<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.

My goodness! Alexandra Bracken has done it again folks! I have not read from this author since the Darkest Minds series back in high school, but when I heard about this Arthurian retelling? I jumped on the boat so quick and I'm glad I did! The world created in this story is so lush and complex, but enough that I can steadily follow along with the plot. I could also easily connect with the characters and was left feeling anxious about what's in store for them in the sequel. I highly recommend this book for any fantasy fan!

SILVER IN THE BONE by Alexandra Bracken is an Arthurian legend-inspired contemporary Young Adult Fantasy set in Boston and later in Avalon. It's the first of a series, and stars Tamsin Lark, a young woman who hunts for magic and magical objects, even though she doesn't have "The One Vision" that would allow her to see magic. When the opportunity to acquire an object that could end her brother's curse is presented, Tamsin accepts the challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The world-building was fantastic, the plot twisty and fun, and the main characters relatable and strong. Before I gush some more, here's the setup.

Tamsin and her brother Cabell were abandoned by their caretaker, Nash, and since then, they've had to fend for themselves. Unlike her brother, Tamsin can't see magic, so being a Hallower — a tradesperson who finds and trades in magical spells and objects — is a bit of a challenge. The two siblings are doing the best they can to survive. When Cabell's curse begins to act up more frequently, Tamsin takes up the search for a magical object that may cure him. Unfortunately, Emrys, the spoiled son of the head Hallower, is also searching for the same object. Through a series of events, they are joined by Neve, a sorceress who wants to prove herself to the Sorceress' guild so that she may receive formal training. The group travel to Avalon, but it's not the Avalon of legend. Something's wrong. Terribly wrong.

I found Tamsin to be very relatable. Perhaps it's the pessimist streak I share with her. She's been through a lot, and has issues trusting people and getting close to new people. Ms. Bracken did a great job of showing, rather than telling the reader about Tamsin's inner challenges, and it worked really well. The other characters' reactions to Tamsin's pessimism, for example, were sometimes humorous in the best possible way. Her character arc was very satisfying, and I'm eager to read the next book to find out what happens next.

Speaking of humor, Emrys cracked me up. "You think I'm going to reveal my secrets to the only real competition?" he asked with an infuriating wink. "Though if you're up for a little game of Two Truths and a Lie —" But he also had his tender moments, where he demonstrated true caring for Tamsin and others. I found the enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance both fun and frustrating in a good way. Every time he called her by that nickname... so good.

A friend like Neve is a friend indeed. See what I did there? No, seriously though, everyone should have a friend like Neve. She's caring, brings positive energy, and connects with people easily. I liked her from the moment she showed up on the page. I'm not sure where the next book will take her, but I'm eager to read more.

For most of the novel, I felt badly for Cabell, a young man haunted by his curse and his past. He had layers, something every main character in this book exhibited. His were just... darker? More complicated? It's difficult to describe, but it worked.

There is big betrayal in this novel, and it surprised me. I'm eager to find out how it affects future books. That's all I'll say to avoid spoilers.

The action and adventure will leave the reader breathless and eager to find out how — or whether — the characters survive. As a warning, there's some pretty gory stuff in there, not enough to deter me (I've read Game of Thrones), but might be a little tough for other readers who are a little more sensitive. I don't think any of it was gratuitous, and it certainly raised the stakes again and again, and added to the world building.

If there's any room for improvement, I'd say that there are too many secondary characters in Avalon. I struggled to keep track of the different priestesses. Perhaps I wasn't meant to have them all committed to memory. Those who were closer to the main plot were well-developed and distinct enough to stand out, particularly Cait, whose fighting spirit and fierce devotion were knightly.

SILVER IN THE BONE is a well-written romp of a contemporary YA Fantasy. What an original take on Arthurian lore! It's twisty, has strong main characters, and is teaming with action and adventure.

Thank you to Netgally and Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

Alexandra Bracken is a fantastic storyteller and proves it once again with Silver in the Bone.

In this book, we follow Tamsin, a cynical mortal, and her adopted brother Cabell, who has the gift to see magic. After being abandoned by their foster father, Tamsin and her brother earn their living by treasure-hunting magical objects for sorceresses. When one of those jobs is for a ring that just might break her brother's strange curse, Tamsin can't say no. Along the way, however, she ends up getting a lot more than she bargained for.

The world-building was well done in this book. Bracken did an excellent job of basing her book on Arthurian legends and still making her own story stand out. She takes these tales that we know and love and builds her own unique world. We still have all of the iconic characters and places, but with a darker twist on them. This book is still plenty enjoyable for people who do not know much about King Arthur. Everything you need to know about the ancient legends is right there in the book.

Wow, okay the girl power in this book was phenomenal. First, we have Tamsin, who I instantly loved. Due to the neglect she suffered as a child, she is very protective of herself and does not trust anyone. Bracken addressed this head-on and showed how those formative years of abandonment shaped her. She is quick to see the negatives, judge people on very few facts and is harsh in her point of view. She sees herself as unworthy of love or friendship and pushes everyone away before they can get the chance to see her for who she really is. Because we got to see this from Tamsin's side of things, it was easy to see why she lived like this. By the end of the book, we see lots of growth in her character, and I cannot wait to see more in the sequel.

Neve, the other main female lead, could not be more different from Tamsin. Neve is on the journey with her, and we get to see her and Tamsin bond. While Neve has her own hard past to deal with, she is optimistic in her outlook and free with her love. This was not presented in a way that made kindness seem weak, which I really appreciated. She does not let Tamsin push her away, and because of the effort she puts into Tamsin, we see a true friendship bloom between them. It was really sweet to see, and showed there are different ways for girls to be strong

All of the other characters were done just as well. I won't go into details (I want you to get to know them for yourselves) but they all had complex back-stories and characteristics. The dynamics between the characters were often fraught with tension and mistrust, but we get to see their work through these issues over the course of the book.

The only thing about this book that I struggled with was the pacing. One of the main ways we get to know the characters is through dialogue. While I enjoyed this, I wish it had been woven into the plot more organically. There were times when the characters were just talking, which is fine in moderation, but was used too much here. This was more in the middle of the book; the beginning and end were filled with a lot of action.

Speaking of the ending, I could not put the book down past the 75% mark. So much happened in the last quarter of the book and I was hooked! While I had guessed some of the plot twists early on in the books, Bracken still shocked me in the end. So many twists and turns took me by surprise, which was extremely impressive. It is often hard to have so much shock factor at the end of books, especially fantasy.

TW: mention of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, child abuse, and gore/blood

(review is posted to Goodreads, but will be reshared closer to release date)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a copy of the book for an honest review.

Well written and entertaining. Darker themes involving an enchanted magic using world.