I requested this book from Orbit due to the great impression the gorgeous cover art made on me. It wasn't until after I have read the book that I found out that author Andrea Stewart earned a six-figure deal for this trilogy. And I have to say it was completely earned.

There have been a good handful of times when I praised novels for unique world-building, or a fresh take on fantasy elements. Both are very true in this case. The action of "The Bone Shard Daughter" is set in an Empire scattered across numerous islands in the Endless Sea - but they happen to be <i>floating islands</i> and they sometimes, mysteriously, sink. Ages ago, those islands were ruled by the mighty Alanga, whose powers were so great they threatened to destroy the people populating the islands - luckily they were defeated (unclear how) by the current ruling family. Its current head, the Emperor, is the only one who yields a forbidden power called the bone shard magic, ostensibly utilized to protect humanity and prevent the return of the Alanga. But the Emperor exacts a steep price - every person in the kingdom has to give up a shard of a small bone in their head in a tithing ceremony conducted when they're children. These bone shards are then inscribed to power magical constructs, used by the Emperor to rule and control the realm - these bone shards can be re-written, in effect re-programming the constructs.

In this setting, we meet five of our POV characters, and quite uniquely two of them - Lin and Jovis - are written through a first-person perspective, while the other three (Phalue, Ranami and Sand) are written in third person. While some readers would think that this could cause dissonance in the narrative, it actually enhances it. Lin and Jovis are the de-facto MAIN POVs (we hear from them more than the other three) and the driving agents of the majority of the action. Since we hear from them in first person voice, we naturally feel closer to them than the other characters.

Lin is the Emperor's daughter, striving to learn the bone-shard magic and become a worthy successor to her reticent father. Jovis is a smuggler, fruitlessly searching for his disappeared wife/lover, and one of very few who survived the sinking of the Deer Island. Over the course of his search he becomes inescapably aware of the injustices of the current governing system. His story is one of a personal struggle against joining the rebellious cause and abandoning the search for his beloved (and I cannot praise enough how well depicted and understandable that struggle is).

Probably my favorite element of the story is Mephis, a mysterious creature that hitches a ride of Jovis' boat as he tries to escape the sinking Deer Island. It is entirely unclear just WHAT species he is, but I have a feeling he might turn out to be a very unusual dragon. In the meantime, the relationship that develops between Jovis and Mephis is the highlight of this story, never-mind the mysterious powers Jovis seems to gain by associating with Mephis.

Major themes of this novel are social injustice, revolution, search for identity, love for one's family, and striving to choose the higher good at a personal cost. The book, while part of the "Drowning Empire" trilogy, does not end with a cliffhanger - in fact, it's a very satisfying ending, one that opens up a ton of possibilities for the future. Then, there are the unanswered questions - why are the islands sinking? Who were the Alanga and are they possibly coming back? What sort of creature is Mephis and how does his kind fit into the larger story? What are Jovis' mysterious powers? There are many more questions, but asking them would be spoiling too much.

This is one of my favorite reads of 2020. I highly recommend you pick it up.

In this epic start to a unique new series from Andrea Stewart, we follow five perspectives:

Lin, the potential heir to the throne-well, granted that her foster brother doesn't get the emperor's blessing- lost her memories of the last five years.

Jovis, a smuggler following the trail of the mysterious blue ship that transports kidnapped people to an unknown destination.

Phalue, the governor's daughter torn between love and duty.

Ranami, the woman who knows and experiences injustice and tries to find a way to tip the scale and help start a revolution.

Lastly, a mysterious character named Sand, who claws through her foggy mind and find out why she do what she does and why she's trapped in an island with nowhere to run?

These five people will eventually cross paths one way or another, but are you ready to find out why, when and how? Then pick up the book! I'm not gonna tell you, sister.

✨✨✨

DIVERSE CHARACTERS & MUCH REPRESENTATION

Well, you see this is what I'm going to tell you.
If a book makes same-sex relationships a big deal, then you would see that it wants you to actually notice that it's there and you SHOULD know it.
But normalizing it in a way that people around your characters accepts that and sees that as normal? Girl, that's what makes it a better read.


