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A review by meretastic
The Road of Bones by Demi Winters
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
Doing my best to keep this one spoiler free. Thanks to Demi Winters, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! This is a traditionally published version of a book that’s been on my TBR for ages and I’m so excited I got my hands on it!
I went into The Road of Bones expecting a typical romantasy with a Viking-inspired spin, but Demi delivered something unique, especially towards the end! I was pleasantly surprised when the plot took some turns I wasn’t fully prepared for, breaking out of the typical formula in a genre that can be somewhat predictable. (I say this as a HUGE fan of romantasy!) The writing was solid from start to finish, with an immersive, gritty tone that fit the world she built beautifully.
That said, the first half did feel slow to me. While I appreciated the details introducing the setting and characters, I found it a little tough to stay engaged at first. I also found the magic system a little hard to grasp, but hopefully that can be remedied in future books in the series, which I fully intend to read.
One thing to note in this is the violence. I’m not usually squeamish with reading, but I was taken aback by a few of the scenes. Be sure to check the trigger warnings and take care of yourselves!
Despite these minor complaints, this was a great read, and I’m still eager to read the sequel to see where Demi takes the story next!
I went into The Road of Bones expecting a typical romantasy with a Viking-inspired spin, but Demi delivered something unique, especially towards the end! I was pleasantly surprised when the plot took some turns I wasn’t fully prepared for, breaking out of the typical formula in a genre that can be somewhat predictable. (I say this as a HUGE fan of romantasy!) The writing was solid from start to finish, with an immersive, gritty tone that fit the world she built beautifully.
That said, the first half did feel slow to me. While I appreciated the details introducing the setting and characters, I found it a little tough to stay engaged at first. I also found the magic system a little hard to grasp, but hopefully that can be remedied in future books in the series, which I fully intend to read.
One thing to note in this is the violence. I’m not usually squeamish with reading, but I was taken aback by a few of the scenes. Be sure to check the trigger warnings and take care of yourselves!
Despite these minor complaints, this was a great read, and I’m still eager to read the sequel to see where Demi takes the story next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, and Violence