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edey_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There were moments where I was so frustrated with the FMC, but the story is deeply complex and you constantly discover new secrets and twists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault
sarah_thebooknerd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I love this book so much and now I am devastated I have to wait until 2025 to read book 2! I knew I should have bought book 1&2 before I started. From the process of me buying book 1 to starting book 1 it was picked up by trad pub.
GAHHH I need it now.
GAHHH I need it now.
hellobookbird's review against another edition
5.0
Let them think us lambs, when truly, we are wolves.
Silla has been on the run with her father, moving from town to town and avoiding the attention of the Klaernar. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous travel the treacherous Road of Bones–a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer–and go to Kopa, where a shield-house awaits her.
After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. But the queen’s ruthless assassin has other plans and hunts Silla obsessively.
"Malla’s tits. [...] Tell me she did not just apologize to a rock."
This is definitely a case of buying a book because of its cover (and name). Lucky for me, it was a total win and I will be buying the second.
The very beginning of the book almost lost me but I think I just wasn't ready to dive in. That said, I was so happy the pace was quick and continued to remain at a clip. There were times when I thought more time had actually passed in world but it had actually been a few days.
I’ve already lived through my worst nightmare. You cannot frighten me away.
At first glance, Silla is a maiden way in over her head just trying to survive in a world that is set out to kill her. Mysterious men murdered her father on the road in front of her,
Spoiler
she finds out her father isn't actually her blood father,I really admire her spunk. While she definitely picked the wrong wagon with which to hide in, she not only convinces them to take her with them, she eventually weaves herself into the fabric of their motley family.
You've got: Ilías, the charming and sunny dispositioned; Sigrún, the voiceless but deadly with an arrow; Hekla, the maimed but badass who killed the husband that cut off her arm; Gunnar, the fight thirsty; Jonas, the man-slut; Rey, the grumpy.
I can't begin to speak to how much I honestly love this entire band...and Silla's place among them.
"We both know there is safety in secrets. [...] I’m good at keeping the ones that matter."
The more we find out about Silla's history with each new assassination attempt, the more questions we have about just how Silla is going to be able to survive with the found family she has...because secrets are not allowed in the Bloodaxe Crew and Silla's got whoppers.
Highly recommended for those that like happy/gruff pairings and found family, even if they are mercenaries.
madd_1234's review
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.25
dunegirl's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
offbrandmusclemilk's review
Maybe I’ll pick this back up someday, but I had a bunch of library books come available at once and the whole Viking thing wasn’t holding my attention anyway.
shadowbunny101's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this. Silla wasn’t my favorite FMC in the beginning but she grew on me quickly. I was a huge fan of the magical system the author was building throughout this book. I was slightly frustrated by the lack of information we received (general background about the different magic types and such) but I started the second book and we get a lot more on the magical system in that so my annoyance has dwindled. I also felt surprised at some of the twists at the end of the book. I feel like a lot of romantasy books can be predictable at times but this book had a number of good twists towards the end. Overall, I was really happy with this. I’m halfway through the second book so I’ll come back and review that once I finish. I’m a bit annoyed that this is part of an unfinished series but alas.
briannam177's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wickeddelights's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There was a lot I really liked about this book. The story follows a woman named Silla on the run from a past she is far from certain of, toward a safehaven located at the end of a dangerous path known as the Road of Bones. Through a set of quick decisions and a small bit of deception she ends up traveling with a group known as the Bloodaxe Crew in hopes that they can get her safely to her destination. What happens along the way is a story you simply need to read for yourself.
~~**Spoilers Below**~~(Although not a lot of them)
The author did a good job of maintaining a voice throughout the whole story that helped with the immersion in the setting. Phrases were worded in such a way that it was easy to imagine it being spoken by someone in a fantasy nordic setting.
The power/magic systems were really interesting and easy to follow, and most of the flora and fauna was pretty unique.
Where the story has some pitfalls for me is in some of the pacing. For a while during the travels the days/chapters could be summed up with "Silla cooked the daymeal. Jonas and Rey brooded by the fire. The others played dice, with maybe a bit of training and fun banter with Hekla on the side. And while it is very clear that Silla is struggling with an addiction, sometimes the thoughs revolving leaves felt overwhelming to read. I'm not saying that as a bad thing neccisarily (I honestly think thats the point) but I thought it worth noting nonetheless.
And while one of the things I praise highly of this book happenes to be the immersive speech, sometimes it felt like it could make sections drag a tiny bit.
Alllll of that said. I really enjoyed this book, and I am excited to read book two.
~~**Spoilers Below**~~(Although not a lot of them)
The author did a good job of maintaining a voice throughout the whole story that helped with the immersion in the setting. Phrases were worded in such a way that it was easy to imagine it being spoken by someone in a fantasy nordic setting.
The power/magic systems were really interesting and easy to follow, and most of the flora and fauna was pretty unique.
Where the story has some pitfalls for me is in some of the pacing. For a while during the travels the days/chapters could be summed up with "Silla cooked the daymeal. Jonas and Rey brooded by the fire. The others played dice, with maybe a bit of training and fun banter with Hekla on the side. And while it is very clear that Silla is struggling with an addiction, sometimes the thoughs revolving leaves felt overwhelming to read. I'm not saying that as a bad thing neccisarily (I honestly think thats the point) but I thought it worth noting nonetheless.
And while one of the things I praise highly of this book happenes to be the immersive speech, sometimes it felt like it could make sections drag a tiny bit.
Alllll of that said. I really enjoyed this book, and I am excited to read book two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Torture, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Sexual content, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, and Drug use
Norse inspired, slow burn, adventure, duology