As a fan of Nicki Pau Preto’s previous series, Crown of Feathers, I have been eagerly awaiting this release ever since. And Pau Preto has knocked it out of the park including necromancy too which is a favorite element of mine! Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Ready your blade. Defeat the undead.
In the Dominions, the dead linger, violent and unpredictable, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from its earthly remains. For bonesmith Wren, becoming a valkyr—a ghost-fighting warrior—is a chance to solidify her place in the noble House of Bone and impress her frequently absent father. But when sabotage causes Wren to fail her qualifying trial, she is banished to the Border Wall, the last line of defense against a wasteland called the Breach where the vicious dead roam unchecked.
Determined to reclaim her family’s respect, Wren gets her chance when a House of Gold prince is kidnapped and taken beyond the Wall. To prove she has what it takes to be a valkyr, Wren vows to cross the Breach and rescue the prince. But to do so, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the kidnappers—a fierce ironsmith called Julian from the exiled House of Iron, the very people who caused the Breach in the first place…and the House of Bone’s sworn enemy.
As they travel, Wren and Julian spend as much time fighting each other as they do the undead, but when they discover there’s more behind the kidnapping than either of them knew, they’ll need to work together to combat the real a dark alliance that is brewing between the living and the undead.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Bonesmith should be on your TBR if you love enemies to lovers, necromancy world building, and tons of betrayal. It’s a gripping read which will have you second guessing everything you’ve come to know. Did I mention it has necromancy and ghosts? I loved the world building not only the magic itself – who doesn’t love ghosts who can kill you – but also the world building of the history and the Dominions.
Wren is a fabulous character – perfect for fans of Pau Preto’s previous work – who is trying so desperately to win approval and acceptance. I loved her immediately. Throughout Bonesmith Wren has to figure out who to trust and what this approval is worth to her. Sometimes we can see things more clearly when we aren’t in the throes and for Wren she has to make her own mistakes and discoveries. The enemies to lovers element was so good here as we see these characters opening up to each other, their misconceptions.
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Bonesmith explores what the price of knowledge and history are. How we can be taught what is right when it’s only what can be controlled. There’s a distinct element of chaotic group dynamics – and we love a good kidnapped prince – so it’s an utter win all around. Find Bonesmith on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.