Crown of Bones is a fresh take on YA fantasy, and it is a pure delight to read! Whilst it has a magic system, it has people on the run, and a fight for control; the adventure takes us deep into the story! With themes such as adventure, friendship, and a little bit of romance, this is not one to miss. What’s even better is that it is the first book in a brand new series!
The characters and the plot are immensely enjoyable, and having the underdog, Ash, a lowly scribe who discovers that she might have powers, really took the cake. The story itself was super high-stakes (obviously with people trying to control all the cities, it definitely isn’t low-stakes), and it made it all fun. The banter that was had, especially with Kaylin on the ship. I found that I did want more from the characters personally, but they do appear to take a back step in comparison to the world building aspects. There were some characters that did fall into instant love, which was something I didn’t expect even though it happened anyway. Marcus’s storyline as the next heir was also enjoyable, because to me, he didn’t feel as power hungry as the rest. Even better still is that Marcus and Ash are best friends. I love best friend stories, and I love that friendship is such a prevalent theme within this book.
Speaking about worldbuilding, it was super detailed and made the whole context of everything so much better. Everything wasn’t info-dumped (a pet peeve to many), but rather developed along the way, including the magic system with the Savants and the Non-Savants. It was interesting to find that the Savants had a magical power to conjure up a phantom, because in my head that’s kind of super wild. It was incredibly easy to imagine all the scenery while reading and the writing gave so much detail that definitely made one hungry for it. The writing was also interesting, as it wove both Ash and Marcus’s stories together with their different points of view. Having that magic system in place made a lot of sense because of the power hungry people in the book, and I was interested to see how that panned out. The way it did caught me off-guard, and I was surprised about it. I honestly enjoyed Ash’s surprises, as well as Marcus trying to contain his phantom.
Writing wise, I really enjoyed how the pacing was mild, as it felt like there could be more to the story (and thankfully, there is apparently a sequel planned). Multiple perspectives is my sweet spot, and I honestly felt like Wilder did it justice. Whilst different POV books aren’t to everyone’s taste, this one definitely had such distinct voices to it, and it made the characters stand out more to me than they may have otherwise would have. As I mentioned earlier, I just wish I had a little more for the characters, but that might be my personal taste, really.
Overall, this was a fun, refreshing fantasy read that appeals to my love of friendships and discovery. The characters are fun, and the worldbuilding is enjoyable, and I highly recommend it to those who really enjoy fantasy with different POVs.
Crown of Bones is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 5th 2021.
Will you be picking up Crown of Bones? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Raise. Your. Phantom.
For fans of epic fantasies and sweeping adventures, this ensemble cast will immerse you in a world of unique magic, breathtaking action and unforgettable characters.
In a world on the brink of the next Great Dying, no amount of training can prepare us for what is to come …
A young heir will raise the most powerful phantom in all of Baiseen.
A dangerous High Savant will do anything to control the nine realms.
A mysterious and deadly Mar race will steal children into the sea.
And a handsome guide with far too many secrets will make me fall in love.
My name is Ash. A lowly scribe meant to observe and record. And yet I think I’m destined to surprise us all.
