The Bone Maker

The Bone Maker

  • Downloads:2343
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-04-29 10:51:01
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Sarah Beth Durst
  • ISBN:0062888633
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor—a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones。 But victory came at a tragic price。 Only four of the heroes survived。 

Since then, Kreya, the group’s leader, has exiled herself to a remote tower and devoted herself to one purpose: resurrecting her dead husband。 But such a task requires both a cache of human bones and a sacrifice—for each day he lives, she will live one less。

She’d rather live one year with her husband than a hundred without him, but using human bones for magic is illegal in Vos。 The dead are burned—as are any bone workers who violate the law。 Yet Kreya knows where she can find the bones she needs: the battlefield where her husband and countless others lost their lives。

But defying the laws of the land exposes a terrible possibility。 Maybe the dead don’t rest in peace after all。  

Five warriors—one broken, one gone soft, one pursuing a simple life, one stuck in the past, and one who should be dead。 Their story should have been finished。 But evil doesn’t stop just because someone once said, “the end。”

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Reviews

Yavanna Hallam

3。5 starsLoved the concept and enjoyed this fun, light YA fantasy。 The start dragged for a bit and I would have loved more detail and exploration of the magic system and some characters (Jentt, Strange, Ekleor)。 In saying that Kreyas character leapt off the page and was so vivid and rich in detail。

Faith worrll

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Goodreads Faith Goodreads 4Trump

Chelsey Reeves

DNF at about 20% 🙄 this was not really what I had in mind when I picked this up。 Not an adult fantasy at all and the cover made me think it’d be dark?? The characters were boring and I just couldn’t pick up steam with this。

MLite506

Awesome! I love it。 You can join in NovelStar writing contest with a theme "WEREWOLVES" Prices are amazing!https://author。starlight。ink/essay/in。。。 (PC)http://app。novelstar。top/index/index/。。。 or email any of the following editors;hardy@novelstar。topjoye@novelstar。toplena@novelstar。top Awesome! I love it。 You can join in NovelStar writing contest with a theme "WEREWOLVES" Prices are amazing!https://author。starlight。ink/essay/in。。。 (PC)http://app。novelstar。top/index/index/。。。 or email any of the following editors;hardy@novelstar。topjoye@novelstar。toplena@novelstar。top 。。。more

Ashley P。

This was a fun jump back into reading after my month long reading slump。 It wasn’t perfect, and I had a lot of things I didn’t love, but it was still enjoyable。 My big hang-up was that this felt like book 2 of a duology。 So much history and info-dumps on the Bone War of 25 years earlier。 It could have been it’s own book and then make this plot book 2。 I also wish it had been maybe 15 years instead of 25 since the war。 These characters acted like they were in their late 20’s or early 30’s and not This was a fun jump back into reading after my month long reading slump。 It wasn’t perfect, and I had a lot of things I didn’t love, but it was still enjoyable。 My big hang-up was that this felt like book 2 of a duology。 So much history and info-dumps on the Bone War of 25 years earlier。 It could have been it’s own book and then make this plot book 2。 I also wish it had been maybe 15 years instead of 25 since the war。 These characters acted like they were in their late 20’s or early 30’s and not at least in their 40’s or 50’s like they were。 At one point Zera says “Yay!” And I imagined my mom saying it and cringed。 Same point with Jentt and Kreya。 Is she like 50 and he is still 25?? Those little bothers didn’t make me hate the book but it for sure took a 4 star down to a 3。 The magic system in this is really interesting。 I loved how they carved bone talismans。 Also the weird animal hybrid things in the rivers and jungles were so fun to read about。 。。。more

Darcia Helle

I’m way behind on my NetGalley books (sorry!), so I opted to listen to this on audio via Scribd。 The narration is excellent and kept me engaged throughout。The Bone Maker presents thought-provoking content on what it means to have power over life and death。 While we glimpse other bits of bone magic throughout the story, the focal point is this power and the resulting moral dilemma。Pacing is slow, but intentional rather than meandering。 We spend a lot of time deep-diving into the relationships bet I’m way behind on my NetGalley books (sorry!), so I opted to listen to this on audio via Scribd。 The narration is excellent and kept me engaged throughout。The Bone Maker presents thought-provoking content on what it means to have power over life and death。 While we glimpse other bits of bone magic throughout the story, the focal point is this power and the resulting moral dilemma。Pacing is slow, but intentional rather than meandering。 We spend a lot of time deep-diving into the relationships between the five heroes, as well as looking back to see the price each one paid for the war they fought。 While this worked for building drama, I felt the slow pace lessened the tension and sense of urgency regarding the situation at hand。I liked that Eklor was a complex villain, whose evil deeds could be understood on some level, rather than a typical evil villain。The world-building isn’t all that intricate。 We’re given enough detail to visualize aspects of the land, though I felt like I was missing pieces when putting it all together。 Also, I didn’t get any sense of the “average” people in this multi-tiered land。 I would’ve liked to understand more about them and how they felt about bone magic。Overall, an entertaining listen that I felt stretched out too long in some areas, while coming up short in others。 。。。more

