I'm really enjoying this series, not sure how many books it's going to be but I'm excited about seeing where things go.
You definitely need to read book one first, I don't see any point in reading this one without the context.

This is book two of the series, or the middle book of the trilogy, I'm still not 100% sure which but, the point is the same, please read Year One, the opener, before starting this book. Yes, we do have a bit of a recap in this one but I think it only really serves as a memory jogger rather than a catch-up of what you have missed and this book is oh so much better with a greater depth of knowledge of what has already happened.
I'm not a big reader of fantasy or dystopian books but I have to say that I am thoroughly enjoying this series. The first book set it all up with some great background, and this book moves things along a bit, albeit it a lot of preparation work for what I assume will be the final showdown possibly in the next book. Yes it is still quite reminiscent of Stephen King's The Stand with the Doom and the subsequent coming together and rebuilding and the opposing dark and light sides but here, we focus a lot more on the fantasy and magickal elements, especially regarding Fallon's training which is one of the main themes of this book. It marks her coming of age and the shaping and honing of her talents as she prepares to fulfil her destiny of the One.
It's a long old book but to be honest, it didn't really feel like that during the time I was reading. It definitely didn't drag for me, mainly I suppose, due to the fact that the action kept switching between Fallon and the people of New Hope which kept it all moving and fresh. As already mentioned, I'm a relative newbie to the fantasy genre so some of the things described herein were new and indeed fascinating to me. Especially the alicorns, I want me one of them for sure!
One of the things that really stood out for me was the characterisation. This being a very character driven story it does need strong characters to hold the story. It definitely has quite a few of these, not just the main characters, there are also quite a few relatively minor characters that manage to hold their own too, something I find very refreshing.
All in all, a great follow up to Year One and a book that, on finishing it, made me really want book three now! Guess I'll have to try and be patient but please don't leave me hanging for too long, I need to know what happens next. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I've been reading Nora Roberts since I was a teenager and even though some things about her writing can annoy me, I always come back for more. This was another perfect example. I can't wait for the third book.

It has been almost a year since I picked up my copy of Nora Roberts new novel – Year One, and got completely engrossed with the dark magickal world she had created and now a year on and I find myself in possession of the second book in the series – Of Blood and Bone, and my comment from the first book still stands!

This book completely absorbed me and drew me in, I was hooked within the first few pages! I love to read pre-publication but in this case it will be a long time before I can read part 2 and 3 of this trilogy which I want to, need to, read NOW.

Now I know there will be another year-long wait to find out the fate of The One yet again and that is a hard pill to swallow! The ending that’s not an ending – Again!! Damn it!!

I guess maybe I shouldn’t be starting with the ending and a complaint but its a complaint that is tantamount to the brilliance of the book. (Is that the word i was looking for in that sentence? I have been awake just over 48 hours reading 😂)

Right back to the beginning! Now, in Year Four we return to New Hope after the New Hope Massacre and back to some familiar faces along with a whole set of new ones. The numbers of residents have swelled to over three hundred, creating new civilisation from all the devastation. Schools, medical centre, farms and even a technology room where once again Arlys Reid sends out a live broadcast to who knows how many or maybe none, but as she once reported the truth about The Doom from the New York anchor desk she now sends out a message from New Hope. With the birth of The One comes change and as The One comes of age as prophesied they all must be ready.

Fallon Swift, named for both her fathers is approaching her thirteenth birthday with the knowledge that on that day Mallick would return to take her away from her family, away from the rest of the world to train and guide her though the knowledge and skills she would need to prepare her for what’s to come.

Full of both dark and light, standout characters, Dark Uncanny, Purity Warriors, magick, witches, faeries and even an alicorn this really is one hell of a ride! (If only alicorns were real 🦄) I fell in love with Year One but Of Blood and Bone surpassed that by a clear mile.

Even if fantasy isn’t you usual reading pleasure you will fail to not be swept away by this!

It does read as a standalone with just enough back story for new readers but not so much to be repetitive to past readers, but to get the full magick I would read Year One first which will bring you nicely up to release day so you can jump straight back into Fallon’s world!

Of Blood and Bone is due to be published in the UK on December 4th 2018 and can be pre ordered now below. If you haven’t already my review for the first book in this series, Year One can be found here Year One by Nora Roberts

Amazon UK or Amazon.com

Many thanks to the author Nora Roberts, publishers Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest, independent review.

https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress.com/2018/11/10/of-blood-and-bone-chronicles-of-the-one-2-by-nora-roberts/