In Saskia's world, bones and blood is a source of power and privilege. Bones can be used to reveal the past, present, and the future. Each village has a designated bone charmer that is responsible for performing readings for the townsfolk. In Midwood, Saskia's mother is the town's bone charmer.
Every
resident has the opportunity to have a special bone reading called a
kenning to identify their best path for their future. The kenning
determines the apprenticeships for the young villagers. Saskia is hoping
that she will become a tutor and not a bone charmer like her mother and
grandmother. However, her worst dreams come true when she is matched as
a bone charmer. Against her wishes, her mother performs a matchmaking reading and pairs her with Bram. Bram is a mysterious boy whose past is littered with hints of violence and darkness.
Saskia
is disappointed with her mom because she knew her mother picked the
path Saskia wouldn't want. She believes that her mother doesn't take her
happiness into account. Distraught with her chosen path, Saskia
accidentally fractures one of the kenning bones. Broken bones are
considered bad luck but, Saskia's kenning bone was imbued with extra
magic to help garner vivid images of her future. Which means Saskia's
life is in great danger as her future has been split.
I
wasn't sure what to expect when I first read the summary of the book. I
thought it was going to be over the top but, I was pleasantly surprised
how much I enjoyed this book. The premise of using bones to see the
future and pick a career path was interesting. The story had a lot of
mystery especially, with two alternate paths unfolding for Saskia. I
thought I would be disappointed with one of the alternate paths but,
they were both interesting. The novel was beautifully written and I
can't wait to read the next book in the series.
**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**
About the Book:
Title: THE BONE CHARMER
Author: Breeana Shields
Pub. Date: May 21, 2019
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 400
"I was absolutely swept away by the world of The Bone Charmer." – Kendare Blake, #1 NYT Bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns
In Saskia’s world, bones are the source of all power. They tell the future, reveal the past, and expose secrets in the present. Each village has a designated seer who performs readings for the townsfolk, and in Midwood, the Bone Charmer is Saskia’s mother.
On the day of her kenning—a special bone reading that determines the apprenticeships of all seventeen-year-olds—Saskia’s worst fears come true. She receives an assignment to train as a Bone Charmer, like her mother, and even worse, a match-making reading that pairs her with Bram—a boy who has suspicious tattoos that hint of violence.
Saskia knows her mother saw multiple paths for her, yet chose one she knew Saskia wouldn’t want. Their argument leads to a fracture in one of the bones. Broken bones are always bad luck, but this particular set of bones have been infused with extra magic, and so the break has devastating consequences—Saskia’s future has split as well. Now she will live her two potential paths simultaneously. Only one future can survive. And Saskia’s life is in danger in both.
About Breeana:
Breeana Shields is an author of fantasy novels for teens including The Bone Charmer, Poison’s Kiss, and Poison’s Cage. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English.
When she’s not writing, Breeana loves reading, traveling, and playing board games with her extremely competitive family. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, her three children, and two adorable, but spoiled dogs.
Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive a signed finished copy of THE BONE CHARMER, US Only.
Rafflecopter Link:
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
Week Two:
Week Three:
