I thoroughly enjoyed the character development, world-building, and multiple point of views in a shifting time frame. I found the latter easy to follow and plot-propelling--it was especially interesting to read the same scenes from another character's point of view, glimpsing his/her thoughts without hindrance.

In terms of world-building, this novel was rich with religious politics and the conflicts that typically follow differing points of views. Namely, this unfolded in the tension between Azul and Enjul, as the former took on a more liberal idealogy of death while the latter was considered more traditional. There were also cultural differences grounding the main characters' opposing sentiments and how refreshing to read real-world dramas through a fantastical lens.

Azul and Enjul's dynamic was often described in "cat and mouse" terms; however, I think this was a bit of an embellishment, considering Enjul, being an emissary of Death, knew all along that Azul would never achieve her clandestine goal of locating her sister's bones and resurrecting her. The real conflict of note for me was figuring out the identity and motivations behind the second necromancer. That being said, though, I loved the snippy dialogue between Azul and Enjul. It read very realistically and cleanly for me. I only wish they had more time to explore the obvious romantic tension that existed between them from the moment they first met.

I was so excited to read this book, but it was confusing from the first page. I felt like we were thrown a lot information with islands, names etc at once that I couldn't keep track. Then the time jumps made it just too confusing for me.

This really is a captivating story and it has a good premise. A young girl who can bring the dead back to life with just a single bone. An emissary of Death who wants to stop said girl. There were also many more characters in the story who played supportive roles or had their own agendas.
I feel that with the amount of character is and time jumps it made it a bit hard for me to keep track of everything going on. I've read books with multipl pov before and had no trouble keeping up so maybe it was the time jumps that got confusing. I really wanted to love this book but just couldn't. I feel if the flow was a bit smoother and a little less complicated this book could've been a 5 star for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for letting me ARC review this book.

*4.75 stars*

This book has left my jaw on the FLOOR. The characters are AMAZING, so deep and imperfect and obsessed, and the plotlines are insane to me. I have been on the edge of my seat the whole time.

The premise on which the plot is built is already so interesting, but the fact that we keep getting more and more angles to this story, every character is involved in its own way (which sounds weird to say but I mean that everyone is closely entwined with it and has been for years without the others knowing) and that makes it so interesting to me. It's filled with action, but not in a way where it's constant battles and war, more like a kind of politics-reminding action (except there's no politics and I'm just trying to explain how GOOD this is) It kind of gave me "The Familiar" vibes in the best of ways (and not only because they're both of spanish inspiration, I swear).

Overall I'm VERY glad this is a duology and will be found biting my nails off waiting for the second one!!!

I thought the premise of this book was fantastic although I feel it needs a glossary or some brief summary as it got quite confusing at times it jumps around a lot, I'm disappointed as I know this is my type of book, I found myself not wanting to pick it back up and it took me a while to read, it was a bit of a slog, like I said maybe a glossary or a brief summary at the beginning would of helped!

3.5/5

Mistress of Bones is an impressive debut that blends gothic fantasy, swashbuckling adventure, and intricate world-building. The story follows Azul, a necromancer trying to bring her sister back to life, while navigating court politics and being hunted by a servant of Death.

Azul is a standout protagonist—strong-willed, resourceful, and determined, making her easy to root for. The world-building is exceptional, especially the unique bone magic system, and the prose is sharp, complementing the action with precision, particularly in the rapier duels. The world feels both fantastical and grounded, drawing the reader in with every page.

While the wide cast of characters enriches the story, it occasionally distracts from the main plot, and the flashbacks can slow the pacing at times. However, these are minor issues in an otherwise thrilling and well-crafted narrative.

In all, Mistress of Bones is a captivating fantasy debut with rich world-building, strong characters, and unexpected twists. A must-read for fans of immersive fantasy and complex protagonists.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!

I wish someone had told me, going into this book, how long winded it would be. I was expecting something gripping, perhaps even chilling, as the rest of these winter months float by-- something eerie and hopeful and kindling. I don't think I really got anything out of it. The problem is the beginning of the book is so heavy handed with it's info-dumping, and barely any of it is utilized throughout the plot. I found myself often lost and struggling with multiple perspectives, jumping around, and context told-and-n0t-shown.

That being said, this is very reminiscent of Kerri Maniscalco's Hunting Prince Dracula-- the characters are collaborators, forced business partners, more than they are anything else and put themselves to the task of uncovering secrets left and right. And I loved Kerri's books, but this had a lot of the same issues: the glittering Court of Cienpuentes was more of a gothic backdrop we hardly see. Lots of people are /from/ there, lots of traveling /to/ there, but not enough of actually being there.

On the plus side, however, one of my favorite tropes: *He* definitely falls first, which was delightful, but under utilized.
In all, I was really underwhelmed. It's not *bad*, just not for me.

I'm sorry but I've tried very hard to get into this book a multitude of times but it was so slow paced and there was nothing that really hooked me into the story for me to complete this... It's sadly a DNF and I would have refrained from giving a star rating but I can't submit a review without one so unfortunately it's a 1 star for me...

