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.

Extremely overdue review (I read this in the fall), but take that more as a reflection of my hectic fall schedule than anything else. Because in the months since, this book has honestly stayed with me, and now I'm excited to start on the second (hence for jotting down my review before diving in!).

Thank you, as always, to Delacorte and NetGalley for the chance to read early. I found this world to be so different from other romantasy books coming out now (fae especially), and quite unique, which was a breath of fresh air. Plus, I loved Silla and the way she sought out her own future. So often the FMCs are first weak, then bam strong powerhouses, but Silla's progression and time with the Bloodaxe Crew felt so organic. In fact, one of my only issues with the book was how it's now clear that we won't be focusing on Silla only anymore (no spoilers!).

Which is one of my reasons for the 3 stars. Another being that I found it a bit confusing over time to keep track of everything going on, especially when betrayals start piling up and then characters are on the run. 3 stars isn't bad - to me a normal rating for the first in a series, where so much world building and character intros are necessary - and I'm excited to see where book 2 heads next!

I adore this book.

We basically follow the FMC, Silla, as she runs away from tragedy and finds herself hiding in the back of a wagon that belongs to one of the deadliest gang of mercenaries known as the Bloodaxe Crew.

Silla is sweet, soft, and naive, but also persistent, personable, and fierce. And she grows throughout her journey which is just the best.

The crew, after deciding not to kill Silla, becomes an unlikely found family and some of my favorite characters in this story are the side characters! I want Hekla and Sigrún as my besties IRL.

Jonas and Rey are our MMCs who are sort of both vying for Silla's attention, but not in a traditional love triangle way.

And then there's a relentless warrior trying to hunt down Silla throughout the book.

Everyone is essentially morally grey in their own way and there are several twists I didn't see coming.

Road of Bones has magic, secrets, vikings, heartbreak, and betrayal; and is heavily plot- and character-driven with some spice sprinkled in.

I gasped multiple times, cried through an entire chapter and was completely shocked by some turn of events. I'm going to immediately dive into book 2. I think this will be a contender for top read of 2025 and it's still January!

I absolutely loved this fantasy romance! The characters, world building, pace, everything was perfection. The beautiful found family in this book was amazing, and such a great way for this trope to be represented. All the elements just fit together so perfectly, and the multiple POVs helped create excellent anxious tension for the characters. I can't wait to read book 2!

This book follows the main character Silla as she desperately tries to escape her current life in search of a safe place to call home. After the violent death of her father, and his disturbing final words, Silla must make a long journey alone to find peace. She finds a wagon headed the same direction, so she hitches a ride. Once discovered, Silla must find a way to convince this group of warriors to keep her along for the journey. While traveling the Road of Bones, a bond is created with this crew, but is threatened every day she keeps the story of her life secret.

The Road of Bones is a Viking inspired romantasy featuring some of my favorite tropes like found family and secret identities (so mant secrets!). Readers follow Silla, a sunshine FMC, as she flees for her life and ends up with a group of mercenaries whose favor she has to win. I really loved Silla as a lead - she has experienced trauma and loss, but uses her pain to keep moving forward and somehow remains kindhearted in a world designed to break her. I really enjoyed watching her form relationships with the various members of the Blood Axe crew as they travel the dangerous Road of Bones. I especially loved Hekla, a fierce female warrior with her own difficult past. This book is long-ish (over 500 pages) but kept me engaged throughout and the last 1/3 had me on the edge of seat.

3.75 stars. If you like Vikings, romance, and magic give this a try. Sometimes it felt like multiple stories at once, but it kept me hooked. There were some points that felt very abrupt or out of character. Good twists!

I was 30% through and I just had to stop. I just didn’t like it. I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you for this book!!!

I enjoy a good Nordic inspired book. And it fixed my itch while waiting for a cursed carved in bone. But now I’m dying to pick up the next one.

It took a while to finish this book, but only because work and life took over. I was constantly trying to get a few pages in to see what was going on with Silla!!!

I enjoyed her character and the side characters.

I’m not sure what it is about Nordic Fantasy but I am thoroughly obsessed. Maybe it’s the badass Viking warriors. Maybe it’s the strong females who hold their own just as well, if not better, than the men they fight beside. Whatever it is, I’m here for all of it and The Road of Bones was exactly the book I needed to cuddle up with in this cold weather! Because it is the first book of a planned series, it is technically a slow burn while we meet all of the characters and get to know the setting but it definitely works for this one. The action and adventure ramps up significantly around the 60% mark and by that time, I was completely invested in the characters and their wellbeing. There are some surprising revelations and the epilogue is epic! I cannot wait to start reading the second book!

The audiobook narrated by Islay Jacobs is an Audible Original and definitely worth the credit! She does a fantastic job with the voices and varying emotions from each character. If you’re an audiobook lover, definitely take the time to listen to this one!

This was a standout read! I loved how the FMC is a badass in her own way and manages to be soft and strong at the same time.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It might be long, but I wasn't bored for a single second. The romance? SMOLDERING! The plot? ENGROSSING!!! Love love loved it!!!