This was the conclusion I wanted for this series. All the mysteries got answered, all the characters got a satisfying conclusion to their character arc, and everything wrapped up in the most perfect way.

In the first book, we’re introduced to a world and magic system that our characters don’t yet understand. I was worried that the magic system mystery would get solved in the first or second book, which would take away some of the fun of solving the mystery. Thankfully, the mystery continues all the way until the end of the series. I didn’t know the answer to every single question I had about the world and magic until the end of book three, which is exactly how I prefer it.

All three books follow the same five characters, which made the POVs feel stable all the way through. First and foremost, Lin, the daughter of the Emperor. She’s learning about the magic throughout the series, and then gets dragged into politics as she tries to fix all of her father’s mistakes. I loved her arc the best, getting to see where she went and how she learned to be a good leader.

Then we have Jovis, a smuggler who wants to find his missing wife. He isn’t super trustworthy all the time, because he’s a little flaky and he’s a good liar. Despite his flaws, he was the coolest character. He ends up with an adorable traveling companion, a little cat/otter (they’re called ossalen) named Mephi. Mephi is so cute and precious. He needs to be protected forever. Whenever Jovis got into a dangerous situation with Mephi, I just wanted to cradle little Mephi and take him away from the fighting. But then he grows up, and becomes ferocious in his own right. Mephi and Jovis are just the best, always.

Two of our other POVs are both halves of a lesbian couple, Ranami and Phalue. They’re both involved in the politics of their island, as Phalue is the daughter of the governor. They grow so much over the course of the trilogy, learning how to navigate tricky political situations and their own differences. For a long time, they’re together, so we get to see the same events from two different perspectives. But in this book, they are in different places, working with different people. I felt so much for them, wanting to be together, supporting each other, but I also loved getting to see their solo character development.

And then finally, the mysterious POV, Sand. Book one doesn’t really explain why the heck this random girl on a random island gets a POV, but then book two makes it all clear what she’s doing in the story. The third book really zeroes in on Sand’s character development, which I didn’t expect but ended up really appreciating. She takes a more villainous path than the other four POV characters, which is a nice break from following the heroes.

The villains in this book can’t seem to get along, even though they have similar goals. It complicated things, and made me love Sand’s perspectives so much more than I did in the first two books. Her story in the first two books almost felt shoved in unnecessarily at times, but this book made up for all that. It tied together all the loose ends that had been frustrating me with her POV.

This series made me root for the villains, because neither the heroes or the villains were completely in the right at all times. Seeing the heroes learn that maybe they need to change in order to better serve the people was so cool. And then it would switch over to the villains who were actually fighting for a good cause, but in a violent way that’s not ok. I love feeling conflicted over the characters and the plot, and this series absolutely delivered in that regard.

This trilogy immediately skyrocketed to the top of my favorites list, because it’s just that good. I highly recommend checking this series out. It’s fast paced, full of great characters, and will make you obsessed very quickly. I mentioned in my reviews for the earlier books that this is a great series to read if you’ve only read young adult fantasy. I still stand by that. It’s really easy to get into, unlike some adult fantasy which can completely overwhelm you if you’re not prepared.

I loved, loved, loved this series and the final installment did not disappoint. My only complaint is that I can't live in the world that Stewart created longer.

3.75/5⭐

Okay...phew, that was a lot. I have a lot of feelings, so hopefully this is coherent.

I've been with The Drowning Empire series since shortly after The Bone Shard Daughter was published. In fact, I received it for Christmas that year, and I absolutely ate it up. I thought the world was SO inventive and unique. The bone shard magic system was incredibly cool and the constructs it resulted in were creepy and intriguing. And Mephi! Certainly the most charming animal companion in modern fantasy. No, I will not be debating that. Following Lin and Jovis' journeys and character growth, even within just that first installment, was a lot of fun. Two books later, I'm happy to say I still really love this world and its characters.

The series has evolved a lot since that first book though. The last two installments felt more political, more messy. The right answers didn't feel evident, (most of) the antagonists made some good points. The pacing didn't feel as refined, but there has still been a lot of interesting reveals and plenty of things to love about this series.

The first half of The Bone Shard War feels like it could use some editing down. One character spends a significant amount of time on a wild goose chase that ultimately doesn't really turn up anything significant, which was frustrating. A certain beloved animal companion doesn't get nearly enough on-page time. Certain POV's, while necessary to move certain things forward, just didn't feel as compelling. There were some great reveals, but I feel like not enough time was spent on the implications of those reveals.

The second half was tighter. Andrea Stewart has delivered very punchy endings for each of the books in this trilogy, and while this one maybe didn't feel quite as explosive as previous installments, there was a lot to wrap up and I ultimately think she did a pretty good job.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this book! It's not my favorite in the series, but I absolutely love the world that Andrea Stewart has created and seeing it come to a close is very bittersweet. I can't wait to see what she does next!


Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to netgalley and orbit for the advanced copy of this book!

I mistakenly requested this before reading the other two in the series, so I had a lot of catch-up to do BUT... I've never loved trying to speed read a series quite as much. The trilogy as a whole was so refreshing and well done. I absolutely loved the magic system and the blending of narratives, backgrounds, and characters.

