Thanks for the free copy of Crown of Bones. All opinions are my own.

The story follows Ash - a girl, seemingly without powers in a world of savants wielding phantoms, who's destined to record history but never make it, and Marcus - an heir to a throne threatened from all sides including from the inside. When Marcus is finally capable of summoning and holding to form his warrior phantom, they take the last chance travel to the island of Aku, where Marcus is to train and improve his control over the phantom. But a traitorous plot unfolds while they're on the island, and it forces them in a wild race back to Marcus' kingdom.

The main reason I somewhat enjoyed the book was how it reminded me of Shaman King with the phantoms and their savants. That being said, I found its pace to be excruciating - very slow while they're trying to reach the island of Aku, and after that, everything started happening at once. As you can expect from such a story, there's a whole host of characters, and some of them felt painfully underdeveloped. In fact, the only characters that seemed to have some meat on their bones were the POV ones (there are three POVs). The other two things that reduced my rating dramatically were the fact that it didn't feel like there were real stakes for the characters, everything worked out every time, AND that cliffhanger at the end. I see the logic behind it, but such cliffhangers don't sit well with me as a reader.

Still, the world of Crown of Bones is quite imaginative, although it gets info-dumped from time to time. It was something refreshing, and I enjoyed exploring it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Entangled Teen and AK Wilder for my arc of Crown of Bones in exchange for an honest review.

Published: 5th Jan 2021

What a rollercoaster ride of a book! I've done nothing but think of it for the past few days and picked it up whenever I've had chance.
In a world on the the brink of the next Great Dying the heir to the throne of Baiseen is about to start on his journey as a Savant, a skilled fighter who raises a phantom to help him in battle. But the journey to the sacred isle of Aku is fraught with danger for Marcus and his friends and it becomes more and more difficult to adhere to the warnings of the bone casters. While plots thicken in the background unknown to all.

This book went from strength to strength. The plot has an original twist with the savants and their phantoms, the story told from the perspective of Marcus the heir of Baiseen, Ash his friend who is a scribe in the library, and Kaylin a mysterious sailor who becomes their guide. The world building is great but leaves enough to keep you wanting more from the next book, I fell in love with all of the characters who are so unique and have great banter. I really cannot wait for the next book in what is shaping up to be a fantastic series!

Reading YA fantasy or just more fantasy, in general, was one thing I really wanted to give a try this year. And Crown of Bones did not disappoint. A lot happens in this book and I was just so enamored with the world that Wilder builds for us. I will say that I did leave the book with some confusion about what was happening and more questions than answers. I had to take my time with this one since fantasy has always been a bit of a challenge for me because of all the info we get.

The main focus was on Ash, Marcus and Kaylin. And I soaked every moment between Ash and Kaylin. But loved the close bond between Ash and Marcus. As the series goes on, I hope we stay the course that's been going on between them.

In the first 50% of the book, we learn a lot about the world, I'd say that's where the bulk of info comes on. Once they're on their adventure, we're on that a bit longer than I anticipated and the paced slowed down significantly for me. But as we get closer to their destination, the suspense builds and battles are happening.

By the end, a lot of truths are coming out and plenty of questions especially surrounding Ash and Kaylin. We're left with a bit of a cliffhanger and I'm eager to get the next in this series.

Overall, truly enjoyed this fantasy read, definitely could have used some fine-tuning with some of the side characters and world-building. Mainly so we're not overwhelmed with the info that's coming all at once. A solid start to this series!

More Marcus, Ash and Kaylin!

Marcus Adicio knows that war is coming but if he wants to keep his position as heir to Baiseen, he must be able to keep control of his phantom. The leaders in Baiseen know the scrolls have foretold Marcus’ journey with his recorder and friend Ash to the Isle of Aku but I wasn’t expecting the non-stop action of just trying to get to Aku before the gates close for the season. On Aku nothing is as it seems for the group from Baiseen including Kaylin that they picked up on the way.

Crown of Bones is so very different from the average fantasy because it something happening every minute and the world that A.K. Wilder has created is so unique. I want to read the next book because I want to know what happened to Marcus, Ash and Kaylin.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fabulous debut YA epic fantasy adventure! The worldbuilding was top notch, a vast fantastical world that we’ve only just been introduced to. I’m super curious and excited to see even more of the inner depths explored in coming novels.

