Title: A Burden of Ice and Bone
Author: Kyra Whitton
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

In the village of ice and darkness, Dira Cloon's entire existence relies on her ability to pull the trigger. But when she faces a majestic white bear, her resolve falters. The bear's presence stirs something deep within her - a force stronger than her love for her family, who believe that the only safe polar bear is a dead one.

It goes beyond the village legends of a lost world and a vanished civilization, the whispered tales of magic, and the ursine king's enchantment. This force resonates with Dira's heart, shattered and lonely. If she shoots the bear, her life will continue as it always has, with a piece of her soul and dreams forever lost. But if she lays down her weapon and follows the bear into the vast, frozen realm of snow, she may transform her people and their bloodlust.

This was an interesting dystopian/fantasy read. More than a bit depressing, frankly. I don’t like cold weather, so that was a me thing, but the society itself was pretty bleak—and I wasn’t a fan of the people. The author did a great job with the setting, though, and I enjoyed the story itself. What happened when Dira broke the curse wasn’t surprising at all, but I did enjoy this read.

Kyra Whitton is from Georgia. A Burden of Ice and Bone is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Sword and Silk Books in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 5/8).

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC!

The book’s plot kind of reminds me of Cupid and his lover, especially when she was staying with him.

I loved that the main character really stuck to her guns (lol) till the very end. The twist was interesting to say the least. I don’t really have much to say except for the fact that I was so disappointed that the last chapter was the last chapter—not because I never wanted the book to end, but it just suddenly cut to the epilogue and I was so confused because it didn’t seem like there was a real ending??? It just felt like it was cut off too fast.

The epilogue was done well, don’t get me wrong, I just think that there should have been a better ending before the epilogue.

4.75 ⭐ / 5.

I loved this book! It started out a bit slow, but once it started to pick up I devoured it. It is a retelling that gives a combo of so many different fairy tale or myth vibes (East of the Sun West of the Moon, White Bear King Valemon, Cupid and Psyche, or Beauty and the Beast to name a few). It takes place in a dystopian like world where the cold and frost has taken over and most technology no longer works.

Dira was relatable with her desire to fit in and looking for someone who truly accepts her to spend her life with. She is also brave and values life over tradition which is something I found admirable. She does make kind of impulsive decisions, but I didn't really mind that as those were usually what drove the plot and relationships forward a bit. Her journey over the course of the book was insightful into how we can sometimes be blinded by the hurt others cause us. Valemon is quiet but protective and at first I didn't know how I felt about him or the romance, but the more we got to know him the more I really liked him. His pain and all that he's endured made for a heartbreaking addition to a world that's already harsh and hard to survive in.

My one and only complaint was the ending felt a little bit rushed. I would have liked to see a bit more building up to the final conflict than we got. It just felt like it was over too fast.

Do you like Fairytale retellings? Try this one with a vast dystopian backdrop! This is a modern take on the fairy tale East O' the Sun, West O' the Moon set in a grim future world.
I loved the description in this book. This is not a fast paced storyline but the description, the hope to find out how this world came to be with the details the author gives through the beginning to let you know this isnt set in modern times in the great north, and the main character Dira's struggles kept me intrigued enough to get to the action. Once getting through the beginning setup I couldn't put it down. This is a story of learning self awareness, perception, and family dynamics, within a love story. I felt that the ending aftermath was a bit rushed and lacking some fleshing out for my taste but not bad.
Overall I enjoyed this retelling of one of my favorite fairytales!

Thank you to the publishers Sword and Silk and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book for an unbiased review.

This novel was a slow paced romance similar to a novel I read once as a child about a man who wanted his identity unknown for reasons we don’t find out until the end. (Despite my searching I cannot find the title unfortunately) As far as fairy tales go this one was a decent story with a simple conclusion. It was interesting and an easy read, my only struggle was that I found the main character to be frustrating in her impulsivity at times.

This was a story about the bond between a young girl and a bear. I found it quite easy reading, it seemed like something my younger self would have enjoyed more than my adult self, but it was a pleasant enough read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

3.5 round up

Very unique premise but pacing was too slow for my liking. The FMC was just too proud and irritating but I kept rooting for her. The world building was beautifully done.

This was steeped in folklore and a desperate search for belonging. Dira has struggled to fit in with what her family and village has wanted from her since she was a small girl. Her reluctance to kill the polar bears they share the land with has gotten her into more trouble than she could have imagined. Being held responsible for something so horrible at such a young age has shaped her entire world with a sense of tolerance rather than acceptance. A betrayal from her best friend and brother, on top of the loss of an entire family is enough to make her want to run.

Dira follows the polar bear she saw as a child, and that she saved by the beach...because somehow, he's a man in a polar bear skin cloak, and he's beckoning her to follow. She's taken miles across the ice by her polar bear and wakes up alone in a strange place. Looking for her bear, she finds the man, Valemon, bringing her food and clothes.

Seem

As they live along side one another, Dira is desperate for answers, and she keeps pushing until she gets them, good or bad. Valemon is secretive, for good reason. As time goes on, they begin to depend on one another for company and a need to be seen so deep that Dira can't believe how much she needs this man she just met to just stay with her.

Dira has opportunities to go home and doesn't take them, which sets into motion a series of events that will lead them both to discovery, love, and a seemingly unbreakable curse. I could not put this down. It was so enthralling and magical from the start.

This book had promise but ultimately had too many flaws for me. The plot moved very slowly, the worldbuilding wasn't as fleshed out as it could have been, and the main character was unlikeable. I think Dira is supposed to be around 19 but she reads like she's 14. She makes rash, impulsive decisions and she never really thinks about how those decisions will affect those around her. And the plot of wanting to save the polar bears was interesting.. but never made a lot of sense. Dira was saved by a polar bear as a child and so that makes her want to keep her village from killing them. Except.. while Dira *was* saved by a polar bear.. she was saved from a different polar bear that definitely did want to kill her. And the polar bear that did save her did turn around and kill someone else. So not only does her connection to the polar bears seem a bit wobbly but she never really sees the polar bears as a dangerous animal deserving of respect. From chasing a baby bear with intentions to make it her pet as a child to tracking the polar bears as an adult while calling them "hers" and giving them all names, it seems like she never gets past her fantasy of wanting to ride and befriend polar bears.

The romance is.. not good. The whole "immortal man who knew her since she was a child" doesn't really work for me and I also don't really understand what he sees in her. They had negative chemistry. She would make some hairbrained decision that would put her in peril, he would save her, and that was it. They had nothing in common.

It also did not feel like Dira had any control at any point in the book. The plot just kind of happens to her. Which for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I feel like a more active effort needed to be there.

This was a quick read and I do think the author has potential.

An interesting twist on the East of the Sun West of the moon fairytale. I enjoyed the authors writing and the way she pitted survival against morality. Overall this was an immersive and enjoyable fantasy standalone. Highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book because of the authors style. I was happy the FMC was not described as small or fragile as this can get old in the fantasy genre. I thought the banter between characters was fun, and the personal issues between the family were very relatable conflicts. I did think the beginning went a bit slow, and the end went a bit fast. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a standalone fantasy novel, of course with a little romance mixed in.

“Fear always brings out the worst in us all.”

A tale about bears, strangers, all forms of love and climate change.
This story and its accents of Beauty & Beast retelling caught me from the beginning. It was a quick and short read, though very meaningful. I have to admit, I was charmed by the cover first and didn’t know what to expect, apart from the bears. I loved that story. Between fantasy and dystopia, with a subtle –and brilliant– world building that leaves us in the expectation, we follow Dira, a young headstrong girl, who’s the only one to see something other than cold killers in the polar bears who circle the town where she lives.
I loved her character and all the mistakes she makes, all the long way she’ll have to come until the end. It’s a true coming of age story, where the MC realizes how grey life is, how no one is truly evil or good. Everyone is deeply human, and we learn that the one we were taught to fear the most might not be the most dangerous. Maybe should we see enemies in more alike people, or even within ourselves. I adored all the characters (I don’t want to reveal too much here), the love story (stories) how the love interest fights his protective instincts (tries) to empower Dira, and the pinch of magic (and, of course, the crow’s cameo!). The twist was remarkable (for once, I didn’t see anything coming!), and I only regret that the last part wasn’t a bit longer. I would definitely have loved to stay a few more chapters within these pages.
Rate 4.5/5

Thank you Netgalley, Kyra Whitton and Sword and Silk Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Don’t dwell in the in-between.”

