**The Road of Bones – 4.2 Stars**

If you’re craving a Viking-inspired romantasy with an addictive plot and sizzling romance, The Road of Bones is exactly what you need. At over 600 pages, I expected some slow moments, but I was hooked from start to finish. The balance between plot and romance was masterfully done—if you come for one without the other, you might feel the pacing is off, but together? Perfection. The slow unraveling of secrets kept me on edge, and while the worldbuilding could have been stronger, the sheer intensity of the story made up for it.

Silla, our main character, was a breath of fresh air—naïve at times but never insufferable. Her growth was a highlight, especially in the second half, where she truly came into her own. Now, let’s talk romance. Jonas? A walking red flag. The tension was hot, but his controlling nature was a hard pass. Rey, on the other hand, *chef’s kiss*. He was the perfect balance of tough and soft, treating Silla as an equal rather than someone to possess. Their slow-burn dynamic, full of tension and longing glances, was everything.

Beyond the romance, the Bloodaxe crew was a standout, bringing humor, camaraderie, and heart to the story. The battles, the eerie creatures, and the gradual reveals kept the stakes high, making this an unforgettable ride. While the magic system felt underdeveloped, it didn’t take away from the sheer fun of this book. If you love angsty romance, Viking aesthetics, and tension-filled banter, this one’s for you. Book two can’t come soon enough!

This was a surprising read for me! If you enjoyed A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle L Jensen, this you’ll enjoy this was well.
I genuinely enjoyed our FMC Silla, I love reading an FMC who isn’t this magnificent warrior with a secret natural talent for fighting despite never having touched a weapon. I love seeing an FMC who is fearless and REAL despite their disadvantage in the world they’re born into. I love seeing an FMC work with determination and ferocity towards their goals. Silla was the star of this show. Her only negative attribute I feel was her naivety. HOWEVER, naivety forges hard lessons learned.
I am a sucked for the found family troupe so the bloodaxe crew really filled that spot well in my heart. The author really combined and executed a lot of popular tropes really well, and I would recommend this book. I will also plan on purchasing the following the novel because I NEED to know what happens next!
My only cons for this was the pacing at times. It did hit that mid book lull that a lot of books have, where it feels like nothing of importance is happening. But you gotta let the author cook, because overall I found everything satisfying ✨

Did this book reinvent the romantasy wheel? No
Was it still a good time? Yes
A common thing I find in romantasy books is inconsistent pacing with the plot. This definitely struggles with that but I enjoyed the characters and the overall plot and I'm very excited for book 2.
I think this did a good job of balancing the fantasy plot lines with the romance plot and that is one of my biggest pet peeves of romantasy books these days.

VIKINGS!?! okay, I'm hooked. I liked my romance on the run and forbidden too. The author starts out super strong and ends 100 times better it took me a while to finish this and i think thats because this could have been shorter. This reminds me of six of crows with Anastasia elements and it was very fun in some parts! Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this! The plot was really interesting and I loved all of the characters and their dynamics with each other. So excited to read the second book!

The Road of Bones has a solid foundation with impressive world-building, but it ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying story. The author puts a lot of effort into creating a detailed setting with Viking-inspired vocabulary, but many of these terms are introduced with little context, leaving the reader confused. The world-building introduces interesting ideas, but they aren’t fully explored or tied into the plot. It feels like the author focused more on creating a lexicon than on building a cohesive world.

For much of the book nothing much happens. The plot is weighed down by numerous side quests that lead nowhere, leaving loose ends and unanswered questions. The characters, though flawed and with potential for growth, never really develop. The romance feels forced and trope-y, appearing to fill the void left by the lack of plot development. What could have been an enemies-to-lovers story instead feels like a filler, disconnected from the rest of the narrative.

Despite some action in the last 10% of the book, the story fizzles out, and the ending doesn’t effectively set up a cliffhanger. There’s no resolution, and many side plots remain unfinished. The pacing and lack of progression left me uninterested in continuing with the series.

This book suffers from the seemingly more and more common trend of stretching stories into multi-book series for profit, even when there isn’t enough plot to sustain it. With its unresolved subplots and underdeveloped characters, The Road of Bones would have been more effective as a standalone. The promise of an intriguing world and characters falls flat in the execution, making it hard to recommend despite its potential.

Viking romance meets fae magic! This book was slow to a start but def picked up towards the 30% mark!

An interesting Viking-inspired fantasy filled with adventure and a unique world! The first in a series, the story follows a woman on the run from the Queen's assassins and must travel the dangerous Road of Bones and encounters a group of mercenaries.The story is a bit slow paced but the overall book was a good read! I definitely liked the slow burn romance.

I love a Viking romance! It’s refreshing in a world of fae these days. A bit slow but improved. Pretty good, just didn’t hit right to get a full five stars.

The was a amazing story , immediately need the next one please, better yet send it now 😅. The romance on this book, the character development, the magic was so amazing , the story superb. Cannot wait for the next installment

Road of Bones is a high fantasy romance with Vikings. When our main character Silla's father is killed she is forced to travel the Road of Bones on her own. Not only is Silla not trained to handle the wild animals of the woods and the groups of warbands out to get her, but in his last breath her father told her he's not really her father at all. With more questions than answers and a Galdra assassin on her tail Silla must convince the Bloodaxe Crew to take her to Kova and try not to lose herself or her heart in the process. This book contains found family. hidden identity, a slow burn romance, and betrayal.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the Bloodaxe Crew and Rey. I can't wait to see how the relationships play out in the next book, and I'm excited for Saga's pov.

