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Castles in Their Bones #1
Castles in Their Bones
A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.
Empress Margaraux has had plans for her daughters since the day they were born. Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz will be queens. And now, age sixteen, they each must leave their homeland and marry their princes.
Beautiful, smart, and demure, the triplets appear to be the perfect brides—because Margaraux knows there is one common truth: everyone underestimates a girl. Which is a grave mistake. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz are no innocents. They have been trained since birth in the arts of deception, seduction, and violence with a singular goal—to bring down monarchies— and their marriages are merely the first stage of their mother’s grand vision: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.
The princesses have spent their lives preparing, and now they are ready, each with her own secret skill, and each with a single wish, pulled from the stars. Only, the stars have their own plans—and their mother hasn’t told them all of hers.
Life abroad is a test. Will their loyalties stay true? Or will they learn that they can’t trust anyone—not even each other?
Empress Margaraux has had plans for her daughters since the day they were born. Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz will be queens. And now, age sixteen, they each must leave their homeland and marry their princes.
Beautiful, smart, and demure, the triplets appear to be the perfect brides—because Margaraux knows there is one common truth: everyone underestimates a girl. Which is a grave mistake. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz are no innocents. They have been trained since birth in the arts of deception, seduction, and violence with a singular goal—to bring down monarchies— and their marriages are merely the first stage of their mother’s grand vision: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.
The princesses have spent their lives preparing, and now they are ready, each with her own secret skill, and each with a single wish, pulled from the stars. Only, the stars have their own plans—and their mother hasn’t told them all of hers.
Life abroad is a test. Will their loyalties stay true? Or will they learn that they can’t trust anyone—not even each other?
514 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2022
477 people are currently reading
25530 people want to read
About the author
Laura Sebastian
15 books4,203 followersLaura Sebastian grew up in South Florida and attended Savannah College of Art and Design. She now lives and writes in London, England, with her two dogs, Neville and Circe. Laura is the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series: Ash Princess, Lady Smoke, and Ember Queen, as well as the Castles in Their Bones series: Castles in Their Bones, Stardust in Their Veins, and Poison In Their Hearts; Half Sick of Shadows, her first novel for adults; and Into the Glades, for middle-grade readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,451 reviews
February 2, 2023
once you get past all of the cringey names, this is actually a lot of fun! lol.
this reminded me a little bit of ‘three dark crowns,’ a little bit of ‘the bridge kingdom.’ its the tried and true trope of enemies to lovers, marriage to infiltrate an enemy kingdom plot.
and usually with that kind of storyline, the court politics tend to get very intense, which isnt my favourite thing. luckily, this is very politics-lite. the scheming is done in a way that is accessible - it doesnt get bogged down with mundane details and dense military strategy, which made the actual manipulations that more impactful for me.
and this is a bit long, especially for a first installment, but i think its just because there are three POVs that are extremely and equally engaging. i loved each of the three sisters and their situations - there honestly wasnt a POV i didnt enjoy, which was a surprise!
so i am very much looking forward to the next book and seeing how the story continues!
↠ 4.5 stars
this reminded me a little bit of ‘three dark crowns,’ a little bit of ‘the bridge kingdom.’ its the tried and true trope of enemies to lovers, marriage to infiltrate an enemy kingdom plot.
and usually with that kind of storyline, the court politics tend to get very intense, which isnt my favourite thing. luckily, this is very politics-lite. the scheming is done in a way that is accessible - it doesnt get bogged down with mundane details and dense military strategy, which made the actual manipulations that more impactful for me.
and this is a bit long, especially for a first installment, but i think its just because there are three POVs that are extremely and equally engaging. i loved each of the three sisters and their situations - there honestly wasnt a POV i didnt enjoy, which was a surprise!
so i am very much looking forward to the next book and seeing how the story continues!
↠ 4.5 stars
November 11, 2021
Yes, I'm giving my own book 5 stars. I'm incredibly proud of what Castles in their Bones has become over the years, especially last year (2020) when I was beginning to worry that it may never reach the potential I knew it had. Every author will have their pandemic book, I'm sure, and this is mine. I rewrote it almost from scratch while dealing with both covid and long covid, which for me meant more than a year of brain fog, insomnia, fatigue, and migraines. Trying to keep track of everything happening in this book, which has triple the characters and locations than Ash Princess did, at times felt like an impossible feat.
But here it is! And every time I reread it, I'm more proud of this book. Difficult as it was to work on over the last two years, it also was the thing that got me through. I put everything I love in this book: a ton of romance, complicated relationships between friends (and in this case sisters), a fun magic system, little nods to real world royal history, and as many twists and turns as I could fit in 528 pages.
I hope you enjoy it! And if you've gotten the chance to read an early book, rest assured--a sequel is on its way.
Laura
But here it is! And every time I reread it, I'm more proud of this book. Difficult as it was to work on over the last two years, it also was the thing that got me through. I put everything I love in this book: a ton of romance, complicated relationships between friends (and in this case sisters), a fun magic system, little nods to real world royal history, and as many twists and turns as I could fit in 528 pages.
I hope you enjoy it! And if you've gotten the chance to read an early book, rest assured--a sequel is on its way.
Laura
February 9, 2022
I usually never leave a "review" on books I haven't read yet, but it made me incredibly sad that this book has been double 1-starred looong before its release (it's one person having made two accounts just to 1-star a book still being written, how pathetic is that?!) so I just wanted to say -- in case Laura Sebastian is ever on here -- that I'm really excited about this book and can't wait to read it! Keep up the good work, Laura!
March 3, 2022
Well, to be quite honest, this felt a bit on the younger side of YA, which didn't really match the synopsis. I was expecting backstabbing and manipulation on a grander scale and instead got really childish ''plots''. For girls, who have been groomed their whole lives to be cunning, the schemes of all three of princesses were so simple they were boring and see-through. In any case, this would have been fine, had the execution not been contradictory: on one hand, certain themes were a bit mature (nothing explicit, but still didn't match the tone), however the writing and the plot itself were on the lower end of YA range.
Overall, I was disappointed. I felt the writing in "Ash Princess" was much, much better.
___________
It amazes me how two people have already 1-starred this book, when I'm pretty sure there are no ARCs out yet...
Overall, I was disappointed. I felt the writing in "Ash Princess" was much, much better.
___________
It amazes me how two people have already 1-starred this book, when I'm pretty sure there are no ARCs out yet...
August 8, 2025
« I’m wise enough to know that war never dies, it only sleeps »
This book was a pleasant surprise for me! I disliked the cover but since it was Laura Sebastian - I decided to give it a try and I’m so happy I did 😭
We follow triplets in their mother’s schemes to rule over the entire country. The triplets are all sent to different countries - so it feels like you’re reading 3 books in 1 - as it is a 3 person’s POV. There’s a complex magic system that works with stardust and stars.
My absolute favourite is Sophronia🥹 I longed to read her POVs. She’s sensitive, smart and carries her heart on her sleeves. Her romance with King Leopold was the sweetest.
« You wish to appear smaller? You are a queen. Why shouldn’t you take up every bit of space you deserve? »❤️🔥
« I suppose I wouldn’t be angry with you then, though only because I’d be too stupid to know that I should be. Would you rather I be stupid? »
« You’re so desperate to be loved that you would slit your own throat to endear yourself to vultures » 😭
« He isn’t perfect, but he’s trying »
I loved Beatriz from the start as well. She (in my opinion) had it the hardest. The king from the country she was sent to was disgusting. But she has found a real friend in her husband (the prince) though.
« They say he has so many bastards that a day has been set aside in the calendar to commemorate all of their birthdays at once » 😂😂 I laughed at this
« It’s all the more noble. To risk so much for someone you barely even know
- if you had any idea what was going through my mind, Triz, you’d know there’s nothing noble about me » 🔥
Daphne took me a while longer to get warmed up to! Because she’s so cold 😅 but she’s determined and strong
« I don’t think he would have looked at me the way you do.
- and how do I look at you?
- Like I’m a bolt of lightning. And you can’t decide wether I’ll kill you or bring you back to life »
« I’m here because I want to be. Because you are lightning - terrifying and beautiful and dangerous and bright all at once. And I wouldn’t wish you were anything else » ❤️🔥
I didn’t expect anything that happened in this book 🫠 I’m so shocked at the ending
The dedication was the sweetest ; « For my brother. Because even when we fought with each other, it was always us against the world » ❤️🥹
This book was a pleasant surprise for me! I disliked the cover but since it was Laura Sebastian - I decided to give it a try and I’m so happy I did 😭
We follow triplets in their mother’s schemes to rule over the entire country. The triplets are all sent to different countries - so it feels like you’re reading 3 books in 1 - as it is a 3 person’s POV. There’s a complex magic system that works with stardust and stars.
My absolute favourite is Sophronia🥹 I longed to read her POVs. She’s sensitive, smart and carries her heart on her sleeves. Her romance with King Leopold was the sweetest.
« You wish to appear smaller? You are a queen. Why shouldn’t you take up every bit of space you deserve? »❤️🔥
« I suppose I wouldn’t be angry with you then, though only because I’d be too stupid to know that I should be. Would you rather I be stupid? »
« You’re so desperate to be loved that you would slit your own throat to endear yourself to vultures » 😭
« He isn’t perfect, but he’s trying »
I loved Beatriz from the start as well. She (in my opinion) had it the hardest. The king from the country she was sent to was disgusting. But she has found a real friend in her husband (the prince) though.
« They say he has so many bastards that a day has been set aside in the calendar to commemorate all of their birthdays at once » 😂😂 I laughed at this
« It’s all the more noble. To risk so much for someone you barely even know
- if you had any idea what was going through my mind, Triz, you’d know there’s nothing noble about me » 🔥
Daphne took me a while longer to get warmed up to! Because she’s so cold 😅 but she’s determined and strong
« I don’t think he would have looked at me the way you do.
- and how do I look at you?
- Like I’m a bolt of lightning. And you can’t decide wether I’ll kill you or bring you back to life »
« I’m here because I want to be. Because you are lightning - terrifying and beautiful and dangerous and bright all at once. And I wouldn’t wish you were anything else » ❤️🔥
I didn’t expect anything that happened in this book 🫠 I’m so shocked at the ending
The dedication was the sweetest ; « For my brother. Because even when we fought with each other, it was always us against the world » ❤️🥹
March 18, 2022
Well, the book started out good for me but it didn’t go anywhere that interested me. I loved her other trilogy but I’ll be reading those to see if I still want them as I’m purging my life. I am glad others loved this book though 😉
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
It is said that the stars shine brighter on the princesses’ birthday, but the princesses themselves think that is balderdash. The stars look the same as they always do, and this year, on the night before the three of them leave their home and one another for the first time in their lives, everything—the stars included—seems far darker
Whereas stardust is a fairly average luxury, a wish from an empyrea is something else entirely. Usually, such wishes are made in person, with the empyrea wishing upon a star and using their magic to pull the star down from the sky. The wishes are made that way are stronger, without the usual limits of stardust, but there are only so many stars, so they must be used only in the direst of circumstances.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 2, 2024
**4.5-stars**
Castles in their Bones is the start of a YA Fantasy trilogy from beloved author Laura Sebastian.
This story follows three princesses, Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz, who have been raised by their mother, the Empress Margaraux, with one goal in mind: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.
The triplets are now 16-years old and ready to marry. They've had husbands selected for them pretty much since birth, whoever would be most advantageous as far as alliances go. You know how it is to be royalty.
What's love got to do with it?
Margaraux has trained her girls in the arts of deception, seduction and violence. For their part, the girls have soaked it in. They know what they are supposed to do.
In spite of this, it's going to be difficult. They've never been away from one another. Surviving on their own is something completely foreign to them.
