The Tainted Khan - (Soulbound Saga) by Taran Matharu (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The next installment in New York Times bestselling author Taran Matharu's Soulbound Saga--a thrilling cultivation and progression epic fantasy series--continuing the harrowing journey of Jai as he navigates returning to his own people, growing in his magic and as a warrior, fending off attacks both without and within...and, of course, bonding even more with his dragon!

Jai dreams of being a dragon rider. He dreams of freedom from the Sabine Empire and a world in which he can lead his people, the Kidara, to freedom. But even though he has his dragon, Winter, she is still growing, just as he's still growing in his own power. And the road to victory is even more fraught than he had hoped.

Because even when he finds a tribe on the Great Steppe, they are not his people. More, they are outcasts, the Tainted, and he finds that he knows little of the customs and political intricacies that take place in these vast grasslands. He is a stranger amongst his own kind, and that is even more apparent when he reunites with the Kidara, for Jai's uncle rules, and is loath to cede power to his nephew. And even if Jai was sure he could take the reins of the leadership, he isn't sure he could actually hold them.

But the legionaries and Gryphon Guard of the Sabine Empire are wreaking havoc against the other tribes of the Great Steppe, and Jai is forced to learn a lifetime's worth of knowledge in a matter of months. From taming the massive khiroi that make up the tribe's calvary, to levelling up his magic, to becoming a true warrior, worrying over the fate of the woman he loves, and strengthening his bond with Winter, Jai is a dragon rider with a massive weight on his young shoulders. And his greatest hope is that the shoulders of Winter will soon be strong enough to help carry him.

Review Quotes

"Brutal politics, intricate worldbuilding, and edge-of-the-seat battles: Dragon Rider is a spectacular entry for Taran Matharu into adult fantasy. This novel hooks you into the plot from the first chapter, and the unfolding chaos with the layered magic system thrusts you into the world and leaves you wanting for more. There's always the allure of something vast lying beyond what is unfolding on the pages, and following Jai as he escapes from the Sabine Court and bands together with unlikely companions, we're treated to this beautiful and well-imagined world sprawling ahead of us." - Prashanth Srivatsa, author of The Spice Gate

"Matharu's sequel to Dragon Rider is filled with action, intrigue, and commitment to family, friends, and land."

"Bestselling YA author Matharu (The Summoner) kicks off his debut adult fantasy series with a riveting first volume...Matharu masterfully lays the groundwork for what promises to be an epic series, taking his time to develop the tension and establish the worldbuilding. Fantasy readers will look forward to Jai's next move." - Publishers Weekly on Dragon Rider

"Dragon Rider is an extremely compelling story, filled with characters and story richly designed and masterfully executed. An excellent addition to the collection of any fantasy reader!"

- Dakota Krout, bestselling author of The Completionist Chronicles

"Bloody, glorious, and irresistibly compelling, Dragon Rider is a riveting epic that is at once sweepingly vast and heart-wrenchingly personal." - Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of The Bone Maker

"Dragon Rider is a classic fantasy adventure that reminds me of the novels I loved growing up, but with a flair of cultivation from the novels I love now." - Will Wight, New York Times bestselling author of the Cradle series

"Dragons soar, kingdoms clash, and a unlikely hero discovers his inner strength and forges his own destiny in Taran Matharu's Dragon Rider. The first book in the Soulbound Saga transports readers to an engaging world filled with magical creatures and evil emperors that is sure to please fantasy fans of all ages."

"A dazzlingly epic and richly complex world of dragons, magic, and rebellion with an underdog-turned-hero protagonist--Taran Matharu serves high fantasy in style. A fresh and fiery entry to the shelves of dragon-lovers." - Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times bestselling author of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, on Dragon Rider