Rosy is a bone familiar, which means she has the power to shift into animals marked with exposed bone. We first get a feel of her shifting abilities as a wolf, and the magic and lore behind it are fascinating. Admittedly, I wasn't sure how to feel about her being able to shift. I usually don't gravitate towards books where characters are shifters, so this was a new experience for me. Rosy was still an interesting character to follow, nonetheless. I loved how caring she was of her grandma, and how in touch she was with her magic and the Forest itself. While others mainly viewed the Forest as untamed, it was home for Rosy.

Though this book is told through two POVs, I much preferred Rosy's to Shaw's. I couldn't connect to Shaw at all, which made their moments together lackluster to me. I also didn't enjoy how there was a shift in their chapters where Rosy's were in first person while Shaw's were in third. It just felt confusing to me and brought me out of the book. Usually, when I read dual POV books, they are both in 1st-person or both in 3rd-person, and it took a while for me to get used to it. I usually enjoy 3rd-person more, but I felt like this book would have worked better if it were all in 1st-person.

The magic system and worldbuilding were captivating. I loved the idea of a farm setting and a magic school setting in one book. I also loved how much animals were involved and brought up because I love it when fantasy books include them as companions or just for appreciation.

This epic lgbtqia fantasy is absolutely everything I wanted! The descriptions, the politics, the characters, and the representation are incredible.

Rosy is a shifter who winds up going to a very prestigious school. For Rosy, this is a different experience than what she is used to, tending horses with her grandmother. With this huge change, Rosy finds herself even getting attention from the princess. This story takes some interesting twists and turns that leave me anticipating the next book bc yes (!!!!) This is a series!!!

I'm so excited about this one and recommend it.

Out February 27, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

I read an eARC of Daughter of the Bone Forest by Jasmine Skye. Thank you, Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley.

I am so glad I read this. I was starting to wonder if I was resenting all the ebooks I was reading because I just didn’t want to be forced to read them. But this book changed my mind.

Not that this book was perfect. There were a few pacing issues, and it felt like some parts weren’t given enough time to really get into the emotions or even explore the politics of the moment.

But overall, the story was really fun. I liked the main characters, and the “villains” of the story were dynamic and angering in just the right place.

I definitely am looking forward to the sequel!

I’d like to start this review off by thanking NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.

Now that that’s out of the way, this will probably be a short review. I DNF’d this book at 47%.

From the beginning, it never really grabbed me. I liked the magic well enough but I just didn’t care much for the characters. I liked that this society is queer normative . There was no homophobia and that was amazing. It didn’t matter the gender of a person’s partner. Just their social status.

The main character has a cousin of color (weird way to describe her but I’m not sure I can call her Black or any other brown race. She has dark skin, somewhat curly hair. So yeah, cousin of color).

I liked the way the society was built. That the Queen or King’s familiar would also be a King or Queen. It was an interesting twist on the way a King or Queen’s partner is usually seen. Sure they get a title but all the power tends to only be with one of them, not both.

The writing was competent enough. It wasn’t awful but nothing pulled me in. I was a bit bored, even with something interesting was happening. I tried changing the time of day I read, reading in small bursts to leave myself wanting more. Nothing really helped.

But the biggest reason I DNF’d is because of the romance. It’s supposed to be a sweet fake dating situation. I saw other reviews calling it a sweet romance.

No.

Here’s the thing. Shaw, the princess gets Rosamunde, the familiar she’s interested in, to agree to a FAKE courtship. That’s important. Fake.

Shaw then decides to go back on it. Thinking to herself that she wanted Rosamunde “entranced enough by it [her society and station in it] that she wouldn’t realize the courtship was real until it was too late.”

Direct quote.

That’s disgusting to me. This girl agreed to fake date. And yes, I know fake dating leads to real emotions. I’ve read my fare share of fake dating romances. It’s one thing when they both agree to a fake relationship and start falling for each other as time goes on.

It’s another thing entirely when the rules are set, a fake relationship, and one of them decides to manipulate the other into a position that they can’t get out of.

Shaw knows that Rosamunde does NOT want to be in a relationship with her. She’s doing this fake relationship out of necessity. It isn’t something she wants. And Shaw is aware of that. The girl literally told her to her face. Shaw even has a girl who can see the future in some capacity, still not sure how, who tells her that Rosamunde isn’t into her.

