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atalea's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Blood, War, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Genocide, Death, and Animal death
Minor: Torture, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, and Grief
lucystolethesky's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, War, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Genocide
alexalily's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, War, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Murder, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
alexijai98's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed The Bone Shard Daughter so much I went to the library the day after I finished it to check out books two and three, so it’s disappointing that Bone Shard War didn’t stick the landing for me.
For one, it feels endless. So much and also so little happens in 600 pages - I feel like it could’ve been almost half as long. It felt like a slog through conflict solved in one page to conflict solved in another page to no real end. The multiple POVs felt more necessary in the first two books, but in the finale they felt almost like obstacles in front of the weirdly paced conflict resolutions.It’s amazing how many dire moments were solved by a rousing speech or a quick conversation.
I think the interpersonal relationships were my favorite aspect of this book. I am a huge fan of Stewart’s world building in terms of romantic relationships (if Ranami and Phalue have no fans I am dead). I appreciated Jovis’ continued humor, and Mephi is definitely my favorite chatacter.
Overall, I’m a bit sad at the conclusion to the Drowning Empire.
For one, it feels endless. So much and also so little happens in 600 pages - I feel like it could’ve been almost half as long. It felt like a slog through conflict solved in one page to conflict solved in another page to no real end. The multiple POVs felt more necessary in the first two books, but in the finale they felt almost like obstacles in front of the weirdly paced conflict resolutions.
I think the interpersonal relationships were my favorite aspect of this book. I am a huge fan of Stewart’s world building in terms of romantic relationships (if Ranami and Phalue have no fans I am dead). I appreciated Jovis’ continued humor, and Mephi is definitely my favorite chatacter.
Overall, I’m a bit sad at the conclusion to the Drowning Empire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Blood, Body horror, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*Contains spoilers for THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER and THE BONE SHARD EMPEROR.
I love this book so much! I did not want it to be over and I lingered over it as much as is possible with an audiobook, having a fantastic time. THE BONE SHARD WAR is the conclusion of the Drowning Empire Trilogy, a story of memory, identity, and connection in the context of a war filled with greed, shifting loyalties, and magic arising from unexpected sources.
As a sequel, and the final book in the trilogy, THE BONE SHARD WAR wraps up pretty much everything I could think of in ways that range from surprising to satisfying, but all of them wonderful to read. Jovis has an entirely new phase in his life, this time he is coerced and magically enslaved by an enemy rather than his previous state of voluntarily working with Lin. Lin, two years after being told that Jovis was dead, is trying to do what is necessary to hold the empire together, slowly beginning to understand that holding the empire together at any cost might not be what's best for the people within it. None of the storylines are wholly new, but they are in new phases which are distinct from the first two books. Finally the characters start to understand the connections between the various sources of magic, and solve mysteries related to the white bladed swords.
I wish this weren't the end of the trilogy because this world is very cool and I love so many of the characters. This doesn't try to redeem every villain, but rather it gives most characters an arc that makes sense for them. While this particular phase of these characters' lives is distinct and largely self contained, the context of the first two books matters enormously. What Lin is starting to realize about the moral implications of being an emperor represents a change in her thinking from earlier. It's not quite the same arc as what Phalue went through , but they realize related things for similar reasons. The end of the book as it relates to Lin and Jovis is so much more meaningful when earlier context is understood, and the story of Ranami, Phalue, and their adopted daughter likewise showcases hardship and personal growth that is an extension of previous events.
I remain impressed with the audiobook narrators, they did an excellent job once again. If you liked the first two books then you'll love THE BONE SHARD WAR as a satisfying conclusion to the whole trilogy. The final chapters take the time to show where people end up and give an idea of their next steps. The final quarter does so much to wrap everything up that the ending gets to be a bit calm and lingering, not needing to cram in a dozen loose threads at the last minute. It kept me on tenterhooks as to how a couple of things would wrap up, but they're very character-focused questions not related to any kind of plot mystery. I'm satisfied and a bit sad that the story is over, I'll definitely keep an eye out for more from this author in the future.
I love this book so much! I did not want it to be over and I lingered over it as much as is possible with an audiobook, having a fantastic time. THE BONE SHARD WAR is the conclusion of the Drowning Empire Trilogy, a story of memory, identity, and connection in the context of a war filled with greed, shifting loyalties, and magic arising from unexpected sources.
As a sequel, and the final book in the trilogy, THE BONE SHARD WAR wraps up pretty much everything I could think of in ways that range from surprising to satisfying, but all of them wonderful to read. Jovis has an entirely new phase in his life, this time he is coerced and magically enslaved by an enemy rather than his previous state of voluntarily working with Lin. Lin, two years after being told that Jovis was dead, is trying to do what is necessary to hold the empire together, slowly beginning to understand that holding the empire together at any cost might not be what's best for the people within it. None of the storylines are wholly new, but they are in new phases which are distinct from the first two books. Finally the characters start to understand the connections between the various sources of magic, and solve mysteries related to the white bladed swords.