FORK OFF THE HERO TROPE WHO ALWAYS DOES GOOD DEEDS

I've read a lot of books in the past, and honestly, a hero with a bright and pure heart would lose its luster after being read on different books over and over. After diving into these recurring tropes, I yearned for the true human nature - to see myself reflected on the characters' eyes. I wanted to see the characters I read get torn between saving the world and being selfish and do what he wants for himself. You know? H-U-M-A-N.

OH GOSH, MEPHI, BE MINE

Cute and talking creatures who will stand by you and be your very own familiar. Hello, I feel like they are the dragons that protagonists in other books use to, like, symbolize their power?

Well, these talking familiars are absolutely the opposite of that! They're your loyal, cute, and friendly companion to all your adventures! Hey, think of Toothless and how cute he is! Oh gosh, I just want my very own Mephi.

GROTESQUE. WHO CARES IF THE CREATURES AREN'T PRETTY?

There are some books that always wanted to put on a glossy face, you know, characters with stubbornness as her central and biggest flaw? *ehem, I have a favorite series like this. ehem*

Not only with the characters though, I feel like these books wouldn't want a grotesque creature to be a big part of the story so I was shocked when I read that the constructs, which played a big part in TBSD, are U-G-L-Y and grotesque and sewn pieces of different animals! I was so sucked into the small world of non-diverse books, and now, diverse books are pulling me out of a sink hole and you'll find no resistance from me. *Take me away from here* PLEASE!!!

UNIQUE MAGIC SYSTEM

Urm........ you know when you read a fantasy book with intricate magic that is so complex that your tiny brain - I mean MY TINY BRAIN - literally screams because of info overload?

Well let me tell you. This book doesn't bombard you with how it works, why it works. It is simple yet it is so unique. The magic system in TBSD doesn't draw life from the wielder, but robs from normal people until it sucks the life out of them. And with an ruler like that? Revolution just brews on the sidelines until it gets a clear shot to strike the emperor down.

In this universe, magic is pretty normal. I mean, nobody asks a regular smuggler why he can shake a whole pub like he's an earth bender! I am guessing this will be tackled in depthly in the next book (hopefully), or is it as simple as he gets his strengh from somewhere.......? :D

The book ended with questions. I know I said that the book's pacing had me believing in its world and not entirely questioning it, but there was a hint of elemental magic that is only uncovered fully by the end of the book so I'll just sit here patiently waiting to know more about the talking familiar that I wanted for myself.

BY.THE.WAY.
Just a burning question I got. Can anyone wield bone shard magic when taken as the emperor's apprentice??? I feel like anyone can. I mean, the foster son of the emperor was able to do it??

WOMEN. WOMEN. WOMEN ARE STRONG.

First off, women leaders are not frowned upon. Never questioned. I feel like this is the Imperial 2020 we all need.
Nobody questions a woman's place in society and she can be whoever she wants. That's badassery right there.

I love that an heir to any position in this world need not have a dick to be crowned ruler. Oh god, I love it.

I love that a woman can kick a man's ass in a brawl.

I love that woman leads imperial guards.

I love that a woman…. urmmm. yah. 😂 I can't think of anything else.

All in all, the book is a strong debut novel with its strong foundations built on character diversity, profound world building, and unique (really, one of a kind) magic system.

I found myself struggling on the first few chapters, but once I got past that, I was sucked right in.

I really enjoyed this fascinating debut. The magic system was complex and unlike anything I have ever seen before!

While I really loved Lin's story, Jovis and Mephi make the story great for me! The reluctant hero? yes, please!

There is also a beautiful sapphic relationship that really grows throughout the story.

3.5/5 Starts

The characters in this story were all unique and interesting. I found myself cheering them on as they learner more and tried to solve their problems, and I even found myself wanting to know more about them. I felt that the plot was not divided evenly among the characters, and that there were certain ones I was always wanting more from.
The magic system was unique and extremely interesting. Having the people be the thing to protect and the thing that will get killed off if the magic is used allowed for some much commentary to be said about power and people in it. The entire world building was wonderful; the places felt real and the world complex, but not so much so that I distracted by pointless things.
I think that the writing was absolutely fine. It was very accessible to a wide audience (the book is marketed as an adult fantasy but I think even teens would enjoy reading this). I would be interested in reading future books by Andrea Stewart just to see how much she grows as a writer, because I believe she has potential to be something great.
But the plot was where I felt the book was lacking. The story is mostly a character driven story, so the plot is ignored through the first half of the book. It felt slow in some parts and there weren't too many times I was being pulled in and felt like I couldn't look away. Of course it had some great moments, but I think that a lot of the time the stakes didn't feel real, and the plot all felt the same throughout.

I would recommend this book to people, especially people who was looking for an asian inspired fantasy with lgbt+ representation that has little romance in it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with and free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Jumping right into it, my first impression of the book was that it had a slow start and way too many perspectives. Just when I was getting invested in one character, I was thrown into another one with a completely different journey. The change between perspectives didn't have a pattern too which caught me off-guard.

However, as I continued reading, I found that there was an upside to this. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, drinking in the words before the chapter ends with a cliffhanger and moves on to the next. There was an element of surprise; an aura of mystery that I couldn't help but get addicted to. What I had thought might be one of the book's weaknesses was actually one of its strengths. It was really a pleasant surprise.

Everyone's characterization and their own personal journey were also very interesting to follow. I found that the characters were so distinct from each other that whenever there was a shift in perspective, I wouldn't have to keep guessing who I'm following next. Another thing that I really liked was that you can feel the internal and external conflicts of the characters, and that you can sympathize with them. It was all so carefully done that it allows you to develop your own opinion on their situation--especially in terms of politics.

One instance is when Phalue and Ranami often discussed the stances of either parties when it comes to class disparity and privilege:

“The premise of the Empire? The very things it was built upon? They don’t exist anymore. But still everything goes to the heart of the Empire to be picked through before the scraps are returned to us. We are tired of picking through scraps, Phalue. We want to build something new. Think of it: a stop to the Tithing Festivals. Wealth distributed more equitably. A Council made up of representatives from each of the islands. You could be a part of this if you wanted. The people would love you more than they already do.”

It didn’t move her. Ranami had tried such speeches on her, and Phalue had only repeated her father’s talking points. Everyone had a job to do in the Empire. Those that worked hard were rewarded. She gave examples of those who had lifted themselves from poverty. And yes, a few had, while the rest reached and scraped and hoped. It was like explaining the concept of a tree to a giant squid.

“You want to help the farmers? Help them meet their quotas.”

This excerpt had come from Ranami's first chapter and already then, we can see the conflict and the themes their relationship had to deal with. But what really strikes me as interesting in this excerpt is that this is the kind of relationship the people and the government have. They are important to one another, but no matter how much the other pleads for change, it only falls on deaf ears. After all, it is easier to conform to an existing norm than have to adjust to a new one.

Another thing I had found interesting is that there's not a lot of gritty action in this book like most SFF books usually do. However, there was definitely a lot of sneaking around that managed to keep the tension high. Will this character finally break? Will the empire catch them this time around? They keep you at the edge of your seat as you try to to find out what happens to them. It was an adventure that relied on charisma and stealth than fight scenes. It was smart and clever, and you know what? It definitely held up.

So my verdict? I would give this a 4 out 5 stars. Really, my only gripe with the book was with how it starts. It doesn't leave the best first impression but is it worth sticking around for? I would say that it definitely is.

The Bone Shard Daughter is the first book in The Drowning Empire series. The first chapter drew me in quickly and I was intrigued from the start. The writing is fluid and the magic system is so unique!

Now, the downfall. This book jumps between five different character POVs with each chapter. Usually, I love the depth and diversity this type of writing style can provide to a story, but unfortunately, I didn't get that with this story. I was easily distracted and highly disconnected from each character. I didn't feel like they weaved together as well as they could have early on and there was way too much going on, I honestly got confused.

I did only get 50% through the book before I gave up. I'm saddened I couldn't get into the story, that I wasn't gripped or invested in the characters, but it just missed the mark.

Overall, the concept is great and obviously I'm in the minority with my review. I'm so glad others can find enjoyment in this novel! Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an advanced e-copy to read and honestly review.

