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mwalstad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
woahno's review against another edition
4.0
The Bone Shard Daughter was yet another selection for bingo. I am still very much enjoying my bingo obsession though there is something to be said for how a book that I can slot into a square climbs to the top of my TBR much faster than ones that I cannot. Regardless, I kept seeing reviews for this novel and many of them peeked my interest. The concept of a bone shard based magical construct system seemed like a good idea to me for a book. As it turns out, it is a great idea for a novel and likely an entire series.
What I liked.
The constructs! I'm still tossing this idea around in my head and some of the implications it has for the world. I think there are a lot of possibilities for it. I also think that Stewart accomplished a great deal with the concept in just this first novel. Wherever she wants to take it, I'm on board for it. She has established this magic system well and set up a lot of promising potential for it in future installments. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just leave it with these vague comments and add that the scientific approach to this magic and how it played out was a big draw for me.
Moving along, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the scene stealing duo of Jovis and Mephi. They were my favorite part actually. I can see a side quest novella with just them. Better yet, make it a full novel. The adventures of a smuggler with a kind heart and his companion of a mysterious and magical nature that provides excellent banter is a best seller in my eyes. I am all for it. Give me more please.
And lastly, I wanted to mention the twists and turns and reveals. There were a lot of great moments that changed the direction of these characters and the story being told. It added delightful layers to what was set up before while also providing intriguing questions for later books. I love it when a story has a good ending, especially when it is the first book in a series and this novel has that. It also does a wonderful job of setting up the next novel in only a few pages during the falling action. I will always give bonus points for that. This one gave me closure while also supplying a multitude of questions for what comes next.
What I did not like.
There was not a lot that I didn't like. It was a bit meandering at the beginning as there was a bunch of set up going, once it got going though it was amazing. I wanted more about the constructs and how they work but I am weird about exposition. It is a fine line you have to walk between too much and not enough. Mostly, I was impressed with how a lot of what was told to the reader about the constructs came via scenes of it happening and the characters seeing it happen instead of it just being explained in dialogue or in a lecture-esque info dump.
Overall, this was an impressive debut. I loved some of the characters and I loved the main concepts and the main theme. There were just a lot of elements that worked well for me. However, I didn't have any big emotional reactions to any of it. That is fine, I don't need it to enjoy the book but it does stop this from being a five star for me. Ultimately though, I am excited to see where this series will go. I will certainly be looking out for the sequel.
What I liked.
The constructs! I'm still tossing this idea around in my head and some of the implications it has for the world. I think there are a lot of possibilities for it. I also think that Stewart accomplished a great deal with the concept in just this first novel. Wherever she wants to take it, I'm on board for it. She has established this magic system well and set up a lot of promising potential for it in future installments. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just leave it with these vague comments and add that the scientific approach to this magic and how it played out was a big draw for me.
Moving along, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the scene stealing duo of Jovis and Mephi. They were my favorite part actually. I can see a side quest novella with just them. Better yet, make it a full novel. The adventures of a smuggler with a kind heart and his companion of a mysterious and magical nature that provides excellent banter is a best seller in my eyes. I am all for it. Give me more please.
And lastly, I wanted to mention the twists and turns and reveals. There were a lot of great moments that changed the direction of these characters and the story being told. It added delightful layers to what was set up before while also providing intriguing questions for later books. I love it when a story has a good ending, especially when it is the first book in a series and this novel has that. It also does a wonderful job of setting up the next novel in only a few pages during the falling action. I will always give bonus points for that. This one gave me closure while also supplying a multitude of questions for what comes next.
What I did not like.
There was not a lot that I didn't like. It was a bit meandering at the beginning as there was a bunch of set up going, once it got going though it was amazing. I wanted more about the constructs and how they work but I am weird about exposition. It is a fine line you have to walk between too much and not enough. Mostly, I was impressed with how a lot of what was told to the reader about the constructs came via scenes of it happening and the characters seeing it happen instead of it just being explained in dialogue or in a lecture-esque info dump.
