Read if you like: mythology-inspired fantasy
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Tamsin becomes involved in the world of Hollowers, who hunt lost treasure. She gets caught up in finding an artifact from the King Arthur legend and the adventure is not what she expects.
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I loved the connection to the King Arthur legend, and the story was action-packed. It did take me a little bit to get into the story at the beginning, but I enjoyed the story!

Heart-warming, heart-breaking and heart-pounding!

This story, inspired by the legend of King Arthur, was incredible. You wouldn't believe the number of quotes I kept from this one! It is so well written, the description of the Children were disgusting (you'll understand when you'll read them), and the emotions are so raw, you are living them with the characters. I feel hollow after finishing it.... How will my next read be better than this?!

And honestly, this book let SO MANY THINGS UNSAID, it's pure torture. I cannot wait for the next book.

TW for violence, gore and blood, parental abandonment, death.

I enjoyed this book and I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing was really well done. It made you want to keep reading.

This got off to a very slow start for me but the twists at the end will probably keep me coming back for more!

Sadly this book wasn’t for me. I found it extremely difficult to understand what was happening. The world was confusing and the magic didn’t make sense. I put it down at the 30% mark

I took a leap of faith – because when Alexandra Bracken's tales have consistently rocked my reading world, why not dive in headfirst? And guess what? Jackpot!

Silver in the Bone spins a yarn spun from Arthurian threads, introducing Tamsin, a card-carrying member of the cryptic Hollowers, a crew with a knack for gate-crashing portals to snag mystical relics. But wait, there's more – her quest to break her brother's curse pairs her with Emrys, a Hollower rival and the poster child for golden-boy excellence.

Characters, oh, let the love fest begin! Tamsin, Emrys, Neve, Cabell (a.k.a. Flea) – this bunch will charm the quokkas off you with their dynamics. And speaking of dynamics, Tamsin and Emrys? Their chemistry could power a spaceship to Andromeda. Leading the charge with her unfiltered thoughts, Tamsin proves that she's the hero we didn't know we desperately needed.

From creepy critters that'll make your skin crawl to landscapes that even GPS would give up on, topped with curses that put a Halloween hex to shame. The stakes shoot higher than a rocket on Red Bull, the action's hotter than a supernova, and yes, confession time: I might've teared up. Just a little. Or a lot.

And then, like a roller coaster that refuses to come to a complete stop, the ending. My jaw might have hit the floor audibly. How could it just finish like that? The cliffhanger had me questioning my existence!

In a nutshell: I'm enamored.

This book has such a strong start, interweaving stories and lore and very interesting characters. Unfortunately, that is the only part of this story I enjoyed.

The biggest downfall of this book is that the Arthurian legend feels like it doesn’t quite belong in the story. Our main character are looking for a ring to break a curse, and thus end up traveling to another world, Avalon but everything just feels to convenient and by the time they reach Avalon, all we have is large info-dumps of information that keep the story going. It seems like our characters are on a wild goose chase with resolving smaller problems but never getting any closer to the bigger one.

Our characters were also very one dimensional. I don’t think I could tell you a single for attribute about either of them except their most basic goal.

This one wasn’t for me but I think anyone deeply interested in Arthurian legend might enjoy it more than I did.

Tamsin and her brother, Cabell, are Hollowers not by choice but by being all they've ever known thanks to their guardian, a man who abandoned them when they were just little kids. Cabell is cursed and all Tamsin wants to do is find a way to remove his curse and move on, but they also need to keep taking Hollower jobs if they want to make ends meet. It's a tough life that has little hope until an auspicious meeting with a sorceress leads to Cabell and Tamsin risking everything to head to Avalon in search of a mythical relic that might solve all their problems.
They're joined on their quest by Tamsin's nemesis, Emrys, a young sorceress, Neve, and the last inhabitants of the magical land of Avalon. Because things in Avalon aren't as idyllic as the stories portray and there is more at stake than just finding the relic to remove Cabell's curse.
Tamsin is a tough character to like. This is mostly by her own doing and understandable once you get the background, but it does make it harder to really get into her story. I think what really saved this for me was the mystery and the slow reveals that made me really excited to see what could happen next. For me, it became all about the story and not as much about the one telling it. Not ideal, yet it remains a very enjoyable and binge-worthy read regardless.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for the intriguing read!

Like every book she writes it was amazing. Was so excited to read it after loving darkest minds and it was just as good !!

Tamsin Lark never wanted to be a Hollower. She was trapped in their world of dangerous sorceresses and their relics when her guardian Nash disappeared seven years ago leaving Tamsin and her brother Cabell to fend for themselves. Nash might have disappeared with a powerful relic. He might be dead. Either way, he taught Tamsin the most important lesson she'll ever learn: You have to put yourself first because no one else will.