"The sun was lowering itself to the horizon, slow and steady as an old man into a too-hot bath."

Okay pause one second, I need to be superficial. The cover of The Bone Shard Daughter is STUNNING.

ehem. Next up, that quote ^up there... I just, yeah. The analogies in this book were so lovely. I have never had a book that made me stop and say, "Wow." They were unique... and just beautiful.

The Bone Shard Daughter follows several different characters who live in a world controlled by a jerk face emperor. This guy takes shards of bones from children, sometimes killing them during the extraction. Then, uses those shards to make mismatched creatures, in turn, slowly killing the people whose shard is in use.

Anyways, I want more. MORE. I was so excited by everything coming together in the end. But I'm also stressing y'all. Book two ain't about to be all butterflies and rainbows. I feel it in my bones. *OMG I'm hilarious. IN MUH BONES!*


*Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First thing first, I want to profusely thank everyone and especially Kate Heceta at Your Tita Kate that allowed me to participate in this book tour. I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this book, which poked at my curiosity with the presence of an f/f couple but also because it dealt with a dark magic system relying on bones and I actually got to read an amazing adult debut book that rekindled all my love for epic fantasy, massive plot-twists, and a wonderful cast of unique characters that thrive to become the best version of themselves if they actually manage to find it. The Bone Shard Daughter is an epic fantasy book, featuring a non-white cast in a Chinese-inspired world. It is the first installment of The Drowning Empire trilogy and I cannot recommend you this book enough. At its core, Andrea Stewart’s book grapples with the concept of identity, of the ages-old fight of machines versus humanity, and what it takes to be human and to be the person you want to be.

Revolution and class justice were some of the main themes of this book and I loved how unapologetically political this book was. Jovis, one of the main characters seems to be at the core of this political discussion. Famous smuggler torn apart by the disappearance of his wife, his journey is also to find where he fits in this vast world of his, on the edge of a revolution he does not want to take part in at first, rather moved by intimate quest such as the search for his long-lost wife. I loved him so much as the main character. It was very interesting to see him struggle between his individual goals as a person and the collective goals. His journey in this first book allows us to see him grow from an empathetic character who is constantly derailed in his quest to find his lover, to a man who is finally able to see beside his own perspective and to use his kindness and his strengths to the benefits of others. Also, Jovis as the perfect angsty man he is delivers us one of the most beautiful monologues about love as he reminisces about his love story with his wife. The notion of individuals forgetting themselves for the greater cause of the rebellion and the revolution is explored with nuance and care and it was really interesting to dive into it.

Class justice is also the element that drives up Phalue and Ranami’s inner conflict and motions their growth as a couple. Indeed, Phalue is the governor’s daughter whereas Ranami comes from poorness. One of the things I really loved about The Bone-Shard Daughter is the fact that Ranami and Phalue are already in an established relationship as the story begins. It is really rare to read about the trials and the challenges of a couple and furthermore of a sapphic one, besides what prevents them to be together and to date. Their love felt real through Stewart’s words and I love to see them respectively come to terms with what their love meant and why it was worth fighting for. Relationships ask for compromise and hardships and theirs absolutely embodied that. I’m really thankful for this sapphic relationship because it is still really rare to see a sapphic relationship featuring older characters or at least, characters that have already a relationship background. Beside, homophobia does not appear as a source of conflict in this world, and it was really refreshing to realize that discrimination was not an element used to create division and problems in their relationship. Instead, class justice and the difference of social background are used to discuss the disparities and the privilege in their couple as they both will have to take a stance concerning the revolution that is slowly but surely brewing. Their romance was so good and real and really rooted in a place of faith and tenderness but without losing any of its authenticity. I loved it and I loved them and I can only hope they have a more important role and point-of-view in the next installment because…I don’t want to spoil you but their ending got me…IN LOVE. It was really interesting to see people be in charge of their own destinies and also trying to change their government, the rules, and to right the wrongs that have been caused by greed and individualism.

The magic system (if we can call it this because it picked up almost as much on science than on magic) is thrilling and very ambitious. Constructs are built from the magic that uses bone shards. The magic that uses the core of living beings always make me squeal and god, it was everything I ever wanted. This book sets up a magic system à la Frankenstein and slowly blurs the lines between what is living and what is not. I really loved following Lin as she discovered the extent of her powers and how to manipulate and use bone shards to her advantage. I loved to see how this bone-shard magic was instilled in every part of the world-building. It is not a secular aspect of the novel, that would be only affecting some of the characters. Magic is affecting everyone, shattering the whole world and I loved it had an impact on each of the characters, and not only on the ones that knew the teachings and the magic.

Even if at first the multiples point-of-views could appear as confusing for the readers, I really enjoyed witnessing the story unfolds itself with as many main characters and their storylines finally coming together in the end. I loved how these 5 POVs led us to new discoveries, and really helped the story to go forward, enlightening new aspects of the world-building. We have an Emperor’s daughter, a famous smuggler running after the ghost of her kidnapped wife, a governor’s daughter, a woman setting a foot into the rebellion, and a mysterious woman with no memories, but a growing taste for freedom. Each character has a voice of their own and their unique personalities and background really was it for me. There is no better way to anchor an epic fantasy story than through its characters and the people that lives in this amazing and magical world.

I think Mephi, the weird and magical creature that slowly becomes Jovis’s companion deserves a whole celebratory paragraph on its own. I loved how this bond between a non-human creature and a man who seems at first being only driven by his love for his long-lost wife, cement who he is and his value as an individual. This relationship that goes beyond the traditional human relationship is as important and nurturing as the friendship and romantic relationships present in the novel.

I also need to yell in the most non-spoilery way about how meaningful the title is. To be brief, Lin’s arc revolves around owning her father’s love and proving to him she can be the perfect Emperor’s daughter. She is one of the most prominent main characters with Jovis, and she owns my heart because of her resilience, and her strength. To see her be acknowledged through the book title as the Bone-Shard Daughter is….screech! It’s really rewarding to watch characters struggling with their sense of self, managing to find a goal, a purpose and an identity in such a badass and mind-blowing way.

To sum it up, if you love epic fantasy books with a thrilling and unique magic system, a lot of point-of-views with a flawed and so loveable cast, but also a novel with a lot of discussions about revolutions, identity and the challenging philosophical question of what is innate and what is learned in people, The Bone-Shard Daughter is for you. I’m so ready for what will be coming for the characters and what kind of adventures await them, as the book ends up with new threats, life-changing revelations, and reveals the beginning of new alliances and blossoming relationships!

The Bone Shard Daughter is the first in the series of a world in which magic is done through shards of bone, and the heir to an empire must attempt to gain control of the throne amidst the growing unrest of the population. This epic follows Lin, the heir to the empire, and four other characters whose fates ultimately converge over the course of the novel.

Sometimes a synopsis doesn't do a book justice, and that definitely is the case with this debut. The Bone Shard Daughter is one of those books that subtly drags you into its depths with an unforgiving hand. As is the case with most fantasy novels, I spent the first hundred pages adjusting to the world and its characters, and in the process found myself falling in deeper than I initially expected. The writing is absolutely exquisite and the world building so lush it seems to command attention at all times. In the case of the characters, each perspective had a different quality to it, sometimes alternating on points of view for certain ones. The specific focus of this book seems to be Lin, the Empires heir, and Jovis a smuggler searching desperately for his kidnapped wife. These take up a bulk of the novel, but there are three others that are present as well. For the most part, Stewart brought all five characters together in a coherent way by the end of the book, though explanation is needed. I would say this is also the case for the magic system, the sinking of a major island, and the Alanga, a mysterious group of people defeated long ago by the Empire. All of these things are present throughout the book enough that they will clearly come into play in the next installment. I look forward to seeing where this series goes in the future

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me tell you, this book surprised me so much! Not in the fact it's so dang good, but it had moments that totally blew me away and stole my heart. I've been excited for this book since it's announcement and I swear it did not hold back with emotions and world building.

The magic was so cool and intriguing, as I love worlds where the use of magic comes at a price. Seeing the price coming from others besides the user though, was so horrific and brought that sense of morality I hoped for.

People are going to fall in love with Mephi so much. I Just know it!

