3.5 stars. I really wanted to love this more because the concept is great. The beginning started off super strong but the magic system and world building started getting super confusing towards the middle of the book. I had a really hard time staying focused while reading it, so maybe this is partially on me. I just felt like the rules of the magic were kind of all over the place and only made sense if it was convenient. At one point, I kind of just stopped caring about any of it and was reading for vibes. Towards the end, it made more sense and I think I have a grip of it now, but it took a while to get there.

Either way, I really enjoyed the journey even if it was confusing and am really looking forward to the next book to wrap up this story.

The first third of this book is just exposition dumping and there is so much expository dialogue :/ really detracted from me being able to get into the story. But the last third is fascinating. I cannot wait to read the next book

TikTok got me

I read this book because of a TikTok and I am SO glad I did! It was a LOT of world building in the beginning but then once the action started I was hooked!

True rating 4.5

I absolutely loved this! I found it original and exciting. The characters were immediately distinct and I found myself attached to all of them. The plot is a non stop intriguing rollercoaster and I was sad to end. Luckily I have the next book to look forward to.

Thanks to SimonTeen at Yallwest for allowing me to roll the biggest D&D dice ever that led me to winning Bonesmith as an arc!! Y'all are the best!

This is my first book by Nicki Pau Preto, and it was simply fantastic!! We follow Wren, a bonesmith, who is trying to prove herself to her family, but more importantly her father, by going on a journey in the most dangerous lands that exist in that world. She is joined by Julian, an ironsmith, who has been betrayed by his people for unknown reasons. They join forces and learn that maybe their people are not enemies as they've both been told.

Bonesmith is a book with a lush world and a fascinating magic system. We're exposed to most of the various magical abilities in this world, including bonesmiths, ironsmiths, goldsmiths, and learn about silversmiths, woodsmiths, etc. This book kind of reminded me of Avatar mixed with that one scene from Lord of the Rings where Aragorn goes to recruit the army of ghosts for the final battle. Ghosts are prevalent throughout the book and there are different levels to ghosts and their abilities. There's also certain ways to deal with the dead that prevents their bodies from forming ghosts, but bonesmiths are needed to protect the world from ghosts from the past and from those who didn't dispose of their dead properly. This is where Wren comes in. She's a bonesmith, but within bonesmiths there are two different types: reapyrs and valkyrs. Reapyrs are the ones who find the core bone of the ghost and the valkyrs are the ones that fight the ghosts to protect the reapyrs. Guess which one Wren is?

Wren is a headstrong, stubborn, reckless, and fun main character to be in the head of. Does she make decisions that make me want to scream? Yes. But do I understand the reasons why she makes those decisions? Also yes. You're on a journey with her and you see her grow from being stubborn and reckless out of spite to being stubborn and reckless with a purpose. That purpose allows her to be more aware of her surroundings so she's not jumping into situations blindly anymore.

Julian is an emo boy that has trouble with his feelings. We didn't get many chapters from his perspective, but the few that we did? The angst was palpable, friends. Same with Leo. He might be charming and carefree on the outside, but on the inside? Ouch. Again, angst was there in multitudes.

All three of our main characters are so compelling and the way that they interact with each other had me in stitches.

Spoiler

The comment that Leo made toward the end about all of them having family issues out the wazoo made me snicker. It's true though!! All of their families are fucked up and betrayed them to the nth degree.

In terms of pacing, the beginning was a bit slow and I was wondering when the plot was going to pick it up, but it was necessary to build a solid base of world building so you could understand the rest of the book and what both Wren and Julian discover. But lemme tell you, once the plot starts it doesn't slow down. I almost couldn't put the book down after page 100, and I binged the last 200 pages like a mad woman.

The book is a thick one, but I loved every single page. The writing was compelling and I almost wanted a bigger page count with how the plot was turning out. I seriously love everything about this book and I wish I could meet Nicki in person so I could sing her praises. I'm a Teen Librarian at my local public library and once this book comes out will quickly be added to our collection.

Now I'm upset because I won the arc at Yallwest, and now I have to wait even longer for the sequel and the way it ended?!?!?! Kill me. Kill me now. Me and Nicki need to have a discussion.

Happy Reading!!