As their adult lives begin, the girls face new challenges and new tests on their loyalties. They discover things as well, about the greater world around them, things they've maybe never taken into consideration before.
As you follow the ladies into these positions, you can actually feel their mother's chess pieces moving on the board. The tension builds until you're aren't sure who you can trust. It was cleverly plotted. Well done by Sebastian!
I was really impressed with this. I went in expecting a fairly standard YA Fantasy, but this was anything but. I loved how intricate the scheming and plotting was.
Absolutely diabolical!
I really enjoyed all three of the girls. I loved getting to know them and watching each of their journeys as they moved to their future husband's courts.
They ended up in vastly different circumstances and watching them navigate through the challenges they faced was so interesting. You could really see how the core of their personalities shaped the decisions they were making.
I found Daphne to be the character I personally connected with the most. I appreciated how she was able to keep her emotions at arms length from her tasks. She knew what she was there to do and she was really quite cunning about her interactions.
While this one started a little slowly, it definitely went out with a bang. I cannot believe how long I am going to have to wait for the continuation of this story.
How you play me like that, Laura Sebastian!?
The very final portion of this left me absolutely shook. It explained a lot and I am seriously at the edge of my seat with anticipation to get my hands on the next installment.
Thank you to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Bring on the sequel!
Castles in their Bones is the start of a YA Fantasy trilogy from beloved author Laura Sebastian.
This story follows three princesses, Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz, who have been raised by their mother, the Empress Margaraux, with one goal in mind: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.
The triplets are now 16-years old and ready to marry. They've had husbands selected for them pretty much since birth, whoever would be most advantageous as far as alliances go. You know how it is to be royalty.
What's love got to do with it?
Margaraux has trained her girls in the arts of deception, seduction and violence. For their part, the girls have soaked it in. They know what they are supposed to do.
In spite of this, it's going to be difficult. They've never been away from one another. Surviving on their own is something completely foreign to them.
As their adult lives begin, the girls face new challenges and new tests on their loyalties. They discover things as well, about the greater world around them, things they've maybe never taken into consideration before.
As you follow the ladies into these positions, you can actually feel their mother's chess pieces moving on the board. The tension builds until you're aren't sure who you can trust. It was cleverly plotted. Well done by Sebastian!
I was really impressed with this. I went in expecting a fairly standard YA Fantasy, but this was anything but. I loved how intricate the scheming and plotting was.
Absolutely diabolical!
I really enjoyed all three of the girls. I loved getting to know them and watching each of their journeys as they moved to their future husband's courts.
They ended up in vastly different circumstances and watching them navigate through the challenges they faced was so interesting. You could really see how the core of their personalities shaped the decisions they were making.
I found Daphne to be the character I personally connected with the most. I appreciated how she was able to keep her emotions at arms length from her tasks. She knew what she was there to do and she was really quite cunning about her interactions.
While this one started a little slowly, it definitely went out with a bang. I cannot believe how long I am going to have to wait for the continuation of this story.
How you play me like that, Laura Sebastian!?
The very final portion of this left me absolutely shook. It explained a lot and I am seriously at the edge of my seat with anticipation to get my hands on the next installment.
Thank you to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Bring on the sequel!
January 5, 2022
All her mother has to do to convince Beatriz to jump off a cliff is to tell her not to do it.
It's three am, and I finished this book instead of sleeping and I have NO REGRETS.
Hands down to the the best book of 2022 even though this year just started, but honestly? I doubt anything can cross this.
This book was absolutely flawless.
The synopsis lead me to believe this is probably gonna be a typical YA fantasy about some princesses getting married mixed with some romance, a bit plot twist that we all will see coming and a little plot here and there. But boy, I was SO wrong.
Princess Sophorinia, Beatrize and Daphne are triplets. All are engaged to three princes from different countries. The three of them are trained to betray their future husbands so ultimately their mother can rule the whole continent. Except, when they actually got married to the three princes nothing seems as easy as they (or in this case, me.) thought.
I didn’t see any of the plot twist coming. Which is honestly surprising at this moment. There were,
- Multiple POV. (God I LOVE it!)
- Magic
- And betrayal
- very light romance that didn’t overshadow the plot.
- LOTS of politics.
- A mad king.
- rebels, assassins, and everything else.
Like I said, this book really had everything I hoped for and more.
Among the sisters, Sophie was my favourite.
“My mother likes to say that the stars played a cruel joke on her by giving her me,”
But it's hard to choose just one of them. The villains, the love interest and of course the three protagonists all of them were SO well written. I loved how different Daphne, Sophie and Beatriz were from each other yet so similar when it comes to reading each other's thoughts.
I'm still screaming because god...I did not expect that ending. Waiting for another year is going to be the worst kind of torture.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the arc.
December 31, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving my request for an arc of this book.
Let me tell y’all… you guys are not ready for this book. Trust me.
Excitement knew no bounds when my arc request was approved. The only things I am sad about are that nearly no one’s read this book yet so I can know how other people feel about that ending (😵💫) and that there’s no announced second book yet. I’ll have to wait forever :(
This book has shockingly become one of my favorite reads of 2021. Even me, a person who so avidly hated Ash Princess. But Castles in Their Bones brings something very different to the table.
Castles in Their Bones follows three triplet princesses: Daphne, Sophronia, and Beatriz, on their 16th birthday as they each get married to princes (i.e. future kings) of the neighboring nations around their country, in a seemingly diplomatic series of events to secure their country’s relations.
But it’s much more complicated under the surface. The girls have been trained from their birth by their mother to be beautiful, intelligent in all things regarding their country by marriage, and ruthless. The reason? They’re spies sent to ruin those kingdoms so that their mother can sweep in and take over, uniting the continent under her own rule.
But when they arrive, things aren’t as simple as they seem, for any of them. They all live out their own stories, seemingly further and further from what they came to do.
