I was completely surprised by how much I loved this book!!!
With sooo many new epic fantasies releasing every month, coming up with a unique magic system is tough! But the author succeeds in hooking the readers with one such unique magic system and an equally enthralling world! The story is told from many different povs but the author makes them all stand out on their own. Lin and Jovis’s povs were my personal favourites and Jovis’s relationship with Mephi gave me lots of Eragon vibes.
The best thing about this book is that, the author manages to wrap up the plot of the first book in a very satisfying way at the same time setting up the stage for future expansion of the world and the plot and leaves the readers yearning for more!!!
I am incredibly excited to see where the story goes from here and cannot wait to read more from Andrea Stewart.

Great story, different take on magic involving bones.

Strong characters who you care for as soon as you start reading it

As soon as I read the synopsis for The Bone Shard Daughter I knew it was going to be a book I would love. The premise sounds fascinating and coupled with that absolutely stunning cover, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. The Bone Shard Daughter is an absolutely incredible debut, and without a doubt one of my favourite books of the year.

The story is set in a world where the emperor uses bone magic to ensure his continued rule. He refuses to acknowledge his daughter Lin as heir to his throne and she will do anything she can to learn the forbidden bone shard magic and prove she is worthy. But rebellion is stirring in the kingdom and when it arrives at the palace Lin has to give everything to save her people.

I absolutely adored this book. It’s a fast paced tale that’s brilliantly executed and incredibly clever. There’s absolutely tons of action and I honestly never wanted this book to end. The world building is truly superb and I was completely fascinating by the magic system in this story. The idea of bone shard magic felt so unique and it was such a dark bloody magic to witness. The story is full to the brim with magic and revolution with a touch of romance.

The story features a number of different POV characters and I felt that they were all well created and developed. I really liked Lin and Jovis and I thought Stewart did an excellent job of giving each POV character a unqiue and compelling voice. Some of the characters are told in first person perspective and some in third – I thought this might have been a little jarring but actually worked incredibly well in the story.

The Bone Shard Daughter is an absolutely magnificent read and I’m so glad there’s more to come in The Drowning Empire series because I cannot wait to dive back into this incredible world. If you’ve been intrigued by this one I definitely recommend picking it up – you won’t be disappointed.

I do love a fantasy novel where the magical system is well thought out and has consequences and ‘The Bone Shard Daughter’ has this in spades. The magical system is ingenious and unique and sets the tone for this exceptionally excellent, and very often quite creepy debut novel. The plot is serpentine in its twists and turns and just when you think you have things figured out the author takes a sharp left hand turn and you have no idea quite where you are anymore. I really enjoyed all the characters, each of whom is beautiful fleshed out with distinct personalities and inner motivations. Lin and Jovis are my favorites but be prepared to lose your heart to Mephi. This isn’t a fast paced, all action novel, the world building and character development takes it’s time, but it’s a better and more enjoyable tale for that. It’s a world filled with secrets and mysteries and you get the sense that there is much that is hinted at but barely touched upon but the ending is satisfying and rewarding and leaves me extremely excited for book two. Andrea Stewart is a welcome new voice to the fantasy genre and I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I must say i'm quite annoyed at myself for taking so long to get around to reading this.
I loved this, the magic system is unique and incredibly intelligent, the world building is fantastic and the characters are well developed and lovely to read about.
I can wait to see what else Andrea Stewart writes, i'll definitely be picking it up.

This year has been, to put it nicely, a lot. Reading is hard, existing is a hell of a lot of effort and I have accepted that pesto is the key to my sanity. However, this hasn't stopped the sheer amount of amazing SFF books that are being bestowed on us in these trying times and I think I just found the one with the best world building yet. Bone magic, rebellious daughters and dangerous toppling empires is exactly what I need right now and Andrea Stewart has delivered.

This book will keep you at arms length. This book will also consume your attention at every turn. Don't expect this one to have anything you expect and don't expect answers until the very last moment. I feel the need to explain this since I found the start to the story and indeed the first quarter to be very tightly paced. I think it may have been my own expectations that the second I read this I would be dropped right into the world but that doesn't happen at all. It serves a huge purpose to the story which I very rarely see these days and you do gain the satisfaction of being let in on the secrets but only when you absolutely have to.

Stewart has built an amazing world here. I read this as an advanced review copy so didn't have a map yet (twirls hands in a Mr. Burns way thinking of my GBSFF edition coming) but I didn't need it to feel immersed. There isn't a single thing that hasn't been meticulously planned here and you get a real sense of enjoyment in the way things are set out. The magic system for one is so interesting and was my favourite part for two reasons. One is the fact it's bone magic and based around weaving complex commands inscribed in bone (terrifying, obviously) and the second is that it has consequences to use it.