Jess

A little cliched, but good nonetheless

Jane Schwarz

Many years had passed since the Great War when Eklor, a famous Bone Maker raised an undead army to conquer the land。 A group of warriors led by Kreya, fought, killed the bone maker and defeated his army。 The area where all the dead lay unburied was walled off and the Forbidden Zone was left alone。 In the years since then, Kreya had become a recluse, living with her constructs and the body of her dead husband Jentt。 She learned how to bring him to life using bone, blood and part of her life years Many years had passed since the Great War when Eklor, a famous Bone Maker raised an undead army to conquer the land。 A group of warriors led by Kreya, fought, killed the bone maker and defeated his army。 The area where all the dead lay unburied was walled off and the Forbidden Zone was left alone。 In the years since then, Kreya had become a recluse, living with her constructs and the body of her dead husband Jentt。 She learned how to bring him to life using bone, blood and part of her life years, but it was always temporary。 She now decides to go to the zone and gather enough bones to resurrect him permanently。 She goes there with her friend and warrior, Zera, but they soon learn that there is still a hidden army of the undead and that Eklor is still alive。 They need the others to go and fight the evil that they thought they defeated, and again become the Heroes of Vos。An entertaining adventure fantasy with extensive world building and fully realized characters。Thank you Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this e-galley of "The Bone Maker"。 。。。more

Telthor

Just all around fun, honestly。 rtc probably。

John

It's a great premise, but the character development wasn't well executed and I didn't really connect with any of the main characters。 It really detracted from my ability to get immersed and enjoy the story。 It's a great premise, but the character development wasn't well executed and I didn't really connect with any of the main characters。 It really detracted from my ability to get immersed and enjoy the story。 。。。more

Ally

Overall, I thought this was a refreshing take on a fantasy adventure with fleshed out characters and lots of action。 This book begins after the initial adventure ended - the warriors won their battle against a genocidal maniac but with a cost that main character, Kreya, is unable to recover from。 Desperate to bring her husband back from the dead, she goes in search of human bones which sets the whole story into action。 The magic system was unique and creative; all of the magic revolved around bo Overall, I thought this was a refreshing take on a fantasy adventure with fleshed out characters and lots of action。 This book begins after the initial adventure ended - the warriors won their battle against a genocidal maniac but with a cost that main character, Kreya, is unable to recover from。 Desperate to bring her husband back from the dead, she goes in search of human bones which sets the whole story into action。 The magic system was unique and creative; all of the magic revolved around bones with some users being able to read the past, present and future in bones; some using bones to enhance speed, strength and other abilities; and some being able to make creatures out of bones。I had a couple of minor quibbles。 There was a bit of a jarring change of pace after the initial bout of action。 It was needed for the overall story but at the time, it did feel like the story ground to a halt for a while。 The only other issue (and like I said very minor) was the scale felt off in the story。 Everything seemed too close together。 A lot of the story revolves around this forbidden zone where the main villain fought his initial battle and which is littered with the corpses of his dead creations; however, it seems to be less than a day's journey away from the main capital。 The dangerous forest takes less than a day to traverse。 For a fantasy epic like this, I would have appreciated more scale but I get that this was done to probably keep the story moving。Overall, I really enjoyed this book。 The writing was strong, the characters were strong and the ending was satisfying。 。。。more

Jill Heather

I've always enjoyed Durst's books (and still am sad about that never to be finished series) and this is no exception -- a bunch of adults who, when much younger, were the heroic band who killed the Big Bad and now are older and have grown apart, but come back together for another fight。 I've always enjoyed Durst's books (and still am sad about that never to be finished series) and this is no exception -- a bunch of adults who, when much younger, were the heroic band who killed the Big Bad and now are older and have grown apart, but come back together for another fight。 。。。more

Tracy Fox

DNF

Rachel

I didn't expect to like this book in the beginning, but I was wrong。 And happy to be so。First of all, the world is refreshingly different from most other fantasy worlds I've encountered。 It's just so strange in a way, with the monsters in the valley reminding you of Jurassic Park and then cable cars。 Even magically powered, it's not often that you see technology blended with magic in such a way。 The world's not developed to an extensive degree, but it's enough to work。The magic system is unique, I didn't expect to like this book in the beginning, but I was wrong。 And happy to be so。First of all, the world is refreshingly different from most other fantasy worlds I've encountered。 It's just so strange in a way, with the monsters in the valley reminding you of Jurassic Park and then cable cars。 Even magically powered, it's not often that you see technology blended with magic in such a way。 The world's not developed to an extensive degree, but it's enough to work。The magic system is unique, original, and interesting。 The characters are a delight, Zera especially。 The banter here is actually funny instead of cringe-inducing, but maybe that's because the characters are all adults rather than teenagers in a YA book。I loved the idea and the scenes with the giant statues and little rag dolls。 You'd think they'd be creepy but they steal your heart。We're made to care about these characters and when something bad happens, we feel it。 It's interesting to see the characters wrestle with moral dilemmas and ask difficult questions。 The book explores how far the characters, and we the readers by extension, would be willing to go and what we'd be willing to sacrifice for the people we love。 Anyone who has ever experienced loss knows how tempting what Kreya faces would be。 We understand her loss, desperation, and loneliness。 I thought the concept of telling the story that happens after what would normally be considered "the main story" was interesting。 It feels like this story deserves a prequel of what happened before, but not having one in this instance is kind of the point。My only issue is the language。 It just seems odd for a fantasy world to have the exact same swear words as our world。 It jolts you out of the story whenever you come across it。 Some words, I think, work no matter what world they're in, but others don't。 Some of them just seem too modern to fit in a fantasy world。 But that's a minor thing at the end of the day when the rest of the story makes up for it and it has the characters to carry it。 。。。more

Hwango

Eh。 I liked the idea of revisiting the legendary heroes who had retired from heroism。 And。。。that's about it。 I wasn't entirely certain how the setting worked。 Like, if the whole place runs on magic powered by bones, why isn't there a more efficient process for harvesting bones? How much time and effort does it take to carve the necessary runes into the bones? Because we have several situations where people carve the necessary runes in a matter of minutes, which makes it seem like they're not tha Eh。 I liked the idea of revisiting the legendary heroes who had retired from heroism。 And。。。that's about it。 I wasn't entirely certain how the setting worked。 Like, if the whole place runs on magic powered by bones, why isn't there a more efficient process for harvesting bones? How much time and effort does it take to carve the necessary runes into the bones? Because we have several situations where people carve the necessary runes in a matter of minutes, which makes it seem like they're not that hard to make, but allegedly this a skilled profession? Also, the legendary heroes are a D&D party。 Like, we're not even trying to pretend they aren't。 I felt like we had the same "that's a serious accusation and the only reason we aren't arresting you right now is that you're legendary heroes" scene like five times。 It got very old very quickly。I got so sick of the word "talisman。"The ending didn't work for me。 I'd complain about that at greater length and in more detail, but spoilers。The only other book I've read by this author is "Race the Sands," which I enjoyed and which I thought had a lot of original ideas, and so I was very excited to read this。 So this was a big disappointment。 。。。more

Amy Judd

I loved everything about this book! I purposely read it slowly just to make it last。

Syntha Green

Every book is a new world with wonderful characters springing forth。 Sarah Beth Durst will always be a must read for me。 This was a bittersweet story, a story of what happens to the heroes from the days of yore。 Heroes that have songs written about them and have grown older living their lives, those who survived that is。

Hannah

Not as good as her Queen of Blood series, but for a stand alone, it is quite well done。 I found myself speed reading to reach the end of the book。 I wish I had a ragdoll construct😭

Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard

3。5/5

Shannon

This kind of felt like a second book instead of a standalone。 I would have liked to learned more about the characters back story, especially the villain and how the character came to defeat him the first time around (Maybe there will be a prequel someday)。 But I still really enjoyed the story and the characters。 Interesting magic system and an intriguing plot。 I'm becoming a big fan of Sarah Beth Durst。 I liked her Queens of Renthia series and now this standalone。 I am going to check out her bac This kind of felt like a second book instead of a standalone。 I would have liked to learned more about the characters back story, especially the villain and how the character came to defeat him the first time around (Maybe there will be a prequel someday)。 But I still really enjoyed the story and the characters。 Interesting magic system and an intriguing plot。 I'm becoming a big fan of Sarah Beth Durst。 I liked her Queens of Renthia series and now this standalone。 I am going to check out her back list and look forward to any future books she puts out。 。。。more

