Unbound

Confluence Academy, Book 1

By: Penelope Bloom

Narrated by: Rachel Leblang, Anthony Palmini

Nineteen-year-old Nessa Thorne expects death when she volunteers for Empire's selection. Instead, she's thrust into Confluence Academy, where students harness elemental magic and bond powerful beasts—from wolves to ancient dragons—forging themselves into the Empire's most lethal weapons.

Students are branded by affinity: water, air, earth, or fire. But Nessa's mark is different. A silver spiral—the mark of an unbound. It's a power so dangerous her kind were hunted to extinction centuries ago—or so the Empire claims.

To survive, she must hide what she is in a castle that reeks of blood, where students kill each other for advantage, and failing to tether an elemental means death.

Nessa's greatest threat may be the only other volunteer—Raith Hollow, a powerful fire affinity whose scorching gaze follows her every move and whose secrets could topple kingdoms.

Alliances are forged in blood, enemies circle like vultures, and forbidden desires close in. Death once seemed like a release from her tragic past. Now it's not an option. She'll embrace her terrible potential or watch everything she's fought for burn.

At Confluence Academy, students leave as weapons... or they don't leave at all.

A delicious slow-burning romance as dangerous as the magic? Check. A final line that will haunt you for weeks? Double check. An ending that will leave you desperate for book two? Absolutely.

©2025 Penelope Bloom (P)2025 Podium Audio

Cross Between Fourth Wing and Potter

The story is a nice buffer as I wait for the next Fourth Wing. Entertaining and has some great moments. I almost shut it off many times because the narrator is excruciating. She sounds irritated all of the time and computerized. I don’t know if I can listen or read the next one of the narrators voice is still in my head.

It was okay..

I liked the story although some areas of the story felt rushed. I feel what would have made it better would be a different female narrator tbh. I had to force myself not to DNF this due to the entire time her voice had muttered the entire telling of the story - made me dislike the FMC character. Anthony was the perfect male narrator, but wished he'd play the MMC throughout the entire book it would have made this a five star for me. Overall, I would have preferred reading this over the audiobook.

Thrilling plot

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and even though it does have a lot of similarities to Fourth Wing, it has enough differences to stand on its own. I love the blend of danger, power dynamics, intense training and a slow burning romance full of tension. Both Nessa and Raith showed enough vulnerability to make the story believable. The plot is full of tension but it moved at a perfect pace. The narration by Rachel Leblang and Anthony Palmini was really good. Definitely a good recommendation for people who like romantasy stories full of action and tension.

Narrators

I think I would of preferred the male narrator to take the male voices throughout the book at not just at one point in the story. But overall still a good listen and plot. I enjoyed it

Interesting Fictional Storyline

I really liked the storyline it is similar to Harry Potter except instead of houses it is elements that match the characters personalities. I also like the romance aspect of this book. The only thing I didn’t love was Nessa’s narration for Wraith. I wished the narrator for Wraith did the whole book for that character.