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Blademaster: Island of Bones
In the frozen reaches of the Glacial Seas, an island of living bone harbors an ancient wonder—and a growing nightmare.
When strange bone ships begin attacking merchants in northern waters, Rukes, the legendary Blademaster of Urlas, is sent to investigate. What he discovers defies an entire island crafted from the bones of extinct creatures, where animated constructs tend gardens of ossified flora preserved in eternal memory.
But something is terribly wrong. The island's guardians attack without provocation. The bone constructs writhe in silent agony. And at the heart of the island, an ancient Dwemhar device known as the Deep Forge pulses with corrupted energy.
As Rukes delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a sinister plot by the Guild of Eternal Wisdom—necromancers who seek to transform the Forge from a marvel of preservation into an amplifier of death magic. Their success would mean not just the suffering of the island's unique consciousness, but the creation of necromantic power unlike anything seen in centuries.
With unlikely allies including the alabaster-skinned Ossari and the evolving bone constructs themselves, Rukes must navigate both combat and diplomacy to restore the Forge's true purpose. But even as he faces the immediate threat, he senses this is merely the first move in a darker game—one where ancient Dwemhar sites across the world lie vulnerable to similar corruption.
The Bone Garden is a mesmerizing tale of duty transformed by understanding, where consciousness finds expression in unexpected forms, and where a warrior must learn that a guardian's purpose isn't to prevent change, but to ensure it happens with wisdom and respect.
When strange bone ships begin attacking merchants in northern waters, Rukes, the legendary Blademaster of Urlas, is sent to investigate. What he discovers defies an entire island crafted from the bones of extinct creatures, where animated constructs tend gardens of ossified flora preserved in eternal memory.
But something is terribly wrong. The island's guardians attack without provocation. The bone constructs writhe in silent agony. And at the heart of the island, an ancient Dwemhar device known as the Deep Forge pulses with corrupted energy.
As Rukes delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a sinister plot by the Guild of Eternal Wisdom—necromancers who seek to transform the Forge from a marvel of preservation into an amplifier of death magic. Their success would mean not just the suffering of the island's unique consciousness, but the creation of necromantic power unlike anything seen in centuries.
With unlikely allies including the alabaster-skinned Ossari and the evolving bone constructs themselves, Rukes must navigate both combat and diplomacy to restore the Forge's true purpose. But even as he faces the immediate threat, he senses this is merely the first move in a darker game—one where ancient Dwemhar sites across the world lie vulnerable to similar corruption.
The Bone Garden is a mesmerizing tale of duty transformed by understanding, where consciousness finds expression in unexpected forms, and where a warrior must learn that a guardian's purpose isn't to prevent change, but to ensure it happens with wisdom and respect.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2025
5 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
J.T. Williams
38 books23 followersLibrarian Note: There are multiple authors by this name in the Goodreads database.
See also: Fantasy author J.T. Williams
See also: Fantasy author J.T. Williams
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 10, 2025
Was not expecting intelligent bones!
Okay, elves? Yes. Dwarves? Yes. Humans? Yes. Djinn? Yes. But intelligent bones? Definitely not. Yet this is what this story is about—bones. Not only bones but living bones and bones merging with flesh. This is what our intrepid Blademaster of Urlas, Rukes finds when he dreams of a disturbance in the Glacial Seas. Once again, J. T. Williams takes us on a totally unexpected journey and introduces us to even more bizarre creatures than we have heretofore met. I have to admit, I really enjoyed this. As always, there is danger and battles and people helping Rukes too. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
I received an advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Okay, elves? Yes. Dwarves? Yes. Humans? Yes. Djinn? Yes. But intelligent bones? Definitely not. Yet this is what this story is about—bones. Not only bones but living bones and bones merging with flesh. This is what our intrepid Blademaster of Urlas, Rukes finds when he dreams of a disturbance in the Glacial Seas. Once again, J. T. Williams takes us on a totally unexpected journey and introduces us to even more bizarre creatures than we have heretofore met. I have to admit, I really enjoyed this. As always, there is danger and battles and people helping Rukes too. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
I received an advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
July 29, 2025
Intelligent bones? A crescent island in the Glacial Seas where Intelligence occupy bones instead of flesh?
Well, that is what Rukes of Urlas discovered when trying to deal with some rather strange attacks on ships by bone ships.
Strange indeed. Very, very original too. Author JT Williams certainly had me gasping in surprise with Blademaster: Island of Bones.
What follows when Rukes visited the island was surprising page by page.
And just an introduction to even greater surprises towards the end of this book.
From me....a huge Wow!
Enjoy
Well, that is what Rukes of Urlas discovered when trying to deal with some rather strange attacks on ships by bone ships.
Strange indeed. Very, very original too. Author JT Williams certainly had me gasping in surprise with Blademaster: Island of Bones.
What follows when Rukes visited the island was surprising page by page.
And just an introduction to even greater surprises towards the end of this book.
From me....a huge Wow!
Enjoy
August 20, 2025
Blademaster: Island of Bones, my twenty-seventh read from author J.T. Williams. A 110-page fantasy read, well-written, entertaining & enjoyable. I'll read more from this author. I own 50 other books by this author & after reading this one they've just moved higher on my TBR list. Next on my J.T. Williams read, Necromancer Hunters: A Progression Sword and Sorcery Tale (Fallen Dwarf Book 3). “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
February 5, 2026
What is happening, why are bone ships attacking merchant vessels. The Legendary Rukes is investigating, but what he finds is beyond belief. Fast paced, will keep you intrigued trying to guess what could happen next.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews