Amazing photo by @belladonnabooks!
Hello everyone!
Well, we got thrown a lot of plot twists and tense moments yesterday didn’t we?
Happy Friday and welcome to day 5 of our readalong of Bonesmith by Nicki. Pau Preto. I’m so excited to see how this story ends, I hope you loved this book as much as I did!
Today we’re reading from chapter 36 to the end of of the book. Let’s do this!
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 Chapter 36 to the end of the book. Please only read on if you have finished this section!
-!SPOILERS!-
We begin todays chapter with our three characters observing the scene below of the Corpse Queen and the Regent. The woman appeared to be in a draped black veil which gave only the vaguest sense of a person beneath and atop of her head was a crown made of twisted broken bones.The Corpse Queen and the regent begin talking to which she asks where her ‘prize’ is and that she “cannot proceed without her”. “She is the only way.” And as we know from yesterday’s chapters, Wren was indeed the third target. So what does she want with Wren and why is she the only one she wants?
“It is her or it is no one.”
After hearing that Wren wasn’t acquired during the kidnapping the Corpse Queen and her revenants begin to leave and she informs the Regent that he will no longer be able to use her revenants until she is satisfied and has Wren. As she is walking away her gaze flicks up to meet Wrens own. Expecting her to shout that Wren is there she instead continues to walk and speaks to one of the revenants. The revenant then relays that same speech to Wren that of course only she can hear: “Come to me when you are ready to know more. Come to us. I know you feel it. Blood calls to blood and like to like.” What does this mean?! Could ‘blood calls to blood’ be referencing a family connection of some kind?!
In the following chapter we follow Wren, Julian and Leo making their escape from Caston and through the Haunted Territory, not encountering any undead. To test Wren’s seemingly heightened abilities Julian takes one of her blades and flings it somewhere into the trees to see if she is able to call it back at a far range. Not only could she sense the knife which was twenty feet away, she is also able to call it back to herself. Why have her abilities suddenly increased or have these new found abilities always been there without her ever realising? Did the strange bright light/magic in the Breach trigger something inside Wren or transfer some kind of power?
As they camp for the night Wren and Julian get in a heated discussion about where to go and where is safest. Julian argues that they cannot go to the Breachfort especially with Leo as they don’t know who is involved and Julian would be taken prisoner for obvious reasons. Wren then argues that it is the best place to go and they can get help dealing with the bigger issues at hand of the Iron Revenants, the regent and the Corpse Queen etc. But then Julian reveals that he and the kidnappers where tipped off by someone in the prince’s own retinue and thats how they knew where to be and when. Not able to come to an agreement they end up arguing and come to a stalemate regarding their destination.
The next day Wren and Leo go off together to wash up where Leo reveals to her that he knew about the kidnapping plot and about his cousins involvement in it from the letters he found. Between them they try to figure out suspects as to who was paying his cousin to set up the kidnapping. Wren and Leo then come to the conclusion that whoever is involved doesn’t know that they are aware of the plot and the best course of action is to go back to the Breachfort to try and figure it out and leave Julian behind where he will be safe. During the night Wren tries to tie Julian’s hands whilst he is sleeping so they can leave and he can’t follow. He wakes up during it and she distracts him by kissing him. Having successfully tied his hands to a beam she then goes to leave and their parting words are not the nice kind. Wren seeks comfort in knowing Julian will be safer this way and embarks on the journey back to the Breachfort with the prince.
As Wren and Leo approach the Breachfort they see some of the patrol guards. However some of them break off in search of anyone else and suddenly they come back with Julian. Somehow he had caught up to them and followed them there. He is disarmed and cuffed by the patrol guards. Suddenly Wren’s father Vance Graven appears and informs Wren that he came to the Breachfort immediately after hearing about her being missing; he is shocked to find her back and with the prince since he feared the worst had happened. After one of the guards identifies Julian as one of the attackers and an Ironsmith, Vance orders that they kill him at which point Wren steps in and tells her father that he is the heir of House Iron and that he helped rescue the prince. Julian is then taken to a cell and Vance takes Wren to his room to ask about what happened. She mentions the breach and he goes very still. She also tells him about the boy, the Iron armour and the well and it’s strange power. Eventually she shows him the ring she found and he examines it closely remarking that it does in fact have ghostsmith runes and keeps ahold of it whilst Wren is focused on her recently returned Ghostbane dagger.
