how vast and detailed they can get, but Kendra managed to really make you grasp everything that is going on with the players, the world, the mechanics of it all and on top of that really highlight how big the stakes are and how vast this world really can be! I love how this vast this world is and how it really allows for the story to go in any which way. It made me so excited to read because it was hard to predict what would happen next! This book will keep you on your toes and the action and adventure of it had me staying up soo late just to see what was going to happen next!
Then there's the characters - All of them are so uniquely different but have such amazing stories and motivations behind what they do and the why behind it. Most of the players in the Harrow have come from Dross where life is very hard due to the horrible conditions people live in and how great of a divide there is between the lower class and upperclass. It really helped to paint this picture as to how dire the situation is there and why people would even risk their lives for the hope they could survive the Harrow and get a chance at power and luxury.
If you enjoy:
- Why Choose
- Dark Dystopian Fantasy
- LitRPG
- Ready Player One x Hunger Games vibes
- Action & Adventure
- Morally Gray Characters
- Deadly Games
- Found Family
- Touch Her and Die
- Spiceee
This is a story you need to check out!
I know this is going to be a story I think about for a veryy long time. Plus that ending?! I can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you so much to the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my god this book was absolutely insane in the BEST way possible and I need the second one immediately because that ending has me in a complete chokehold.
This book instantly throws you straight into a brutal dystopian world where survival comes at the cost of your humanity, and I was completely hooked. The atmosphere was so vivid and gritty that I could practically feel the suffocating heaviness of Dross through the pages. Everything about this world feels sharp, dangerous, and hopeless.
The Harrow itself was one of the coolest and most horrifying concepts I’ve read in a long time. It’s not just about surviving monsters or fights, it’s about what the system slowly turns people into. Every choice, every level gained, every sacrifice feels heavy, and the psychological side of the story was honestly just as intense as the action.
And Vesper? OMG I absolutely love her. She’s angry, determined, flawed, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive, and she is so strong. It has been a while since I have read a book with a strong FMC in a while and Vesper is exactly what I needed!
The pacing was unreal. Every chapter ended with me saying “just one more” until suddenly I’d read most of the book in one sitting, and I would have finished it had I not needed sleep haha. The twists kept coming, the stakes kept rising, and the deeper you get into the tiers and the truth behind the Ascendants, the more addictive the story becomes. There’s this constant feeling that something much darker is happening beneath the surface, and I NEED answers.
Also, that ending??? Absolutely criminal. I finished the last page and just sat there staring into space because there is no way it can end like THAT. I need book two right now.
If you love dystopian with deadly games, brutal survival, addictive world-building, and high stakes, Code Bound is 100% worth the read.
Oh my god this book was absolutely insane in the BEST way possible and I need the second one immediately because that ending has me in a complete chokehold.
This book instantly throws you straight into a brutal dystopian world where survival comes at the cost of your humanity, and I was completely hooked. The atmosphere was so vivid and gritty that I could practically feel the suffocating heaviness of Dross through the pages. Everything about this world feels sharp, dangerous, and hopeless.
The Harrow itself was one of the coolest and most horrifying concepts I’ve read in a long time. It’s not just about surviving monsters or fights, it’s about what the system slowly turns people into. Every choice, every level gained, every sacrifice feels heavy, and the psychological side of the story was honestly just as intense as the action.
And Vesper? OMG I absolutely love her. She’s angry, determined, flawed, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive, and she is so strong. It has been a while since I have read a book with a strong FMC in a while and Vesper is exactly what I needed!
The pacing was unreal. Every chapter ended with me saying “just one more” until suddenly I’d read most of the book in one sitting, and I would have finished it had I not needed sleep haha. The twists kept coming, the stakes kept rising, and the deeper you get into the tiers and the truth behind the Ascendants, the more addictive the story becomes. There’s this constant feeling that something much darker is happening beneath the surface, and I NEED answers.
Also, that ending??? Absolutely criminal. I finished the last page and just sat there staring into space because there is no way it can end like THAT. I need book two right now.
If you love dystopian with deadly games, brutal survival, addictive world-building, and high stakes, Code Bound is 100% worth the read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
OH MY GOODNESS! WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?!?!
Kendra Moreno, you did your big one with this one. I fell in love with every one of Kendra’s books but Code Bound is just different. This story is hands down my favorite book I’ve read this year. This book takes you on a journey and it’s fast-paced the whole way through. This book needs to be adapted into a movie or TV show! I wish I could read it over and over again for the first time. It was so good!!!!
The plot of this story was so entertaining and so refreshing because I’ve never read anything like this. When this book was announced, I honestly had no idea what to expect but now all I can say is I am obsessed. The missions, the bosses, and honestly everything that was going on had me in a chokehold. Some of this stories aspects really related to today’s society and I truly felt that.
