Stunning photo by @onetruedaydreamer
Hello fairy friends!
Happy Monday and welcome to day 1 of our readalong of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto. I’m so excited to be reading this one with you, I hope you all love it!
Before we get into the book, how are we all doing today? I hope you all had a wonderful weekend full of great books and relaxing vibes!
Since today is day 1, we’ll be reading from the beginning to the end of Chapter 8. Let’s get comfy and cozy; grab yourself a blanket, a mug of tea/coffee and let’s get started!
When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the beginning of the book. Happy reading!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto from the beginning to Chapter 8. Please only read on if you have finished this section!
-!SPOILERS!-
We start with an instantly captivating first chapter that throws the character and us as the reader, straight into the thick of it. Firstly we are introduced to our main character Wren who is a Valkyr and is about to compete in the Bonewood Trial; where she and reaper Sonya must pass safely through the Bonewood, reaping three ghosts along the way before dawn. Immediately the stakes are high, as are my nerves… anyone else?
Can we also just take a moment to appreciate the descriptiveness of this kind of terrifying world? I mean the line “The sun had set, the sky inky black and riddled with stars – the Gravedigger’s hour was upon them. Any moment now the sickle moon would crest the would be trees.” on the very first page had me sitting up straighter and eager to read. I was instantly HOOKED! The vivid depictions immediately created in my head of this world had me both excited and a little scared… As a big fan of spooky season I am loving that the world building and lore in this book is centred around ghosts and magic. And let’s not forget about the totally hardcore armour and swords made out of bones? My halloween-ghosty-loving heart is happy. What do you think of this world so far? Although I must say I don’t think the Bonewood is a place I’d like to take a late night stroll. Would you be brave enough to?
Okay so we all agree our main character Wren is totally awesome? She’s a Bonesmith, someone with the ability to fight the ghosts that now roam the dominion after the breach. She is looking for an opportunity to impress her often absent farther by becoming a Valkyr, solidifying her place in the noble House of Bone. Now I don’t know about you guys, but if fighting ghosts is your day job then you’re automatically pretty cool and interesting (as well as a little scary). I love how in just the first chapter alone I feel like we get to know so much of our MC’s personality- headstrong, resilient, goes in *swords* blazing, and fierce! But we also see that she is someone who just wants to belong and impress people in a dark and competitive world where duty comes above anything, even your life.
A character I instantly developed a bit of a dislike for is Inara Fell AKA “mortal enemy and cousin” according to Wren, anyone else? There is clearly a tense and maybe even sinister rivalry and energy between them and my gut was telling me to not trust Inara. Something that became very obvious very quickly is that the term ‘friendly competition’ does not exist in this world. It is brutal, calculating and dark. The quote “They were linked by magic, not love. Duty, not affection. That was the way of House of Bone.” really cemented that for me. Although I must say the dynamic between characters is superrrr interesting in this word, you can’t really trust anybody. I was immediately suspicious of Inara making that bet at the start. The stakes already felt intense but then Wren had to agree to the bet and I was internally screaming because of course it was too good to be true! I’m sorry Wren but that was very dumb move and of course you where going to get tricked. Although I was surprised by Sonya’s role in this trickery and now I’m wondering what Inara has on Sonya to make her betray Wren the way she did? and leaving Wren in a hole? Oooooft that’s harsh. But oh nooooo things just had to get worse for Wren because then we get page 39; Wren is in the fight of her life down in that hole which turned out to be a mass grave?! Our MC really doesn’t have the greatest luck does she?
So not only did things go from bad to worse for Wren; getting betrayed, tricked, trapped in a mass grave with level 3 ghosts and finishing last in the Bonewood trial, alone. She is then also exiled for her failure, with no chance of telling her side of the story as well as as her ancestral blade being taken from her. Why was her grandmother so reluctant to listen to her? Was she always looking for a way to get rid of her? If so why? Something more is going on here, I don’t trust the Grandma (I never thought that would be a sentence I would type) but alas here we are. Also the ship being called castaway? Nail in the coffin for her self esteem. Poor Wren!
As we move on to chapter six, Wren arrives at the Breachfort where we are introduced to Odile; the highest-ranking Breachfort Bonesmith and former reapyr of Locke Graven, Wren’s late uncle. Through Odile we find out a little backstory about Wren’s family as well as a little more information on the history of the Breachfort. Her first few weeks there are uneventful with no undead to fight and Wren is becoming restless until an opportunity presents itself. A PRINCE is coming to visit. Say no more – I just know things are going to get goooood. Wren finally has an opportunity to prove herself and to a prince at that! Although I must say I am very suspicious of the lack of undead so close to the breach… something is brewing and in this ruthless world of the undead and politics I’m scared to find out… but also a little excited because again – A PRINCE! I must know more about this prince Leopold.
What a beginning to what I’m sure will be a book we all can’t help but devour!
This world is so brutal but I love it. And our main character Wren, I am rooting for her already.
Do you think her Grandmother has been looking for a reason to get her rid of her for quite some time? If so what do you think could be the reason?
What is your favourite thing about the world so far?
How long do you think the uneventfulness will last at the Breachfort?
See you tomorrow for another day of reading!
Love,
Jodie
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I too enjoyed the world building. I have to admit though, I found our MC a bit cocky xD That opinion changed a bit while reading and I have to admit, I was proud of her for being clever in the way she got out of the pit. I can’t wait to see what happenes with that ring!
Also, I already love Odile. Whe feels much more human to me then the other characters we met so far and good on her for seeing Wren needs someone.
Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Wren gives me “Just wait until my father hears about this” energy, and I’m so excited to see where this goes. MC’s are always so goody and noble, so I’m really ready for one that’s got tons of flaws.
I also am really excited for this Rivalry with Inara. A good two shoes gone rogue with mysterious motivation? Sign me up!
Granny Svetlana is really too ready to boot Wren out for this to not be suspicious. I’m not really sure if her angle — either she’s deeply conservative or has some duplicitous plans in place. Either way, exiling her heir without trial is too rash not to be called out.
Also this book wouldn’t be 400 pages if there wasn’t action at Wren’s place of exile, so I’m pretty sure we should be seeing some action soon!
This is an excellent recap, Jodie. Thanks for sharing your favourite quotes – something I don’t see often in other readalongs. I thought the pacing quite similar to Immortal Longings and I’m reminded of The Bone Houses going through this setting, but what’s really keeping me reading is the grandmother playing favourites in the family. Triggggerrrrr!
Hello everyone! Super excited to finally be reading this one. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the readalong since receiving my copy. It just looks so spooky and neat! I can’t wait to read more of the story. I loved this first section.
1) I’m thinking the grandmother might not want her simply because she’s an illegitimate child unworthy of her inheritance? There’s definitely more to Wren’s family situation that we aren’t seeing. I’m starting to suspect maybe a…Jon Snow family situation? IYKYK. 👀 The description of the book does say that the story takes inspiration from Game of Thrones, so I’m a lil sus. I love Odile and I can’t wait to see more of her, but I’m pretty sure she’s tied up somewhere in this too. The comment about Wren looking more like her uncle than her father… I don’t know. Something is UP!
2) This world is super cool! I love the idea of children inheriting some sort of magical smithing power from their parents. That is so neat. I can’t wait to learn more about how each type of smith functions. I have so many questions!
3) Oh, something is definitely going to happen at Breachfort, and soon. I’m sure it will all revolve around this mysterious, random visit from the important prince. I’m anxious for more action, so I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
I am quite enjoying the story!
I know Wren comes off as a bit stubborn and ‘stuck up’ but being excellent is the only way she can get praise and attention. That bit where it mentions she will warm up to people and completely drop them once her dad is back from his trips really shows how little care and attention she has been given.
On another note, I am a sucker for maps and I’m not very happy about two things. First, it is mentioned on page 37 that the Boarder Wall spanned the whole island from north to south. According to the map though that’s not true. Secondly, on page 56, Landen Point is mentioned but in the map it appears as Landon Point.
I’m picky! Same happened to me with TOG .
Happy reading everyone!
I also agree that the descriptions of the world and the immediate jump into a competition drew me in. I was originally put off by the descriptions of Inara and Wren as I felt that the author described stock character tropes.
I couldn’t help but wonder why no one wanted to listen to Wren’s version of what really happened during the competition. Something seems odd about that to me.
Odile seems like an intriguing character that had a lot of secrets. I hope we find out what they are.
The first 8 chapters where exciting. The trial was well paced and thrilling. Sonya’s betrayal was unexpected but she still passing despite breaking the rules tells me Inara and Grandma may have been on it together to fail her, cause how else would Inara have been able to place that trap?! Also why do I think Wren’s mysterious mother may be connected to ironsmiths? Why do I feel based on Idole’s comments on Wren’s looks that she might be Locke’s daughter instead?! And why does the ring suggest that Ironsmiths and Bonesmiths (at least a fraction) may have been allies?!
Finally, something tells me the illustration of the man on the endpaper at the end of the book is either a ironsmith, the prince or maybe both?
Super excited for tomorrow, cant wait to have more questions than answers. A really strong start for the book.
I’m really enjoying the book so far! I haven’t read a book with heavy world-building in a while, so I was a little worried about keeping up with it at first, but the author does a great job of breaking down the information while really setting up the spooky mood and fleshing out the characters. Though I’d never want to step foot inside the Bonesmith world, I enjoy the political backstory and eeriness of the setting and want to learn more.
To be honest, while I was absolutely rooting for Wren, I didn’t quite connect with her character until a few chapters in when she started talking to Odile about her past. I am kind of interested in Inara’s backstory and what pushed her to take that route of sabotage. I really want her to have more depth than just being the mortal enemy character. Same goes for the grandmother. I do think she’s been wanting to get rid of Wren for quite some time and took this chance. Again, I want to believe that there’s a larger reason than just general bias and dislike. Perhaps it’s political as well?
I think the uneventfulness at Breachfort will last… half a chapter. Maybe one chapter. Guess I’ll go find out now!
First off, despite subbing for almost two years this is the first time I am going along with the readalong and I am so excited! Hi!!
I have been trying to read books with spooky/fall/Halloween vibes this month, so I honestly love that the readalong got pushed back. I absolutely loved the beginning being in such a spooky forest, with such great action and worldbuilding from the start.
I definitely agree that the Grandmother is suspicious. With her not liking Wren so much I feel like there is something we don’t know. Maybe her mother is more important than she was lead to believe?
My favorite thing about the world so far is definitely the magic system, especially with Bonesmiths being such a big part. I love fantasy worlds that have different types of magic, and bone magic is so unusual that I just love it! I also love how rich the history of the world seems, with the Breach and the Uprising. I can’t wait to learn more.
As for the uneventfulness at the Breachfort, I have a feeling it will definitely not last long. The end of today’s reading felt like a point where things are going to start changing quickly.
I am loving the book so far!
I’m really enjoying this book so far wow the word building and the intense fighting is keeping me turning the pages
I was immediately drawn into the book and loved the world building! I also really loved the Crown of Feathers trilogy from Nicki Pau Preto so this is definitely holding up so far! The smithing abilities and the idea of elemental magic being used in such a unique way (with more obscure ideas on what an element is) is awesome.
I definitely think that there’s some kind of unsung family drama here– I’m always immediately suspicious when there’s a distant father figure to begin with, so I’m interested to see how that will go. I’m guessing the mother was more important than we let on or there’s some suspicion about her actual parentage that is causing her grandmother to resent her more/her father to act distant.
On a very shallow note, I have to say the descriptions of Wren’s make up and the Valkyr aesthetic is just so epic and I love it haha.
I am guessing– like Game of Thrones– the Breachfort is hiding lots of things about the reality of things outside of the tidy confines of the school. It seems really all arranged and like it was a trap set for Wren!
I feel like no matter what Wren did during the bonesmith trials, nothing would have been enough to prevent her grandmother in sending her away. It could have been any number of reasons that she would have failed the trials, and Inara was just one in a list of other contingencies most likely (heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a conspiracy). I feel like because we were told that Wren is a bastard, that this played a large role in her grandmother’s dislike of her. I do feel think there’s more to it than that, but I don’t think even the grandmother knows the full extent. My working theory is that it isn’t Vance who actually is her father, but Locke himself.