And tells Shaw that she’s only interested in her because the girl tells her no. And Shaw calls it “playing hard to get”.

This would be disgusting if adults did it. It would be disgusting if it was a heterosexual couple or any flavor of queer couple.

When I read this is made me squirm. A relationship that starts on disrespecting someone’s boundaries “this is a fake relationship” cannot be one that is healthy in the end.

So that’s why I DNF’d this book. If I had to give it a review, I’d give it a 2 for solid writing ability and that’s all.

A sprawling fantasy with unique worldbuilding and a queernorm cast makes DAUGHTER OF THE BONE FOREST a book to remember.

Daughter of the Bone Forest is a stunning debut. This queer normative bone and transformation magic story is my latest obsession. Let's just begin the emotional roller coaster of my love. Firstly, I loved how the forest is almost like it's own sentient character. The secrets, motivations, and darkness it hides. From the beginning, Rosy only agrees to go to the school to find a cure for her grandmother and to never be dragged into the war which ended in her grandmother's feral state and her grandfather's death. But we all know how intentions end.

What ends up ensuing in Daughter of the Bone Forest is a story about coming into our own power. About the ways royalty and nobility might use our powers as fodder, but also the very real people, friends, and loved ones who are lost in the crossfire. This dual POV story is about what we will do with our power. How much we will witness without saying a word.

“We’ll need it, for what is to come.” OKAYYY I was absolutely shocked by this book, I loved the dialogue and action. I felt as if I were watching this through a movie, and since it’s been freezing outside it’s very topical to temperature. I loved the characters and the way they stayed together!

this book was such an absolute delight. I'm not gonna lie, once I saw it was queer I requested it from NetGalley just bc of the cover, and I really went in knowing next to nothing about this title or the author. I was so pleased when I ended up genuinely loving it!


are you looking for...
- a magic school setting with minimal classwork?
- an mc who can shapeshift into a plethora of different animals?
- a whole cast of folks who can shapeshift into all sorts of cool critters??
- a gentle, non-specific sort of worldbuilding you can just relax into?
- lots of horses?
- the kind of political intrigue that's just big explosions in the bg?
then try this book! ✨


Daughter of the Bone Forest follows Rosy, a young bone familiar who is long-used to hiding the extent of her natural abilities. she's declined going to Witch Hall (aka magic boarding school) for years, and she's largely happy living with her extended family on their well-established bone horse ranch. she especially loves taking care of her grandma, who lives in the Forest (capital F required) unwillingly.

you see, many years ago, grandpa died in an ,,, avalanche. kinda. grandma naturally found this whole thing wildly suspicious and ended up trying to jump her late husband's controlling officer, called a thane. when she's pried off him, she's sentenced to life in the Forest bc she went quote, mad with grief. (I guess this was considered a somewhat generous sentencing by the witches, in repayment for grandma and grandpa's exceptional military service.)

that being said! the military is still hard-pressed to find wolf familiars, as they are by far some of the best fighters, and are not above forcefully conscripting people. life in the Cursed Kingdom is pretty wilding since it seems like a huge majority of the world outside hates magic-users, and there's constant rumblings of war and spooky foreshadowing of widespread death.

Rosy doesn't want to fight in a war. Rosy kinda lowkey hates the Witch King, as he was involved in her grandma's sentencing, and she kinda highkey hates everybody who is rich and/or hoity-toity bc they treat her and her family like garbage. this is all very valid imho. Rosy is a natural bone wolf familiar (as in, the first time she shifted it was to a bone wolf) but she's never told anyone apart from her grandma. she's determined to keep her head down, keep her grandma and family safe, and avoid the looming war at all costs.

unfortunately, Princess Shaw Colchuk, daughter of the Witch King, heir apparent to the Cursed Throne, stops by Rosy's hometown on her way back to Witch Hall. Rosy ends up kind of accidentally saving her (she inadvertently saves Shaw by saving her cousin, Toketie "Tokey") and Shaw clocks how skilled of a shifter Rosy is. she personally invites Rosy to Witch Hall, even offering to pay for her attendance, and Rosy ends up begrudgingly agreeing to go. she's got high hopes that she can get her sticky fingers on this new medicine that's being experimented with that can recall familiars from going 'feral', which is a problem her grandma Struggles with.