Vesper is our FMC and let’s be so real, she’s a baddie. Her character is so strong and so fierce. She will do anything and everything to survive. She is so sick of the cruel world and the ones in power so the Harrow is the only way up. I think Vesper is my new favorite character! Also, I am obsessed with her familiar Svetlana. She had me dying.
Our MMC’s definitely had me feeling mixed emotions. Locke is my baby. I knew from the very moment we met him that I was going to love his character. He has been through it before the Harrow. I loved the connection between him and Vesper. Cipher has me so intrigued and I really can’t wait to see what the next book has in store for him. He honestly had me cackling multiple times. Havoc and Stryker both have me interested but also wary. I can’t wait to see what Kendra has in store for them all.
The cliffhanger didn’t surprise me but it does make me so anxious for the next one! I need more and I can’t wait for book two to come out! Code Bound is truly my favorite read of the year! I need you all to check it out because I highly recommend it!
Kendra Moreno, you did your big one with this one. I fell in love with every one of Kendra’s books but Code Bound is just different. This story is hands down my favorite book I’ve read this year. This book takes you on a journey and it’s fast-paced the whole way through. This book needs to be adapted into a movie or TV show! I wish I could read it over and over again for the first time. It was so good!!!!
The plot of this story was so entertaining and so refreshing because I’ve never read anything like this. When this book was announced, I honestly had no idea what to expect but now all I can say is I am obsessed. The missions, the bosses, and honestly everything that was going on had me in a chokehold. Some of this stories aspects really related to today’s society and I truly felt that.
Vesper is our FMC and let’s be so real, she’s a baddie. Her character is so strong and so fierce. She will do anything and everything to survive. She is so sick of the cruel world and the ones in power so the Harrow is the only way up. I think Vesper is my new favorite character! Also, I am obsessed with her familiar Svetlana. She had me dying.
Our MMC’s definitely had me feeling mixed emotions. Locke is my baby. I knew from the very moment we met him that I was going to love his character. He has been through it before the Harrow. I loved the connection between him and Vesper. Cipher has me so intrigued and I really can’t wait to see what the next book has in store for him. He honestly had me cackling multiple times. Havoc and Stryker both have me interested but also wary. I can’t wait to see what Kendra has in store for them all.
The cliffhanger didn’t surprise me but it does make me so anxious for the next one! I need more and I can’t wait for book two to come out! Code Bound is truly my favorite read of the year! I need you all to check it out because I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my gosh this book is everything to me!!! Thank you to Kendra for the ARC.
I had no idea that a dystopian litRPG book would change my life, but here we are.
Vesper lives thousands of years in the future in Dross where survival is everything. Food is scarce and a moldy orange is like gold. The Luxe live with extravagant wealth and the only way to get from Dross into Luxe is to go through the Harrow. Not much is know about the Harrow other than people enter and never return. After a job turns bad in Dross, Vesper and her best friend Dox decide they have to try and enter the Harrow. They get separated and Vesper finds herself exchanging her soul to enter the Harrow alone. The Harrow is like a video game she gets transported into and there are many things from the abandoned planet earth as well as other deadly creatures.
I absolutely ate this up! There are so many twists and turns and I was on the edge of my seat. I love how this world was set up and all the characters are so unique and dynamic and I just want more of everyone. Vesper's goal is to reunite with her friend and make it through the Harrow together, but she has to first survive the Harrow and level up along the way.
There is some romance in this first installment but it is very much a slow burn. The series overall will be a why choose and this book Vesper has chemistry and attraction to different characters, but really only a romance with one. I can't wait to see who else she ends up with and how all the romance stories unfold since not everyone is friendly with one another.
I can't wait for the next book. I have been a Kendra Moreno fan for a while, but this is her best work yet and I am so excited about this series.
I had no idea that a dystopian litRPG book would change my life, but here we are.
Vesper lives thousands of years in the future in Dross where survival is everything. Food is scarce and a moldy orange is like gold. The Luxe live with extravagant wealth and the only way to get from Dross into Luxe is to go through the Harrow. Not much is know about the Harrow other than people enter and never return. After a job turns bad in Dross, Vesper and her best friend Dox decide they have to try and enter the Harrow. They get separated and Vesper finds herself exchanging her soul to enter the Harrow alone. The Harrow is like a video game she gets transported into and there are many things from the abandoned planet earth as well as other deadly creatures.
I absolutely ate this up! There are so many twists and turns and I was on the edge of my seat. I love how this world was set up and all the characters are so unique and dynamic and I just want more of everyone. Vesper's goal is to reunite with her friend and make it through the Harrow together, but she has to first survive the Harrow and level up along the way.
There is some romance in this first installment but it is very much a slow burn. The series overall will be a why choose and this book Vesper has chemistry and attraction to different characters, but really only a romance with one. I can't wait to see who else she ends up with and how all the romance stories unfold since not everyone is friendly with one another.
I can't wait for the next book. I have been a Kendra Moreno fan for a while, but this is her best work yet and I am so excited about this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author Kendra Moreno for an ARC!!
