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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
While the pacing was slow to start, The Road of Bones won me over with its rich world-building and thoughtful character development. The story really picked up in the second half, and that’s when it truly started to hook me. On the fantasy spectrum, I’d place it firmly in the romantasy category, with a lean toward epic fantasy. I switched between reading and listening to the audiobook, and the narrator was fantastic, adding depth and emotion to the journey. A strong start to what feels like the beginning of an immersive, character-driven series.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5. The pacing was shit for half of it then the second half was so good! Made up for it.
adventurous
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
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This took me completely by surprise—in the best possible way. What started off feeling a little slow and potentially average quickly turned into an emotional, gripping read that I couldn’t put down (seriously, I read it in a day). And as soon as I finished, I had to dive straight into the next book.
The story weaves together a rich, Norse-inspired world with an engaging quest-style narrative that gives it real momentum. I’m an absolute sucker for a road-trip fantasy, and this delivered that in spades—complete with peril, growth, and a sense of purpose that made the journey feel meaningful.
The found family element is where the story truly shines. The Bloodaxe Crew had me laughing, crying, and absolutely falling in love with each of them. Their camaraderie, the balance of personalities, the way they look out for each other—it was pitch-perfect. I genuinely cared about them and can’t wait to spend more time with this group in future instalments.
Romance-wise, I was Team Rey from the moment he was introduced. That man had me hooked. I do love a slow burn, and this was the slowest of slow burns in the best possible way. I wasn’t entirely sure if he was even meant to be a love interest at first, but when it became clear, I was all in. Meanwhile, Jonas was a bit too much for me. His intensity bordered on possessive, and once he started saying things like Silla belonged to him and trying to control who she spoke to, I was out.
As a series opener, this sets things up beautifully. It introduces a compelling world, establishes high emotional stakes, and gives you characters you genuinely want to follow. A solid 5-star read and an incredible start to what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable series.
The story weaves together a rich, Norse-inspired world with an engaging quest-style narrative that gives it real momentum. I’m an absolute sucker for a road-trip fantasy, and this delivered that in spades—complete with peril, growth, and a sense of purpose that made the journey feel meaningful.
The found family element is where the story truly shines. The Bloodaxe Crew had me laughing, crying, and absolutely falling in love with each of them. Their camaraderie, the balance of personalities, the way they look out for each other—it was pitch-perfect. I genuinely cared about them and can’t wait to spend more time with this group in future instalments.
As a series opener, this sets things up beautifully. It introduces a compelling world, establishes high emotional stakes, and gives you characters you genuinely want to follow. A solid 5-star read and an incredible start to what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Animal death