There seems to be so much of the world being focused on that I can’t really pinpoint what I like about it best. The idea of bonesmithing being a thing is pretty cool, but so is the idea of ironsmithing. I do like that there’s some politics involved, and there seems to be this whole breach thing that started a conflict between the undead, the ironsmiths, and the bonesmiths. I do want to know more about this world, but in the grounds of the story unfolding, not so much being told it constantly in a historical context.
I think things are about to pick up within the next few chapters. The prince Leo showing up maybe the plot point that will propel Wren into action.
1) I do and since that soldier almost called her a bastard I assume that’s the problem.
2) The magic doesn’t seem as dark as I expected. It feels more druid-y than necromanc-y, if that makes sense.
3) Not very long or we wouldn’t have much of a story, would we!
This is my first readalong and I have failed!
No spoilers, I started on Saturday because I consider myself a slow reader and I’m now on Chapter 35!
Literally could not put it down 😅
I love that the author just dove straight in to the story. The worldbuilding and scene setting is amazing! The Bonewood was giving me some major spooky vibes. Perfect reading for October!
I have a feeling that there is more to the story with Grandma’s blatant favoritism, and I hope we get to see it soon.
Inara was so obviously up to something shady that I was rolling my eyes at Wren’s behavior with the bet. But I do think it will serve as a major teaching moment, so she is not likely to do something that foolish again.
Is anyone else getting Game of Thrones vibes with the story of how her Dad came back with a baby?? Especially after hearing Odile’s comments about her family and how she looks nothing like her Dad?!
I think with the Prince arriving soon things are about to pick up and we will see more action.
Do you think her Grandmother has been looking for a reason to get her rid of her for quite some time? If so what do you think could be the reason?
I think the grandmother has been. I also think that the reason behind her trying to push Wren out is because of Wrens mother. There is something there we don’t know.
What is your favourite thing about the world so far?
I really like the magic system. I am super intrigued by the bone smiths as well as the iron smiths war.
How long do you think the uneventfulness will last at the Breachfort?
Haha a few more chapters then it’s going to get GOOD!
See you tomorrow for another day of reading!
I’m struggling a bit to get into this book at the moment, but to be fair I just finished Fourth Wing and I think I’d struggle to get into anything right now! I am intrigued though!
Do you think her Grandmother has been looking for a reason to get her rid of her for quite some time? If so what do you think could be the reason?
Yes it really seems that way! I think perhaps it’s to do with the fact that her uncle died so she didn’t get the heir she wanted, and then her father’s engagement fell through because he had an affair. It seems like Wren is taking the backlash for everything that isn’t her fault right now!
What is your favourite thing about the world so far?
I’m struggling quite a lot with the world building at the moment, so I’m hoping everything will fall into place! I think my favourite thing about the world right now is that Odile exists in it! I think she’s brilliant and just what Wren needs!
How long do you think the uneventfulness will last at the Breachfort?
Hopefully not long! In theory it should be one of the most dangerous places in the Dominions, and there should be some action with the prince coming!
Hey there! I’ve been itching to dive into this book! I was totally captivated by how the author crafted this world. But, must say, Wren comes off as pretty conceited. Here’s to hoping she’ll grow on me as the story unfolds.
Now, onto your questions:
1. Grandma? Yeah, I think she’s been looking for a reason to ship Wren out for a while. She didn’t even bother listening to Wren’s side of the story, and that punishment? Harsh. Who knows, maybe it’s got something to do with Wren’s mom.
2. The magic system is hands down my favorite part of this world. It’s seriously unique, and I’m all for how they’ve divided it into houses, each with its own set of skills.
3. That uneventfulness at the Breachfort? Yeah, I’m sure it’s not going to stick around for long. Wren seems like a real troublemaker, if you ask me.
Bonesmith had me hooked from the very beginning, just like the Crown of Feathers series!
I really like how there are so many types of magic, especially multiple types of death magic! I think the most interesting ones to me are the reapyr’s and the silversmiths! I love healers, especially in gritty gothic settings.
I definately suspect that Inara is going to come back and be a bigger villain later on… and I really want to know what the heck is going on with Sonya. Why can’t there be a single person who’s nice to Wren??
