Witchcraft is strictly forbidden outside the military, and Everly Thorn will do anything to keep her secret safe. But when a ruthless shadow summoner discovers her power, she’s presented with the choice of entering a deadly blood oath with him in exchange for her financial freedom, and his discretion.

*NetGalley Arc Read/Review

I loved the story and premise of this book. There was enough carefully balanced tension from the start to grip me, and an equally great pace regarding character introductions. A healthy mix of show vs tell storytelling was maintained throughout - making it an easily digestible read - and there was enough detailed and descriptive world-building to become immersed and invested.

Everly is an admirable main character and loyal to a fault, which left me both rooting for her and cursing her naivety. She's strong and brave, but wildly sensitive due to some trauma in her family and upbringing. This helps shape her character, and it means we get some basis of understanding regarding her choices and misplaced judgements.
The friends she meets as we progress through the story remind me of some other well-known fictional characters, and I unfortunately couldn't get those out of my head.
A couple of lines also rang a few bells; "You're not where I left you" / "There you are, darling" / "There isn't anywhere you can go that I can't find you." - Whilst I know no author has any claim on these lines, I think once they have been so famously recited it's a difficult and dangerous line to walk. Nevertheless, they hit the mark and I found myself squealing with delight.

There were a couple of spelling and grammatical errors that I noticed; none so deep that it affected the story, but they were definitely a distraction. I also found the overall pacing of the book to be inconsistent, with scenes of passion erupting from nowhere - and whilst I enjoyed them and thought they were gorgeously written, they were a bit jarring as they lacked the necessary build-up and sometimes felt gratuitous.

Overall, I enjoyed Masquerade Of Bones. I'd have liked there to have been more bones. And maybe a bit more masquerade. But the story was great, the main male character was sexy as hell and fulfilled the necessary tropes of a shadow daddy, and I'd love to read a second book should the author decide to continue this story because it ended on a bit of a reveal that I'd like to know more about.

I want to thank the author and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this, and I hope my review had done it justice.

Dark, thrilling, and utterly addictive, Masquerade of Bones delivers a gothic romantasy packed with high-stakes heists, forbidden magic, and sizzling tension. Everly Thorn is a fierce and defiant heroine, caught between her deadly gift and the ruthless outlaw, Silas Drake, whose proposition could change her fate—or doom her entirely.

With rich worldbuilding, morally gray characters, and a plot brimming with danger, betrayal, and slow-burning romance, this book is impossible to put down. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy with a touch of heist intrigue, Masquerade of Bones is a spellbinding adventure you won’t forget!

This book!!! THIS MF BOOK IS FAN-EFFING-TASTIC!!! The banter, the chemistry, the whole lot of it! I devoured this! I can’t get enough. The writing was beautiful, the world building simple but so easy to follow and that magic system, it’s so unique I was immediately interested in it.

There are not enough stars in the world to do this book justice.

Thank you Net galley

Masquerade of Bones is a spicy romantasy with really fun tropes. The romance was perfect and I also loved the found family!

The story is so captivating and the FMC was amazing!

I am not religious in any sense of the word, and yet this book has me saying ‘lord let this be a series!’. And quite frankly it would be criminal for it not to be.

This book is truly amazing. I want to know more about this unique world, I want to know more about the characters, I want more magic and romance. I want more of it all!

If a fantasy book had to check off every trope in the fantasy genre, Masquerade of Bones would hit every single one. Although all my favorite tropes were ticked off, I felt like something was missing. Im not sure if this is intentional or not but it wasn’t as meaty as I would have liked it to be. I have to admit that the beginning was quite slow for me. However, the unique magic system made up for the pacing. It was unlike any magic I’ve read about before; It’s new & refreshing and I’m eager to learn more about it.

After the initial introduction of the world and characters, I found Everly & Silas’ story enjoyable. The chemistry between the two characters comes off the pages and you can feel it thickly in the air. Every time they’re on the page together I was left wanting more. Hintz has an incredible way of writing her main and side characters; they’re lovable/hate-able, and some you feel a strong connection to from the moment you meet them.

All-in-all I found Masquerade of Bones delightful. I’m excited to see where this spellbinding story goes from here and I look forward to Hintz’s future books. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for Everly, Silas, and the gang.

