A review by hforsythe26
The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst

adventurous dark lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Starting 2023 off with a five star read... what could be better? I was a little skeptical going into The Bone Maker because I had previously dnf'd The Queen of Blood by the same author but I couldn't resist the synopsis and it seemed like there might be a lot of tropes that I normally enjoy, adult characters, interesting magic system (bone magic, so cool!), hero friend group... I am so glad I gave it a try! Absolutely loved it! I would describe it as Kings of the Wyld meets T. Kingfisher. The tone is light and fun, the dialogue is snarky and casual, and the characters are middle-aged people seen as "has-beens" that are forced into a somewhat reluctant comeback. That being said, the themes are actually pretty dark and it tackles some heavy moral questions. Very plot driven and fast paced without sacrificing character development. Definitely be aware that you'll need to suspend your disbelief and just go along with some moments that might have seemed a little too convenient in a more serious fantasy story. Overall, this was a fun read that kept me intrigued and also gave me some morally grey moments that I will be thinking about for quite some time.