Series: The Soulbound Saga # 2
Format: Hardcover, 592 pages
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures
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. Moreover, 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 khiri that make up the tribe’s cavalry, 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.
Taran Matharu's The Tainted Khan is the second installment in the author's The Soulbound Saga series. The Tainted Khan picks up immediately after the events of Dragon Rider, with Jai, a former political prisoner of the Sabine Empire, returning to his homeland, the Great Steppe, to reclaim his birthright as Khan and lead his people, the Kidara, to freedom. Accompanied by his dragon, Winter, Jai faces new challenges as he navigates a fractured tribal landscape.
The tribe he encounters is not his own but a group of outcasts known as the Tainted, and his uncle’s reluctance to cede power adds layers of political tension. The Sabine Empire’s legionaries and Gryphon Guard loom as external threats, forcing Jai to master his magic, hone his warrior skills, and strengthen his bond with Winter in a matter of months. Jai remains a compelling protagonist, embodying the underdog-turned-hero archetype that Matharu excels at crafting. His journey from a prisoner to a potential leader is fraught with self-doubt, cultural alienation, and the weight of responsibility.
His bond with Winter, the dragon, is the story's emotional heart, with their evolving relationship providing moments of warmth amidst the chaos. Winter’s literal and metaphorical growth mirrors Jai’s, and their scenes are among the novel’s highlights. Especially when Winter is finally grown enough to fly with Erica's dragon. Supporting characters, such as Erica, Jai’s love interest, and the Tainted tribe members, add depth but are less consistently developed. Erica’s separation from Jai early in the novel limits her presence, though her eventual reunion with him sparks a slow-burn romance that adds a touch of “spice” to the narrative.
The novel excels in delivering high-octane action sequences and heartfelt moments between Jai and Winter. The dragon-riding scenes are a highlight, blending visceral excitement with emotional resonance. Jai and Winter’s journey through the Great Steppe is both epic and personal. The cultural divide between Jai and the Tainted introduces a fresh perspective on identity and belonging, as Jai grapples with being a stranger among his own people. The story does end on a shocking cliffhanger ending. Throughout the story, however, readers are given segments of the Former Emperor Leonid's mind as he was fighting against Jai's father, Rohan.
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