The characters were compelling and mostly multifaceted. I would have loved to see more past the surface on a few of the side characters, but we got a good feel for quite a few of them and that was nice. I think the alternating POV chapters helped us get a good feel for the main characters. The ‘inner phantom’ dialogues could be a smidge confusing at first, discerning whether they were speaking to someone aloud or the phantom inside. After awhile it became pretty seemless though, which was kinda surprising and impressive to be honest. The phantoms in general were such a cool idea and I really enjoyed that element.

The journey was fraught with danger (and excitement!) from the very beginning and it pretty well kept it up till the end. Even the more down training type time had its perils. The tale ended in a good spot, even if it was a massive cliffhanger. I’ll definitely be anxiously awaiting the sequel!

What an adventure! I didn't want to put this book down. I didn't want to miss out on any of this amazingness! I'm sad that it's over with and can't wait for the next book... I got serious HP patronus vibes and the writing is absolutely wonderful!

Marcus, the Heir of Baiseen, must journey to Aku to train to receive his yellow robes and prove to his father that he is worthy of taking over his kingdom. He must be able to control his phantom and so far, he can barely hold it to form. Ash, his scribe and best friend, doesn't have a phantom but makes the journey with him. A bodyguard, a healer, and another savant make the journey as well. They even pick up a charming pirate along the way.

Everything that can possibly go wrong, goes wrong and then some. Just their journey to Aku was nail-biting intense. Their time on Aku, Marcus and Belair training with their phantoms, Ash's curious mind, Kaylin's flirtation and secrets, I can't get enough! I already want to reread!

Serious adventures ahead! You do not want to miss out on this!

DNF at 50%

*I received a copy from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing. This is my honest review.”

I was very intrigued with the fantasy concept of this which is why I requested an ARC. I love the idea of Phantoms and wanted to see what adventures awaited me, but I was left sorely disappointed with several issues and that it why I DNF’d at 50%.

I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. There are multiple POVs here and each diverse in their own way, but each lacked the intensity I expected of characters in a fantasy novel. They were BORING. The best one in my opinion is De’Ral and he only gets a snippet in this!

I wish we learned more about the Phantoms and the different castes. Like why is the warrior so rare? How do some people become Savants and others dont? As I kept reading and meeting different phantoms, it became abundantly clear they were too similar to Patronuses and that was a bummer for me. Again, with the exception of De’Ral, I didn’t like them.

There were just too many unanswered questions at 50% that I felt should have been answered to help better understand this world, it’s beings and the basis for plot line.

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 a story of adventure, friendship, and romance. The magic-system is original and easy to understand. Savants can call forth a phantom, and as they gain power and mastery over their phantom, they acquire robes of different colors, brown being the lowest, then there is blue, green, yellow, orange, and red is the highest rank (except the black robes, but they are in another category). People that do not have the power to raise a phantom are non-savants.

The story starts with Ash, a non-savant wishing for a greater purpose, Marcus, the Heir of his country, and three of their friends (Belair, Pipper, and Samsen) embarking on a journey to Aku island where Marcus and Belair are competing to gain their yellow robes. During their journey, they meet Kaylin, a handsome and mysterious sailor that will become their guide.

I liked how this story starts with a group of friends (and a frenemy - Kaylin) and we see them evolve until they end up growing into a tightly knit unit.

“They are our people, she tells me. We don’t leave our people behind.”

Ash is a great female character, she is clever and bold, yet she yearns to fit in and to have power like the savants. Her story is quite relatable, and it shows the importance of accepting and embracing who you are. Of course, we see hints all throughout the book that she is in fact more powerful than she thinks, but she does not realize it until the very end of the book. Marcus is also a nice main character; he is a prince who thinks that diplomacy is the best solution to solve problems and can’t stomach the idea of killing a man, yet he raises the only warrior phantom of the realm. The character development in this story is well done and I enjoyed reading the different points of view (mainly Ash, Marcus, and Kaylin).

Kaylin is an awesome character. He changes the whole dynamic of the group once he joins them, starting with the relationship between Ash and Marcus. He also had me question everything because I couldn’t know for sure until the last part of the book if he was a character with evil intent that had changed his mind and redeemed himself, or if he was pretending to befriend Marcus’s group with the intent to hurt them in the end.

Overall this is a great debut, the cliff-hanger at the end is killing me and I honestly don’t know how I will be able to wait for the second book since the first one is not even out yet.

CROWN OF BONES is a thrilling and intricately woven YA fantasy. The book primarily follows Ash and Marcus with interludes from other characters throughout. In this world, people's fortunes are read upon their birth, and they are given one of three fates: a savant, a non-savant, or to be given to the sea. Although the third has been banned in their realm, it still happens in the others. Ash is a non-savant, but she works where savants are trained. Savants have the ability to raise a phantom that is an extension of themselves. After training, they can master control, working with their phantom, and gain magical type abilities. Different phantoms have different abilities, and this defines their roles in society. As a result, there is a lot of prejudice against non-savants, such as Ash.

Marcus is Ash's BFF, and importantly, he is the heir to their realm. He has been unable to raise his phantom and is running out of time. If he does not raise it soon, then he may never be able to do so and train it. He finally does so in the nick of time, but they still must race to the training realm before the doors are closed for the season. Although advised against it, Marcus takes Ash as his recorder, as well as a healer and other select members for the journey. The journey will be more perilous and fraught than they ever could have imagined.

What I loved: I was completely caught up in this world and all its magic. Ash and Marcus were both compelling characters, and others that we meet along the way (Kaylin) are equally as intriguing. The world is built so fantastically with storylines woven together to make a truly epic fantasy. Although we learn so much about this world and its magic, there are still so many questions left to be answered that I am beyond eager for the next book.

There are some intriguing themes in the book, such as those of destiny/fate, power and politics, and social class disparity. There is also some romance here and there, and I loved the addition - I am really curious to see how the relationships will develop. I am also particularly intrigued by the black robes that cast the bones to read fates, and I hope we get to learn more about this in future books. There are so very many questions I have about Kaylin, and I also can't wait to hear more. I am completely hooked on this world!

Final verdict: Compelling, captivating, and fantastic, CROWN OF BONES is an epic read that transports the reader to a world of destiny, danger, and the unexpected. Highly recommend for fans of THE GOLDEN COMPASS, BRING ME THEIR HEARTS, and/or HAVEN.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A.K. Wilder's debut novel, Crown of Bones, is more than enough to get her added to my 'automatically read' list from now on.

Crown of Bones is the beginning to an all-new epic fantasy, one that introduces a new world of phantoms, magic, and politics. Ash has lived her whole life knowing that she's a non-savant. Meaning that she can't raise phantoms.

Yet somehow she's about to get wrapped up in one of the most dangerous and complex circumstances of her generation. And it's her presence that is going to change the outcome. Hopefully, if they're all lucky, for the better.

Traveling alongside Ash readers will find the heir apparent, a sailor and surprisingly competent and loyal guide, and several other determined savants willing to give their lives to the cause. Something that hasn't been ruled out, not just yet.

“War draws upon us. And if our enemies are infiltrating our lands, I may already be too late.”

If you have to pick only one epic fantasy to dive into in 2021, let it be Crown of Bones. This was an amazing tale, right from the start. Ash's story (along with all her friends and allies) is a powerful one. And yes, I am already counting down the days until the sequel is revealed.

The worldbuilding portrayed in Crown of Bones is superb, in fact, I'm just a wee bit desperate to learn as much as possible about it. There's politics, magic (in the form of phantoms), lore and heritage, history, challenges, and so much more.

All of which makes for a pretty fantastic setting, if you ask me. Throw in characters like Ash, Marcus, and Kaylin, and it becomes so much more along the way. On that note, this novel is split into three main perspectives (those mentioned earlier).

Yet for me, it very much felt like Ash was and is the main character. She's the driving force, the reason readers are able to learn so much about the world. The reason why we care. She's a delight to read about, and I am so extremely anxious to see what happens next in her life.

It's not just her character, both Marcus and Kaylin and enthralling as well. Actually, even the secondary characters are fascinating, even those who got little to no screen time. In short, this novel is full of fleshed-out characters, which makes me eager to see more.

The fact that the cliffhanger is killing me probably doesn't hurt either. It's not the worst cliffhanger I've seen, but it is certainly enough to make the wait between book one and two just a bit painful. Yet I have no doubt that it will be worth the pain.

Wow! What an action-packed adventure! From the first chapter you're thrust right into that action and it instantly had me craving more. AK Wilder is not shy with the blood and gore either, which personally, I love. "Blood arcs through the air like a macabre rainbow." When I can so perfectly picture those words... -chef's kiss-

Crown of Bones brings a whole new unique magic system with savants and their phantoms into an equally unique fantasy world. The storyline is fairly fast-paced and the world building felt seamless, making it easy to dive right into the plot. There were a few terms and some dialect I found confusing, but that's fairly typical with high fantasy books. I greatly appreciated the glossary!