If you thought Ready Player One needed more meat on it's bones and a would have been better if a lady was in charge this book may be up your alley.
Vespera 🤝 Me having an insane amount of stuff in our inventories
This book is a beast and the romance is set at a glacial pace but I did really enjoy it. (If you know me from saying I don't like slow burn LOOK AWAY WE ALL NEED A GUILTY PLEASURE) Both the world Vespera came from as well as the digitial world she ends up in are rich in world building and characters.
I think in less capable hands Vespera would have felt "not like other girls" but Moreno keeps her really grounded. Which is a lot of fun considering she is collecting hot men like I collect books for my TBR.
Speaking of each of the MMCs feels distinctly different and the romance especially between Vespera and Locke feels so incredibly earned. It may take hundreds of pages to get there (again LOOK AWAY IF YOU DON'T LIKE SLOW BURN) but it really does feel so worth it.
It's also incredibly important to note that there is a lot of heavy content in this book. I can not stress enough to check the TWs before you read as there were some parts that (while it made sense for the world) were still a bit hard to read.
Overall though I think this is perfect for LitRPG fans who want more female protagonist in their life.
If you thought Ready Player One needed more meat on it's bones and a would have been better if a lady was in charge this book may be up your alley.
Vespera 🤝 Me having an insane amount of stuff in our inventories
This book is a beast and the romance is set at a glacial pace but I did really enjoy it. (If you know me from saying I don't like slow burn LOOK AWAY WE ALL NEED A GUILTY PLEASURE) Both the world Vespera came from as well as the digitial world she ends up in are rich in world building and characters.
I think in less capable hands Vespera would have felt "not like other girls" but Moreno keeps her really grounded. Which is a lot of fun considering she is collecting hot men like I collect books for my TBR.
Speaking of each of the MMCs feels distinctly different and the romance especially between Vespera and Locke feels so incredibly earned. It may take hundreds of pages to get there (again LOOK AWAY IF YOU DON'T LIKE SLOW BURN) but it really does feel so worth it.
It's also incredibly important to note that there is a lot of heavy content in this book. I can not stress enough to check the TWs before you read as there were some parts that (while it made sense for the world) were still a bit hard to read.
Overall though I think this is perfect for LitRPG fans who want more female protagonist in their life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Literally Yours PR and the author for a gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Code Bound is a dark why choose dystopian fantasy with LitRPG progression systems and I am all for it! I absolutely loved this book and could not get enough! Although a tad bit different but if you are a Dungeon Crawler Carl fan then you should definitely check this out. I was hooked right from the beginning, and I didn’t want to put it down so I could find out what was going to happen next. It is definitely a wild ride full of action and adventure. I loved the characters, especially Svetlana (hehe of course), and I loved that part in the book. I absolutely loved the banter and the humor! Oh my gosh chapter 35 had me cracking up. “Bye, Narwhal!”[…] “Bye Vesper,” […] “I hope you find your dad!” Bahahahaha IYKYK. Like this made my entire existence and is everything that it was included. The cliffhanger at the end had me yelling “NNNNOOOOOOOO!” I MUST know what happens next!!! Overall, I have nothing but amazing things to say about this book and I am impatiently waiting for more.
If you love dark dystopian fantasy, LitRPG why choose, enemies to lovers, gamelit, touch her and ___, touch him and ___, strong FMV, deadly games, forced proximity, and a praying mantis familiar then I highly recommend this book!
Code Bound is a dark why choose dystopian fantasy with LitRPG progression systems and I am all for it! I absolutely loved this book and could not get enough! Although a tad bit different but if you are a Dungeon Crawler Carl fan then you should definitely check this out. I was hooked right from the beginning, and I didn’t want to put it down so I could find out what was going to happen next. It is definitely a wild ride full of action and adventure. I loved the characters, especially Svetlana (hehe of course), and I loved that part in the book. I absolutely loved the banter and the humor! Oh my gosh chapter 35 had me cracking up. “Bye, Narwhal!”[…] “Bye Vesper,” […] “I hope you find your dad!” Bahahahaha IYKYK. Like this made my entire existence and is everything that it was included. The cliffhanger at the end had me yelling “NNNNOOOOOOOO!” I MUST know what happens next!!! Overall, I have nothing but amazing things to say about this book and I am impatiently waiting for more.
If you love dark dystopian fantasy, LitRPG why choose, enemies to lovers, gamelit, touch her and ___, touch him and ___, strong FMV, deadly games, forced proximity, and a praying mantis familiar then I highly recommend this book!
July 21, 2026
LITRPG has officially become my newest obsession because what do you mean we get a dystopian death trap and a why choose romance?? Say less.
I knew the second I got myself out of my reading slump I was going to absolutely inhale this book… and that’s exactly what happened.
This had everything I could’ve wanted. High stakes, nonstop suspense, incredible world-building, and characters that had absolutely no right being that attractive.
I loved Vesper from the very beginning. Her determination to survive and protect the people she loves was so easy to root for, and watching her grow stronger with every level and every challenge the Harrow threw at her made her such a compelling FMC.
But can we please talk about these men?? Because there is absolutely no way I’m choosing. Locke, Cipher, and Havoc all bring something completely different, and every single one of them had me kicking my feet for different reasons.
The mystery surrounding Harrow kept me completely hooked, and now I’m sitting here desperately needing book two because I have way too many questions and nowhere near enough answers.
If you’re looking for a dystopian why choose romance with addictive LitRPG elements, insane tension, and a world that’ll completely suck you in… trust me, you need this one.
I knew the second I got myself out of my reading slump I was going to absolutely inhale this book… and that’s exactly what happened.
This had everything I could’ve wanted. High stakes, nonstop suspense, incredible world-building, and characters that had absolutely no right being that attractive.
I loved Vesper from the very beginning. Her determination to survive and protect the people she loves was so easy to root for, and watching her grow stronger with every level and every challenge the Harrow threw at her made her such a compelling FMC.
But can we please talk about these men?? Because there is absolutely no way I’m choosing. Locke, Cipher, and Havoc all bring something completely different, and every single one of them had me kicking my feet for different reasons.
The mystery surrounding Harrow kept me completely hooked, and now I’m sitting here desperately needing book two because I have way too many questions and nowhere near enough answers.
If you’re looking for a dystopian why choose romance with addictive LitRPG elements, insane tension, and a world that’ll completely suck you in… trust me, you need this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I HAVE NOT SHUT UP ABOUT THIS BOOK SINCE I FINISHED IT.
It was literally crafted in a lab for me. Dark fantasy? ✔️ Dystopian world? ✔️ LitRPG progression that had me addicted? ✔️ Why choose romance?? ✔️ ABSOLUTELY YES.
I was so scared it was trying to do too much because that is a STACKED combination... but somehow it absolutely ATE. Every single element worked together so perfectly, and I was hooked from the first page.
The characters had me emotionally attached way too fast, the world was insanely immersive, and the progression scratched every single itch in my brain. One minute I was giggling, the next I was staring at the page in complete shock, and then suddenly everyone was unhinged and making the most chaotic decisions imaginable. I LOVED EVERY SECOND.
This book is dark, addictive, chaotic, unhinged, and so ridiculously fun. The vibes were immaculate, the stakes were HIGH, and I genuinely did not want it to end.
If dark fantasy, dystopian survival, insane character dynamics, addictive progression, and why choose romance are your thing... THIS IS YOUR SIGN. Cancel your plans. Ignore your responsibilities. Read the book. Thank me later.
It was literally crafted in a lab for me. Dark fantasy? ✔️ Dystopian world? ✔️ LitRPG progression that had me addicted? ✔️ Why choose romance?? ✔️ ABSOLUTELY YES.
I was so scared it was trying to do too much because that is a STACKED combination... but somehow it absolutely ATE. Every single element worked together so perfectly, and I was hooked from the first page.
The characters had me emotionally attached way too fast, the world was insanely immersive, and the progression scratched every single itch in my brain. One minute I was giggling, the next I was staring at the page in complete shock, and then suddenly everyone was unhinged and making the most chaotic decisions imaginable. I LOVED EVERY SECOND.
This book is dark, addictive, chaotic, unhinged, and so ridiculously fun. The vibes were immaculate, the stakes were HIGH, and I genuinely did not want it to end.
If dark fantasy, dystopian survival, insane character dynamics, addictive progression, and why choose romance are your thing... THIS IS YOUR SIGN. Cancel your plans. Ignore your responsibilities. Read the book. Thank me later.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dystopian fantasy LitRPG... I had a ball with this book!
Vesper & Dox are sick of living life meal to meal in Dross and decide to join The Harrow ... an event where it's highly unlikely to make it out alive but if you do, lives are changed forever.
This is where the live game role playing aspect starts and we follow Vesper & Locke and her growing companions try to survive the tasks & Boss' in The Harrow.
There's Dungeon Crawler Carl vibes so if you've read & enjoyed that, this will be something you definitely enjoy. Its dark in places, comedic in others and I loved that each character had a very unique, distinctive personality... I'm particularly interested in Stryker! 😏
I flew through the book and I was surprised to see how many pages it was as it didn't feel long and I didn't want it to end.
Vesper overcoming the Statue of Liberty Boss was incredible, an amazing example of how defeating Boss' wasn't always about strength & power but sometimes empathy & the ability as a female to walk in another's shoes and understand them.
Svetland is also an icon! Can't wait for the next book! ❤️
Vesper & Dox are sick of living life meal to meal in Dross and decide to join The Harrow ... an event where it's highly unlikely to make it out alive but if you do, lives are changed forever.
This is where the live game role playing aspect starts and we follow Vesper & Locke and her growing companions try to survive the tasks & Boss' in The Harrow.
There's Dungeon Crawler Carl vibes so if you've read & enjoyed that, this will be something you definitely enjoy. Its dark in places, comedic in others and I loved that each character had a very unique, distinctive personality... I'm particularly interested in Stryker! 😏
I flew through the book and I was surprised to see how many pages it was as it didn't feel long and I didn't want it to end.
Vesper overcoming the Statue of Liberty Boss was incredible, an amazing example of how defeating Boss' wasn't always about strength & power but sometimes empathy & the ability as a female to walk in another's shoes and understand them.
Svetland is also an icon! Can't wait for the next book! ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
6 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (yes, I'm breaking the scale for this one)
If you like:
🖤Dungeon Crawler Carl (litrpg chaos + humor)
🖤Divergent (fierce heroine, high-stakes worldbuilding, dystopian world)
🖤The Hunger Games (survival stakes, political tension)
...you will DEVOUR Code Bound.
This is THE gateway book for romantasy readers who've been curious about scifi and litrpg but didn't know where to start. It eases you in while still delivering everything you crave, and then some.
The banter between characters is incredible — sharp, funny, and it never undercuts the tension of what's actually at stake. The cultural nuances woven through the world add a depth that a lot of books in this genre skip over; you can tell real thought went into how this society actually works, not just what it looks like on the surface. And the world-building itself is remarkable — layered, immersive, and never once felt like an info dump.
Then, there's the ending. That cliffhanger absolutely wrecked me. I need the sequel now, no notes.
Could not put this down, and I'm already pushing it on everyone I know.
Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for the gifted copy!
If you like:
🖤Dungeon Crawler Carl (litrpg chaos + humor)
🖤Divergent (fierce heroine, high-stakes worldbuilding, dystopian world)
🖤The Hunger Games (survival stakes, political tension)
...you will DEVOUR Code Bound.
This is THE gateway book for romantasy readers who've been curious about scifi and litrpg but didn't know where to start. It eases you in while still delivering everything you crave, and then some.
The banter between characters is incredible — sharp, funny, and it never undercuts the tension of what's actually at stake. The cultural nuances woven through the world add a depth that a lot of books in this genre skip over; you can tell real thought went into how this society actually works, not just what it looks like on the surface. And the world-building itself is remarkable — layered, immersive, and never once felt like an info dump.
Then, there's the ending. That cliffhanger absolutely wrecked me. I need the sequel now, no notes.
Could not put this down, and I'm already pushing it on everyone I know.
Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for the gifted copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*I was given this book as an eArc but my review is based solely on my own thoughts and opinions*
This took me a bit to read cause it is long haha. I think like 700 pages. I was intimidated by it at first but I feel with this type of genre they tend to lean more on the long side and have a lot of story to tell. They are going on a long journey. This is my first time reading this genre. I normally don’t cause they don’t usually have romance in it so I love that this one did.
I didn’t write many notes because I was just in the story and going along with the fun. I was hooked from the beginning. It is crazy and most people, if I told them what I just read they’d be like wtf haha but once you read it, you cannot put it down! It’s so much fun and I love the video game aspect. More books should be like this and I think this is a great platform to introduce why choose to people who may not like it or afraid to start it which is crazy cause why choose is the best!
I do wish the romance part didn’t take that long though especially with how raunchy this book is, it took forever for the romance part.
I give it a 4 -4.5 stars
This took me a bit to read cause it is long haha. I think like 700 pages. I was intimidated by it at first but I feel with this type of genre they tend to lean more on the long side and have a lot of story to tell. They are going on a long journey. This is my first time reading this genre. I normally don’t cause they don’t usually have romance in it so I love that this one did.
I didn’t write many notes because I was just in the story and going along with the fun. I was hooked from the beginning. It is crazy and most people, if I told them what I just read they’d be like wtf haha but once you read it, you cannot put it down! It’s so much fun and I love the video game aspect. More books should be like this and I think this is a great platform to introduce why choose to people who may not like it or afraid to start it which is crazy cause why choose is the best!
I do wish the romance part didn’t take that long though especially with how raunchy this book is, it took forever for the romance part.
I give it a 4 -4.5 stars
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Literally Yours PR and Kendra Moreno for an eARC to read and review before publishing.
The premise for Code Bound and early reviews had me excited to jump into this one. I'm a newer convert LitRPG and have been wanting to read more of the genre.
Unfortunately though, I had a hard time connecting with and becoming invested in the story. I'm also having a hard time of pinpointing exactly why this is as well. Maybe it's because the elements felt extremely familiar to the other LitRPG I've read. I know that there will always be common tropes and scenarios specific to genres, but this just felt a little too on the nose.
I also didn't feel as though I was given an urgent enough reason to care about Vesper and her entering the Harrow. There was a reason, but for me, it felt fabricated and not authentic enough based on what we knew of Vesper at that time.
Based on not being able to connect to the characters and plot, I ended up DNFing Code Bound. I do feel as though this could be an enjoyable book for those looking for a romantic spin on LitRPG, but it was not for me.
The premise for Code Bound and early reviews had me excited to jump into this one. I'm a newer convert LitRPG and have been wanting to read more of the genre.
Unfortunately though, I had a hard time connecting with and becoming invested in the story. I'm also having a hard time of pinpointing exactly why this is as well. Maybe it's because the elements felt extremely familiar to the other LitRPG I've read. I know that there will always be common tropes and scenarios specific to genres, but this just felt a little too on the nose.
I also didn't feel as though I was given an urgent enough reason to care about Vesper and her entering the Harrow. There was a reason, but for me, it felt fabricated and not authentic enough based on what we knew of Vesper at that time.
Based on not being able to connect to the characters and plot, I ended up DNFing Code Bound. I do feel as though this could be an enjoyable book for those looking for a romantic spin on LitRPG, but it was not for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, what a ride!!! This was such a fun, crazy, tension filled book and it completely took over my life. I could not stop reading it, it combined all the things I love about Dungeon Crawler Carl with a slow burn, Why Choose romance. I loved it! But my dear Ms. Moreno, that ending....? Why? What did I ever do to you? Cliffhanger alert!!! This book is a chonker, that is for sure, almost 700 pages, but it flies by as you read. You just can't wait to see what happens to our FMC and her group of men next. She is one of the best FMC that I have read in awhile, she is gritty and tough, smart and world worn, but has a heart of gold. This is LitRPG, which has become so popular with the DCC world, but with spice and romance and smexual tension. I adore it, I wish that there were more of this in the world! It's my jam. I literally can't wait another second for the next book to come out. I'm on the edge of my seat, what is going to happen??? Better write fast Ms. Kendra! 4.5 stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy Harrow where do I even start?! Code Bound has intrigued me since I saw Kendra post about it and I knew I had to read it. Every character gripped me from the very beginning and what I love so throughly is how deeply flawed each character is, while still maintaining a semblance of humanity. I adored the fmc and am obsessed with every single mmc which is crazy to me because usually in a why choose there’s at least one I side eye a bit. But every mmc has something that I absolutely love. We got thrown into the harrow and hit the ground running. Each world so far was so well described and thought through, Kendra really took her time in giving us such a cool concept. Svetlana, our Russian queen! I loved her and her willingness to just behead any man, comedic queen! And don’t even get me started on Cypher! BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM!!! I can’t wait see what more we get from him, he’s one of my favorite characters! The cliffhanger cliffhangered and my jaw is still on the floor!! I am obsessed and patiently impatiently waiting for book two! KENDRA YOU DID THAT!!!!
July 24, 2026
4.5/5 🌟
A dark LitRPG dystopian novel with romance and fantasy elements. Set in a bleak future where humanity lives in orbital rings, the story follows Vesper who must enter a deadly, game-like world called "The Harrow" to survive and level up, facing brutal challenges and high-stakes romance.
Holy cliffhanger Batman!! That was just freaking rude!
This one was absolutely wild! The world of the Harrow was so cool to read about! The players who choose to enter are dropped into a game world that mimics aspect of old earth and are controlled by a very invested AI system. I loved the different zones in the book and how different they all were.
This was very much on the darker side so definitely read with caution and read trigger warnings! But I loved that it was darker and edgier! Vesper definitely has questionable taste in men which makes things even more interesting.
If you enjoy books like Dungeon Crawler Carl and Ready Player One then I definitely recommend checking this one out!
A dark LitRPG dystopian novel with romance and fantasy elements. Set in a bleak future where humanity lives in orbital rings, the story follows Vesper who must enter a deadly, game-like world called "The Harrow" to survive and level up, facing brutal challenges and high-stakes romance.
Holy cliffhanger Batman!! That was just freaking rude!
This one was absolutely wild! The world of the Harrow was so cool to read about! The players who choose to enter are dropped into a game world that mimics aspect of old earth and are controlled by a very invested AI system. I loved the different zones in the book and how different they all were.
This was very much on the darker side so definitely read with caution and read trigger warnings! But I loved that it was darker and edgier! Vesper definitely has questionable taste in men which makes things even more interesting.
If you enjoy books like Dungeon Crawler Carl and Ready Player One then I definitely recommend checking this one out!
July 31, 2026
Code Bound by Kendra Moreno absolutely blew me away. I cannot recommend or rave about this book enough. I'm still clutching my pearls!
If you love dystopian worlds, LitRPG mechanics, morally gray characters, and high-stakes survival games where every choice has a cost, you need this book on your TBR immediately.
If you loved Dungeon Crawler Carl you definitely need to get on this, and if you haven't read it you still need to get on this!! The main FMC is full of feminine rage and it's why choose 🤯😏
The worldbuilding is phenomenal. From the decaying desperation of Dross to the mystery surrounding the Harrow and the elite living in Luxe, every layer of this world feels immersive, brutal, and incredibly well thought out.
Vesper is exactly the kind of heroine I love to follow. She's determined, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. The dark elements, humour, tenseness, and romance were so well placed! She's a beefy book 📚 but I blew through it and need more!!!
If you love dystopian worlds, LitRPG mechanics, morally gray characters, and high-stakes survival games where every choice has a cost, you need this book on your TBR immediately.
If you loved Dungeon Crawler Carl you definitely need to get on this, and if you haven't read it you still need to get on this!! The main FMC is full of feminine rage and it's why choose 🤯😏
The worldbuilding is phenomenal. From the decaying desperation of Dross to the mystery surrounding the Harrow and the elite living in Luxe, every layer of this world feels immersive, brutal, and incredibly well thought out.
Vesper is exactly the kind of heroine I love to follow. She's determined, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. The dark elements, humour, tenseness, and romance were so well placed! She's a beefy book 📚 but I blew through it and need more!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
There are few books I’ve read twice let alone twice in a week. But this one I’m always considering a third read.
Of course all the LitRPG moments were fantastic. The banter. The tension. Every single supporting character. The heated moments. The battles. The puzzles.
But there were other darker moments that have lingered in my mind and are far louder. Vesper spends the entire book fighting against the senseless cruelty of the world, filled with a feminine rage that all women know. I sobbed over the injustice, a hopeless feeling that isn’t far from what I feel and see every day. Even with all the good in her heart, society and everyone around her tries to push back on that goodness and swat her in other directions.
But on the less deep (maybe?) side, I want more already. I want book 2. I want to see more of their little group’s dynamic. I want all the next times that kept getting hinted at. I know book one isn’t even out but I’m gnawing at the bars of my cage for book 2.
Of course all the LitRPG moments were fantastic. The banter. The tension. Every single supporting character. The heated moments. The battles. The puzzles.
But there were other darker moments that have lingered in my mind and are far louder. Vesper spends the entire book fighting against the senseless cruelty of the world, filled with a feminine rage that all women know. I sobbed over the injustice, a hopeless feeling that isn’t far from what I feel and see every day. Even with all the good in her heart, society and everyone around her tries to push back on that goodness and swat her in other directions.
But on the less deep (maybe?) side, I want more already. I want book 2. I want to see more of their little group’s dynamic. I want all the next times that kept getting hinted at. I know book one isn’t even out but I’m gnawing at the bars of my cage for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well this was a wild Ride!!
I have never read anything like this before and I enjoyed it so much. It took me a bit longer to finish because it’s a thickkk one but it takes you one wild rollercoaster of a ride for sure!!
I loved how different this was!
It’s surprising and you never know what will happen next and I loved that.
I’m still not sure I would call book 1 a why choose but it’s definitely setting us up for Vespers harem in the next one!!
It’s very low spice but once you get to it, its fits perfectly for the characters and worth the wait!!
This is mainly Vesper and Locke ((and Cypher)) and you get introduced to Havoc and Stryker as well!! I can’t wait to see where all of this goes!! I’m currently a Locke fan!!
Plus we have Vespers Bestie Dox you get introduced at the beginning and then you see her at the end for that lovely cliffhanger we are left with and I can’t wait to see how she will tie into the next book as well!!
Can’t wait for book 2
I have never read anything like this before and I enjoyed it so much. It took me a bit longer to finish because it’s a thickkk one but it takes you one wild rollercoaster of a ride for sure!!
I loved how different this was!
It’s surprising and you never know what will happen next and I loved that.
I’m still not sure I would call book 1 a why choose but it’s definitely setting us up for Vespers harem in the next one!!
It’s very low spice but once you get to it, its fits perfectly for the characters and worth the wait!!
This is mainly Vesper and Locke ((and Cypher)) and you get introduced to Havoc and Stryker as well!! I can’t wait to see where all of this goes!! I’m currently a Locke fan!!
Plus we have Vespers Bestie Dox you get introduced at the beginning and then you see her at the end for that lovely cliffhanger we are left with and I can’t wait to see how she will tie into the next book as well!!
Can’t wait for book 2
July 30, 2026
REWARD: the sweet taste of gruesome victory. Great job, you little killer!
I think I picked up Code Bound at the absolute perfect time because I had just recently entered my LitRPG obsession era after starting Dungeon Crawler Carl. And then you’re telling me that Kendra came out with a why choose in this genre — Girl. 100% freaking sold. That being said, if you’re a little intimidated by the LitRPG genre, do not fret! Kendra does an amazing job setting up everything that is going on inside The Harrow — the game space that Vesper has opted to compete and to escape the poverty and dystopian like world that she lives in. You get all the game rules upfront and I feel like I’m walking through starting a new game myself.
