Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Orbit (2020), 448 pages
Description
The Bone Shard Daughter is an unmissable debut from a major new voice in epic fantasy -- a stunning tale of magic, mystery, and revolution in which the former heir to the emperor will fight to reclaim her power and her place on the throne. "One of the best debut fantasy novels of the year." -- BuzzFeed News "An amazing start to a new trilogy." -- Culturess "It grabs you by the heart and the throat from the first pages and doesn't let go." -- Sarah J. Maas The emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands. Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic. Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people. "One of the best debut fantasy novels of the year." --BuzzFeed News "An amazing start to a new trilogy." --Culturess "It grabs you by the heart and the throat from the first pages and doesn't let go." --Sarah J. Maas "Epic fantasy at its most human and heartfelt . . . inventive, adventurous and wonderfully written." --Alix E. Harrow "Utterly absorbing. I adored it." --Emily Duncan "A thoroughly fantastic read." --Kevin Hearne "Stewart's debut is sharp and compelling. It will hook readers in and make them fiercely anticipate the rest of the series." --Booklist "Groundbreaking epic fantasy for a new age." --Tasha Suri "Begins with a spark of intrigue that ignites into a thrilling adventure." --Hafsah Faizal… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart is a fascinating story about magic and power. Sure, magic and power are common storylines, but Ms. Stewart puts it together in a refreshing way. Moreover, for all the rather dark nature of most of the magic that occurs within the story, it is a hopeful
Some series read like series. You know the first two novels are going to end on cliffhangers, and the first story either explains too much to establish the world or doesn’t explain enough. The Bone Shard Daughter is neither one nor the other. Nor does it end with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger.
Instead, it ends at what I would consider a natural break in the story. We meet all the main players in the action and learn their stories. In addition, we gain some basic knowledge about the world and receive hints about a greater problem that these characters will face. Lastly, we obtain the resolution of certain smaller plots which only serve to lead to the next conflict. In short, it is exactly what the first book in a series should be.
One of the best aspects of The Bone Shard Daughter is the balance between questions and answers Ms. Stewart maintains. She provides readers with the perfect number of answers that allow us to understand what is happening. At the same time, she allows the story to naturally raise more questions, keeping your interest.
This is true of every part of the book. It is as if The Bone Shard Daughter is just the tip of an iceberg, with the rest of the series being those portions of the ice still underwater. We know the characters are going to come together in some way but don’t know how or why just yet. The magic we see is not the only magic that exists in this world. Again, we know this but don’t know what it means or what form this other magic will take. Rather than detracting from the story, knowing that there is more to come for the characters and the world-building only enhances it because it is such a satisfying story.
Like most fantasy novels, the cast of characters is not small. There are four narrators who take us through the action, and they are all fabulous. Compassionate and complex, they are not afraid to admit their faults. Moreover, they all have such passion for their chosen path. They are all about righting wrongs, even as they realize their methods may not be the best to achieve that aim. There is a surprising amount of character growth as well, as these are characters who learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others. I am excited to see what Ms. Stewart has in store for them all in future stories.
The Bone Shard Daughter is one of those novels that burrows its way under your skin. You find yourself constantly thinking about it, even when you would prefer to be asleep. The hopefulness of the characters bleeds into your everyday life, and suddenly the world looks like a place where you can make a difference. I want to put The Bone Shard Daughter into the hand of every fantasy lover because it is deserving of becoming a best seller.
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plot. All of this makes a fantasy novel that rises to the top of a spectacular list of new releases this autumn.Some series read like series. You know the first two novels are going to end on cliffhangers, and the first story either explains too much to establish the world or doesn’t explain enough. The Bone Shard Daughter is neither one nor the other. Nor does it end with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger.
Instead, it ends at what I would consider a natural break in the story. We meet all the main players in the action and learn their stories. In addition, we gain some basic knowledge about the world and receive hints about a greater problem that these characters will face. Lastly, we obtain the resolution of certain smaller plots which only serve to lead to the next conflict. In short, it is exactly what the first book in a series should be.
One of the best aspects of The Bone Shard Daughter is the balance between questions and answers Ms. Stewart maintains. She provides readers with the perfect number of answers that allow us to understand what is happening. At the same time, she allows the story to naturally raise more questions, keeping your interest.
This is true of every part of the book. It is as if The Bone Shard Daughter is just the tip of an iceberg, with the rest of the series being those portions of the ice still underwater. We know the characters are going to come together in some way but don’t know how or why just yet. The magic we see is not the only magic that exists in this world. Again, we know this but don’t know what it means or what form this other magic will take. Rather than detracting from the story, knowing that there is more to come for the characters and the world-building only enhances it because it is such a satisfying story.
Like most fantasy novels, the cast of characters is not small. There are four narrators who take us through the action, and they are all fabulous. Compassionate and complex, they are not afraid to admit their faults. Moreover, they all have such passion for their chosen path. They are all about righting wrongs, even as they realize their methods may not be the best to achieve that aim. There is a surprising amount of character growth as well, as these are characters who learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others. I am excited to see what Ms. Stewart has in store for them all in future stories.
The Bone Shard Daughter is one of those novels that burrows its way under your skin. You find yourself constantly thinking about it, even when you would prefer to be asleep. The hopefulness of the characters bleeds into your everyday life, and suddenly the world looks like a place where you can make a difference. I want to put The Bone Shard Daughter into the hand of every fantasy lover because it is deserving of becoming a best seller.
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LibraryThing member Lea.Pearl
The Bone Shard Daughter is the first book in The Drowning Empire series. The first chapter drew me in quickly and I was intrigued from the start. The writing is fluid and the magic system is so unique!
Now, the downfall. This book jumps between five different character POVs with each chapter.
I did only get 50% through the book before I gave up. I'm saddened I couldn't get into the story, that I wasn't gripped or invested in the characters, but it just missed the mark.
Overall, the concept is great and obviously I'm in the minority with my review. I'm so glad others can find enjoyment in this novel! Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an advanced e-copy to read and honestly review.
Now, the downfall. This book jumps between five different character POVs with each chapter.
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Usually, I love the depth and diversity this type of writing style can provide to a story, but unfortunately, I didn't get that with this story. I was easily distracted and highly disconnected from each character. I didn't feel like they weaved together as well as they could have early on and there was way too much going on, I honestly got confused.I did only get 50% through the book before I gave up. I'm saddened I couldn't get into the story, that I wasn't gripped or invested in the characters, but it just missed the mark.
Overall, the concept is great and obviously I'm in the minority with my review. I'm so glad others can find enjoyment in this novel! Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an advanced e-copy to read and honestly review.
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LibraryThing member ladycato
I won an early copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
The Bone Shard Daughter is one of the best books, fantasy or otherwise, that I have read this year--that's out of 90 books. It's an innovative fantasy set among far-flung islands, where the Emperor wields bone shard magic. Every person
Needless to say, there's a bit of rebellion brewing amid the islands.
The book hops across a number of unique, fascinating points of view, but the two major ones are Lin and Jovis. Lin is the Emperor's daughter, who has been disowned and scorned in favor of a foster brother ever since she lost a chunk of her memory due to illness. She's desperate to earn her father's love and respect again--but not at the cost of her inherent goodness. Jovis, meanwhile, is a smuggler on a search for his long-vanished childhood sweetheart. When he escapes an island that mysteriously and catastrophically sinks, he comes across a strange cat-like creature swimming and takes it in. This creature subsequently steals his heart (and that of anyone who reads this book, honestly).
I found this to be an incredibly fast, smooth read. There are loads of revelations revealed at a perfect pace. Some I predicted; others, I definitely did not. The climactic finish is awesome, and ties up the most urgent plot threads while leaving plenty dangling to be resolved in future books. I can't wait to see where this story will go next!