Overall this was such a great debut that sent shivers to my own bones with the reveals and characters. I can't wait till Andrea Stewart's next installment.

I was incredibly excited to receive an ARC of The Bone Shard Daughter! I savored every word. With beautiful world-building, we follow several characters as they make their way through a perilous world. Lin is the Emperor’s daughter, struggling to regain her memories after an illness. Jovis is a smuggler, desperately searching for his lost love. And Ranami and Phalue are two women in love, with politics and different ideologies drawing lines between them. As secrets are revealed, the plot thickens, and all characters are faced with difficult choices. I love that all of the characters had such strong motivations and goals!

The world-building was expansive and I’m looking forward to purchasing a hard copy so I can check out the map! The system of islands and how they move was unique and mysterious. The magic system using bone shards was very creative and I can’t wait to learn more about it! I also love an animal companion and Mephi was incredibly cute. I enjoyed that Ranami and Phalue’s romance was completely accepted and the depiction of it felt very realistic. Seeing that casual inclusivity, especially in fantasy, is really special. The pacing is a bit of a slow-burn, until the end where all the plot threads pull together. The ending will definitely leave you already wanting book two!

In summary, this book might be for you if you like….adorable animal companions, island worlds, established sapphic relationships, twists, unique magic systems, and politics- basically, you all need to check out The Bone Shard Daughter! The Bone Shard Daughter releases on September 8, 2020. Thank you to Andrea Stewart, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always love reading a novel that introduces a new magic system. In The Bone Shard Daughter, the cost of bone shard magic is the life force of the Empire’s citizens and is all tightly controlled by the secretive, private Emperor. His daughter, Lin, is desperate to learn the coveted skills so that she’ll be selected his heir. On the opposite side, there is Jovis who finds himself a hero when he never expected to be. Jovis and his buddy Mephi are by far my favorite characters in this entire book. I found myself always looking forward to reading the chapters from Jovis’ perspective as he discovers what kind of man he really is and as his relationship with Mephi grows. Ranami, another regular citizen of the Empire, was not a character I enjoyed, and I somewhat rushed through her chapters. There is something about her fervor and then fear when she might have to face consequences that simply irked me. But, she’s only one character and Jovis more than makes up for her. It was a bit of a slow burn in the beginning but built up nicely and I devoured the final chapters to discover how it would end. A good read for any adult fantasy genre lover.

The Bone Shard Daughter was one of my most anticipated releases for 2020, and I'm happy to report that it was extremely enjoyable, although it wasn't quite what I was expecting it to be! I thought I was getting a single POV story about a girl mastering her magic and facing the revolution, and while that is definitely part of the story, it is by no means the only thing you get.

There are a total of five POVs in this Asian inspired fantasy: Lin, Jovis, Phalue, and Ranami are the main POVs, and one side character POV, Sand. I think out of all the perspectives we had, I enjoyed Lin's story the most because of the mystery surrounding her father and their magic. Originally, I didn't like Jovis because I felt like he had too much of a one track mind, but as the book progressed I found that I was really looking forward to his chapters. Of course, he's also got Mephi and I'm nothing if not a sucker for a talking animal companion.

The other two main characters Phalue and Ranami are in a (f/f) relationship, and I very much enjoyed their relationship and thought it felt very real. The differences in the way they were raised and live (Phalue is the daughter of a governor, and Ranami grew up on the streets) affected their relationship with each other in a way that was completely believable. Phalue thinks she is doing the best that she can for those who don't have the same privileges she has, while Ranami thinks that Phalue could be doing more with her status and influence to help. They both face completely different troubles, and they struggle to understand what the other is going through because of their different stations. While their romance wasn't a main focal point of the book, the way it added to the revolution plotline was nice and the exploration of class differences was something that I really enjoyed reading about in a fantasy world. Their relationship was also never questioned, which was very much appreciated.

I thought the magic system was really interesting. Bone shard magic is used to create constructs, which are created from the body parts of dead animals and reanimated to serve whoever creates them. The way they were utilized was really interesting, and was one of the reasons I found Lin's perspective to be the most interesting. There were some revelations towards the end of the book regarding bone shard magic that was terrifying, and the I can't wait to see what the repercussions of that discovery will have in the rest of this series.