The biggest problem I had with this was the pacing, The book is slow going except during the fighting scenes which were few and far between especially with Silla running away every time so we didn't get to really experience them.

Fabulous first book! I've been craving more Viking-esque stories and this one fits the bill. We follow Silla as she pursues safety and peace, finding more than she bargained for along the way.

I loved:
Author's portrayal of disabilities/inclusivity (prosthetics, sign language, etc.) as well as the invidious nature of addictions and lies. The themes of trust, loyalty, and friendships were beautiful and messy (realistic!).

I disliked:
Excessive (to me) F*bombs that many times felt a bit forced and pulled me out of the story. The world is violent and crass by nature, so it wasn't unexpected, just felt like too much for my liking.

Overall the story kept me hooked through to the last sentence. I'm looking forward to where the series leads.

This was a great new fantasy novel. I had heard nothing but great reviews before reading and it lived up to the hype. I appreciated the Norse/viking setting- it is refreshing to read in fantasy. I can’t wait to read book 2!

VIKINGS???? immediately sign me UP. enemies to lovers on top of that? YES. PLEASE!!!

the last 1/4 of the book was a RIDE, i would like book 2 immediately.

*The Road of Bones* by Demi Winters is a captivating debut novel that immerses readers in a Viking-inspired fantasy world filled with adventure, complex characters, and rich world-building. The story follows Silla Nordvig, a woman on the run from the queen's assassins, who embarks on a perilous journey along the treacherous Road of Bones. Her path intertwines with the notorious Bloodaxe Crew, a group of Viking mercenaries led by the brooding Reynir Galtung. As Silla navigates this dangerous landscape, she uncovers secrets that could change everything.

Winters' writing is both engaging and immersive, drawing readers into a world where danger lurks at every turn. The novel skillfully blends elements of fantasy and romance, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant. The character development is particularly noteworthy; Silla's evolution from a woman on the run to a central figure in a larger conflict is both compelling and believable.

The dynamics within the Bloodaxe Crew add depth to the story, with each member bringing unique qualities that enrich the narrative. The relationships among the crew members, especially the slow-building romance between Silla and Reynir, are portrayed with nuance and authenticity.

While the novel has received praise for its engaging plot and character development, some readers have noted that the pacing can be slow at times, particularly in the early chapters. However, many agree that the story picks up momentum as it progresses, leading to a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, *The Road of Bones* is a standout debut that combines gritty action, compelling characters, and deep world-building. Demi Winters has created a dark and enthralling fantasy that will appeal to fans of Viking-inspired tales and readers who enjoy complex, character-driven narratives. This book is perfect for those seeking a fresh take on dark fantasy with a strong emphasis on mythology and found-family themes.

DNF at 60%. I’ve been trying to get into this for months and I just can’t. The writing style and world building is great but the relationships to me all fall flat. This had so much potential in the beginning but lost me completely after so much back and forth. It’s clear there’s supposed to be a grand reveal/twist at the end but I don’t have it in me to wait that long. This isnt for me.

Thank you Demi Winters and Random house publishing for a free copy of the book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I went into this book with high hopes and expecting to love it because of the Vikings, Forbidden romance, secrets and a woman one the run. Boy was i not disappointed in the least. I truly and utterly devoured this book from start to finish. This book is officially my new obsession and i need more, like now pronto.

Silla is one of my favorites as a FMC. Shes not a warrior but any means but does truly have the heart of one. I love how fearless, bold but naive she is. I feel like this makes her more "human" in a sense. More relatable if you will. Shes fueled by not only pain but determination and it makes her a truly amazing character. At times you want to cry with her, push her, yell at her during her entire journey. Silla truly makes the story.

I loved the Bloodaxe crew. I a sucker and softie for a good found family trope, and this delivers on that. The majority of all the character are morally grey which was a nice touch, usually its not everyone in a book but grey is the only shade this story sees. Throwing in a delicious slow burn romance just adds another layer of spark we didnt know we needed. I love the multiple POVs, slow burn, hidden idenity, found family, viking inspire story so much. Im already craving the next book right now.

This one had me hooked from the start. The Viking-inspired world felt gritty and real, the stakes were high, and there was never a dull moment. Silla is a tough, smart heroine trying to survive while dodging assassins, and the Bloodaxe Crew is the kind of rough, dangerous group you want to read about. Axe Eyes is the brooding leader, and the Wolf… well, he definitely keeps things interesting. All of the characters are unique and although the focus is heavily on Silla, I enjoyed seeing her make friends with others in the crew or have banter with those members not quite sold on her.

The action and mystery were solid, but what really kept me turning pages was the tension—both from the life-or-death stakes and the slow-burn romance that simmers beneath it all. It’s got found family, twists I didn’t see coming, and just enough heart to balance out the brutal world. Definitely a five-star read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

I'm such a sucker for Norse mythology and themes, and this book definitely delivered on that. It was a bit longer than I would have liked, but the characters and their arcs were wonderfully written. The descriptions of everything (characters, setting, fighting, etc) were so well done that it more than made up for the slight lulls I felt between plot points. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for the next book!

Road of Bones offers a fresh and unique take on the romantasy genre, set in a world filled with magic, vikings, and betrayal. The story follows Silla, a sweet but fierce FMC, who escapes tragedy and ends up with the deadly Bloodaxe Crew, where she grows into her strength in an organic and compelling way. The morally grey characters, unexpected twists, and strong side characters, like Hekla and Sigrún, add depth to the plot, though the shifting focus away from Silla toward the end can get a bit confusing. With a mix of secrets, heartbreak, and an unlikely found family, this book is a gripping, character-driven adventure that keeps you hooked.