Really interesting premise and a great option for fans of the Graceling Realm or City of Embers! Strong female characters, interesting focus on music, and excellent pacing.

As a musician, I am naturally drawn to stories that center music as a prominent driving theme. When I saw that Adrienne Tooley, a fellow musician and author of the fantastic sapphic story, Sweet and Bitter Magic, would be releasing a novel centering an overly-competitive musician protagonist, I could hardly contain my excitement! Sofi and the Bone Song more than met my high expectations, with fantastic chemistry between Sofi and Lara, and an incredibly interesting and well-developed world of magic and music. I would love to read more books set in this same world, because I'm kind of obsessed with the system of paper magic and Musik hierarchy that Tooley built on page.

Most of all, though, I loved Sofi as a protagonist. It's been a while since I've read a book with a protagonist that made me say, "Oh God, do I really do that?" Sofi has a fantastic competitive spirit and a single-minded drive towards her goals that sometimes makes her a little difficult to be around, which is a trait I could really relate to. It was wonderful to get to read about a protagonist with some of the same strengths and weaknesses as myself and to get to watch her cope with finding an ending different than the one she'd always worked towards. Sometimes happy endings don't look the way we expect, but that makes them all the sweeter.
My Recommendation-

If you love fantasy sapphic stories with strong characters and a Rivals to Lovers arc, you need to pick up a copy of Sofi and the Bone Song! I would especially recommend this book to musicians who might be just a *little bit* competitive deep down.

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I am unable to provide a full list of content warnings since I was unable to finish reading this novel.

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// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 2/5 Stars
Characters: 2/5 Stars
Writing: 2/5 Stars
Setting: 4/5 Stars
Plot: 1/5 Stars
Memorability: 2/5 Stars

---

// Quick Review //
While I had been looking forward to reading this novel, I was ultimately disappointed by the slow pace and could not get interested in the book. I didn’t finish reading Sofi and the Bone Song, but perhaps that’s because of a recent book slump.

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// Other Information //
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Page Count: 416 pages
Release Date: April 19, 2022
Series: None
Tags: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+, Lesbian, Music, Magic

---

// Review //
Recently I have found it very difficult to enjoy reading, so my thoughts on this novel may not be typical. I’ve heard great things about Sofi and the Bone Song and was very excited to receive an ARC. I looked forward to reading this book, but as I started to read it I became very disinterested in the story. The characters and plot did not necessarily hold my attention and I was very bored. However, it would not be fair of me to condemn this novel when I didn’t even finish it. This is why, unlike my other DNFs, I gave this novel two stars rather than one. It was very promising, I was just unable to get into the novel.

It is noteworthy that the setting and world that Tooley created are magnificent and clearly well put together. As I said, this book just did not hold my attention.

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// Wrap Up //
I recommend this to people who enjoy fantasy. Just because I wasn’t able to enjoy this book doesn’t mean you will be unable to.

Thoughts

I liked this book. It got off to a slow start, for sure, and I wasn't sure I would like it because of that. My reading experience dragged on a little bit, but I persisted because I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the characters enough. And those two things grew on me as more was revealed about the world and the characters living in it. It wasn't a fast read even when I got into it, but perhaps it is worth it for all of the careful revelations in these pages.

Pros
Lush Reading: The worldbuilding--the larger world itself, that is--might not be lush, but Sofi's much more intimate world is. Well, lush might not be exactly the right word. Her world is austere and deprived, rife with ritual and self-inflicted pain. It is the essence of asceticism, dark and gloomy and full of an intense undercurrent of want. But it is built up so well, so wholly, that it feels full and real and encompassing, as dreary as it might be.

Cruel Character: Sofi is cruel. She has the potential from the very beginning for cruelty in her austerity, her meanness. Once things start to go her way, she dives into that potential for manipulative cruelty. She isn't always cruel, and she isn't only cruel. And she does thaw a bit as the story continues. I do appreciate a character who has the capacity for such pettiness, though, especially as the lead. Characters like Sofi don't often get the spotlight, and I like that she does.

High Conspiracy: I can usually see an author's hand before she plays it, but here, the intricate plot points near the climax were so well hidden from Sofi--and from the reader, who was following along with her--that they really did only come out as Sofi was learning them. And I loved that. I loved being immersed in Sofi's world and Sofi's story well enough that I could get lost in the convoluted twists of character and backstory at play here.


