The setting was beautifully described and I could imagine the icy world perfectly. This book has shapeshifters, curses, romance, violence, you name it. I felt the ending was too quick paced though. But I loved Dira and rooted for her throughout the story.

Dnf’d around 20%. It wasn’t what I expected and I just couldn’t stand the main character. I tried picking it up again and made it another few minutes before I put it back down. Just wasn’t for me.

I don’t even know where to start with this. First, I think the synopsis that was released by the publisher is very misleading. From the description, the reader starts this book expecting that they will be reading a fantasy love story taking place in a magical arctic village.

Kyra Whitton builds this world where Dira Coon and her family are part of the patrollers who protect the village from polar bears. I think the premise had a lot of potential, but the author really tried to do too much. The initial half of this book seemed similar to the Encyclopaedia of Faeries, where both female protagonists were ostracized by their community for sympathizing with supposed enemies.

This book had potential to be a unique fantasy romance but unfortunately failed to reach its potential. From the description and the synopsis, the reader is under the impression that this is a fantasy adventure with polar bears. However, Kyra Whitton tries to do too much that this story ultimately falls flat.

For the length of this book, the author tries to cram so many different themes, genres and tropes that the book feels like a Frankenstein attempt at a fantasy adventure mixed with climate change, immortal were-polar bears and dystopian futures. I was lost at some points due to the lack of thorough world-building, which relies too heavily on the reader to make a lot of jumps and assumptions about certain facts of this world. The dystopian element to this novel just felt unnecessary and made the world feel even less believable. I could not get the ultimate message or narrative the author was trying to make because she was trying so hard to stuff this story with so many messages. Is it a fantasy adventure? Is it a dystopian fantasy climate fiction? Is it a fairytale? It is all and just wayyy too much.

My other issue with the book is the character development of the main character. Dira’s fatal flaw in the book is to act rashly and to not consider the danger for herself or those around her. She doesn’t learn anything or grow from the adventure. There was no true development of the main character to signify that this journey was a coming of age tale, if anything, I think she learned to be just as stubborn or bull-headed for everything because the people around her will come to save her. Everything will be okay as long as everyone in your life is by your side to support you.

I was rooting for this book and wanted to enjoy this adventure, but I felt that I was pulled in so many directions as a reader that I just didn’t enjoy the ride.

First and foremost thank you to the publisher Sword and Silk Books along with NetGalley for providing the eARC. My opinions are my own and given freely and honestly.

I wanted to love this book so much after reading the description it sounded very interesting and the cover caught my eye as well. Unfortunately, I found A Burden of Ice and Bone to be lackluster and snail-paced slow. I am one to love a slow burn romance but this book took it to a new level of slow burn. The book in its whole was very well written and descriptive of the world around the MFC. It just wasn't for me in the end.

So I received this book early from NetGalley and I was so intrigued by the cover and the description of the book.

I thought that the book was slow at times but that being said I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is as far as I know a stand-alone book not in a series or duology. It wasn’t my typical fantasy books that I read. Very minimal fantasy if I’m being honest but it’s done in such a fun way.

The story itself gives me kind of beauty and the beast but also and it pains me to say it but shrek vibes. So the male main character is cursed and changes during the day and turns back at night. Unlike the curse in beauty and the beast and shrek this isn’t truly broken with true love. By the end of the book I was crying it was such a cute sweet happy ever after. I loved the main character she was so relatable and I felt for her throughout the book. It’s a nice easy enjoyable book, I would highly recommend it.

a medium 3/5

this is a cute little polar bear beauty and the beast style story (with a little of psyche and eros thrown in). Dira is an eco-warrior at heart and desperate to prove polar bears are not human killing machines.

the wintery setting is interesting but could have been leaned on a little more. the plot and characters here are a little lacking and i was hoping for some quality prose to stand out instead, but alas, it was not to be. any description was half-hearted and while i understood vaguely what buildings were meant to look like i definitely wasn’t immersed in the world.

there were moments at the beginning where i was very confused about when exactly this book takes place. there’s rifles and walkie-talkies but seeing machines are some relic of the past? it is eventually explained a little better but i still fail to see how all modern technology just suddenly became useless.

to start with, Dira is selfish and impulsive and does not seem to realise her actions have consequences that she must deal with, and thinks no one else will back her on anything because they just don’t understand. at the end of the book… dira is selfish and impulsive and does not understand consequences but she’s ✨in love✨ apparently.
i’d love a smidge of character development, this felt too short and rushed.