“A Burden of Ice and Bone,” by Kyra Whitton

In the village of ice, the people depend on their skill of shooting the dangerous polar bears. Dira has never wanted to ever shoot or kill a polar bear. She has always felt that there was more to them than everyone else sees. There is a legend of the ursine King’s enchantment that has been intertwined with the polar bear lore and Dira is determined to find him and break it.

I absolutely loved this book. It is a great stand alone and the whole polar bear aspect was very unique. The post-apocalyptic frozen land was so interesting and was fun to read about. The romance is slow burn and light but that made the book feel like an old school Disney story. I loved every second. 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

3/5 ⭐
0/5 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and Kyra Whitton for the ARC of A Burden of Ice and Bone.

This book I feel can best be described as a fleshed out folktale. A man is cursed, a woman flees from her society as an outcast, and it is meant to teach a lesson about how humans can live with the top predator in their environment.

The FMC was somewhat unlikeable. She seemed to vacillate between self-pity and entitlement, with a side of no sense of self-preservation. The MMC felt a little flat at times, which I think was mostly due to him attempting not to reveal too much or form a bond with the FMC.

Despite these flaws, I enjoyed the story itself and the world the author built. Instead of a "Mad Max"-like desert wasteland, this environmental apocalypse led to a frozen tundra. The romance was sweet. I think this could be read as YA, though I don't believe it is marketed as such.

If you enjoy folktales and a slow burn, closed-door romance, this may be for you.

I thought this was a great idea of making a fantasy novel and adding conservation to the story. It had everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed the overall feel of the world. Kyra Whitton has a great writing style that I wanted to read more in and enjoyed the read.

I don't know where to begin, this book has so many exciting parts that I can't possibly be expected to cram them all into words. Though I shall certainly try.

This book was beautifully written, I felt like I had been targeted when I was reading it. I adore anything with bears in. I adore fantasy fiction. When those two worlds collided for me, it opened up a whole new chapter and I now require this to be made into a film for me to binge watch repeatedly, so I can swoon.
All the hearts for Val. 🤍
The rich world Whitton has developed is the very same idea of what I imagined polar bear environments to be like. I watched this show once where this village shares its border with polar bears, they just wander amongst the snow, not coming to close.
I swear I could imagine the very setting Whitton describes thanks to this prior glimpse. Frosty mornings, polar bears keeping their distance but being inquisitive due to sounds and smells, but not meaning harm. Just like the FMC thought of them. It was so vivid, I want to observe and visit their secret relaxation spots, but obviously I know better than to not get close to a wild animal. But one can dream...
The story in this tale revolves around the fear of bears, seeking power, a curse, being true to yourself, acceptance, and overcoming ones fear to find the balance in the fight against the wild.
The understanding I had for the FMC feeling out of place, outcast, always responsible for whatever goes wrong, always failing. Those who have been there, can feel that disappointed feeling coming towards you in waves. It's hard to ignore and really does build up to the point you want to escape and try to prove you were right. Whenever I read these parts my heart squeezed just a little, because I can feel it with her, I feel even for imaginary characters who suffer.

I absolutely ADORE this book, the fantastic characters through to the witty dialogue.
I will recommend this to all, it's got a slow burn romance with some lukewarm intimacy. PG 15?
But it is just such a cute book! Just remember, bears and fantasy. What else do you need??

This book has a beauty and the beast style vibe. With a strong, gripping journey with bears and a happy ending. I love those. I'm giving this a totally well deserved 5* snowy stars!
'Don't dwell in the in between' because this book deserves to be read!

This book is adorable! And I absolutely love that it’s a stand alone. It said what it needed to concisely while still captivating me in the storyline.

