Chained Knight - A Deep Dive Review

by Lilith Saintcrow (Author)

Updated at: 11/02/2025

In Lilith Saintcrow's Chained Knight, Ariadne Millar escapes a brutal marriage only to find herself stranded in a surreal, storm-ravaged land after a car crash. This strange realm, Underdark, is both breathtakingly beautiful and terrifyingly violent, its language and customs utterly alien. She encounters a chained man, begging for help, in the shadow of a looming castle. Ariadne's dreams foreshadow this encounter – a knight trapped in iron. Is this a nightmare, a hallucinatory landscape, or a bizarre reality? With the ominous "Conjunction" approaching, Ariadne must unravel the mysteries of Underdark and the identity of the chained knight, facing perilous choices at every turn. Her escape has led her to a destiny she never imagined.

4.2 / 22 ratings

Review Chained Knight

Oh my goodness, Chained Knight completely swept me away! Lilith Saintcrow, as always, delivers a fantastically immersive world that's both breathtakingly beautiful and terrifyingly unsettling. That's the magic of her writing, you know? She creates these landscapes that are so vivid, so richly detailed, you can practically smell the damp earth and feel the wind whipping through the trees, even as a creeping sense of dread hangs heavy in the air. And that atmosphere is crucial, because the story itself is a whirlwind.

Ariadne's escape from her abusive marriage is the perfect launching point for this wild, surreal adventure. The immediate plunge into the unknown – a wrecked car, a storm, a completely alien land – is gripping. It throws you right in alongside Ari, leaving you just as disoriented and desperate for answers as she is. I loved how Saintcrow doesn't shy away from portraying Ari's vulnerability; those moments of self-doubt, the sheer terror she faces, make her strength all the more compelling. It's not a brash, "I'll conquer everything" kind of strength, but a dogged determination born of survival, a quiet resilience that’s incredibly relatable. You’re rooting for her every step of the way, even when she's questioning herself – because you understand those doubts. We’ve all been there.

The mystery is beautifully layered, too. There's the immediate mystery of where Ari is, the creeping horror of what lurks in the shadows, and then the deeper mystery of her own past and the seemingly impossible connection to this strange land and the chained knight. Those "what the hell?" moments are frequent and fantastically effective; they keep you guessing, keep you turning the pages long into the night. The creepy monsters are, well, creepy, adding a visceral thrill to the already captivating story. The pacing is perfect – Saintcrow masterfully builds suspense, revealing just enough to keep you hooked but never giving away too much too soon. It’s the kind of book that leaves you breathlessly anticipating the next chapter, desperate to unravel the enigma surrounding both Ari and Underdark.

And the writing itself… it’s just gorgeous. Saintcrow's prose is evocative and powerful, painting vivid pictures with words. The descriptions are so lush, so sensual, that you practically experience the world alongside Ari. The ending, though, is what really cemented my love for this book. It's both satisfying and leaves you craving more. It's a lovely and powerful close, a perfect punctuation mark on a truly captivating journey. Chained Knight is an amazing and dreamy fantasy for grownups, a thrilling blend of fantasy and reality that explores themes of resilience and escape in a truly unforgettable way. I wholeheartedly recommend it – just be prepared to be utterly consumed.