Deciding she needs to find answers she sneaks out of her room in the night where she then bumps into her nemesis and cousin Inara, who it turns out is guarding her door as per Wren’s fathers instructions… Wren then realises that the guards outside her door had been there to keep her in not keep her safe, which meant whatever her father was up-to he didn’t want her knowing about it. She decides to go to Odile to try and seek answers however when she gets there Vance is already there. She hides in the storage room where she can still make them out, as well as eavesdrop. Wren learns that both Vance and Odile concealed what really happened during the uprising and that Locke was in fact responsible, and that a woman was also involved and helped Locke acquire the power he used to murder people on both sides of the war.
As Wren continues to listen to their conversation she finds out that the body where she found the ghostmsith ring in the Bonewood was there because Odile had sent them as a messenger to Vance a few years prior, and he had killed them and hidden their body along with the ring they carried. She then learns of a woman named Ravenna who turned out to be the last ghostsmith; her people had been living in secrecy for decades and they where the ones who had caused the breach when seeking out their lost city by diverting an Ironsmith mining tunnel. She had been the one to take them to the well of power. Later she then had given birth in the dungeons to a girl with bonesmith eyes and a sickly boy. She confessed Locke to be the father of the twins and gave instructions to give her daughter to the House of Bone and name her Wren, and give her the ring (which Vance hid) so she might know her heritage. Ravenna and the sickly boy had then rode off to the Haunted Territory and where never seen again.
Plot twist! Odile had sent Wren east of the wall on purpose as per Vance’s instructions meaning he was involved in the kidnapping plot from the very start! It turns out Vance had been apart of orchestrating the attack in order to ensure the future of House Bone, by creating an enemy east of the wall to keep their position in the dominions secure since the undead hadn’t been as prominent. Realising that Ravenna is the Corpse Queen and was involved in the same plot, Vance decides to use this to his advantage to try and obtain the same power Locke did from the well in the Breach whilst also making her his wife. However, Odile then reveals she has contacted the head of House Bone, Wren’s grandmother, who is on her way and will be informed about Vance’s plans and the current threat they face. Vance then murders Odile to which Wren is a witness without him knowing.
Once Vance leaves the room Wren rushes over to Odile and receives a bone key from her before she dies. The same key that she had previously used to take Wren into the lower most dungeons of the Breachfort where there is a secret escape route, as well as where Julian is being held. Moments later Graven, Galen and Commander Duncan appear and find Odile dead. Vance had somehow managed to frame Galen by using his knife to commit the murder and cover his own tracks. But the plot thickens further still when Wren learns just how far this betrayal goes. Vance had set Wren up from the start to end up at the Breachfort. He had instructed and helped Inara to make Wren fail the Bonewood trial and be sent there.
Wren goes to Leo’s rooms and tells him what happened to Odile and her fathers role in it, and they decided to free Julian and escape the Breachfort. Leo forges them a letter which manages to get them access to Julian. Inara suddenly decides to help them and stalls Vance on the level above. After dealing with the guards and finding out they don’t have the key to Julian’s cell, Julian takes his glove off his left hand where there are black lines across his hand like veins. Shards of Iron are imbedded in his skin. Julian then uses his left hand to crush the lock and escape from the cell. She apologises to him for betraying him as well as not revealing her lineage and tells him he was right and they need to leave now. Suddenly her father is stood in the doorway with half a dozen of his personal guard. Wren then informs him that she is leaving, she heard his conversation with Odile and that the well of power must be destroyed. She takes the ring back from Vance as he tilts his head to direct his guards to apprehend Leo and Julian. However, the moment Wren’s hand touched the ring she feels the well’s power stir within her, the ring being an amplifier. As a guard goes to grab Julian she looks at his arm and wills it to stop moving to which a sickening crack sounds. She had broken his arm with a new ability she didn’t know she possessed. As the rest of the guards approach she uses her magic to send all six of them slamming into the wall behind them.
They escape using Odile’s bone key and plan to destroy the well of power. Wren tells them that the Corpse Queen is her mother and the boy her brother. And they set off, back into the haunted territory.