Cebrina

This was a good book--more worthy of 3。5 stars than the 3 I could give--but to me own great frustration, I struggled to get really into in。 I read it in fits and starts, and it wasn't until the last third that I was truly caught。 It's annoying, because it really does have many of the hallmarks that I usually look for。 First, let's look at what I did like。 The way grief and trauma were portrayed was one of the best parts of the book。 From holing up, to drowning oneself in work and partying, to st This was a good book--more worthy of 3。5 stars than the 3 I could give--but to me own great frustration, I struggled to get really into in。 I read it in fits and starts, and it wasn't until the last third that I was truly caught。 It's annoying, because it really does have many of the hallmarks that I usually look for。 First, let's look at what I did like。 The way grief and trauma were portrayed was one of the best parts of the book。 From holing up, to drowning oneself in work and partying, to starting over, to stumbling and falling。 There was no one way to deal with either grief or trauma, no one "truth"。 The characters reacted differently because they were different people--with different skillsets, too--and it was refreshing to see such variation in dealing with the after effects of war and loss。 To that feat is of course the portrayal of the individual characters; there was never a moment of doubt about who they were, or even who spoke when there was no explicit sign-posting。 They were all clearly defined and reacted in ways that were incredibly believable to themselves。 As we followed Kreya the most, she's the one we got to know best, and thus also why we were drawn into the greater moral dilemma of the text: with great power, where does your responsibility end? Does it ever? Who are you even to claim that power? And even then, if you do not want the responsibility, is it alright to shrug it off? Zera might've been my favourite, especially because she got to lash out and act out despite her moral core。 I wish we'd gotten to see a little more of here--and of the other main characters。 Stran had the least, (view spoiler)[perhaps because he was the most well-adjusted of them all (hide spoiler)], Marso spent much of the time doubting himself (and thus would've taken us in circles, narratively-speaking), and Jentt's inner journey was more aimed at (view spoiler)[coping with Kreya's choices (hide spoiler)] than with the world at large。 As such it makes perfect sense for Kreya to have been the main PoV, but because Zera's world-view was so different from Kreya's--despite many of the same values--it would've been great to get just a bit more of that contrast。 The bone magic system itself was very intricate; the different types were well-developed and the limits and 'payment' for each were very always well-defined。 I really liked that the book started with showing us just a little bit of magic, and then steadily made it grander and grander。 It also followed the action, which (view spoiler)[started from a small, personal mission to a nation-wide one。 (hide spoiler)]And yet, despite these triumphs, there were also things that made me stumble。 One of them was a general sort of wondering about the kind of climate that this was all set in。 It may just have been me overthinking it, but there were times it felt like it took place in a European-inspired mountain/valley area, others were it felt more tropical, and others almost Tibetan。 Could've also been just Aotearoa-inspired。 And yes, I am definitely overthinking it now。 Another thing that frustrated me was that the cultural landscape didn't feel all that well-defined in my head。 It was all very homogenous and not always as detailed as I'd have liked, but this might also be just a personal preference than a stricly objective one。 It just felt like nothing really existed outside of four locations, even though Kreya and Jentt made mentions of such places at the end of the book。 Lastly, and this may be petty: it needs to become standard for fantasy novels to provide pronunciation guides。 Not just this book, but all of them, especially when the names are made up specifically for one book-world。 I hope to read this book again, not just because I usually like books better the second time I read them, but also because I did wonder if my reading experience was coloured either by being in a slump or by just having different expectations。 Nothing a re-read won't make clear。 。。。more

