Alexandra Bracken has been one of my must-read authors since 2012 (wow), and I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book since she started sharing hints on Instagram. I’m usually not that interested by Arthurian-inspired premises but after Lore, I was excited to see how she incorporated this mythology into our world. Bold and mysterious, Silver in the Bone opens a door to a unknown world as a girl sets out to find a mythical ring to save her brother from his curse.

Tamsin Lark and her brother Cabell are Hollowers, people part of a magical guild that hunts down legendary treasures. Their foster father seemingly abandoned them ten years ago, and in the present, they’ve discovered that he vanished with a ring from Arthurian legend that can break any curse. Tamsin is determined to be the one to find the ring so she can break Cabell’s curse, so much so that she reluctantly teams up with her rival Emrys. When the three of them, along with Neve, inadvertently stumble into a new land, they must uncover dark secrets and magic before they can return to their lives.

Bracken has really immersed us in a new world in this book. This isn’t an Arthurian retelling, but rather, exists in a world where all those legends were real, with Avalon disappearing from our world to another realm. Cunningfolk—people who have a magical ability—and sorceresses are left in our world, along with legendary treasures. Tamsin doesn’t have any magical ability nor does she even possess the One Vision, which would allow her to see past glamours and curses. Cabell’s gift is that he can clear curse magic, except that of his own curse. There’s more to the world that we’re introduced to, but I won’t get into it since it’s spoiler-y.

Tamsin is a departure from Bracken’s past protagonists, in that she’s a little mean and so pessimistic that the other characters often question what’s going through her brain. She’s like this because she’s grown up thinking that it’s her and her brother against the world, especially after their foster father abandoned them. She’d do anything to keep Cabell safe, without even questioning whether he needs her help or not.

I also liked the other characters in our cast! Emrys and Tamsin have a bad relationship, to say the least, and they spend much of their scenes together bickering. There’s clearly more to why he’s looking for the ring, and the two of them gradually build up a rapport. Tamsin is also distrustful of Neve, who is pretty much the opposite of her with her optimism. I liked seeing how Tamsin slowly but surely starts letting more people in other than her brother throughout the book.

My biggest complaint about this book is that the characters’ relationships felt underdeveloped and more told than shown. We know that Tamsin hates Emrys but I feel like there wasn’t enough groundwork laid there for us to really believe it, so that their bickering fell flat most of the time. I also know that a large part of Tamsin’s character is that she’d do anything for her brother, but I feel like Cabell is just sort of there for much of the book and doesn’t reciprocate to the point that I wasn’t really feeling their close bond.

All the relationships did feel more developed by the end of the book, so I do think this will be better in book two. I just feel like character dynamics is one of Bracken’s strong points, so I was surprised by the fact that I wasn’t convinced by a lot of them in this book. I also think the middle of the book dragged a lot, but I did enjoy the last 20% a lot, hence a slightly higher rating.

In the end, I did enjoy Silver in the Bone besides a few sticking points. The world building really set you in this world, and I liked the characters. The ending threw so much at us, and I desperately need the sequel after the last chapter. If you’re a fan of Bracken’s other books and/or Arthurian-inspired books, I think you’ll enjoy Silver in the Bone!

I was lucky enough to buddy-read this with Dini and Julie. I always love when we receive the same arcs and can discuss our thoughts as we go. There were a lot of thoughts on this one!

This is a retelling of King Arthur and the legends that go with him. I felt like it was a very unique take on it and really enjoyed it. Sometimes it can feel like the retelling doesn’t have much imagination and that’s not the case here. I think that Bracken chose a very cool aspect to run with. With that being said, there were a lot of issues with world-building. From the very beginning, we get thrown into this magical world with no explanations. It made it difficult to follow along so I started to just ignore my questions/concerns. There are many instances that we were confused or had to see if the other person found any clarity. It makes the pacing of the book slow down a bit too.

