Blood Metal Bone by Lindsay Cummings is a great read. I was nervous atbfirst going into this book but what a wonderful story this one was.
The characters were great, Sonara was amazing here. This book had so many twists I never saw any of them coming. The writing was outta this world. Cummings did a wonderful job with this story and I can't wait for book two already!

HQ Young Adult,
Thank you for this eARC.
I will post to my platforms close to pub date.

After reading the description my thoughts were “ok I want to know more about these shadowbloods” Being completely honest I almost put the book down early because I was not expecting an alien abduction. I decided to keep going because I had no idea where the story was going and I’m glad I did! The story is very different from anything I’ve read but I did enjoy it!

Where to start on this wild ride between the sands of the beaches in Soreia, to the blistering desert ocean sands of the Deadlands or the endless void of space on the Starfall. This story drew me in to the very end. Amazing character written and woven together like pieces to a beating heart. World building was perfect amount, the magic system was unique and well thought out. This was my first Lindsay Cummings book and wont be the last. Definitely recommend to any fantasy reader out there.

This was a pretty interesting and an enjoyable read for me. I was hooked on to it since the very beginning. I loved the exceptional word building, the amazing plot line and whole the set up. It’s definitely a full 5 stars read.

This was an awesome book! There was a lot of information to learn based on the world and the different “powers” each character had, but the author wrote the book so well that I felt like it was easy to keep track of who is who and what they can do. This book was action packed and I would suggest it to anyone!

This is a Young Adult novel that has a marvelous venture into the fantasy/Science Fiction genre. I loved this book. It is the perfect combination of fantasy and science fiction together into one fantastic read. The charcters are all richly drawn to the story . I can honestly say I was unable to part with this book until it was completed. The author artfully crafted so much action that you will be compelled to keep turning pages, lose sleep and tell all your friends.

The creation of Sonora is brilliant She is a outcast living outside her society surviving any way she can. Her beloved Brother taken from the earth she never stops seeking a way to find him. Her family blames her and cast her out. She finds a rowdy gang of thieves to be part of to steal to survive. I loved her tenacity to reinvent herself in spite of her hateful family. She finds she has magical powers and uses her powers for her survival. Her magic proves useful and she works to steal from the King, is jailed and freed by her gang and their amazing dragon. She is accepted in her band of thieves and good at her craft.. She is simply a amazing charcters. This was such a fun read I wish it was not a stand alone. Well done to the author .

Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher. A fantastic read I highly recommend.

Where to even start with this story…it was AMAZING! Words can’t even describe the praise I want to give to this book! As I was reading it, I could tell a lot of work went into this to make the plot just right. It flowed perfectly. I enjoyed every minute of it. I couldn’t stop reading and just wanted more. The characters and plot twists were so well done. The descriptions were beautiful and realistic. I loved the world-building and the ending was great. Highly recommend!

At the time I'm writing the review, the average is 3.37 stars, which I would not normally pick up. However, I'm really glad I did read this one because it's a super interesting fusion of genres. Medieval fantasy x western x sci-fi outlaws. It was a nice, fun read for an afternoon, but in the days since finishing, I've lost a lot of the content, with just some interesting vibes left behind.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishing house for allowing me to read this e-arc in exchange for honest feedback.
5 stars
Holy cow was this good. This was just a spare of the moment pick and I'm so glad i read it for the month of May. I will be surprised if this isnt on my favorites of 2022.

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Blood Metal Bone by Lindsay Cummings is an interesting blend of fantasy and sci-fi. The story revolves around Sonara, who has been sentenced to execution for her brother's murder. Instead, she becomes a Shadowblood, a being with magical powers, banished from society. Sonara becomes a thief known as the Devil of the Deadlands. Will Sonara be able to survive in the perilous society?

Here is an enchanting excerpt from the opening chapter:

"Soahm came as he always did: unannounced and disguised in a cerulean hooded cloak that did little to conceal his true identity.
Everyone knew the Crown Prince of Soreia.
He stood a few paces away, a pale mare nuzzling at his pocket, trying to uncover the hidden wintermints he’d purchased on his latest journey to the neighboring kingdom of the Deadlands. Soahm’s azure hair and eyes, deep as the sea, were the mark of Soreian purity; a trait that had passed down from generation to generation, marking the worthy from the not.
“If I were you,” Soahm said as he stroked the mare’s nose with a bejeweled hand, “I’d consider it a blessing that mother doesn’t look upon you at all. Some days I swear the goddesses are punishing me beneath her wretched stare.”"

Overall, Blood Metal Bone is an amazing sci-fi adventure that will appeal to fans of Jupiter Ascending.. One highlight of this book was the nonstop action. I was also a fan of the reveal at the end, which I wasn't expecting at all. I did take off 1 star, because there were points in the middle where I wasn't sure where the plot was going, which didn't really keep my interest. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy or sci-fi, I recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!

When a book claims to remind people of Leigh Bardugo’s “Six of Crows” and/or SJM’s “Throne of Glass”, I hear a kind of claxon go off inside my head. You know, it kind of sounds like that noise whenever stuff is about to get serious in “Kill Bill”? I’m pretty sure you know that sound. It’s the sound that says to me in Admiral Ackbar’s voice, “It’s a trap!”

There’s only so many times a scifi/fantasy novel can claim they’re like Bardugo or SJM before a reader just starts to become weary and wary of the claim. This is why I have trust issues (this will be my epitaph, I swear).

While nowhere near being like SJM in terms of, well, anything, “Blood Metal Bone” does have a a little bit of a Bardugo vibe. But it’s only a touch. Other than that, it’s its own animal, and I actually think Cummings and Harper 360 should be proud of that fact. About 1/3 SciFi and ⅔ fantasy, it’s the first honest SciFi/Fantasy blend I’ve read in a long time. Usually it’s either/or, but this book is largely a fantasy with a sprinkling of scifi thrown in that’s largely justified by a fascinating technological divide between alien civilizations. This disparatation, along with the usual themes of colonialism and imperialism that come with one alien civilization with more resources believing they are superior to another and therefore have the right to pillage and plunder, make up one portion of the overall story arc. The other portion of the plot of the book is taken up by themes of second chances at life, found family, resurrection, and of saving your planet from being torn apart by those who wish to strip its resources.

While the writing of this book is pretty standard for the genre, it’s the characters and world-building that stand out. The main characters have the vibe of being kind of like a D&D party, but they’re all morally gray. They might save your life, they might steal your knife. Their rough and tumble camaraderie is full of trust issues and strife, but they keep together just the same because all they have is each other. There is no one else like them. They’re outlaws, and they like it that way. They’re full of wounds both internal and external, but their wounds fuel their power. We’re all molded by our experiences, and the extreme trauma these characters went through shaped them into who they have become as well.

I also love that it’s a standalone novel. I still think there should be more of them. I will gladly sit through a more than 500 page standalone novel than read 2 or 3 novels that could’ve been trimmed down and streamlined to craft a much tighter and deft story.

All in all, I recommend it. It’s not knock-your-socks-off fantastic-to-the-max, but it’s a solid hybrid read in the genre.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper 360, and HQ Young Adult for granting me access to this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Blood Metal Bone, written by Lindsay Cummings, follows some adventurers through space as they race to find their freedom, and take some revenge.

I loved the writing in this novel. This kept pushing me through, and honestly, I think this was one of the more fun reads I've had lately. There is an adventure, there is heartbreak, there is redemption, and I think this book does a great job of melding science fiction and fantasy.

There are a lot of characters and plots going on in this book, to the point that I don't want to risk mentioning any of them and ruining something for the reader. But, if you are alright with books written from multiple perspectives and are up for a science fiction adventure novel, I think this is a fantastic choice. Cummings has created a universe that is captivating, and I am so sad that this is a standalone novel.

I loved this book was super excited to read it and it did not disappoint its full of action and honestly could not put it down and the characters were amazing.

Blood Metal Bone is an epic fantasy sci-fi that takes place in a short period of time for such a big book. It was suspenseful, had lot of action, several plot twists, some really amazing shockers I didn't see coming, and strong characters. There are lots of characters, locations, and time periods to keep track of. I was confused initially, but once I got engrossed into the novel, it all made sense. There is a reference list in the front of the book to explain characters and locations. I actually did not need to refer to it surprisingly. Character building was done very well for the troupe of main characters. I got a great sense of who they are. This book has amazing world building on the most grandiose scale. Breath taking and imaginative. And the names of everything is interesting. Carcass Coast, Crooked Cove, Deadlands, Gunshot Bluff. Very creative.

The unique magic was interesting. I like how each character employed something different. The sci-fi elements integrated well with the fantasy. And it was funny how the planet people described the human elements that they didn't have knowledge or names of. A bit of comic relief. The found family trope and family bonds was executed well. Although, I didn't understand why the main characters kept allying with someone that they know deceives all the time. IRL eventually that person would be cut off, family or no family. Also, one pivotal character disappeared in the midst of action and was never talked about again until the end. And I am still reeling from the beginning scene of Sonara's death events and what happened to Soahm. Utterly shocking. Can't stop thinking about it.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Definitely recommend.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and a physical copy from the publisher Harper 360 in exchange for an honest review.

This is a unique setup that can be surprising and/or jarring if unexpected and it would likely be better to present upfront in the synopsis the unusual genre mixing. From what is presented one expects a YA fantasy world in the sense of the familiar construct of semi-medieval monarchy with no real tech and underlying magic. However there are alternating viewpoints between the heroine in this familiar world and then swaps to a another viewpoint in a world with a sci-fi feel. Some may take issue with these disparities but it’s fantasy why not make it as fantastical as possible? With that in mind it’s easier to go on the journey that is this book knowing at least somewhat what to expect. The mystery of what will happen next lures one through the story arc like a trail through the forest that you can’t see the end of. My only critique is a more thorough synopsis and some more solid world building upfront. 4.5/5

3.5 stars Rounded up

This book threw me off a little when I first started reading. It is a Young Adult Fantasy/ Sci-Fi story. It started with medieval castles, horses, and swords for weapons and then switched super quickly to advanced technology, international space travel, and weapons beyond imagination instead, which was pretty confusing at first. After reading about seventy-five pages into the story and getting the plot straightened out, I found that I liked the mix of new and old, it gave the book an interesting twist. It actually reminded me of the Movie Avatar a bit but with magic. This story was full of action, heartbreak in spades, and a couple of good surprises thrown in. It follows mainly two perspectives, one of which is Sonara, who is a shadowblood, which is a type of magic that I thought was a unique take on how characters develop magic in this world, her life is spent on the run after she is accused of murdering her half-brother the prince. It follows her desperate mission to find out what really happened to him. This book was full of heartbreak, betrayal, and suffering so just be aware there are quite a few trigger warnings. Overall, while I did enjoy this book, I found it a little hard to get into at first and some areas a bit confusing and jumbled, but still a good time.
Trigger warnings: abuse, torture, imprisonment, murder
I received this advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

Relentless thrill ride, the action never stops. Engaging fantasy adventure, a "mini epic" if you will. Intertwined storyline weave a complex tale rich in characters, emotion and intrigue.

I love the way Lindsay builds this world and the characters that she has built into the world. A great read!!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding in this one. Strong characters and interesting premise, I would read more in this world!

It’s a rare book that has such a surprise, it makes you pause and reread the synopsis. These sorts of things don’t always go so well, but Cummings does it well. I actually couldn’t put the book down until I was sure we were still reading the same book and I figured out what was going on. Frankly, I ain’t mad at it.

Our heroine is wonderful. I love the darker powers here and that tragic past, which you would think would make for a big meanie of an MC, but there’s a good balance there where we can really see why her character is the way she is.

The magic and the world building were phenomenal, and I think a really unique take where we’re starting to see the same setting and magic systems recycled. Cummings took something a little out of left field but made it comfortable for readers like me who rarely stray out of their comfort zone.

Overall, I probably wouldn’t go out and buy a physical copy for myself, but I’m happy to have read this. I would say it’s a good book for YA fantasy readers who want to dabble in something unique without the whiplash of an entirely new genre.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this eARC! All thoughts are my own and given honestly.

I loved this book! I was very excited to read it when I first heard about it and I’m so glad that I enjoyed it so much. It did not disappoint! The beginning is full of action and tension that keeps you reading and asking questions. The characters are great and you want to root for them the whole time. I thought the setting was so well done, the descriptions of the landscapes are captivating and add another layer to the book. The mix of fantasy and sci-fi was really cool! Overall, the story was fast-paced with a great cast of characters and wonderful writing! It was a fun read!

This thriller was exactly what I expected in the sense that I was intrigued from page one and could not put it down!
Great book characters were intriguing ! Highly recommend