I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity and encouragement to read The Road of Bones by Demi Winters. This book was easily one of the best books I've read this year. I was hooked, finding myself sneaking in pages whenever I could.

The Road of Bones weaves together Viking lore and magic, crafting a richly imagined world. The story is packed with vivid characters, each contributing depth and intrigue to the narrative with their POVs. The author has a gift for unexpected twists that kept me on my toes..

This book deserves more attention—I'm honestly surprised it hasn’t yet captured a larger following. It’s rare to find a Viking fantasy that’s this well done, balancing authentic historical elements with powerful fantasy. I loved every moment of it, and I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for their next fantasy read.

Really wonderful Romantasy book with amazing characters, fun banter, and an ending that will make you immediately dive into book two!

Tysm for the ARC! Really looking forward to anything else this author writes!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book was waaaaaay too long. The middle dragged and the road was never ending. I wish greatly that there was more enticing moments along their journey. The pacing was odd, there would be exciting moments and then slow for a while again. It felt like the same kind of conversations happened over and over again.

I couldn’t get a good grasp on Silla, or really any of the characters. They felt like cardboard characters to me. I hate feeling like I’m pushing through a book instead of enjoying it, and that’s what I felt like with this one.

If you are looking for a Viking romantasy than this one is for you!

𝙰𝚍𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚃𝙱𝚁 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎:
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Multiple POV
🖤 Hidden Identity
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Touch Her And ☠️
🖤 Lies and Betryals
🖤 Nicknames

I absolutely love Demi's writing style. She has a way of building a lush world and characters with depth. Each character has their own trauma/pain and Demi has a way of making you feel for them. The first bit of the book is a little slower, but necessary to set up the storylines. I loved when they all started to come together.

I love that Demi not only focused on love interests but also a strong female friendship. The women of the Blood Axe crew empowered and looked out for one another.

I loved this! The FMC was interesting and complex, really all the characters added a lot to the story and brought their own memorable and unique elements to the plot. It’s time for Viking warrior fantasy and this was a great addition to the genre. I loved the mix of types of people in this traveling warband and how they didn’t fit the typical stereotypes found in these types of groups in romantasy.

The world building was great, there were many layers including a magic system that is just beginning to be explained but has a lot of intrigue built up. The final twists were fantastic and have me so excited to see what secrets are unraveled in book 2.

Masterpiece! I could not put it down.

This book set the pace and the background for what will surely be a thrilling series. I rooted for Silla the whole time. The story is very different than most and the world building is beautifully done while still being easy to understand. I loved the nordic/viking aspects that existed in the background throughout the story. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment!

I loved this book. The beginning was pretty slow, but once it started picking up, the characters were everything. I love for slow burns and this definitely delivered. I’m looking forward to reading more!

3.75 stars***

This book is an exciting and promising start to a duology filled with fierce warriors, thrilling battles, and unexpected romance. Winters introduces us to Silla Nordvig, a resourceful and determined protagonist who must navigate the treacherous Road of Bones while being relentlessly pursued by Queen Signe’s assassins. By a twist of fate, Silla ends up hidden in the wagon of the Bloodaxe Crew, a notorious group of fierce warriors traveling the same dangerous road. As she spends more time with them, more pieces of her past life with her father unravel. But the Bloodaxe Crew, particularly its leader, Rey, has little tolerance for lies. Silla’s struggle to reconcile the lies she must tell the Crew with the secrets she’s been hiding threatens to dismantle everything. As she grapples with her identity, discovers shocking revelations about her past, and navigates a forbidden romance, Silla’s journey is one of growth, survival, and determination.

Though I had a bit of trouble getting into the book at first, by the halfway mark, I was fully invested. Winters excels at creating complex, layered characters you can't help but root for—even when they clash with the protagonist. Silla, in particular, is a standout: she’s brave, unyielding, and strong even without being a warrior. Her resilience and inner strength make her incredibly compelling and easy to cheer on.

That said, the world-building could have been stronger early on. The concept of the Galdra and the various types of Galdra isn’t fully explained until later, primarily through the character of Skraeda. A little more context earlier in the story would have helped deepen the reader's understanding of this important aspect of the world.

Overall, this book picks up beautifully as it progresses, and Winters has woven together a gripping storyline that leaves you eager to see what happens next. The stage is set for an equally thrilling sequel, and I can't wait to continue Silla's journey!

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Penguin Random House for the eARC!

This is may be my second favorite Viking romantasy I’ve ever read. This was such an intriguing read that kept me on my toes the last quarter of the book.

