This book is the final instalment of the Author's Devoured World series and is well worth the wait
I would recommend reading the previous books first to set the world building and characters in place .

Naira and Tarquin have settled on the new colony world of Seventh Cradle hoping for a quiet future
................. but Naira's mind is broken , having being im-printed into multiple bodies she is haunted by
visions of the future , ones with terrible outcomes at Tarquin's hand .
Driven apart by these visions and the Mercator family's actions will it bring about
the destruction of humanity .
This final book brings together all the events from the previous books into one final
idealistic hurrah ! They are forced to face what matters to both of them driving them to the edge
......... characyer driven , fast paced , twisty , with science and geology at the forefront - a brilliant finale !

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Orbit for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: body manipulation, body horror, death, violence, injury, torture, mental illness, references to abusive relationships

The third book of “The Devoured Worlds” trilogy picks up almost immediately after the ending of the second story, with Naira and Tarquin finally settling on the new colony world of Seventh Cradle. However, Naira’s mind has broken, destroyed by being double-printed into multiple bodies, and she’s haunted by visions of a terrible future in which everything they’ve worked for is destroyed at Tarquin’s hands. At the same time, Tarquin’s control of the Mercator family becomes more shaky as he’s accused of prioritising Naira’s mind over everyone else and the other planets. As the two are driven apart by conspiracy and secrets, Tarquin uncovers a plot that will lead to the extinction of humanity and ultimately, the universe's destruction. Racing to try and prevent this from happening, Naira sees glimpses of the world where Tarquin becomes his terrible father and she fights to stop it from happening- even at the expense of her own happiness. This final part is epic and wide reaching, bringing together the incredible body horror of the canus infected from the first book and the deeper, more character driven aspects of the second into a huge conclusion.

The first two books in this series are some of the best science fiction I’ve ever read and “The Bound Worlds” is a fitting and heartwrenching ending to the trilogy. Here the themes around consent, existence and autonomy are more important than ever: some of the canus infected want to be recognised as a new race. Tarquin wants to run the repair programme badly on Naira’s mind but refuses due to concerns about how it’ll affect her (having seen it used on her friend-turned-enemy Jonsun). Her concern is warranted, Naira has died so many times in her duty as a soldier and the different variants of herself might not be the same woman she is now. Meanwhile Tarquin has to resist the urge to turn into his tyrant of a father in his attempts to protect not only himself and Naira but also his family’s legacy while surrounded by enemies. We see a more damaged, more broken version of him here- out of his depth, surrounded by soldiers and without the same support he’s relied on- and I think his gradual decline is written brilliantly. Naira’s ongoing visions of the future are genuinely so powerful, I spent half of the book preparing for the worst and the rest praying nothing bad would happen before they reunited at the end of the universe. They’re both forced to reckon with what matters to them and I felt like this book, so massive in scope, drove them to the edge of what they could have handled previously. It’s brilliant, fast paced and messy, full of science and geology and careful idealism, and I’m going to miss these characters so much.

Con The Bound Worlds llegamos al final de la trilogía The Devoured Worlds, que empezó muy fuerte con The Blighted Stars, continúo con The Fractured Dark y nos ofrece un final muy digno con esta novela.


En las anteriores novelas parecía que teníamos claro que el enemigo al que había que vencer era canus y sus insidiosas maniobras para perpetuarse, pero O’Keefe decide volver al camino marcado por Hobbes y serán las distintas facciones humanas las que se enzarzarán en una lucha encarnizada, con consecuencias universales. Y nunca mejor dicho lo de universales, porque en un movimiento totalmente inesperado, la autora juega con las constantes que conforman la existencia para modificar las reglas del juego que conocíamos. ¿Os parece poco? Pues nada, lo aderezamos con unos cuantos viajes en el tiempo y previsiones del futuro por si acaso.

Estas dos razones que he dado anteriormente son en primer lugar la causa de que el libro no deje de sorprendernos pero también el origen de que no tenga una puntuación mayor para mí. Y es que no me gustan estos cambios poco justificados al final de una saga en la que ya creíamos que conocíamos los elementos con los que contábamos. No es que me sienta traicionada, pero sí un poco timada, si me permitís la expresión.