Valemon also utters about 7 words the whole time and is bare minimum nice and it works?? give me his torment over living with creatures he once despised. give me apathy now that he’s lived so long. give me ennui. give me hatred of the woman who made him this way. give me SOMETHING.

given that i still regularly feel heart broken over a different beauty and the beast retelling i know they can be done well, but i think this missed the mark. the beast is by far the more interesting character to explore, but in order for his redemption to be satisfying i need to know how far he’s fallen.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read but I had a few issues with it. I really liked the premise of this story, the setting was immersive and I did want Dira to succeed in her mission. However, the pacing was off at times, sometimes it was very slow going and it felt like not much happened, and then I found the ending to be quite rushed, I would have preferred it to be developed more. I also found Dira a very irritating main character, although I was rooting for her at times, she spent most of the book convinced she never did anything wrong and everyone just treated her unfairly. While at times she was right, she was also a very flawed character who refused to accept advice from anyone else, which I found frustrating to read. I preferred the side characters to the two main characters in this book, I feel like I would have liked them more if they had communicated with each other properly instead of being cryptic and keeping their thoughts to themselves. Overall, I found this book interesting to read, it had a unique storyline, well developed locations and a twist I didn't see coming. Despite the issues, I still enjoyed the book.
3.5 stars rounded down.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book....

I really couldn't get into this book at all. I don't like the characters. And it was very boring... it took me all most two weeks to read it. A very disappointing book.

"Sometimes, the hardest step is the one most needed."

I really liked this fantasy romance book. A journey through ice and bears and snow. A journey through self discovery, curses, love, loss, friendship and complicated family dynamics. The fantasy aspect of it all was more than intriguing and the FMC, despite her moments of frustration, was a good lead for this story. I really liked the MMC, even though he had his own irritating traits, but overall he was someone I could easily fall for (as in fact I did). The pain, suffering and emotional journey Dira goes through was one I really liked and enjoyed getting through!!! The family relationship and the mystery behind the bears and their connection with the story and the people was fascinating. I have to admit that it took me a while to get into the book but I can’t complain because overall I had a good time.

"Fear always brings out the worst in us all."

I loved this book, polar bears are my favourite animal and I love a good fantasy book so I was excited to read this. Dira the main character shows amazing development throughout the story and o felt like I watched her grow. I enjoyed the slow burn romance with Valemon and the build up to the curse reveal. I think there needed to be a bit more detail on the curse itself as it wasn’t too clear what the curse was and I felt the breaking of it was a bit quick compared to the rest of the novel. However I loved the idea of this book, I enjoyed learning about the characters and the world and I think I would recommend this to lots of friends.

The book offers a delightful and heartwarming romance with elements of a coming-of-age story.
While the last 200 pages of the book were more enjoyable, the ending and the final conflict felt rushed and could have been developed a little further.

Our FMC, Dira, is compelling and portrayed as sensitive and emotionally expressive. Her love interest, Valemon, is well fleshed out and avoids problematic behavior, although educating Dira on the dangers of being alone would have been beneficial. The development of the romance between Dira and Valemon is very well written and heartwarming.

However, the world-building aspects and supporting characters could have been better developed. The setting beyond Willioughby doesn't feel fully realized, and the supporting characters lack detail. Despite these flaws, witnessing Dira's personal growth while staying true to her beliefs is enjoyable.

This was a cute story with an environmentalist message to it. I loved the usage of polar bears, since I feel like they aren't very common in stories. My one complaint was that Dira came across pretty dumb at some points, but that may have just been her impulsivity. Elements of Beauty and the Beast, Brave, and even a bit of Moana (because I must compare everything to Disney movies at all times, I know).

This was an okay read. Polar bears are most certainly and interesting take I’ve not ever seen. The character development was minimal, and the romance was the speed of a snail. It’s beyond slow burn. The FMC got on my nerves. While I didn’t enjoy it completely I’m sure this is great for someone else.

