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A New Favorite Fantasy Story!
Crown of Bones
Crown of Bones series (Book 1)
Teen & YA Fantasy
Entangled: Teen
January 05, 2021
ebook, hardcover
493
Raise. Your. Phantom.
In a world on the brink of the next Great Dying, no amount of training can prepare us for what is to come...
A young heir will raise the most powerful phantom in all of Baiseen.
A dangerous High Savant will do anything to control the nine realms.
A mysterious and deadly Mar race will steal children into the sea.
And a handsome guide with far too many secrets will make me fall in love.
My name is Ash. A lowly scribe meant to observe and record. And yet I think I’m destined to surprise us all.
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
―
Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder is the first book in the Amassia series that follows a group of characters who are each bound by different duties in their lives. Crown of Bones is the epitome of a fun, fast-paced, magic-filled, clean fantasy story which can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
I just would like to say that it’s not even 2021 yet (at the time of writing this review), and I’ve already got another Top Read of the year locked into place. A.K. Wilder is a new to me author and yet I cannot wait to get my hands on anything else that she’s written and indulge in some binge reading.
Crown of Bones is stellar. Told from multiple points of view, the story centers around three main characters: Marcus, his best friend Ash, and a pirate-turned-guide named Kaylin…who only has eyes for Ash. Let me be frank: this is not a love triangle story. Marcus is solely focused on his savant training, as well as Ash’s well-being as a non-savant. A savant is a person who can raise a phantom, which are essentially extensions of someone’s soul that determine the type of magic a person can use. The biggest part of Crown of Bones is the journey from Marcus’ kingdom in Baiseen to the training compound of Aku across the sea. While there is a plethora of new terminology, none of the new words will detract from the overall story. In fact, I believe the different languages enriches the story and paints a really impressive world that normally would overpower the plot in a new series. Kaylin proves to be a dynamic character that makes Ash’s character seem more nuanced than what other’s believe her to be. Ash is the sleeping giant character that will make young girls cheer. 
Between the unique characters, the diversity of landscapes, regions and countries within this new world all of the descriptions paint a lush and vast setting. The characters with their assorted phantoms are all unique, and the rainbow robe system of savants is a fresh take on magical beings in a fantasy novel. I adored the storyline, and found that it was the perfect mix of world-building and plot. The characters are vivid, and the action is fast-paced. This is a truly magical and fresh book.
Definitely mark Crown of Bones as a must read for 2021, and keep a look out for announcements for the other books in this new, fantastic series!
Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.