I wish this weren't the end of the trilogy because this world is very cool and I love so many of the characters. This doesn't try to redeem every villain, but rather it gives most characters an arc that makes sense for them. While this particular phase of these characters' lives is distinct and largely self contained, the context of the first two books matters enormously. What Lin is starting to realize about the moral implications of being an emperor represents a change in her thinking from earlier. It's not quite the same arc as what Phalue went through , but they realize related things for similar reasons. The end of the book as it relates to Lin and Jovis is so much more meaningful when earlier context is understood, and the story of Ranami, Phalue, and their adopted daughter likewise showcases hardship and personal growth that is an extension of previous events.
I remain impressed with the audiobook narrators, they did an excellent job once again. If you liked the first two books then you'll love THE BONE SHARD WAR as a satisfying conclusion to the whole trilogy. The final chapters take the time to show where people end up and give an idea of their next steps. The final quarter does so much to wrap everything up that the ending gets to be a bit calm and lingering, not needing to cram in a dozen loose threads at the last minute. It kept me on tenterhooks as to how a couple of things would wrap up, but they're very character-focused questions not related to any kind of plot mystery. I'm satisfied and a bit sad that the story is over, I'll definitely keep an eye out for more from this author in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Animal death, Death, Violence, Suicide, Confinement, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, War, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Gore, Vomit, Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Torture, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Genocide, Racism, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
stacyaj's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, Blood, and War
aileron's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, War, and Death
Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
alyanna_dm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Blood
deedireads's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Bone Shard War is a good conclusion to a pretty strong epic fantasy trilogy, although it felt a bit too drawn out to blow me away. Still, I recommend the series overall!
For you if: You like fantasy books set in fully fleshed-out worlds with multiple POV characters.
FULL REVIEW:
The Bone Shard War is the third book in the Drowning Empire trilogy, which starts with The Bone Shard Daughter and The Bone Shard Emperor. I’m going to do my best here to write a review without spoilers, so this will really be more of a review of the trilogy overall.
The Drowning Empire is an epic fantasy series, with a world that resembles but doesn’t belong to ours and a cast of characters with POVs. The main character is Lin, daughter of the Emperor, who practices what’s called bone shard magic (carved pieces of bone can be used to animate and control “constructs”). The second character is Jovis, a smuggler who witnesses one of the Empire’s islands sink into the sea. And third we have Sand/Nisong, a woman on a remote island with no memories.
This third book picks up two years after the end of the second, which in execution was a little disappointing for me. All the tension at the end of book two was popped, the characters almost reset. Then we spend a lot longer than I would have liked with Lin and Jovis (and, for that matter, Jovis and his companion Mephi) separated from one another. So I felt like I spent a lot of this book just waiting for that to get resolved, and that made it drag a bit. I also thought our two villains became less interesting, though for different reasons. In fact, I was pretty actively disappointed in Nisong’s arc.
But enough of the not-so-good! I still landed on the side of liking the book overall, and I recommend this trilogy if epic fantasy is your thing. The world is lush and inventive, the magic system is unique and interesting, the central mystery is compelling, and the characters are lovable. No regrets!
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Bone Shard War is a good conclusion to a pretty strong epic fantasy trilogy, although it felt a bit too drawn out to blow me away. Still, I recommend the series overall!
For you if: You like fantasy books set in fully fleshed-out worlds with multiple POV characters.
FULL REVIEW:
The Bone Shard War is the third book in the Drowning Empire trilogy, which starts with The Bone Shard Daughter and The Bone Shard Emperor. I’m going to do my best here to write a review without spoilers, so this will really be more of a review of the trilogy overall.
The Drowning Empire is an epic fantasy series, with a world that resembles but doesn’t belong to ours and a cast of characters with POVs. The main character is Lin, daughter of the Emperor, who practices what’s called bone shard magic (carved pieces of bone can be used to animate and control “constructs”). The second character is Jovis, a smuggler who witnesses one of the Empire’s islands sink into the sea. And third we have Sand/Nisong, a woman on a remote island with no memories.
This third book picks up two years after the end of the second, which in execution was a little disappointing for me. All the tension at the end of book two was popped, the characters almost reset. Then we spend a lot longer than I would have liked with Lin and Jovis (and, for that matter, Jovis and his companion Mephi) separated from one another. So I felt like I spent a lot of this book just waiting for that to get resolved, and that made it drag a bit. I also thought our two villains became less interesting, though for different reasons. In fact, I was pretty actively disappointed in Nisong’s arc.
But enough of the not-so-good! I still landed on the side of liking the book overall, and I recommend this trilogy if epic fantasy is your thing. The world is lush and inventive, the magic system is unique and interesting, the central mystery is compelling, and the characters are lovable. No regrets!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
aliteraryescape's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, War, Death, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content