I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I love the premise. But this book moves so slowly. It's not a long book either, only 360 pages, but it feels long, and not in a good way. But then the ending felt quite rushed. The writing is also not particularly immersive, and I don't quite understand how the setting works, like all the old technology broke down somehow and it's like the Dark Ages, I guess, but they still have walkie-talkies? Dira as the FMC is also kind of selfish and impulsive. She's treated unfairly by everyone around her, yes, but she's also irritating and doesn't take advice from anyone. Overall, I liked aspects but wasn't particularly impressed.

Stand alone story that was fabulous. The setting and characters were wonderful and I could not put it down. I do wish that the ending wouldn't have been so speedy to end. It felt kind of rushed. But overall it was worth the read and I would try something else by this author again.

First, thank you for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to read this as growing up, I loved The Polar Bear King movie. There were definitely a lot of similarities between the two.

First, the most obvious being a man cursed to be a bear and no one can know who he truly is. Second, ice setting of course. Third, a female falls in love with him but right before the curse is lifted, looks at his face, thus setting off something terrible instead of breaking it. In bith, she ultimately breaks the curse.

Differences however, were plenty. In this book, it isn't set in the past or even in the present, but rather a much further future after an apocalypse. I actually like the setting more as it has a fresh feel to it. Another difference is that polar bears play a huge part in this book, not just the main love interest. The entire book is about a village that constantly is at war with the polar bears, defending the people and keeping the village safe. Another fun twist is that when she looks upon his face, she becomes cursed. I actually really liked this twist.

Some complaints I have are with pacing and communication. I think there were times the book is rather slow and then large chunks were just absolutely rushed. The ending was rushed, the beginning was rushed. If have liked to see more of the village, the people, and the interactions. Communication sometimes seemed forced and unrealistic.

Overall, it was enjoyable but not my favorite version of the polar bear king

This story just didn’t captivate me or keep my interest. It was so slow going and not very interesting.

This is a super slow burn book, and it was hard for me to get into.

I thought I would like the tundra like area and the polar bears, but it just was not my speed.

Thank you NetGalley and Sword and Silk Books Publishing for my DRC in exchange for my honest review.

A lovely slow moving love tale with descriptive depiction of life in an artic tundra community.
When the seasons turn, the polar bears leave for other hunting grounds. Until then the fishing community have to protect themselves from possible attack. Dirt is on the watch but she doesn't want to kill the bears and when this causes conflict with their father, the head of the watch, she must make a decision.
The book was low to start but the tale gathers pace and becomes a captivating read.

My students are always looking for new sci-fi romances, so while it isn't my norman genre, I tried this one on a whim. It was really a enjoyable read! Totally recommend!

Title: A Burden of Ice and Bone
Author: Kyra Whitton
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

In the village of ice and darkness, Dira Cloon's entire existence relies on her ability to pull the trigger. But when she faces a majestic white bear, her resolve falters. The bear's presence stirs something deep within her - a force stronger than her love for her family, who believe that the only safe polar bear is a dead one.

It goes beyond the village legends of a lost world and a vanished civilization, the whispered tales of magic, and the ursine king's enchantment. This force resonates with Dira's heart, shattered and lonely. If she shoots the bear, her life will continue as it always has, with a piece of her soul and dreams forever lost. But if she lays down her weapon and follows the bear into the vast, frozen realm of snow, she may transform her people and their bloodlust.

This was an interesting dystopian/fantasy read. More than a bit depressing, frankly. I don’t like cold weather, so that was a me thing, but the society itself was pretty bleak—and I wasn’t a fan of the people. The author did a great job with the setting, though, and I enjoyed the story itself. What happened when Dira broke the curse wasn’t surprising at all, but I did enjoy this read.

Kyra Whitton is from Georgia. A Burden of Ice and Bone is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Sword and Silk Books in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 5/8).

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC!

The book’s plot kind of reminds me of Cupid and his lover, especially when she was staying with him.

I loved that the main character really stuck to her guns (lol) till the very end. The twist was interesting to say the least. I don’t really have much to say except for the fact that I was so disappointed that the last chapter was the last chapter—not because I never wanted the book to end, but it just suddenly cut to the epilogue and I was so confused because it didn’t seem like there was a real ending??? It just felt like it was cut off too fast.

The epilogue was done well, don’t get me wrong, I just think that there should have been a better ending before the epilogue.

4.75 ⭐ / 5.

I loved this book! It started out a bit slow, but once it started to pick up I devoured it. It is a retelling that gives a combo of so many different fairy tale or myth vibes (East of the Sun West of the Moon, White Bear King Valemon, Cupid and Psyche, or Beauty and the Beast to name a few). It takes place in a dystopian like world where the cold and frost has taken over and most technology no longer works.

Dira was relatable with her desire to fit in and looking for someone who truly accepts her to spend her life with. She is also brave and values life over tradition which is something I found admirable. She does make kind of impulsive decisions, but I didn't really mind that as those were usually what drove the plot and relationships forward a bit. Her journey over the course of the book was insightful into how we can sometimes be blinded by the hurt others cause us. Valemon is quiet but protective and at first I didn't know how I felt about him or the romance, but the more we got to know him the more I really liked him. His pain and all that he's endured made for a heartbreaking addition to a world that's already harsh and hard to survive in.

My one and only complaint was the ending felt a little bit rushed. I would have liked to see a bit more building up to the final conflict than we got. It just felt like it was over too fast.

