This book was phenomenal! The magic system, and the diversity of characters, and the storyline were all spot on! My mind is reeling with all the possibilities of how book 2 will go! I will absolutely be buying this for myself when it releases!

tl;dr
Loosely based on Arthurian legend and featuring an exceedingly pragmatic main character, this book takes a bit to get going, but doesn't let up once it does.

Thoughts
I stayed up way later than I expected finishing this (oops). The opening of this book was, for me, a bit slow. It took some time to get all the world building and the main plot moving, but just as I was getting used to the pace, it took off at a run and never stopped. And WOW! What a run. This tale is inspired by Arthurian legend, but it takes the pieces and creates its own story full of plot twists that kept me guessing the whole way through. Tamsin is a difficult main character. On the one hand, I appreciate not having an eternally hopeful ray of sunshine who always believes the best in people. Sometime a girl's gotta be pragmatic. But there were times when her jaded worldview got in her way, which I probably hate because it's a little too relatable. Thankfully some of the other characters balance out her (mostly) warranted cynicism, with Neve the energetic sorceress being a standout favorite. And speaking of other characters, there's the start of what might be an enemies to lovers romance, with a fade to black-style night spent together (how far they went is unclear). Emrys is as complicated as Tamsin, and I really like how their relationship has progressed so far, but his motives a very unclear, so now I must await book two for answers.

I never read Lore and I gave The Darkest Minds 3 stars, so I went into Silver in the Bone with pretty low expectations. Talk about knocking it out of the park. It's slow to start, but as soon as the characters get to where most of the story takes place, it really pops off. You can definitely tell how much Alexandra Bracken has grown as an author. This book had me by the throat by the time I got to the halfway point. I fell in love with the Tamsin, Cabell, Emrys, and Neve, as well as the priestesses and their friends. Each character felt unique and memorable. The last 30% happens pretty quickly, and there are a lot of plot twists in the last chapters, but none of it feels jarring or unnatural. I'm only left with questions that I can't wait for the next book to answer.

Thank you Random House Children's and Netgalley for the ARC!

DNF around 50%

Unfortunately I did not connect with this story or the characters and have chosen not to continue reading at this time. It is well-written, and I think it will be well received, but it was not for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read. I will not be posting a review on social media at this time.

<b> <I> Thank you so much to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of “Silver in the Bone” by Alexandra Bracken in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. Any quotes in this review should be cross-referenced with the final copy for any possible edits.</I> </b>

<b> Overall rating: </b> 4 out of 5 stars

<b> My review: </b> Silver in the Bone is written by Alexandra Bracken, who most people know for writing Lore or the Darkest Minds series. I have not read either of these and this is my first book to read from this author. I first applied for this arc because of how much of a vibe this cover is. The book is set in Avalon, and the story follows Tasmin and Cabell. They are Hollowers, people who hunt for magical artifacts. When their father disappears on a hunt for a legendary object, Tasmin teams up with her nemsis, Emrys to find the object and break the curse. I really enjoyed the twists of the story and how it felt like you never got a moment to breathe.

<b> My criticisms: </b> This book is being marketed as being based on Authrian legend and I think it barely fits the bill for that statement.

<b> Will I finish the series? </b> Absolutely, of course!

Thank you to Random House Children's books for letting me read this early in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my god. what was that?

This story starts out giving very much National Treasure meets King Arthur/ Legendborn esque vibes and by the end I don't even know how to describe it, only that ending left me speechless. i will say the only thing keeping me from rating it a complete 5 stars is because it some parts towards the ending the story did move slowly but the last 30% makes up for it.

The opening scene was immediately upbeat, hook-you-in reading with sassy characters and undertones of Indiana Jones and Miss Peregrines School for Peculiar Children.

But, Silver In The Bone quickly ascends into its own unique and extraordinary style. Absolutely FUN to read. Witty, quirky, charismatic characters abound, resulting in the perfect combination of personalities.

I’ve happily read many stories of King Arthur and ancient Avalon. This book is entirely different — thank goodness. It’s young, hip, frantic and fabulous.

Starting on the streets of Boston, with modern twists and more twists this author is brilliant at storytelling.

I kept on reading well into the night ~ and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. It’s honestly the best when you’re like — just 5 more minutes… OK just one more chapter. Absolutely, Undeniably, Unputdownable. Already, I can’t wait to read the next book. When is the next book coming out? And when can I preorder?

#SilverintheBone #NetGalley Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I encourage you to check this one out! Excellent read.

SILVER IN THE BONE will be big hit of readers who are fascinated with Arthurian lore and even more so because this is set in modern times. I am not a super big fantasy reader, but I'll be honest, if Alexandra Bracken wrote out the phonebook I'd read it.

I find her writing style lovely and enjoyable. She's able to set up big reveals in a way that keeps the reader interested. Her books flow with grace and before you know it, you've reached the end and are left wanting more of the story.

My grandmother passed last week and this book was the perfect escape for me. It transported me to another world right when I needed it. It's funny how books can do that at the right times.

I loved how flawed Tamsin was. Every time she tried to do better fate (and people) knocked her back down. She was relatable to all of us mere mortals. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance B plot between Tamsin and Emrys. All I can say is EMRYS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? :) Please, more Tamsin and Emrys in the next installment. Pretty please.

I loved Lore and I was certain SILVER IN THE BONE wouldn't be able to top it just because I LOVE Greek mythology and I wasn't too sure how the Arthurian slant would play out. I actually enjoyed SILVER IN THE BONE more than Lore.

This books has a very Indiana Jones feel to it with a cast of characters that makes it fun. Yet, there is also a very dark side to the book and I love how Alexandra is branching out with her doom writing.

Also, I loved the creepy character with "the eye." If you know, you know. We need more of him in the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for an e-copy of SILVER IN THE BONE to review.

I rate SILVER IN THE BONE five out of five stars.

Alexandra Bracken cements her status as one of the top fantasy authors writing today in this stunning series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Silver in the Bone
by Alexandra Bracken
Pub Date: 04 Apr 2023


Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be 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 treasures 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, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. .

#SilverintheBone

Wow. Just…wow. Alexandra Bracken decimated my heart with “Silver in the Bone,” and, quite frankly, I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.

Protagonist Tamsin is pragmatic to the point of pessimism and fiercely loyal to her only family member, her brother Cabell, whose very existence has been plagued by a looming curse. She’s not interested in anything but finding a way to help her younger brother, nor does she have time for anyone else — at least until a series of events leads her to team up with her nemesis, Emrys, in order to track down a legendary object that may be the key to breaking Cabell’s curse.

There’s just one little problem…it’s the same magical artifact that led to the mysterious disappearance of Nash, Tamsin and Cabell’s guardian, years before.

Despite assured danger, and sky-high odds stacked against them, Tamsin, Emrys and Cabell set off to uncover where the object is hidden on a journey through time and space. They are joined by a sorceress on a mission to prove her worth, a group of priestesses fighting to save a doomed land and a millennia-old knight plucked straight from the fables themselves.

But nothing and no one is as they seem. As Tamsin faces obstacle after obstacle, the promise of love — and ache of betrayal — lurk in places least expected.

With “Silver in the Bone,” Alexandra Bracken delivers a riveting beginning to a bombshell new YA series. It really doesn’t get much better than this.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

I was thrilled when my request was approved for this book. I haven’t had the best past with Bracken’s books—I gave up on The Darkest Minds and haven’t yet read Lore—but I am a sucker for King Arthur retellings. As a notorious myth, it’s always interesting to see how modern authors play with an update the original story. Unfortunately for this novel, that myth wasn’t as prevalent as I had hoped it would be.
I want to start off by saying that I genuinely enjoyed Bracken’s descriptive writing. Most of my highlights are lines and phrases I wanted to pull out so if I ever do return to this book, I can revel in the beautiful figurative language scattered across this book.

However, there were a few storytelling aspects that I struggled with in this book, including: the first person point-of-view; the plotting and pacing; and the world-building.

To start, Tamsin as the main character was an excellent choice. She was a jaded character with a lot of negative traits—traits that did evolve after passing the 60% mark of this novel. I actually enjoyed her rough edges and her preference for keeping everyone held at arm’s length. This provides Bracken with endless possibilities in developing Tamsin throughout future books. But where I struggled to connect with Tamsin was a result of first person perspective. This may be a result of my preference for third person perspective when reading fantasy novels, but the first person perspective didn’t impact the story positively. At one point, I made a comment that the prose was “lacking in emotional connection to” Tamsin and that the “first person perspective feels more like third person as Tamsin, essentially, reports what is happening to her.” I still believe both of those comments stand true. Despite being in first person, I never felt Tamsin’s emotions or emotionally connected to her narration. Seeing as those are the strengths of first person perspective, it was disappointing to not experience those elements of the point-of-view.

I also found myself desiring more out of the plotting and pacing of this novel. In truth, I didn’t feel hooked on the story until I passed the 63% mark—which is when action events started occurring with more urgency. There was a definite plotting imbalance, as we spent most of the novel sitting in scenes exploring conversations/planning, versus having a balance of planning, action, and introspection. The imbalance caused a pacing inconsistency, which made the first half of the novel difficult to push through. For most of my reading experience, I never felt that pull to keep reading whenever I put the book down until I passed 63%.

