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.

“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. To find. To fight. To free. So the living may thrive, and the dead may rest in peace.”


Bonesmith is a fantasy novel that is filled with action, ghost, enemies to lovers, kidnapped Prince, betrayal, with twist and turns!

Wren, the heir of the House of bones is training to become a valkyr. A Valkyr, the one to protect the reapyr and battle the undead. While the reapyr must find the bone that anchor’s the spirit and to safely release the spirit free from the body.

Unfortunately for Wren, she fails the Valkyr trials and is sent to patrol the Border Wall, the same wall separating them from the undead.

What happens when the Gold Prince gets kidnapped and the only way for wren to get the respect from her family is to retrieve him, to proof her worth. She ends up in a difficult situation when she’s face to face with one of the kidnappers? Will they team up and retrieve the Prince together? What happens when they have to venture out beyond the wall, into the wasteland where the vicious undead roam, stronger than anything Wren has seen or battled. Will she make it out alive and complete her mission or will death be upon her for trusting the enemy?




⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I couldn’t put this novel down. I was drawn to the characters, the world building, along with the action and adventure to dangerous unknowns.

I enjoyed the multiple character POV, making you understand their personalities, and their way of thinking.

I thought we were getting a love triangle but was happy to have a care free friendship with the Prince. The tension between Wren and Julian was intriguing, feeling their distrust in one another and having to work together to find answers and rescue the Prince. Then watching them fall for one another. I can’t wait for more twist & turns in the second instalment of the duology “House of the Dead” coming 2024!

DNF @ 15%

I've tried a few times to get into this one, and I've never gotten past the 15% mark. It's an interesting premise and concept, and the Gideon the Ninth comp (as well as the stunning cover by Tommy Arnold) certainly had me excited for this one, but unfortunately I think it's just not one for me. I definitely think this is just one of those unfortunate cases where the writing doesn't quite gel with my brain, but you should still give it a go if it sounds interesting to you!

3.5 - 4 stars

Overall it was a unique story and I did enjoy it. It didn't leave me absolutely needing to have the next book but I think I would pick up the second no problem I'm interested in seeing where the story gets taken.

that said..

world building, I wanted a bit more, I think it was really cool and a unique magic type system set up but I for sure want to see more and understand a bit more there seems to be a lot going on politically that we don't necessarily get the depth of

the characters, a bit enemies to lovers but not really. The MC was pretty chill in the fact that she doesn't seem too bothered with her enemy more amused so there wasn't really that tension. We get to know the characters but I didn't really feel super connected to them either. But I find I've become so picky with the books, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. ( I'm on my fanfic binge but I've been trying to get back into published book)


I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review

I was instantly hooked from the first line, “Ready your Blade”.

Wren is a bonesmith and in the process of becoming a valkyr - a ghost fighting warrior and securing her place in the House of Bone. During her Bonewood Trial, she faces sabotage and betrayal which leads to her failure and banishment to the Border Wall. Wren wants to prove to her family that she belongs in the House of Bone, and what better way than to rescue the kidnapped Prince of the House of Gold? But the Prince has been taken beyond the wall which is unfamiliar territory for Wren. In order to rescue the Prince, Wren is forced to create an alliance with the House of Bone’s enemy. Will Wren be able to rescue the Prince and prove to her family that she is worthy of the title Valkyr along with securing her place in the House of Bone? Or will her alliance with the House of Bone’s enemy be her final downfall?

This was my first Nicki Pau Preto book and it did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the magic system and the concepts of Bonesmiths. There is a lot of information dump in the beginning but for me I prefer that. Nicki does a great job of explaining specific things without it being overwhelming. The undead and ghosts were also very well written and it was interesting to read the different appearances and levels. There were many twists and turns where I was freaking out and stressed. It grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go until the end. ALSO, that ending🤯 I can’t wait for the sequel!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 stars

I love it when the enemies to lovers starts off where one of them, or both of them, tries to kill each other - anything less is just rivals, not enemies and it doesn’t hit that top-tier trope feeling for me. 😂

Okay, this book was really great! There were twists and turns, reveals and betrayals that kept my head spinning and my mind whirling.