Shaw, meanwhile, is intrigued by Rosy's standoffish nature and general disinclination to kiss her ass. (this is one of my favorite couple dynamics, I'm not gonna lie.) there's a witch-familiar bond that improves the magic abilities of both parties involved that everybody and their dog is trying to get in on, and Shaw ends up with her eye on Rosy for that. this school year promises to be an exciting one for poor Rosy lol.


I really loved the characters in this book! all of Rosy's enormous family, Shaw's high-class and infallibly loyal entourage, the colorful cast that makes up Witch Hall's professors and students; they were a delight. the magic system is new and interesting without being needlessly complicated, and is even helpfully color-coded for folks who aren't looking for a high fantasy romp lol. I think I'll be recommending this book pretty broadly to any reader who has even a passing interest in YA fantasy.


rep - sapphic mc, sapphic love interest, trans sc, achillean scs, nonbinary (they/them) sc, misc queer scs
thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc ✨

What an awesome queer-normative fantasy debut. The stakes are higher than ever as war looms ever closer and two girls (Rosy and Shaw) are thrown into a dangerous courtship (one that has been prophesied and fated). I really enjoyed the writing style that this author has--it was really accessible and compelling. I love a grumpy/sunshine fated love story, and when you add a creepy forest? I'm immediately sold, take my money. The magic system was unique and fun, and getting to watch the characters interact with it and the world at large made for such a fun story. I can't believe I got cliffhanger'd at the end there because I absolutely need the next book immediately.

Two girls reluctantly bound by fate must weather a dangerous courtship as a prophesied war grows ever closer in Jasmine Skye's high-stakes, queer-normative dark fantasy debut, Daughter of the Bone Forest.

Beautiful and haunting. Loved the prose, the world-building, and the characters. Gorgeous!

It is 4am and I should have been asleep hours ago. Daughter of the Bone Forest had me in a chokehold and I could not put it down. Fifty-two hours into the new year and I’ve read the book all other books are going to be compared to.

From the first page, I was hooked. I love creepy, sentient forests, and this book DELIVERS.

The magic system is so unique and even though Rosy literally delivers a class presentation on bone magic, it never feels info dumpy.

Rosy is prickly and defensive and has her thorny shields up so high it’s a wonder she hasn’t poked out her own eye with them. And Shaw? Shaw the badass terrifying bone witch princess? She is the golden retriever girlfriend. She is smitten. She’s going to tell you that she’s totally a serious person and this just makes sense. But she took one look at the snarling feral grump Rosy and went “yes, this one.”

Five million stars. It would have been six million, but I’m mad about the cliffhanger.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC. I’m so glad I didn’t have to wait until next month to read this!

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the magic system, which was unique and interesting, and I enjoyed the magic school setting. There was much less romance than I was expecting (which was fine by me). I liked how queerness was normalized in this world, though sometimes I felt that the author over-explained it instead of just letting it exist. Because this is a YA book, I understand that choice somewhat because it might be the first time some teens encounter people who are gender fluid, but it still sometimes felt clunky.

In the last couple chapters, some of Rosy’s decisions didn’t always make sense to me. I also would’ve liked to see more of the world’s politics, but it seems like we will get a lot more of that in book 2. Overall it was a strong debut and I’m interested to read more from this author.

Daughter of the Bone Forest is a strongly crafted world of magic and hierarchy that bends and breaks all of its habitants. Rosy has had to hide her true power in the Bone Forest not just for safety but everyone she loves. A chance of fate brings her to the attention of Death’s heir, Shaw, and everything Rosy has know is changed.

Why did the book have to end?! I was not ready for it to end! I want the sequel now!
What is the story that the ghost of Pops/General Holt has to tell Shaw? I think I have an idea of what scheme he uncovered and the motivation behind it; though I will have to wait for the sequel to know for sure.

The story is very intricate and clever. The concept of four types of magical abilities, and with each type at its strongest during the most consequential day of the season - Beltane, Samhain, etc. -- is not a new one. Nor is the concept of witches and familiars bonding together. However, the author has taken these concepts and crafted them in a way that feels unique. The major characters are great, even those cast in more of a "villain" role. I enjoyed Rosamund's unconventional nature and how her words and actions imbue some characters with greater confidence (Oluk) and force other characters to reconsider their prejudices and assumptions, especially about those who come from lesser circumstances. Also, for all her fear and anger, and how it forces her to hide much of herself from others, there are also a playfulness and joy to Rosamund when she shifts into animals, especially a new animal for the first time. I also like the way that the author handles gender -- there are characters who are clearly male and clearly female, but also characters who are gender fluid or who are transgender -- and it is what it is, a non-issue.

Rosy is a bone familiar, able to shift into different animals, something she's been hiding to avoid conscription in the army and having to bond with a bone witch. When her secret is partially revealed, she's thrown into the world of Witch Hall, learning to control her powers but also navigate a web of political intrigue as her fate becomes tangled up with Princess Shaw.

I absolutely devoured this. This is a fabulous example of queer YA fantasy. The queer-normative society is a breath of fresh air - there's queer folks of all types and ages, including nonbinary, trans, and genderfluid representation. The author was clearly intentional about having diverse characters and went about it in a really thoughtful way.

The fantasy elements were a great mix of familiar and new - it was a fun twist on the classic magic school and prophesied war. The witch-familiar relationships and different branches of magic were clever, interesting, and well-developed. I loved that the four elements here were bone, glass, flowers, and ice and the unexpected ways that those powers manifested.

The romance was also so well done - the tension between Rosy and Shaw had me kicking my feet and giggling out loud at times. Rosy's prickly and headstrong nature meshes so well with Shaw's steadiness, but their disparate feelings about war - one who's been raised knowing that it's her destiny, one who's been raised seeing the devastating consequences - threaten to tear them apart despite their undeniable chemistry and bond.

But in the midst of all this, there's also some great humor and light moments. I'd reread this book again purely for the scene where she shifts into a raccoon to claw the face off of a jerk because like... same. Wish that was me. Also, there's a horse with An Attitude Problem who's nicknamed Cow and I love her. And it ends on a cliffhanger.... so this is me impatiently tapping my feet because I cannot WAIT for the sequel! I'll read it the second it comes out.

Strongly recommend to any queer YA fantasy fans, especially if you like political intrigue, horse girls, feral raccoon vibes, a smidgen of fake dating with a side of magical bonding, and sapphic witches. A fabulous debut by Jasmine Skye.

OMFG!!! This book is what every LGBTQ+ YA Fantasy reader is looking for!! This series follows the two main characters who identify as women, Rosy and Shaw. A child of a simple horse rancher and a princess bound by fate to save their country. Rosy is a powerful and gifted bone familiar. Rosy spends most her days tending to the horses and spending time with her exiled grandma in the Bone Forest. This peaceful routine and life is interrupted by a visit to their town by none other than Princess Shaw. The Princess’s visit was anything less than eventful and Rosy was forced to save her life. As Rosy’s reward Shaw offered Rosy free tuition to the Witch Hall. The Witch Hall is the most prestigious school in the Cursed Kingdom , it is where the upper class Witches and Familiars attend to train and ultimately prepare for service to their country. Within Witch Hall, Rosy faced political games and a fake courtship with Death’s Heir. Rosy is faced with the impending change of who she once was and who she is becoming and what that means for her future and ultimately her destiny.

This book was slow to start but was 10/10. The tropes were so well written and I felt that the yearning for each other was done perfectly. This books has:
-LGBTQ+ representation
-forced proximity
-fated bonded pair
-fake relationship
-secrets/betrayal
-political maneuverings
-SUPER unique magic system
-prophecies

The normalization of LGBTQ+ that Skye created in this world was utter perfection. It flowed perfectly. There were characters who were they/them and the conversation about pronouns was so effortless. I struggle to find the right representation in fantasy that doesn’t feel like forced diversity. This is up there with The Hollow Star Saga. The only downside of this book is that is it sort of ends in a cliffhanger which I hate. But I will 100% be reading the next book!!

I want to thank MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group- Fiewel & Friends and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Daughter of the Bone Forest
by Jasmine Skye
Pub Date: 27 Feb 2024

Two girls reluctantly bound by fate must weather a dangerous courtship as a prophesied war grows ever closer in Jasmine Skye's high-stakes, queernormative dark fantasy debut, Daughter of the Bone Forest.