Wow, what a story!
What did you think of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto?
Did you guess any of the plot twists?
Any theories for book two?
As always, thank you so much for taking part in another FairyLoot readalong! We hope you had the best time and enjoyed the book – we’ll see you again soon for another!
Love,
Jodie
Well! That was a very satisfying cliffhanger! It’s just a coincidence that I was lucky enough to catch a performance of Hadestown and “little bird” was the name Hades called Eurydice. So even though the section started with the Corpse Queen totally bringing to mind the Nightmare before Christmas, all I saw was Hadestown and a Vance who looked like Hades! I was a little bummed about Odile but this was such an interesting spin on the found family trope. Have to love the sly winks to TLOTR (the power of the ring) and HP (smart girl chumming about – my new favourite expression – with two guys). Very much looking forward to the sequel and very much hoping I get a matching Fairy Loot special when it comes out. Thanks for the readalong!
What did you think of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto?
I loved it 5 ⭐️ read for me.
Did you guess any of the plot twists?
I guessed that the corpse queen would be wrens mom and Locke was her dad but I thought Locke was still alive. I also didn’t see Vance as the bad guy sending wren to the wall / to be kidnapped and though the grandmother was more likely.
Any theories for book two?
Can’t wait to read it for wren to find out more about her mom and twin brother. Interested to know how wren and Julian’s relationship will develop and did it hint at a relationship between Leo and Inara 😏
Well, i’m a bit disappointed that I predicted the Corpse Queen would be Wren’s mother. That aside, i enjoyed the tension between Julian and Wren and the banter between Leo and Wren. There was just enough action and adventure to make this satisfying and of course, all the ghosts made this a perfect read for the season.
I had no idea Vance would become such a villain. I love it!
1) Wow I really loved the twisty ending! And there was just enough resolution between the answers Wren got and the trio escaping together that the cliffhanger didn’t bother me as much as they usually do.
2) I was wondering about the queen being Wren’s mom but the rest was all surprises.
3) Wren meets the rest of her family? And I’d like to learn more about Leo who is just kinda along for the ride.
What did you think of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto?
When I first opened the fairyloot box I thought that it looked interesting and the concept of ghosts was something that I hadn’t read in a while if ever. It took me a while to finish it because I didn’t want to move ahead of the readalong and I am glad that I waited. Escpecially at the second to last section I was so eager to find out all of the answers! I am upset that it has a sequel coming because now I am going to have to wait!
Did you guess any of the plot twists?
After doing this readalong I wouldn’t say that there were necessarily any plot twists because so many other people had theories that ended up being true! I was surprised to find out that Wren was in fact probably Locke’s daughter because I didn’t think that it was important who her father was since everything was so focused on the Corpse Queen and the fact that Wren was possibly a ghostsmith. I want to know why her mom didn’t just snatch her off the rooftop of the shed if she knew that she was there the entire time. Also, how did her mom not die if she was bleeding out from giving birth? I also thought it was weird that the boy is actually her twin brother because I was under the impression that it was a child since both wren and julian referred to him as a boy and not a man since they are 17/20. That gave me a different perspective, and I want to know what his name is and why he didn’t speak to her.
Any theories for book two?
My theory is that is might be a shorter book since we basically know everything that lead up to this point. I think that wren is going to end up being consumed by her ghostsmith side. I also don’t think that she is going to end up with julian because he has to become regent of the ironsmiths and what is she going to do? She technically isn’t the head of the house of bone and everyone there wants her dead anyway so that really wouldn’t make sense for her.
THE. END. OF. THIS. BOOK!!!!
First the obvious confirmation the the Queen may be blood relative to Wren. Then the escape and the laughs this trio gives me when together. Then the betrayal and leaving Julian behind just for him to have followed them and I can only imagine his pursuit for them, with what in mind, I wonder 👀
Julian then discovering who Wren really is family wise and the betrayal he felt.
But then, the ULTIMATE BETRAYAL, it had been her DAD ALL ALONG, but then as predicted, not really her dad as we discover shes Locke’s daughter and shes also the Dead Queens daughter and she has a TWIN!!!! (All things I theorised but feels good to be right)
Also can we gove a round of aplause for Isolde and what ana amazing person she was, just to be killed. Although, she shouldnt have showed her hand, it was a bad move. But she was still able to give the bone key to Wren ensuring her escape.
Then a new allied appeared, an unlikely one, Inara, Wren’s cousin who kept competing with her and, who turns out, had been blackmailed by Wrens father/uncle. She helped Wren by covering her and keeping people occupied.
The prince joining her was no surprise, but nice that he just went along with it, and now may have a crush on Inara 😏
Finnaly they rescued Julian, he was sooo upset when they released him but it was amazing how the author wrote this scene. The tension was reeaaaaallllll.
Then the confrontation between Wren and her father and her new found ability to control living bones 😱
Finally the trio is safe from the dangers they know and venture back accross the wall, with a new found resolution and mission.
This book couldnt have been wrapped up better and I cant wait for the next one!
Yesterday I wrote a long speculation but ended up deleting it after realising I accidently read to the end of chapter 36. I was pretty on with it but I even though I guessed much it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book.
I loved Bonesmith. I think it wrapped up nicely with the answers and I’m happy it didn’t end in a terrible gliffhanger. I hope they announce the publication date soon for Ghostsmith and that it isn’t too far off.
1. What did you think of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto?
I enjoyed it, but I must admit that I had a tough time connecting with Wren. Her self-assuredness and impulsiveness grated on me. However, there’s a glimmer of change toward the end, which gives me hope that she’ll grow in the second book.
2. Did you guess any of the plot twists? Yes, I saw most of them coming. It’s a tad disappointing when a story feels predictable, but I’m optimistic that the next book will deliver more surprises because the adventure itself was intriguing.
3. Any theories for book two? I’m really hoping Wren delves deeper into her mother and brother’s stories, and I’m curious to see how her relationship with Julian evolves after all that’s happened. Can’t wait to see how it unfolds!
What did you think of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto?
Really loved this book! It was a bit slow going at first but about halfway through it got really good! It did lose one star from me because of how annoying I found Wren by the end (I can’t even place my finger on why she annoys me so much though!) Gutted that Odile died! She wasn’t in the book much after the start but she was a great character!
Did you guess any of the plot twists?
I guessed that the Corpse Queen was Wren’s mother (although I did think that Odile was her mother AND the Corpse Queen – I was wrong about that bit!), and I also thought that Locke was her father not Vance.
Any theories for book two?
I think that Leo, Wren and Julian make an odd but good team! I’m guessing there will be some kind of solution to the well business and their family issues, and I’m hoping that Julian and Wren will get together!
Done!
What did you think of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto?
Bone Smith had its moments and a really cool magic system, but it wasn’t my favourite thing. I did love Prince Leo a LOT, so there’s that, and Inara helping at the end was cool, but I also thought the climax was pretty unclimaxy lol, most of it seemed to be a really long chapter of Wren spying on Odile and Vance’s conversation so not the most action packed or proactive 😅
Did you guess any of the plot twists?
Yeah, I figured the ghost Smith person was either Wren’s brother or else somehow Locke had been made immortal. My only real surprise was Vance being the villain and not the Bone Lady-Smith, but it does make more sense in retrospect.
Any theories for book two?
Nooooot massively. I guess they need to find out where the rings came from? I’m a bit tempted to read book two but since I have sooooo much to read and I’m on the fence about it, it’s probably more in my interest not to worry about it
Well I was right, I am officially dizzy by all those twists!
She has twin! And her dad is more of coward and a “insertdirtywordhere” than I expected. My heart hurts for Odile T_T
And while Julian is entitled to be pissed at them for going back to the Breachfort and “allowing” him to get caught, the information Wren got from it was necessary.
Btw, Julian’s arms??? I mean what?
I need the next book yesterday! I am dying to know what happens.
Hope you all had a happy reading and paced it correctly instead of finishing it early by reading until 3am on a weekday. (No regrets)
I quite enjoyed the book! It was a light read with interesting plot and character development. I feel like I’ve read enough YA at this point to expect a few of the plot twists: Corpse Queen being Wren’s mom, Ghostsmith boy being her brother, Vance being involved with the kidnapping; but it was still fun watching the events unfold. And really, through most of it, I was just excited to see the tension between Wren and Julian build. As well as the chapters from Leo’s POV. (Is it just me or is he hella bi/pan?)
I’m hoping to get more of Leo and Julian’s POVs in the next book 🙂 We’re gonna get so much more backstory for them both at the very least. I think the Corpse Queen has got a nefarious agenda of her own; I doubt she can be trusted.
Also, side note: I feel like it was out of character for Vance to be so stupid as to dig that hole for Wren right where he killed those messengers Odile sent. Given all that he’s managed to plot and plan, you’d think he’d be more careful about where he set up the trap for her.
But anyway, overall I enjoyed the book and am also very grateful for that map of the Dominions because it helped me so much in understanding what was going on geographically throughout the book.
I loved this book, definitely a 4.5/5 stars for me. I went in it without knowing a thing of the story and now I think that this was a perfect book for fall. It has ghosts, fights and romance. I read it physically and also heard it via audiobook, I loved that in the audiobook the ghost voices where creepy, adding to the ambiance. For the plot twists I did guess some, like the Ghost Queen being Wren mother. I think that wren is going to end up being consumed by her ghostsmith side. I’m super interested to know how wren and Julian’s relationship will develop
Wren was the other target: confirmed. Ah, I’ve missed Leo. 😂 Awe, Julian followed them. Daddy Dearest is giving weird vibes, & he conveniently never gave her the ring back. 😒 So many suspicions confirmed. No! Odile! 🥺 Ugh, as part of a series, I knew there was going to be that sense of “but what happens next,” but still! They’re together, they’re allies (if somewhat reluctantly on Julian’s part), but there’s so much between them to sort out & overcome. Also, in true Wren style, there’s very little in the way of a plan. 😅 I need Book 2 immediately, please.
Daily Q&A:
Q:
1.) What did you think of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto?
2.) Did you guess any of the plot twists?
3.) Any theories for book two?
A:
1.) I liked it, & I’m excited for Book 2.
2.) A few but not all.
3.) Not so much theories as things I’m looking forward to (Grandma’s reaction, for example, since she’s been such a cold-hearted ambitious figure but Daddy Dearest seems fearful for her to know the truth, so how much would the truth change her relationship with Wren? Meeting the main characters’ siblings. More banter from Leo. Finally seeing Julian & Wren as a couple. If Inara will have more of a role moving forward… So on & so forth.)
What did you think of Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto?
I loved this book a lot. It was easy to read when life was super busy and I enjoyed reading it when I had the opportunity to.
Did you guess any of the plot twists?
I was just along for the ride and really not trying to figure out what was going to happen. I loved this book because it allowed me to go with it.
Any theories for book two?
I think we will have more of Julian and Wren together. They definitely have stuff to work out though.
I absolutely loved the ending and I can’t wait for book two! The twists were very satisfying but not so over the top that I feel like I’m actively suffering waiting 😂
I guessed quite a lot (but it’s kinda a Thing for me– when I was a kid my dad used to pause all movies and shows a few minutes in to have us all register our guesses on what would happen)– the mother assumedly being the Corpse Queen, the father having more ambivalent ties to her, etc. I didn’t see how that stuff would play out so it was very satisfying!
I think we’ll see Julian and Wren together and a lot more character development from Leo (Fingers crossed) in book two!
I have to say I didn’t suspect Wren’s father to have played such a vital role in orchestrating Wren’s failure in the Bonewood trial and the kidnapping at the Breachfort. Though I suspected Odile was involved in getting Wren where she needed to be, according to Vance’s plans, I didn’t expect him to murder her and Wren to witness the whole scene. Even though Wren’s relationship with the Corpse Queen, the boy and Locke were pretty evident from a point onwards, I liked how the author hinted at it throughout the book.
Surprisingly, I enjoyed Inara and Wren’s interactions in this section and their talk (says the person who, at the beginning of the book, had some not-so-friendly thoughts towards Inara…). I’m glad the trio managed to escape! The way the book ended is the only type of cliffhanger I’m okay with. Thank you so much for organizing this readalong! I really enjoyed reading Bonesmith! I very much look forward to reading the sequel when it comes out!