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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
3.5 Stars. I enjoyed it enough to put the sequel on my TBR, but I might wait to commit until the final book is released before I continue on. This was a pretty quick read, pretty entertaining, with some enjoyably creepy (if sometimes hard to imagine) magic and creatures, but my main gripe was just that all I really cared about was Lin's plot, and therefore the other chapters often felt like chores I had to accomplish before getting back to the actual story. Also, unfortunately, I accidentally predicted the end twist that about 200 pages before it was actually "revealed", so said "reveal" wasn't as exciting as it would have been in theory.
Like I said, still putting the sequel on my list, but will more be a thing to pick up if I don't have inspiration to read anything else instead of a book I'm chomping at the bit to read immediately.
Spoiler
Lin and Bayan were constructsLike I said, still putting the sequel on my list, but will more be a thing to pick up if I don't have inspiration to read anything else instead of a book I'm chomping at the bit to read immediately.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
If you like fantasy, I would highly recommend this book. Even though it's technically a trilogy, it totally stands on its own.
Do yourself a favour, and don't get this on audio. I almost DNFd halfway through, so I picked up the paperback and devoured it in a day.
I really enjoyed the characters' arcs, the political intrigue, the world building, and the different points of view. Each voice was distinct, and that doesn't always happen. The whole shard system was so interesting, the way constructs are built. Part Frankenstein, part Asian inspired Mythology, all rolled into a fantasy world of its own.
I can't wait to dig into book #2.
I really enjoyed the characters' arcs, the political intrigue, the world building, and the different points of view. Each voice was distinct, and that doesn't always happen. The whole shard system was so interesting, the way constructs are built. Part Frankenstein, part Asian inspired Mythology, all rolled into a fantasy world of its own.
I can't wait to dig into book #2.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Bone Shard Daughter is the first in a new fantasy duology. It takes place in an island setting and follows Lin, the daughter of the Emperor, and hopeful future heir. There are two other POVs: Jovis, a smuggler trying to find his wife after she was captured by the empire 7 years ago, and Phalue, the daughter of a governor of one of the islands.
I thought the magic system and world were very creative. The islands move and migrate with the seasons. There's a hard magic system which was using shards of bones, inscribing instructions, and then putting them inside of animal creatures. It felt like a Frankenstein's monster or like programming a robot. The negative of using this kind of magic is that the shards must be harvested from humans, so each subject in this empire must submit to a procedure where a shard of their skull bone is removed for this purpose.
There were 3 main POVs, and I enjoyed two of them. There was a 4th POV that was more of a side POV, that was also interesting. I had some major problems with one of the POVs, especially the relationship. I don't think the relationship was healthy and one of the characters in that POV felt SO similar to one of the other POVs that I was starting to confuse their POVs and motivations. I could have done without that POV entirely, so that is why this is a 4 and not a 5 star.
I definitely want to read the next one! Overall I enjoyed it a lot.
I thought the magic system and world were very creative. The islands move and migrate with the seasons. There's a hard magic system which was using shards of bones, inscribing instructions, and then putting them inside of animal creatures. It felt like a Frankenstein's monster or like programming a robot. The negative of using this kind of magic is that the shards must be harvested from humans, so each subject in this empire must submit to a procedure where a shard of their skull bone is removed for this purpose.
There were 3 main POVs, and I enjoyed two of them. There was a 4th POV that was more of a side POV, that was also interesting. I had some major problems with one of the POVs, especially the relationship. I don't think the relationship was healthy and one of the characters in that POV felt SO similar to one of the other POVs that I was starting to confuse their POVs and motivations. I could have done without that POV entirely, so that is why this is a 4 and not a 5 star.
I definitely want to read the next one! Overall I enjoyed it a lot.
Not a fan of the multiple first person POVs
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
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
This is not a perfect book by any means; it has its fair share of flaws and mistakes. We follow quite a large cast of characters, which gets confusing and headache-enducing in the first 30%. I didn't know that the world was meant to be based on Chinese culture/ history because it doesn't expand on it at all.
However, this book did something that most books can't: it made me think about it throughout the day. I was teaching pronouns to 1st graders, all while wondering what would happen to the characters next or how they might meet and intersect.
Alongside the loveable cast, I ADORED the concept of Constructs. The idea of having (sorta) animal companions isn't new, but the way Stewart fleshed them out and combined them with the bone magic system was really refreshing.
The book does follow the typical 3-book- fantasy-series plot, but with some pizzaz that kept me focused.
I was a bit disappointed that I was able to predict one of the major plot twists before the halfway mark, but the rest were a great surprise. I'm really excited to see where the 2nd book goes and to keep experiencing the world within this series.
However, this book did something that most books can't: it made me think about it throughout the day. I was teaching pronouns to 1st graders, all while wondering what would happen to the characters next or how they might meet and intersect.
Alongside the loveable cast, I ADORED the concept of Constructs. The idea of having (sorta) animal companions isn't new, but the way Stewart fleshed them out and combined them with the bone magic system was really refreshing.
The book does follow the typical 3-book- fantasy-series plot, but with some pizzaz that kept me focused.
I was a bit disappointed that I was able to predict one of the major plot twists before the halfway mark, but the rest were a great surprise. I'm really excited to see where the 2nd book goes and to keep experiencing the world within this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Kidnapping