Everyone in this empire has to give up a shard of their bone as a duty when they are a child to help maintain the Sukai (the ruling family) dynasty. Yep, it's as awful as you imagine and yes you can die from that alone. Alongside the sheer terror of undergoing these 'Tithing Festivals', if your bone shard is used to power a construct (a creature powered by bone shards with various commands built in) then you're pretty much done for. It essentially uses your life force to power the magic of this construct. Isn't that amazing yet utterly terrifying? There are stakes at play here and they are high.

The characters are something I want to let you all know about, that there are more than just Lin in terms of perspective. We get 5 in all (1 that is a total spoiler and will feel pointless to you but is vital) including Lin, the heir to this entire empire. While I love Lin and all her complexities, I have to admit my heart lies with Jovis, the smuggler who is also a reluctant hero with the CUTEST animal companion named Mephi. But all the characters are written fantastically. There is also a queer couple who are wonderfully realistic too which I hope to see more of in the next book.

There is a great conversation between the queer couple, Phalue and Ranami, that is ongoing for their entire side plot of the book. Privilege is something that is a distinct conflict in their romantic relationship since both of these women come from very different situations. Even though it is mostly an internal struggle between them both, there is a very real message here that is a welcome reminder that some people (myself included) should be aware of just how much privilege they carry.

Again, this book is incredibly woven and densely packed with a perfect attention to detail and I can't flaw a single thing. This is a perfect beginning to a series I think will keep delivering on all the strongest parts of this book. Thank you to both Orbit Books and Netgalley for providing me an Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for review. The b

The Bone Shard Daughter is the first book in The Drowning Empire trilogy and I can say this is one of the best fantasy books I have read in a long time. The world building is flawless, the characters are exciting and intriguing and the details about the bone shard magic was so engrossing. The whole plot was just completely different to any type of fantasy novel I have read. Every time I put the book down, I was dying to get back to reading it again. It was so gripping, adventurous and so beautifully written that was I totally sucked into this world.

The author writes from multiple points of view which gives you so much awareness about the Empire so you see it from different aspects which worked magnificently in this story. I was invested in every single persons story as there was so much depth to them all. My favourites in particular were Lin, Jovis and of course the mystic creature that is Mephi. The scenes written between Mephi and Jovis just were so touching.

The magic system in this book is so unique by the use of bone shards. It sounds very odd but it is such a clever idea the author has come up with and very absorbing. The way the magic is explained in the book is really clear and not at all confusing like some books can be in this genre.

There are some shocking revelations that occur in this book so now I am desperate to read the next book in this series. I hope it is released soon, I always hate having to wait for the next book in a series! Especially as this left so much on a cliff-hanger.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It was just an mesmerising, epic read that is full of adventure that I am sure will excite fantasy fans all over the world.

An incredible epic fantasy with a unique magic system, intricate world-building, and engaging characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is one of my favourite reads of this year. Stewart's world-building is seemingly effortless and the characters jump off the page. One of my favourite parts of the first book in a new series is watching the charatcers come together and this book is no exception - I can't wait to see where the plot goes next.

This was a mesmerising book to read, unusual, fascinating and deliciously dark. Through generations, the Bone Shard magic has been passed down through the chain of rulers of the empire. The story centres mainly around Lin the Emperor’s daughter who he is gradually teaching the bone shard magic to, as well as a boy that he has taken on as his foster son. The thing is when the Emperor returned with Bayan, Lin became ill and lost all her memories of everything that had happened before then. Eight years on she still has not got her memories back. There is rivalry between Lin and Bayan which the Emperor seems to delight in, favouring one or the other at times.

Since the Emperor’s wife died he has become a recluse unable to face the world and so his empire, made up of small islands are becoming restless. There is a terrible ritual which takes place each year when the children of the islands reach the age of eleven. Oh boy, this story does have some pretty dark elements. The bone shard magic is something that you should read about in the book, not from me. It is jaw-dropping!

Lin takes it on herself to find out about her past, if her father won’t tell her and so beings her journey of discovery among the islands. New characters that grow with each chapter. This is a fabulous read and unbelievably a debut from author Andrea Stewart who writes like this story has been bursting to be told. It is stunning and the first in this series.