Also, does anybody else suspect that Odile and Locke were like… a thing? 👀
Re. The questions:
1) I definately think that Wren’s grandmother has been looking to get rid of her for awhile, but I suspect that there’s a more complicated reason than just Wren being an “illegitimate” child… I hope we get some more info about Wren’s mother soon!
2) I love the world-building and I can’t wait to see more! I hope we get to go more into the walled off area soon!
3) Now that the prince is coming, there’s no way things will stay uneventful at the Breach 😆
Do you think her Grandmother has been looking for a reason to get her rid of her for quite some time? If so what do you think could be the reason?
I think it could go either two ways: that the grandmother sent her away to protect her or she sent her away on purpose as something is going to happen at the wall.
What is your favourite thing about the world so far?
Just the world itself is unique. I prefer fantasy books where the fantasy element is believable and I can imagine in our world, if slightly different, the dead rising etc.
How long do you think the uneventfulness will last at the Breachfort?
Not long – the blurb mentioned a kidnapped prince 🤴🏼 I’m betting he’s is also going to be wrens love interest
As others have mentioned I’m getting strong Jon snow and the wall vibes. Also perhaps wrens uncle was also her father and wrens father took her as his own. Interested to see if she finds out more about her mother.
I was so nerveous during the trial! I had read the blurb and I knew it wasn’t going to end well so it was pretty horrible to read and these types of betreals make so mad. On the positive side it did endear me to Wren more.
I like flawed and annoying charcters so Wren is the perfect mc for me.
I want to know who her mother is! The grandmother hating her seemed to have something to do with that. Also the grandmother is horrible and definetly wanted to get rid of her.
It is giving some big GOT vibes with the undead and the wall and all and it’s so spooky!
I’m really enjoing the book so far.
I’m joining late but here I am! Luckily, this book is so fast paced and easy to read I’ve no doubt I can get caught up tonight.
So far I’m really enjoying the world Nicki Pau Preto has created. It’s very gothic and cool, but still feels familiar in its fantasy tone too. Perfect for Halloween month!
Wren sure is making herself hard to like; she’s so conceited and refuses to give the time of day to anyone she deems lesser. That said, as a starting point for a character I think that’s great; it gives her tons of room to grow and she already seems to be toning down her behaviour while Odile tells her stories.
Do you think her Grandmother has been looking for a reason to get her rid of her for quite some time? If so what do you think could be the reason? She definitely has! I mean the obvious answer is that she’s her father’s bastard daughter but I do wonder if there’s more to it than that. I’m even suspicious she was in on Inara’s trickery.
What is your favourite thing about the world so far?
Goth vibes innit 💀
How long do you think the uneventfulness will last at the Breachfort?
Oooh, I give it… maybe end of day 2 or start of day 3, lol
I’m super intrigued by this book and I’m enjoying it!! The Grandmother is suspicious to me, like maybe she was behind getting rid of Wren because it seems that she was waiting for the perfect opportunity to exile Wren. My favorite things might be the ghost fighting. I love fantasy books, and I think I never read a book where someone can fight with a sword (bonesword) with a ghost, I find it amazing. I don’t think the uneventfulness will last long at the Breachfort, like a chapter maybe…
Joining in late to say that I love this book so far.
Wren’s a very intriguing character and I like that she’s not a ’rookie protag’; she’s definitely skilled and knows what she’s doing, so I think most of her shortcomings come from being headstrong/rash, and Inara knew how to exploit those in the Bonewood Trial.
I don’t trust Svetlana one bit, and the fact that she didn’t even bother to listen to Wren’s side of the story shows that she wanted her gone to begin with. Wren’s clearly a black ship at Marrow Hall and I feel her family situation will reflect on her actions and character growth later in the book.
I loved the chapter with the journey to Breachfort, we got some nice worldbuilding exposition. The whole concept of Smiths makes for an enjoyable magic system, especially the fact that it doesn’t use the usual divisions of elemental magic (fire, water etc).
Can’t wait to read what happens next!
I honestly thought Wren was a little annoying at first. I can’t really blame Sonya for going with Inara. Sonya probably thought Wren would cause both of them to fail and just wanted to save herself. I am sure we’ll be seeing Sonya and Inara again after parting like that.
