This was a really fun book - I think it worked well but I don't think I'm the right fantasy reader for it.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Margaret K. McElderry Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! The cover alone is stunning and I loved getting to read this before it came in one of my special edition book boxes. The storytelling that the author employed was masterful, unique, and thrilling. A duology is a perfect way to captivate this series.

The comp titles for this book were perfectly chosen, this is a YA Gideon the Ninth meets the White Walkers in GOT. The Gideon comparison is definitely more about the necromancy than the actual story, but it works.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It took a little while to get going, there was a fair bit of set up needed and the beginning spent a bit too much time alone in the main character’s head, but once the story got going I was invested until the end.

Wren is part of the reigning bone-smith family. She is reckless and desperate to prove herself, but when she fails her qualifying trials she is banished to the border wall, which is what separates the safety of the kingdoms from the haunted Breach Lands, where ghosts freely wander. While there she ends up accompanying a lesser Prince on a journey, and when he is kidnapped she teams up with one of the kidnappers who was doubled crossed to find him in the Breach Lands.

I wasn’t sure if I would like Wren as a main character, but like the rest of the story, once she was paired with Julian it all started to work. I think the fact that this is a duology is great, I don’t think this needs to be a longer series, but I am definitely excited to read the next instalment.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

While this book is classified as a Young Adult one, it is so well writtent and captivating it is borderline simply a Fantasy book. An amazing introduction to a new series, this is definitely a new hit for this year!

This book was an absolute thrill! I could not put it down. Pau Preto has such a unique prose and story telling ability. I think fans of her previous series will really enjoy this one.

Such an interesting unique book. I loved the magic in this story, the control over bones, ghosts, iron and other metals was so different from anything else I’ve read.

I loved Wrens character, she was fearless and brave but I also loved that she wasn’t perfect even if she may say she was. She craved validation especially from her family, which made her make some poor choices at times but also made her more relatable even if she could fight ghosts.

The story line progressed really well and kept me intrigued with the perfect amounts of mystery thrown in. I can’t wait to read the next book!

I could not get into this book. Nothing held my attention or made me connect with the story. I hope others can appreciate it though!

I am so glad I waited until October to read Bonesmith. The undead vibes were the perfect backdrop for my night-time, insomnia-driven reading. This book was creepy, fast-paced, and violent in all the best ways. Nicki has always been good at writing fight sequences–as seen in Crown of Feathers–and this book did not disappoint in the slightest. It was refreshing and unique seeing the different ways Wren and Julian fought.

<spoiler>Honestly, that iron sword/whip thing is my favourite weapon to ever exist now. And the scene with Wren and Julian swinging across the bridge has been imprinted into my memory. If this book was ever turned into a movie/tv show, it would be one hell of an epic scene.</spoiler>

The mix of magic with raw ability was also really cool. But the thing that stands out to me the most, is the historical/political backdrop to this story. It's something we saw in Crown of Feathers, and I knew we would get more of that lovely complicated mess of plots and secrets in Bonesmith. It's why I love Nicki's books so much. They have plots that remind me of adult fantasy books, but are still digestible and familiar. Also, her romance subplots do not take over the story, which I appreciate so much.

Wren is a hilarious character. She loves a fight and not following the rules. And the dynamic between her and Leo and her and Julian were honestly my favourite parts of this book. The back-and-forth was perfection. It made me laugh and squeal in all the best ways, and it really makes each of the characters endearing to the reader. They felt like a found family (almost) by the end. And I can't wait to see what happens next.

Wren's whole background with how she's treated by her grandmother and father was super frustrating to read, but created a great motivation to kickstart the plot of this book. Her need to be recognized and noticed, and to be the best, all so she could maybe receive the love she knew she should be getting anyway was so sad. Wren grows a lot as a character throughout this book. She begins by being purely self-motivated, and slowly starts to unravel a plot against her, her friends, and the rest of the Dominions, only to realize the life she thought she wanted for herself, isn't the life she wants anymore. Which is honestly such a mood.

