Despite having Lore on my bookshelf, this was the first book by Alexandra Bracken that I’ve read. While I enjoyed the story overall and Bracken’s writing style, I found that the beginning of the book really dragged for me, and it took me a while to get into the story. It wasn’t until Tamsin and her group travelled to Avalon that things really began to pick up and the story really took off.

As a longtime lover of Arthurian lore, I enjoyed the fact that rather than retell Arthurian legend, Bracken instead created a world in which Arthur, his knights and Merlin had all been real and magic continued to exist long after them. As much as I loved Bracken bringing the stories of King Arthur to life in her book, I found that the story could’ve benefited from better descriptions of the magic systems and types of magic users that existed in her story; for while some of the terms I was familiar with from having read other fantasy books and books inspired by King Arthur, there were some terms where I wasn’t all that familiar with and the description that was given didn’t really clear matters up for me either.

When it came to the characters, I found that I liked the side characters like Emrys and Neve better than I did Tamsyn who is the main character. I found myself bouncing back and forth between liking and hating Tamsyn, especially in the first part of the book. As the book progressed, I found that I slowly began to warm towards her, whereas I fell in love with Emrys almost from the start and Neve I did fall in love with from first meeting before it was revealed who she really was and her role in everything.

Since this is the first book in Bracken’s new series, I believe and hope that things will only get better as the series progresses and I look forward to returning to this world and these characters.

I have to start this review by gushing over Tamsin for a bit. She's our FMC and she's so cool! She's trying to help her brother, she's fighting with this responsibility she has, and, perhaps most importantly, there's an infuriating guy who she also kinda likes? I loved seeing her story progress and slowly beginning to understand why she is the way she is.

There's an amazing found family in this book that should be your reason for checking this out if nothing else. We have lots of side characters that come together to form this little family. They've all been through hard things in their lives and are now going through this adventure. I love them all so much and I wish I could protect them all from the second book, but alas. No one is safe.

Overall, this was a nice first book to a fantastical, thrilling, and kinda violent (in a good way) new series. I'll just be over here "patiently" waiting book two.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hollowers, mortals born with magical gifts, often take on jobs to retrieve ancient treasures from crypts and other cursed places. Tamsin, who has no magical talent of her own, was never meant to be a Hollower, but when her foster father Nash disappears without a trace on one of his jobs, turning to this life was the only choice for her and her brother Cabell to survive. Years later, rumors surface that Nash had a powerful Arthurian artifact when he disappeared, a ring that Tamsin believes could cure Cabell of a curse he has suffered from all his life, and she is determined to find it, even if she has to work with her arch-rival Emrys to do so. But they are far from the only two looking for this ring, and the mission quickly takes a turn, leaving them stranded far from home with danger and dark magic on all sides, and a deadly plot unfolding in the shadows.

Literally every book I’ve picked up by this author has been an amazing read for me, so I don’t hesitate to add her books to my TBR now. The combination of fantasy and mythology is one I’ve really come to enjoy in recent years, so I’ve been looking forward to this book for months now and was so excited when I got an eARC!

After reading Lore, I was anticipating this to be something on a similar scale, but this turned out to be quite different. Arthurian mythology was used as the setting of this story, but it didn’t have the feel of a mythology retelling. The lore was used more as a plot device rather than the driving force for the story – which is not a bad thing, but it would have been lovely to delve into this in the same manner as Lore. As for the mythology and stories mentioned, I don’t know enough to say if it was accurate or not, however, it was thoroughly entertaining.

This turned out to be urban fantasy, which I was not expecting, nor was I too happy about it since the genre has always been hit or miss for me. However, the large part of this book doesn’t take place in the modern world and that made it easier for me to read it like I would any other fantasy novel. The sequel however, probably won’t be the same, given how things were left at the conclusion of this book, so I’m a little wary, but the plot has me intrigued enough that I know I’ll definitely pick it up. This reminded me a bit of Legendborn – the Arthurian themes of course, but also with the medieval, mythological and modern all criss-crossing.

The magic system was fun and I’m hoping to learn more about it in the sequel seeing as there wasn’t much focus on it in this book. I loved the world-building and I thought that the depiction of the isle of Avalon which was so completely the opposite of what all the characters were expecting to see was a great twist. It goes without saying of course, that I enjoyed the way the legend of Arthur was woven into the tale and while there was a lot going on initially plot-wise, making it feel a little overwhelming, everything was explained very well as the story unfolded without ever having info-dumps.

The author’s writing style and dialogues have always been one of my favorite things about her works and this book was no exception. The pacing could have been a bit better, it did drag at times, but the action packed scenes later largely made up for it. The narration style made this an engaging read despite being a bit long and it kept me turning the pages, making this hard to put down.

This was a single POV novel, narrated entirely from Tamsin’s perspective. While I would typically expect multiple POVs for this scale of fantasy, this narration style worked rather well. The characters were all reasonably likeable or atleast interesting and even the secondary characters had some extent of character development. Tamsin was a very intriguing character who was badly affected by the events and trauma from her past which made it hard for her to trust anyone, but I loved that despite all this, the story did lead to a lovely found family trope. I’m really curious to know more about Tamsin’s past, there are still many unanswered questions there. Admittedly though, my focus was almost entirely on the plot and there was just so much going on there that I barely had any time to consider the characters more carefully.

Multiple things about the way this book wrapped up left me quite shocked. First, there were atleast three times in those last five or six chapters that made me think that this was the ending – surely there couldn’t be any more twists now, so much has already happened – and then there was yet another twist. And that’s not even starting on the cliffhanger this book closed on. The last quarter of the book was just one thing after another in quick succession and made for a rather epic ending.

So this was one of the titles I predicted would be on my best of shelf this year, and while it didn’t quite make it, this was a phenomenal read and an exceptional start to a new series. Silver in the Bone was a thoroughly engrossing book and I can’t recommend it enough – another fabulous read from Alexandra Bracken! I can’t wait to see where the sequel will go, I have so many questions!! Fantasy fans, make sure this is on your spring/summer TBRs, it’s definitely worth the read!

King Arthur legend, zombies, suspense, mystery, action, all the things I want in a fantasy book. This book built and built up to the climate and then kept going. The would they won’t they, and the love/hate between siblings was fun to follow. Love the twists and turns.

Silver In The Bine was my first Alexandra Braken book, and it was really good. I cant wait to read more of her books. I struggled with the pacing and trying to understand some of the world building, but overall, it was a good King Arthur retelling. I loved the enimes to lovers and the banter that happened between Tamsin and Emery. I can't wait to see how their relationship moves forward in book two.

Picture this: a young female Indiana Jones set in a world full of Arthurian legend. Sound interesting? You’ve come to the right place then!

Silver in the Bone follows Tamsin Lark and her cursed brother, Cabell. It’s been the two of them against the world since their guardian abandoned them. Once Tamsin hears of a magical ring that can remove curses, she’s determined to find it. Naturally, all of the other Hollowers want to find this ring too. Hollowers, which Tamsin and Cabell are, hunt relics and magical items from Arthurian legend. Tamsin is a little different though: she doesn’t have any magical talents. However, that won’t stop her from finding the ring and ending her brother’s curse—even if it means she has to team up with her arch nemesis.

Silver in the Bone is full of adventure. You can expect to find captivating characters, witty banter, enemies to lovers, and magic in this book! Alexandra Bracken knows how to create an intriguing story and world! I enjoyed seeing all of the nods to Arthurian legend. Plus, I’m a sucker for a good sibling relationship 🥹 Tamsin and Cabell would truly do anything for each other.

If you’re looking for an urban fantasy YA read with nods to Arthurian mythology, check this book out!

Look, y’all… I tried. I tried to read this several times. I tried multiple times over several months. I love Alex Bracken. Anytime she releases a new book, I am stoked. And yet, this one didn’t hit for me. I can’t explain it. I just couldn’t get engaged, couldn’t feel invested. And I’m mad about it. I wanted to like it. But I just felt ambivalent. And it bums me out.

YA fantasy at its finest: "Silver in the Bone" is a devastatingly good retelling of Arthurian legend you won’t be able to put down.

Tamsin is no stranger to being left behind. Cynicism and her beloved brother, Cabell, are her only companions these days in a competitive world they’re just barely surviving in. A request for a specific ring that seems too good to be true could be the answer to all their problems. She won’t let anyone - not her nemesis, Emrys, not the other Hollowers, or her lack of magic - get in her way of this chance to finally break Cabell’s curse.

But this already risky and ominous hunt soon turns into something much more dangerous, darker, and terrifying. Tamsin's quest takes her to the mythical land of Avalon, where a curse is devouring the island.

