Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts

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." --

Reviewed by Melanie on

5 of 5 stars

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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.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 2 March, 2019: Finished reading
  • 2 March, 2019: Reviewed