Cabell has always fit in easily among the other Cunningfolk of their guild in a way Tamsin never will with his magical talent for deflecting curses--even if it's been no help in breaking his own curse. Tamsin has no magical talent. Instead she scrounges for assignments no one else in the guild wants while posing as a fortune teller at Mystic Maven to keep herself and Cabell afloat until they figure out how to break Cabell's curse before it kills them both.

The guild has three rules every member has to follow: No one shall ever intentionally maim or kill another guild member. A favor given must be returned on the giver's terms. And, most importantly, the first person who lays hands on a relic claims it.

Which is why, when she hears about a chance to obtain a ring that could break Cabell's curse, Tamsin knows she has to get to it first.

Except the ring is much more powerful than that dating back to King Arthur and Camelot. With other Hollowers circling, Tamsin reluctantly agrees to work with her rival Emrys Dye to try and find the ring first which leads them and Cabell on a dangerous journey into Camelot itself where nothing is like the old legends.

Something is rotten at the core of Camelot. Something that has left curses running rampant and turned the soil to ash. Something dangerous to everyone left in the magical land leaving anyone it touches dark of heart, silver in the bone, and more zombie than human.

Tamsin has never had magical power or talent. She has her photographic memory, grit, and allies both reluctant and unlikely. She can only hope it's enough to survive Camelot and save her brother in Silver in the Bone (2023) by Alexandra Bracken.

Silver in the Bone is the first book in a new series. Tamsin is cued as white with diversity among the supporting cast. The novel is primarily told from Tamsin's point of view (and narrated by Sophie Amoss for the audiobook).

While Tamsin is slow to trust her motley group of allies, readers will quickly be won over by this novel's strong supporting class especially prickly Emrys and joke cracking Neve who both have their own secrets and character arcs throughout the novel. With a focus on female sorceresses in the real world and their priestess counterparts in Camelot, Silver in the Bone touches on some feminist themes primarily with women supporting women as tensions--and dangers--within Camelot build to a breaking point. Detailed world building and a deep respect for Arthurian lore ground this adventure although readers unfamiliar with the legend of King Arthur will also find a lot to enjoy here. Tamsin's growth throughout the novel is realistic and earned as she slowly learns how to build her support system and ask for help.

With gut-wrenching twists and an ending that is literally jaw-dropping, readers will be eager for the next installment.  Silver in the Bone blends horror and fantasy elements into a fast-paced story where friendship means everything but trust can be lethal. Agonizing twists and a truly shocking final page will leave readers ravenous for the next installment. Highly recommended.

Possible Pairings: Road of the Lost by Nafiza Azad, Vial of Tears by Cristin Bishara, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin, Gilded by Marissa Meyer, Little Thieves by Margaret Owen, A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes, Seven Endless Forests by April Genevieve Tucholke

Thanks to NetGalley for this digital ARC.

This book was excellent! I wasn't sure if it was going to work for me... but it delivered. Read it today!

I have read this book four times since being approved for it and it gets better each time! Tamsin reminds me so much of myself and her love for her family is above all else. Authurian retellings can be tricky but Alexandra knocked this one out of the park. Tamsin and Emrys are a little fire and a little gasoline and it made this one so well worth it. Excellent read.

Silver In The Bone is Alexandra Bracken's take on Arthurian Legend. Needless to say, I was so excited for this book. As it turns out, maybe it just wasn't quite to my taste. This story is about Tamsin who is a Hollower, meaning she completes missions for hire doing things like finding magical relics. She, however, does not have the One Vision, which would enable her to see magic and spells. When she was a kid, her foster parent, Nash disappeared in the night - leaving no message or trace for her or her brother Cabell to follow. In this book, she's tasked with finding a ring that can undo any curse. However, it has to be taken by deadly force. The mission takes Tamsin to the legendary land of Avalon -- where the scenery is not at all what you'd expect.

I think the thing that didn't work for me with Silver In The Bone was that it was so relentlessly bleak. It just never felt like it let up. Sure, there's a hint of a romance, but for like 10 pages. Otherwise, ash, doom, gloom and death everywhere. It also is set in modern times, not Arthurian times. That's fine. It just wasn't really up my alley initially. BUT, the last like chapter of the book fully had me and you guys I'm compelled to come back for the sequel. I just need to know what happens next - it ends on a cliffhanger.

I really enjoyed Alexandra Bracken’s Lore and was excited to read Silver in the Bone. Unfortunately, I did not love this one as much. The story was more difficult to follow and wish it was more well-developed. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for this arc!

Bracken is very clearly a talented writer. She has created a rich world with a very modern take on classic lore. It's clear she has a huge breadth of knowledge about folklore and I found the way she used it very interesting. I was most engaged with the text when exploring this part.

