Tamsin has been caring for herself and her adoptive brother, Cabell, since their guardian disappeared while tracking down a dangerous relic. She’s tried to create a normal life for herself and her brother in modern day Boston, but scraping together money breaking curses or fetching trinkets for sorceresses just isn’t enough, especially with the ticking clock of the terrible curse Cabell carries. She needs a big score- and one falls into her lap. All she has to do it find the relic that killed her guardian. Simple, right? Trouble is, the relic she needs isn’t on earth- it’s in Avalon, the land of Arthurian legend. To succeed, she and Cabell must join forces with their bitter rival, a scrappy sorceress, and figures right out of myth. Tamsin just wants the relic, but the dark curse gripping Avalon has another plan for her entirely.

This was a rollercoaster. I wasn’t feeling the start of the book- I didn’t realize that it was an urban fantasy- but once I got into that, I had a good time. Once they got to Avalon, my enjoyment ramped up. Then-that ending!! It answered all my complaints! It left me wanting more- amazing.

The lore is developed and interesting. The world felt lived in and this drew me in.

Tamsin is a great layered protagonist, struggling with wanting to be wanted, lashing out but wanting intimacy despite her fear. That tension made her compelling. Emrys is a rather generic, wounded bad-boy love interest (he has a speech reminiscent of Jace’s falcon one in Mortal Instruments) but a twist near the end helped salvage him for me. Neve the sorceress is a standout. She’s the antidote for not-like-other-girls stock character, feminine, bubbly, capable, and sapphic?? We can’t lose.

Pumped for the sequel because did I mention that ending??

A fresh spin on the story of King Arthur and everything that comes with that, Silver in the Bone is sure to be an instant bestseller!

This is a captivating beginning to what will be an epic series! I felt every emotion possible throughout this book & at points could be found sobbing in my backyard, and at other points on the edge of my chair curled inward like Gollum.

It gave me Shadowhunters vibes but if you were treasure hunters (Hollowers) searching for Arthur’s relics.

If you’re even a little bit interested, pick it up.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, quest, female warriors, found family

Bracken has done it again! Her book LORE threw all the twists and turns at me from a Greek mythology standpoint and SILVER IN THE BONE is no different. You never quite know what to expect and that's what pulls you into her story, and the different worlds she brings to life.

Tasmin Lark's life has never been up to her. Not her brother's curse, or the fact their foster father flat out vanished with a mystical weapon leaving them both stranded without anything to their name...except his membership to the guild of curse breakers and thieves.

Now ten years later, Tasmin catches wind of an ancient Arthurian relic that could possibly break the curse on her Cabell (her brother.) The only problem is, she's not the only Hollower after it. In a race against time, magic, and creepy flesh tearing creatures, Tasmin and her not-so-wanted crew must find the relic, and free all sorts of curses to keep Death at bay.

WHAT I LIKED:
-I love the magic system. The history and backstory of the magical gifts, and visions is something familiar but not quite done yet. It was refreshing.
-The plot twists. Bracken lays down the foreshadowing so carefully in all of her books that you think you understand what is happening but then she hits you with a left hook and you're like "What just happened to me?" It's thrilling.
-THE ENDING...I know I have to wait for book 2 but my gosh.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
-I was hoping for a tad more Arthurian Legend but that's nothing but my own taste. I'm sure she will lay it out for us in book two.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a ride this book was! Such an interesting adventure! And I definitely need the second book, like, yesterday so I can find out what happens. Plus that ending?! I knew something was coming but did not expect THAT! Alexandra Bracken, the queen of the plot twist.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this, but it wasn’t what this story ended up being, and that wasn’t a bad thing. This was a much darker and creepier story than I was anticipating, but that it made more fun.

The prose in this book was absolutely stunning. I kept finding myself just totally awed by the writing and how gorgeously certain things were described. It made reading this an absolute treat, the mental equivalent of eating a really decadent dessert.

I’m very much a character driven person when I read or watch things. If I don’t like the characters, I won’t care about the story at all. This was no different, as the characters in this book were all really well developed and interesting. I especially loved the depth in our main character, Tamsin. She was such a unique personality to follow and I thoroughly enjoyed her point of view. I really loved Emrys and Neve as well and can’t wait to see more from them in the sequel! I’m excited to see what happens to everyone and I hope we get to see some new faces too!

I found certain parts, namely the beginning, to be confusing. But to be fair, that was mostly on me, because I went into this without having reread the synopsis, so I kept getting the characters confused. After the first little bit, though, I was absolutely hooked and could not put the story down.

Overall, this was a really fantastic and engaging story and I’m absolutely eager to read the second part!

Tasmin is a hollower, which means she breaks into crypts and takes jobs from sorceresses to make money. Unfortunately, she doesn't have magic, which means she'll never be able to succeed in her job without the help of her brother. And the biggest reason she needs to keep working in the field is to find something that will break her brother's terrible curse. In her quest, she finds her way to Avalon, the realm of King Arthur, and becomes swept up into mysteries of curses and the priestesses who live in Avalon.

I debated how to rate this book because my brain was zinging from delight to hesitation. TWhile I liked the book on its own, it never felt completely satisfying. There were so many things left as a mystery that it felt like the book didn't wrap up as a standalone—even though it did! It just felt like it didn't. It seems like the kind of book that would be best rated *after* finishing the sequel/series. If the rest of the book(s) keep up the momentum and continues to thrill me, I would feel like this was a five star book looking back at it. If not, I'd probably give it three stars. But then it couldn't really be a five star more objectively, could it? So I settled for four, but honestly, I'm hoping that the future parts of this story knocks it straight into six star territory. I see so much potential and I'm so excited to read more.

What would have been three star: Some of the things didn't feel explained. The connection to the real world and the fantasy elements was fuzzy at times, and the Arthurian things felt more like plot devices than something truly integrated into the story and the world. I was confused at times about how the guild, sorceresses, the people who chase them into Avalon and so on fit with the overall story. I hope to see more of these things fleshed out and established in future books. I also felt like it was hard to get into the story. I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish it for the first several chapters until it got more interesting to me.

I loved the characters. I felt a genuine connection to all of them, even the ones that were withholding information or made choices that were shocking or upsetting. Some of the character motivations are unclear, but it's setting up nicely for future installments. The romance developed nicely. It felt satisfying and well paced. I also loved the King Arthur references spread throughout.

I didn't love that it ended in a cliffhanger, but if a book is going to end with one, this is how to do it. It finishes the main story of the book and sets up for more of the story instead of leaving it at an agonizing moment like some books do.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and found a lot to like about it. I am looking forward to reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy to review.

Let me open up with-

I loved the darkest minds series.
So when Lore came out, I was amped- and it took weeks for me to finish it. I just wasn’t feeling it.

I was hesitant with Silver in the Bone.
It’s a hefty book- but I’ll say I was interested for every page- that cliffhanger tho- wow.

I will say, I think Alexandra would do an amazing historical fantasy, instead of half modern, half past retellings. I think she’d go even harder with a full historical/past setting.

excited for the next!


Thank you NetGalley for allowing me an arc in exchange for my honest review!

This might just not have been to my taste, but I expected a lot more of a connection to Arthurian tales and the pace and writing in many parts felt off. The prologue and the last section were more of what I was initially expecting, and the ending caught me off guard, but it was hard for me to get through the middle of the story. I might listen to this as an audiobook once this is released and see if I like that any better, but as of now I’m just thinking of all the ways it could’ve been better.

Silver in the Bone is the story of Tamsin, who was abandoned ten years ago by her foster father, and now only has her brother as a company while they both work breaking into crypts and tombs in search of treasures. When they have a chance to get something that could save her brother's life, and give them some hint about what happened with their guardian, they take it, without knowing all the dark secrets that are expecting for them.

This book has a lot of Arthurian references. I get that the author loves mythology and she really wanted to immerse us into the experience of the Arthurian legends, but I have to say this: they weren't really that well explained. I feel as if some descriptions are told too fast, and some other are too long without really explaining anything (the action scenes feel like this too). I didn't like to feel that lost, and the author kept adding more and more elements without explaining them well. As a result, I felt very lost at some points of the story, and I really have some moments I never got to understand.

The characters are properly done, all with their personalities and stories that made them very unique and interesting. However, the story makes something to one character that didn't resonate with me when it happened... but apart from that, I can say I connected with Tamsin and company most of the time.

The surprise factor is there and I enjoyed it!!! I feel sometimes I would have been more surprise if I had known more about the legends that the book talked about, but that's on me and that's not in most of the moments. I will be reading the next books, but before that I will read more about Arthur and his friends.

PS: the romance was nice!!! It's not fast at all and I felt it was cute actually.

received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley for this review copy.

DNF @ 65%

I'm just going to say it... This book is incredibly boring. I tried so hard to give it a chance but I told myself if I was still bored shortly after 50%, that I was done.
This book was loosely based on Arthurian legend, which is why I was really excited to read it. I had trouble connecting with the characters. Tamsin was really difficult for me to like because of her standoffish attitude. And at 65% into the book I was still waiting for something to happen between her and Emrys. I felt like there was a lot of conversation and a lot of description about what was going on but not even close to enough action to keep me interested.
I feel like the plot had a lot of potential but something has to happen to keep my interest. I need something like what's going to happen to them or some kind of twist and turn, etc.
I'm just really sad because I had high hopes for this book.

I loved this book so much. From the beginning to the end. It held my attention the entire time and kept me wanting more! This was my first Alexandra Bracken book but will definitely not be my last!

This was such a good fantasy taking place in our world and a different world. It is an Arthurian legend, it has sorceresses, the world building is so good as well as the magic system. There is romance and betrayal. I loved all the characters in the book but especially Tamsin. She is so sarcastic and loveable! I loved her and Emrys relationship and I am begging @alexbracken to not let their rivals to lovers be a lie 😭.

I am still not over the ending and the absolute cliffhanger it left us on 😦 waiting until 2024 for the next book is going to be so hard.

If you love fantasy books you will love this one so much!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for allowing me to read the eARC of this book!

I love Arthurian myth and magic and was immediately compelled to read Alexandra Bracken’s latest book! I haven’t had much luck with her books lately, having enjoyed Passenger and the Darkest Minds series, but not liking Lore. I was afraid this book would fall into the latter category but, in the end, I did enjoy this new take on Arthurian myth!

The magic system and the library had my attention immediately, especially since Tamsin couldn’t see the magic. She had tools and methods to get around it and, of course, she had her brother to help her see. Her and Cabell are foundlings, drawn together by their guardian, Nash, when they were children. They aren’t blood related, and this is only the beginning of Tamsin’s found family. Tamsin struggled with her relationship to Nash. Thinking he had abandoned them, Tamsin resents the man who took her in, seeing his actions as selfish and manipulative. I enjoyed this tension, especially with Cabell idolizing the man. I also enjoyed the tension between Tamsin and Emrys. The romantic angle was all too obvious but that doesn't mean I didn’t enjoy it!

I did struggle with sense of place, time, and which characters were present, throughout the book. I would read a conversation between Tamsin and Cabell, and suddenly Emrys or Neve were there, when I thought they had left. Time passed strangely once they were in Avalon, too. Days were shorter there, perhaps three hours, and Tamsin wasn’t the only one who admitted to not sleeping, but they seemed to imply they had been there for weeks.