The author does a fantastic job of entangling the reader into the story, amplifying this renowned legend into something extraordinary and original. Not only of her take on this myth but also for the characters that too find themselves entangled in something bigger than themselves.

"Silver in the Bone" is in part a gripping story of loss - lost pasts, lost histories, and lost identities. Characters have and continue to struggle with who they are and their place in the world. With Avalon’s days numbered and dark, gnarled creatures chomping at the bit to feast on them, it’s a race to unlock the past if they are to survive.

"Silver in the Bone" is also a story of courage and hope despite the inconceivable darkness that haunts them. Through emotional highs and lows, Tamsin and other characters learn to put their trust in one another and that they don’t have to carry heavy burdens alone.

I had some issues with the pacing and Tamsin’s cynicism. This aspect of her character was an interesting source of contention in the story. She wears it like a suit of armor or a badge of pride. Although this complements what she secretly desires most in the world, I thought her cynical attitude lasted maybe too long or finally began to melt away too late? And in turn, it made the story feel longer. For lack of better words, at times it felt like no real progress was being made or that characters were just talking in circles and Tamsin not contributing. This book is also nearly 500 pages so that could also have contributed to my issues with the pacing.

I did not see that ending/twists coming! It was incredibly heartbreaking and kind of horrifying. I am still trying to process it all. I will say how the author chose to end book one does well - perhaps too well, haha - in establishing infinitely higher stakes for the next book.

The future is very uncertain for all characters and I can’t even begin to imagine how book two will turn out. Despite their efforts things are only going to get much harder and perilous. I’m greatly looking forward to reading what happens next because - wow! - "Silver in the Bone" was amazing.

CW: past child abandonment

Thanks again Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the eARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

A unique take on Arthurian legend.

Tamsin and Cabell are found siblings, making a living stealing magical objects for sorceresses after their guardian disappeared. Cabell struggles under a curse, and Tamsin becomes obsessed with an object she thinks may be able to break it: a ring from Arthurian legend.

Tamsin and Cabell find themselves part of a misfit expedition along with Neve, a sorceress who isn't sure how to use her power, and Emrys, a rich guild member who Tamsin loves to call Trust Fund. Together, they find a way to another world, Avalon, straight from Arthurian legend. But things take a dark turn when they find Avalon under a curse. In the end, the characters are conflicted between saving Avalon and themselves.

Neve was my absolute favorite character. As a naive, loveable, nerdy sorceress who's out of her depth yet constantly saving the day, she breaks through the other character's walls through her pure goodness. She refuses to let them stay mopey and distant. Emrys was interesting as a love interest for Tamsin, though it takes her a while to realize he's interested. Tamsin's intense love for Cabell and willingness to do anything to save him made her a heroine to root for.

The ending packs a punch. I didn't love this as much as Lore, but still an interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Silver in the Bone
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 5 out of 5

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. 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. . . .

I read this entire novel in one sitting—yes, all almost-500-pages—if that tells you anything. I found the setting and worldbuilding fascinating, with the mixture of fantastical elements and the mundane everyday swirled together. Tamsin is frequently kind of a jerk, even if I can understand why she’s so prickly. I loved her relationship with her brother, and the snark between her and Emyrs was great. Some of this was creepy as heck, but I loved what the author did with the King Arthur mythos, and I would read the next book in a hot second.

Alexandra Bracken is a bestselling author. Silver in the Bone is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House in exchange for an honest review.)

Wow, I really loved this first in a series (duology??) because it is fascinating with interesting characters and one heck of a premise that delivers. I've read other books by Alexandra Bracken and was incredibly impressed with how visual she writes. I love how Tamsin goes through her thought processes and figures out how to survive in a world that puts her at a disadvantage.

I'm intrigued on how the story is going to go from here, this drops one jaw-dropping mind twist that completely changed everything I took for granted up to that point and I immediately wanted to go back and see where I went so off track.

4.5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC! I also had this on pre-order for months!

wow wow wow 😀 send help!

#1- @ Alex Bracken: why?
#2- I need book 2 IMMEDIATELY!

As always, Alex Bracken never disappoints! I really enjoyed Silver in the Bone, especially because of the characters and all the twists and turns along the way!! The audiobook is also INCREDIBLE, the narrators did such a great job!