The Bone Shard Daughter is one of the best books, fantasy or otherwise, that I have read this year--that's out of 90 books. It's an innovative fantasy set among far-flung islands, where the Emperor wields bone shard magic. Every person
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in the empire, as a child, is trepanned at a certain age to remove a small piece of bone from their skull. Some don't survive the operation. The Emperor keeps a vast catalog of these shards, and via magic taps into their life to empower grotesque, complex creations programmed to his whims. The people whose shards are used eventually grow sick and die.Needless to say, there's a bit of rebellion brewing amid the islands.
The book hops across a number of unique, fascinating points of view, but the two major ones are Lin and Jovis. Lin is the Emperor's daughter, who has been disowned and scorned in favor of a foster brother ever since she lost a chunk of her memory due to illness. She's desperate to earn her father's love and respect again--but not at the cost of her inherent goodness. Jovis, meanwhile, is a smuggler on a search for his long-vanished childhood sweetheart. When he escapes an island that mysteriously and catastrophically sinks, he comes across a strange cat-like creature swimming and takes it in. This creature subsequently steals his heart (and that of anyone who reads this book, honestly).
I found this to be an incredibly fast, smooth read. There are loads of revelations revealed at a perfect pace. Some I predicted; others, I definitely did not. The climactic finish is awesome, and ties up the most urgent plot threads while leaving plenty dangling to be resolved in future books. I can't wait to see where this story will go next!
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LibraryThing member Verkruissen
The Bone Shard Daughter is a tale told from several different points of view. The first being from Lin, the daughter of the emperor. He is a master of bone magic. This is the ability to build animal like constructs to do his bidding and protect the city. Lin only wants the love of her father but he
I really enjoyed the story, it seems to be set in a mythical land that has definite Asian influences in it. I am certainly looking forward to the next book in the series. I think fans of The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco would enjoy this book as much as I did. I highly recommend it.
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constantly tests her about memories she lost several years prior and she constantly fails him and thus fails to gain his love. Her rival, Banyan, is the emperor's foster, who threatens Lin's inheritance of the throne. Jovis is the other main character in this story. He is chasing after a mysterious blue sailed boat that captured his wife many years ago and he hopes to find her again someday. His random encounter with a strange creature whom decides to stay with him brings about changes in Jovis that he could have never imagined. I really enjoyed the story, it seems to be set in a mythical land that has definite Asian influences in it. I am certainly looking forward to the next book in the series. I think fans of The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco would enjoy this book as much as I did. I highly recommend it.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Drowning Empire series. I borrowed this book from the library.
Story (5/5): This was such a well done epic fantasy. There is amazing world-building here and I loved the idea behind the constructs. The characters were engaging and interesting and I
Characters (5/5): There are so many amazing characters in here that I loved reading from every point of view that Stewart wrote the story from. The main two characters are Lin (who is the emperor’s daughter and has lost her memory) and Jovis (a smuggler who ends up forced into a larger role). Jovis ends up with a large cat-like companion named Mephi that I absolutely adored. We also hear from Ranami (lover to the Governor’s daughter and a rebel), Phalue (governor’s daughter), and Sand (a woman with no memory that has been displaced to a remote island). All of the characters were intriguing, had a lot of depth, and showed a lot of growth throughout the story.
Setting (5/5): The world building here was amazing as well. This is such an interesting world and was well thought out. The idea of constructs that run off of the life force of commoners was incredibly intriguing. The world consists of a lot of islands and has a somewhat Asian feel to it but is also something completely unique.
Writing Style (5/5): This book was perfectly written and I have absolutely no complaints. Everything in here was well balanced. There is amazing world-building, intriguing characters, a fast-paced and intricate plot, and an interesting magic system. The whole thing was written in a style that was effortless to read and made the book very hard to put down. I haven’t enjoyed an epic fantasy book as much as this one in a long time.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I am so glad I read this. This is just a very well done start to an intriguing epic fantasy series. It has everything you could want from an epic fantasy series; action, adventure, magic, an amazing world, an intricate plot...there really isn’t any romance in here but that didn’t feel like it was lacking, it just didn’t fit in with the characters and story. I would highly recommend reading this if you enjoy epic fantasies with an amazing world and magic system, as well as a fast-pace and relatable characters.