Rosy is a bone familiar, gifted with the power to shift into animals marked with exposed bone. She spends most of her days in the magical Bone Forest, caring for her feral grandmother and hiding her powers to avoid conscription by the Witch King’s army. Until the day that Princess Shaw, a witch known as Death’s Heir, visits the Forest. When Rosy saves Shaw’s life, the princess offers her the chance to attend the prestigious school, Witch Hall, as payment. Though Rosy is wary of Shaw’s intentions, she cannot pass up the opportunity to find the cure for her grandmother’s affliction.

But at Witch Hall, Rosy finds herself embroiled in political games she doesn't understand. Shaw wants Rosy for her entourage, a partner to help lead the coming war. All Rosy wants is to stay out of trouble until she can graduate and save her grandmother, but she can't deny her attraction to Shaw or the comfort Shaw’s magic gives her. Will Rosy give in to her destiny, or will the Bone Forest call her home once and for all?

Many people write about witches and familiars, but Daughter of the Bone Forest presents them in a totally different light. Witches, in this novel, are aligned with ice, flower, glass, or bone, as are familiars - magically-gifted people who can shift into one or more animal forms. Each, alone, can be powerful, but when a witch pairs with a familiar in the same category, each gains considerably more power, and more control over that power.

Rosamund Holt - Rosy to family and friends - is a familiar, aligned with bone. Her family is disgraced because after her grandfather's death, her grandmother, in her grief, attacked a member of the military; only the high esteem in which he was held prevents her grandmother's execution. Rosy has spent the last 6 years fighting to find a way to help her grandmother and remove the stain of that event from her family. Shaw is the daughter of the Witch King, heir to the throne, and a bone witch. She has been searching for a familiar to pair with, one whom she can trust with both her kingdom and her heart. Brought together by chance, or perhaps thrust together by fate, the two meet at Rosy's family's farm, and continue their tumultuous association at the Witch Hall, the center at which witches and familiars are taught to use their powers. Their similarities pull them together, and their differences push them apart. A wonderfully written story about the power of the bonds of family - those people are born to, and those they choose - and for the latter, how those bonds are formed. I can only hope the sequel can, in some fashion, equal the level and quality of the tale told in this volume, which I read in a single day; I couldn't put it down. Recommended for teens and adults.

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

Rosy lives in the Bone Forest, where she can transform into the creatures who live there. Her family was exiled after her grandmother, in a state of grief over the death of her mate, attacked a member of the royal family. Rosy has refused to go to Witch Hall with her cousin, but a surprise visit from the princess, Shaw, to the forest leads to Rosy being outed. Once at the school, she shows no interest in fitting in, to the chagrin of her cousin, but finds herself courted by the princess, who is a witch. Rosy has no interest in being bonded, which would make her a warrior in an army fighting a war she doesn't care about. And she definitely doesn't want to show her wolf form, which would signal to everyone her power. But Shaw's interest goes beyond looking for a warrior to command, and Rosy finds herself being charmed.

I really enjoyed the opening scenes of Rosy's bone familiar magic, so it was a bit of a hard shift for me when Rosy went off to school. Minor details about the school situation felt oddly modern in comparison to the medieval fantasy vibe I'd gotten from the forest scenes, but I was quickly drawn in to the relationships between Rosy and Oluk, another outcast student, and Shaw, as well as the others. There were the usual school story tropes of bullying in the form of an entitled familiar Charles who thought the princess should court him and the bullying of scholarship students. Rosy and Shaw's relationship rode the border between enemies to lovers nicely, and Rosy's hard personality made it realistic that she might not admit even to herself how she felt about Shaw. As I drew close to the end I knew this would be a series, and one that I'd be interested in continuing.

Daughter of the Bone Forest was such a captivating read. The premise of this book was promising and it was executed spectacularly.

Rosy was a very well written character. She had reasons behind the things she did and understood the things that were at stake if she slipped up. Shaw was an intriguing character. I enjoyed getting her POV, even if it was for a few chapters. I enjoyed the tension between them the most. I love a good slow-burn romance. The side characters in this book were amazing and written so well. They were fleshed out, not just thrown in and added to the overall storyline. Guanyu and Oluk were probably my favorites.

The world-building was great. I enjoyed the magic system and I hope it’s focused on more in the next book! This writing style was very intricate that I’d love to reread and focus on the subtext of the book. I can’t wait for the next book after that HUGE cliffhanger. Definitely one of my top 10 for the year.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.