Odile saying Wren looks more like Locke definitely has me wondering if she’s actually his daughter. But also Wren being Locke’s daughter would probably make her grandmother like her more since Locke was the favorite so why would it be kept secret? Something seems off there.
I never considered that Wren could be Locke’s daughter so that is an interesting idea. But if she was his daughter don’t you think they would treat her better since he is like a martyr in the House of Bone?
My favorite part of this world is the imagery. Yes, all books, especially fantasy have fantastical worlds, but this one was different because it was so dark. I really had to stop and think about what the bone forest would look like because it’s not something that most books center around. Wren’s grandmother definitely had something to do with the plan that Wren’s friend set to get her out of the house of bone. I just wonder why her father would never stand up for her especially if he and his brother had such a legacy. It would be different if Wren had inherited her mother’s human side in appearance and abilities or lack thereof. There has to be another reason that no one is telling us. Breachfront has to become more eventful because there is still so much of the book!
I really like the world building so far even thought the whole undead/protection wall thing reminds me a bit of the great wall of GOT. I don’t mind this though as it’s a good setting. And the trial in that forest was so fun/exciting to read.
I do wonder if her father is even her actual father as they mention she doesn’t look like him?…. pending answers here hehe
I feel things are so going ro pick up in speed once the prince arrives…. hopefully alongside some undead action 🙂
Despite heavy world-building, these beginning chapters have already evoked strong emotional reactions. Wren’s father had a bit of an odd reaction to her telling him about the recent body she found in the mass grave. Odile’s mention of how Stem more closely resembles Locke (& her soft fondness for him) makes me think somethings up with the whole story of what happened during their time in the war, especially as regards Wren’s birth. Odile also mentioned intermarriage between Houses, recessive powers, powers shipping generations, etc which made me think of the ring Wren found as well as another motive behind Grandma being so cruel.
Daily Q&A:
Q:
1.) Do you think her Grandmother has been looking for a reason to get her rid of her for quite some time? If so what do you think could be the reason?
2.) What is your favourite thing about the world so far?
3.) How long do you think the uneventfulness will last at the Breachfort?
A:
1.) Yes, because she’s the reminder of familial scandal (although I believe there’s more to this story), losing her favorite son, & possibly fearing Wren’s (latent) abilities.
2.) Probably the whole concept of bone trees, bone forest, bone palisade, etc. In my head, it’s all visually stunning.
3.) I’m thinking not long now, since there’s a visit from royalty soon, which could have a domino effect on the action.
this is my first book by nicki pau preto and i can already tell it will not disappoint! i definitely think her grandmother is up to something but i guess we’ll see. i love the plot so far and can’t wait to read more!
First, I liked how the author set up the scene before the Bonewood Trial. It was made clear that the Bonewood (and certain other places) aren’t places I’d like to be frolicking alone…
I have to admit I didn’t like Wren at first. Though I sympathised with her need to feel validated and that she belongs somewhere, that “she was the best damn Valkyr novitiate her House had seen in years” had me eye-rolling. However, I was glad to see her resourcefulness in escaping that mass grave.
Yes, I also disliked Inara, and the same goes for Sonya. Even if she were threatened, betraying the one who has your back in challenges such as those feels wrong. Of course, Wren holds responsibility for the situation she found herself in because, most importantly, she shouldn’t have agreed to that bet in the first place!
I liked Lady Odile. I believe she has some secrets of her own, but from what we’ve seen so far, she seems like the character who cares most about Wren (that “because somebody should” was lovely).
I’d like to see the explanations for the following: The presence of a – relatively recent – dead body in that mass grave and the origin and use of the ring it wore.
Also, the reason behind Lady-Smith Svetlana’s dislike towards Wren. Her father mentioned she was looking for an opportunity to get rid of her, but I believe there’s more to that. Maybe it is due to Wren’s resemblance with her uncle, as Odile pointed out. Maybe there are some essential things that the head of the House of Bones is unaware of…
So far, my favourite thing about the world is the idea of different Smith houses, each with their abilities. Particularly, the existence of bone magic is something I came across for the first time! The meme “Honey, you have a big storm coming” was spot on, as I believe it perfectly encapsulates what’s to come in the following chapters 😀