Danilo

Review in one word: WOWI knew Sarah Beth Durst through her Queens of Renthia series, which was really good。 So when I got the news from Goodreads, that there is a new book from her, I took a look into it。 The bone magic sounded interesting and the setting - starting 25 years after the final battle - was intriguing。 Sure, that's not something entirely new, but after only 25 years there are still lots of people around, who remember the dark times - not only a few 3000 year old elves ;)So I started Review in one word: WOWI knew Sarah Beth Durst through her Queens of Renthia series, which was really good。 So when I got the news from Goodreads, that there is a new book from her, I took a look into it。 The bone magic sounded interesting and the setting - starting 25 years after the final battle - was intriguing。 Sure, that's not something entirely new, but after only 25 years there are still lots of people around, who remember the dark times - not only a few 3000 year old elves ;)So I started the book, but I was not prepared for how mind-blowing it was。There are two things I want to highlight here。First, I liked the pacing very much, which has much to do with the "journey parts"。 The prototype of traveling in fantasy is something like: The hero(es) go somewhere to do what they are there for。 The way to that destination is full of danger and incidents。 But the journey back is happy and uneventful and normally half a page at most, as if there is no other danger around anymore。 (It's a bit simplified, but I think you know what I mean。)In The Bone Maker the heroes have to travel from time to time。 Sometimes something happens, sometimes not。 It doesn't matter if it's the journey there or back again。 And I still have the feeling I am told everything that's important。 Second, the characters are so well written。 I believe every word they say and thought they have。 It doesn't matter how much POV-space they get in the book (or if they get any at all)。 I laughed and cried with them; I cared for them; there inner conflicts made me think。 And that's exactly what I love most in excellent books。Of course there's still more to The Bone Maker, but this is already my longest review in quite some time。 So either this convinced you or not。 I would suggest you give it a try。 。。。more

Wendy

What I like about Sarah Beth Durst's novels is the world building and characterization。 She has a fantastic imagination and wonderful ideas that make for an interesting place to spend some time in。 Her characters are not 'cookie cutter' or typical and they are complex and flawed。 That being said, this was not one of my favorites。 For one, I thought she could have spent a little more time on world building。 Maybe a prologue that included the big battle, or maybe more information on how all the bo What I like about Sarah Beth Durst's novels is the world building and characterization。 She has a fantastic imagination and wonderful ideas that make for an interesting place to spend some time in。 Her characters are not 'cookie cutter' or typical and they are complex and flawed。 That being said, this was not one of my favorites。 For one, I thought she could have spent a little more time on world building。 Maybe a prologue that included the big battle, or maybe more information on how all the bone wizardry stuff works。 Next, I didn't like the bad language in this book。 I don't like the F-word but not only that I just found in out of place and jarring in this fantasy world。 I felt like it was more thrown it to say "Oh hey! This is an adult book not YA"。 I can get that it's for an older audience without multiple uses of the F-word that seemed out of place。 。。。more

Tracy

I think this is an exceptional fantasy novel :) First, it was a good read, definitely hard to put down。 Second, I like what happens with the "heroes"。 I only catch glimpses of the Marvel world when my kids are watching, I don't sit down for many full length movies, but I think this was more "real"。 Heroes are hurt, heroes die (Ok , so they got brought back to life, but with a little more sacrifice than you normally see ;) )。 Everyone questioned their own motives, except for Eklor, but he was a s I think this is an exceptional fantasy novel :) First, it was a good read, definitely hard to put down。 Second, I like what happens with the "heroes"。 I only catch glimpses of the Marvel world when my kids are watching, I don't sit down for many full length movies, but I think this was more "real"。 Heroes are hurt, heroes die (Ok , so they got brought back to life, but with a little more sacrifice than you normally see ;) )。 Everyone questioned their own motives, except for Eklor, but he was a sociopath anyway, not sure why he was so hung up on his wife and kid。 Many times, decisions were made for the good of the many, and through group decision, not one person throwing themself into the void, which also happened, but you get that。。。。 One hero was extremely weak and changed buy circumstances after their battle, it happens in real life too。Very good feels, love the story。 Interesting use of bone magic 。。。more

Kerry Bennett

I like all of Sarah Beth Durst's books but I particularly liked this one!It has all of the regular elements in her/fantasy books:- Meticulous but not clunky world-building 。。。 you don't have to spend the first few chapters trying to understand their vernacular or names - Powerful women characters, including women who can be villains and/or morally complicated- Witty dialogue; there's always at least one laugh-out-loud character- A meaningful throughline of the connections, and limitations, of ma I like all of Sarah Beth Durst's books but I particularly liked this one!It has all of the regular elements in her/fantasy books:- Meticulous but not clunky world-building 。。。 you don't have to spend the first few chapters trying to understand their vernacular or names - Powerful women characters, including women who can be villains and/or morally complicated- Witty dialogue; there's always at least one laugh-out-loud character- A meaningful throughline of the connections, and limitations, of man/nature/humanityI liked this especially because the heroes are all middle-aged, grappling with everything that means - legacy, time, self-perception, regret, and compromise。 It's both "what happens after the heroes triumph" as well as "how do you make the most of the time you have left? what will you sacrifice?" 。。。more

Annelien

Fun read with lots of originality!

