In depth review will be on my blog, but wanted to write a quick summary of my thoughts.

I loved it.

Thank you.

No, but for real I thought this was an awesome sequel to The Bone Charmer. Breeana does a great job bringing us back into the world, reintroducing characters, and giving us those heart pounding moments we love. There were some chapters that I breezed through because my brain was trying to get to the next page - we love a good suspense story - so certain moments are stronger than others memory wise.

The one thing I was a little confused on, and maybe I'll find clarification later, was Lantham's motivation. It seemed like the motivation I thought he had, revenge, was there but totally different. I expected him to avenge his love and hurt the people that hurt him, but then it's more a power grab? And they mention that he had some of Saskia's bones without her being dead and they were usable - so then what was the point of killing her grandmother and mother? Clearly I'm still a bit confused and trying to think this through. I probably read through it so quickly I need to go back and do a re-read, but that was my only "Huh?" moment.

I loved the book overall and I loved the ending! Go read this book!

I really enjoyed The Bone Charmer last year and was eager to see where this story was going to go next. I was very curious about whether or not this book would include multiple time lines again or stick to the final one that we ended up with at the end of book one. This story although very different in its approach to the story was just as fascinating and compelling as the first.

At the end of the first book, only one of the possible paths that Saskia’s life was taking survived, and it wasn’t my favorite one. But that turned out okay, because the story was better for it. Especially her relationship with Bram. I still really liked Bram in this book, even though he was a bit stand offish with Saskia. I was happy to see that their relationship had to develop on its own all over again. Bram and all of her friends at Ivory Hall were well developed and they were all from the many different bone magic sections.

Saskia’s journey through out the book was amazing. She really struggled with her grief not only for her family, but also the timeline that she sort of remembers but can also now see with her bone magic. Her anger and her need for revenge was also very up there, and you could see her obsessing over Latham and what he was doing and why, almost takes over her life. Her ability to see multiple paths not only in her future, but her past, was very hard at times. The story really highlights how the choices we make change the course of our futures, and one small thing could still totally change an outcome.

We get to see a bit more of the world that Saskia lives in, and we also see more of the magical system. I would have liked a bit more of an explanation of why people were bound to one very specific type of magic in this world, for example healers could only heal diseases or mend broken bones, but not both. I would think that would be hard not to use some of the other disciplines that adjoin yours, as the group that helps Saskia soon finds out.

The plot was really well done, although I did sort of miss the dual narration of two different Saskias from the first book. The story did get a little draggy in the middle and the big reveal of who was working with Latham on the inside wasn’t that big of a surprise, but the ending was amazingly well done. Some of the trials that the group has to go through were quite scary, but intriguing, including the black market. The writing is also very well done and I really loved the detail of everything from clothes, to food and the different bone magics.

This duology has not been getting the attention that it so richly deserves. It is very beautifully written and the characters and magical system are very original. If you are looking for a solid fantasy with a brilliant main character and a great supporting cast of friends then you should pick this series up and give it a try.

What fun and unique read! I highly enjoyed this story! The character arc was well written. The imagery was my favorite part of the story. I didn't have to stop and reread any part to know what was happening. I recommend this story to anyone who loves a character-driven story.

Synopsis:

A deft exploration of the weight of grief and cost of revenge, Breeana Shields’s Bone Charmer duology reaches its spine-tingling conclusion in this high-octane fantasy-thriller.

Saskia returns to Ivory Hall to train in bone magic, determined to stop Latham from gaining the power of all three Sights—past, present, and future. But danger lurks within the fortress’s marrow. Trials are underway for the apprentices, and the tasks feel specifically engineered to torment Saskia, which is exactly what Latham wants.

As she grows increasingly more suspicious, her thirst for revenge becomes all-consuming. Together with the friends she can trust and the boy she loved in another lifetime, Saskia traces clues from Latham’s past to determine what he’ll do next. Their search leads them across Kastelia and brings them to a workshop housing a vast collection of horrors, including the bones Latham stole from Gran, and the knowledge that the future isn’t all that’s in jeopardy—but the past as well.

My Thoughts

Thank you so much Page Street publications for my copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This series has been amazing so far!! Dark, and twisted, yet romantic and touching. There are social themes like friendships, and love as well as hardships like grief and the weight it has on Saskia.
The character development was amazing and light hearted. They are all relatable in some ways, and certainly all lovable. The MC is perfect, she isn't a queen or princess, no major standing so watching her build herself up to an amazing person was even more thrilling!!
The magical system is complex but not hard to understand or follow. I love the sight theme!! It puts into question everything you thought you know about psychics and the magic they use!!!
The council delivers a small but necessary dose of political intrigue also. I love the numerous factors of this book that your reading!!
It was a fast read because it was so easy to get sucked into the plot, the magic, the friendships and vengance and betrayal.

Thank you so much to Page Street Kids for providing me with a copy of The Bone Thief, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!

Please note this review is for book 2 in the series, and will include spoilers for the first book, The Bone Charmer! If you haven’t started this duology yet, stop here and add The Bone Charmer to your TBR!



The Bone Charmer was one of my most unexpected favourite books last year and I have been waiting patiently (impatiently) for the sequel!

With Saskia’s two life paths becoming one at the end of The Bone Charmer, she has now returned to Ivory Hall to commence training in Bone Magic (hiding the fact that she’s already been trained illegally by her mother and has the tattoo that could expose her secret). Upon learning they will need to participate in ‘The Bone Games’ this year, she teams up with some of the friends she had on her previous path. But in this lifeline, it’s the first time she’s meeting some of them, and Bram has no idea they were matched in Saskia’s other path. With tasks that seem designed to particularly torment Saskia, she’ll need the help of her team to not only get through the games, but to catch Latham and retrieve her mother’s bones.

I think this series has been so clever and intriguing. Keeping track of who knew what on each path was actually a lot of fun and Saskia’s anguish over the choices she has had to make was devastating. I’ve really loved the bone magic system throughout the duology. It was so unique and developed so well! I felt like the world building was even better in The Bone Thief than the first book. We got to see some new places, such as the city of Leiden, a place made entirely of glass, and the author’s magical descriptions had me right there, walking those streets. I honestly don’t know what I loved more in this conclusion, the harrowing tasks in the game or the anguish of Saskia’s left over romantic feelings for Bram, from the expired pathway.

This series has been so underrated in my opinion, and I’d love to see more people experience the magic!