Admittedly I had a difficult time getting into the novel at the start. I didn't connect with the characters themselves easily and the initial set up was a bit confusing for me. She has an incredible talent with building worlds, but it takes a little bit to get into the world. This book moved a bit slower for me than Lore, which felt like a faster pace that kept me moving through the story.

Tamsin was born without any magical talent, which makes it challenging when she breaks into cursed tombs with her brother Cabell. Ten years after being adopted by a guardian who mysteriously vanishes, Tamsin begins to search for a ring from Arthurian legend in the hope that it will break Cabell’s curse and allow him to live freely. However, others desire the ring too, including Emrys, the son of one of Tamsin’s competitors. As the two begin to search for the ring, they find themselves on an unexpected adventure that leads them to hidden places.

I love Alexandra Bracken, but this book took me several months to read. I struggled to connect with this novel, which is unusual. It’s taken me a moment to figure out why, and it can best be attributed to the fact that it felt like there were three disparate sections that were attempting to accomplish different tasks. The first and final third were the most interesting while I found the middle section to be the biggest drag to read.

As for characters, the slow read was also partly due to the fact that this is a narrative told only from Tamsin’s point of view, and she’s not a particularly likable narrator. While she does grow and have admirable qualities, like her great devotion to Cabell, it takes quite a while for her to snap out of her own navel-gazing. The cast that rounds out the novel, specifically Cabell, Emrys, Neve, Olwen, and Catriona are often more interesting than Tamsin, making me wonder if the story could have benefitted from multiple points of view.

Overall, I found this to be a mediocre installment from Bracken, but considering the final third of the novel, which was stunning, I am interested to see where the story goes. When entering the novel, be aware that Bracken is tackling a great deal of mythology and this creates very distinct sections of the story. If readers can get through the second third quickly, they will be rewarded with a wonderful conclusion.

This book never fully clicked for me, and I honestly just don’t think that it was the book for me. Alexandra Bracken has given a contemporary, urban twist to Arthurian legend in SILVER IN THE BONE, with some very messy relationships and potential rivals/enemies-to-lovers? I love a good retelling/remix and I can appreciate how Bracken worked with the tale of King Arthur, I just found I didn’t care much for the plot and never really connected to the characters. If you like some of the more traditional YA fantasy, this might be something that you’re interested in, but it wasn’t for me.

The world-building itself was intriguing, but I honestly found myself more confused by it than anything. It took me a little too long to realise that they were in a contemporary setting (Boston???) and honestly that part never really processed in my brain. There’s magic and sorceresses as well as machines that only speak dead languages! I wouldn’t say that I was confused, but the book never hooked me enough that I fully understood what was going on, which just made continuing to read somewhat frustrating.

Character wise, I think everyone was fairly average in terms of my liking. Tamsin, the MC, was interesting at some points and a decent protagonist, but as I said, I didn’t ever fully connect with her or really any of the other characters. I will admit, while I understand why this was Single-POV for plot purposes, I would be very interested to see another POV added in the sequel. To me, none of the characters really stood out, although I did think Bracken’s take on Emrys was interesting.

I’m still undecided on if I’ll be picking up the sequel, although some of the twists at the end were very convincing they can’t overpower the rest of the book. Not for me, but fairly well-written and might be your cup of tea!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book but unfortunatlly this book is now on my dnf list. The main character is so unlikable that I really really dislike her and couldn't get past her annoyances. I think a paragraph in the beginning would helpful in explaining types of characters such as Hallowers, and Cunningfolk. Maybe I will try again another time because I do enjoy most books written by Bracken but this one is just not it for me.

This is not at all what I was expecting. That’s a good thing. This was original and quite well written. I really enjoyed the story.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

There seems to be a resurgence of Avalonian folklore in YA lately.

The beginning of this book was a hard sell for me. I didn’t think it started off very strongly. It was confusing, the characters were very one-dimensional, and the dialogue was stilted at best.

I forced myself to keep reading because sometimes with fantasies, it takes a minute to get into them. I’m glad I did. I enjoyed the ending more than I enjoyed the beginning. I feel like the story really picks up when they get to Avalon. The world starts to build up and the pieces click together. It was a little frustrating waiting for that moment though. It felt like waiting for a big reveal that didn’t really happen…I’m assuming it will happen in the second book. Obviously, some stuff was revealed, but not until the end and it is difficult to keep up with what’s going on with the lack of information.

I still feel like the dialogue was a little forced and awkward, I personally do not care for the love interest and never really felt the connection between them. So, that was a hard sell for me as well.

I ended up enjoying this one because of the lore of Avalon. I also loved the priestesses and their bond to each other. I am intrigued by the ending and curious as to see what happens in the next book. I also am curious to know explanations for some stuff revealed towards the end!

Tl;dr: the first half of the book is slow and confusing. The second half of the book redeems it.

Thank you so much Random House Children’s and NetGalley for this eARC.

My review is live on Goodreads and Amazon.