Tamsin is, of course, the most fleshed out character, since she’s the narrator. Cabell is a mystery, though she’s closest to him. What are his motives? What does he want at all? I saw a glimpse of this with Cabell’s interactions with Sir Bedivere, but considering how close he is to Tamsin, I would have expected more. Perhaps she was just blind to what was going on with him, her notions of him blinding us, and her, to his intentions and desires. Tamsin is very internally focused, after all, latching onto Nash’s perceived betrayal, and holding onto the next job with all her might. Especially if that job will procure the artifact that will cure Cabell of his curse.

The last line got me, and not necessarily in a good way. The fast paced ending clued me into the fact that this book isn’t a standalone, for one thing. And the last line had me looking back at the book as a whole, wondering when the clues were dropped, and if I should have expected such a thing. I would have to read the book again to be sure. The ending as a whole was quite rushed, with the middle quarter or so being so very boring with little to push the narrative forward besides an unclear amount of time passing. I suppose some of this time was spent getting to know the people of Avalon, and Tamsin got to know Emrys as a person rather than an adversary. I would have liked a better balance of plot and character development.

Despite any flaws I may have found, I was immersed in this world quite easily. Over the course of a handful of reading sessions, I finished the book and was engrossed every minute. I would recommend this book to fans of Bracken. If you don’t hold too tightly to Arthurian legend and don’t mind a bit of a darker twist on it, I would recommend this book as well. Just know that there is a huge cliffhanger and a lot of this book sets up the future. What happened to Tamsin’s parents, the nature of Cabell’s curse, the relationship between Emrys and Tamsin, Neve’s power and abilities, as well as the nature of magic itself, are all set up and never resolved. There is also a bit of gore and horror, nothing too graphic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley, PUBLISHER, and Alexandra Bracken for a chance to read an advance copy of Silver in the Bone in exchange for an honest review.
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Bracken did it again, another five-star read. I am obsessed with this book. The romance, action, characters, Arthurian vibes, found family, magic, curses, betrayal, and so much more made me fall in love!
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The story takes place in the modern world, where magic exists. Only the Cunningfolk(people with powers) and those with the One Vision (people who can see magic) know about it. Plus Tamsin, a normal person thrust into the world of magic. Tamsin and her brother Cabell are Hollowers, thieves of old magical relics. Fighting demons of their own they take on the job of a lifetime. Making unlikely partnerships and deadly choices.
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The one thing about this book is that you get dumped right into the world of magic. The world-building happens all at once and is a little hard to keep track of in the beginning. However, after a few chapters it all clicks and you get sucked in. Falling in love with the characters and the world. Falling in love with a book with a dynamic plot. I was thrown through loop after loop, never guessing where the plot would take me next. The book was fresh and new! The characters were the same way. They each felt like individual people, making choices I could understand for each one. They were brilliant, and by the end, I was so in love with everyone.

I truly disliked how Tamsin was written - it's first person POV which is something I typically love - HOWEVER - when the main character is randomly speaking expositional information at the most random times with no prompt or reason it really chops up the story? We went from our FMC talking about grabbing dinner with her brother after her work day straight into an internal expositional monologue on how sorcerers can and can't open passageways. This info would fit better into a scene where they were actively trying to enter into a Vein rather than at a random point in the beginning of the story AFTER we went through a Vein in the prologue and this wasn't explained? And our FMC is just thinking this all to herself but completely for the sake of the reader at a point of the story where its unneeded?? I made it to roughly 40 pages and just felt I was forcing myself to read it.

If you truly enjoy Arthurian retellings there is a change you would enjoy this story if the above mentioned writing style doesn't matter to you. This book is certainly for someone, it just happens to not be me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the advance Kindle copy of this 4.4.23 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this heavy-handed fantasy. It starts out in a modern day mortal world, with a sibling duo whose adopted father disappears while searching for this dagger from Arthurian legend. One had magic, one does not, and so they set out to find their dad, which takes them to a parallel world filled with magic and danger and love interests and possibly answers. This sucker is LONG and really could have been condensed; the ending left me ready for the sequel. Hand to committed fantasy fans in grades 7+.

