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thebechdelbitch's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.25
It took a little while to get going, but once it did - hoo boy was this a good read. Also, the slower pace at the beginning seems to have been entirely because the amount of world-building and setting up this novel manages to do in just 400 pages is D E N S E. It's a brilliant fantasy book with sci-fi elements and a whole host of brilliantly diverse and flawed characters. Genuinely cannot wait to read the others in the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
bibookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-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
5/5 Stars! The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart is a powerhouse of a first book in a series. One thing I really I loved about the Bone Shard Daughter was the world building was so intricate and intriguing, you can see the effort Andrea Stewart put into creating this beautiful setting. Another thing I loved about this books were the characters were flawed and relatable which is something I love to see in my books. The Bone Shard Daughter has to be one of the best adult fantasy books I’ve ever read, it’s one of the books where once the plot picks up you forgot the world around you and are immediately sucked into the story. I really recommend this book for people who love fantasy, casual queer representation, and cute animal companions. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Body horror and Trafficking
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: https://uchiha-madara.carrd.co/ 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡❤️
This is probably one of the best books I've read all year, that wasn't written by a Black author. Author is Chinese american and the daughter of Chinese immigrants.
There were multiple pov per chapters but I didn't mind it just because the story was so compelling. Yes I want to know about Jovis but Phalue and her lesbian girlfriend Ranami is just as interesting.
The concept of using bones in magic isn't a new thing but the way the author did it was amazing. It felt like this magic system had weight to it and wasn't just deus ex, wave a sitty harry potter knock off wand and things happened.
There were action scenes which did not drag on, and some violence but not too graphic. The plot is mostly mystery and detective work, not so much Rebellion: The Novel, you know?
I can very mush see the Chinese American influence of wanting to live up to the standards one's [immigrant] parents set for you, respecting them while trying to grow up and become your own person without disappointing them AND yourself. It feels very
PS if you feel like you cannot relate to any of the characters, perhaps ask yourself why you cannot empathize with characters of color, specifically Asian characters. There are countless positive reviews for this book, so clearly the problem is not with the novel.
Content warnings:
Minor sexual assault, pedophilia,
Medium demolition, mass death, natural catastrophes, minor drowning, animal death, imprisonment, racism / xenophobia, murder, gore,
Major slavery, child abuse, incest, torture, kidnapping, brainwashing, classism, body horror (animal based),
Most of the CWs are not graphic and happen off screen or are implied. For example, slavery and mass death. Some CWs are fairly graphic in that they are shown in a single paragraph and aren't romanticized or heavily focused on. For example child abuse and body horror.
This is probably one of the best books I've read all year, that wasn't written by a Black author. Author is Chinese american and the daughter of Chinese immigrants.
There were multiple pov per chapters but I didn't mind it just because the story was so compelling. Yes I want to know about Jovis but Phalue and her lesbian girlfriend Ranami is just as interesting.
The concept of using bones in magic isn't a new thing but the way the author did it was amazing. It felt like this magic system had weight to it and wasn't just deus ex, wave a sitty harry potter knock off wand and things happened.
There were action scenes which did not drag on, and some violence but not too graphic. The plot is mostly mystery and detective work, not so much Rebellion: The Novel, you know?
I can very mush see the Chinese American influence of wanting to live up to the standards one's [immigrant] parents set for you, respecting them while trying to grow up and become your own person without disappointing them AND yourself. It feels very
PS if you feel like you cannot relate to any of the characters, perhaps ask yourself why you cannot empathize with characters of color, specifically Asian characters. There are countless positive reviews for this book, so clearly the problem is not with the novel.
Content warnings:
Minor sexual assault, pedophilia,
Medium demolition, mass death, natural catastrophes, minor drowning, animal death, imprisonment, racism / xenophobia, murder, gore,
Major slavery, child abuse, incest, torture, kidnapping, brainwashing, classism, body horror (animal based),
Most of the CWs are not graphic and happen off screen or are implied. For example, slavery and mass death. Some CWs are fairly graphic in that they are shown in a single paragraph and aren't romanticized or heavily focused on. For example child abuse and body horror.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, and Slavery
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Violence
in_love_with_bookish's review
slow-paced
2.5
2.5 Stars
I wish I can say I’m disappointed with this book but that would be a lie since I didn’t have any expectations high or low for this one. The cover was stunning and the synopsis was intriguing and I wanted some fantasy so I went for it.
We all tell ourselves stories of who we are, and in my mind, I was always the hero. But I wasn’t. Not in all the ways I should have been
For me, This book is simply average. It wasn’t the best thing ever but it wasn’t the worst thing ever as well. I just read it, was surprised at times, felt bored and confused mostly, and didn’t care for the characters and their individual arcs.
I think the book lacks in world-building. We don’t get a lot of history or lore. In my opinion, the magic system wasn’t explained in detail and I felt lost at times. I couldn’t immerse myself in a world I didn’t know enough about. The story feels dry and lacking. I had so many questions while reading, how the buildings look like or the clothes or the environment or even the food.
One foolish choice is like a rat you let go. It will spawn more consequences than you first thought possible
The story is told from different POVs and I felt disconnected from all characters but one. Also, the synopsis of the book is completely misleading and I really hate it when that happens. If I pick a book because it is a story of certain things, I really love those certain things to be there.
The first 70% was really rough for me and I struggled through it. The last 30% felt like an improvement and I felt myself become sucked in the story and started to care about what will or will not happen. The story had a mystery element to that and I had to admit it was done well. Also, the way certain characters came together was perfect and pushed the plot forward without being too convenient.
But I still had a problem with the tone of the story. The Bone Shard Daughter is epic fantasy but it doesn’t feel that way at all. I admit there is a darkness to some of its elements but the characters who sometimes read really young have mature problems and issues But compared to some of the epic fantasy I read, This book doesn’t even come close to capture the tone and the feel of that.
I would drink a thousand lies just to see your face again
Still, This book is worth the read if you’re intrigued by unique magic systems and a multiple POVs story with individual intimate stories that feed into a larger narrative. It just didn’t work out for me and honestly, that’s okay.
A person who can’t see a future doesn’t have a future
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Grief, and Violence
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