Assassin princesses? Count me IN.
characters -
I found this book to be much more plot oriented rather than character oriented. We focused on character arcs, yes, but it was all in contribution to the main plot. That may have affected how well developed the characters of this book were (there were A LOT)
Daphne- arguably the titular character of the book, I liked Daphne the most. She was the most boring and basic of the princesses. Loyal to a fault, stubborn, and good at pretty much everything? Thinks she deserves everything? Been there, done that. Slightly overused, to tell you the truth.
Beatriz- My favorite of the three princesses (though I love Sophronia just as much), I loved Beatriz’s character. I didn’t see as much character growth for her, but her character arc! Her personality! Her story!
Sophronia- Another one of my favorites. I related the most to Sophronia, indefinitely, and her character arc and growth was by far the best of the three sisters and POV. Her character developing throughout the story with her personality was one of my favorite parts of the book to read.
Margaraux- amazingly written. That last chapter! Very excited to see where her character goes in upcoming books. She’s interesting to read about, because we don’t see as unique of a character as her in this book.
(for context: i don’t have as much of an opinion on these characters 😃 so a few words would be enough to describe them)
Leopold- boring for the most part, but his character growth with Sophronia’s was lovely. i’m especially curious to see what his character does in the next book.
Violie- 😐 i know her position at the end of the book, but she still seems a little suspicious….
Bairre- also boring. Think Bastien in season 2 of Reign when he was given the crown for a couple of weeks there. I hope he gets a better character arc in the second book, especially since his ending was great and made his character so much more interesting.
Pasquale- a sweetheart <3 this man deserves the world. Best husband to be honest 🤷♀️ it’s very ironic, too.
Nico- one of my favorite characters! his and Beatriz’s dynamic in the next book is going to be SO good… words can’t explain my excitement.
Gigi- we’re anti-Gigi in this household. Just that.
Ambrose- sweetheart ❤️❤️ no complaints, also deserves the world
Cliona- also anti-Cliona. I get where she comes from but i find her annoying.
I told you, there are A LOT of characters in this book 💀💀
plot -
In this book, we have three stories occurring at the same time, in three different places, simultaneously. Sometimes interconnected, but mostly separate.
Sophronia’s story- definitely the least “exciting”, because it had more to do with politics and the court than the other two, but i found it very fun to read.
Beatriz’s story- easily my favorite of all of them. This had more to do with character relationships, but I liked the cast
of characters in this one more than the other two, and the dynamics in this one are very different than the other two.
Daphne’s story- funnily enough, the most exciting but my least favorite. it felt predictable despite the ending, and nothing really interested me. the rebellion will be nice to see in how it plays out, but i wish Daphne’s story was less cliche, especially since the other stories are quite unique from the normal formula.
Overall, I thought all the chaos of the three individual stories, and all the side plots and inter-tangling between the three was amazingly done. They all felt different from one another and all interesting (despite my dislike about Daphne’s lol) to read. They all felt equally balanced and easy to switch between, while seeing the counter effects of one story on the other two.
There wasn’t an overpowering or favoritism of one POV over the other two. I’m really impressed with the plots of all three, as it was much more exciting and well-written than I expected.
writing -
the descriptions of the magic system was probably my favorite. It was stunningly written, particularly regarding the three very different settings. All were described so differently, yet all beautifully. Sebastian did a great job with the writing in this book.
It wasn’t hard to understand what was going on in the three POVs and again, it was easy to switch between the three, even as we were left with cliffhangers at the end of each chapter and having to wait until the next book in that POV (even though by that time you want to know what happens in the other POV 😃😃😃 simultaneously best and worst feeling ever)
Going back to the magic system, the stardust and stars felt so magical. All the incorporations of the magic system into all the kingdom politics was perfect. I felt a perfect balance between the magic and the politics, though in this book the politics were given slightly more preference to introduce the world and settings.
Overall, a huge improvement from Ash Princess from what I can tell, as it’s apparent in the writing. I’m so excited that I gave this one a try and loved it 🥰
world-building -
Easily one of my favorite things about this book. I loved how all three of the settings were so different, and even the setting of the princesses’ home country.
It was so unique from one another: the glittering magic of their home country, the wooded darkness of Friz, the magic-less wine of Cellaria, and the poofy ballrooms of Temarin. All the rebellions and politics, and just about everything.
It was confusing in the beginning, yes, but the author created not one, but three different worlds for each of the stories to take place. The world building very much supports the plot and keeps it going. These settings could have become three different books, for all that they were described as.
I loved the stardust and star-type magic system. It wasn’t the most unique, but (using this word for the 100th time bc i am unoriginal and have a slightly limited vocab) beautiful magic. It was magical (yes, pun intended).
I wish we would have gotten more world building on the magic side, though, and I hope we get more in the next book. I understand why the author had to focus on putting the settings together and prioritize it over the magic, but the magic had something lacking. I don’t know what, but there is something.
overall -
I won’t do a romance section because it contains many spoilers, but can I just say how much I loved the romance, too? Three different romances, three different stories and couples, and their dynamics will be interesting to read in the second book.
First of all, THAT ENDING??!!??! Is it real? Is it not real? What is life? Laura Sebastian, PLEASE release the second book as soon as possible. I need it.
Such a great book. I am more than pleasantly surprised and I am so glad I got this arc to read. I recommend to all YA fantasy lovers, especially those who love unique, well built worlds with wild stories.
Going to wallow in the fact that I have yet another book which does not have a second book confirmation yet 😭😭😭
5 stars!
Let me tell y’all… you guys are not ready for this book. Trust me.
Excitement knew no bounds when my arc request was approved. The only things I am sad about are that nearly no one’s read this book yet so I can know how other people feel about that ending (😵💫) and that there’s no announced second book yet. I’ll have to wait forever :(
This book has shockingly become one of my favorite reads of 2021. Even me, a person who so avidly hated Ash Princess. But Castles in Their Bones brings something very different to the table.
Castles in Their Bones follows three triplet princesses: Daphne, Sophronia, and Beatriz, on their 16th birthday as they each get married to princes (i.e. future kings) of the neighboring nations around their country, in a seemingly diplomatic series of events to secure their country’s relations.
