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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The story building, romance, adventure, and story telling are what make this book AMAZING. It was slow in the beginning but I found myself thinking about the book and wondering what was going to happen next. And the plot twist at the end!! I can usually predict them but this one got away from me. It's the perfect layup for book 2!
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
adventurous
emotional
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
adventurous
medium-paced
My track record with fantasy romance hasn't been the best, but this book was a lot of fun.
It starts slowly, setting up the world and characters, but once the stakes are established it really held my attention. It certainly helped that it was in third person and with multiple POVs, which is my preferred kind of narration.
There are a lot of mysteries and plot points introduced from the start, but they are all juggled together without breaking the tension for almost 500 pages and even at the end only a few of them are completely solved, which makes sense considering this is supposed to be a five-book series.
The setting was less Viking-esque than I was led to believe. A lot of Norse terms are used, but actual Vikings—as in raiders and mercenaries to foreign courts—do not appear at all. There were some anachronisms (Silla mentions a possible "misprint" of a map) and the period was not clearly set: The book is obviously inspired by the Icelandic sagas, but most of the people seem to live in medieval-esque cities rather than the isolated farmsteads of the time. This didn't bother me too much, though. There were so many fantasy elements that made the world unique, like vampire deer and burning butterflies and magical metals, and so many cultural details that I loved exploring.
Silla is a very refreshing protagonist to follow. She's an easy-going woman, kind and sweet and eager to please, but she never looks down on those qualities even if she lives in a violence-prone world that regards them as weaknesses. She's not too proud to ask for help and accept it, even after her trust has been broken. There is some miscommunication on her part, but it's completely reasonable considering her circumstances, and I always felt I would be making the exact same choices in her shoes.
Her romance had too many twists to comment on without spoilers, but suffice it to say that the author executed it brilliantly. The signs were there from the start, but ambiguous enough that the ending could have gone a different way. I'm curious to see what her romance will look like in the sequel.
Which I'm definitely reading, because judging by the epilogue it's going to add another POV, and I'm excited to get to know her better!
It starts slowly, setting up the world and characters, but once the stakes are established it really held my attention. It certainly helped that it was in third person and with multiple POVs, which is my preferred kind of narration.
There are a lot of mysteries and plot points introduced from the start, but they are all juggled together without breaking the tension for almost 500 pages and even at the end only a few of them are completely solved, which makes sense considering this is supposed to be a five-book series.
The setting was less Viking-esque than I was led to believe. A lot of Norse terms are used, but actual Vikings—as in raiders and mercenaries to foreign courts—do not appear at all. There were some anachronisms (Silla mentions a possible "misprint" of a map) and the period was not clearly set: The book is obviously inspired by the Icelandic sagas, but most of the people seem to live in medieval-esque cities rather than the isolated farmsteads of the time. This didn't bother me too much, though. There were so many fantasy elements that made the world unique, like vampire deer and burning butterflies and magical metals, and so many cultural details that I loved exploring.
Silla is a very refreshing protagonist to follow. She's an easy-going woman, kind and sweet and eager to please, but she never looks down on those qualities even if she lives in a violence-prone world that regards them as weaknesses. She's not too proud to ask for help and accept it, even after her trust has been broken. There is some miscommunication on her part, but it's completely reasonable considering her circumstances, and I always felt I would be making the exact same choices in her shoes.
Her romance had too many twists to comment on without spoilers, but suffice it to say that the author executed it brilliantly. The signs were there from the start, but ambiguous enough that the ending could have gone a different way. I'm curious to see what her romance will look like in the sequel.
Which I'm definitely reading, because judging by the epilogue it's going to add another POV, and I'm excited to get to know her better!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 stars and I can't wait to get some special editions once all 5 (!!!) is complete.
I loved this book!!! What a great story. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, just everything. I cannot wait to start the next book. I was thoroughly pleased that my favorite MMC is the antihero I thought it was. Our girl had a little fun but it's time for the real man to take over
I loved this book!!! What a great story. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, just everything. I cannot wait to start the next book. I was thoroughly pleased that my favorite MMC is the antihero I thought it was. Our girl had a little fun but it's time for the real man to take over
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and one of the first things that made me smile was learning that Demi Winters is Canadian. As a Canadian myself, I’ve been making an effort to read more Canadian authors, so this was such a fun and meaningful surprise.
I don’t often find Viking or Norse mythology–inspired fantasies that really click with me. In fact, it’s pretty rare. I had just come off another Viking-inspired book that I absolutely loved and gave five stars to, which doesn’t happen often for me. So picking up The Road of Bones, I wasn’t sure if it would measure up—but it ended up being a wonderful surprise.
