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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
This was a poorly written Maas lite fantasy novel about boring fairies or elves or whatever otherworldly being they defined them as. The concept of animal bones giving you powers was fun however sadly not worth reading the second one to see what happens.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5 I loved that this was very different and interesting story. I’m not sure if I will read the rest of the series
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
This had such a good premise at the start I was on the EDGE OF MY SEAT HAHAH. It was set up so well for an enemies to lovers omgg…. But it lowkey fell flat. Like Ailesse and Bastien felt very insta-lovey to me I wish their growing bond was fleshed out and developed more. The main thing I loved on this was the Bone Criers like their magic is sooo cool, especially with the animal bones. But the actual plot didn’t really surprise me or really get me “into” the book.? I lowkey think Sabine became my favourite character towards the end, I didn’t like how Ailesse just became like lovestruck. Howeverrrrrr I ate up the scene where Cas was introduced and learning Bastien isn’t her amoure?!? Gagged. I’m not super interested in reading the next but the ending with them being separated has potential
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am not the target audience so this wasn’t for me. I would have enjoyed this 20 years ago. (I’m 34.) I received this book as a gift so I gave it a chance. I also did part audiobook and I didn’t like the narrators voice for Bastien.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
i was very close to DNF-ing this 😭 i found it to be predictable, slow, instalovey, and (for my tastes) too ya. pushed through because the spoilers i googled were interesting, the magic system was awesome, and I LOVE SABINE!!! will not be reading book 2 though
“I’ll do what is necessary. I’ll sacrifice my promised lover, nothing more. Like all Ferriers before me, my rite of passage will be my oath to the gods, my promise to sever my last ties of loyalty to this world and dedicate myself to ushering souls into the afterlife.”
3.5/5 stars
I’m going to be honest, when I saw the cover of this book I wanted it. And I didn’t really care what it was about. Then I read what is was about and was intrigued,,,,but also very confused. Now having read it, I am significantly less confused. But still a little bit confused.
So this book is about Aliesse, who is Bone Crier. A member of a famille who ferry dead souls into the afterlife. The price of being a ferrier is the terrible tradition of having to kill your soulmate. Aliesse thinks she’s ready, but the gods may have different plans for her. Bastien has been seeking revenge against the Bone Criers since he witnessed his father’s murder. Sabine is just an innocent Bone Crier who doesn’t feel cut out for the life before all she clings to is her friendship with Aliesse. When they all meet, only chaos can follow.
So I genuinely enjoyed this book and definitely had trouble putting it down. I started it one morning and was done by the afternoon. I loved the characters, especially Bastien, but I feel like I related to Sabine the most. I thought the characters were interesting although at times, I wasn’t really sure of what was driving them at times. And while I loved Aliesse, she definitely scared me at times.
I guess I just really struggled to feel for a character who thought it was okay to just kill an innocent man. I mean- not that I always outright disagree with murder, but this tradition of the Bone Criers felt strange. There was no real explanation as to why this was so necessary? It feels like such a big thing that needs to have a good justification, but it just doesn’t?
To be honest, a lot about the world-building felt unfinished. Not like it wasn’t developed, everything was there, but it just lacked something. I just didn’t feel like it made sense. Whenever I got confused in the book, it was mostly about the workings of the Bone Criers and how they exist in the world. There was a lot of moments where I thought I understood, but then something would be added and complicated it. There was also a lot that felt just kind of shoved into the story to make it make sense.
The aesthetic of the book was fantastic though. I mean- really stunning. I loved the different scenes of bridges, catacombs, and cliffs. The writing isn’t overly descriptive, but just enough that I could get a sense of style as well as the plot. I loved the different POVs. My favorite was actually Sabine’s, I just liked her head. I felt for her struggle the most. And she was constantly this character that I couldn’t predict. I never knew what she would do next and it made me nervous and excited.
I also loved the romance. I did have some trouble with the pacing of it. It felt a bit slow then a bit fast, but the whole dynamic was great. It was classic enemies-to-lovers, but it was really helped by the fact that they both have genuinely valid reasons for hating each other. They’re tied together super tight the whole book that their dynamic is constantly at the center of the story, which I really liked.
TL;DR: This book is a fun mix of the classic enemies-to-lovers trope and a new world with original myth and lore. You’ll love the characters and the aesthetics, plus the ending will infuriate you in the best way.
E-galley was provided by Edelweiss and Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review. All quotations and opinions are based off an uncorrected proof.
3.5/5 stars
I’m going to be honest, when I saw the cover of this book I wanted it. And I didn’t really care what it was about. Then I read what is was about and was intrigued,,,,but also very confused. Now having read it, I am significantly less confused. But still a little bit confused.
So this book is about Aliesse, who is Bone Crier. A member of a famille who ferry dead souls into the afterlife. The price of being a ferrier is the terrible tradition of having to kill your soulmate. Aliesse thinks she’s ready, but the gods may have different plans for her. Bastien has been seeking revenge against the Bone Criers since he witnessed his father’s murder. Sabine is just an innocent Bone Crier who doesn’t feel cut out for the life before all she clings to is her friendship with Aliesse. When they all meet, only chaos can follow.
So I genuinely enjoyed this book and definitely had trouble putting it down. I started it one morning and was done by the afternoon. I loved the characters, especially Bastien, but I feel like I related to Sabine the most. I thought the characters were interesting although at times, I wasn’t really sure of what was driving them at times. And while I loved Aliesse, she definitely scared me at times.
I guess I just really struggled to feel for a character who thought it was okay to just kill an innocent man. I mean- not that I always outright disagree with murder, but this tradition of the Bone Criers felt strange. There was no real explanation as to why this was so necessary? It feels like such a big thing that needs to have a good justification, but it just doesn’t?
To be honest, a lot about the world-building felt unfinished. Not like it wasn’t developed, everything was there, but it just lacked something. I just didn’t feel like it made sense. Whenever I got confused in the book, it was mostly about the workings of the Bone Criers and how they exist in the world. There was a lot of moments where I thought I understood, but then something would be added and complicated it. There was also a lot that felt just kind of shoved into the story to make it make sense.
The aesthetic of the book was fantastic though. I mean- really stunning. I loved the different scenes of bridges, catacombs, and cliffs. The writing isn’t overly descriptive, but just enough that I could get a sense of style as well as the plot. I loved the different POVs. My favorite was actually Sabine’s, I just liked her head. I felt for her struggle the most. And she was constantly this character that I couldn’t predict. I never knew what she would do next and it made me nervous and excited.
I also loved the romance. I did have some trouble with the pacing of it. It felt a bit slow then a bit fast, but the whole dynamic was great. It was classic enemies-to-lovers, but it was really helped by the fact that they both have genuinely valid reasons for hating each other. They’re tied together super tight the whole book that their dynamic is constantly at the center of the story, which I really liked.
TL;DR: This book is a fun mix of the classic enemies-to-lovers trope and a new world with original myth and lore. You’ll love the characters and the aesthetics, plus the ending will infuriate you in the best way.
E-galley was provided by Edelweiss and Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review. All quotations and opinions are based off an uncorrected proof.