I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

I really enjoyed this unique book and cannot wait to devour the whole series! It has complex world building, an intriguing and detailed magic system and multiple points of view, which I love! The drama and twists and turns kept me on my toes during this well-paced, exciting read. Lin is a very relatable, determined main character. I would definitely recommend this to others and am excited to find out what happens next!

*ARC kindly provided to me by Orbit! Thank you so much to them!*

This may be one of my favourite adult fantasy debuts of the year.

The story is expertly woven together and the narrative flows naturally so you feel like you're in very capable hands.

The characters are all flawed and don't use horror-movie-logic which is such a good change of pace.

The animal companions sometimes bother me in other books as they can come off as twee, but they were such an amazing addition in The Bone Shard Daughter. Their inclusion raises some really interesting questions that will give the next book in the series a lot to work with.

The end of the first book in a series is tricky to pull off - how many questions do you answer? This book did it excellently and I'm super excited to see where the series goes.

*ARC kindly provided to me by Orbit! Thank you so much to them!*

The excellent start of a new fantasy series. I loved how everything is fresh, original and fascinating.
The author is an excellent storyteller and delivered an original and excellent world building, something new in the world of fantasy.
The different POVs, the interesting characters and the plot that kept me hooked makes this story a gripping and highly entertaining read.
I can't wait to read the next instalment, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Wow, what a great debut! It is so hard to come up with something new and original in eth fantasy world, and Andrea Stewart's "The Bone Shard Daughter" is a new and fresh voice with a great idea! I was drawn into tthe world of floating islands, where the Emperror rules with the help of his creepy constructs and people fight for survival. There are multiple points of view, many characters that we meet along our journey, there are unexpected twists and the ending that just leaves you wanting more. So, it is a definitely a thumbs up from me and I cannot wait for another installment of the series.

I went into THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER without knowing much about it. It wasn’t what I expecting, but I’m not sure what I was or what was different. It combines a lot of different things: a floating island empire, a rivalry of imperial heirs, hidden memories, rebellions, smugglers, and Frankenstein-like creations.

The magic system — the bone shards, tithing and constructs — was fascinating, and unlike anything I can remember reading recently. I loved the dark, grittiness of the magic and the way it felt really rooted in the violence, inequality and realism of the world rather than being a sparkly, airy type of magic. It had a much stronger Frankenstein and science fiction feel than the necromancy I was expecting, but it was probably all the better or it. Combined with the collapsing empire and sinking islands, Stewart has created a fascinating world here.

It was the f/f relationship that drew me to THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER but those POVs actually ended up being my least favourite in terms of the story. From the marketing and hype, I had thought one of the sapphic characters would be the main character but, on the otherhand, I wasn’t too disappointed as I thought Lin and Jovis were the two more compelling characters anyway (and it seems like they’ll be the focus moving forward).

Another slight POV issue was that I was expecting Lin to have the most scenes just because (like with another recent read, THE FIRST SISTER) you’d think the title character would, if not being the only POV, get the largest slice of the pie. Not that I minded — as I say, I really liked Jovis — but it did throw me a little at the start. While the multi-pov was interesting, I think I’d have preferred if it had spent some more time focused on Lin’s claustrophobic, controlled life in the palace.

With several POV characters, locations and a lot of supporting characters to get through, I did think the pacing was rather slow to begin with. THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER hit its stride by the end of the first act and was well-paced until the ending, which felt a little rushed and over-packed.

While I had a few issues with THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER, I thought it was unique and, for the most part, incredibly compelling. The characters were interesting as well as likeable and the world felt deep and complex. It’s a very promising start to the series.

Review posted: 8 October 2020: https://foxesfairytale.wordpress.com/2020/10/08/arc-review-the-bone-shard-daughter/

The Bone Shard Daughter es una apuesta formalmente arriesgada para tratarse de una primera novela, ya que la autora habrá de manejar cinco puntos de vista distintos con cambios de perspectiva entre ellos y no solo es difícil ir cambiando la forma de escribir entre cada capítulo, si no que también está el reto de mantener por igual el interés de todas las tramas. Andrea Stewart sale bien parada del primer envite, pero cojea un poco en el segundo.