Story (5/5): This was such a well done epic fantasy. There is amazing world-building here and I loved the idea behind the constructs. The characters were engaging and interesting and I
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enjoyed reading from all the different perspectives. The stories tie together nicely and I just really enjoyed reading every bit of this book.Characters (5/5): There are so many amazing characters in here that I loved reading from every point of view that Stewart wrote the story from. The main two characters are Lin (who is the emperor’s daughter and has lost her memory) and Jovis (a smuggler who ends up forced into a larger role). Jovis ends up with a large cat-like companion named Mephi that I absolutely adored. We also hear from Ranami (lover to the Governor’s daughter and a rebel), Phalue (governor’s daughter), and Sand (a woman with no memory that has been displaced to a remote island). All of the characters were intriguing, had a lot of depth, and showed a lot of growth throughout the story.
Setting (5/5): The world building here was amazing as well. This is such an interesting world and was well thought out. The idea of constructs that run off of the life force of commoners was incredibly intriguing. The world consists of a lot of islands and has a somewhat Asian feel to it but is also something completely unique.
Writing Style (5/5): This book was perfectly written and I have absolutely no complaints. Everything in here was well balanced. There is amazing world-building, intriguing characters, a fast-paced and intricate plot, and an interesting magic system. The whole thing was written in a style that was effortless to read and made the book very hard to put down. I haven’t enjoyed an epic fantasy book as much as this one in a long time.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I am so glad I read this. This is just a very well done start to an intriguing epic fantasy series. It has everything you could want from an epic fantasy series; action, adventure, magic, an amazing world, an intricate plot...there really isn’t any romance in here but that didn’t feel like it was lacking, it just didn’t fit in with the characters and story. I would highly recommend reading this if you enjoy epic fantasies with an amazing world and magic system, as well as a fast-pace and relatable characters.
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LibraryThing member jakeisreading
If you’re looking for an epic fantasy escape, you will love this first instalment in The Drowning Empire series.
The Bone Shard Daughter takes place in an empire of migrating islands ruled by a reclusive emperor. He maintains order using constructs created with the titular bone shard magic, a
While Lin’s struggle is the central story, Stewart expertly weaves together the subplots of four other protagonists in both first and third-person perspective. This might sound confusing however Stewart handles it masterfully, to the point where I was so absorbed in the story I forgot to take any notes (thus the somewhat brief review)! All of her characters have great depth, and although I didn’t always know who was ‘good’ and who was ‘bad’, I loved them all. It was also exciting to see a realistic depiction of a complex sapphic relationship between two key characters.
Both the magical and the everyday details in The Bone Shard Daughter are fascinating and new. Stewart’s world and its culture feel fresh and entirely different from the more common European-inspired settings. The bone shard magic system is my new favourite example of ‘magic with a cost’, which can be interpreted as a vivid allegory of imperialist or government oppression.
The best thing about this book is that while it’s an immensely satisfying read, it only lays the basic foundation for the series’ overarching plot.
Actually, maybe the best thing about it is Mephi, the otter-like animal sidekick. Ooh, or the constructs… Well, regardless, like popular trilogies from Robin Hobb and Brandon Sanderson, The Drowning Empire is going to be a very special series for many fantasy readers.
The Bone Shard Daughter takes place in an empire of migrating islands ruled by a reclusive emperor. He maintains order using constructs created with the titular bone shard magic, a
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secret craft passed down by the ruling family for generations. However, the emperor’s daughter Lin has lost her memory to a mysterious illness, and with it her father’s trust. She is compelled to launch a plot to inherit her family’s secrets and earn back her place as the rightful heir.While Lin’s struggle is the central story, Stewart expertly weaves together the subplots of four other protagonists in both first and third-person perspective. This might sound confusing however Stewart handles it masterfully, to the point where I was so absorbed in the story I forgot to take any notes (thus the somewhat brief review)! All of her characters have great depth, and although I didn’t always know who was ‘good’ and who was ‘bad’, I loved them all. It was also exciting to see a realistic depiction of a complex sapphic relationship between two key characters.
Both the magical and the everyday details in The Bone Shard Daughter are fascinating and new. Stewart’s world and its culture feel fresh and entirely different from the more common European-inspired settings. The bone shard magic system is my new favourite example of ‘magic with a cost’, which can be interpreted as a vivid allegory of imperialist or government oppression.
The best thing about this book is that while it’s an immensely satisfying read, it only lays the basic foundation for the series’ overarching plot.
Actually, maybe the best thing about it is Mephi, the otter-like animal sidekick. Ooh, or the constructs… Well, regardless, like popular trilogies from Robin Hobb and Brandon Sanderson, The Drowning Empire is going to be a very special series for many fantasy readers.
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LibraryThing member Natalie_Coe
What a twist! Fast paced. Wildly interesting characters. Hard to put down. Can't wait for #2!
LibraryThing member rivkat
Lin is the Emperor’s daughter, but he won’t name her heir until she recovers her memories, lost in some mysterious way, and learns to use bone shard magic, which is what the Emperor uses to control the constructs that help him rule. Bone shards are extracted from the empire’s citizens as
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children, except for the ones it kills and the ones who are sent to join the Shardless rebels; using them in the constructs slowly drains the survivors’ lives. Jovin is a smuggler looking for his lost wife who rescues a strange creature and starts to experience stranger events. Phalue is the daughter of the governor of one of the Empire’s islands whose lover is trying to convince her of the problems with the current system. And then there’s the memoryless woman on the isolated island who starts to wonder what’s going on. So: palace intrigue plus magic on floating islands some of which are starting to sink, and I haven’t even mentioned the dangerous Alanga who the constructs were created to fight. It’s stuffed but fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member quickmind
I am really impressed that this was a debut novel. This was a finely crafted epic story about a revolution in a land of islands that move around, sometimes sink, where the Emperor builds constructs made of flesh that are powered by bone shards taken from the citizens in the Empire. But not all is
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as it seems and many people are unhappy, including Lin, the Emperor's daughter who is trying to gain her father's love and respect, but she's also trying to regain her memories and cement her place as his successor. But again, not all is as it seems. Then there's Jovis, a liar-smuggler who is trying to find his long lost wife after she was kidnapped years before. He becomes a reluctant hero of the revolution, especially after he rescues Mephi, a strange creature that he thought was a kitten fleeing the sinking of one of the islands. Jovis was definitely my favorite character. I loved all of his chapters. Then there's Phalue and Ranami, one a Governor's daughter and the other a poor revolutionary. They are navigating a relationship with one another, while also confronting the privileges of power and complacency and trying to foment a revolution. All of these disparate elements come together for a very satisfying conclusion. At times there were YA vibes, especially with Lin whose motivations at times struck me as more of a teenager's than a 22 year old's. But there was enough complexity here to shatter those vibes. I can see why this novel was nominated for many awards, and I hope the next book is just as good, if not bette Show Less
Awards
British Fantasy Award (Nominee — Robert Holdstock Award — 2021)
Compton Crook Award (Nominee — 2021)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020-09-08
ISBN
0356514943 / 9780356514949
Local notes
In an empire controlled by bone shard magic, Lin, the former heir to the emperor, will fight to reclaim her magic and her place on the throne.
GSFF Book Club, September 2020. Goldsboro exclusive with red keys stencilled on the page edges, signed by the author. One of 1000 copies.
GSFF Book Club, September 2020. Goldsboro exclusive with red keys stencilled on the page edges, signed by the author. One of 1000 copies.