Cons
Predictable Plot Stakes: Though there were nooks and crannies in this conspiracy that I didn't see coming, the stakes involved here were fairly standard. This book starts with a competition--Sofi's one chance to get the life she wants--and as soon as those stakes are set, there is a trajectory in place. Sofi can't win the competition. Sofi can't get the part. And that sets up everything that comes after. And that's all fine. It's just not a particularly interesting plot line when everything falls so neatly into line.

Fantasy Names: One of my personal peeves is when fantasy authors use complicated, linguistically off-putting names for the sake of fantasy. The characters here (thank goodness) don't have these stereotypical names, but the towns, countries, and other places of interest all feel a little too fantasy in this regard--to the point that the awkward-to-pronounce names distracted from the story a bit. These names, especially in this story that didn't need that particular fantasy crutch, felt a little too try-hard.

Communicative Conflict: The height of the emotional and interpersonal conflict in this book is pushed even higher by bad communication. And I hate that. It makes sense with Sofi--Sofi is, after all, a mean-spirited loner type (with no hate intended toward her)--but I still hate this type of conflict. I hate when the conflict could easily be solved with honest and open communication. It's a personal peeve of mine. That's all.


Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8/10

Fans of Rachel Hartman's Seraphina will appreciate the intricate and layered worldbuilding in this book. Those who liked the dangerous song magic of Kate Constable's The Singer of All Songs will like these new bone witch lute players.

In the kingdom of Aell, magic exists and is accessible to all. There are strict laws surrounding the use of magic when it comes to music, however, leaving music as the last untouched art. In fact, the rules are so strict surrounding music that only five individuals are given the roles of Musik; someone who is allowed to compose their own songs and perform them throughout the land.

Each of the five Musiks is paired with a particular instrument. It's all quite regimented, but regardless, the Musiks are celebrated throughout the kingdom. Sofi's father is a Musik, who plays a very special bone lute. Sofi has been groomed her whole life to follow in his footsteps. He's been rigid in her training and Sofi has never erred from her path; she wants to be a Musik more than anything.

Unfortunately, it's not as simple as wanting. In order to be named a Musik, there is an audition process. Sofi remains confident she will be named Musik. No one works harder, or wants it more than she does. Things are thrown for a loop, however, when on the day of the audition, a stranger arrives unannounced to perform; a beautiful girl named, Lara. It seems she's ill-prepared, as she's never played the lute before and doesn't even have one with her. Sofi's confused. Is this some sort of joke?

To Sofi's horror, Lara's performance is absolutely incredible. She has the judges, and all else in attendance, in the palm of her hand. Before she knows it, Sofi's life has come crashing down around her. Lara has been named a rising Musik, she will inherit Sofi's father's position. Then in a most surprising turn of events, Sofi's father dies quite suddenly.

Sofi cannot believe what is happening. Magic has to be at play. This cannot all be a coincidence. She agrees to travel with Lara, who knows absolutely nothing about being a Musik, to help her get her bearings. The truth is, Sofi suspects Lara of using illegal magic to win the position and feels like traveling with her will be the best way to get the evidence she needs. She wants to be able to prove Lara is a fraud. With Lara out of the way, Sofi would finally be able to take her proper place as a Musik.

Sofi and Lara's journey bring lots of discoveries, most of them involving Sofi and her life, not so much about Lara's potential use of magic. It's eye-opening for Sofi in many ways, to say the least, with startling consequences.

Sofi and the Bone Song is a beautiful YA-Fantasy standalone novel that is like a love letter to music itself. It's understated and quiet, yet it drew me in from the very start. It's quite character-driven, but all of the characters were well developed and likable.

I love stories involving music, or musicians. This one is so in depth to that art form. I was eating it up. I'm not sure how impactful this will be for individuals who haven't been involved with playing music at some point in their lives, but for those who have, I think they'll definitely be able to connect with this story.

The romance aspect didn't grab me quite as much as I had hoped. I was mostly interested in the romance of the music and of watching Sofi strive to reach her potential, but I can see how others may fall for the innocence of this young love.

I really enjoyed the sections that explored Sofi's childhood and the training she experienced at the hands of her father. Having that included helped me to understand more about Sofi as a character, as well as building out the relationship she had with her father.

I also enjoyed the fact that Sofi and Lara were traveling for much of the story; it's like an old-timey road trip. Their journey was never dull and each stop brought Sofi closer to answers regarding Lara's sudden rise to success.

Overall, I think this is a soft, subtle, beautiful story that was wrapped up so nicely. Some standalones, you get to the end and wonder, is this really it? I feel like you can walk away satisfied that you have reached the end of this tale. Well done by Tooley.

Thank you to the publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Sofi delivered everything I was hoping for!

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours, Netgalley, and Margaret K. McElderry Books Publishing for sending me an eARC for my honest review!

"You don't have to hurt yourself to be worthy of pursuing your dream. You don't have to deny pieces of yourself in order to be good."

Here are the reps for this book:
- Nonbinary side character
- Lesbian romance
- Gay side character

Here are the tropes:
- Enemies to friends to lovers
- Hidden magic
- Slowburn romance

Sofi and the Bone Song was my second favorite read of this month. I went into it knowing I didn't really enjoy Tooley's A Sweet and Bitter Magic, but this book was so different (and so much better) than AS&BM! It made me feel all of the emotions possible, the writing was beautiful and lyrical (just like Sofi's songs, so pun intended), an awesome plot, amazing characters, AND great worldbuilding. While it was not a five star read, mostly because it read more like a middle grade book than anything and it was (for the most part) predictable, I definitely enjoyed it!

In Sofi and the Bone Song, if you coudn't guess, we follow Sofi! She's the daughter of a Musik, which is pretty much the ultimate musician in the kingdom of Aell. She's been training all her life to be her father's successor, but when a mysteriously-talented girl (Lara) is chosen to become her father's Apprentice instead of her AND her father dies (under VERY strange circumstances), her world is turned upside down. Everything she knew and worked for was stolen right under her nose. So, Sofi devises a plan to uncover Lara's strange talent (she had never played a lute before in her life, and she played perfectly at her audition!) and somehow reveal it to the king to prove she should be one of the next Musiks. However, Sofi has no idea that Lara will make her question everything she knows about her family, magic, and music.

While the characters were not the BEST, they were at least understandable and likable. Sofi's hardworking (and sometimes cynical) character really resonated with me. The worldbuilding sometimes made me confused with all of the music stuff, but it was also really cool how detailed Tooley made it. The plot was well-paced and actually kept my attention! I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

Here are some of my favorite quotes:
- "Heat from her fingertips leached onto the glass, leaving marks that disappeared almost instantly. Sofi was afraid of fading away that easily, of leaving not a single visible mark on the world."
- "What was art if it did not come from hard work and devotion? If it was not tended to ad grown in careful pockets of one's heart?"
- "It wasn't until she'd heard Denna play that Sofi realized music could take a heart apart and put it back together again."
- "Better than nothing was still, essentially, nothing."
- "Music made Sofi whole, but it also allowed her to be seen. She loved it because it gave her the power she otherwise did not possess, offered an avenue for her words to matter in a way they couldn't on their own."
- "Your father was afraid, and he planted that fear in you. He trimmed your greenery away, leaving only a stump. But you are so much more than what he made you. And all pieces of you are worthy."

Rainbows and Sunshine
April 24, 2o22

This is a queer fantasy with a slowburn sapphic romance and interesting characters. Sofi has been training all her life to replace her father as Musik, but Lara, who has never played a lute before, comes in and wins the audition.

The relationship between Sofi and her was incredibly painful to read, his idea about suffering and yearning for her art, her music was horrendous. To say I hate her father for robbing her childhood would be and understatement.

Sofi and Lara were really cute together and it was fascinating to see how Sofi simultaneosly hated and admired Lara for getting her position as Musik.

I love how Sofi grows throughout the book, unlearns the stuff that she was taught and learns to be free, though a touch faster than realistic. The mystery of the magic was great too. I wish the book was dual POV as I would have loved to get to know Lara more. Overall, I really enjoyed it.

*ARC provided by the author via TBR Books and Beyond and Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

I blew through Sofi and the Bone Song so fast that I almost forgot to take any notes for my review!

Sofi is such a compelling main character. From the start, I admired her almost alarmingly intense devotion to music. At first, her narration convinced me that in her world, music deserved to be practiced to perfection, and anything else—such as using magic as a shortcut—was inferior. As Sofi realizes the faults in her upbringing—her father’s absenteeism, her repression of her emotions, her self-inflicted punishments for failure—so does the reader, and this builds a beautiful, kindly-handled story of healing from the mindset of suffering for one’s art. I especially loved that the author used flashbacks to reveal how Sofi’s father created her abusive weekly routine because it shows how formative these scenes were, even if Sofi originally thinks they are normal childhood experiences.

So, basically, I repeatedly wanted to give Sofi a hug—and I’m glad Lara and Jakko could do it for me. The relationship between Sofi and Lara is very sweet, though I think they could have spent more time in the friends stage before transitioning from enemies to lovers. When Lara was introduced, I also found her frustratingly clueless, though I was glad to see her apparent ditziness become gentleness and compassion. She and Sofi were the perfect teachers for each other. Jakko, too, was so genuine as a friend, even though he doesn’t appear much in the book.

My only criticisms are of one or two plot points. First, Sofi’s father’s death felt rushed. I know its suddenness was necessary to push Sofi and Lara together, but I think it could have been later explained in better detail. I also wish Sofi’s relationship to magic had been dwelled on a bit more; the author does a great job of revealing it subtly in Sofi’s flashbacks, but I feel like Sofi and the other Musiks still would have required more time to adapt to this new information and the end of the perpetual winter.

Sofi and the Bone Song will strike a particular chord with any artist and is an endearing reminder that there is much more to art than suffering.

4.5 STARS

Sofi has spent her entire life preparing to become a Musik.

In Aell, only the five Musiks are allowed to publicly perform original compositions, and they must do so without the aid of magic. Sofi's father is one of the Musiks, and all her life, she has studied the lute until his unwavering watch. Where other students have come and gone, Sofi has surpassed them all, and now, when her father is to name an Apprentice, it is time to assume what she has come to think of as her birthright.

But when another girl outperforms her at Apprentice auditions, stealing away everything Sofi has poured into the sixteen years of her life, it all changes. Desperate to prove her rival has used forbidden magic to steal the title of Apprentice, and grieving the death of her father so soon after the failed audition, she agrees to accompany the new Musik on her introductory tour through the nation. Maybe this way, she can expose the truth and reclaim her title. To do so, though, she'll have to resist the temptation to stray from her training, and she'll have to decide how much of her past she's willing to reckon with.

But maybe there is more to the music than Sofi knows, and maybe it is time for her to learn other truths instead.


"The things you love shouldn't hurt you."

Sofi and the Bone Song is fundamentally a story about the things we do for art, and the ways we hurt for love. When Sofi's father chooses Lara to be his apprentice rather than Sofi, he upends everything Sofi has ever worked for. She's spent the last ten years adhering to an ever more strict routine of practice and prayer, silence and supplication, trying to prove herself worthy of the title of Musik. Yet here comes a girl who has never held a lute in her life, and she becomes the next Musik instead.

It all makes Sofi start out as a cold, even bitter, character. She's rather stiff, entirely driven, and has little patience for anything or anyone that doesn't aid her quest to become her father's Apprentice. And naturally, that's what makes the journey so worth it.

Not only is her relationship with Lara brilliantly written (more on that soon), but it opens up so many doors previously closed to Sofi. On Lara's introductory tour through Aell, Sofi begins to actually examine her feelings instead of stuffing them down deep. She wallows in the jealously that Lara is Musik, that she writes the songs that win Lara acclaim, that Lara can captivate a crowd, even without an instrument in hand. But in equal measure, her curiosity blooms. What might it be like to pursue new directions in songwriting? And what about all the questions about her past, the ones everyone refused to answer for her?

The literal journey is excellent, but the metaphorical journey is even better. It's an emotional one, and it forces Sofi to reckon with her reasons for creating music. For so long, she has suffered in the name of her art and in the name of the Muse. What would it be like to create from some other emotion instead?


Stir in a mix of grumpy grouch meets super sunshine, and it gets even better.

Lara Hollis, the love interest, proves to be Sofi's perfect foil. Cheery and earnest, she stands out brightly against Sofi's focused gloom, and I love the contrast with all my heart. I mean, who doesn't love a little bit of sunshine meets grump?

But the reason it's so good isn't just that Sofi and the Bone Song uses a classic trope. It's because Lara and Sofi exist in this amazing state of balance. They're constantly learning from one another over the course of the journey. Sometimes, this means learning about each other as people. Sofi gradually lets pieces of Lara in, comes to understand why she took a chance on auditions, learns how few outdoors skills Lara has. And in turn, Lara welcomes every part of Sofi, even the rough edges and the mysterious, even dangerous heritage.

But I especially love when they create together. At first, Sofi does more teaching than anything, since Lara has no formal musical training. But as they grow and come into their own, there's a joy in the way they find music together. Whether they see it or not, whether they can admit it or not, they are partners in creation. What's more special than that?


Sofi and the Bone Song is a beautiful standalone that will resonate with any creator, not just musicians.

Lara's insistence that art comes from love has stuck with me since I reached the last page. I think anyone with a creative bone in their body, even if they're more of a Sofi who thinks art comes from suffering, could stand to listen to Lara for a moment or two. It's amazing what comes out of joy and passion rather than just applying skill with a cool, clinical touch.

And yes, maybe it still hurts sometimes, maybe there's some suffering, but what a world of difference it makes to reexamine what drives you to create! I loved following Sofi on that particular journey, and it's prompted me to take a closer look at my own work. I may not be a musician, but my other creative endeavors could stand a little bit of loving scrutiny.

Anyhow, if you think this wintery, wonderful tale is the right book for you, never fear! Sofi and the Bone Song is officially on shelves, just waiting for you to read it. It released on April 19th as Adrienne Tooley's sophomore novel, and I can confidently say I liked it even more than her debut.


CW: loss of a loved one, child neglect, suicide

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 12:00pm EST on 4/25/22.]

Music runs in Sofi's blood. Her father is a Musik, one who has license to compose and perform orginal songs. Sofi has been training for lute and singing before she could even speak to be the chosen apprentice of her father, to be the next Musik.

The day of audition brings in unexpectedly talented and natural Lara who performed magically this granting her the title of apprentice and later on Musik on sudden death of Sofi's father. This made Sofi suspicious of some magic involved and a doubt of Lara being a witch. She makes a plan to uncover all the secrets.

This takes us through their journey where the twists and turns bring to us secret hidden for so long and a deception that runs deeper. A world and journey that turns around what Sofi knew of her past and impacts everything.

What she goes through because of her father's teachings would have me consulting a therapist to leave back the self hurt done to get to perfection. I felt for her, it was outright abuse and holding her back.

This queer standalone fantasy novel has romance, magic and suffering. What a knowledge on music we get through the book and I enjoyed learning about it through Sofi. Lara was sweet and I wished I had more to know about her. It was a bit slow but I liked the way it was written. It talks about passion, self love, acceptance of things and hope. We have to believe in things to happen.

Thank you @tbrbeyondtours for having me on this tour. I enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend it. Please go through their website for the entire tour scheduled and learn more about what everyone feels.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Sofi and the Bone Song

Author: Adrienne Tooley

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Lesbian MC, f/f romance

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, musicians, LGBT

Publication Date: April 19, 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy

Age Relevance: 13+ (child abuse, parental death, grief, religion and prayer, romance)

Explanation of Above: There is child abuse mentioned sporadically throughout the novel and some shown. The book shows a parent’s death and the grief that follows it. There is religion and prayer mentioned throughout the book, but it’s not a real life religion. There is also some romance in the book.

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Pages: 416

Synopsis: Music runs in Sofi’s blood.

Her father is a Musik, one of only five musicians in the country licensed to compose and perform original songs. In the kingdom of Aell, where winter is endless and magic is accessible to all, there are strict anti-magic laws ensuring music remains the last untouched art.

Sofi has spent her entire life training to inherit her father’s title. But on the day of the auditions, she is presented with unexpected competition in the form of Lara, a girl who has never before played the lute. Yet somehow, to Sofi’s horror, Lara puts on a performance that thoroughly enchants the judges.

Almost like magic.

The same day Lara wins the title of Musik, Sofi’s father dies, and a grieving Sofi sets out to prove Lara is using illegal magic in her performances. But the more time she spends with Lara, the more Sofi begins to doubt everything she knows about her family, her music, and the girl she thought was her enemy.

As Sofi works to reclaim her rightful place as a Musik, she is forced to face the dark secrets of her past and the magic she was trained to avoid—all while trying not to fall for the girl who stole her future.

Review: I had heard this book was a love song to music and that description of the book is completely accurate. I absolutely loved this story and all of the musical aspects of it. The book is a sweet story about finding your own happiness and path and figuring out who you are. The book did well with the character development and world building. I also felt that the book was well written and it’s easily a new fave of mine.

The only issue I had with the book is that I felt that it was a bit fast paced. I wanted it to slow down a bit and further explore Sofi and Lara’s relationship, but it was fine as is.

Verdict: Highly recommend! I loved it!

Sofi’s whole life is music, which is heavily influenced by the fact that father is a Musik — one of the only five musicians in the country sanctioned by the king to compose and perform original songs — something Sofi has dedicated her entire existence to one day becoming.

Sofi is very dedicated to her practice, shaped by the abuse from her father. She loves music so deeply and so wholly that the bad habits her father forces upon her is quite literally consuming. Throughout the course of Sofi and the Bone Song, Sofi begins to unravel her perfectionism and past and truly get to the heart (literally!) of what she cares for most

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Character development is definitely where Sofi and the Bone Song stands out the most. Similarly to Tooley’s debut, Sweet & Bitter Magic, the characters are the driving force of the story. Combine the character arcs of main characters (namely, Sofi) and secondary characters (Lara and Jakko) with the intricate magic system and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a captivating standalone fantasy.

The writing also lent itself very well to a standalone. With short and succinct chapters (sometimes to a point that felt too bow-y at times), the story knew exactly which direction it was going and never strayed away. The storytelling and pacing was clean and well-composed which ultimately allowed me to plow through the story in only a few days.

Also! There is just so much music, and I say that in the best way possible. From moments between Sofi and Lara composing epics on the road, to Sofi’s bone song (like the title eee!!), to lyrics and beat jokes and wonderful tidbits incorporated throughout, Sofi and the Bone Song is bursting at the seams with musical joy.

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All and all, Sofi and the Bone is fully dazzling. It is a story crafting with so much love that manages to be heartbreaking, witty, and romantic all at once. Plus you get the absolute joy of witnessing charming insults like “worm eats your eye” and “Saints and sheep”! Come on, with all that in mind, how could you not want to dive right in??

My rating: 3.5/ 5

The first half of the book felt too long and focused mostly on Sofi, but there were many surprises in the second half that made me continue this book.

There were too many italicized words in each chapter. I was okay with the lyrics being italicized, but other words in italics were distracting.
As I said, the book took a complete 180 in the second half. This was where things happened to push the story forward. Until then, it felt like a long monologue of Sofi's life.
Besides Sofi, we actually don't get to know much about the other characters. We are told in many ways that Lara is beautiful, but keeping aside her beauty and cheerful nature, we don't get to know her as the main character.
But there were some good twists that redeemed this story for me. Sofi’s ending performance had the best lyrics of all the songs she had written. It was emotional and magical at the same time.

Put simply, Sofi and the Bone Song is my first sapphic fantasy, a standalone at that, which was adventurous, unexpectedly twisty, and a musical treat.

(Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours, Margaret K. McElderry Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book!)

This book was EVERYTHING. Gorgeous slow-burn enemies-to-friends-to-lovers f/f romance? check. Magic? check. Music? check. Beautiful, lyrical writing? check.

This book reminded me of An Enchantment of Ravens (which is probably why it's listed as a comp title on goodreads). They both have magic swirling through the story but also a deep and abiding love of art (painting in Enchantment of Ravens and music in this case) that underpins and transforms everything. Also similar is the journey and slow blossoming of love, and the writing of each is utterly gorgeous.

The story has music and magic and mystery in spades and combined with the gorgeous writing, it's catapulted instantly onto my favorites list. It's SO atmospheric and you can really feel the music and the magic as the journey and mystery unspools before Sofi and Lara. I FELT things. So many things.

The way Sofi slowly came to realize that her father's methods of teaching her were actually abuse--and that she took that abuse further upon herself--was painful but also cathartic. Her discovery that she wasn't as alone as she thought was beautiful.

I would definitely recommend this to fans of Margaret Rogerson and Maggie Steifvater.

This is definitely one of my favorite books I've read this year and after reading the arc I will immediately be purchasing my own copy because I can't not own this and I will absolutely be rereading it.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing an e-arc for review.

A lush, queer fantasy woven with music, magic and winter full of secrets. Sofi is a fierce protagonist and I loved her evolution as a character. I also loved the amazing world building of this book and the world that unfolds as Sofi and Lara venture further from home. I loved the mystery of this story, the magic of it, and the atmospheric writing. I also absolutely loved Lara as a character, as she continued to defy Sofi's expectations of her and as the connection between the two girls grows.
My favorite part of this book though was the way Tooley's writing captures music. The way the reader is swept into the notes and stories that are sung and played, the way we can feel every note in our bones, the way we can sense Sofi's love of music that sits at the core of who she is. For an experience that relies on our ears to translate so beautifully onto the page is a gift in itself.

Adrienne Tooley has written a gem of a book here. I definitely recommend.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley is a delightful YA fantasy about a kingdom that cherishes its music to the point of hoarding. The story revolves around Sofi, whose father is a Musik, one of only a few musicians who is allowed to perform original songs. Sofi has been training to become the next Musik, but all of her plans grind to her halt when she's bested in a competition by a rival, Lara, and Lara becomes the next Musik instead of her. Can Sofi prove that Lara is using illegal magic? Or is she completely wrong about her?

Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1:

"Sofi's father was not known for his kindness, but then, kindness and talent were not one and the same. What Frederik Ollenholt lacked in niceties he made up for in his command of the Muse, in the intricate, complex music that poured from his fingers to his lute. As one of the five members of the Guild of Musiks and the only lutenist licensed to cross the border of their Kingdom of Aell into the wider world, her father didn't need to be kind. He needed talent. So if Sofi ever wanted to become her father's Apprentice - which she despertely, gut-wrenchingly did - she needed to ensure the Muse was on her side.
Sofi fumbled in the darkness for the dress nearest to her, tugging it from its hanger and pulling it tightly around her shoulders like a blanket. "Pray for me, O Muse, for without you I am empty.""

Overall, Sofi and the Bone Song is a YA fantasy featuring LGBT characters that will appeal to fans of The Midnight Girls or Malice. One highlight of this book is the original magic system. I love how the country rations its music and tries to keep it untainted from magic. Another highlight of this book is the relatioship between the main characters, Sofi and Lara. I found it easy to root for Sofi, and their journey as Sofi goes from hating Lara to trying to help her. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in April!

-sapphic!
-Deep, Involved Fantasy!
-music as magic-a RIVALRY that ends in KISSING?
-GENERATIONAL TRAUMA?

This is many things I enjoy in a book. Four stars.

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Reads. Special thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up!

TL;DR: I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. It was an entertaining and fast-paced story about magic, music, witches, secrets and betrayals. It was slightly dark at times but it had me gripped from the very beginning and although it was predictable, that didn’t lessen my enjoyment seeing Sofi’s journey unfold. If you love stories that are full of heart and passion with wonderful characters that you can’t help but want to know more about and a fun rivals-to-lovers sapphic romance that is so easy to root for, then I would recommend checking this out. I had such a great time reading it that I was sad when it ended!

I really enjoyed Tooley’s writing style and thought the story flowed well. It was simple but descriptive enough for the world she created to come to life. For the last 16 years, the Kingdom of Aell has been trapped in an endless winter and the image painted of this land was pretty bleak with its continuous snowfall, bitter winds, constant grey skies and so very little light. There is magic in this world and I really enjoyed learning about how it worked for most citizens through the use of magical Papers, which were long ago crafted by witches, plus the magic of the witches and the conduits they use to channel it. It was an easy system to follow and understand and I particularly loved a certain someone’s magic with music!

The pacing was also steady and the easy-to-read writing made for a very quick read. There was nothing too complicated about the plot and I figured out a lot about the relationships and other revelations very early on but you know what? I didn’t mind one bit. Sometimes you don’t need overly complex stories to be entertaining. With new songs developed for each stop, interesting traits we learn about each town, and the character development that both of them experience, I found myself constantly engaged and there was no point where I felt bored, so I definitely count that as a win!

As much as I loved the tour throughout the Kingdom of Aell, the characters are what made this book such a pleasure to read. Throughout the journey, Sofi discovers many life-changing truths about her relationship with her father and music that shatter her but she never gives up fighting to learn the truth even if doing so damages her father’s legacy. I really loved her fierce and tenacious spirit and her absolute love for music and I never questioned her passion or the lengths she’d go to prove herself worthy of the art. I sometimes forgot she’s only 16 but I found her realistically mature for her age considering all that she has been through and she undergoes a lot of growth by the end of the book.