Many thanks to J. Ember Hintz and Specter Publishing for letting me read Masquerade of Bones ahead of its release!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
Honestly, a Romantasy that has an intriguing magic system , a unique story, fantastic characters and incredible world building. Hintz uses an incredibly emotive and lyrical writing style to tell a fantastic story.
Masquerade of Bones captured my attention from the first sentence and, lately, that’s not easy.
I loved the character development! Everly is a great character from the start and only continues to mature and grow in a way that feels natural to the story. I also love her relationship development with Silas. The banter and the chemistry was off the charts!
This was an emotional roller coaster that I was more than happy to ride!

I have mixed feelings about this book, but overall it was okay.

certain aspects, like the magic system, were well done it stood out as unique, relying on different relics, which made for a refreshing and engaging element. The story also featured well-developed characters and plenty of unpredictable twists, especially in the latter two-thirds, which kept things interesting.

However, the first third felt slow and somewhat confusing due to the extensive world-building. Some terms and concepts weren’t fully explained until after they became relevant, which made it a bit harder to follow at times.

overall as the story went on , these issues became easier to overlook. Unfortunately, the ending diminished some of that progress for me—it felt rushed, which took away from the impact of the action and made it harder to fully appreciate.

Masquerade of Bones is an immersive experience from the very first page and I loved our FMC, Everly, from the outset for her sass, and for her vulnerability which she masks behind her no-BS attitude. Hintz can spin a story, and concoct a unique magic system, but what is most impressive is how loudly her characters voice permeates her prose. I absolutely L-O-V-E-D it, couldn’t put it down. The sizzling tension, the snark, the flirting!!! Ahhhhh!! The ending will have your jaw on the floor guys.

No, but when she’s at a pleasure house and the woman struggles to describe the ways he made her feel with his shadow hands? Say less babe.

This book was a fun read, but certain plot point seemed like leaps for me.
The magic system was very cool and unique, and Everly was a great FMC. I enjoyed many of the characters, but the ending didn't quite do it for me.

4.25⭐️
I found this a little slow at the beginning but once the action picked up I was hooked.

A shadow daddy, mates, and a coerced bond… SAY LESS. These are all things that I absolutely adore in fantasy books.
While I’m not usually a fan of a heist, the fact that there were magical creatures involved made it very interesting.
The magic system with relics was different than anything I’ve read recently and was part of what kept me engaged.

If you’re a fan of ACOTAR, Fourth Wing and maybe even Six of Crows, I highly recommend.

I started the book a bit lost between the incredible universe, witches, relics, and ancient dragons. However, once immersed in it, the uniqueness of this fantastic world and the endearing characters just appealed to me and I couldn't stop. Everly has the soul of a real fighter without knowing how to put it into practice and her bond to Silas seems to be just the thing for her to help reveal what she is capable of. While Silas and his mysterious crew seem to hide more secrets than ever. I can only say one thing: I can't wait to read the rest and follow their adventures.

I absolutely loved this book!! The magic, the world, the tension and banter, the characters... I was hooked from start to finish. It tugged at all my emotions at varying points throughout the story.

Everly's story is complex. She's a badass and fierce without being over the top with it and feels relateable. Silas is the epitome of a morally gray shadow daddy, and the big reveal at the end made me love his character even more. The slow burn enemies to lovers tension between them was :chef's kiss:.

I loved Everly's brother and friends and Silas' band of revenants. I hated Landers (but you're supposed to hate him) and didn't really like Gideon, but I feel like Gideon might be able to redeem himself in a future book. I think I just didn't like Gideon for how he wasn't more understanding of how he and Everly's broken betrothal really affected her life. It didn't feel like he cared. But the other relationships within the book more than made up for my dislike of Gideon. There's a slight love triangle between Gideon, Silas, and Everly, but it wasn't angsty and it didn't bother me at all.

I am so curious about what happens next, and I'll 100% be watching for the next book!

My many thanks to NetGalley and the author for a chance to read this as an ARC! While I read this as an ARC copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I NEED book two immediately!!! This book had me addicted to every word! The world building, tension, magic structure was top tier! I cannot get enough of Silas and Everly and the adventure this book took me in was so exhilarating! And MY GOD THE BANTER! Give J.Ember Hintz her flowers now because she delivered exactly what my readers heart has been missing!

I just have to begin by saying that if you love a mix of Cassian, Grimshaw, Xaden, with a sprinkling of Rhysand.. then welcome Silas Drake.

Everly Thorne is a young woman who works in a menagerie among ancient relics and paleontologist things of mythical beasts. Our story begins with her trying to make extra money be providing death sketches to the local printing company. These death sketches are of reavers (witches who do not comply with military practices) who are publicly executed.