El escenario que la autora ha creado para desarrollar su historia es grandioso. Un imperio formado por distintas islas que se desplazan siguiendo determinados patrones, dominado con mano firme por el emperador y sus constructos, que se suponen preparados para defender a sus habitantes de una antigua amenaza que ya casi nadie recuerda. En este caso, la magia proviene de las esquirlas de hueso que ritualmente se obtienen de los súbditos en una ceremonia de paso a la madurez que no es perfecta, por lo que siempre mueren algunos niños en el proceso.
El pago de este polémico diezmo y el hecho de que los constructos que se creen con estas esquirlas roben la fuerza vital de los donantes es la base para la tensión que se va desarrollando en la novela. La gente estaba dispuesta a sacrificarse cuando el beneficio era la defensa contra un poder terrorífico, pero ahora ya hace demasiado tiempo que la amenaza desapareció y se va diluyendo su influencia.
En esta situación, es inteligente que la autora nos muestre diversos puntos de vista para comprender mejor el entorno. Desde la hija del emperador que sufrió pérdidas de memoria en su momento y ahora intenta comprender la magia que despliega su padre a un contrabandista que lleva buscando a su mujer secuestrada desde hace años, pasando por la hija lesbiana del gobernador que no acaba de comprender las desigualdades sociales que el modelo de estado crea a su alrededor. Son personajes interesantes, aunque en ocasiones excesivamente ingenuos.
El sistema de magia que crea los constructos es prácticamente una transposición de un sistema de programación, existen unos comandos que se inscriben en las esquirlas de hueso, formando unos algoritmos que rigen las elecciones de estas máquinas de carne. Dependiendo de la complejidad de la programación, así serán las acciones de estos simulacros de robots y así de fácil o difícil será manipularles.
También hay otro tipo de magia que se descubre en el desarrollo de la novela, pero son solo esbozos que la autora se reserva para desarrollar en las siguientes novelas.
Otros elementos que son fundamentales en la novela es la lucha de clases y la revolución para derrocar el poder establecido y la curiosa relación de uno de los personajes con un desconocido animal de compañía que se irá desvelando como mucho más importante de lo que en un principio se podría sospechar.
El ritmo de la novela no es trepidante y como ya he mencionando anteriormente, la intriga y el interés no es el mismo en todos los tramos de la historia, por lo que en algunas ocasiones la lectura se puede hacer larga. No obstante, la autora ha conseguido despertar mi curiosidad y probablemente, lea la siguiente entrega de la saga.

The Empire calls this a peaceful reign. The people disagree. They are scared, knowing that once their 'Bone Shard' gets put to use into one of the Emperors constructs their lives will start declining. Lin, the Emperors daughter believes there must be a better way to protect the Empire, one that does not put its people at risk. She constantly wants for her fathers attention but her inability to remember her past seems to continue to make him angry. She also has to contend with Bayan, her fathers adopted son who is also vying for the throne. It isn't until Lin finds a hidden diary that has her missing memories that she starts putting the pieces the mystery of her life together. Only she isn't ready to find the truth, a truth that could destroy the Empire, or unite it.

Jovis is a well known smuggler of goods, he spends his days trying to sneak beneath the notice of the Ioph Carn and constantly searching for a Boat with blue sails, one he saw in the distance on the day his wife disappeared. Only after a devastating natural event he finds himself getting drawn more and more to the good side when people start seeking his help smuggling children from the tithing ceremony. Along with his animal sidekick Mephi, a creature he tries to save from drowning that quickly inserts itself into his life, Jovis finds himself reluctantly helping the rebellion in their bid to overthrow the Empire. But there is more to Mephi, and indeed Jovis than meets the eye and though they don't realise it, their story is just beginning.

Phalue is the daughter of a Governor. She may not agree with her fathers politics, or the way he treats his people, but she is reluctant to stand up to him and challenge his ways. That is until she meets Ranami. Ranami knows that the people could have better lives, and she is willing to fight for that. Through Ranami, Phalue gets dragged into the rebellion who try to convince her to usurp her father. But both Phalue and Ranami don't quite know who they are getting into business with, and the true danger might be closer than they think. Ranami and Phalue both have separate POV's but their story lines are entwined through most of the book.

Sand collects the Mangoes. Or at least that's what she has done every day she has been on the Island. She doesn't know anything of her life before, or even if she had one. But one day that changes, she falls from a tree and starts to remember things, things from before the Island, things that she can't explain. Once she starts to question the Island others do as well, until they come to realise that they haven't always been here, and they want to go back. All of these story lines are entwined to make for one epic story filled with a truly masterful magic system, and plot twists that take your breath away.

