Reviews with content warning for Death - The Bone Shard Emperor

Everything I loved about the first book is here, and when the narrative flow gets going, it's every bit as good. There are a few quibbles on the storytelling level. The whole thrust and theme is bound up in protecting your people, but whole swaths of innocents get cut down in nameless silence all the time with little reaction. (Hard to avoid on an epic scale, but egregious.) It makes the often petty behavior of even the most interesting characters and ruthless antagonists feel a little like super powered teenagers playing action figures with people. But the world is still fascinating, and that really is terribly common in the genre.

I had trouble pinning down why I liked the book less than the first one. There's a forced, chemistry-free romance that doesn't suit either character. There's some real book-two-of-a-trilogy bloat, and a lot of the 500+ pages feel like wheel spinning. There's less about the more interesting POV characters from the first book and the secondary weirdos who have a lot of potential.

I finally realized that this just comes down to having way too much Jovis. He's always been the most boring man in the world, to be tolerated only because Mephi is there, and everything he does is dumb and wrong. Cut him and the pacing and plotting and trope use would tidy right up.

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miak2's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I could feel the pull to be out on the open sea, away from the mess of politics, of trying to untangle the knots my father had wrought.

4.5 stars

This sequel had so much going for it but, unfortunately, a couple things that detracted from it as well.

To get those out of the way: Nisong, as the main antagonist, was The Worst. There's complex, morally gray villains. There's villains you love to hate. I just hated her - she had no redeeming qualities, and I really just did not enjoy reading her sections. Also, the Ragan storyline was fairly predictable, and he just felt like an annoyance. I could've done without his inclusion entirely.

HOWEVER, there's a ton that I enjoyed about this book too!

- Mephi (and now Thrana too) continue to deliver as quirky animal companions.

- Lin and Jovis' dynamics were SO INTERESTING. I usually hate miscommunication tropes, but both had very understandable reasons for keeping things from one another. They bickered a ton but also supported each other fiercely. I really enjoyed both of their arcs, both together and apart.

- I freaking adore Phalue and Ranami. Seeing how their relationship (now marriage!!) has evolved from the first book was really great, as well as the love and support they have for one another. Both of their personalities really shined in this book, and I'm excited to see where they go in the final one.

- I thought the politics were really well done. Now, granted, I'm a sucker for political books that don't have to do with OUR politics, but it was really fascinating to read how Lin navigated her relationships with the governors to earn favor and move along her plans. Plus, the discussion of how damaging rhetoric coming from those in power has the power to impact how relationships are navigated and to corrupt statuses. *ahem* yeah that one hits a little close to home.

Overall, a really enjoyable read, as expected. I saw several of the plot twists coming, but others definitely threw me for a loop. Very much looking forward to the final installment.

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adancewithbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

The Bone Shard Emperor is the sequel to The Bone Shard Daughter that had left me wondering where it would take this book. Because after that ending there were so many ways this book could be going. In the end it didn't take a surprising route as the title already eludes to.

That doesn't nessecarily take anything away from the plot. Lin is struggling to gain the respect of her governors and people. Taking away the constructs that are in her power and giving back the shards only makes them remember now they don't have to fear her. Only having appointed Jovis as her guard captain seems to be looking in her favor.

Much of the book is about the continued growth of Lin and Jovis as they try to find their way. Jovis is struggling because so many are pulling at his strings. Not only Lin, but also The Shardless Few and the previous smuggling organization he was apart of. And hey he would also still like to live up to some of his moms expectations. Who I did love seeing briefly in this installment.

But I think the book failed a little in the relationship between Lin and Jovis. Their progress kept being stalled. There should have been honesty between them, especially from Jovis side, much sooner. Sometimes he seemed to be making a decision to support Lin and then in the next chapter he would still by lying. I found that extremely frustrating.

Their romance also didn't quite feel right. There was so much dishonesty between them that I could not really take their 'love' serious and I feel like at the end there just wasn't enough resolved to be happy with them.

Other than that I did truly enjoy reading this book though. Following Lin and Jovis journey was interesting despite my irritations. And seeing Phalue and Ranami continue on the road they set out was good as it began intertwining more with Lin. Their relationship works so well and they are taking the next steps. And that last chapter? Totally called it!

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