Bound and Unbound: A paranormal novella duology
Ali Hazelwood
Bound
by Ali Hazelwood
About this book
A reluctant con artist and a professor with too many secrets are bound together in Ali Hazelwood’s intoxicating new dark academia romance—available only in audio!
Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with grifters for parents, and she knows her way around a con. When grad school bills pile up and her friends are in trouble, she turns her art history skills into a forgery side hustle.
It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but her work draws the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a reserved, very British professor. Instead of turning her in, Ashworth kidnaps her—politely—and makes an unusual offer: forge a mysterious ancient manuscript for him.
Soon Vero finds herself spending long nights with Viktor, bent over rare vellum samples and obscure inks. But as the con grows riskier, Vero has to wonder: what does Viktor really want, and why can’t she stay away?
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B0FY79HRNY
Reader Reviews
March 24, 2026
Went in blind as I was waiting for Ali Hazelwood to release a new book and wanted to explore. This was so good!! The messy girlfriend/clean boyfriend (partner) is such a fun trope!! )
December 17, 2025
As I listened to this book, I realized that this author has done it again. She’s pivoted subject matter and type of romance and given her fans a slow burn romance that takes place in a world where our heroine is very knowledgeable about art history and how to forge a books. How does Ms. Hazelwood find the time to both write a novel at breakneck speed and research a new subject matter, assuming she herself wasn’t an art history major? I never felt like I was being sold a bill of goods and found...
May 17, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed this! The description of the characters, the banter between them, overall interactions together, Vero's curiosity and knowledge and care for others. I liked seeing things developing between her and Victor slowly. The handful of times he says something that melts your heart. I felt like it was a minor twist on the end how Veronica got help, unexpected but incredible planning!! Some may be able to guess the ending, yes it's HEA. I nearly teared up when we heard a voice at the...
March 22, 2026
Lots of deja vu while listening to this - A Discovery of Witches and Twilight vibes. Or maybe those are just the two vampire series I've remembered reading lol. Meh chemistry for this one. Messy con artist heroine working on her doctorate x uptight professor, a plagiarized manuscript, plot sprinkling in. The blood drinking was a fun play on vampire stuff. Hated the hero's narration for this. )
April 16, 2026
The way I fell so hard for Bound by Ali Hazelwood! It was everything I was hoping it would be: mysterious, dangerous, has great twists and turns, and of course, romance! Bound is absolutely perfect the way it is, but I wouldn’t have complained if Ali Hazelwood had decided to make it a longer novel because I was that invested! From the start I was drawn into FMC, Vero’s, world of book binding, artistry, and questionable activities. Her passion for her craft was so palpable that I couldn’t help...
