Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (part of Penguin Random House)
Publishing Date: April 4, 2023
Synopsis:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken cements her status as one of the top fantasy authors writing today in this stunning series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!
Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.
Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.
As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .
Content Warning: Foster family dynamic, childhood abuse, mention of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and gore/blood
My Review:
“Silver in the Bone” by Alexandra Bracken is a YA contemporary fantasy novel. The central theme includes Arthurian Legends. Before picking this book, I knew nothing about Arthurian legends, yet it wasn’t hard for me to understand it. This book has become my best read of 2023.
This book has the tropes I love the most, like action, adventure, found family, and enemies to lovers. Including mythology in this book made it even more interesting to read. So much was happening in every chapter, keeping me glued to the pages.
Tamsin and her brother Cabell are my favorite characters in the book. Their sibling bond is expressed so well throughout the book. It made my heart warm. Their guardian Nash left them in the process of finding a cure to the curse that Cabell bears and never returned. At such a young age, Tamsin made it her responsibility to care for her brother and did everything she could to protect him.
Tamsin and Emrys’ banter was so fun to read. The growth in their relationship was so gradual and smooth. The book was from Tamsin’s pov, and I wished there were chapters from Emrys’ pov. I can’t wait to see more of them in the next book.
Neve, the sorceress, joins Tamsin, Emrys, and Cabell later in the book in their journey to search for the cure to Cabell’s curse. She was so kind and caring, just like Tamsin. But she expressed it, unlike Tamsin, who found a way to shut people away. I don’t blame Tamsin for that behavior, considering her past.
Many magical systems are explained in the book, but it is simple and clear. The three main characters(Tamsin, Emrys, and Cabell) are Hollowers who work for mostly Sorceresses to recover magical objects or relics in exchange for money.
What I love most in the book is that importance is given to every character. It’s not the usual “hero saved the day” or “heroine saved the day.” Everyone played an excellent part in winning the final fight—hats off to the author for giving equal importance to every character.
The twist at the end was so unexpected, changing everything I had believed since the beginning of the book. The cliffhanger left my jaw dropped. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Overall, this is a perfect young adult fantasy with magic, action, love, betrayal, friendship, sibling bond, and a sarcastic protagonist making the novel even better.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with the arc of this book.
Click here for the Tour schedule to see more reviews.
Book links:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound
Favourite Quotes:
“You’ve never been a coward before,” I said, curling my fingers around the vial. “And you’re not about to start now.”
“Mistakes are like wasps,” I finished quietly. “They’ll keep stinging if you let them.”
“And while there’s nothing wrong with being as kind as you are, everyone has to develop a thick skin eventually, otherwise the world will keep finding ways to cut at them.” – Tamsin
“Tamsin, you don’t have thick skin, you have armor,” Neve said. “And while armor can stop some blows, it also means that no one ever really gets to see who you are beneath it.” – Neve
“Showing that you care about something or someone makes you vulnerable, because it gives the world another way to hurt you. But there comes a time when you have to decide if feeling empty is really any better than the risk of being broken.”
“Only deep roots survive harsh winds”
About the author:
Alexandra Bracken was born in Phoenix, Arizona. The daughter of a Star Wars collector, she grew up going to an endless string of Star Wars conventions and toy fairs, which helped spark her imagination and a deep love of reading. After graduating high school, she attended The College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she double majored in English and History. She sold her first book, Brightly Woven, as a senior in college, and later moved to New York City to work in children’s book publishing, first as an editorial assistant, then in marketing. After six years, she took the plunge and decided to write full-time. She now lives in Arizona with her tiny pup, Tennyson, in a house that’s constantly overflowing with books.
Alex is a #1 New York Times bestselling and USA TODAY’s bestselling author. Her work is available across the world in over 15 languages.
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