After finishing The Bone Witch, I borrowed The Heart Forger audiobook ASAP.

WE KNOW WHO LIES IN THE GRAVE.

Hahaha, that reveal was incredibly satisfying way to end The Bone Witch, and the identity of the dead kickstarts The Heart Forger just right. I expected Chupeco to stop using the parallel timeline technique and was surprised when the format continued. That’s not a criticism—Chupeco uses it to great effect. In lesser hands, knowing the destination would decrease narrative tension, but Chupeco layers it on thicker than ever. The plot holes from the last book are addressed, and it turns out that’s what Tea wants to fix about her world. Nice.

Everything I adored about The Bone Witch is repeated and taken a step further in The Heart Forger. The themes, motifs, and characters are meticulously plotted, taking one logical step after another to achieve their goals. Certain characters come out as queer, and I love them. Chupeco again created a book that contains everything I admire about Young Adult high fantasy, and I urge you to read this series if you’re a YA high fantasy fan!