But it’s much more complicated under the surface. The girls have been trained from their birth by their mother to be beautiful, intelligent in all things regarding their country by marriage, and ruthless. The reason? They’re spies sent to ruin those kingdoms so that their mother can sweep in and take over, uniting the continent under her own rule.
But when they arrive, things aren’t as simple as they seem, for any of them. They all live out their own stories, seemingly further and further from what they came to do.
Assassin princesses? Count me IN.
characters -
I found this book to be much more plot oriented rather than character oriented. We focused on character arcs, yes, but it was all in contribution to the main plot. That may have affected how well developed the characters of this book were (there were A LOT)
Daphne- arguably the titular character of the book, I liked Daphne the most. She was the most boring and basic of the princesses. Loyal to a fault, stubborn, and good at pretty much everything? Thinks she deserves everything? Been there, done that. Slightly overused, to tell you the truth.
Beatriz- My favorite of the three princesses (though I love Sophronia just as much), I loved Beatriz’s character. I didn’t see as much character growth for her, but her character arc! Her personality! Her story!
Sophronia- Another one of my favorites. I related the most to Sophronia, indefinitely, and her character arc and growth was by far the best of the three sisters and POV. Her character developing throughout the story with her personality was one of my favorite parts of the book to read.
Margaraux- amazingly written. That last chapter! Very excited to see where her character goes in upcoming books. She’s interesting to read about, because we don’t see as unique of a character as her in this book.
(for context: i don’t have as much of an opinion on these characters 😃 so a few words would be enough to describe them)
Leopold- boring for the most part, but his character growth with Sophronia’s was lovely. i’m especially curious to see what his character does in the next book.
Violie- 😐 i know her position at the end of the book, but she still seems a little suspicious….
Bairre- also boring. Think Bastien in season 2 of Reign when he was given the crown for a couple of weeks there. I hope he gets a better character arc in the second book, especially since his ending was great and made his character so much more interesting.
Pasquale- a sweetheart <3 this man deserves the world. Best husband to be honest 🤷♀️ it’s very ironic, too.
Nico- one of my favorite characters! his and Beatriz’s dynamic in the next book is going to be SO good… words can’t explain my excitement.
Gigi- we’re anti-Gigi in this household. Just that.
Ambrose- sweetheart ❤️❤️ no complaints, also deserves the world
Cliona- also anti-Cliona. I get where she comes from but i find her annoying.
I told you, there are A LOT of characters in this book 💀💀
plot -
In this book, we have three stories occurring at the same time, in three different places, simultaneously. Sometimes interconnected, but mostly separate.
Sophronia’s story- definitely the least “exciting”, because it had more to do with politics and the court than the other two, but i found it very fun to read.
Beatriz’s story- easily my favorite of all of them. This had more to do with character relationships, but I liked the cast
of characters in this one more than the other two, and the dynamics in this one are very different than the other two.
Daphne’s story- funnily enough, the most exciting but my least favorite. it felt predictable despite the ending, and nothing really interested me. the rebellion will be nice to see in how it plays out, but i wish Daphne’s story was less cliche, especially since the other stories are quite unique from the normal formula.
Overall, I thought all the chaos of the three individual stories, and all the side plots and inter-tangling between the three was amazingly done. They all felt different from one another and all interesting (despite my dislike about Daphne’s lol) to read. They all felt equally balanced and easy to switch between, while seeing the counter effects of one story on the other two.
There wasn’t an overpowering or favoritism of one POV over the other two. I’m really impressed with the plots of all three, as it was much more exciting and well-written than I expected.
writing -
the descriptions of the magic system was probably my favorite. It was stunningly written, particularly regarding the three very different settings. All were described so differently, yet all beautifully. Sebastian did a great job with the writing in this book.
It wasn’t hard to understand what was going on in the three POVs and again, it was easy to switch between the three, even as we were left with cliffhangers at the end of each chapter and having to wait until the next book in that POV (even though by that time you want to know what happens in the other POV 😃😃😃 simultaneously best and worst feeling ever)
Going back to the magic system, the stardust and stars felt so magical. All the incorporations of the magic system into all the kingdom politics was perfect. I felt a perfect balance between the magic and the politics, though in this book the politics were given slightly more preference to introduce the world and settings.
Overall, a huge improvement from Ash Princess from what I can tell, as it’s apparent in the writing. I’m so excited that I gave this one a try and loved it 🥰
world-building -
Easily one of my favorite things about this book. I loved how all three of the settings were so different, and even the setting of the princesses’ home country.
It was so unique from one another: the glittering magic of their home country, the wooded darkness of Friz, the magic-less wine of Cellaria, and the poofy ballrooms of Temarin. All the rebellions and politics, and just about everything.
It was confusing in the beginning, yes, but the author created not one, but three different worlds for each of the stories to take place. The world building very much supports the plot and keeps it going. These settings could have become three different books, for all that they were described as.
I loved the stardust and star-type magic system. It wasn’t the most unique, but (using this word for the 100th time bc i am unoriginal and have a slightly limited vocab) beautiful magic. It was magical (yes, pun intended).
I wish we would have gotten more world building on the magic side, though, and I hope we get more in the next book. I understand why the author had to focus on putting the settings together and prioritize it over the magic, but the magic had something lacking. I don’t know what, but there is something.
overall -
I won’t do a romance section because it contains many spoilers, but can I just say how much I loved the romance, too? Three different romances, three different stories and couples, and their dynamics will be interesting to read in the second book.
First of all, THAT ENDING??!!??! Is it real? Is it not real? What is life? Laura Sebastian, PLEASE release the second book as soon as possible. I need it.
Such a great book. I am more than pleasantly surprised and I am so glad I got this arc to read. I recommend to all YA fantasy lovers, especially those who love unique, well built worlds with wild stories.