I'm also very interested in seeing more of this world and how everything works. The idea of islands that migrate is something that I can't remember ever seeing before, and I very much want to know more about how these islands can sink like we saw very early on in the book. I'm crossing my fingers that the finished copies will have maps in them, because I'm a sucker for maps. I'm also curious about the Alanga, as they are a threat that seems to be long extinct but remnants of their society still linger throughout this world.

As for the writing, this was very easy to read and while the beginning was off to a kind of slow start, I was quickly sucked in and became invested in these characters. The tension and emotions comes through very clearly and it wasn't until I finished it that I realized that the perspectives of Lin and Jovis were written in first person, while the other three perspectives were in third person. This just illustrates how cleanly Andrea Stewarts writing is to make that transition between the characters so seamless and unnoticeable!

This was such a great start to a new fantasy trilogy, and I'm very excited to continue on (even though I need to wait a year for the sequel)! I highly recommend this to all fantasy lovers, and even those who are wanting to branch out into adult fantasy as it was very easy to read and fairly light on the magic.

<b>You find your way into my room; it’s pitch black, but there’s a glimmer of light coming from inside the closet. You approach with caution, unsure of what you might find. A bead of sweat tickles the side of your face as it makes its way down and around your ear, and finally to the back of your neck. You take a deep breath in, hold it, and as you slowly lean your hand against the door, pushing it open, a book sails out from the closet’s interior, smacking you right in the face.
<I>”Read this fucking book— right the fuck now,”</I> I’ll call out from the shadows before disappearing back into its depths where I’ll lie until Andrea Stewart releases Book 2. </b>

Hi, I’m Alexxa, and I’ve been personally victimized by Andrea Stewart. Since reading <i>The Bone Shard Daughter</i>, I have experienced the following emotions:
- intense attachment to a magical creature
- intense excitement over an established sapphic relationship
- intense anger at the political socioeconomic structure of an empire that feels enormously apt
- intense attachment to pretty much all of its protagonists
- intense reaction to a twist. Like, I screamed, y’all.
ITS JUST VERY INTENSE OVER HERE

I would like to take this time to volunteer, as tribute, to camp out in front of HBO’s studios, begging executives to produce an on-screen series adaption. 🙋🏻

All this to say— this book fucked me up. In the brain. Bad. In the best way.

<i>BOOK2NOWPLZ</I>

This is the 48th book I’ve reviewed for Netgalley since this spring and it is one of my favorites thus far! Any time I finish a book by a new author I really like I follow them in Goodreads so I’ll be informed when there’s a new book by them. I marked this author to follow long before finishing the book.
It follows just a few main characters who are all sympathetic and reasonably likable if flawed. The characters are all willing learn and grow as the story progresses and new aspects of the world are revealed to them. Medium length for a fantasy novel the story flows well uncovering new aspects of a world with floating islands and constructs made with a dark magic. There’s a fallen civilization that everyone’s afraid will come back at any moment so stay loyal to the kind of evil emperor who might be protecting everyone...

I feel like reading this book was a complete honor.

THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER first popped up on my Instagram (bookstagram) and I fell head over heel with the cover. But like a lot of readers out there, I had to twiddle my thumbs and wait for the release to behold its majesty. When it finally popped up on NetGalley, I screamed a glass-shattering scream that echoes into the trenches of the earth and I dove with regard for my life or the lives of others.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit for a chance to review this title.

I don't throw around "favorite book of 2020" or "best fantasy I've ever read," that often but this falls into both categories. With a whopping five POV's, it tells the story of a girl wanting to please her father, a smuggler who gets in way over his head, a governor's daughter teetering on the rebellion, her girl-friend, and a woman on an island full of people who do not remember their lives before arriving. They start off on five different journies that gradually begin to connect with a heart-stopping ending that had me gasping for breath.

