The 5 most-discussed books on Pagebound right now
Check out the 5 most-discussed books on Pagebound right now and see what readers are saying.
THE FOREWORD
In case you haven’t heard, Pagebound is the new place to be online for book lovers. This no-algorithm review site is all about connecting readers to reviews they can trust.
Every day, Pagebound collates the most-discussed books, featuring them on the platform’s homepage. It’s a fascinating litmus test as to which books are filling our shelves – and minds – and also a great way to discover new books for your TBR pile.
Scroll on to see which books readers are talking about now, and see what they’re saying about each.
1. Daggerbound, T. Kingfisher
Learned Edmund, a disillusioned scholar, is transporting yet another precious relic from one stuffy temple to a different stuffy temple. Another great adventure for the ages…
But when Edmund is set upon by bandits, in desperation, he breaks the cardinal rule and grabs for the relic, an ancient sword. To his surprise, instead of unsheathing a rusty, ancient weapon, an alarmingly handsome man appears, wielding daggers of blue steel and cutting the thieves down.
This man is the Dervish, an immortal warrior who’s been trapped for centuries in a sword of enchanted steel, and is angry as hell about it. He hates the curse that put him there, and he wants to hate Edmund, just as he has hated every wielder before him.
But the damned scholar is just so sweet and clever and kind. And while the Dervish may be able to protect Edmund from bandits, cultists, dragons, and strange inhuman diplomats, he may find it much harder to protect his own heart.
What readers are saying
- ‘Look, this was aimed directly at me. I love T. Kingfisher and I am full of Facts and Information that I will infodump about at the slightest provocation. I do think this book is objectively fantastic, like all of Kingfisher’s work, but even if it somehow wasn’t, I probably would have loved it.’ – kitkong
- ‘I went into this sequel already expecting to enjoy myself after loving Swordheart, and to no surprise, I was thoroughly entertained once again. T. Kingfisher has such a distinct way of blending humor, heart, and danger, and this book captures that same charm while expanding the world in ways that feel both natural and exciting.’ – allmyloveandalibrary
- ‘T. Kingfisher always manages to captivate my heart with a ragtag cast of characters who grow closer on an absolutely outlandish journey. For fans of Swordheart this is a must read sequel!’ – novelly_nicole
2. Yesteryear, Caro Claire Burke
‘My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…’
Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and has the social media accounts to prove it. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What Natalie’s followers don’t know won’t hurt them.
Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn’t her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.
NOW BEING ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR FILM STARRING ANNE HATHAWAY
What readers are saying
- ‘I just finished this book and I feel nauseous – and I mean that as a complimentary testament to the story. It pulled me in so deeply, I feel like I watched something real unfold. And the nausea is from the rollercoaster of the ride. I felt that I was partly in Natalie’s brain while also seeing her from the outside; reading between the lines to understand the horror of her life beyond her narrative. I think the author does an incredible job of establishing Natalie as an unreliable narrator up front, while also allowing us as the reader to peek behind the curtain that Natalie desperately wants to draw. I’ve never been so drawn in to a character I so deeply disliked.’ – nmdeplume0
- ‘This book is so darkly funny. There were multiple moments where I laughed out loud and then immediately thought, wait, should I have laughed at that? Probably not. Anyway.
It’s also SUCH a good book for discussion. I wish I’d read this with a book club purely so I could sit around a table and hate Natalie and her husband out loud with other people.
I honestly adored the whole reading experience. The satire. The stress. The sheer audacity of these people who I would happily launch directly into the sun.
Ate. It. Up.’ – shelfoftheselkie
3. The Lion and the Deathless Dark, Carissa Broadbent
Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.
Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.
Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final job: to slay the gods themselves.
Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.
But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate goal: to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.
What readers are saying
- ‘At no point did I know where this story was going. I greatly enjoyed listening to it from start to finish.’ – rachelkathryn22
- ‘Why is book 6 not out yet you can’t leave me like that and not give me book six immediately!!!’ – BreTheBookBean
- ‘That was epic! A deep dive on the monstrosities of being a hero. How much heartbreak can the MC’s handle? Guess the second half of this duet will answer that question.’ – chelly
4. The Stranger, Albert Camus
In his book, The Stranger, Nobel Prize–winning author Albert Camus presents a stark and unsettling meditation on life, death, and the absurd. Meursault, an emotionally detached French Algerian, drifts through his days with indifference – until a sudden act of violence shatters his world and forces him to confront society’s expectations, morality, and the meaning of existence itself.
Over 6 million copies sold worldwide, this defining work of modern fiction remains one of the most influential novels of the twentieth century. With spare yet powerful prose, Camus captures the disquiet of alienation and the search for meaning in an indifferent universe. As urgent today as when it was first published, The Stranger continues to provoke, disturb, and inspire readers across generations.
What readers are saying
- ‘There’s definitely a philosophical aspect to the book, but even without deep-diving into it, it’s still enjoyable. The writing style is interesting, and I love seeing how the sentence structure changes throughout the novel. Furthermore, I enjoyed reading Meursault’s inner thoughts and seeing him change as everything happens and he realizes how deep of shit he’s in.’ – PlumpkinSpicePie
- ‘At first, I was unsure, or rather despised the pace of this book. However, after the halfway mark, things started to pick up its pace, and from there onwards I took more liking to the way the story was unfolding and how intense it was. This was definitely one of the most different books I’ve read. Also, a disclaimer that the way of writing might not be likable as it was a translated book from its origin, which is French.’ – Karish
- ‘Camus shows that the world remains indifferent to whether you are in sorrow or in joy, and maybe it is for this very reason that humans break down in their quest for meaning. The true horror of this book lies in that “gentle indifference” that lies hidden within the fabric of existence.’ – amansingh
5. A River Enchanted, Rebecca Ross
Enchantments run deep on the magical Isle of Cadence.
The capricious spirits that live there find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home, but that mischief turns to malevolence as girls begin to go missing.
Adaira, heiress of the east, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, enticing them to return the missing girls. But there’s only one bard capable of drawing the spirits forth by song: her childhood enemy, Jack Tamerlaine.
He hasn’t stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the Mainland university. But as Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than first thought and an older, darker secret lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all.
What readers are saying
- ‘There’s so much to love about this novel – Rebecca Ross’ writing is so lovely. It’s deliberate and a bit slow (for romantasy, especially) but in a good way. The romance felt grounded and real, especially Torin and Sidra’s relationship – I loved the growth they went through. Jack and Adaira’s romance was cute, and I loved the way they were both so stubborn but prioritized each other and managed to find vulnerability and intimacy in spite of their stark independence. I also really enjoyed the magic system.’ – anxioussunris
- ‘A River Enchanted surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. The worldbuilding was rich, the characters were deeply human, and I enjoyed the pacing. Some aspects of the plot didn’t make a lot of sense to me and I think I would have liked if the reveals near the end of the book were woven into the fabric of the story earlier (though it’s possible that I was simply too stupid to catch it), but I still overall really enjoyed this book. One of my favorite things was the inclusion of a married couple who had been together for a long time as POV characters. As much as I love the yearning and will-they-won’t-they of new couples, something about people who have been together for a while continuing to evolve is really special, particularly since most romances in books are new relationships.’ – gracie
- ‘The worldbuilding was easily my favourite part of this book. I loved learning about Cadence, its spirits, traditions, clans, and unique magic system. The magic feels deeply woven into everyday life, and I especially appreciated how different characters relate to it in different ways depending on their experiences and upbringing. The relationship between people, spirits, and magic was fascinating, and uncovering the secrets of the island kept me invested from beginning to end.’ – helli