Wren’s character development, from bratty, entitled heir, to brave, loyal, and determined warrior was a nice thing to watch. She stopped putting her selfish needs above the greater good and focused instead on the, well, the greater good.

Julian was the perfect combination of traits for me. I love a good hard-shelled, can-defeat-anything, braver-than-anyone character, but I also love the ones who are afraid. The killers with fears. Jullian's fear, in this case, were ghosts. Not a great thing to be afraid of when the land is crawling with ghosts, but at least he's honest😂

It did get creepy at some points, as one would expect from a story where some people can control bones and some can control ghosts. Anyway, Julian’s healthy fear of the revenants, the tier 5 ghosts that can inhabit their bodies and move around in them (zombie-like), was refreshing.

Leo was a stereotypical dumb blonde until you realized there was nothing dumb about his mind. Boy had no self-preservation, that was obvious 😂

Her father, Odile, the Knights, the Regent, The Queen, all of the plot twists and reveals means I need book 2 please and thank you.

Right now.

Please.

⚔️Bonesmith Review⚔️

When I saw that Bonesmith was being marketed as a YA Gideon the Ninth meets GOT White Walkers, I was instantly intrigued. Wren is a bonesmith, dreams of becoming a ghost-fighting warrior - a valkyr. The dead linger as violent and unpredictable ghosts, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from their remains. Sabotaged during the trial she needs to pass to become a valkyr, she is banished to the border wall. This impressive wall is the final line of defense her people have from the Breach where the most vicious dead roam. When Prince Leo is kidnapped and taken beyond the wall, Wren sees this as an opportunity to get back into her family’s good graces.

I went into this very much blind and was pleased with the adventure the story took me on. While I haven’t yet read Gideon the Ninth, I certainly saw the inspiration taken from GOT and very much enjoyed it. Wren was a really interesting character who grew quite a bit throughout the story. She’s thrown a lot of curveballs along the way. While I was able to guess a couple of the plot twists, I still very much enjoyed them. I also found Julian to be a really interesting character and was always excited to learn more about him. We didn’t get many POV chapters from him, but I am hoping we get more in the next installment! Of course I also enjoyed Prince Leo and his POV. He was really interesting and resourceful.

I really enjoyed the world building and how each house has its own specialty. The magic system felt unique and well thought out. I really enjoyed the pacing of the story which kept me coming back to it. The story is very dark and atmospheric, and although I read it during the summer, it would make a great autumn read. I’m very much looking forward to the next book!

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Bonesmith is out July 25th!

⭐4/5 stars⭐

Get ready to go on an adventure that you soon won’t forget.

Nicki has done it again! She has created another YA fantasy masterpiece that I could not put down. The Bonesmith is captivating, action-packed, and full of complex and interesting characters. Nicki knows how to hook her readers in and keep them on the edge of their seats until the very last page. Reading this book became all-consuming; I needed to know what would happen next. The story has it all: a quest, kidnapping, battles, betrayal, romance, and an ending that will leave you wanting to get your hands on the next book.

The world that Nicki has created is rich with history and lush in detail. I devoured the dark and gritty world of the Dominions and just wanted to know and explore this world with Wren and Julian. I can’t get over how unique and addictive the world of the Dominions are. I loved how dark necromancer magic was woven into this world and its history. Using necromancy as the source of magic and conflict gave this story a fresh feel to it. I found all the magic aspects of this book so enjoyable.

Wren is a delight! She is sassy, bold, and impulsive. Characteristics I love in a heroine because you know you are in for an entertaining time. I loved watching her interact with the world around her. There is just something about her character that just draws you to her. Julian gives off those fantastic broody hero vibes. You know he is hiding something, and I loved trying to guess what it was. The banter between Wren and Julian was fun and witty, and watching Wren break down every barrier Julian put up was delightful. Those readers who are fans of fantasy with a bit of romance in it will be delighted to know that there are some real enemies-to-lovers vibes between Wren and Julian. And for those who aren’t fans of romance, you will be happy to hear that the romance aspects in this story are minimal. A win, win for everyone.