Going to wallow in the fact that I have yet another book which does not have a second book confirmation yet 😭😭😭
5 stars!
Want to read
November 2, 2020seems like their mother took the lesson "divide and conquer" to heart
February 24, 2024
I don't usually go back to 2 or 3 star reads, but while this plot was terrible, I ended up being so invested in the characters and what was going to happen to them that I finally decided to re-read this so I could read the sequel and finally find out the fate of my favourite character.
This story is both basic, and messy. Beatriz, Sophronia and Daphne are three twins raised to travel to neighbouring Kingdoms and destroy them from the inside, which sound simple enough but with three POVs and three locations, that came with a large cast of characters that could be difficult to keep up with.
I do wish the world was more diverse, as this book felt quite dated by only having one Queer relationship that was more background plot, and not too important to the overall story. I hope the sequels keep the same fast pace that this book did though, as I flew through the whole thing quite easily.
This story is both basic, and messy. Beatriz, Sophronia and Daphne are three twins raised to travel to neighbouring Kingdoms and destroy them from the inside, which sound simple enough but with three POVs and three locations, that came with a large cast of characters that could be difficult to keep up with.
I do wish the world was more diverse, as this book felt quite dated by only having one Queer relationship that was more background plot, and not too important to the overall story. I hope the sequels keep the same fast pace that this book did though, as I flew through the whole thing quite easily.
January 26, 2022
Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian is the first book in the young adult fantasy series by the same name, Castles in their Bones. The story in the Castles in their Bones series is one that is told by changing the point of view between the different characters and one that is best read in order from the beginning of the series.
Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz were raised by their mother, Empress Margaraux, to one day be queens and now the time has come for them to begin to implement their mother’s plan. Now that the girls are sixteen they must each go to the lands chosen for them and wed the princes of those lands. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz have been trained in every aspect of royalty and that of deception, seduction, and violence but little do they each know they are but a pawn in their mother’s game.
Before reading Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian I saw someone mention it reminded them of fairy tales with the princesses in their castles but what I found was this one was infused with Tudor Era politics. Take the time of kings and queens in the Tudor Era and toss in some magic in a fantasy world and you have this new series. I happen to love reading of that time so I easily fell into this story and was hooked. Of course the story unfolds a little slowly being a lengthy read but despite my normal complaints I never felt it was too slow and the twists and turns along the way have me completely looking forward to book two.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz were raised by their mother, Empress Margaraux, to one day be queens and now the time has come for them to begin to implement their mother’s plan. Now that the girls are sixteen they must each go to the lands chosen for them and wed the princes of those lands. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz have been trained in every aspect of royalty and that of deception, seduction, and violence but little do they each know they are but a pawn in their mother’s game.
Before reading Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian I saw someone mention it reminded them of fairy tales with the princesses in their castles but what I found was this one was infused with Tudor Era politics. Take the time of kings and queens in the Tudor Era and toss in some magic in a fantasy world and you have this new series. I happen to love reading of that time so I easily fell into this story and was hooked. Of course the story unfolds a little slowly being a lengthy read but despite my normal complaints I never felt it was too slow and the twists and turns along the way have me completely looking forward to book two.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
October 6, 2021
Dark, dazzling, and full of so much intrigue!
February 21, 2022
I don't read as much YA as I used to, but I do dabble sometimes, especially when a blurb is as promising as this one. And this isn't a negative rating, because I did enjoy it - there's just some imperfections and five stars isn't flexible enough!
So, first things first - we've got three sisters, raised by an empress mother as ruthless as she is cunning. All betrothed to neighbouring princes, and all much more than the sweet and biddable brides they're going to appear to be. These girls have been trained to bring strife and discord, sowing chaos and creating an opening for their mother to swoop in and bring their new kingdoms under her control. Talk about a good premise!
The good: it kept me reading, even though I've been fighting off a cold and a book slump - I've started so many books you guys, and I'm not even getting 10% into most of them. It's a pretty intriguing world, and though the various courts the sisters are sent to all have real world analogues (Spain, France, Nordic? that one's a bit more ambiguous, think Winterfell and you've pretty much got it), they're all interesting, individual settings that lend a bit of a different character to each storyline. The romance is better than a lot of YA too; I don't think a single eye changed colours with emotion, and the progress of each couple felt natural.
That said, it wasn't perfect, and some of it is endemic to the genre so I won't ding it too hard. It is, of course, going to be an ongoing series - the book wraps up at climactic moment leaving the reader hanging for book two to find out where it goes, which always bugs me. The cover shows a blond princess when our major players have "ink-black" hair - not the author's fault, but another check in the slight bug column. The worldbuilding, while it's got some details that make for a pretty minds-eye view is relatively basic if you take away the real world framework - the astrology, for example, comes up a couple of times but doesn't play a consistent part. None of it was enough to make me put the book down, and I think it's an entertaining story overall, but it could get better. Definitely strong enough that I'll be back for the next one to find out.
So, first things first - we've got three sisters, raised by an empress mother as ruthless as she is cunning. All betrothed to neighbouring princes, and all much more than the sweet and biddable brides they're going to appear to be. These girls have been trained to bring strife and discord, sowing chaos and creating an opening for their mother to swoop in and bring their new kingdoms under her control. Talk about a good premise!
The good: it kept me reading, even though I've been fighting off a cold and a book slump - I've started so many books you guys, and I'm not even getting 10% into most of them. It's a pretty intriguing world, and though the various courts the sisters are sent to all have real world analogues (Spain, France, Nordic? that one's a bit more ambiguous, think Winterfell and you've pretty much got it), they're all interesting, individual settings that lend a bit of a different character to each storyline. The romance is better than a lot of YA too; I don't think a single eye changed colours with emotion, and the progress of each couple felt natural.