Although, there are a ton of issues with the world-building the characters and their relationships are amazing. They really make this book and it becomes hard to stop reading. There’s one gripe that I have with the MC, Tamsin, and it’s that she is so cynical. She’s extremely rude to everyone around her. While I understand that it’s a coping mechanism, it’s hard to keep reading repeatedly. I felt bad for all those around her and she didn’t seem to care. She took it on as a personality trait like it was a valid piece of armor. I did love the relationship she had with her brother, Cabell. They are against the world and there’s nothing like your found family. Emry is Tamsin’s love interest and he’s my favorite thing about this book! He brings a lot of humor and really starts to bring Tamsin out of her shell. There’s a lot going on with him that I would love to dive into more. Mabe a novella or something because there’s so much there we don’t get experience.

The supporting characters in this book really make a huge impact too. Since you don’t really know what is going on and who is the “bad guy” you question everyone. Throughout the book, you really start to fall for them and really hope it’s not them.

Overall, the characters and relationships saved this book. The world-building, pacing, and all the unanswered questions, in the end, leave you wanting more. I’m still planning on reading the second book because I need to know what happens.

Many thanks to Knopf Books for Young Readers & Netgalley for an arc to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

The best thing about this book was the cover. This failed to grab me through the entire story. I swear I have the same issue with all of this author's books. The start is amazing but once you get to the middle it falls apart. It gets stagnate and boring and you just want to toss the book across the room. This one was actually a little better during the middle sections but overall it just wasn't enough to keep me reading. The world building needed more and the characters were kind of boring.

Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5

“Anytime you doubt that, anytime you start to worry you did the wring thing, I’ll tell you that. And even if we’re old and gray and I can barely remember my own name, I’ll remember this and I’ll still tell you the same.”

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Silver in the Bone is the first book in a new fantasy trilogy inspired by Arthurian lore. It has an incredible cast of characters, lush and atmospheric writing, and multiple plot twists that are guaranteed to leave your mind reeling.

There are so many things that I enjoyed about this book. I loved our protagonist, Tamsin. She was gloriously pessimistic, but she also had the dedication and drive to do whatever it took to save her brother, Cabell. Their relationship in this book felt so authentic, and my heart breaks for what they’ve gone through together.

I adored the romance between Tamsin and Emrys in this book. It’s a mild enemies to lovers complete with witty banter, a high stakes competition, and a sprinkling of “lets cuddle to warm up, definitely not because we’re attracted to each other.” After that ending, I can’t wait to read more about them in the next book.

I also really enjoyed the friendship that grew between Tamsin and Neve. It starts off with them butting heads slightly, but the utter chaos that is the last 100 pages of this book brings them much closer and solidifies their bond.

I can’t really say much about the 8 billion plot twists (this is a conservative estimate) at the end of this book without spoiling, but they were executed perfectly. I am someone who often gets confused with complex fantasy books, but that wasn’t the case here at all. It was new reveal upon new reveal, and by the end of this book I was screaming and nearly crying because of how good this ending is. Trust me, you won’t want to miss reading this book.

Silver in the Bone is out April 4th!

Silver in the Bone by A. Bracken will be a mega-hit when it is published in April 2023. For fans of “The Once and Future King” series by T. H. White, this will also be a favorite. As an educator, I look for books that will inspire children, teens and YA to have a passion for reading books, and this contemporary fantasy is one of them! Diving into the story of Tamsin Lark, we find an underdog to root for, as she tries to save herself and keep her brother, Cabell, alive, in this tense thriller. As a fan of Arthurian legends, I found the world building to be spot-on. I could identify with the legendary locations, and magical details from many other Arthurian books I have read. This book will be a strong “book of the year” for ages 10 and higher, because all of us want to be a hero-in-the-making, and now we can live that through this story. A strength of this book is the descriptive settings (as I said earlier), and following the adventures and mystery along with Tamsin. A limitation for this book may be it is slow to build in the first few chapters. But once it takes off, the magical realism, with contemporary themes is pure energy when mixed with likable characters, strong action and a huge ending. I hope the sequel comes out fast. It will be needed! I highly recommend this to be on every school library shelf as fast as librarians can get it.

Many thanks to Random House Children’s and Knopf Books for Young Readers via NetGalley for this arc. I read it voluntarily and all opinions are my own. Five out of five stars, and by the way - I LOVE the cover! I plan on purchasing this in hardback. Review will be posted according to timeline publisher recommended.