When the blurb mentioned Merlin and Arthur, I knew I needed to read this. Even when the reading was a challenge, I never once wanted to put the book down. Bracken has woven magic and lore intricately into this storyline. There are always new elements to discover, obstacles to face, and new characters to draw you in.

Tamsin is a complex character to love. She has walls that are so tall and thick that she won’t let them down for anyone. She’s written so well that you don’t have to love all of her choices because you can appreciate them because of the reason those walls are in place. The book is light on the Arthurian elements but makes up for it in other ways.

The ending left me with so many feelings and nowhere to put them. While I don’t wholly love the cliffhanger, I was expecting it, as cliffhangers are often plot devices used in fantasy. And as I gave this 5 stars, I’m not letting it stop me from wholly enjoying this read. Thank you, Random House Children’s, for sending this over.

Tamsin is a non-magical mortal who is part of a world where Hollowers, sorcerers and Cunningfolk live and search for lost relics in places like legendary Avalon. Abandoned in life with just her brother, nothing has been easy for Tamsin. So when the opportunity arises to go after the one relic that could change her fortunes, she doesn’t hesitate — even when her rival Emrys is poised to go after the same thing.

This was a light read layered with some really deep themes of belonging, self worth and family. Tamsin is a sympathetic protagonist that you can cheer on through the whole novel as she opens her heart just to have it turn on her. I really liked the novel’s foundation of a guild of organized magical thieves that uncover and find long lost relics. I hope that we dive more into this group of adventurers in the next novel. Definitely a good read, still however lots of questions about this world and the greater story. 4 stars.

Review based on a digital Advanced Readers Copy provided by Random House Children’s and NetGalley. Thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Publishing Group/Knopf Books for Young Readers for the digital ARC!

Silver in the Bone is the first book I have read by Alexandra Bracken. If her other books are anything like this, then I am looking forward to reading them.

I thought this book was great, with lots of world-building, cool magic, and good characters. The pace of the book could be a little slow at times, as it takes its time building up the world and explaining the magic and terminology. This did not bother me but may be annoying for other people who prefer faster paced books.

I liked the characters overall and I really liked the sibling relationship between Tamsin and Cabell. I also liked the rivals dynamic between Tamsin and Emrys.

I would recommend this to those who enjoy books inspired by myths and legends and who enjoy books with extensive world-building and darker storylines.

Ooh boy. This one took me FOR.E.VER & I honestly just wanted it done by about the halfway point. The cover is amazing, the concept is cool, but it was a MESS besides that. I liked it at first & ended up liking parts 1 & 3, but part 2 was a disaster. Hard to connect to the people or the world building especially once we go to Avalon. The very last scene was very intriguing, and if I had liked it more, I would have been dying for book 2. I didn’t like Lore either, so maybe this author just isn’t for me.

I loved this book. The whole way through, from beginning to end, it kept my attention and had me wanting more.

This is a great fantasy with a lot of aspects taking place in our modern world and others in Avalon. Tamsin is an amazing character. I think she's incredibly dynamic. She has abandonment issues from the time her and her brother were left by their guardian at a young age. This left them both to scavenge and continue stealing magical artifacts for money.

When Tamsin decides to go after an important artifact for a sorceress that will pay well, she takes on a bit more than expected, and she finds herself in a completely different and very magical situation.

I am always going to get summoned by treasure hunting. So you know I was so excited for Silver in the Bone. Not only that, but it also blends Arthurian legends with this fantasy setting. With a group crew, Silver in the Bone has all the elements of a book I would absolutely adore. And while I did enjoy this one, I found myself ending with mixed feelings. For each element I enjoyed, there was always a little caveat. Let's take the Arthurian legends. While I appreciated Bracken's take on this body of work, I felt like the threads were a bit loose.

Every time I thought we were going to get a closer look at the way these legends interacted, I felt like I was always left with a few questions. That could be because this is a series opener, but I felt like I wanted that pull of lore to be stronger at the beginning. I wanted it to either be more of a loose touch or a stronger pull.