The Bone Shard Daughter – Andrea Stewart

Only referred to as the “Bone Book”, I don’t think there has been any other book that has received the same amount of buzz in my circles as The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart has. Due to some delivery delays it has become a running gag and is constantly talked about, ensuring that I’m convinced that there can’t be anyone out there who hasn’t heard of Bone Book yet… Or maybe I’m biased.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC, all opinions are my own.

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/09/20

SUMMARY: The emperor’s reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire’s many islands.

Lin is the emperor’s daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright – and save her people. (from Orbit)

OPINIONS: The Bone Shard Daughter is a solid, rounded up four star read. I loved Jovi’s PoV chapters, and especially his animal companion Mephi, who is the best creature ever, and the more the book went on, the more I enjoyed Lin’s chapters – the Emperor’s daughter. She starts out as a rather bland character, but as the story unfolds, mysteries come to light and her background becomes much more complex than is first hinted at. I was much less invested in the other characters, and I think I’ll have to reread the book to focus on their stories more.

The magic system is well-rounded and interesting, if not completely new. I thought that it was a good blend of taking concepts that are known and used elsewhere and making them into something that can stand on its own two legs. Bone shard magic is pretty cool after all. But while I kept seeing the book being praised for its established lesbian couple, for me it was really Mephi’s book. I was constantly looking forward to his moments and revelled every time he got to shine. His were my favourite bits. It seems that I’m that basic bitch who gets suckered in by a cute animal.

If you’re intrigued, add The Bone Shard Daughter on Goodreads here, or order a copy via Bookshop here. (affiliate link)