En cuanto a los personajes, siguen siendo el punto fuerte del libro y la razón entorno a la cual giran todas las decisiones que habrán de afrontar tanto Naira como Tarquin. El romance sigue estando presente, pero o bien la autora ha conseguido rebajar un tanto el tono excesivamente edulcorado que notaba antes o bien ya me he acostumbrado a una buena dosis de almíbar de vez en cuando. Los demás personajes no son simples marionetas que danzan al ritmo que imponen los protagonistas, si no que aportan mucho a la trama, en especial Kav y un redimido Fletcher.

No me ha gustado tanto el tinte un tanto mesiánico que toman algunos de los capítulos finales, pero sí que me ha parecido muy bien llevado el relato de sacrificio por el bien de los demás, tanto en un personaje como en otro. Además la autora ha decidido no dejar cabos sueltos, cosa que es de agradecer.

Recomiendo la lectura de la saga al completo, ciencia ficción que empieza atrapándote por las ideas pero en la que te quedas por los personajes.

Look, if you're reading the third book in the series, you already know how you feel about the series - and if you're reading the third book, I'm going to assume that feeling is "positive enough to read 1500 pages." And so I'm happy to report that The Bound Worlds features the same fascinating science and complex characterizations that drew me into this series in the first place - a strong ending to a series that I overall really enjoyed.

I never feel that these books have a whole lot of room to breathe, there's a lot happening, lots of action, but the plot and action always has the underlying motivation of Tarquin and Naira's romance. These were both things that didn't work as well for me in book two, The Fractured Dark, but this book has overcome a lot of what held me back from fully embracing the story in the previous book. At this point, the relationship between Tarquin and Naira is well-established, and so we didn't have to spend pages wondering about how they felt about each other or if they'd stay together - I think everyone had come to those particular conclusions long ago on Seventh Cradle. This gave us time to explore other parts of their romance and characters, and even spend a bit more time with their relationships with supporting characters, which was much needed! And could have used more - I still felt that the non-Tarquin and Naira characters were not as fleshed out as they could have been, and I think there was more that could have been done with their relationships with Tarquin and Naira, but I do think this book did a better job starting to explore its secondary characters, at least.

The science, as always, remains very cool, and very weird, and the villains are intriguing and multi-dimensional. (Fletcher?? Did I actually . . . like his character a bit here??). This book has actual stakes, and feels like it! And this book also gets weirder that the previous books - in a good way! <spoiler>A form of time travel/multiverses? Okay, I am listening very closely.</spoiler> So in that regard, a lot of fun. But also a fair amount of stress. Did I mention there were stakes?

None of that is more evident than at the book's climax. I did not think this book would go there, and the end of the chapter with this very-spoilery line of <spoiler>"Tarquin opened other eyes, and screamed."</spoiler> was an incredibly striking end to the chapter. The mounting horror I felt in the pages leading up to that cannot be understated either. So, kudos to the book for going there - I feel like the last few chapters just were pummelling me with emotions, and I think this nailed the ending.

One other part I need to mention for the ending is the showing of Naira and her rage. Naira is an absolute beast of a character. I love her, no further notes. And the last few chapters of this book especially emphasize just how wonderful of a character she is, with her running the gauntlet of emotions.

A strong conclusion to an often wild and creative series, and I'm thankful to the publisher, Orbit, and to NetGalley for the ARC for letting me dive into this a bit early.

Megan O’Keefe delivers the third and final volume of her Devoured Worlds trilogy The Bound Worlds in the same style at the last two – breathlessly. And as if this series is not complicated enough with body printing and intelligent viruses and great houses, there is now also a form of time travel in the mix. Suffice to say that this review may contain spoilers for earlier volumes. Readers who like their world building complex and their science fiction action packed should go back to the very different but no less engaging first volume in this series The Blighted Stars.
The Bound Worlds starts just a few months after the end of The Fractured Dark. Tarquin, head of the Mercator house, has set up an infection-free base of operations on the habitable planet known as Seventh Cradle. His companion and lover Naira is with him but after an assassination attempt on Tarquin she goes off to investigate. While Naira is away Tarquin discovers an even bigger problem than the one they thought they were fighting. A potentially universe ending effect on key physical variables. And with all this going on it is not long before these star crossed lovers Tarquin and Naira are once again separated and somewhat at odds and that is before Tarquin gets ominous messages from the future.
In The Bound Worlds O’Keefe continues this series style of huge cliffhangers, breathless action and character reversals and double reversals. It can be exhausting and after all they have been through readers might be wondering – haven’t Tarquin and Naira been through enough? Of course, as those readers would also know, just when they start thinking that things could not get worse, O’Keefe pulls another yet another rug out.
Following on from her excellent Protectorate books (which began with her amazing debut novel Velocity Weapon), The Bound Worlds is the final book in O’Keefe’s second trilogy. Both series stand out for their detailed world building (although some of that detail - such as the interhouse rivalries - gets lost in the shuffle) but also O’Keefe’s commitment to character as the driver of plot movements. O’Keefe shows once again that she is bright star in modern space opera and it will be fascinating to see where she goes next.

I was unsure going into The Bound Worlds - The Fractured Dark had felt like a satisfactory conclusion to me, despite being open-ended. The main threat in this book matched those worries - it didn't feel like it had been built up or hinted at in its two predecessors. However, as ever, I adore Megan E O'Keefe's writing. I was especially gripped by the last quarter of this book, which felt tense and emotional, whilst balancing personal and universe-wide stakes. I found myself losing the thread of the plot during some of the mid-sections, however the characters kept me wanting to keep reading. Tarquin and Naira are fully-developed, and their behaviour seems realistic to them even when they are acting under duress. I'm no longer convinced that this world is confined to a trilogy, but despite a rocky start, I would happily follow on with any further titles in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy; all thoughts my own.

This was my most anticipated book of 2024 and it did not disappoint! I’ve only experienced this story so far via audiobook, so I must admit that I did wonder whether my deep love for this series was in part down to the stellar narration by Ciaran Saward. However, I needn’t have worried; O’Keefe’s writing and storytelling shines, no matter the format! The banter and dialogue in particular were *delicious* and I absolutely cannot wait to hear Saward’s performance.

All of these characters are so dear to me, and right from the beginning when this story starts with a bang, O’Keefe doesn’t let up the pace. The tension was threaded throughout, meaning that I was constantly on the edge of my seat, head reeling at this twist or that, this revelation or that. And I loved every second of it!

My only slight issue with this book is that I found the major problem faced by our characters here to kind of have come out of nowhere – I would have liked to see more/stronger hints in previous books to tie the trilogy together a little better.

Still, this is an excellent conclusion, and I'm looking forward to many more rereads of this series in the future!

I've been exceptionally lucky to get to read this last book of the trilogy as an eARC and WOW! At the end of book two, The Fractured Stars, the canus infestation/infection has been fully discovered and at least a plan has been made to get it (at least) mostly controlled. Tarquin and Naira are living together (yay!), although Naira has serious issues with her mind and memory, and settling has begun on a new planet - Seventh Cradle. The Bound Worlds picks up directly after this and it rushes straight back into the action. There are various plots and betrayals from different sources, multiple timelines and copies of characters popping up, people are being controlled or coerced into following a tyrannical freedom fighter and the threat of canus still lingers in the wings reminding everybody that it hasn't gone away, and maybe it would be better all around if it didn't..? I enjoyed this book so much, how on Earth Megan E. O'Keefe managed to keep all the storylines straight in her head and find resolutions and continuations for them I have no idea but this was excellent!

