Exactly the kind of fantasy I look for--detailed but not prolix; magical but true to life; characters you steadily love more and more; world building that's compelling and not too complex; young characters who act their age but mature realistically as the story progresses. Plus, I loved learning about Aziza's family history and getting hints of her Lebanese culture, as this demographic is very rarely seen in kids' literature. And having the queer characters' queerness be plot relevant instead of """"not their whole personality"""" which people seem to love to advertise lately. Gay kids can be gay in fantasy stories, worrying about coming out while at the same time worrying about giant hounds and evil hags. It's a perfect mix of the fantasy story and real life family and personal struggles which are given equal weight and I love it. 

A really enjoyable read with strong character development and world building. 

An amazing book that kept me hooked the entire time. Usually with multiple povs, some of them get boring and I’ll always be wanting to skip ahead to get to that one character, but with this book, each character really had their own storyline that kept me interested in seeing what they had to say. The romance in the book often was frustrating, but that’s how it tends to work anyways. Plus it keeps you more excited for when it finally gets somewhere. I plan to buy the sequel today, and can’t wait to mainly see Tristan and Leo’s romance plot line continue.

Predictable but cute ♡

 Have you ever picked up a book and been absolutely delighted not necessarily because of the book itself, but because you know that it is going to be THE story for someone? One that feels gloriously nostalgic rather than cliche despite not having encountered it before? "The Buried and the Bound" dragged me right back to the day when a teenage me discovered Holy Black's "Tithe" during its first publication round and the doors that it opened up as to what the face of fantasy could look like. 

Now of course, the world of magic and fantasy is now notoriously almost over saturated with gritty urban and contemporary settings. What this story accomplished that so many of those that have tackled the intended vibe that the other book was hooking into have fallen short or stale to me is that it brought back the passion of , the concern behind, ferocity. 

At first blush Aziza might seem like just another brash I'll take on the world alone and kick butt doing it heroine that has flooded the market. Maybe Tris comes off as the cliche outcast. What this captures is that each of these characters are relentless. They are relentless because of how very much they care. Found and blood family do not have to be separate. They do not have to negate or trump. They don't have to dissolve into petty or hormone fueled reaction alone. 

This book also does something that I've only seen writers more like Seanan Maguire achieve. It does not use magic as a trope, a hook, of sorts. It doesn't cash in on the 'sexy monster of the year' choice. It brings in a variety of mythical sources, has them exist together, and displays the variety of the beautiful and the terrifying with all its shades in between. 

There are open ends. Another skill I appreciated, however, was that it didn't feel like a catch to try to secure further publications. I would have been satisfied if this was a stand alone. Sometimes the potential for adventure is better than any happily ever after. 

This wasn't a perfect novel. It wasn't entirely original if you will. But a book doesn't HAVE to be absolutely unique. It simply has to treat its elements with care and deliver an experience that brings something to the genre - a new combination, a way of expressing an idea, an interesting framing. I know deep down that this is going to set some young reader on the same path I was once upon a time. For them, I am delighted. 

This book was outstanding. The magical lore, setting, and characterizations were all so immersive. The audiobook was very well done, loved all three narrators. Can't wait for the next book!

This was a delight! Hassan does a great job of developing our three narrators and crafting this magical world that they all live in. There's a bit of a mystery as to who the Hag is and how to defeat her, and how to break Leo's curse. But the way it all unfolds is really masterful, and I was hooked the entire way through.

Leo, Aziza, and Tristan all had heartbreaking moments, but I think Tristan's storyline was possibly the most heartbreaking. He feels like he doesn't deserve love or happiness because of his past and just...ugh. You know there are teens out there that also feel that way because of the way they were treated by adults. 

I love that the three of them made a little coven, and I'm honestly excited to see what they get up to in the next book! Because there are definitely story threads that need to be wrapped up.

If you like Sabrina and Locke and Key TV, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this is a strong pick.  I thought the storytelling was excellent in the beginning and last third-the middle was a tad slow and and I almost put it down.  The author mentioned she learned to write with this book, so I can only imagine the sequen in January will be as strong as the excellent parts of this one.  Will definitely ready #2, mainly to see how Tristan grows!