The romance between her and Julian made sense. They definitely had chemistry, and while I don't think it was 100% squeal-worthy, it didn't make me annoyed and I do think they are kind of cute, even though they're doing the whole "this is a bad idea" trope, which tbh is fair considering everyone is trying to kill and use them and maybe focusing on the plot for now is a better idea lol

As for the plot. I did predict some of the reveals, and other reveals I got totally wrong lol. The scene we get near the end where we finally got some answers was shocking but also made complete sense. Wren's father is really something, and while I wasn't a huge fan of him for most of the book–mainly because he let his mother abuse his daughter without standing up for her–by the very end, I had a whole list of reasons to hate him. He is selfish and power-hungry, and the insight we get from Odile about his relationship with Locke was very enlightening. I do feel bad for Wren. She really is related to a bunch of awful people, but I'm interested to see where this story goes in the next book, because Nicki has a way of showing how people twist stories to suit their own purposes and I'm curious to hear the Corpse Queen's side of the story and whether she is the actual victim being played by two power-hungry men.

A special shout-out to Leo. I have yet to read a book or fic with a character named Leo who I didn't love. Leo is a charming rascal. He flirts with everyone and as a result is a very unsuspecting kind of character, who always has some trick up his sleeve. I love him. I want more of him. I can't wait for him to be a third-wheel in the next book.

Julian is the classic love-interest. Mysterious. Troubled. Dark past. You know he's hiding something or multiple somethings. He's a strong fighter. He's cool, level-headed. His trauma makes it difficult to trust people, and he's been abused my people in power, very similar to Wren in a way. I really, really enjoyed his character. He fights for his people, and it was nice to see a different perspective about the Breach and the Uprising. While the end definitely puts a strain on his relationship with Wren, I'm excited to see what happens next and maybe get to see more of the Breachlands and Julian's past.

4.75/5 stars. I anxiously anticipate the next book!

Nicki Pau Preto was already one of my favourite authors, but this book solidified her spot.

I blazed through this book in just a couple of sittings, only putting it down when I had to go to work. I was captivated, and a little infuriated, by Wren from the beginning. She starts off cocky and self assured, believing that she is the best of the best until she fails her exam that'll make her a valkyr, an elite fighter. Seeing her fail and get knocked down only made her eventual success that much better. She had amazing character growth and all I wanted was for her to succeed.
Julian was the perfect dark and brooding love interest with something to prove.

I loved the world building and the magic system and I'm excited to see where the rest of this series goes. I have complete faith that Nicki Pau Preto will pull it off.

Instagram post will be linked soon!

3.75 stars

I enjoyed this book with it’s world building and the characters, however I found that it was a bit slow at times and I found myself skimming unintentionally. I expected a bit more depth and a bit more of a bang at the end as it felt like it was leading up to something major, but I didn’t really find that I got the feeling I wanted in the end.

It was an enjoyable story and it was a fun read! I am definitely going to pick up the sequel.

Bonesmith
Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book. Wren is an awesome main character, the love interest was really interesting and mysterious and fun to read about, the prince was flashy and spoiled and sneakily super smart. The magic system was fascinating, the setting was super cool, it had mysteries and complex politics and cover ups and I just cannot wait to see where this story is going to go.

My one complaint? I read this book before book one was even out!! How long am I gonna have to wait for book two???

I cannot recommend this enough if you’re a fan of darker YA fantasy with mysteries, complex politics, a badass female lead forced out of her element, a thread of enemies to lovers romance, and a unique and really cool magic system. This one is not to be missed.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my advanced reading copy!

I knew next to nothing about Bonesmith when I requested it. All I knew was that Nicki Pau Preto wrote the Crown of Feathers trilogy—which I have not personally read—and that it had favourable reviews. I saw a girl who looked punk on the cover, which was mostly green, and went, "Sure, why not?" Honestly, I didn't even read the synopsis until after I started reading the book.

Bonesmith is a YA fantasy, which I agree with in part. It's very much YA in terms of the plot type, but certainly upper YA in terms of the references and maturity. Lots of "Fuck" which is usually indicative of upper YA and new adult. Plenty of sex references and innuendo, which again, upper YA, but no sex. I'm 23, read smut, and don't care, but if you do, now you know. Also, the premise is of course very morbid. Like, if I had picked this up at 13, I maybe would've been shocked at the morbidity. Not so much at 17.

Okay, now for more of my actual thoughts.

Prose:

The prose is good. Nothing exceptional, but again, it's YA. It has a very typical YA sort of prose to it. It's straightforward with minimal flowery language. And actually, things I think are under-described due to the lack of flowery language. More description is what Bonesmith needed. There was plenty of explanation (see: later comments), but not much actual description of locations, appearances, and feelings.