Overall, this was an impressive debut. I loved some of the characters and I loved the main concepts and the main theme. There were just a lot of elements that worked well for me. However, I didn't have any big emotional reactions to any of it. That is fine, I don't need it to enjoy the book but it does stop this from being a five star for me. Ultimately though, I am excited to see where this series will go. I will certainly be looking out for the sequel.
white_as_rainbow's review against another edition
2.0
Ostatnie 20% książki było niezłe, nawet dość dobre, ale nie wynagradza mi to 80% męczarni I POSZUKIWANIA CHOLERNEJ ŻONY.
2.5
2.5
mirandareddekopp's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
katsdaysarebooked's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.25
darcey_orchid's review against another edition
4.5
Buddy read with an angel in the shape of Ashley Elizabeth Lindstadt Corbo!
Wow! This book! I'll admit, I didn't know what to expect going into this book, so my expectations were quite low. But this book blew me away! It was interesting, a totally new concept, and it was so much fun to read! Plus the characters were BRILLIANT, the romance was real sweet, and the casual way that LGBTQ+ elements were slipped in was so damn adorable!
This wonderful story has so many main characters that sometimes it'd hard to keep track, but as you continue reading you slowly begin to recognise each character's name at the start of every chapter, and you begin easily remembering whose story is whose. I really loved Jovis, he was probably my favourite MC, but I also loved Lin, and I feel like if we got some more Sand (Spoiler aka the bloody EX EMPERESS ) then I could easily love her too. Basically, Ranami and Phalue's storyline was my least favourite, though I still enjoyed reading about them. I also really loved the moments when the storyline's crossed over! Such fun!
Oh, and Mephi, what an absolute cutie! He's the cutest little darling and I love him so much, I can't wait to get more of him. Him and Jovis were my little children!
I also loved the WORLD-BUILDING in this book. Bone shards powering constructs, which act as servants and guards etc? SO ORIGINAL. It was a new world and a new kind of magic, and I can't wait to read more of it. The stunning character development and truly believable romance only added to this amazing world, making this book one of the most interesting stories I've read in a long while.
I'm so, so glad my dearest Ash pushed me to read this! If I hadn't buddy read this with her then I might not have read it at all, and that would be truly tragic. Everyone should give this book a try, it's such a new and fascinating story and I truly loved the characters, they were just so relatable! I loved this book :))
Wow! This book! I'll admit, I didn't know what to expect going into this book, so my expectations were quite low. But this book blew me away! It was interesting, a totally new concept, and it was so much fun to read! Plus the characters were BRILLIANT, the romance was real sweet, and the casual way that LGBTQ+ elements were slipped in was so damn adorable!
This wonderful story has so many main characters that sometimes it'd hard to keep track, but as you continue reading you slowly begin to recognise each character's name at the start of every chapter, and you begin easily remembering whose story is whose. I really loved Jovis, he was probably my favourite MC, but I also loved Lin, and I feel like if we got some more Sand (Spoiler aka the bloody EX EMPERESS ) then I could easily love her too. Basically, Ranami and Phalue's storyline was my least favourite, though I still enjoyed reading about them. I also really loved the moments when the storyline's crossed over! Such fun!
Oh, and Mephi, what an absolute cutie! He's the cutest little darling and I love him so much, I can't wait to get more of him. Him and Jovis were my little children!
I also loved the WORLD-BUILDING in this book. Bone shards powering constructs, which act as servants and guards etc? SO ORIGINAL. It was a new world and a new kind of magic, and I can't wait to read more of it. The stunning character development and truly believable romance only added to this amazing world, making this book one of the most interesting stories I've read in a long while.
I'm so, so glad my dearest Ash pushed me to read this! If I hadn't buddy read this with her then I might not have read it at all, and that would be truly tragic. Everyone should give this book a try, it's such a new and fascinating story and I truly loved the characters, they were just so relatable! I loved this book :))
truddel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.5
tallykc's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it, very compelling world and characters. The mysteries and character arcs focus on various concepts of identity, the responsibilities and choices around who people are and what they deem important. The chapters from Jovis, Lin and Sand had me on the edge of my seat. I found myself drifting a bit while reading some of the others, but I think that was personal preference / interest and not a comment on the novel.