The story is told from multiple POVs which I tend to favor as it adds a greater depth to the story, but I did find it a bit confusing at times and I had to go back to see whose POV I was reading from (each chapter is marked with the character's name). I found Kaylin's the most enjoyable as it stood out the easiest for me, I always knew when I was reading from his POV without question. Each character is unique, but I think what made them blur for me was that we only get hints into what drives them. I'm really hoping for more depth to each character in the next book.

Overall, I felt like this was a solid start to the Amassia series. I'm super excited to read the next book because that ending...seriously!


Huge thank you to Entangled Teen via NetGalley for providing me an e-arc to read and honestly review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and A.K. Wilder for providing me with this fantastic ARC of Crown of Bones.

Filled with adventure, magic and the unknown, Crown of Bones is a fantastic YA novel and a great start to what will undoubtedly become a great series.

Through the use of multiple narratives Wilder masterfully takes the reader right into the emotional states of the central characters, seeing the world through their eyes, and, in turn, allows the reader to experience the epic adventure as if they are there themselves. From Ash, a non-savant with clearly more to her than meets the eye, to Marcus, the heir of Baiseen and the holder of a powerful and untamed phantom, and to Kaylin, their mysterious companion, Wilder has created three central characters that thoroughly maintain the reader’s attention throughout each chapter.

The plot itself is well-written and fantastically creative. I would thoroughly recommend this to any YA reader in need of their next adventure and the cliff hanger at the end has left me wanting to read the next in the series. Furthermore, this was one of the books that I was really looking forward to reading in 2021 and it has not disappointed!

Crown of Bones is a fantasy novel that will blow your mind. The discovery of a story with a unique magical system, adventure, and romance is the best kind of discovery. Savants call forth phantoms, and each wears a different color robe that signifies rank. The phantoms are so varied and exciting I was sucked right in. Marcus is the heir and is meant to be the main character that you follow in this story. It is told in alternate POV for each chapter. I was intrigued by Marcus and his struggles. Although I stole my heart, Ash is a non savant, which means she does not have a phantom, and she is the wordsmith that records all of Ash's events as he learns how to become one with his phantom. Ash has a lot of exciting things that happen to her along the way, and the inner monologue she has going on is quite entertaining. You will meet a few other interesting characters in this debut novel, and the cliffhanger though you may see it coming, is not quite what I thought it was going to be, and I need the sequel like yesterday.

I love sinking my teeth into fresh-from-the-oven world-building, and this series opener offers up a sweet yet smokey delight.

In a world where savants raise phantoms from the ground, heir-to-the-throne Marcus raises a warrior and must race off to initiation before the gates close for the year and he loses his position in line for the crown. On his quest, he is joined by three other savants and his best friend and recorder, Ash. Though she is non-savant, it will be Ash's duty to keep the official record of Marcus' initiation and training. Traveling through enemy territory with unknown forces on the move, the journey is grueling and unexpected. And even if they reach the island in one piece, will they truly be safe?

This is an exciting new series for many reasons. First, characters are always the most important part of a story for me, and this one delivers. Ash especially is a loveable lead. From her foul mouth to her soft heart to her hungry curiosity, I want her to have all the things. All the characters but especially she and Marcus are fully realized while still leaving room for growth. There's also a crackling romantic subplot, mysterious powers of unknown origin, and a mythical group of secret sea-dwellers to contend with. I feel like the story has barely scratched the surface on what the world has to offer in terms of details both mundane and magical, and the taste I had of both left me in eager anticipation of the next installment.

DNF halfway through - not the book for me. I felt like the characters felt really one-dimensional and I was finding it hard to connect with them or root for them. The premise of the book is absolutely there, the execution and style of writing wasn't something I could vibe with. I could see people really liking this book upon release, given that it is a YA fantasy and those are pretty hyped in the book community.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I didn't really have high expectations for this book, which was good because this book surprised me. The story was well paced and kept me entertained. I liked the characters and i'm curious on what will happen next. The beginning would have been easier to understand if the different types of phantoms were explained a little more, but otherwise it was a good read.

Fun and fast paced! This was my first read from this author and it didn't disappoint. Great world building and multiple points of view. The characters were fun and engaging. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Highly recommend this one for lovers of fantasy but I can see it appealing to a broad audience.

Raise. Your. Phantom.