That said, it wasn't perfect, and some of it is endemic to the genre so I won't ding it too hard. It is, of course, going to be an ongoing series - the book wraps up at climactic moment leaving the reader hanging for book two to find out where it goes, which always bugs me. The cover shows a blond princess when our major players have "ink-black" hair - not the author's fault, but another check in the slight bug column. The worldbuilding, while it's got some details that make for a pretty minds-eye view is relatively basic if you take away the real world framework - the astrology, for example, comes up a couple of times but doesn't play a consistent part. None of it was enough to make me put the book down, and I think it's an entertaining story overall, but it could get better. Definitely strong enough that I'll be back for the next one to find out.
February 3, 2022
Let me start by saying I was a big fan of the first book in the author's debut series, though I still need to finish the other two books in the trilogy, so I was excited when I read the synopsis for this because it sounded like my cup of tea. And it proved, in fact, to be just that.
The book follows three sisters trained from birth to bring about the downfall of the countries for which they are betrothed. Each sister gets a POV and I think the author did an excellent job of differentiating the sisters. They all had distinct personalities. Their thoughts and understanding of each other are entirely their own. Their relationships with their respective fiances/husbands varied greatly as well.
There were some interesting twists, a couple which I genuinely did not see coming. The pacing worked for me, though I could see how some might think it a tad slow since all the twists and betrayals
I stand by my initial impression that Daphne is my favorite sister. Not so much because she stood by what their mother, who I think we all knew was suspicious as heck, wanted them to do. But because of her clever and calculative nature. As I've grown older, I just tend to gravitate more toward morally gray characters. And Daphe is nothing if not that.
The Relationships:
Leopold & Sophie "The Idealists"
"How much it was real? Leopold asks finally.
---
"There were so many lies, Leo. I know that, and I am so sorry for them. But when it came down to it, I chose Temarin. I chose you. I love you. That's the truth."
These two are what I would consider a classic prince and princess pairing. Kind-hearted, trusting, and somewhere between occasionally to often naive. They are romantics. They're the only pairing that seemed to have genuine feelings for one another upon entering into their union.
Pasquale & Beatriz "The Mismatched Pair"
"No matter what happens, Triz, I'll do whatever I can to protect you."
Beatriz holds his gaze and smiles, a small, tight-lipped smile. "And I'll protect you," she tells him. "No matter what."
Once you get to reading this book, you will understand why I dubbed them as I did. That being said, I do enjoy how their relationship grows. I suppose one could equate their relationship to that of best friends or platonic soulmates.
Bairre & Daphne "The Realists"
"I'm sure I would have liked Cillian," she tells him, though she doesn't mean to.
---
"But I don't think he would have looked at me the way you do."
"And how do I look at you?" he asks.
---
"Like I'm a bolt of lightning," she says, tracing her fingers along his jawline. "And you can't decide whether I'll kill you or bring you back to life."
These two did not have the best first impression of one another. Since they are both guarded and distrusting of others, it really comes as no surprise. But with time and some honesty on both their ends, they're slowly becoming my favorite.
Kindle estimated that this book would take about ~8 hours to read. But Kindle underestimates me. I finished it in a bit over half that time. It was just a fun, easy read.
But the fact remains, WTF was that ending!? So rude to leave us with such a cliffhanger. Safe to say, I will be tuning in for the sequel.
I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Huge thank you to the publisher Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy to read and review!
The book follows three sisters trained from birth to bring about the downfall of the countries for which they are betrothed. Each sister gets a POV and I think the author did an excellent job of differentiating the sisters. They all had distinct personalities. Their thoughts and understanding of each other are entirely their own. Their relationships with their respective fiances/husbands varied greatly as well.
There were some interesting twists, a couple which I genuinely did not see coming. The pacing worked for me, though I could see how some might think it a tad slow since all the twists and betrayals
I stand by my initial impression that Daphne is my favorite sister. Not so much because she stood by what their mother, who I think we all knew was suspicious as heck, wanted them to do. But because of her clever and calculative nature. As I've grown older, I just tend to gravitate more toward morally gray characters. And Daphe is nothing if not that.
The Relationships:
Leopold & Sophie "The Idealists"
"How much it was real? Leopold asks finally.
---
"There were so many lies, Leo. I know that, and I am so sorry for them. But when it came down to it, I chose Temarin. I chose you. I love you. That's the truth."
These two are what I would consider a classic prince and princess pairing. Kind-hearted, trusting, and somewhere between occasionally to often naive. They are romantics. They're the only pairing that seemed to have genuine feelings for one another upon entering into their union.
Pasquale & Beatriz "The Mismatched Pair"
"No matter what happens, Triz, I'll do whatever I can to protect you."
Beatriz holds his gaze and smiles, a small, tight-lipped smile. "And I'll protect you," she tells him. "No matter what."
Once you get to reading this book, you will understand why I dubbed them as I did. That being said, I do enjoy how their relationship grows. I suppose one could equate their relationship to that of best friends or platonic soulmates.
Bairre & Daphne "The Realists"
"I'm sure I would have liked Cillian," she tells him, though she doesn't mean to.
---
"But I don't think he would have looked at me the way you do."
"And how do I look at you?" he asks.
---
"Like I'm a bolt of lightning," she says, tracing her fingers along his jawline. "And you can't decide whether I'll kill you or bring you back to life."
These two did not have the best first impression of one another. Since they are both guarded and distrusting of others, it really comes as no surprise. But with time and some honesty on both their ends, they're slowly becoming my favorite.
Kindle estimated that this book would take about ~8 hours to read. But Kindle underestimates me. I finished it in a bit over half that time. It was just a fun, easy read.
But the fact remains, WTF was that ending!? So rude to leave us with such a cliffhanger. Safe to say, I will be tuning in for the sequel.
I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Huge thank you to the publisher Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy to read and review!
December 26, 2022
THAT WAS AWESOME, WOW, I'm going to die waiting for the next book.
The best book I read this year, ok since it's February, it's not fair, so the best fantasy book with women leaders, let me think, do I have read a book so fascinating with main three female roles, no this was BEST!