Do you like Fairytale retellings? Try this one with a vast dystopian backdrop! This is a modern take on the fairy tale East O' the Sun, West O' the Moon set in a grim future world.
I loved the description in this book. This is not a fast paced storyline but the description, the hope to find out how this world came to be with the details the author gives through the beginning to let you know this isnt set in modern times in the great north, and the main character Dira's struggles kept me intrigued enough to get to the action. Once getting through the beginning setup I couldn't put it down. This is a story of learning self awareness, perception, and family dynamics, within a love story. I felt that the ending aftermath was a bit rushed and lacking some fleshing out for my taste but not bad.
Overall I enjoyed this retelling of one of my favorite fairytales!

Thank you to the publishers Sword and Silk and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book for an unbiased review.

This novel was a slow paced romance similar to a novel I read once as a child about a man who wanted his identity unknown for reasons we don’t find out until the end. (Despite my searching I cannot find the title unfortunately) As far as fairy tales go this one was a decent story with a simple conclusion. It was interesting and an easy read, my only struggle was that I found the main character to be frustrating in her impulsivity at times.

This was a story about the bond between a young girl and a bear. I found it quite easy reading, it seemed like something my younger self would have enjoyed more than my adult self, but it was a pleasant enough read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

3.5 round up

Very unique premise but pacing was too slow for my liking. The FMC was just too proud and irritating but I kept rooting for her. The world building was beautifully done.

This was steeped in folklore and a desperate search for belonging. Dira has struggled to fit in with what her family and village has wanted from her since she was a small girl. Her reluctance to kill the polar bears they share the land with has gotten her into more trouble than she could have imagined. Being held responsible for something so horrible at such a young age has shaped her entire world with a sense of tolerance rather than acceptance. A betrayal from her best friend and brother, on top of the loss of an entire family is enough to make her want to run.

Dira follows the polar bear she saw as a child, and that she saved by the beach...because somehow, he's a man in a polar bear skin cloak, and he's beckoning her to follow. She's taken miles across the ice by her polar bear and wakes up alone in a strange place. Looking for her bear, she finds the man, Valemon, bringing her food and clothes.

Seem

As they live along side one another, Dira is desperate for answers, and she keeps pushing until she gets them, good or bad. Valemon is secretive, for good reason. As time goes on, they begin to depend on one another for company and a need to be seen so deep that Dira can't believe how much she needs this man she just met to just stay with her.

Dira has opportunities to go home and doesn't take them, which sets into motion a series of events that will lead them both to discovery, love, and a seemingly unbreakable curse. I could not put this down. It was so enthralling and magical from the start.

This book had promise but ultimately had too many flaws for me. The plot moved very slowly, the worldbuilding wasn't as fleshed out as it could have been, and the main character was unlikeable. I think Dira is supposed to be around 19 but she reads like she's 14. She makes rash, impulsive decisions and she never really thinks about how those decisions will affect those around her. And the plot of wanting to save the polar bears was interesting.. but never made a lot of sense. Dira was saved by a polar bear as a child and so that makes her want to keep her village from killing them. Except.. while Dira *was* saved by a polar bear.. she was saved from a different polar bear that definitely did want to kill her. And the polar bear that did save her did turn around and kill someone else. So not only does her connection to the polar bears seem a bit wobbly but she never really sees the polar bears as a dangerous animal deserving of respect. From chasing a baby bear with intentions to make it her pet as a child to tracking the polar bears as an adult while calling them "hers" and giving them all names, it seems like she never gets past her fantasy of wanting to ride and befriend polar bears.

The romance is.. not good. The whole "immortal man who knew her since she was a child" doesn't really work for me and I also don't really understand what he sees in her. They had negative chemistry. She would make some hairbrained decision that would put her in peril, he would save her, and that was it. They had nothing in common.

It also did not feel like Dira had any control at any point in the book. The plot just kind of happens to her. Which for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I feel like a more active effort needed to be there.

This was a quick read and I do think the author has potential.

An interesting twist on the East of the Sun West of the moon fairytale. I enjoyed the authors writing and the way she pitted survival against morality. Overall this was an immersive and enjoyable fantasy standalone. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book because of the authors style. I was happy the FMC was not described as small or fragile as this can get old in the fantasy genre. I thought the banter between characters was fun, and the personal issues between the family were very relatable conflicts. I did think the beginning went a bit slow, and the end went a bit fast. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a standalone fantasy novel, of course with a little romance mixed in.

“Fear always brings out the worst in us all.”

A tale about bears, strangers, all forms of love and climate change.
This story and its accents of Beauty & Beast retelling caught me from the beginning. It was a quick and short read, though very meaningful. I have to admit, I was charmed by the cover first and didn’t know what to expect, apart from the bears. I loved that story. Between fantasy and dystopia, with a subtle –and brilliant– world building that leaves us in the expectation, we follow Dira, a young headstrong girl, who’s the only one to see something other than cold killers in the polar bears who circle the town where she lives.
I loved her character and all the mistakes she makes, all the long way she’ll have to come until the end. It’s a true coming of age story, where the MC realizes how grey life is, how no one is truly evil or good. Everyone is deeply human, and we learn that the one we were taught to fear the most might not be the most dangerous. Maybe should we see enemies in more alike people, or even within ourselves. I adored all the characters (I don’t want to reveal too much here), the love story (stories) how the love interest fights his protective instincts (tries) to empower Dira, and the pinch of magic (and, of course, the crow’s cameo!). The twist was remarkable (for once, I didn’t see anything coming!), and I only regret that the last part wasn’t a bit longer. I would definitely have loved to stay a few more chapters within these pages.
Rate 4.5/5

Thank you Netgalley, Kyra Whitton and Sword and Silk Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.