This novel continues where the first novel left off and is a good read for the next book in the series. The plot thickens and everyone has secrets. Zera betrayed Prince Lucien, but her Weeping was able to prevent her from taking his heart. There is still a war between humans and witches, which begins to escalate. The princess everyone thought was dead has returned and has plans for Zera. Zera is still Heartless and now needs to teaching a valkerax to Weep. What is on the line....her heart. Zera is working with the valkerax to determine the location of something that could stop the war brewing between witches and humans, but at a cost. Zera fights her desire to be with Lucien, knowing they cannot be together, believing he needs someone that is unlike her. Lucien has not given up on Zera, but is frustrated with the secrets she keeps. Lucien has a few secrets of his own. I am looking forward to the next novel in the series!

✧ ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW ✧

Is there a light in the world strong enough to shine through the dark things I've done?


This book... ouch.

I took this sequel like a shot and finished it in less than twelve hours. And let me tell you, Find Me Their Bones is the definition of epic. Sara Wolf has upped her narrative arc game to such an extend that the beginning and ending of this installment mirror those of the previous one, making me appreciate her brilliance as a writer all the more.

While Zera and Lucien's relationship was the heart of its predecessor, Find Me Their Bones feels much more like Zera's book. Suffering from the negative consequences of a choice she is now convinced was wrong, our heroine is more determined than ever to win her heart back, no matter the cost to her former friends. Taking center stage in a plot to rally the dragon-like valkerax to Cavanos' side in the impending war between humans and witches, she explores her moral grayness while attempting to sever her ties with Vetris' nobles once and for all. Previous and current events are analyzed in conversations and internal monologues in a deceptively straightforward way, inspiring readers to look between the lines to discover what is real and what is false. As always, Wolf's ability to introduce side characters who feel completely fleshed out despite their modest role in the story and brilliantly develop their relationship with the protagonist shines. The history and mythology of the world is also given more development and weight in this installment, which feels more like a high fantasy with a romantic subplot than a fantasy romance like its predecessor.

Zera and Lucien's relationship in Find Me Their Bones is the epitome of Margaret Atwood's line: "If I love you, is that a fact or a weapon?" Viewed from a myriad of angles, from infatuation to lust to love, their relationship is equally pursued and exploited by each of them in turn, making their interactions both delightful and painful to read. Admirably bent on their diametrically opposed goals, Zera and Lucien use every trick up their sleeves - physical desire, dishonesty, court intrigue, magic - to realize their intentions, inevitably hurting each other in the process. But in the rare moments when their masks slip, they're utterly incapable of fooling themselves, much less the reader, that their emotions are entirely fabricated. Can we please call it even now and have a heart to heart (pun intended) about this hot mess of a relationship? Thanks.

As exciting as this book was, my four-star rating marks it as a slight letdown from the glorious Bring Me Their Hearts. In a word, the plot lacked a world-turning twist and continued firmly on the path it had set out from the beginning, somewhat diminishing the effect of the ending climax. Nevertheless, instead of being merely a set-up for the grand finale, Find Me Their Bones is a marvelous story in its own right with a just the barest hints of future events sprinkled here and there.

Finally, I'd like to take a moment to appreciate Wolf's subtle development of certain elements from Bring Me Their Hearts, such as adding more depth to Gavik's motivations and gender-bending Zera and Lucien's true names. Her heart-warming attention to detail with (sadly) surprising feminine pronouns, her nods to the Multiverse Theory with Zera's parallel-timeline fantasies, and the tongue-in-cheek meta awareness of both her language and her narrative make this book a real treat for an analytical reader such as myself. It is truly a gift when you can see yourself reflected in fiction so clearly that it makes you feel real.

Find Me Their Bones is sure to win the hearts of both whole- and half-hearted fans of Zera's story. Even those bothered by her previous choices are sure to firmly side with her this time around.