It took me a long time to get a general understanding of the world and the characters (I still can't remember more than half of them), and I think I need to do another read in case I missed anything in the beginning, but I think this is the case for a lot of fantasy series. By the last third of the book, I was completely invested. The story started picking up and I was really enjoying the world and the characters. I wish there was a little bit more in regards to the Arthurian retelling but the author did a great job with all the twists towards the end of the book.

Tamsin is an interesting character to read. She gets a little frustrating sometimes but it's understandable considering what she's been through. She's a strong character and her character development was done very well as we get a better sense of why she acts the way she does. I'm really looking forward to finding out what happens with the other characters, especially Emrys. Silver in the Bone is full of adventure, complex characters, and twists that leaves readers eager for more.

Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Random House Children’s Books for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Silver in the Bone is a YA Fantasy novel inspired by Arthurian legend. We follow Tamsin Lark who is a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasure inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye it was the only way to keep herself--and her brother--alive. Ten years later, Tamsin is on the hunt for a powerful ring from Arthurian legend in the hope that the ring could free her brother from the curse that threatens both of them. Silver in the Bone comes out on April 4th and is available for preorder now.

I was pleasantly surprised when I started this novel to find that the first part of the story is more of an Urban Fantasy which eventually makes it way into a more traditional Fantasy setting. I always enjoy when the magical and fantastical can exist in a world that usually feels pretty boring. I also loved seeing Tamsin and co. find their way into a more common Fantasy setting. Those are the two things that I really think the author did an A+ job with: the settings. I could see exactly what Tamsin was at every moment and I felt like I could settle myself into those worlds pretty well. I found the characters to be likable for the most part. Though, some of the characters were lacking the depth I really wanted. Seeing a mostly female centric story when most Fantasy tends to lean heavily male was fun. I liked seeing these magical women deal with the problems that popped up throughout the novel. My favorite character was definitely Neve which was pretty unexpected given how we meet her originally. I found that the plot hit a lot of points that we see in most Fantasy so it wasn’t as compelling as I would have liked, but I found that I still enjoyed following Tamsin as she tried to unravel the mystery in front of her. I also really enjoyed the last ten pages of this one. Which sounds so random, but we get a chance to see a reversal of the earlier Fantasy setting swap which was just generally fun and a comic relief that was needed after everything that came before it.

As I said earlier, parts of this novel was pretty predictable. I felt like there were a lot of familiar beats in this one which made it a little harder to get invested. I also struggled to figure out, based on everything we know about this character, how the betrayal happened in the end. Maybe it’s just that we didn’t get enough of this particular character before it happened. Or maybe the writing isn’t clear on why this person would betray the other person. There were a few moments like that in the novel where I felt like the writing wasn’t clear enough on the point the author was trying to get across. I spent a few chapters trying to understand what the author meant about a magical object and it was only cleared up when the main character had to finally use it. So, that wasn’t great.

Overall, I think this is a fun and surprisingly fast read given how long the novel is. I think it’s going to be best for readers who have read a little less Fantasy than this 33 year old woman who reads a hundred books a year. I think this is also great for fans of Arthurian legend.

I thought the writing and the folklore of this book was really good and interesting. Quite honestly, the writing itself was wonderful. However, I wasn’t a fan of the “modern” world and I just couldn’t get into the world itself of this book.

Thank you to Random House Children's and Knopf Books for Young Readers for my complimentary arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Silver in the Bone was a fantastic retelling of the Isle of Avalon and King Arthur's Legend. Alexandra pulls the reader in from the very first page and we are off on a fantastic adventure. You cannot help but be drawn into the fantasy world of King Arthur and Avalon. I enjoyed "watching" the story unravel inside my head. This is why I never see a movie or show based on a book I have read; the imagery on the screen never matches what I have conjured up in my imagination.

Tamsin and Cabell are brother and sister, who have been abandoned by their "father" after he fails to return from Avalon. They set out on a quest to find him, and an artifact which may help Cabell fight his life long curse. Will the inhabitants of Avalon be able to help them? Or is nothing as it seems on the fair isle of Avalon. Do not let your guard down for one minute.