This final installment was everything. I appreciate the time skip and the fact that things we're tied up with a nice bow. However, it was a bit confusing to get a grasp of at first. It was an incredibly well done ending to an incredibly well done trilogy. It's hard for me to assess this book as a standalone since I read them all back-to-back, but I had so much fun with it.

I will update the review with the link to on our blog as soon as I can.

I'd like to thank the publisher Orbit and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book. Sometimes you get a series that’s so strong throughout only to crap out at the end of the line. This book did not do that. It was a labor of love to get through but worth it at the end.

This book takes place two years after the events of the boneshard emperor and alot has changed. Lin is still struggling with keeping the empire together without using Whitstone while also trying to solve the mystery of the Alanga. Jovis is presumably dead after trying to rescue mephi from Kaphra. And Phalue and Ranami are flourishing on their island. But beneath the surface Ragan is plotting with Nisong and Dione is still hellbent on the empires destruction.

I think the series ended wonderfully. All of your questions about the islands and the alanga are answered. And all of our favorite characters come to a head in this epic finale. If you loved the first two books you’ll love this ones as well. It was beautifully written and a perfect ending.

The last book in the Drowning Empire series really brought everything together but it took a long time to get there.

All of our characters get separated at the end of book 2 and their singular adventures seemed very slow moving. It took me until around the 60% point to get really invested in the book.

With that said, the ending really got me. It was wonderful and I thought it was well thought out. As a first series done by Andrea Stewart, I thought it was very well done and will continue to recommend this series. I could see this being even better on reread.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Out April 18, 2023.

What an epic conclusion to the trilogy! I loved the character development, the climax, all of it. I would highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys multiple povs, incredible world building, and revolutionizing a kingdom.

*eArc provided by Netgalley and Orbit in exchange for an honest review*

First of all this was the most exciting arc I could have ever gotten I've loved this series from day one!!

I took my time reading this book because I simply did not want it to be over. The characters up until this point have been through so much. Dont want to spoil any of the plot so all I will say is that this was a rollercoaster. Characters had me yelling at the book. I was gasping. Laughing. Crying. Screaming. The story jumps forward in time from the previous book and I really think it was a wise choice. There were so many lose ends from book 2 to tie up so this time jump really helped that come to fruition. Giving us, the readers, anxiety of trying to figure out what happened during the time we missed as well as reeling from all the choices the characters were making in each chapter. And when I tell you the last 4-5 chapters had me SOBBING I mean it. I could not physically see through the tears it took me about an hour just to read those 4-5 chapters because I had to keep stopping to wipe the tears from my eyes.

Andrea really nailed that ending if you ask me. It hurt. But the last chapter also left readers with just a glimmer of hope. And we may never see what comes after that because its just open ended enough to keep us questioning but also hopeful enough that it felt fulfilling.

Really fantastic series overall and at this point I will read ANYTHING Andrea writes!!! ANYTHING I TELL YA!! <3

The conclusion to The Drowing Empire series starts off with a two-year time skip from the ending of the previous book. This was a little jarring, considering the cliffhanger from the previous book's ending. It felt like the momentum that had been building over two books just kind of dissipated. We're immediately thrown into a tumultuous political environment - Lin is desperately trying to hold the Empire together and feels more alone than she has in a while. With the whispers of the Alangan swords being hidden across the empire, Lin is convinced that finding the swords before her enemies will be just what she needs to win the war.

I think my main issue with this book is that a lot of the mysteries of the world and the magic were mainly solved in the first two books - and the mystery is what hooked me so much. The first 50-60% of this book felt like I was reading the same storyline over and over before it finally picked up with intrigue and mystery again. I'm ultimately glad that I finished the book and I do think this series is worth giving a chance if you like political fantasy with interesting magic & mysetry. I really look forward to what Stewart writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This trilogy ending was perfect for the book series. It answered a lot of questions and wrapped things up in a fitting way. The Drowning Empire is a book series that should not be skipped and is an amazing take on fantasy and magic. I will definitely be thinking back on this series often.

ure, here's a spoiler-free review of "The Bone Shard Daughter" by Andrea Stewart:

"The Bone Shard Daughter" is a thrilling and intricately crafted fantasy novel that follows multiple characters as they navigate a complex world of magic and politics. The story takes place in an empire ruled by a powerful emperor who uses bone shard magic to control the populace and maintain his grip on power.

The book is told from multiple perspectives, including a daughter of the emperor who is struggling to uncover the truth about her past, a smuggler who finds herself drawn into a dangerous conspiracy, and a governor's daughter who is determined to overthrow the oppressive system that has kept her people in poverty.

Stewart's writing is excellent, and she does a fantastic job of building tension and suspense throughout the novel. The world-building is also top-notch, with a fascinating magic system and a richly detailed setting that feels both familiar and unique.

Overall, "The Bone Shard Daughter" is an outstanding debut novel that is sure to appeal to fans of epic fantasy. It's a thrilling and engaging read that offers a unique perspective on familiar tropes, and it sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting series.

