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.

I was a little nervous jumping into this novel since I did not a love a few of Alexandra Bracken's previous books, but I'm pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this novel. It was incredible to learn about Avalon and see the Arthurian legend throughout the novel. I do wish they mentioned more of the Arthurian lore a little bit more, and I would not go into this novel expecting a King Arthur retelling. I will also say I was a tad confused at the very beginning of the book. I felt like there needed to be little bit more world building when it starts. I was shocked by the ending and cannot wait for the next book to be released!

I need the second book ASAP!! This book was amazing!! The start was a bit slow but once I got a couple chapters in I was just sucked into it and could not put it down. The book follows Tamsin who decides to go on an adventure to find Nash and the ring of dispelled which can break a curse. I really love the Arthurian inspirations in this book, and when the action was happening it was happening. I cannot wait for the second book to come out! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken!

Tamsin Lark wasn’t born with the One Gift, but growing up with a guardian and brother who both did, she learned the ins and outs of breaking into crypts to get the treasures inside. After their guardian, Nash, abandons them, Tamsin and Cabell do what it takes to survive. Ten years later, rumors surface that Nash had found a ring tied to Arthurian legend - a ring that might break a curse that Cabell is under. But they aren’t the only ones looking for the ring. And in the process, they might find more than they were looking for.

I loved watching Tamsin’s relationship with her brother, Cabell. It was very sweet to see how devoted she was to him, although it was sad to see her shut herself off to everyone else. Bracken handled Tamsin’s fear of abandonment very well - I really sympathized with her. But over the course of the novel, Tamsin begins to open up to others, and it made me so happy.

Bracken also does a really great job creating mysteries and secrets that I really cared about and that kept us completely invested in the story. The pacing was perfect - as soon as we figured out one thing, another 2 questions popped up. I may or may not have gotten mad when my husband tried to talk to me 😳

I will say that I was a little confused about the different groups that Bracken introduces throughout the novel. They all had different back stories depending on who was telling them, which was a little hard to follow at times. Ultimately, though, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.

If you love YA fantasy, Arthurian-based stories, and books with great character growth, look no further! Just know that you’ll get to the last page and be desperate for the next book!

Many thanks to Knopf Books, Alexandra Bracken, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

480 Pages
Publisher: Random House Children’s, Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 4, 2023

Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Teens, Young Adult, Avalon, Arthurian Folklore

Tamsin does not have any magic. She must use a waxy hand of a murderer to provide light when they go on their adventures. She and her brother, Cabell, break into ancient crypts belonging to sorceresses to collect sigils and symbols that can be sold to break curses. She needs to find a ring for a sorceress but without magic, she has a disadvantage. She takes a chance using basilisk venom to gain magical vision. The ring and or Arthur’s dagger is on Avalon. She meets others to go on this journey but once they are in Avalon, but they are dumbstruck. Avalon is a wasteland. What happened to the beautiful land?

The story has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. This is a different take on the Arthurian, Morgan La Fey, and Lady in the Lake stories. If you like these stories but with a darker side, you will enjoy reading this book.

I went into this novel mostly blind except to the fact I know a lot of people enjoyed it. Now that I’ve finished it, I get the hype! I loved this story, and actually. I’m mad I put off reading it thinking I wouldn’t. The world was interesting, I was invested in the characters, and while I did see a lot of the twists coming, I did get some surprises and the ones I guessed were executed in a satisfying way. Now I’m upset I have to wait for book 2!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my digital ARC

Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers, for the chance to read this amazing book!

A new Arthurian fantasy? With that cover? Sign me in!
Tamsin Lark doesn't have magic and she's not match for those who have it and the Hollowers who lived in the magical underground of Boston. But when the only person who was a family for her disappears, she's ready to do anything to get them back. That means joining in the cruel pursuit of enchanted relics to keep her and her brother Cabell alive. If not safe. Ten years later, she heard rumors about her guardian finding a powerflul ring from Arthurian legend, just before he vanished. Meeting her rival Emrys ignites her hope to find this ring, a magic that could potentially save her brother from his curse. But, of course, they are not the only ones looking for this magical ring. Forced to ally herself with her rival, they have to face dark magic, deadly secrets with the power of awaken ghosts from the past and to do anything in order to save her brother.

Immersive, brilliantly written, Silver in the bone is the story of a young woman trying to seek her destiny in the ruins of Avalon, fighting to save her brother in a tale of romance, revenge, ambition and magic, deeply interwined.
I loved everything in this book. Tamsin is a great main character, stubborn, loyal and smart and I love her relationship with Cabell and with Emrys and how they grew and change during the whole book. The writing is immersive and well paced and the setting is creative and really intriguing, capturing the readers' attention right away with magic, heartbreak, revenge and dangers from everywhere. Really recommended!

The world and lore were very interesting. Unfortunately for me the characters fell a little flat and the plot wasn't enticing. I honestly just didn't feel a strong urge to keep going at any point. Just made my way through.

I would like to start with a disclaimer: I do not know anything about original arthurian legends, nor do I care. As such, I will not be able to address whether or not this is a good adaptation of it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has a great magic system, the characters are interesting, and the world building is well done. In the end I was left wanting more, in the best way. I cannot wait to read book 2!

Please listen to our full review and author interview on our podcast, Genre Junkies. Available on most podcast platforms.

Alexandra Bracken is hands down one of the best fantasy authors of her generation. She once again transports her readers to a rich and rewarding setting. This time we are treated to an original take on an Arthurian retelling. We loved her female empowerment touches! She also uses the dark academia trope in a completely refreshing way that didn’t feel elitist or exclusionary. As fans of dark fantasy and horror, Bracken did not disappoint. There are parts of this book that are downright spooky! Though she insists she didn’t intend to write a horror novel, we aren’t sure we agree!

One of Bracken’s strength is that you can feel her passion for her subject matter. She also presents us with characters who are complex, interesting, dealing with trauma, fascinating and unforgettable. We are anxiously awaiting the next book in this duo logy.

This book was so forgettable. I felt like every time I read a chapter, I forgot everything in the previous chapter and I was constantly confused. This book was too long and there were too many moving parts to keep track of. I am curious to know more about the story so I would read the next one but it was not my favorite Alexandra Bracken book nor my favorite King Arthur retelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book and purchased several for our collection. This was originally requested for a program, to be shared with high schoolers at a book talk.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5
This book completely surprised me since I really did not like the other book I have read from this author, Lore. I had hope though because the actual writing craft in Lore seemed solid enough. In this book, Bracken builds on and transforms the Arthurian legend. I loved this and how she builds and destroys character relationships. As I approached the end of the book, I felt excited (and a bit relieved) that this book is the first in a series because that ending blew everything wide open.

I loved this book so much I had to buy my own physical signed copy! Bracken became an author I was interested in after her novel "Lore". Reading "Silver in the Bone" earned Bracken a place in my automatic buy list now!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC.

This was an enjoyable YA fantasy. We have lots of tropes typical to YA: the moody heroine, enemies-to-lovers, missing/dead guardian, and more.

This story is inspired by Arthurian Legend and does weave details of those legends into the book. However there is almost a zombie apocalypse type vibe to the book which is not bad just not what I was expecting haha.

There is also some surprises along the way and a cliffhanger at the end.

I do wish more had been done with the main romantic relationship as I just wanted more from it. But alas there are more books so I'm sure things will be explained and developed in the next book.

All in all a fun read and I will be picking up the sequel to see where this story goes.

There was a lot of world building in the beginning.. but it got better as it goes. And that cliffhanger!!! I need the next now, please. It didn't really stand out.. felt like another YA fantasy. but I still enjoyed it.