A Mantle of Bones

The Essenburg Archives, Book 1

By: Emmet Moss

Narrated by: Colin Mace

Length: 28 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The Earl of Essenburg, Steven Hargraves, is dead.

Assassinated by an unknown assailant, his death plunges the earldom into a bloody civil war. Rival siblings of the murdered lord have vied for control of the region for three long years. Frederick, the rightful heir to his father’s title, lies ensconced in Bode Castle, held under siege by his younger sister Catherine’s army.

As alliances shift and unforeseen forces are brought into the conflict, an innocent newcomer threatens to upset the delicate balance of the warring factions. A gravedigger by trade, this one man seeking redemption could change the fate of the land. For a man prone to a solitary existence, his world will forever be changed. But his attempts to navigate the cut-throat world of the nobility might also lead to his downfall.

Brave knights, cunning mercenaries, and warrior monks, along with strange and wondrous places, await the gravedigger. He may hold the key to Essenburg’s plight.

©2022 Emmet Moss (P)2023 Podium Audio

Depth of character

Unlike the shattering of kingdoms, this one was a bit of a slow burner in my opinion. Definitely worth a read, but not as much vivid description as the shattering of kingdoms series. This book was more of an in-depth look at one particular character and his trials and tribulations.The narration was good, but doesn’t draw you in quite as much as someone like Simon Vance. 

Not for the faint of heart

Colin Mace is amazing as always.

Beyond that, it's a sad but intriguing story. Well done.

Excellent read!

Excellent read enjoyed every word. This is the first Emmet Moss book I have read. I am starting his first series soon. Thank you for the great read.

Takes a long time to get going

All in the review title really. Glad I persevered, as I started to enjoy it about a third or so of the way in. Got a bit arduous towards the very end again.

Lord of Graves

Absolutely one of the best books I have listen to, really enjoyed it from the beginning to the end, can’t wait for more. Performance was excellent.

Wonderfully written and performed!

I’m an avid listener of medieval flavored stories and this book is near the top of my list of favorites. The writing is beautifully crafted to make it easy to get lost in the story and Colin does a masterful job bringing the story and characters to life. Definitely worth the purchase!

honestly enjoyed it

it was one I spent no small time listening to in the driveway. i would say it was a book I was eager to hear the next line, the next detail in, just before going into my work or home.

The Best Book I’ve Ever Read!

This is the first actual review I’ve done on Audible simply because I need to see the ratings of this book go up. I cannot stress enough how phenomenal it truly is.

Firstly, this book is a genuine emotional roller coaster that takes you through every moment of life to the minute detail. You get to see the main character grow, evolve, lose, win, achieve greatness, cry, regret, be grateful, and so on. I cannot believe how much is put into this one novel it’s beyond impressive and is a true testament to Emmet’s prowess.

Secondly, this novel almost feels as if I’ve truly been put into a medieval world and not thing is missed in the sense that I’m never taken out of the story and the world. I love some historical accuracy and it delivers in a beautiful way that is not in your face, arrogant, nor gaudy, it simply is just a medium to tell a grand story!

Thirdly, the performance of the voice actor kept me even more enthralled, not that the prose wasn’t doing that for me already. He only elevated the story and characters, this book did not depend on him and I absolutely plan to buy a physical copy due to the incredible inspiration this novel has imbued within me.

If I have yet to sell you on this book (I’m ashamed for being a poor salesman) then note that this book has nearly made me cry over a handful of times and it is rare I ever let a tear even well in my eyes. The characters, their journeys, the friendships, other relationships, the overall plot, are just so well tied and crafted together that I simply cannot hold back my emotions.

If you want a true story, one that makes you think, feel, and care then do yourself, Emmet, and me a favor by reading it the whole way through.

I’ve read the Witcher, I’ve read Lord of the Rings, and yet this book dances toe to toe with them, a genuinely contender. To me it beats them by a small margin, which is a lot to say. It may not be the best you’ll ever read but I know it was for me and it has genuinely changed my life and my hopes for becoming a writer myself.

bad book from a good author.

I absolutely loved the Mercenary code series and was really looking forward to this new series. it's hard to say much without spoilers but it's difficult to get any sort of connection to a book when almost everyone the main character encounters meets a gruesome end. I'm about 12 hours in and I'm getting more and more depressed. I keep waiting for the slow burn to end and the story to pick up but I don't think it's there man. I'm not sure if the whole thing is a metaphor for how life is fleeting and the people we meet in our lives are only there for a time.... if so it's not what I signed up for.