Unknown to EVERYONE, she is a witch in hiding. The only people who knew of her fever, and eventual powers, were her now deceased parents. Still reeling from the murders of her parents, Everly is also facing the welcoming arrival of her ex-fiancé back into the kingdom, all while being in extreme debt with the local gambling halls in her village.

The biggest thing I loved when setting up the beginning of this book was the sense of realism within Everly’s character and everyday life. This book, even being very rooted in fantasy, still gave a very real sense of the daily struggles of life and the hardships we face when processing traumatic events in early adulthood.

When given the opportunity to turn her life around and settles her debts, Everly makes a deal with a reaver named Silas Drake. The settlement involves a steamy heist to steal an ancient dragon relic. The difficult part is that the relic is owned by the princess betrothed to the prince of her kingdom, who just happens to be the man Everly was betrothed to.

This book not only was full of tension and action, but it was full of very high stakes from the beginning. The thrill of this book never let up, and I enjoyed the entire ride! I have now also added Silas Drake to my list of book boyfriends because this man is everything I love in my MMCs.

I am so thankful for NetGalley and J. Ember Hintz for gifting me the opportunity to read and review this book as an ARC. While the book was gifted, I can truthfully say it will be on my high list of recommendations and I am anticipating the next book I the series :)

TikTok/IG review is coming soon! @maddiiebreadss

Right from the start, Masquerade of Bones plunges the reader into an atmospherically gloomy world and a heightened state of tension. Hard-as-nails determined long-suffering heroine Everly Marlayna Thorne fights her way through a world where magic is in control, power struggles are in play, and dark secrets lurk behind every door.

The novel begins with Everly poised on the edge of the executioner's sword, her name a strangling blasphemy on the lips of her foes. Fate has other plans, though. A daring rescue restores her once more, launching her into a world where friends and foes are parted by only their respective grays.

As Everly fights to remain alive, she is drawn into a whirlpool of deceit, ancient prophecy, and the dark figure of Silas Drake, a man as sinister as he is enigmatic. Their bond is inevitable, founded upon the principles of control, manipulation, and something far more perilous—a craving that will annihilate them both.

Everly Marlayna Thorne
Everly is a well-drawn heroine, a woman whose flame will not be doused by the relentless forces trying to annihilate her. Her quick mind, quick wit, and old emotional wounds make for a fascinating protagonist. The book explores her inner conflict—her struggle between obligation and survival, trust and betrayal.

She is a compound, weighed down by her own mistakes and still constantly evolving to threats surrounding her. She is fragile and deadly, something that makes her story engrossing.

Silas Drake
Silas is a stoic, enigmatic man. His relationship with Everly is strained, a combination of distaste and admitted attraction. There is a war between them, a silent tug-of-war for control that serves well for the dark romance theme of the book. Silas is morally ambiguous—destructive yet protectorate, sadistic yet drawn to Everly in a manner that he himself detests.

The supporting characters are just as well-developed, adding depth and richness to the life Everly lives. Wallace, Everly's friend, adds the humor to tense situations, while Adrian, her brother, is the family tie she wants to hold on to. Victor Landry, the ever-present threat, haunts the background like a ghost, his power a reminder of what will be lost.

Power struggles are explored in great depth in the relationships, particularly Everly's with Silas and the powers that try to control her. The motivations and shifting alliances of every character make them more complex so that nobody is truly good or bad—just doing what they do as they choose according to their own survival instinct.

The novel does touch on power dynamics, not just in war and politics, but in interpersonal relationships and decisions. Everly's battle to overcome her kidnappers who seek to control her fate is symbolic of the larger battle by the oppressor against the oppressed.

Everly is caught between the person she is and the person the world requires her to be. We see her wake up, both physically and spiritually, during the course of the novel as she comes into wielding power rather than fearing it. The ghost of destiny hangs over Masquerade of Bones. Will Everly forge her own path beyond the strictures of prophecy, or will she take the path already laid out for her?

The romance is no joke here—it's burning, consuming, and dangerous. Love and trust are liabilities, and whether or not passion can be combined with survival is always the first concern on Everly's and Silas's minds.

J. Ember Hintz's prose is raw, gothic in its beauty and richness of thought. It's poetic at times, but never too self-indulgent, so that raw emotion and tension are front and center. First-person draws readers into Everly's head so that everything happens in real time.

Pacing is excellent on the action—there are heart-pounding bursts of action and then quieter, more introspective scenes that build character relationships. Dialogue crackles, snappy and full of subtext, particularly between Everly and Silas.

