The Roots that Bind Us

By A.K. Venrinn

The Roots That Bind Us is one of those rare books that sneaks up on you. I went in expecting a cozy fantasy romance with a magical school backdrop, and what I got was all that, but also something richer, more layered, and emotionally resonant. The cover first caught my eye (it's stunning, honestly), but it didn’t take long before I was fully pulled into Neya’s world.

Neya is a breath of fresh air as a protagonist. She’s not trying to be the chosen one, the savior of her people, or the loudest voice in the room. In fact, she’d rather be left alone to study plants and disappear into the quiet comfort of soil, roots, and greenery. Raised in high society, she's acutely aware of how little she fits in, and her desire to escape, just to get out of her parents' house and into the dorms where she can finally focus on her studies, is painfully relatable.

But of course, it’s never that easy. There’s always a catch. And Neya’s “catch” is a powerful secret she’s trying desperately to keep buried. Her magic, while fascinating, is something she must keep hidden for reasons that are hinted at but not fully revealed, creating this low-level tension that hums throughout the story. And as much as she tries to stay in her own lane, her curiosity, and a few unexpected turns, pulls her into something much bigger than she ever planned to be part of. The magical school setting is so well done. It's not just a place of learning, but a maze of secrets, clever puzzles, and shifting dynamics. It reminded me a bit of the early wonder of discovering Hogwarts for the first time, but with its own unique tone and atmosphere. The cast of supporting characters is vibrant and memorable, each one adding depth to the story in their own way. You grow attached to them without realizing it, until suddenly you care way too much about whether they’ll make it out of their next mess.

And let’s talk about the romance, slow-burn, magnetic, and full of that delicious tension that makes you want to scream at the characters to just kiss already. It’s not the center of the plot, but it weaves in beautifully, adding emotional texture without overpowering the story. My only real complaint? It ended too soon. Not in the sense that the ending was abrupt, but in the way that great books always feel like they end before you're ready to say goodbye. I turned the final page already craving the next installment.

A.K. Venrinn’s writing is quietly powerful. It doesn’t rely on flash or overwrought prose—it’s steady, immersive, and full of heart. You can feel the love poured into these characters and this world. There’s something really satisfying about a story that balances tension, magic, mystery, and emotional growth this well. If you’re a fan of magical academies, subtle but strong world-building, botanical magic (yes, please), and stories where the heroine doesn't need to shout to make an impact, this one’s for you. The Roots That Bind Us was everything I didn’t know I needed, and I’m already counting down the days until I can get my hands on Book Two in the Eldertrees Trilogy.