I am so excited that this book is getting the hype!
It is much deserved!
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🗡️Vikings (need I say more!?!😍)
🗡️forbidden romance
🗡️hidden identities
🗡️dangerous road trip
🗡️found family
🗡️banter
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Silla, running for her life, ends up in the wagon of the notorious BloodAxe Crew. In order to get to safety she must win over the members and get them to help her travel the Road of Bones.
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I really enjoyed this book and the BEST PART, book 2 is already out and I have it loaded and ready to go on audio!
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Thank you to netgalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!

The Road of Bones follows our FMC, Silla, who sets out on a dangerous trek after the death of her "father". Silla knows she needs to find some sort of transport and protection if she's to survive the Road of Bones and get to Kopa, where safety supposedly exists. So she decides to hide away in the Blood Axe crew's wagon - a band of warriors who are quite badass.

The beginning of this book is pretty slow, so I had a bit of a hard time picking up the book, but I like how it switches between POVs to keep the interest of the reader and to provide a bit more insight into some of the character's backstories and thoughts. Honestly, Silla annoyed me at the beginning as she is NOT a strong female protagonist, physically, or even emotionally. Yes, she was faced with a blindsided realization when her supposed father died at the very beginning of the book, but I wanted her to pick up the pieces and run rather than dawdle around. However, I love the cat-and-mouse chase that Winters sets up and I love the twists and turns following the Blood Axe Crew and Silla. Honestly, I can't wait to open the second book!

Silla is on the run, and ends up travelling with a band of mercenaries through a Viking inspired fantasy land. This book was a slow start, but picked up a bit later on as the action started. However, it did drag again at parts, and overall just felt too long. I also didn't really like Silla, which is never ideal when the book spends so much time in her head!

Not a bad read, but not one I'll go back to. Also probably won't continue the series.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy

Thank you to NetGalley, Demi Winters, and Delacorte Press for the advanced readers copy and the opportunity to read this book!

This book has been on my TBR for w while. Almost everything I have seen about it was nothing but raving reviews. You know a book is good when it goes from being independently published to traditionally published! And it's always good for the book, because the book will get read by even more readers!

I really loved reading this book and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series as it comes out.

This book is for you if you love:
*fantasy worlds based on vikings
*multiple POVs
*Dark and mysterious creatures of the woods
*Found Family
*Sunshine FMCs
*Hidden Powers

Thoughts about the book:
*I had a fantastic time reading this book! I especially loved that our main female character wasn't some magical human who suddenly became really good at fighting. She had to work hard to become mediocre at defending herself. But she was strong of heart. She cared, she pushed herself mentally. She is brave and smart. It is a refreshing kind of main character in a fantasy romance.
*I did get frustrated at the emphasis on how lying will not be tolerated under any circumstance. I was able to see how it created conflict and moved the story and characters and their choices forward. But at one point it was almost as frustrating as a miscommunication trope. Even though it wasn't miscommunication, it was the main character trying to keep herself and others safe, and lying because she herself didn't know the whole truth. This was totally redeemed near the end when one character admits that that is what she was doing, so I'm not mad about it. :)

A fast paced fantasy with a young girl trying to get to safety, and those that choose to help her along the way.

I really enjoyed this book and all that it entailed. The characters all had depth and were interesting, the world wasn’t too big but definitely took a bit to understand the magic that was outlawed, and I found the writing to be enjoyable and well paced.

Definitely a solid fantasy book I would recommend for those wanting one heavy on the fantasy and mild on the spice.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Demi Winters for providing this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was kindly sent this book and in the email, it was described as "perfect for fans of A FATE INKED IN BLOOD" by Danielle L Jensen. I absolutely loved that book, and was ready to dive back into the world of Norse mythology.

The characters Demi Winters created were so dynamic and complicated, full of layers and complexities. While the story started out slow, it felt necessary for the world building to be believable. I hate when books don't set up the world properly so the plot doesn't make much sense.

I can't wait to continue the story in the next book!

The Road of Bones is an exciting and engaging Viking inspired fantasy with plenty of swoony romance.

Silla is on the run once more. Constantly moving around with her father, they are heading to a new city when he is tragically killed. His last words to her were haunting - and revealed a truth Silla never expected. The Queen is after her, for reasons she does not know. Now alone in a land where magic is outlawed and punished by execution, Silla must find a way to reach Kopa, the city her father urged her to visit with his dying breath, hoping to find safety in a shield house. But the journey on the Road of Bones is long and treacherous, so she stows away with the Bloodaxe Crew, which may have been her biggest mistake yet. Jonas is alluring, and Rey is standoffish, but both are terribly lethal. Can Silla find her way to Kopa with the crew, or will she risk the Road of Bones alone?