Characterization:

It's told from a third person point-of-view (almost entirely that of our FMC, Wren Graven). She's a character that I like, actually, but she did feel a bit flat at times. Very single-minded. I know the plot of the book is partly her trying to prove herself to her family, but making that her sole goal for most of the story was a disservice.

Prince Leopold Valorian (goldsmith and spare's spare) served as an additional PoV and a very important character. I liked his few PoVs quite a bit. He was often more of a plot tool than a character, as the plot is largely about Wren trying to rescue him, and because his PoV largely served as a guide for the story. It's through his PoV that we get several plot twists and a better understanding of the situation.

Julian is the ironsmith that travels with Wren after being betrayed by his party (who kidnapped Leo and attempted to assassinate Julian), and is also Wren's love interest. I hope to get more of his perspective in the next book. I think he's interesting but ultimately that I didn't get enough of him.

World-Building:

The world-building is pretty neat. It's a blend of originality and fairly classic tropes. You have these different "lands" within a country, and each of these lands have an associated magical ability wielded by "smiths". If you're thinking, "Hey, this kind of sounds like Avatar the Last Airbender?" you're not incorrect! That was actually my first thought. Except smiths, not benders, and there are far more than four elements (ex: bone, iron, ghost, gold, wood, stone, silver, copper, etc...), and there's no Avatar. I do take issue with naming the area occupied by the Bonesmiths the "Bone Lands", and the area occupied by the Ironsmiths the "Iron Lands". I think that's such an easy out on that one.

The lore of the world is also pretty interesting. To summarize, ghostsmiths were ostracized for enslaving the undead (revenants), and created an underground city to live in. The ironsmiths were mining for more iron (fair enough) and accidentally exposed this underground ghostsmith city. This event is the Breach, and led to revenants getting loose and causing havoc. Bonesmiths fought against the revenants, but ultimately it is impossible to get rid of them altogether, so a fortified wall is erected to separate the haunted area from the rest of the country. The ironsmiths refuse to abandon their land, as it is the source of their magic, and are trapped (along with other villagers) on the wrong side of the wall. Later, the ironsmiths try to stage a rebellion to bring the wall down (called the Uprising), and were systematically destroyed by the bonesmiths on behalf of the monarchy. This is the lore as explained to Wren, a bonesmith. Maybe two decades later, we find the current events of the story. Plenty of war crimes occur throughout this lore. Much of the gaps are filled in as the story continues, and other sides of the history are revealed.

Upper YA indeed. I was a bit shocked at the heinousness of some of the world history. Definitely not new adult, given the content, but absolutely upper YA.

(Also, side note: There better be a map in the finished copy).

Perhaps because I'm no longer in the YA age demographic (sob), I found that the world was a bit over-explained. At least in the first half. The magic systems were fleshed out, which is often not the case, particularly in YA. However, things that had previously been explained seemed to be constantly hammered in well after they'd initially been explained. It took up precious pages that could've been better used for other things, like visual descriptions of settings and characters.

Plot/Actual Story:

Stellar. Absolutely stellar. The plot twists were logical but not super obvious (mostly). The reveals were fantastic. The chemistry/banter/dialogue between the characters was fantastic. I can't go into much detail without being spoilery, but please, this was fantastic.

Overall: 4.5 stars rounding up. It was a slow start, but once the ball was rolling, I was engrossed. I am so excited for the next book.

This book was perfect. Wren has worked her whole life to become a Bonesmith and she won’t let an effectual banishment stop her. When the prince of the realm stops by her outpost she sees an opportunity but gets a lot lot more… Spooky but not as graphic as Game of Thrones or something like that. I’m already planning a reread come spooky season.

When I first heard of Bonesmith, it sounded like my kind of books. So you can be seen that I was pretty hyped up when I saw I was approved on NetGalley. I mean Gideon the Ninth (which I still haven’t read, but heard great things about) meets Game of Throne sounds epic.

I did find that the first half of the book was a little slower, as it does require a lot of information to be given to really understand the world the story takes place. But it does pick up, and by the end I was pretty hooked. And now, I’m really looking forward to get my hands on the sequel (which is definitely in a while since this one came out not too long ago).

The world Nicki Pau Preto created was quite intriguing and well-build. It sets things up for quite a interesting series, that did get me hooked. And it didn’t feel like there was info-dumping, like you can sometime get when there is a lot of lore to share.

The characters were also really interesting. Loved Wren as a main character, and I absolutely loved seeing her interact with Julian and Leo. She’s the kind of character you really like rooting for, and she still was flaw and human, in the way I like my main characters to be.

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and I’ll definitely have to get my hands on the sequel as soon as it is released. I really recommend it if you enjoy this kind of book.

I wasn't sure what I was in for with this book. It starts a little slow and the initial world-building sort of throws a lot of information at you all at once. Once the actual plot of the book is underway, however, things get a lot more interesting. Wren is a bonesmith, having the magic ability to manipulate the bones of corpses, which she uses in conjunction with others to put the undead to rest. The world she lives in is in the aftermath of a war in which other smiths had fought with the Dominions for control of the living and the dead. The war is over, or so they think, but when a kidnapping goes wrong Wren ends up facing the knowledge that a lot of what she thought she knew about her world isn't true. Featuring ghosts, zombies, and an enemies to lovers romance, this is a unique YA fantasy that is sure to delight fans of the genre.

A world in the aftermath of a magical war. Lost magical bloodlines -and lines that may not have been lost but who many wished had. A Bone Smith & her enemy are about to discover the war is far from over.

One of the crowning elements of this book is the natural building of friendships & relationships with enemies or strangers. I genuinely think Wren & Julian travelling together and experiencing peril & a quest was eye-opening for each of them, on their background & characters. And realizing how much the war warped each other's history.

The mixture & experimentation of magic & bloodlines in this book was fascinating. When you see how they tried to keep magic origins specific, yet, many power-hungry smiths have been working on things to grow or combine magic. That was a great play on natural magic and scientific magic.

Also, note: The House of Bone family are freaking INTENSE! This family is so hateful towards Wren, and no matter the reason, it is unnecessary.

"death is as certain as the dawn, and just as a new day will come, so too will the new dead rise. ... and we will be there. so the living may thrive, and the dead may rest in peace."

Flawless is the sole word that summarizes my depiction of this book. The remarkable ability to craft such a distinctive and enthralling world is truly astounding, and I offer my sincere applause to Nicki Pau Preto for her exceptional skills. The book itself is nothing short of outstanding and it's been a while since I've read something I actually enjoyed.

 ︎︎𓆩♡𓆪︎︎

Bonesmith is the first installment of the House of Dead Duology, the Dominions are governed by five houses: Bone, Gold, Silver, Iron, and Ghost. This book is brimming with adventure, intrigue, magic, romance, and even some delightful and slightly embarrassing humor. Within its fast-paced narrative lies a captivating blend of family drama.

The lore and worldbuilding within this book stand as some of the most compelling I've encountered this year. The story unfolds in a realm known as the Dominion, where individuals possess unique powers tied to various elements. Stonesmiths manipulate and shape stone, goldsmiths wield control over gold, and there are even bonesmiths who command bone materials, along with those who manage the supernatural. The protagonist, Wren, belongs to a distinct group of bonesmiths called Valkyrs, who utilize bone materials to protect another type of bonesmith known as Reapyrs. The Reapyrs are responsible for extracting a deceased person's soul from their body through a specialized bone. While all types of bonesmiths were once feared, the situation changed after the emergence of the Breach. Following the construction of a protective wall around The Haunted Lands, these individuals are now revered for their ability to combat the deceased in the war that ensued. However, their reception is less warm among those residing outside the wall.

While the story introduces a wealth of lore initially, the writing style of the story enables an effortless understanding of both the plot and the history of the world; slight info dump (which honestly I did not mind, but others might).  The plot swiftly commences with Wren's attempt to complete a bonesmith trial to attain the status of a full-fledged Valkyr. But, her efforts are bested by a classmate who no doubt envies our FMC, this results in her banishment and assignment to the Border Wall to prove herself or face an indefinite term of service. Unexpectedly, a prince's arrival presents her with an unforeseen opportunity when he is captured and taken into The Haunted Lands. Wren is compelled to collaborate with Julian, an ironsmith on a parallel mission. Together, they unveil startling revelations about The Haunted Lands and the Breach that eluded their prior knowledge. There are SO many hidden twists as the story unfolds, although... I did predict some things; it was still beautifully told.

"And instead of standing with us to fight this threat, your house marched into the Breach, escorting an army into our lands, and then stood aside, watching as they and the undead mowed us down. How brave. How heroic. You left us here to die, and you begrudge us fighting back? fighting to survive? We need no forgiveness. We need justice."