OK, let’s talk about the men. 😆😆 I was curious who we were ultimately going to include in this Harem so I’m not going drop too many clues, but you will not be disappointed in their personalities and quirks and how they work with Vesper in the Harrow. And let me just say, the AI in this story is pretty damn unique 🤭 just wait. Now for my reverse harem lovers out there — fair warning this is a bit of a slow burn, OK really like a hard-core slow burn. BUT IT WORKS for the story. Kendra writes absolutely delicious spice so while we didn’t have to wait a little bit in the story for this one, I have no doubt that the continuation of the series is gonna bring the heat. I really cannot recommend this book enough! I am absolutely obsessed with being able to get my hands on the next one!
I think I picked up Code Bound at the absolute perfect time because I had just recently entered my LitRPG obsession era after starting Dungeon Crawler Carl. And then you’re telling me that Kendra came out with a why choose in this genre — Girl. 100% freaking sold. That being said, if you’re a little intimidated by the LitRPG genre, do not fret! Kendra does an amazing job setting up everything that is going on inside The Harrow — the game space that Vesper has opted to compete and to escape the poverty and dystopian like world that she lives in. You get all the game rules upfront and I feel like I’m walking through starting a new game myself.
OK, let’s talk about the men. 😆😆 I was curious who we were ultimately going to include in this Harem so I’m not going drop too many clues, but you will not be disappointed in their personalities and quirks and how they work with Vesper in the Harrow. And let me just say, the AI in this story is pretty damn unique 🤭 just wait. Now for my reverse harem lovers out there — fair warning this is a bit of a slow burn, OK really like a hard-core slow burn. BUT IT WORKS for the story. Kendra writes absolutely delicious spice so while we didn’t have to wait a little bit in the story for this one, I have no doubt that the continuation of the series is gonna bring the heat. I really cannot recommend this book enough! I am absolutely obsessed with being able to get my hands on the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Need Next Book Now! I didn't know Lit RPG was a thing, and I love it.
The whole time I was reading, I was like, what the heck are they going to face next?!! What is Kendra going to do to them!!! I was waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Spoiler alert, it does, but not until the very last page. I loved this. It's super fast paced, and fun. The leveling up, the boss fights, the glitches and at the the bottom of it all the fight of the lower class against the hierarchy that seems to be the villain in not just literature but real life. Locke's character has wrapped around my heart and squeezed till it burns. Vesper is a legend and don't get me started on the Russian(?)praying mantis. Iconic!! If you read it and you saw Elf then you know what I mean when I say "By Vesper, I hope you find your dad!"
What a ride!!!
The whole time I was reading, I was like, what the heck are they going to face next?!! What is Kendra going to do to them!!! I was waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Spoiler alert, it does, but not until the very last page. I loved this. It's super fast paced, and fun. The leveling up, the boss fights, the glitches and at the the bottom of it all the fight of the lower class against the hierarchy that seems to be the villain in not just literature but real life. Locke's character has wrapped around my heart and squeezed till it burns. Vesper is a legend and don't get me started on the Russian(?)praying mantis. Iconic!! If you read it and you saw Elf then you know what I mean when I say "By Vesper, I hope you find your dad!"
What a ride!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was sucked into this gaming world that Kendra has created in Code Bound, Book 1 in the Rankbreaker series. It is unlike anything I have ever read and absolutely devoured it!
As a girl that grew up playing video games, my little gaming heart loved all of the touches back to games of fighting bosses, having an inventory to survive, leveling up your XP and so much more.
In this story we meet Vesper, living in a dystopian world doing anything to survive with her friend Dox. Until one day she is thrust into the Harrow Gate and in order to get to Luxe she will need to battle her way through to survive with some unlikely alliances.
I loved watching her relationship with Locke develop throughout the book as they work together to survive with the voice in her head, Cipher taunting him by talking to her. The joy I had meeting Svetlana, she is such a vibe and was so much fun as a familiar and I cannot wait to see their bond grow.
We meet Stryker who is powerful and has his eyes set only on Vesper and we also meet the grumpy Havoc who is the poster boy for the Harrow having played the game and lived there for so long who somewhat reluctantly decides to work with them all.
There were so many nods to movies and video games and I just ate it up. After that ending I cannot wait to see what happens next and how their relationships continue to develop in the series.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
As a girl that grew up playing video games, my little gaming heart loved all of the touches back to games of fighting bosses, having an inventory to survive, leveling up your XP and so much more.
In this story we meet Vesper, living in a dystopian world doing anything to survive with her friend Dox. Until one day she is thrust into the Harrow Gate and in order to get to Luxe she will need to battle her way through to survive with some unlikely alliances.
I loved watching her relationship with Locke develop throughout the book as they work together to survive with the voice in her head, Cipher taunting him by talking to her. The joy I had meeting Svetlana, she is such a vibe and was so much fun as a familiar and I cannot wait to see their bond grow.
We meet Stryker who is powerful and has his eyes set only on Vesper and we also meet the grumpy Havoc who is the poster boy for the Harrow having played the game and lived there for so long who somewhat reluctantly decides to work with them all.
There were so many nods to movies and video games and I just ate it up. After that ending I cannot wait to see what happens next and how their relationships continue to develop in the series.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
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