There is plenty of action, magic and battles to keep you turning pages long into the night (ask me how I know this) and it all culminates in a blockbuster ending that will leave you begging for more. I mean come on! When is the sequel coming??

So to start off, I was a huge fan of Lore and was extremely excited about this book! And it met every singular expectation! The book is full of Arthurian lore mixed with the author's own special brand of magic. The story takes you on an adventure through Avalon and several adventures and misadventures. The number of twists was too many to count, and every one was more unexpected than the next. The main character was very likable and relatable throughout, as well as the side characters brought in. Not spoiling anything, but the ending makes you desperate for the second book and what else the author has in store. A definite purchase!

I really enjoyed this (and I had really enjoyed Lore by the author). I will say that I didn't initially realize this was going to be more than one book, so the pacing didn't make sense to me at first. But once I went and checked, the pace made so much more sense. I enjoyed the world building and the characters so much. Tamsin has so much to work through and she's so prickly, but I love her.
The story got really crazy by the 75% to 80% mark and my jaw was hanging open at the twists and betrayals and reveals! My heart was just ripped out several times over the course of 50 pages. And the cliffhanger and reveal at the end had me gasping. I will definitely be continuing the series (I'm already impatient for the next book!).

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.

What a fantastic book! I read Brightly Woven by this author a long time ago and loved it, and I loved this one even more! The Arthurian legend and Celtic lore is woven in so well, the characters are well fleshed out and likable, and the plot moved along perfectly. I eagerly await book 2!

Absolutely loved this one! Again, Bracken hits it out of the park! I can only hope that the future books into the series dive more into the Arthurian lore. This one seems to just touch it on the surface, like a teasing taste, to great effect!

Tamsin isn't my favorite character ever, but I grew to understand her a bit more throughout the book. I think some readers will be put off by Tamsin, but this novel will resonate with people who enjoy Arthurian legend/Celtic lore. I look forward to book two. I give this novel four out of five stars due to some slight pacing issues, but it is still very much so worth your time.

This was a really intricate YA urban fantasy, and I did enjoy it a lot. I'd say it's more Arthurian-adjacent than a retelling, but you can definitely tell there are elements of the original Arthur story. The beginning of the story really hooked me, but I found the middle dragged quite a bit to the point that I was considering putting it down. Despite that, the last 1/4 of the book REALLY made up for it, and I loved the twists and turns at the end and now can't wait for the sequel. The characters were all quite interesting, but sometimes it felt difficult to keep up with everyone we'd been introduced to. All in all, I enjoyed it!

To be quite honest, I must admit that I approached this book with some trepidation; I tried to read Bracken's "Lore", but failed to get into it, and I mistakenly thought this was a re-telling of Arthurian myth rather than urban fantasy. All in all, it wasn't off to great a start for "Silver in the Bone", but once I started reading I became completely enraptured with the characters and their journey to Avalon.

"Silver in the Bone" balances the adventure of seeking out mystical artifacts with actual lore, character arcs, and plot development in a way that keeps the reader riveted. The story starts with a competition between rivals, but it takes the characters into a mystical world that they've only read about, and continuously keeps them on their toes as they try to unravel the realities of Arthurian lore. Bracken took enough from the original myths to flesh out her world-building, but her creations and additions felt compatible and enriched the plot in a compelling manner.

Tamsin and her entourage were also immediately loveable. It's very rare that I find a cast of characters, where I am invested in their story from the moment they appear, and can't wait to see how they're going to become invested in the main plot. Tamsin is easy to root for as she wants to provide and care for her cursed riddle brother. There's, however, a sense from the start that there's more to the character than what's being said, and this deliciously played out throughout the first book. Cabell is the second part of his duo and while his curse is a main focal point, Bracken does introduce some mystery and intrigue to how Cabelle feels about his status as something to be saved.