As her father instructed, Sofi spent 12 years of her life containing her emotions, punishing herself for wanting and repenting for her sins in order to remain close to the Muse. There were a few difficult scenes to read as she puts herself through harmful situations because she’s been taught that pain and hurt will lead to success. As the reader, I immediately recognised the harmful signs of abuse while Sofi gradually has her eyes opened to the reality of what someone she trusted put her through as she journeys further from home. It really broke my heart and that awareness she gains of what was done to her brought such an acute agony—Tooley really had me feeling Sofi’s confusion, anger and heartbreak! I liked the way that the author brought up these difficult topics and thought she handled them very sensitively.

Throughout all this, Sofi was in good company with Lara and I don’t think she could’ve had a better person to help her understand that a person doesn’t need to suffer for the things she loves and I adored the way their relationship evolves. I was unsure as to what to think of Lara at first but my suspicions quickly faded and I ended up loving her. 😍 She’s the opposite of Sofi which gave their dynamic a grumpy/sunshine vibe that I was totally here for! Their relationship starts on a bitter/reluctant foot on Sofi’s part as Lara essentially takes the role she’s worked towards her whole life. However, Lara was so genuine and endearing that it doesn’t take long for Sofi’s feelings towards her to soften. I loved seeing them form a strong friendship/partnership before finally admitting to their feelings. Theirs was a tentative but sweet romance that had my heart fluttering with joy! 🥰

That said, as the focus of the story is mostly on Sofi, I do feel that the secondary characters including the villain suffered a bit from being two-dimensional and I wished that we got to learn more about several of them because I found them wonderful! There were parts of Lara’s arc that felt unresolved; Jakko was the BFF who suddenly disappears but I was disappointed with Sofi’s reaction (or lack thereof) to his loss; the Musiks were interesting and we meet a few of them at various points of their journey but we don’t learn much other than their small bits of history. Ultimately though, I didn’t mind overly much because I enjoyed Sofi’s perspective a lot and her arc was so well done! Another part that I felt was too simplistic was the ending. The story does wrap up well but it felt rushed and a little too easy considering the history between witches and people.

If it isn’t obvious by now: I really enjoyed this book! It captured my attention from the first page and I sped through it so quickly that I’m sure if I hadn’t fallen asleep at 5am after getting through 50% of the book in one sitting, I would’ve finished it in one too!

“To Sofi, effortlessness and magic went hand in hand. There was no hard work associated with spilling a drop of blood to conjure fire-no gathering of wood or sparking of tinder or careful tending to a small flame.”

Thank you @tbrandbeyondtours for the chance to read and review Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley.

Sofi and the bone song is a YA, queer, standalone fantasy that comes out on the 19th of April, 2022. It was published by Margaret K. McElderry Books and all 416 pages go by in the blink of an eye.

It's a YA standalone, and between that and the blurb and the sapphic romance part you can kinda piece together what’ll happen. You’ll really want to read this book because of all the details that make it magical. Music might be the last untouched art, but that doesn’t mean it’s practitioners are above doing what it takes to be the best; after all, there are only a select 5 and their apprentices.

While the book is about Sofi, and her learning that music is a bit more than repenting and prayer and license, the book is also about her father and how his selfishness almost ruined all of them. As Tooley slowly lets Sofi piece things together, you feel really very sorry for how she suffered; even if she thought it was all for music. I loved how for the longest time you’re so confused, wondering if what Lara is doing is really magic or if music just comes naturally to her.

"I mean this with the utmost politeness, Sofi," Lara huffed as they made their way up the deceptively steep road, "but it's called being friendly. Just because you don't understand something doesn't make it magic."

I adored the magic system in this book; between the papers, marrow and witches themselves it was fascinating! I also loved the close relationship the king had with the Musik and their children. It was also just a very different world to get used to; I feel like we do take music for granted a little bit; it has to exist. In this book when all performance is so strictly regulated, we can see that it’s been years since some people were able to hear music!

All in all, a solid 4 star read that is definitely worth a reread as well! I can’t wait to get my hands on one to add to my bookshelf!

I really enojoyed this book. I loved that this book focused on musical magic. I also really was here for the hate to more Lgbtq+ story. I also really loved how this book had a mystry that was pushed the plot foward. This worldd was also so rich with all of the other magic elments in this novel. I also like this book had a complicted dyamnics between father and daughter and some important conversations about abuse and various types. I also loved the fast pace nature of this novel! But i really loved this novel and excited to read more by this author in the futute!