Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

Silver in the Bone (Silver in the Bone, #1)

by Alexandra Bracken

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the critically acclaimed author of Lore comes a stunning contemporary fantasy inspired by Celtic lore—the tale of a teenage girl who seeks her destiny in the cursed ruins of Avalon, driven by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

"Simmering with magic, peril, romance, and heartbreak." —Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shadow and Bone

Born without a trace of magic, Tamsin Lark is no match for the sorceresses and Hollowers who populate the magical underground of Boston. But when the only parent she’s ever known disappears without so much as a goodbye, she has no choice but to join in their cutthroat pursuit of enchanted relics to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian found a powerful ring from Arthurian legend just before he vanished. 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. . . .

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4.5 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

Tamsin Lark and her brother were raised to be Hallowers. That is to say, they are mortals with magical talent and a willingness to break into crypts and hunt artifacts. Granted, this wasn't the life Tam picked for herself. She certainly wouldn't have asked for a guardian who seems to keep abandoning her.

He's been gone for ten years, and Tam has yet to find a cure for her brother's curse. But she's close – so very close. There's an artifact that might save him. Of course, everybody else wants it, too, and that will complicate things.

My Review:

Ahh! Once again, I find myself asking – why didn't I read this book sooner?! Silver in the Bone was SO good. I loved every minute of it, especially the heavy urban fantasy vibes. I also love Tam's snarky manner, but that's a different story.

Silver in the Bone presents itself as a fantasy inspired by Arthurian legend, but it almost feels like a mystery wrapped in an urban fantasy bundle. In the early part of this book, I enjoyed trying to figure out what the artifact would be (alongside who it might be connected to).

Later, I had fun trying to suss out who was behind what was happening to this otherworld (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers). I actually got pretty close to figuring out who was doing what (close, but not quite).

The characters are another huge highlight of this new series. There's Tam, of course. But it's more than that, as there's a complexity in the secondary characters and how they react together. I loved it, even when they broke my heart.

Silver in the Bone does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, so you better believe I'll be counting down the days for the sequel (The Mirror of Beasts, which is expected to release in May 2024).

Highlights:
Urban Fantasy
Mythology/Retelling
Arthurian
Found Family

Trigger Warnings:
Repeating theme of abandonment
Serious injuries
Child death

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 19 November, 2023: Finished reading
  • 19 November, 2023: Reviewed