With that said, it did take me a little while to get acclimated with the Hollower world/Tamsin’s job and the magic system. The first 30-ish% of the book is pretty world building heavy in that sense and there is a lot of terminology to remember. In all honesty this might just be a “me” problem, considering I tend to take things in very slowly when starting any new fantasy. However, after a while I did become more familiar with the lore (pun intended, haha) and felt more immersed in the story (and I must mention how I am incredibly jealous I do not have access to my own All Ways Door to take me anywhere in the world)! I think even if you don’t care for Arthurian legend, you could still enjoy the story as a whole because it brings forth themes of found family, sisterhood, and more 🫶🏼

I want to talk a little bit about the characters because they were truly my favorite aspect of the book! I think Alex really shines when it comes to character arcs and that definitely shows in Silver! (No spoilers below🫶🏼)

-Tamsin “Fun-and-Games” Lark, who is admittedly not the most likable character at first, definitely grew on me as I read. As Neve would say, “You really didn’t make it easy. But then, nothing truly good ever is.”

As the story continues, you begin to see her layers fall away as we explore her past and her present in more depth. I found myself relating to a lot of her fears and inner struggles (constantly pushing people away? fear of vulnerability and being alone? ouch! Alex please just @ me next time). I’m excited to follow the rest of her journey in book 2!

-Neve deserves the world and I would die for her! She became my favorite character almost immediately. Not to be obnoxious, but her vibes were just immaculate and I am very jealous of everyone who now owns her character art card because I want it framed. my sunshine goth queen 😭🫶🏼 I need to see more of her in book 2 or I will sue!

-Emrys (plant boy🌿🌱) Dye was such a fun character! I will admit he sometimes reminded me of Gansey from The Raven Cycle. So if you enjoyed his character in those books, you might really love Emrys! The character dynamics, especially between him and Tamsin were so fun! The way they would bicker and banter back and forth was so entertaining! Although the light hearted moments were fun, I enjoyed seeing the more vulnerable side as well. Chapter 38 and 39 were two of my favorites and I wish we got more quiet moments like these. (Alex Bracken please write a romance book I’m actually begging)

-There were so many other characters I really enjoyed but going through them all would make this so long 😭 (Flea, Betrys, Mari, Olwen, and Caitriona will always be famous!!!)

Going to wrap this up by saying the ending of this book is so wild!! The last 30% was probably my favorite because the writing and imagery was so immaculate!! One scene in particular (no spoilers! 🗡️🌊🗡️) was so sickening and vivid it reminded me of a scene I really loved from the haunting of Bly Manor (Alex Bracken please also write horror I’m begging). Truly chef’s kiss!

In conclusion:
-The characters? Would die for them!
-The last chapter of this book? Jail. IMMEDIATELY.
-The last line? Absolutely criminal.
-The way we have to wait to see what happens? Alex Bracken you will be hearing from my lawyers. 😘

So excited for the next one! 🫶🏼🥰

Hot off the success of Lore, Alexandra Bracken tackles Arthurian legend in this book about Tamsin, an orphan who breaks into crypts to find treasure.

Romance, revenge, dark magic, deadly secrets...

This is a fun ride and a solid fantasy for fans of the genre.

I’m intrigued by anything related to Camelot, and when I saw this book was inspired by Arthurian legend and written by Bracken (I’ve read several of her other books) I knew I wanted to read it.

Tamsin didn’t start out as a likeable character. I wasn’t even sure we were going to get along. Yes, she’s suffered losses in her life, is overprotective of her brother, and understandably has strong abandonment issues considering her history. I think it came down to the way she puts up a barrier between herself and everyone else that rubbed me the wrong way. She says hurtful things to others before they can wound her first – which stems from everything she’s experienced in her life. Along the course of the story she undergoes changes which make her more palatable and a little less prickly, but I still preferred a couple of supporting characters over her.

The description hints at an enemies to lovers trope between Tamsin and Emrys. He loves a good game, puts up with Tamsin’s moodiness, and is brave, kind, and knowledgeable about plants – but he’s also dealing with more than it seems on the surface. Tamsin’s brother Cabell (there’s a lot to unpack there) and sorceress Neve are also strong supporting characters.