I genuinely liked our FMC as a character. While she's impulsive and flawed, which only makes her more endearing she does have significant character development as the story progresses.  It stems from her upbringing, where she constantly tries to prove herself to her grandmother and father, often feeling like she falls short. Is she reckless and impulsive? Yes, but those traits work in her favor within the context of the book. And thank goodness for Julian, who helps balance her out! I LOVE Julian's character. He's an ironsmith; ironsmiths were thought to be dead since they live beyond the protective wall, beyond The Haunted Lands. I loved how much we got to see his abilities. As for the enemies-to-lovers aspect between Julian and Wren, it was a nice breather from all the chaos they've been going through, their gradual progression from foes to allies brought added depth to their relationship and advanced a deeper complexity to their interactions. I really loved how well Wren and Julian complemented each other. I appreciated Julian's openness and commitment to doing what's right. He had no qualms about calling out Wren for her recklessness or decisions driven by her desire for acceptance from her family, rather than making the harder choices. And in the end, they really did make a good team.

Although we only get a glimpse of Prince Leo (it's not exactly a multi-POV book, we do get a few chapters from Prince Leo's and Julian's perspectives, with 95% of the book focusing on Wren), I still found what we learned about him and his role as a goldsmith quite enjoyable. I didn't dislike his character but also I didn't necessarily care for him that much initially but I grew to admire him for his candid acceptance of his position in life and his willingness to approach things differently.

 ︎︎𓆩♡𓆪︎︎

I really can't sing enough praises for this one; it was a thrill to read from start to finish. And I barely even touch on how amazing the magic system was, but I suppose that would be something you should find out for yourself.

“…and then placed her palm flat on the ground. Her skin tingled a moment, then a burst of magic shot up her arm. She took a breath, the power crackling in her lungs and surging through her body.
Limitless power.
Dark power.”

I loved the characters; they have so much depth and there's so much history surrounding them, the magic, lore, and history were rich with details and served so delicately that it was not overwhelming. The writing maintains a lighthearted and humorous tone at times, aligning with the personality of Wren – our intrepid, mildly arrogant, and incredibly skilled protagonist – all while upholding the seriousness of the plot: a perfect storm of politics, ambition, secrets, and betrayals. I absolutely adored this book!

Now, I find myself eagerly counting down the days until the release of its sequel. If this isn't on your TBR yet, it should be!

thank you Simon Schuster Canada for sending me a physical ARC/the ebook ARC on NetGalley of Bonesmith

I absolutely loved the Crown of Feathers series by this author, and some of my favourite parts definitely came through in this - well fleshed-out characters and great worldbuilding with so much intricate detail without being info-dumpy!

However, I just didn't quite connect as much with this story and main character. Nothing wrong with the writing, and I think a lot of readers will really enjoy this, especially if you like a magic system that involves semi-raising the dead!

Wren is the best female main character I have read about in a while. Not only is she snarky, sarcastic, and a complete badass, she's also extremely caring and smart. The worldbuilding in this book was also amazing. I loved the dynamics of the different smiths, and how this played in the development of Wren's relationships. I cannot wait for the next book and how the world is going to expand as Wren faces new threats.

Nicki Pau Preto’s Crown of Feathers trilogy is one of my favourite YA fantasy reads, so when I saw she had a knew book coming out, I jumped at the chance to receive an early copy.

This book was dark in such enchanting ways. There was a unique magic system and a slowly unravelling historical timeline that had you curious of every character. You could tell there were secrets being kept, but you trust Nicki to take you on a fun journey as the lies came to fruition.

I enjoyed the main character, while Wren was headstrong and a bit reckless, she still had a compassionate side that truly just longed for acceptance and belonging. I thought Julian was a great counterpart to Wren, he was logical where Wren was a bit untether, and he was the voice of reason when Wren’s plans went awry. Although they were enemies at first, and their initial hatred of each other was so fun to observe, they slowly begin to trust each other.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more connection between the two of them by the end of the book. Their more intimate moments mostly came out of nowhere and then disappeared. There wasn’t a gradual build of tension which I usually prefer in my enemies to lover stories. By the end I was hoping there would be a bit more between them and more of a love confession. However, this does keep me hanging on for the 2nd book!

At some points I also felt this book was rather slow paced. I am not opposed to slow paced novels, there are plenty I thoroughly enjoyed, but this one wasn’t offering much the first 25% to really keep me intrigued. The writing was great though and kept me entertained while I waited for some action.

All around, this was a fun first book of a duology and I would recommend for fans of Nicki’s writing and YA fantasy readers who don’t mind long journeys.