This was a really gripping conclusion to what has been an excellent trilogy. I thought the expansion of the threat level in this installment was very impressive and I was kept guessing throughout the narrative, which I really appreciated. It was also great to see some of the periphery characters having some time to shine here - love Caldwaller and Marko, Kav and Kuma, even Fletcher! The first book in the series is still my favourite but overall, this was a very accomplished and satisfying end to the series and I am eager to see what Megan O'Keefe will come up with next.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a fitting end to the trilogy- I felt that it wrapped up the plot lines well, and handled the relationship between Naira and Tarquin, in all its complexity, satisfyingly. I did feel that some scenes were kind of a retread of previous themes- like yes, we're well aware there's a huge gulf of inequality between Naira and Tarquin! We know Naira's history of poverty and military service mean she values different things to Tarquin! But ultimately, while a bit repetitive, I could understand why they were there.

The Bound Worlds was the perfect ending to The Devoured Worlds. It’s always scary to read the last book in a series you love, but this not only exceeded any expectations I had, but it did it beautifully.

If you know me, you know I love Megan E. O’Keefe’s space operas and I haven’t shut up about The Blighted Stars since I got my hands on that book. And here we are. It’s over and I’m in love with the ending. This was such a high-stakes book I knew, inevitably, characters would die. I told myself I’d be happy as long as a specific someone survived. And then I experienced the book through waves after waves of realization that I didn’t want anyone to die (not even he-who-shall-not-be-named).

The Bound Worlds felt like running an Iron Man (a crazy ‘obstacle course’ that not many people finish). And by the 85% mark, it all seemed to end… beautifully. But it wasn’t an ending. And what came after was such an emotional roller coaster I cried for the first time in three years (which is crazy, if this book has healed my tear ducts, I owe O’Keefe a beer lol). I’m going to do my thing and do my usual ‘fangirl’ review, meaning that I will talk about shit I keep obsessing about. I usually call it the ‘good’ and the ‘not-so-good’ list, but unlike Naira’s ‘to-stab’ list, my not-so-good list remains empty this time. This won’t have spoilers.

- Characters: 10/10. Obsessed. What do I even say? I don’t do drugs, but what O’Keefe’s characters make me feel must be what snorting coke feels like. They’re funny, adorable, brilliant. By the end of the book I felt so dumb for how much I was crying. BUT I’ve spent so much time reading and re-reading about Nai, Tarq, Kav, and Kuma that I lowkey need them to come into existence and adopt me.
- Twists: Shit man. Too many. So good. I didn’t expect half of them. If you’re reading this book, I’ll just tell you: don’t forget the Chinese rooms. And do keep in mind who resonates and who doesn’t.
- No questions left unanswered and no loose ends: This. I had so many. All of them answered. Even at the end when I was bawling my eyes out and I was just thinking ‘I just don’t get why this had to happen.’ O’Keefe clarified it all brilliantly. And I do want to explain this wasn’t a deus ex machina kind of thing either.
- The writing and pace: I love her writing. Pace-wise? Shit. This was fast-paced. You didn’t get a break until the 80% mark and then all shit blew up and the sobbing started. But I loved it. I wish we had 50 more pages after the end just to vibe with everyone and chill for two minutes.
- Representation: I started my ‘O’Keefe journey’ with The Protectorate and I was coming from loving The Expanse series, and I was critical. Too critical. But the one thing that set O’Keege apart was just how deliciously diverse her characters are. We got nonbinary, we got trans, we got different ethnicities, we have straight, gay, old, and disabled (visually disabled but also the less visible kind). And it just rocks. I remember re-reading The Protectorate when I broke my right ankle because Sanda didn’t have a right leg and it just made me feel okay to know Sanda did not stop being badass and incredible for a single minute. And Naira is the same. I don’t have chronic pain or anything that I can sympathize with, but the visibility of this, the fact that we have a transgender main character, we have a nonbinary demisexual character, we have a mix of ethnicities and there is not an ounce of hate or discrimination. I always say sci-fi authors should do this: you’re creating a world and you have the power to make normal things normal. Sexual or ethnic minorities struggle in the real world, create one that isn’t as shitty. And O’Keefe is the queen of that.
- The badass women: Naira, Kuma, Helms, Ward, Dr Sharp, Jana (special mention to Paison here). The men are also OK, I guess, but the women 🤌🤌🤌🤌
- Tarquin: I have given Tarq his own section in every review just to berate him. That’s no more. I am sorry for calling Tarquin a shithead and a little shit and saying he has mushed bananarocks in place of a brain.
- The ending: I already said it but it was perfect. Exceeded every expectation and did not let me down. I could’ve gone without O’Keefe making me cry for 40 pages though.