The Bonesmith is an action-packed fantasy novel that will capture your attention and will not let it go.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Nicki Pau Preto for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bonesmith surprised me in all of the right ways. I’m saying it now, I think this book will be really popular.

I’ve been straying further from YA books but this book read more New Adult esk than YA which I appreciated.

This book jumps right into the action and for the first few chapters it is action and world building information. The information is presented in a digestible way that doesn’t make it feel like you are getting information overload.

At first this plot was very much led by Werns characters flaws, she wanted to be the best valkyrs and to prove herself to her father and grandmother. But as the story progresses it pulls in more plot elements and becomes more dimensional. Also you get Julian POV chapters which I loved! Plus the slow burn romance / sexual tension was *chefs kiss*.

I throughly enjoyed the unique magic system in this book, I thought the different classes of smiths was very cool and didn’t pigeon hole the book with simply bone magic. I also love that the whole book had a spooky vibe. Necromancy and bone magic being the center point of the plot.

I was really excited when the book started with a winter setting, the snow, the dark eye makeup for protection. But as the story went along it felt like more of a Vancouver winter more than anything else. Lots of rain and little mention of snow, maybe that’s because the story moved geographically?

Overall I’m very excited for the next book in this series and I’ve preordered a special edition of this book.

Spice: 🌶️

🦴 Enemies to lovers
🦴 Political intrigue
🦴 Royalty
🦴 One bed
🦴 Banter
🦴 Tending to wounds
🦴 Slow burn
🦴 Forced proximity
🦴 Multiple POV

This one was a DNF for me. I was so excited after ready the description and I enjoyed her other series so I thought I’d enjoy this one too. Unfortunately, the writing was super info dumpy and repetitive that I found myself just getting annoyed and bored reading this one so I had to put it down.

Title: Bonesmith
Author: Nicki Pau Preto
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Publishing Date: July 25, 2023
Pages: 464
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: ☆☆☆

Overall enjoyable book with a great premise!
The character development was amazing, specifically with Wren. I love watching a character grow and adapt and change and go through things. Very well written. I loved that there was subtle romance but it didn’t take over or become anything that was significant. I love subtle romance because I prefer action-packed, plot heavy books rather than romance centric. The writing was very easy and enjoyable to read and the plot came together.
However, the structure of the world building wasn’t completely all there for me. I felt like there were a lot of ideas and things that the author knew or wanted to incorporate, but had no meaning behind it? Mind you, I am a world building fanatic and love history and lore and everything has a meaning… It's not usually enough for me to just read about cool stuff. I love to know the WHY.
I was slightly confused with the overall story for the first half ish, but the rest of it really made up for it and tied up any loose ends I was confused about. The book is just under 500 pages, which is a great length, but part of me wonders if people will DNF during the first portion… I do love it when a book explains everything and brings it all together in the end (hello locked tomb series!) but there is definitely that risk that the book won’t hang on to the reader long enough to wrap it up/explain! I do think that the plot and characters are strong enough to hold the reader's attention to at least get to the halfway point where things start to amp up!

I ended up giving it a 4 because the enjoyment that I felt by the end of it really trumped anything I may have felt part ways through. I really enjoyed the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for sending this book for review consideration! All opinions are my own.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for an eARC of this book via netgalley for an honest review.