In some ways, this was a story familiar to me, perhaps an old Norse myth, revised from a dystopian perspective, in which the men fighting over territory with white bears are those who have survived pandemics and famines. I did not like the characters all that much, however, and somehow the ending seemed rather rushed.

Per qualche verso, questa era una storia a me nota, forse un vecchio mito nordico, rivisto in un'ottica distopica, in cui gli uomini che si combattono il territorio con gli orsi bianchi, sono quelli che sono sopravvissuti a pandemie e carestie. I personaggi non mi sono peró piaciuti tantissimo e in qualche modo il finale mi é sembrato piuttosto affrettato.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Loved this story so much!!! I give it 4 stars because I was expecting more about it. Don't get me wrong, it's such a nice story and good plot.

"A Burden of Ice and Bone" transports readers to a chilly, Scandinavian-inspired world where polar bears are both feared and hunted. Dira, our fearless protagonist, challenges her village's beliefs by forming a connection with these majestic creatures, leading her on an unexpected adventure.

The boo sets a captivating backdrop, drawing readers into its desolate landscapes with vivid imagery and immersive writing. Dira's unapologetic authenticity shines through, though her impulsiveness may test readers' patience at times. The family dynamics add depth to the story, portraying the complexities of love amidst conflicting beliefs.

However, the rushed ending leaves something to be desired, wrapping up conflicts too quickly and lacking the depth needed for a truly satisfying conclusion. Despite this, "A Burden of Ice and Bone" remains an intriguing read with its unique setting and gentle romance. While it may have its flaws, it's still worth considering for fans of fairy tale retellings looking for something a bit different.

A Burden of Ice and Bone is a lovely standalone fantasy novel with a unique Beauty & the Beast retelling. The story starts off with the main character, Dira Cloon, who is fascinated by polar bears even though everyone else around her is determined to kill them to protect themselves. There is one particular polar bear that she finds herself drawn to, so she decides to follow the polar bear in an attempt to get information to show the townspeople that they might be wrong in their assumptions.

This was a really enjoyable story with a refreshing take on a well used plot and a unique world setting. I really enjoyed watching the romance bloom and you really find yourself liking Dira. She is not one to shy away from situations and I really enjoyed that it wasn't just another damsel in distress. The story is well developed and the last 50 pages really leaves you gobbling up the words because you want to know what happens and things move quickly.

I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

A Burden of Ice and Bone is a standalone fantasy novel set in an icy, harsh world. Dira Cloon has always been fascinated by the polar bears, even when everyone around her is determined to kill them to protect the town. There is one polar bear in particular that she's drawn to, and one day she decides to follow him and to try and change the minds of the townsfolk.

I really liked the setting of this book - it was original and harsh, and not what it first appeared to be. So that was a refreshing change for a fairytale reimagining. It also had a gentle, closed door romance in it. I found the book really easy to read, and liked the protagonist, Dira. She did tend to throw herself into situations without thinking but I liked that she had a backbone and stood up for herself, and she had agency rather than letting the story just happen to her.

I wish that the ending of the book had been a little longer, and more detailed. Without giving away any spoilers, I thought that everything happened very quickly in the last 35 pages and I would have liked a bit more time in that section to understand what Dira was feeling. I lost track of the time periods a bit, and didn't get a sense for how much time had passed and how Dira spent both her days and nights.

I enjoyed the book, particularly the different setting, and thought it was a very easy read, but I would have liked to spend a bit more time in that final section of the book before everything was wrapped up so neatly. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy fairytale retellings with a clean and gentle romance.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

A good book to start your reading journey with, did it keep my spellbound and wanting to come back for more, unfortunately not. Would I still recommend it, yes, just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean other people won’t love it

Thank you NetGalley and author Kyra Whitton for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"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.

Embark on a breathtaking journey with Dira as she uncovers a cursed life more beautiful than the one she leaves behind. In Kyra Whitton's mesmerizing novel, "A Burden of Ice and Bone," readers will find a gripping tale of self-discovery, courage, and love in the heart of a magical, frozen world."

Though this have unique fantasy theme. I enjoy reading this book.