Of Blood and Bone (Chronicles of the One, #2)

by Nora Roberts

"They look like an everyday family living an ordinary life. But beyond the edges of this peaceful farm, unimaginable forces of light and dark have been unleashed. Fallon Swift, approaching her thirteenth birthday, barely knows the world that existed before -- the city where her parents lived, now in ruins and reclaimed by nature since the Doom sickened and killed billions. Traveling anywhere is a danger, as vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next victim. Those like Fallon, in possession of gifts, are hunted -- and the time is coming when her true nature, her identity as The One, can no longer be hidden. In a mysterious shelter in the forest, her training is about to begin under the guidance of Mallick, whose skills have been honed over centuries. She will learn the old ways of healing; study and spar; encounter faeries and elves and shifters; and find powers within herself she never imagined. And when the time is right, she will take up the sword, and fight. For until she grows into the woman she was born to be, the world outside will never be whole again." --

• ISBN10: 1432857606
• ISBN13: 9781432857608
• Publish Date: 5 December 2018 (first published 4 December 2018)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Thorndike Press Large Print
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Hardcover (Library Binding)
• Language: English

Reviews

[Stephanie]

This review was originally posted on Once Upon a Chapter



I've had Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts since the day it was released. I'm not sure why I always put off reading Nora Roberts. There's a reason why the woman has sold millions of books!

I forgot how much I enjoyed Year One. I think it is the first dystopian adult novel I've ever read. Not only is it dystopian but it also has magic and magical realism in it. These are all elements that I enjoy quite a lot. Of Blood and Bone has a lot going on in it. Year One set up the entire plot of Of Blood and Bone and Year One moved across maybe one year of the story. Of Blood and Bone moves across several years and covers a lot of story line. I absolutely loved every moment of it.

The story has advanced by 12 or 13 years when it opens in Of Blood and Bone. Fallon is starting to train for her role as The One as others born after the Doom are starting to learn the roles they too will play. Seeing these characters as they have developed and adjusted was fascinating. The people my age remembered a time of ease prior to the Doom and the young adults and teenagers live in the only world they have ever known. Seeing that kind of duality was pretty enjoyable.

I honestly cannot wait to see how this one is going to end! Roberts spent a lot of time laying the ground work for the revolution coming in the last installment of The Chronicle of the One. Truthfully it made me a bit tired. There was so much work to be done and just knowing that it wasn't even the worst of it was exhausting. I also adore the theme of human resiliency throughout the book.

I listened to about 4 hours of the audiobook Of Blood and Bone on a trip to and from IL and really enjoyed the parts I did listen to. I particularly enjoyed learning the correct pronunciation of so many Irish names. I will probably listen to the audiobook again before the release of the third book.

[Melanie]

Review originally posted at BooksOfMyHeart.net.

4.5 stars

This story picks up years after the end of Year One. Fallon is now thirteen years old. She is due to go off for training to learn everything needed to lead and fight in the coming battle. Fallon has to leave her family and work with a really old wizard to train. She has a lot to learn. She quickly learns exactly how much she has to learn.

So, people are starting to not just survive, but thrive after the Doom virus decimated the population. People aren’t just human anymore; they’re elves, shifters, witches and fairies. There are also people who are 100% human. Some are willing to live along side of the people who are no longer human. Others are wanting to kill off anyone who isn’t 100% human.

There’s also a cult. Some people within the cult do have powers, but they don’t use their powers. They are pacifists and refuse to even protect themselves. They don’t eat meat and live in the forest, where they’re not getting enough food. Oh, and like a cult (or so it seems), the women have no power and are just used for growing the population. Girls start to have children as young as thirteen.

There’s a lot going on in this story (just like the first book). Early in the book, when we’re mostly following Fallon, it gets a little YAish. Fallon is a teenager and does what you expect from a fourteen year old who has a lot. She’s a bit petulant. But she does eventually learn to take more responsibility. She has a lot of pressure on her. She knows her fate is to fight a huge battle for humanity. Any child would have issues with that much on her shoulders.

I love that we get to spend time back in New Hope. I really missed them when Fallon’s mother had to leave in the first book. I did enjoy meeting Fallon’s younger brothers. They’re a great family.

This book only grew my love for this series. I will be eagerly awaiting book three. I’m not sure how many books are planned for this series, but I’m eager for every new book that comes out.

Narration:
Julia Whelan has done a great job with the narration of this book. There is a large cast of characters and she does a great job with all the voices. She has characters that are both male and female, along with young and old with everything in between. A great array of characters that she put great voices to go with the personalities. Her pace and tone for each scene was spot on as well. If you’ve never tried a Julia Whelan book, I highly recommend her.

**I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[neddieb]

Hmm...well I struggled with this book after Fallon finished her training with Mallick. This book went totally downhill for me after the training session. I literally skimmed through the last 1/4 of book. I was so bored and uninterested.

Three stars are for the interesting storyline during Fallon’s training with Mallick and all the in between. Other than that, what an uninteresting ending.

[kimbacaffeinate]

This one was of my most anticipated audiobooks and one of my favorite listens for 2018. Robert has really mixed things up, even if I still see pieces of her previous trilogies in this story.

I absolutely devoured the audio narrated by the talented Julia Whelan. Fans of Roberts paranormal trilogies will love the Chronicles of One. While the romantic elements is a salad served on the side, the prophecy, preparing and battles remind of those previous stories, only this is more. Roberts delivered a fantasy world with magic, magical creatures, good, evil, Celtic lore and more.

While Roberts does a good job of bringing the listener up to speed, I recommend listening to the series in the order of their release.

I loved the magic, the prophecies and the visions. Fallon’s training was one of my favorite aspects of the story from her quests to spell making. After the middle section of the story shares her return to her family and this section was the slowest for me. Once we began our journey again the pacing picked up as did the action.

Along the way we meet fairies, elves, and gifted animals. Fallon herself collects several animal companions. We see battles, reunions and the begins of a romance. Our heroine is young, but she persuades hundreds to follow her, and Roberts made me believe in the prophecy and in this young woman.

Agh now we have to wait a year for the next book. I for one cannot wait and hope that Whelan continues to narrate. She has become the voice of these characters and enhances the storyline.

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer