Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

Synopsis

A series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .

Review

4,5 stars

I loved it!

This is a blend of urban fantasy mixed with retelling of Arthurian legends with lost artifacts, folk’s tale, Avalon, King Arthur etc.

That book as found family, magic, epic battles, betrayal, abandonment, sisterhood, enemies to lovers … and many more!

Tamsin is our main character and she is “non gifted” with the “One Vision” in a world of Hollowers. Hollowers are basically thieves of magic artifacts and they have the One Vision! She has been abandoned by her parents and Nash, a Hollower has adopted her alongside another abandoned kid: Caleb.

Tamsin and Caleb are tight and when Nash disappears, they are young teens and have to fend for themselves. Living in a Hollowers guild as outcasts, they just “make by” taking odd jobs here and there to retrieve objects or read tarot cards.

Until one day Tamsin will take on a bigger job that will take her and others on an incredible and very dangerous journey!

The book opened with : “The first thing you learned on the job as a Hollower was to never trust your eyes.

Nash of course had a different way of saying it: All sorcery is half illusion. The other half, unfortunately, was blood-soaked terror.”

Needless to say that I fell in the story right away with such opening!

We have little information or context about the world and learn about the lore and magic as we go and that made learning about the universe very organic.

Tamsin is very prickly and closed off. Rightly so as she’s been abandoned and betrayed more than once but refusing friendship or advices, she made some very bad decisions that had me frustrated and yet, endeared her to me. She was flawed like we all are. Tamsin had been wounded and her only way to protect herself was to distrust people, all but her brother Caleb. I’d probably do the same.

But of course she’ll grow, forge incredible bonds through danger and drama. The found family is strong and Neve, Tamsin, Emery, and Cabell are very interesting characters. I need to find more about their backstories, maybe (hopefully) in the next instalment! Their journey together and their developing relationships was my favorite part of the book.

The last third of the story was fast and brutal, filled with gore and loss that had me crying. And it ended on a huge cliffhanger that makes me want to read the sequel now! Oh and I forgot to talk about the enemies to lovers trope between Tamsin and Emery. I loved how their chemistry was palpable and can’t wait to see where it goes! 

Thanks for reading.

Sophie