This book was frustrating because on one hand, it was incredibly confusing to follow, with the timeline jumps and the many characters, but on the other hand, the characters are compelling and interesting, and all their different motivations and desires are so layered and complex. I almost think there are too many characters in this book, though, and not enough time is dedicated to helping the reader understand and remember who they are, which again, in conjunction with the timeline differences, makes this book difficult to follow. That all being said, something I think is done really well in this book is Azul's adherence to her quest to resurrect her sister. It's a front-facing goal for her throughout the whole story, but it's never pushed too hard or too unnaturally. Likewise, I think the book did a good job of keeping the plot interesting--the parts of it I could follow, anyways--and there was always another twist with every chapter that kept me guessing.

Thank you for giving me the chance to eARC this book.

The gorgeous cover caught my attention and the description of the story had me incredibly interested. I loved the idea, however, ereading this was incredibly difficult.

There's a lot of jumping that's happening and it does cause confusion, as many others have stated. I feel like I will enjoy this book a lot more once I can keep a dedicated notebook, highlight sections, and tab pages to know where to bounce back to for references to things.

I am going to leave my feelings here. I want to give this book a fair reread once I have it and I will update my review from there. I do absolutely love the concept, I enjoyed the characters. I just really think this is one book that is going to require a traditional read.

This book left me so confused from the many characters to the timeline jumping. I was very bored for the majority of the book because I didn't know what was going on. Towards the end stuff started piecing together somewhat but all I really understood is she was a giver of life and her step brother was trying to build a God from humans by raising dead. I just didn't enjoy this read.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the ARC! Unfortunately this one is a DNF... I was interested in this book from the beautiful cover (I mean seriously, can we take a moment for how gorgeous it is!!) and its synopsis, but ultimately I felt disorientated with time jumps and various character POVs. The concept is really neat, but I kept putting it down without the urge to venture back between the pages.

Maria Z. Medina’s Mistress of Bones is a breathtaking fantasy debut filled with necromantic magic, high-stakes adventure, and tragic romance. Azul del Arroyo’s quest to reclaim her sister’s bones is both heart-wrenching and thrilling, made even more intense by her dangerous entanglement with Death’s enigmatic Emissary.

With rich worldbuilding, a compelling heroine, and a plot that blends myth, intrigue, and fate-defying determination, this novel is impossible to put down. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy and star-crossed romance, Mistress of Bones is an unforgettable start to a promising duology!

It was a dnf for now unfortunately. I don’t particularly blame the book and will be giving it another shot but for now it was a no.

Honestly made it 30% and just couldn’t keep going, thank you to NetGalley for this arc however the time skips and the character changing povs had me confused. I had to go back multiple times to reread certain parts to make sure I understood it correctly. Really wanted to love this and I just think it’s meh, might go come back and read it again once it’s published.

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina is a well-crafted fantasy novel with a richly built world and complex characters. The protagonist’s connection to the dead and her internal struggles are intriguing, and the plot offers plenty of twists and action. While I personally wasn’t fully drawn into the story, the book delivers a compelling narrative with strong themes of power, sacrifice, and identity. Medina’s writing is vivid, and the character development is solid. Overall, it’s a good book, even though it didn’t completely resonate with me. Fans of dark fantasy will likely enjoy it.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. The multiple POVs threw me off and it was hard for me to connect to any characters. My brain couldn’t keep up with the world and the information given to me.

Thank you to NET GALLEY and the publisher, this is my honest review
DNF at 45%
I wanted to love this however I found myself getting confused with time jumps and character changes. I felt like I was constantly going back and checking what I’ve read.
I found it hard to relate with the characters because of the confusing jumps.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina is a powerful and gripping tale that immerses you in a world filled with magic, mystery, and complex characters. The story is rich with detail, and the author has crafted an intricate world that feels both real and magical. The protagonist is strong and multi-dimensional, facing challenges that go far beyond just survival—it's about personal growth, resilience, and discovering hidden truths. The plot is full of unexpected twists that kept me turning pages, and I loved how each chapter unraveled more layers of the world Medina created. This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a deep, thought-provoking fantasy that’s full of surprises. Mistress of Bones is a standout novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

this world is so unique and bizarre. literally building cities ON the bones of gods is such an interesting concept, one which i haven’t seen before. those bones are also keeping them from falling into a void so 🤗 double cool.

as someone who struggles a bit when a story has a lot of characters, this was a tough one for me. i was a little lost with both the wide cast of characters and the time jumps. it was difficult to feel any connection to these characters. i was intrigued enough to keep reading, though, and i’m glad i stuck it out. there’s some really decent plot twists here.

while being marketed as a romantasy, it leans more on the fantasy side with the romance being a subplot. i’m sure this is why i didn’t vibe with the story. i went into with the wrong expectations.

really interesting premise and a cool world. unfortunately didn’t work for me. :)

thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.