Lastly, I wanted to briefly touch on the world-building. As I opened my introduction with, I was expecting a little more from the King Arthur myth. Did it inspire the world (Avalon) and create a neat setting? Absolutely. But with the emphasis of the myth in the synopsis, my expectations were skewed more toward King Arther and his court having more influence on the novel. Don’t get me wrong, I was entirely for the priestesses and the female power carrying this novel, but the myth felt like a hook to get the readers to pick up the novel, and we’re still sitting back and waiting for that myth to grow into more prevalence with the future books. Additionally, I admired Bracken for the controlled pacing in unveiling the world-building. It never felt info-dumpy and always came from Tamsin’s inherent knowledge, conversations, or exploration. The reveal of world-building was one of the better paced, better developed parts of this novel.

While the novel may have ended up on a cliffhanger, I’m not sure that it’s compelling enough to keep me hooked to read more of this series. I can’t help but walk away wishing there was more polish to some of the storytelling elements of this novel.

Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

OMG! This is absolutely one of my favorite works of the author! The opening lured me enough to keep my interest intact, the entire execution was engaging, entertaining, promising! The characters are likable, magic system and world building is well blended in the Isle of Avalon setting and King Arthur legend.

I honestly had a little hard time to enjoy the author’s previous work: Lore. But this is something exceptional!

No more words! My expectations are so high for the second installment after reading the cliffhanger at the end! I need it ASAP!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/ Knopf Books for Young Readers for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I loved this book. Alexandra Bracken has done it again -- and I am beside myself having to wait for Book 2.

I thought she created such an interesting world, and I'm super excited to see how she expands on the Arthurian myth and legends for the next few books. I"m super attached to the characters, and you find yourself absolutely rooting for each and every one of them. This book has just enough intrigue, twists and turns, and romance to keep me interested!

5/5 for me, and I can't wait to have a copy on my shelves.

First of all, I loved this book. I didn't want to put it down.
It follows Tasmin and Cabell who are Hollowers, people who hunt for magical artifacts. Their adopted father was obsessed with Arthurian legend and was on the hunt for a legendary item when he disappears.
I really enjoyed the magic in this world, as well as the weaving of Arthurian legend without it being a retelling. There is great character building and wonderful friendships.
Now the question is: When does book 2 come out???
Highly recommend!!

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Children's, and Knopf Books for Young Readers for an early copy for review.

I am a fan of this author so I was super excited to read this book, and luckily, it met all of my expectations. I'm really happy with the way things went in this book, and I definitely recommend it. This book was super engrossing and I overall loved it. Anyone who likes fantasy should read it.

Tamsin is a Hollower - part of a community that find magically significant artefacts. Tamsin is enlisted to find a ring that may be able to break her brother's curse, and unexpectedly finds herself in King Arthur's Avalon, where darkness has taken root.

This wasn't at all a bad story, but I did find that every time I put it down, it was a struggle to pick it back up. There were a lot of lose threads throughout that made it very clear that this book is meant to be just a beginning, and I'm not sure it's interested me enough to read the next one!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh. My. God. This book was AMAZING. By far, Alexandra Bracken's best work! The world she creates and the mixing in of King Arthur and those well-known legends was perfect. I loved Tamsin and her relationship with her brother - and what drives her with breaking his curse. And this is what sets in motion the magical journey to another world and all the horror that lives there. And can we talk about that ending? Next book please!

AB smashed the mythology in her previous novel ‘Lore,’ so I was super excited to see how she would tackle Arthurian tales.

But the thing is, I don't think it's visible enough in this book. It uses the isle of Avalon as a setting and the death of King Arthur as a plot devise, but that's really it. To me, this doesn't feel like a story ingrained in Arthurian myth, but rather one that just takes place in a world where Arthurian mythology is a thing, if that makes sense. So I just wish there was more it.

Because everything else is so much fun. I enjoyed the magic system, the characters are entertaining to read about, and there are twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. So it is a pretty good fantasy book on its own, I just would have liked to see more of the mythology component. So here's hoping that improves with the sequel!

This was a fantastic twist on Arthurian legend! I loved the portrayal of Avalon and the rebranding of the high priestesses. As the MC, Tamsin is a bit hard to love at first, but you slowly learn about her past and why she keeps others at arms length. Emrys and Neve were by far my favorite characters - they jumped off the page with their every scene. The last quarter of the book had me hooked with its twists, raw violence and grief, and that ending! Readers will be swept away by this high-stakes fantasy adventure. I can’t wait for book two!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Knopf Books for Young Readers for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.