Going into this book my expectations were very high as I had loved every second of the previous two books. This book was an incredible ending to a phenomenal trilogy. Andrea Stewart answered every question that had been burning from book one and did it in such an unexpected way that blew my mind. Bringing the world to life and the characters in such a believable way that you understand what is driving them even if you do not agree with them. The entire book was tense and kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to this trilogy.

If you are looking for a high fantasy book that is filled with politics, magic, a cast of characters with a variety of personalities, and incredible creatures look no further The Drowning Empire is the series for you.

TL;DR REVIEW:

The Bone Shard War is a good conclusion to a pretty strong epic fantasy trilogy, although it felt a bit too drawn out to blow me away. Still, I recommend the series overall!

For you if: You like fantasy books set in fully fleshed-out worlds with multiple POV characters.

FULL REVIEW:

The Bone Shard War is the third book in the Drowning Empire trilogy, which starts with The Bone Shard Daughter and The Bone Shard Emperor. I’m going to do my best here to write a review without spoilers, so this will really be more of a review of the trilogy overall.

The Drowning Empire is an epic fantasy series, with a world that resembles but doesn’t belong to ours and a cast of characters with POVs. The main character is Lin, daughter of the Emperor, who practices what’s called bone shard magic (carved pieces of bone can be used to animate and control “constructs”). The second character is Jovis, a smuggler who witnesses one of the Empire’s islands sink into the sea. And third we have Sand/Nisong, a woman on a remote island with no memories.

This third book picks up two years after the end of the second, which in execution was a little disappointing for me. All the tension at the end of book two was popped, the characters almost reset. Then we spend a lot longer than I would have liked with Lin and Jovis (and, for that matter, Jovis and his companion Mephi) separated from one another. So I felt like I spent a lot of this book just waiting for that to get resolved, and that made it drag a bit. I also thought our two villains became less interesting, though for different reasons. In fact, I was pretty actively disappointed in Nisong’s arc.

But enough of the not-so-good! I still landed on the side of liking the book overall, and I recommend this trilogy if epic fantasy is your thing. The world is lush and inventive, the magic system is unique and interesting, the central mystery is compelling, and the characters are lovable. No regrets!



CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Death and murder, war and violence; Animal death; Blood; Sexual content (minor)

- One of my favorite series has finally reached its conclusion with THE BONE SHARD WAR, and I am so sad to see it go.
- I spent a lot of the previous book wondering why Lin wanted this so much, and am grateful this was explored in this installment. (trying not to be too spoilery here, lol)
- While this book was a bit overlong, I felt like I got closure with all of the series' many characters and plotlines, which can be tough to pull off. I'm really excited to see what Stewart does next.

PERFECTION!!

The Bone Shard War is a slow burn that builds to a roaring conclusion as it crosses the finish line.

Stewart artfully weaves together multiple POV bouncing from island to island in a world-shifting revelation and a head-spinning final battle between our heroes and the Big Bads.

Thank you Orbit and Netgalley for an arc of Bone Shard War in exchange for an honest review.

I read this series back to back and throughly enjoyed each of the books. This final book in the trilogy definitely took me by surprise. I definitely think it is my least favorite of the trilogy, but it was still a really good end to the series. I am glad I read it so close to finishing the second book, but I was still a little confused when starting out. It was a two year time jump and yet so much had changed.

We have the same POVs as the last book which is really wonderful because we get to see all these different perspectives on the new revolutions and movements. There is just so many secrets and motivations and angles as to why each person is doing what they are doing and the multiple POVs is just so enlightening and keeps you on your toes. I also felt like there was just so much more growth from all the characters in this book. The stakes are rising and they are put in tough positions where they need to make important decisions. I loved characters I used to hate and I begun to hate characters I used to love. Lin will forever have my heart.

I will definitely say I absolutely loved learning more about the Alanga and finally having their secrets revealed in this book. That was by far one of the most satisfying things to read about and finally understanding.

Overall this is such a fun trilogy. I completely recommend this series.

talk about sticking the landing hoooo boy. i loved it. stewart just stealth completed one of the best fantasy trilogies of the past few years. i hope it finds the audience it deserves

I know my feelings on this series are unhelpful for a reader who is curious to read this series but my god I love it. I love all the characters (though I will admit this time there were a lot more POVs and that threw me for a loop). I loved Lin and Jovis and the (horrifying) journey they took to get back to each other. I liked the intergroup conflict between Ragan and Dione. I liked Nisong (Stone)'s arc.

But yeah I definitely wish I had just mainlined the series before reading this. I definitely remember key points from the previous books but there were moments I was like "Wait a sec why ARE we at a war." Idk if that's a me thing because my memory is shot or if there's wasn't a great job of the "this is where we are now" in the beginning.

Overall a really great ending to a series. I would recommend this series to others - or already have, actually - and I'm excited for more people to finish this one to discuss.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for a chance to read and review!

Andrea Stewart has done it again and wrote another amazing book. This finale to the trilogy was so enjoyable to read even when I wanted to scream or cry because of what was happening in the story. I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of this book, but now I am so disappointed that it's over. I want to read more in this world.