What an amazing book!!! It is one of the best fantasy books I have read this 2020. I was invested in the story from the beginning and was pleased with the ending. Although it ended with a cliffhanger it was something that I look forward to in the next book. I love that the story is well written; the characters and the world-building are well developed. Some parts are entertaining and thrilling. Although it was presented in multiple POVs, the story has a spontaneous transition of events. It’s a story with a breath of fresh ideas, especially in the fantasy genre.

A savant is someone who can raise a phantom and they are ranked according to their abilities. The ranks are designated with colors, the red robe being the highest. They serve and protect their respective realms.

A phantom is an energy within the savant’s inner existence that takes form only when a savant shouts a battle cry and hits the ground.

All initiate savants need to undergo training in the Sacred Isle of Aku where they are trained to control and work together with their phantoms. If one passes the training, he will be awarded a yellow robe.

Our main characters are from Palrio, one of the realms of Amassia. Marcus Adicio, Heir to the throne of Baiseen (the seat of the throne in the realm of Palrio) needs to train and pass the initiation.

A group that should have been five only, their journey to Aku was full of predicaments, hardships, and danger.

It was an epic fantasy full of action-packed adventures, mythical creatures, slow-burn romance, friendship, deception, and unique magic. I love the detailed and captivating fight scenes.

Of all the characters, I love Ash who despite being a non-savant proved her worth as a wordsmith and as a loyal friend to her companions during their perilous journey to Aku. She is smart, strong, and determined. I love the witty and funny banters she had with her inner voice.

I think there will be a big revelation about one of the main characters in the next book. Kaylin, who are you?

This is the first book I read from the author and now she’s on my favorite author's list. I would surely check out her other great works!

I am so grateful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All in all, I can see how much fun this book is. The magic system is cool and sort of complex. The Savant can raise phantoms (which take different shapes or forms or functions etc etc). In this setting, we meet two very different characters that happen to be best friends since they were children, Ash and Marcus. Ash, unlike Marcus, is a non-savant, despite always having heard certain voice in her head. Marcus, despite being a Savant and heir to the throne of Baiseen, has never raised his phantom and is having a lot of pressure from his dad. They will have to go on a mission together with a party, and folks, it’s exciting for the most part.

The premise looks good, that’s what I’m trying to say, and most of the time, the book is really entertaining. However, I do feel like there were some issues here and there that didn’t help pay reading experience. Some of them are just a personal preference, some others, not so much.

Firstly, I think the desition to make the narrator a constantly switching from character to character first person point of view is one of the most notable problems I had. To a certain degree, this is just because I prefer fantasy in third person point of view. Although, it’s still an issue I found to be damaging to the storytelling overall. At first I thought we would switch back and forth between Ash and Marcus, but later it turns out more characters are added into this. Despite the switching, the characters’ voices are not that distinct from one another. They sound absolutely the same, the only things that drives them apart is how one character is referring to the other (meaning Ash won’t say “Ash” did this to talk about herself, I think I’m the only one who does that from time to time). That problem could’ve been avoided by making a third person perspective that will always remain neutral and there’s no obligation for it to feel separate and unique.

Furthermore, I also sort of don’t understand why the switching would be necessary. For me, from a storytelling stand point and from what little we get from Marcus’ pov, the reader would have been fine with Ash’s. Because let’s be real, who is the main character but her? It’s not like throwing away a whole chunk of narration is the way either though, so the third person narration would work wonders.

Moreover, I think the third person narrator could have helped a lot as well in regards to certain plotwists around Kaylin. They would have worked way better if the omnipresent narrator unraveled the whole thing, instead of it getting to a point where Kaylin just directly talks to the reader and tells them information.

nother issue I had was that overall there could have been more characterisation. On one hand, it was sort of there, and each character does act differently. On the other hand, there could have more depth and sometimes I thought that Ash would conveniently forget things she’s supposed to already know (with the profession she holds) in order for the plot to advance. Making your very smart erudite characters unclever for to seconds for the plot’s sake is one of my biggest pet peeves in books, I find it a tad cheap.

Nevertheless, I still found the parts about travelling and going in a mission enjoyable. And for the most part, being in Aku was also fun. Seeing characters be challenged and asked for more is always engaging. How many characters there were worked to add layers to the setting. I wish the whole plotline about what Ash truly wants to investigate was more fleshed out, but that’s just me.

Lastly, the third act is a bit rough. I take this being since certain initial attack. The battle is weird to follow in general (specially with the switching first person povs) but after certain chaos the portion between a certain character reveal and the character choosing to be good or bad was dragged on a bit too long.