The Bone Maker

A Novel

By: Sarah Beth Durst

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

Length: 16 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

"Durst consistently defies expectations." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, a stand-alone epic fantasy set in a brand-new world of towering mountains and sparkling cities, in which a band of aging warriors have a second chance to defeat dark magic and avenge a haunting loss.

Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor - a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones. But victory came at a tragic price. Only four of the heroes survived. Since then, Kreya, the group’s leader, has exiled herself to a remote tower and devoted herself to one purpose: resurrecting her dead husband. But such a task requires both a cache of human bones and a sacrifice - for each day he lives, she will live one less.

She’d rather live one year with her husband than a hundred without him, but using human bones for magic is illegal in Vos. The dead are burned - as are any bone workers who violate the law. Yet Kreya knows where she can find the bones she needs: the battlefield where her husband and countless others lost their lives.

But defying the laws of the land exposes a terrible possibility. Maybe the dead don’t rest in peace after all.

Five warriors - one broken, one gone soft, one pursuing a simple life, one stuck in the past, and one who should dead. Their story should have been finished. But evil doesn’t stop just because someone once said, “the end”.

©2021 Sarah Beth Durst (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

what a wonderful, fun story!

This was my first book by this author. I'm totally smitten with everything! The performance by the narrator was truly fitting for the story.

Kept going back and starting over

I guess it’s ok but not for me. I kept going back and forth rereading. I was looking for more

When you think it is finished...

It is just ANOTHER intermission. Too many touches to the current time "AWESOME” does not see like a word from that time period. Interesting concept but very long and a bit longer than that.

Frustratingly meh

For the most part the book is fine I think. I just couldn’t seem to connect with most of the characters except Zira. Everyone but her was completely naïve! To the point I wanted Eklor to win just cause everyone else was an idiot who somehow didn’t realize what he was very clearly doing. I could go on and on about my issues with it but it’s to much to type out.
All in all the setting is interesting, only 1 of our 5 hero’s is interesting, and the narrator was really good.

couldn't finish

I think the author is good, but the story was anticlimactic, predictable, and painfully so. character's were great they just never seemed to do anything.

Bad

If you like prose like “I’m just a hero doing her very best,” then this is your book. If you like “heroes” that are heroic for no apparent reason, given their lack of skills and smarts, then this is your book. Otherwise, stay away.