“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.

The plot of Bonesmith is a thrilling tapestry of adventure, mystery, and political intrigue. The story unfolds at a perfect pace, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Preto's ability to balance action, suspense, and emotional depth is exceptional, resulting in a narrative that continuously surprises and captivates.

Bonesmith explores themes of identity, destiny, and the power of choices. As the characters grapple with their own journeys of self-discovery and face the consequences of their actions, readers are prompted to reflect on their own paths and the impact of their decisions. The thematic depth adds an additional layer of resonance to the story.

Rating this book a 3.75 stars because I have ~mixed~ feelings about it.

Bonesmith is a magical adventure fantasy novel in which a disgraced ghost fighting, bone wielding girl (I think she’s 17?) who teams up with an iron smith (a notorious type of magic that was thought to have died out and that the world blames for all their problems) to save a kidnapped prince.

The world building in this book is super interesting, the magic system feels very unique to me and I was hooked right away. This is a very plot driven book and my interest in the writing in the plot is what kept me reading.

However, the character in this book were reallllly lacking. They don’t have a lot of depth and I don’t feel much of a connection to them - I really wouldn’t care what happened to them (I mean that in the nicest way possible). There’s also wisps of romance in the book but the characters didn’t really have any chemistry, there was no build up or tension to them getting together. Overall just kind of disappointing in contrast to the overall plot because there’s so much potential.

I would like to read the sequel and will be keeping an eye out for it though!

Bonesmith- by Nicki Pau Preto - YA fantasy Bone, gold, silver, iron, and ghost. These houses rule the Dominions in this first book of the House of Dead Duology.

Full of adventure, intrigue, magic, romance, and some embarrassing humour, this fast paced adventure is also filled with family drama.

Wren, training to be a Valkyr ( or ghost-fighting warrior) is banished to the borderlands after failing her final trials. She meets Leo, a Prince from the House of Gold, and a happy-go-lucky spare’s spare. Before they can enjoy too many adventures, he is kidnapped. Wren, in an effort to prove herself, embarks on a journey with Julian an Ironsmith from the House of Iron ( sworn enemy of The House of Bone) to rescue the prince.

I liked this book. It was a fun-light read. I’d recommend this if you like YA fantasy, ghosts, magic

It may not be for you if don’t like fighting, bones, resurrection. Thanks @netgalley @simonschusterca and the author for this ARC

IG post to come soon.

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. It's stunning and it left me questioning what exactly this book was about and how I could get my hands on it? Thankfully Simon and Schuster gifted me an eArc, and I dove in as soon as I was able to download it.
There is so much I love about this book, I don't even know where to start. The world building was phenomenal. As I read each page I felt like I had stumbled down a rabbit hole and fallen into the Dominions. I saw everything so clearly and savored each moment in this new fantasy world. The characters I fell for just as much. Wren, Julian, Leo... so much to love about each one. Feisty, brash, driven. I'll let you decide which attribute belongs to which character. The book was maybe a tad predictable at times and a bit wordy, but I loved it so much that I was willing to overlook those little blips.
When I finished this book I immediately wanted book 2, which was impossible since this book technically isn't even out yet. I can not wait till July so I can get my hands on a physical copy of this beautiful book, and re-dive back into this world. The House of the Dead is a new favorite series.

Again, HUGE thank you to Simon and Schuster for the gifted eArc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this was a fun fantasy adventure and now I'm just waiting for the next book, all the characters were endearing, Wren is brave and brash with a heart of gold or is that the Gold Prince haha and Julian is the most thoughtful warrior, (swinging around with his iron whip like Tarzan). This had all my favourite things like enemies to lovers, and the have to warm up trope. My latest obsession has been Lockwood and Co so the ghost and magic system was interesting to me. (When Wren threw that sword I was like Lucy Carlyle!) If you like Lockwood and Co or Shadow and Bone, Throne of Glass, or even Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I'd recommend Bonesmith

4.5 stars

Thank you very much for the e-arc Simon and Schuster Canada

Oh, Nicki Pau Preto has done it AGAIN!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the physical ARC!

If you loved the Crown of Feathers trilogy then you definitely need to be all over this new duology. So many similar elements apply to both: an expansive and intricate world, fabulous political intrigue, elaborate backstory and history, lots of action, unique magic, and all around great characters!

Fair warning though, you need to come into this prepared to pay attention. As with CoF, the beginning is pretty heavy with laying out the world and the magic system. There's a lot of information that isn't too info-dumpy, but there is a lot to absorb pretty quick in order to understand. I took it a bit slow while reading so I didn't have any issues keeping up, but now you know.

I'm obsessed with the magic system in this. Wren is a Bonesmith, in particular a valkyr, which means she has the ability to sense the bones of restless spirits and fight off their ghosts while a partner severs their ties from the earth. She wears bone armour and that is so metal. But she is just one of several types of magic-wielding people in this history-rich world. Julian is an Ironsmith, meaning he has incredible control over iron, as proven by his battle prowess. It's very well thought out as a whole and balances the story.

I'm choked I have to wait well over a year to find out how this story ends! The last half was so hard to put down. Secrets are revealed, twists come from all directions, and the characters have a serious grip on your heart by that point. I'm dying to read more!