The Road of Bones was a fantastic fantasy romance. The plot was engaging and fast paced, while the romance also picked up in the later half of the book. I enjoyed the Nordic/Viking setting and inspiration in this book. The worldbuilding was easy to fall into, and the characters were nicely fleshed out. Silla is a bit naive, but clever, and tries to win over the crew in her own way. The Bloodaxe crew made for an excellent found family - they have unique personalities that shine through - Jonas and Rey especially. I also really loved Hekla, too. I enjoyed the romance and tension in this book, and thought this was well done. There is a lot of mystery in this book as well - we get multiple POVs with characters who have a lot to hide, so we are figuring things out as the story unfolds. The storylines weave together nicely, and the ending had me on the edge of my seat! The twists and turns kept the story exciting and the mystery kept me guessing throughout. I am very much looking forward to Book 2 in this series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

I found myself thoroughly immersed in this book. One day I will figure out what the secret element is that makes me love fantasy where the romance is more of a supportive subplot, but there are very few books that I can enjoy without the romance being forward. This book however, is added to that short list. I found myself enthralled by the relationships of Silla and the bloodaxe crew. I was enamored with her plight and growth as she learned more about herself and managed through her addiction and anxiety. I LOVED how Demi was able to fully capture the inner thinking of several characters without it seeming too simplistic or annoying. Basically, this book has become an easy favorite and I am so ready to continue with their adventure in the next one!

The Road of Bones completely captivated me! This Viking-inspired, historical romantasy brings a raw, immersive world that pulls you right into the brutal landscapes of Íseldur. The detailed gore and intensity in battle scenes felt fitting for a warrior society, adding authenticity without any sense of shock tactics.

The magic system was fascinating; I’m really intrigued by the unique powers, and I can't wait to see them explored further in the next installment. Silla was an incredible protagonist. Her pain and determination are palpable and heart-wrenching, and I found myself tearing up with her journey more than once. The found family of the Bloodaxe Crew was a standout element, with characters like Hekla and IlÍas adding layers of warmth and camaraderie.

The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers tension between Silla and Jonas was beautifully developed, making each interaction a delight. Axe Eyes was another intriguing character—I’m eager to uncover more about his past and motivations. And Skeada? What a villain! She was fierce and relentless, adding a great sense of suspense to Silla’s journey.

This book left me totally obsessed, and I’m already counting down to the next one. A must-read for anyone who loves epic romantasy with a Viking twist!

(3.5 rounded up to 4)

“And at last, he understood: This girl might not be able to swing a blade, but she had the spirit of a warrior.”

A fun, Viking inspired fantasy.

What I liked:

Silla: I thought she was a great FMC. She was pretty sheltered, but had started to grow and come into her own a bit.

The Blood Axe Crew: Really enjoyed this little found family. Hekkla was my absolute favorite character of the group.

What didn’t work for me:

I do wish we got more world building. There’s a lot of this world that I don’t really understand, and I’m hoping that more will be explained in book 2.

Some parts felt like they dragged a bit.

Thank you to Delacorte Press for this e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.25 ★

First of all, thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing this ARC! I never read the indie-published version, but I really enjoyed this story.

I want to start by saying that I think comparing this book to Fourth Wing and When The Moon Hatched is doing it a bit of a disservice and also may be slightly misleading for readers. While I do think there will be some overlap in readership, I think this book had better world-building and has a much different feel than the other two books.

Into what I liked: one of the standouts of this book for me was following Silla as a main character. She’s young and somewhat naive, but she’s an active participant in her own story and I really felt like she developed as a person throughout the course of the story. This is only book 1, so she still has a long way to go, but it was a promising start. She was also a nice break from the sassy FMC archetype; she has a bit of a snarky attitude at times, but she’s overwhelmingly kind and caring, while also being strong in her own quieter ways.

I also really liked that there was a wider range of female characters and relationships between them- specifically that there was a quick friendship between Silla and Hekla, rather than the expected “female warrior hates ‘weaker’ woman who doesn’t know how to defend herself” dynamic. I thought the relationships in this book in general were varied enough to keep things interesting and dynamic, although I do wish we got more of Jonas and Ilías’ relationship, and actually just Ilías in general.

Speaking of character relationships- I fell right into the trap set for me in this book, though slightly unwillingly, and I was pleasantly surprised by the switch-up.

—— SPOILERS BELOW ——

I was uneasy about Jonas from the start, but I assumed it was just the usual romantasy situation. It was decidedly NOT that, and I was pleasantly surprised and captivated by where Winters took the story. I’ll be interested to see what happens with Rey in the next book, especially because I think there are things about him that will also be difficult for Silla, but I don’t feel like I can trust my gut anymore (in a good way).

Overall, I did really enjoy this and I will definitely be picking up book 2. I would recommend this one to readers who want Nordic-inspired fantasy but were underwhelmed with A Fate Inked in Blood (like me).