World-building is also excellent. Ominous ballrooms and battlefields splattered with blood make the world itself seem like a living, breathing thing, its dark magic seeping into every word.

Masquerade of Bones is a hybrid of dark fantasy, romance, and high-octane thriller erotic. It's a rollercoaster ride with a wild heroine, a love affair that crackles with erotic tension, and a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

J. Ember Hintz has crafted a haunting and impossible-to-put-down world full of morally complex characters that linger in your mind long after the final page. Dark fantasy romance readers, especially fans of authors like Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout, will be totally enthralled.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Writing Style: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Characters: ★★★★★ (5/5)
World-Building: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Trigger Warnings
Violence, including torture and execution
Dark magic and supernatural elements
Relationship power dynamics
Hints at past abuse and manipulation

A haunting, lingering novel that moves something in the reader—a tale of power, strength, and the unstoppable pull of love in darkness.

Masquerade of Bones is a spellbinding mix of magic, danger, and slow-burning romance that had me hooked from the first page. Everly and Silas’s story is packed with Tension, Betrayal, and a world so richly woven that I never wanted to leave. While the magic system had its complexities, it only added to the intrigue, pulling me deeper into the story. I’m so curious to see how the story continues and I can’t wait for book two already.

If you love morally gray characters, high-stakes heists, and a villain who will burn the world down for the one he loves, this book is a must-read. I already want more! I truly really enjoyed reading Masquerade of Bones, and I believe it will do Well!

3.5 stars

If you like yourself a morally grey shadow daddy, an interesting magic system, and a fiercely loyal FMC then this may be the book for you.

I really enjoyed the friendship between Everly and her bestie and wish I'd seen a little more of it. There was definitely an element of found family which is possibly my absolute favourite trope. The side characters are so much fun and well developed.

This is the first book in a series, I don't know how many sequels are planned but as an introduction to the world it's a good start, you get clues throughout of ways in which the world will open up further and develop in subsequent books. It has a lot of promise to reveal many more storylines and complexity. The ending was good and has left me wanting more, I'll be checking out the next book when it releases.

It is undeniably predictable, especially if you've read a fair amount of romantasy. The way some of the tropes are written is like a checklist, and kind of jarring at times. Almost as if they were thrown in to please, simply because they're popular at the moment and nothing was unique enough for me to love the book. I enjoyed the reading process though, it was a quick easy read with some fun moments, and I can see it being popular with romantasy lovers.

Thank you to Netgally for the digital review copy.

I do enjoy a good romantasy, this was such a great book. I loved the magic system and the characters. I really hope we will learn more about them and their stories.
Evelyn, a witch in hiding, meets a shadow summoner with a plan and a crew. When he learns her secret, he offers her a blood bond to help him with the heist in exchange for his silence and a promise to pay off her gambling debt. A distrusting and powerful MMC and a FMC who's done letting men tell her what to do make an exciting, albeit frustrating duo. Throw in a crown prince, who happens to be her ex fiancé, a dragon egg and enemies all on a quest together and you get a compelling story.
I can't wait for the next book, there were many questions left unanswered, but not being left on a painful cliffhanger was so appreciated.
Silas and Evelyn have my heart, I want more of them.

🔥 It's been a long time since a book has captured my heart the way this one did. Within minutes of reading, this novel immediately sunk its sharp claws into my heart and stole it from me, and I'm perfectly okay with that.

🔥 As someone who deals with chronic pain and mental health struggles, it's always refreshing to read a character who experiences the same ailments, and yet they're written in a way that is believable and inspiring. Someone who endures more than they should, but never gives up on living and fighting for others that they care about. That's exactly how Everly Thorne is perceived. A woman who is stronger than she gives herself credit for, and is tired of being told what to do by men in power.

🔥 I feel like no matter how I write this review, it won't do this book any justice. Between the amazing world building that you can tell was thought out so beautifully, the hilarious banter, all the magical creatures, the way magic was used among the witches, the constant plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and the fact that there was never a dull moment in this fast paced story, just left me in awe as I flipped through each page.

🔥 I'm saddened that I will have to wait an entire year for book 2, but I just know that it will be worth the wait. This masterpiece will forever have a special place in my heart. ❤️

🐲If you love these tropes, you will easily devour this novel:🐲

⚔️Heists
🗡️Enemies to Lovers
🫂Found Family
🐉Dragons
🖤Shadow Wielder
🩸Blood Oaths
🦹‍♀️Outlaws
🔀Plot Twists
🔮Magic
❤️‍🔥Slow burn
😈Villain gets the girl