I'm going to focus on the two characters that stuck with my most. Lin and Jovis. Jovis, the smuggler who is searching for his missing wife. He creates a reputation for stealing children from the empire and returning them to their families before they have their bone shards removed. Bone shards, by the way, are a way for the emperor to create constructs. I get to them in a minute. So, Jovis becomes a kid smuggler who meets up with a rebellion and he thinks, ok, why not. But Jovis is a complicated character, formerly one track-minded and suddenly finding himself neck-deep in treason. But along with the aid of a mysterious creature named Mephi, whom he'd saved from drowning, he may be of use to these rebels, if it means finding his long lost wife. I loved Jovis and Mephi's growing relationshi and I have a feeling it's going to get stronger in the sequel.

Lin is the daughter of the emperor. her POV felt entirely disconnected from the others and focused on her life within the palace where her father, foster brother, and a load of constructs live. Constructs are creatures born from dead animals and controlled by bone shard magic. Commands are written on these bone shards and placed inside the creatures. The terrifying moments involving the constructs and Lin's determination to show her father that she's worthy of his love had me holding my breath. Absolutely scary. The plot twists in her POV were staggering and so well done, I want to bow at the author's feet for a job well done.

Sometimes in life, we let moments pass and when we think back we're like, "wow. I was in the presence of something incredible and I think it changed me." I knew, reading this book, that I was holding something monumental. This will be the best fantasy of 2020 and maybe even the best book of 2020, marks my words. You don't want to miss this one for the world.

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An absolute gem of a book. The writing is smooth and polished, the pacing alternating between allegro and lento. I love everything about this story. The author deftly weaves together five distinct POVs, each unique and valuable. I highly recommend.

Holy shit balls! 5 fanfreakingtastic stars baby!! Straight to favorites list. Debut book people!! Andrea Stewart knocked it out of the park for me. I will be elated to have this hardcover on my shelves!

Major Players:
Lin - Emperor’s daughter
Jovi - The best smuggler ever
Phalue - A daughter of a governor
Ranami - Phalue’s girlfriend and Rebel
Sand - She’s on the island of lost memories.

Damn, how do I put this.... the emperor is a twat and using bone shard magic in seriously bad ways!! Lin, is doing everything she can to find out her fathers secrets and stop him.

Jovis is saving as many children as he can from some horrific things. He also has a little animal friend, Mephi, that I love with all of my heart!



Jovis and Lin are my favorite characters but I loved everyone else too. There are also minor characters that are fantastic. And yes, there are deaths. Sigh...

This book has so many twists and lightbulb moments that kept me on my toes! I absolutely love it!

Uncorrected proof quote *

I wasn’t sure on which of the floating islands Father had found the abomination that made up the bulk of the Construct of Spies. But I knew I never wanted to visit. The construct looked nothing so much as a giant spider, dark brown and glistening, as tall as my chest when it stood to attention. Human hands were attached to the end of each of its spindly legs, and an old woman’s adorned the abdomen.




*Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for a digital copy of this book.

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit books for the ARC in exchange for a review! Five out of five stars.

With five different point of views, one might expect there to be some confusion about who’s head we’re in, with characters seeming too similar. Andrea Stewart avoids it beautifully, with a truly interesting mix of first person and third (two and three, perspectives respectively). She lands readers into the new world of bone shard magic easily, without leaving even a casual reader floundering. I can’t wait for this book to come out— and even more, I can’t wait for the sequel!

Each of the characters have their own goals and motivations and the few times we see a certain few interact leave no questions about who‘s head we’re in. Relationships (the f/f one in particular, it always make my heart sing to see the representation) feel realistic and humanely deep.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

I actually have a copy coming after release; I just couldn’t wait to read it. I wanted to love this book more than I did. I really enjoyed it. I liked the main characters for the most part. I didn’t care for the governors daughter or that whole story arc. The couple just got on my nerves. They both wanted stuff from each other, but they stayed distant and didn’t really work on that. I’m glad the daughter grew, but it just felt fake. I really liked Jovis, but I liked him more before he decided to help everyone. Lin was by far my favorite. I’m not sure who she is any more. Or Nisong. Or Sand. Or Emhala. It’s just all a little confusing. I hope there’s more for Bayan. I just wanted more. More answers. More story. Mainly answers. What is Mephi.? Why powers.? How.? Who are the Alanga.? I know nothing. I think the second book will be amazing and most likely answer my questions.