Review by Belle Cole
Simon & Schuster, June 2023
464 pages, Paperback, $21.99 CAD, 9781665910590
Young-adult, ages 14 up, grades 8 up
Fantasy
In the Dominions, where magic welled up from deep in the earth, the dead lingered – violent and unpredictable – unless a Bonesmith severed the ghost from its earthly remains… It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it, and Wren was only too happy to oblige.
To touch a ghost is to rot to death from the inside-out. There is no cure for the severely wounded – a reality that has haunted the people of the Dominions for ages. In order to combat this, the Dominions’ citizens have evolved the abilities to control the elements around them. Wren Graven comes from the House of Bone, where its people are able to sense and manipulate bone in order to protect against ghosts and sever spirits from their mortal bodies. The common threat of the undead and their zombie-like counterparts called “Revenants” plague the lands, making the House of Bone the central defense pillar in the country and the talent of bone most coveted.
All Wren has ever wanted is to become a ghost-fighting Valkyr and gain her father’s approval. When her Valkyr initiation trial goes sideways, she ends up exiled from the House of Bone and sent to a far-out military base where she sets out on a new path to get the things she desires most. When the cheeky, golden prince of the Dominions is kidnapped, Wren finds herself on a rescue mission, journeying into wastelands haunted by the dead and her country’s dark past.
One of the greatest strengths of this book is its world-building. The world of Bonesmith is amazingly vivid and creative, enhancing the exciting plot and ensnaring the reader’s attention from the very first page. Preto expertly writes in a way that engages her readers and takes their minds to a completely different universe right from the beginning. The world-building coupled with an excellent plot drove the narrative forward. From start to finish, Bonesmith’s storyline is thrilling, captivating, mysterious, and emotional. There are several twists and turns that made reading an exciting experience, its ending leaving me satisfied but wanting more. I was constantly on the edge of my seat!
Another strength in Bonesmith are Preto’s characters and character relationships. Wren is a great protagonist whose charisma is likeable, relatable, and inspiring. She has very complicated relationships with the people in her life and I especially enjoyed following along as she navigates through them. The dynamic between Wren and her closed-off, absent father fascinates readers as she zealously fights for his approval, which he grants and withholds in surprising and calculated ways. Similarly, her relationship with her enemy-turned-ally, Julian, is another definite highlight. When the hesitant and cautious Julian encounters Wren’s knack for mischief and adventure, the two put on a good show of butting heads while simultaneously challenging each other in ways that facilitate growth within them both. The bond they form through their alliance is sure to tug at readers’ heartstrings.
I did not know what to expect going into this book, but I was certainly pleased with the incredibly vibrant and imaginative page-turner it turned out to be. It is a fast-paced read that I could not put down, full of action, romance, emotion, surprise, and so much more. Bonesmith is a definite must-read for those who love dark, enemies-to-lovers YA fantasy, and for fans of Game of Thrones and Shadow and Bone.
Belle Cole is an English Literature and Creative Writing student at UBC from San Antonio, Texas. She is passionate about learning new things and proclaims herself a chronic “hobby-hopper,” regularly jumping from one hobby to the next. No matter her current obsession, her spirited love for reading, writing, and traveling remain ever constant.
YOUNG ADULTING 