The beginning was a bit of a struggle. It opens with action and shocking moments that definitely hook you in, but at the same time I felt confused and overwhelmed. I went in knowing this was Norse-mythology-inspired, but I don’t have a deep knowledge of those myths, so I was wishing for more clarity and grounding world-building early on. That said, once the story hit its stride, it completely turned into a page-turner. I couldn’t put it down.
The characters are what truly make this story shine. Each of them is unique, layered, and wonderfully diverse. The representation in this Viking fantasy absolutely floored me in the best way. You don’t often see disability, addiction, nonverbal communication, or amputation represented thoughtfully in a historical-fantasy-inspired world, and Winters wove it in seamlessly. It never felt tokenized, but instead made the cast feel deeply human, flawed, and real. Their struggles, tribulations, and growth arcs were achingly powerful and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved them all.
The setting is another highlight. The atmosphere is harsh but beautiful, and the map at the front of the book was so helpful. I found myself flipping back to it often to trace where the characters were. It helped me stay grounded in their journey, especially since I struggled to orient myself in the early chapters.
Though there is romance woven into the narrative, this isn’t a story where romance overtakes everything else. The fantasy adventure, secrets, betrayals, and shocking reveals balance beautifully with the relationships. I love romance in my fantasy, but I never want it to eclipse the rest of the story, and this book strikes that balance so well. Some of the plot twists were predictable, but I didn’t mind. It was still a joy watching the characters piece things together. And for every predictable beat, there was a surprise waiting around the corner.
This was such a rewarding read for me, one that genuinely surprised me with how much I loved it. Yes, there are some explicit scenes, but they never overshadow the larger fantasy arc. They feel like part of the story rather than the focus of it. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves Viking-inspired worlds, diverse characters, and fantasy that balances grit, heart, and romance.
I’m thrilled that the sequel, Kingdom of Claw, is already out, and I’ll be diving into it immediately.
One last note: I highly recommend the audiobook. Narrated by Islay Jacobs, it was fantastic. Her pronunciation of names and places, her ability to switch voices between such a large cast, and her emotional delivery all added so much to the story. Honestly, listening to the audiobook helped me through the slower opening and gave me the momentum to fully immerse myself.
Overall, The Road of Bones was a wonderful surprise for me, and it’s a new fantasy series I’m so excited to continue.
I don’t often find Viking or Norse mythology–inspired fantasies that really click with me. In fact, it’s pretty rare. I had just come off another Viking-inspired book that I absolutely loved and gave five stars to, which doesn’t happen often for me. So picking up The Road of Bones, I wasn’t sure if it would measure up—but it ended up being a wonderful surprise.
The beginning was a bit of a struggle. It opens with action and shocking moments that definitely hook you in, but at the same time I felt confused and overwhelmed. I went in knowing this was Norse-mythology-inspired, but I don’t have a deep knowledge of those myths, so I was wishing for more clarity and grounding world-building early on. That said, once the story hit its stride, it completely turned into a page-turner. I couldn’t put it down.
The characters are what truly make this story shine. Each of them is unique, layered, and wonderfully diverse. The representation in this Viking fantasy absolutely floored me in the best way. You don’t often see disability, addiction, nonverbal communication, or amputation represented thoughtfully in a historical-fantasy-inspired world, and Winters wove it in seamlessly. It never felt tokenized, but instead made the cast feel deeply human, flawed, and real. Their struggles, tribulations, and growth arcs were achingly powerful and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved them all.
The setting is another highlight. The atmosphere is harsh but beautiful, and the map at the front of the book was so helpful. I found myself flipping back to it often to trace where the characters were. It helped me stay grounded in their journey, especially since I struggled to orient myself in the early chapters.
Though there is romance woven into the narrative, this isn’t a story where romance overtakes everything else. The fantasy adventure, secrets, betrayals, and shocking reveals balance beautifully with the relationships. I love romance in my fantasy, but I never want it to eclipse the rest of the story, and this book strikes that balance so well. Some of the plot twists were predictable, but I didn’t mind. It was still a joy watching the characters piece things together. And for every predictable beat, there was a surprise waiting around the corner.
This was such a rewarding read for me, one that genuinely surprised me with how much I loved it. Yes, there are some explicit scenes, but they never overshadow the larger fantasy arc. They feel like part of the story rather than the focus of it. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves Viking-inspired worlds, diverse characters, and fantasy that balances grit, heart, and romance.
I’m thrilled that the sequel, Kingdom of Claw, is already out, and I’ll be diving into it immediately.
One last note: I highly recommend the audiobook. Narrated by Islay Jacobs, it was fantastic. Her pronunciation of names and places, her ability to switch voices between such a large cast, and her emotional delivery all added so much to the story. Honestly, listening to the audiobook helped me through the slower opening and gave me the momentum to fully immerse myself.
Overall, The Road of Bones was a wonderful surprise for me, and it’s a new fantasy series I’m so excited to continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry