Honest Book Review The Road of Bones
The Road of Bones is a dark fantasy inspired by Viking lore, featuring intense action, and a swoon worthy fantasy romance.
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The Road of Bones is another book I would say that is on my best of 2024 fantasy book read list. This was REALLY a great fantasy romance. And another book I wished I picked up sooner.
If you crave more Viking inspired reads after reading A Fate Inked in Blood, this is certainly the read for you.
Also, check out my Honest Book Review of Kingdom of Claw and Dawn of the North. The stunning sequel to this amazing series.
The Road of Bones by Demi Winters is an intense, atmospheric romantasy novel that masterfully intertwines Viking lore with elements of dark magic, political intrigue, and powerful character dynamics.
The story plunges readers into a harsh, unforgiving world where magic is forbidden and can lead to a painful death. From the first page, the tone is grim and compelling, making it difficult to put down as the plot slowly reveals its secrets and twists.
Our FMC, Silla, stands out as one of the most intriguing characters Iâve read in a while. She starts off as a timid and somewhat inexperienced girl. Struggling to find her place in a world due to her being on the run with her father.
However, as the story progresses, we witness her transformation into a stronger character. Her growth feels realistic, driven by the challenges she faces alongside the Blood Axe Crew.
The Blood Axe Crew crew themselves provide a strong found-family dynamic, each member bringing unique strengths and personalities that really added to the story.Â
One of the novelâs standout features is its use of multiple points of view (POVs), which shows the perspectives of other characters other than Silla.Â
One critique I would say about the magic system is this is that it does come off a bit vague. Apparently there are different layers of this magic system but we really don’t know much about it. I am hoping that we will get more detail as the series move forward.
Overall, The Road of Bones is a standout debut that combines gritty action, compelling characters, and deep world-building. Demi Winters has created a dark and enthralling fantasy that will appeal to fans of Viking-inspired tales and readers who enjoy complex, character-driven narratives. This book is perfect for those seeking a fresh take on dark fantasy with a strong emphasis on mythology and found-family themes.
Add to TBR: The Road of Bones
A hunted girl. A deadly road. A destiny she never asked for. Silla Nordvig must survive the Road of Bonesâa brutal journey filled with dark creatures, ruthless warriors, and a queen who wants her dead. Hiding among the dangerous Bloodaxe Crew may be her only chance⊠if she can trust the brooding Axe Eyes and resist his dangerously charming second-in-command. One wrong move could cost her everything. đ
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So this book took me on a WILD ride.
First off, just because you are reading their POV’s, doesn’t mean they will live or they are the good guy. I LOVED THAT.
Did I see the red flags from Jonas? Absolutely. Did I see the budding romance from Rey? Heck yeah I did. But what I didnât see is the big betrayal that Jonas eventually ended up doing. Which was an amazing plot twist that I didnât see coming.
I wish there was a little more back story on Sillaâs past life. Apparently she is a lost princess but to whom? The book doesnât really go into detail on these people other than they were murdered for magic? I am only putting two and two together so I am hoping we will get into more detail later.
Oh and the epilogue? Sillaâs lost sister that is still alive and is considered a ward to the evil queen?Â
A lot has unfolded in this book and it makes me very excited to read the next book in the series.
Thank you NetGalley, Delecorte Press and Demi Winters for giving me a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Curious about which reading tracker is better for you? I break down the real differences between Goodreads and StoryGraph so you can choose the one that fits your reading style best.