I already said the magic system in 'Bone Shard Daughter' was unique, but I have truly read nothing like it. Years ago the Empire defeated the Alanga bringing peace to the Empire. A peace that is kept by the Emperors 'constructs' creatures made from the parts of animals and brought to life by 'bone shards'. Every year the Empire run a 'tithing' ceremony where children of age are herded together and a small portion of bone is taken from their skull. However, once your 'Bone Shard' is put to use in a construct, your life is forfeit. It may take days, months, years but eventually you will succumb to the bone sickness, the shard will drain the life out of you and you will die. The Emperor see's this as a tiny price to pay for freedom and peace, the people disagree. The magic was like nothing I had ever read and, although in some parts it got a little icky, I was wholly engrossed by it.

Through the five POV's we get to travel a good portion of the Empire and Stewart's world building was, simply put, epic. Her descriptive writing drag you straight into the story, the action literally jumps from the page and it is not at all hard to put yourself into the storytellers shoes and imagine yourself on the journey alongside them. The start of the book was a little slower going, but once we were introduced to the characters and the world I found myself flying through the pages. Unlike some multiple POV books I've read every single one had me hooked, sometimes I find ones whose story line I don't find as interesting as the rest, but with Bone Shard Daughter every single character has such an important part in telling the story that you are glued to every page.

There are plenty of twists and turns in this book. Some we get clues to from the beginning; Who is Sand? Why doesn't Lin remember her childhood? And though those questions both play a huge part in the plot, the author still manages to hit us with some WTF moments. There are plenty of grip the page, white knuckle action moments, as well as the simple day to day life moments and I thought the author got the balance of these really well. I think it's safe to say I adored this book, in fact it's my most recent 5* read and after the climactic ending I am highly anticipating the sequel.

The Bone Shard Daughter is set in a world where the emperor controls his people through the use of constructs, creatures created from the parts of animals and the bone shards extracted from the bodies of children who sacrifice themselves for the good of the empire. The emperor’s daughter and adoptive son are learning to use the bone shard magic and they are in competition for the throne. One day, only one of them will take his place. In the meantime, there are people who wants to put an end to the empire, overthrow the emperor, and put an end to the sacrifice of children.

The Bone Shard Daughter is told from different points of views which was very well executed. It starts with Lin, the emperor’s daughter. Lin has lost her memories and she is constantly trying to prove to her father that she could be a worthy successor. I really liked this character because she has a very gripping storyline, with her secrets, her deception, and her spying, and I think that she has the greatest twist in the story. My other favourite character is Jovis. He is a smuggler with a conscience. His endless search for his wife, who mysteriously disappeared seven years earlier, is often interrupted by his involuntary rescue of children. I loved his sarcasm and the way he always manages to get out of dangerous situations, but, above all, I enjoyed his relationship with Mephi, the magical creature that he rescued during one of his escapes from trouble.

The other points of views are Phalue and Ranami. They are in love, but their different upbringing and ideals often puts a strain in their relationship. Phalue is the governor’s daughter convinced that everything will be fine once she takes her father’s place. Ranami is the orphan who grew up poor and alone and who wants to change the world. Lastly but not least, there is Sand. Sand is on a island picking up mangoes all day long. Like the other people on the island, she has no memory of her past, until, one day, she starts questioning her life: why can’t she remember her past life? How did she get on the island?

The Bone Shard is really a superb debut. The characters are easy to love and very well-crafted. The world building is incredible and gorgeous and the plot is intricate and carefully-planned. This is a novel that fantasy readers and non will fall in love with and I can’t wait to read the sequel. Highly recommended!

So for the first 20% of this book I was confused. It took me a long time to get into it and I almost DNF’d it As there was so much information being given that it was hard to keep track of. However, once I started to get to know the characters more, the better I was able to understand the story.
Jovial was my favourite from the beginning and that never changed throughout the whole book. Having Mephi with him only made him better.
As the story unfolded you could start to see how the characters were linking together and how they were impacting each other. There a a number of plot twists, some predictable and some not.
Overall though it was something that was very different to other books that I have read and the characters are mostly likeable. Although I understand that need for all the information to be included it could put some off but I would urged them to just continue on as it is worth it in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5*

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for honest review.
An intriguing start to what looks to be an interesting high-fantasy series, with a good set ofcharacters and a great premise: shards of bone used to magically power monstrous constructs (think Frankenstein) and the people from whom these shards were taken, used as living batteries. All to keep control of an empire that is slowly but surely crumbling (in more ways than one) and where revolution is brewing, so the story really examines how a person's worth is decided.
Late in the story revelations both pull the rug out from under you (I don't want to spoil anything, but, again, think Frankenstein) and leave you wondering about developments in the next book.