Dira is a good female lead. While she is brave and stubborn, she is also reckless and impulsive. Her character development throughout the book is realistic and relatable to anyone who has had major changes occur in their life.

This was an intriguing and quick read. By the time I started this, I didn’t remember much from the blurb, so it was enjoyable to discover the story as I went.

We get fantasy, sprinkled with an ancient curse, survival, post apocalyptic events, and even a hint of Beauty and the Beast. All wrapped up in one novel.

There isn’t much character growth, and I did feel the pacing of the last 10% was a bit rushed, especially after the unexpected twist. I think it could have benefited from being a duology and actually taking the time the story needs at the end, but I still enjoyed the story.

Thank you to Silk and Swords Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Full Review on NetGalley & Storygraph.
A Burden of Ice and Bone is a unique combination of a Beauty and the Beast retelling (ala Disney’s 1991 film) and environmental conservation propaganda set in a dystopian future Earth. The story follows Dira, a woman determined to bring about a time of peace between her small town and the polar bears that share the land and resources. Romance and magic intermingle in the plot, but the driving theme is resoundingly caring for the Earth and its creatures. No CWs.
Unfortunately, the most positive thing I can say about this book is that it was daring to have the entire book revolve around polar bear conservation. This is a 1 star book, for me, for the following reasons.
The FMC, Dira, was deeply unlikable. Not in the morally gray way, but because she never once used her head in the face of trouble or employed empathy when interacting with others. Dira came off as a spoiled child (despite her being 20 years old) and her inner dialogue revolved solely around her playing the victim. Dira was meant to be different from the other townsfolk, but she just came off as a bad person who constantly put herself and her town in danger for no reason.
The worldbuilding was as barren as the northern tundra setting. By about 40% into the book, I realized this was meant to be taking place on Earth, but the distant future. This was never expounded on in any meaningful ways and this was a disservice to the concept. The only worldbuilding we receive is in huge blocks of exposition, either in Dira’s internal monologues or via dialogue from someone else. This left the world feeling hollow and overly simplistic. There was huge telling and not showing problems, with almost all of the important information being told instead of the readers getting a chance to see relationships, culture, or events in action. The magical system is far too thin and doesn't feel connected to the otherwise realistic environment.
The side characters were all the same, with no personalities shining through. Even our FMC was devoid of much personality, aside from her penchant to whine and play the victim. This led to soulless conversations that should have elicited an emotional reaction from the reader. Her twin, her childhood friend, or anyone really, all treat Dira the same, regardless of if she views them as being one her side or not. The romance was just as hollow as the rest of the book. The main love interest gets very little in the way of a personality, aside from being stoic and protective. He is never given much reason to put up with Dira, and frankly, just tolerates her. He functions more like a chiding fatherly figure than a romantic partner. The FMC and love interest had no chemistry and at points the consent felt dubious.
The overall pacing was uneven. On a small scale, excessive use of passive voice hindered action scenes and tension. Dira lacked autonomy over the plot and was just a reactive bystander to much of it. Without spoiling anything, even the ending was handed to her by the actions of others and not her own decisions. The middle of the story dragged, with very little happening. The biggest plot point of the book was solved between 90% and 95% of the book and the pay off was not there. Despite spending the majority of the book searching for a way to change her town’s mind about polar bears, the conclusion fell incredibly flat and was too rushed.
One concept that was successful was the fact that the love interest’s face was not fully revealed until the end of the book. I thought that was a clever concept to have for a romance. I can’t say that I would recommend this, even though I am a big fan of Beauty and the Beast retellings.

For the lovers of beauty and beast comes a rendition that makes your heart skip a beat. This one is an epic combo of fairy tale romance married with standing up for a cause.

I love books that have female protagonists and especially the ones where the princess saves the prince and they both live happily ever after.

I can’t write anymore without giving away the plot, but if you love novels that have tons of world-building and the heroine saves the day, you got to get your hands on this book.

And yes, there’s a lot about polar bears in this book. If you found them fascinating before, you’re probably to end up learning a thing or two about them. Beautiful read.

Rating - 4.7/5