4.5 stars

CWs: death, mentions of death during childbirth, war, attempted murder, kidnapping, injury detail, fighting

Wow! I thought this one started off really interesting, slowed up a little bit right after, and then it picked up steam again and never let off. I loved Wren’s character, and I loved seeing her grow and change throughout the book. I thought she was such a badass, and her confidence was awesome. I really liked seeing her grow and become even more badass when she began to consider and think about her actions more.
Julian was also a great character. I liked the balance and contrast he provided to Wren, and I loved their changing relationship. The hints of romance were fantastic, and I really appreciated the way that the author showed them going from enemies to reluctant allies to becoming friendly and friends and the potential for more.
The pacing of this one was pretty good. I found a couple of spots where it seemed to drag, but overall it was exciting and action-packed. The secrets that were revealed were intriguing, and though I correctly predicted the direction that the story would go, I was still fully enthralled as the characters were uncovering truths and making plans. I’m very excited to see where the next book goes. I also thought the writing style was easy to follow along with, and I liked that we got a bit of Leo’s and Julian’s POVs (third-person) mixed in. The book is mostly from Wren’s third-person POV, and her voice was relatable. Her emotions came through well, and I was fully invested in her journey.

Pacing and discovery

I often read book reviews that complain about the "pacing" of some novel. I, like, NEVER, get what the reviewer is talking about. It doesn't matter if this is a book I have already read or one I have not yet read. What exactly is the problem, when you say the pacing is off? However, I am going to complain about pacing in Nicki Pau Preto's Bonesmith. But I will explain exactly what it was that I saw as a problem. It has to do with a second buzzword we Fantasy and Science Fiction readers are apt to go on about: world-building. I get what that is. Does the speculative world you build have new and cool bells and whistles? More important, does it hang together logically -- is it just a lot of cool stuff thrown together, or is there an overarching structure that makes sense of it all? (Think Harry Potter vs The Lord of the Rings.)

But for me personally, what I really care about is world DISCOVERY. Every new F&SF novel (or, at least, every new series) is a mystery. At the start we don't know what the world has in it. As we read, we discover pieces. This is most satisfying when I, the reader, am not told an actual answer, but just enough to figure it out for myself. But however the answers come, this, for me, is perhaps the greatest pleasure of an F&SF novel: the world discovery. (I am, in real life, a scientist, that is, a professional thing-finder-outer. I love learning stuff.) There is an immense satisfaction to seeing the answers slot into place, that "Aha! It makes sense now!" feeling.

I enjoyed the last 40% of Bonesmith, because there was a lot of that. Answers fell into place. We discover who the characters are -- where they came from, what they have done, and what they want. The problem, however, is that 40% is too small a number. For the first 60% of Bonesmith I was mostly frustrated and confused, because I didn't really understand the Dominions or the people or or their magic. I really wanted Pau Preto to start dribbling out clues about the big mysteries earlier than the 60% point. I don't mind waiting a bit for things to start happening, but 60% is too long!

So, that's my "pacing" issue. Now, let me say that the last 40% was really quite good, very satisfying. And since Bonesmith is being promoted as the first book of a series, I expect the next book will be more fun, and I look forward to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance reader copy of Bonesmith. This review expresses my honest opinion. Release date 25-Jul-2023.

To be honest, Bonesmith started off a little slow, but once I got into it whoooo boy did it take off and I'm so, so glad I finished it.

The worldbuilding, admittedly, is a lot. Like Crescent City a lot. There's a lot of exposition in the dialogue, in Wren's thoughts, in description, but it definitely was needed once the action started happening later on in the book.

I loved Julian - he's exactly my type - and while Wren was a standard YA "I'm feisty!" heroine, I loved her by the end. Unlike a lot of those type of heroines, she actually learned and grew and realized she was wrong and was willing to say so. Leo was also campy and delightful, smart and funny under that vapid surface.

I truly cannot wait for book 2 to see what sort of shenanigans those three get up to.

I loved her other series, and I was eagerly hoping this would be the same and it was. I love the world created. There was enough world building to understand while leaving some for the next book. I liked the plot and the twists ( a good combination of could figure it out and not). It is not often that I like all the main characters, but in this book I do. They all add something to the story. I like the magic, it is dark, but light. I eagerly await the second book to see where the story goes.