It took me a few chapters to get into this book, but once the characters arrive at Avalon pacing really picks up. The world-building is complex and a little overwhelming at first, but the author does a good job at weaving explanations into the plot as reminders. And that ending – wow. So. Much. Happens. Twists, betrayals, heavy guilt – readers will be clamoring for the next book. I know I am.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you're looking for an engaging ya fantasy series steeped in Arthurian legend and full of twists and turns, then look no further than Alexandra Bracken's Silver in the Bone series. I've read books which have tried and failed to use the Lady of the Lake and Avalon to their advantage. Silver in the Bone's strength is that it takes well known figures and lore, but turns them into story devices uniquely Bracken.

I was a little worried going in to this story. The cover? Promising. The title? Intriguing (if a bit confusing to recite). I absolutely adore Bracken's The Darkest Minds series, but I couldn't even finish her standalone, Lore. Where would this book fall for me? After a slow start, Silver in the Bone found itself firmly in The Darkest Minds territory with its enthralling storytelling.

Tamsin is such a fascinating heroine to follow because she knows she isn't good and we know that from the beginning as well. Her one goal is to break her brother's curse and she'll betray anyone to accomplish it. Since she's so cutthroat, she's genuinely confused why other people would care about her. I loved following this absolute cinnamon roll menace's story.

The twists completely took me by surprise. I found my mouth gaping open in shock and/or horror on more than one occasion. The book is blatantly gory at points, but it completely fits with the Arthurian legend setting.

Really, I'm mad that I have to wait an entire year for the sequel. It's criminal! This book kind of reminds me of The Cruel Prince in that it's set in modern day, but we spend a lot of the book in a fantasy realm. I'll be intrigued to see how the two cross over more in the second book.

Thank you to LibroFM for the audiobook and thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. I used both simultaneously to consume this story.

Was totally NOT going to pull an all nighter for this but I couldn't bear to put it down, and also I have tortured myself by finishing it so quickly (only a few days after release) because 1. What am I supposed to do with my life now, and 2. When is the next book coming out so it can destroy me and my sleep schedule all over again?

A big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Welp, it's official. I am not that big of a fan of Arthurian retellings. Not to say that this book wasn't good, it just wasn't for me.

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken is YA fantasy novel that harks on Arthurian legend. Essential, Tamsin Lark has no magic and isn't able to fight back against the evil sorceress and Hollower that haunt Boston's underground. But when the parent she's relied on most, suddenly disappears, she has no choice but pursue any grasp of magic she can get her hands on to ensure her and her brother survive. Thus ensues a a race against time, to find a magic ring before her rival, Emry does, and save the world.

I really wanted to like this book, but once I suddenly find myself not enjoying Arthurian retellings as much as I want to. I also didn't really find myself rooting for Tamsin as much as I should.

If you're a fan of Bracken, I would give this one a try. Maybe you'll like it better than I did.

I have enjoyed Bracken’s other titles and like her writing style but I had to put this one down at 42 %. Nothing about the plot or characters resonated and I am a sucker for a good Arthurian retelling. Can’t quite put my finger on why this one didn’t resonate.

3.5 stars
I was excited to read this book as I do love a good Arthurian retelling! This one was longer than it could have been and is part of what will be a continuing series so there’s more to come. On the whole, I did like it so I’ll keep my 👀 out for the next installment!

*Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

I just finished this book, and I am in SHOCK! I don’t even know what to think anymore. So many things have changed, and there was so many twists and reveals in the last 50 pages. I swear, it was pure chaos in those last pages. I was honestly a bit unsure about the book, but the ending has me excited for the next book.

I was really excited when I got the eARC for Silver in the Bone because I love love love Arthurian legends. I grew up watching Avalon High and, as I got older, Merlin, so of course I was instantly intrigued by the idea of a book based on this mythology. Bracken used the Isle of Avalon and stories of the priestesses, knights, and Arthur to help fuel her story, which was so fun, but I feel like there was something missing. It could just be because I love Arthurian legends so much that I wish there was more, but I'm hoping the lore gets explained even more in the next one. One thing I wasn't expecting, but thought was cool, was the Indiana Jones vibes, especially in the first half of the book. I didn't realize how deep the idea of hunting for treasures would go.

I feel like all of the characters were very distinct and I enjoyed reading about them, especially Emrys and Tamsin. There was a lot of mystery around both of them, and I feel like we have barely scraped the surface. I do wish we had gotten a bit more of Emrys though. I feel like there were a lot of loose ends, but that just makes me more excited to get my hands on the next one. I have a feeling that this book was just to get the story started, and the sequel is going to be where the truth of all of the lore and the characters is revealed.

*thank you Tbr and Beyond tours for the eARC