Christopher Lewis

Entertaining, standalone fantasy read; good old fashioned quest by a band of heroes。 Not complex, but not simple either。 Just a good hearty read!

Clarisse

4。5 stars total

WJ

Sarah Beth Durst is one of the most reliable fantasy writers that I've come across, because I truly enjoyed The Queens of Renthia series。 With The Bone Makers, I'd hate to say that I judged a book by its cover but I was definitely a little hesitant to pick it up because its cover seemed pretty foreboding。 However, I was looking for a standalone fantasy novel to read and since the ratings for the book were quite decent, I thought that I'd give it a shot。 And I'm glad that I did because it was a t Sarah Beth Durst is one of the most reliable fantasy writers that I've come across, because I truly enjoyed The Queens of Renthia series。 With The Bone Makers, I'd hate to say that I judged a book by its cover but I was definitely a little hesitant to pick it up because its cover seemed pretty foreboding。 However, I was looking for a standalone fantasy novel to read and since the ratings for the book were quite decent, I thought that I'd give it a shot。 And I'm glad that I did because it was a totally intriguing premise - what happens after the Chosen Ones beat the bad guy? Where do heroes go after they've saved the day。After the heroes had supposedly won the day, each of them had gone their own ways。 The novel mostly takes place in their leader, Kreya's, perspective。 We are told that the laws of Vos forbid the use of human bones for their magic but Kreya is breaking the rules by using the dangerous knowledge that Eklor had gathered in order to revive her beloved, Jentt。 Aside from using the forbidden magic, she is also paying her own terrible cost: But this。。。this was different。 She wasn't giving him the power of the bone like she did with constructs。 Here she was using the bone to give him what was inside her。 That was the key, and the secret, of the resurrection spell。For each day he lived again, she would live one day less。 Kreya believes that the best place for her to gather the human bones was their last battlefield with Eklor, where many of their own had died。 In order to do so, Kreya seeks the help of Zera but the latter is prickly from the years of estrangement。 It is also then that we learn more about the heroes' past and how their reputations supersede them: "You've all heard the legends。 There were five of us, tasked by the guild master to eliminate the threat posed by the rogue bone maker Eklor。" She held up one finger。 "Kreya, our bone maker, a rising star in the guild, chosen for possessing a power that could rival Eklor's - if she lived long enough to hone it。" A second finger。 "Zera。。。that's me, my loves。" Her audience cooed appreciatively, and Kreya rolled her eyes。 "Bone wizard。 Unknown until then, but soon to be unrivaled。" Third。 "Marso, a bone reader, with a unique gift of seeing that truth of the past, present and future that far exceeded the skills of other bone readers。" Four。 "Stran, a warrior with experience in using bone talismans to enhance his already prodigious strength。" And five。 "Jentt, a reformed thief, who specialised in using talismans of speed and stealth to win his battles。" But what exactly does bone magic refer to? As far as the guild was concerned, there were only three types of bone workers: bone readers, who used animal bones to reveal the future, understand the present and glimpse the past; bone wizards, who created talismans out of animal bones that imbued their users with strength, speed, stealth, and other attributes; and bone makers, like Kreya, who used animal bones to animate the inanimate。 Ships, weaving machines, cable cars。。。all the advances of the past centuries had been fueled by bone makers。 In her quest to revive Jentt, Kreya realises that Eklor might not be as dead as they expect。 And even though the heroes want nothing more than to put their past behind them, they may be the only ones that can save the day again。The Bone Maker is a very well-written fantasy that is both quiet and epic at the same time。 It can be quite a quiet novel, about the heroes that have aged and have more to lose than their younger selves。 Furthermore, their relationships are more complicated and they have a collective trauma from the loss of lives in their last stand。 However, it can also be epic in its scope, when it explores the ethics of being heroes and the ethical lines that Kreya has crossed herself in reviving Jentt。 (view spoiler)[ Especially when it comes to defeating Eklor, who seems to have wormed his way into the politics of Vos and who has managed to convince everyone else of his remorse。 Yet this is merely another scheme for him to try to destroy Vos。 (hide spoiler)] 。。。more

Lata

A terrific read with a well-thought out necromantic system, and eeewy-but-oddly-not eewy descriptions of this system in practice by all the characters, and wonderful relationships amongst the five members of the gang who saved the world, all of whom were interesting and sympathetic。I particularly liked how Sarah Beth Durst explored friendship and love, and what people will do for these, in this violent, post-we-saved-the-world-and-who-are-we-now-25-years-later story。