I also immediately fell in love with Neve and her 'horrendous' fanny pack. She stood out from the first page and her incorporation into the main plot felt natural as a sorceress only enhanced the world-building. Bracken also succeeded with Emrys as he was clearly an enemies to lovers relationship, but he was more than witty banter and smoldering looks. Instead, he offered a glimpse into the upper echelons of the Hollowers and hinted at the corrupt underbelly of the profession, which is teased and revealed throughout the story. Overall, all these characters represent a different faction of the larger world, but Bracken does an excellent job of fleshing them out as characters and not just using them for world-building purposes.

Lastly, the plot has so many delicious twists and turns that I finished the book in one sitting. Bracken carefully places red herrings into the story, which makes it compelling, but she also makes sure to include subtle hints that correctly point to grand revelations that happen at the end of the book. I loved those moments at the end of the book, where you can remember passages that supported or pointed to a plot twist as it shows the mark of a great author, who has thought through their story. Anyways, I am dying to read the sequel as this one did end on a cliffhanger, but one you kinda expected...

480 pages flies by here. I know I'm a sucker for Arthurian legends, as a general rule. Bracken does not disappoint. She takes some key points from legend, but using them as a sub-structure for something wholly new. More of a "yeah, yeah, Arthur was real, but that was ages ago" than a retelling. And this *works*. It is easy to get fully wrapped up in Tamsin's story, her hope to find a cure for her brother, her own sense of being unmoored. The conclusion of this part one felt simultaneously a complete surprise, completely obvious, and completely earned.

I thoroughly enjoyed Lore, and I was hoping this would be no different! I was right in some sense. Was this story based off Kind Arthur and everything that goes with it like described, no. Was it a really fun story with amazing characters and a fun story, yes! if you are reading this story for the Arthurian details, you will be a little disappointed. If you aren't looking for a history lesson, you will absolutely devour this! it was a fun read, and I can't wait for the sequel!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5*
Tamsin and her brother Cabell are thieves who get paid to retrieve magical artifacts. Cabell has a problem that is worsening and Tamsin realizes that finding a way to break his curse must be her first priority. The two have been hired to find a magical ring and discover they are not the only ones on this quest. Emrys, who has long been Tamsin’s nemesis, is also seeking the ring. Because saving her brother is her primary goal, the siblings decide to align with Emrys out of necessity. As expected, there are constant squabbles when the enemies try to work together. There’s a lot of Arthurian legend here that keeps the story steeped in myth. It’s compelling, but not quite as tightly woven as some of her earlier books.

lexandra Bracken began successfully publishing at the young age of 19. The high fantasy, Brightly Woven, won many accolades including Third Place in the Best Debut Author Category Reader's Choice Awards Goodreads 2010. Primarily writing science fiction fantasy with a dark slant, Bracken now takes on the Arthurian legend. Silver in the Bone is book 1 in her planned duology.

Bracken has created a world that parallels earth in many ways save one. Magic in all forms exists. The knowledgeable can travel instantly using 'veins' - dark passages that transport a being instantly from one location to the next. Hollowers, are those who travel the veins searching for talismans that can bring power to others. the first speaker in the Book is Tasmin, a young intrepid follower, who along with her brother Caleb, join Nash. Nash the successful, Nash the seeker, and lately Nash the driven. He has brought his young charges to a most dangerous site. Bitterly cold, riddled with corpses and curses he drives them to the prize - a dagger. Retrieving the dagger leads them to Tintagel Castle
in Cornwall. The legend of Arthur begins here, and so does Tasmin's quest.

Nash has deserted Cabel and Tasmin. Seven years have passed. Cabel's nature is growing stronger. Tasmin, born without One Vision relying on libraries and research is running out of time. The only answer, perhaps, is to journey to Avalon. Avalon now a place in the other world, the locale of all peace and goodness might bring salvation. Avalon exists, yes. The twist is Avalon is now also cursed. Will Tasmin and her company be able to bring any harmony back to this sacred Isle? Dark, violent harmonies abound, and a cliff hanger ending leaves the reader grasping for more.

Bracken writes for children and young adults. The themes of darkness, combined with a possible romance indicate suitability for ages 14 and up.

Full disclosure. I read this ARC at the invitation of Knopf and netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this opportunity.