Favorite quote: ”What is grief, if not starving for what was lost?”

Megan O’Keefe has long been established as a favorite author of mine, ever since I’ve read Velocity Weapon and had my mind blown with my most favorite plot twist ever still to this day. There’s no doubt in me that when I pick up a new book of hers, I’ll come back out with a new favorite. O’Keefe is the Queen of plot twists, and despite very well knowing this, every new book STILL surprises me with its levels of mind fuckery and twists.

So yeah, Bound Worlds was no different. I went in expecting something epic, the usual mind-boggling twists and still was absolutely shocked, left speechless, a jumbled mess of emotions. Maybe I’ll have to distance myself a bit from what I only just went through, but at this point I might call Bounds Worlds my favorite of all of O’Keefe’s books, and I already love all the ones that came before to pieces.

The opening alone is an absolute masterpiece. Not only do you get thrown into cold water, the characters right back into high-stakes action, but the first of many shocking twists isn’t long in coming either. With just a couple pages, I was back in full amazement mode of O’Keefe skills and sucked in good in this banger of a story. It never lets up either. It’s just non-stop fucking with your head and making you expect the worst. Never slowing down, no time to cool down, neither for you or the characters. I was getting the feeling each book in the trilogy became more intense than the previous one and this one turned it all the way up to the max.

The series continues and ends with my most favorite aspects still intact: amazing queer + disability rep, to die for friendships (oh my, do I LOVE the friendships in this series, and you really need the occasional banter to survive this), healthy relationships and those that aren’t properly tackled, power inmbalances discussed and dissected. The whole body printing thing still being both amazing and absolutely terrifying to me. It’s amazing how many times I was made to laugh/chuckle in between all the “oh fuck, everyone’s gonna die, aren’t they” but it was needed because I came to love these characters so damn much and they have to go through SO MUCH.

I don’t want to say much more other than that The Bound Worlds was all around epic, everything I wanted for the series conclusion, and so much more. This book is a non-stop edge of your seat kind of ride, with the fear of possible endings hinted at turning your fears up to the max.

It’s rare that I actually sit down to read these days (as opposed to listening to audiobooks), but just like previous years with the earlier books, O’Keefe manages to get me out of that forever reading slump and has me read a 500-pages book in just a couple of days (almost a single day, even).

Just finished and absolutely crying my eyes out. This was so good. The entire trilogy is fantastic. I absolutely should have re-read the other two before reading this one, as some points definitely flew over my head, but regardless the characterisation, dialogue and relationships were more than enough to keep me in thrall throughout. My two favourite idiots in love.

This is the third book in a trilogy, with humanity stepping out into the universe and finding the existential threat is not aliens, but the future versions of themselves and a zombie-like virus called Canus.

If it looks and feels like a hard SF book, it is. There’s of technospeak and discussion, so people who love that will be in a universe of their choice. O’Keefe has created a fictional world and true, that is one of the tropes of the genre. However, words and concepts are used with no real explanation of what they actually mean. Though, however I find that section of SF with maps and glossaries time-consuming.

And although this is a hard SF book, there is a genuine lack of action. Where it is, it becomes hard to follow. The one genuinely clever idea in this book - that humans are immortal and can be reprinted - is a cracker, with ‘misprints’ and ‘double prints’. Sadly, the invention and style that it lacks are hidden with infodumping and chapters that end on a cliffhanger, rather than flowing.

As stated, the third in a trilogy. But the storytelling doesn’t quite match the ambition. It’s published by Orbit on 27th June and I thank them for a preview. #theboundworlds.