Emperor of Bessemia has suddenly fathered three daughters, at the age of seventy, when his last wife and his countless mistresses had never fallen pregnant. His Queen, Empress Margaraux had tasked the royal empyrea (witches called, people who had a gift of hearing or wish to stars, do magic), Nigellus, to use magic to ensure will have three daughters.
"The princesses’ eyes— not their mother’s brown or their father’s blue but the startouched silver that only graced those conceived with magic. Those with stardust running through their veins."
In Kingdom of Stars, Why three girls would be better than one boy? why would anyone have wished for three girls when a single boy would have been far more helpful?
Three brides for three kingdoms, to take the whole continent of Vesteria!
They have been preparing for their duties since they were born, to marry the princes they’ve been betrothed to and drive their countries to war against one another, allowing their mother to sweep in and pick up the shattered pieces and add them to her domain like new jewels for her crown.
For the first time, sisters won’t see each other for a year, they haven’t spent more than a few hours apart in their entire lives.
“We’re three stars of the same constellation. Distance won’t change that.”
Beatriz, the ruthless and pretty one, headstrong and lawbreaker, goes south to Cellaria to marry Prince Pasquale, a prince who didn't suppose to be a king.
In Cellaria, magic is outlawed, and MAD KING (King Cesare) will execute people even children for the least of magic.
"It’s quite possible for a person to smile at you one moment and stab you in the back the next."
Daphne, the cold and charming one (more like her mother), goes north to Friv to marry King Bartholomew’s son, Prince Cillian. He is sick, they only hope he could live long to the wedding night.
Friv is a harsh, joyless land, filled with harsh, joyless people. It is a land shaped by war and hungry for blood.
"The absence of war does not equal peace. .. war never dies, it only sleeps.”
Sophronia, the soft, sweet, kind, and brainy one, goes west to Temarin to marry King Leopold, but he is not really a king, his mother Queen Eugenia is one who role.
Queen Eugenia is from Cellaria forced to marry King Carlisle (Temarin king) and ended the war between the two countries. But she never forgot and forgave her harsh time in Temarin.
Nothing goes on the plan, at least, not the plan they are ready for. They face unplanned and unpredictable problems, should follow their mother's orders, but would that be right?
From the first, when they off to their new palace unexpected happened, many twists, betrayal, rebellion, the enemy in friend costume, threats and so many other terrible things.
"Power is an illusion, and the more of it people think you have, the more determined they will be to tear you down. You should know that better than anyone, having been on the other side. How long do you think it will be before another you arrives with schemes and plots? You’ve climbed far, but that only means the fall will kill you."
I'm not going more of the story, it already is one of my longest reviews! I love the characters, especially the three sisters. The beautiful part is, they are not perfect, yes, kind, strong, and smart most of the time but not perfect, that made mistakes, still learning, but always listen to their heart.
Highly recommended! This was AMAZING, didn't want it to finish. The story is so engaging and shocking I almost couldn't stop myself in the last 100 pages. HEARTBREAKING, I almost brush into tears. Unbelievably surprising.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this great book, Castles in their Bones (Castles in their Bones #1) by Laura Sebastian, I have given my honest review.
The best book I read this year, ok since it's February, it's not fair, so the best fantasy book with women leaders, let me think, do I have read a book so fascinating with main three female roles, no this was BEST!
Emperor of Bessemia has suddenly fathered three daughters, at the age of seventy, when his last wife and his countless mistresses had never fallen pregnant. His Queen, Empress Margaraux had tasked the royal empyrea (witches called, people who had a gift of hearing or wish to stars, do magic), Nigellus, to use magic to ensure will have three daughters.
"The princesses’ eyes— not their mother’s brown or their father’s blue but the startouched silver that only graced those conceived with magic. Those with stardust running through their veins."
In Kingdom of Stars, Why three girls would be better than one boy? why would anyone have wished for three girls when a single boy would have been far more helpful?
Three brides for three kingdoms, to take the whole continent of Vesteria!
They have been preparing for their duties since they were born, to marry the princes they’ve been betrothed to and drive their countries to war against one another, allowing their mother to sweep in and pick up the shattered pieces and add them to her domain like new jewels for her crown.
For the first time, sisters won’t see each other for a year, they haven’t spent more than a few hours apart in their entire lives.
“We’re three stars of the same constellation. Distance won’t change that.”
Beatriz, the ruthless and pretty one, headstrong and lawbreaker, goes south to Cellaria to marry Prince Pasquale, a prince who didn't suppose to be a king.
In Cellaria, magic is outlawed, and MAD KING (King Cesare) will execute people even children for the least of magic.
"It’s quite possible for a person to smile at you one moment and stab you in the back the next."
Daphne, the cold and charming one (more like her mother), goes north to Friv to marry King Bartholomew’s son, Prince Cillian. He is sick, they only hope he could live long to the wedding night.
Friv is a harsh, joyless land, filled with harsh, joyless people. It is a land shaped by war and hungry for blood.
"The absence of war does not equal peace. .. war never dies, it only sleeps.”
Sophronia, the soft, sweet, kind, and brainy one, goes west to Temarin to marry King Leopold, but he is not really a king, his mother Queen Eugenia is one who role.
Queen Eugenia is from Cellaria forced to marry King Carlisle (Temarin king) and ended the war between the two countries. But she never forgot and forgave her harsh time in Temarin.
Nothing goes on the plan, at least, not the plan they are ready for. They face unplanned and unpredictable problems, should follow their mother's orders, but would that be right?
From the first, when they off to their new palace unexpected happened, many twists, betrayal, rebellion, the enemy in friend costume, threats and so many other terrible things.
"Power is an illusion, and the more of it people think you have, the more determined they will be to tear you down. You should know that better than anyone, having been on the other side. How long do you think it will be before another you arrives with schemes and plots? You’ve climbed far, but that only means the fall will kill you."
I'm not going more of the story, it already is one of my longest reviews! I love the characters, especially the three sisters. The beautiful part is, they are not perfect, yes, kind, strong, and smart most of the time but not perfect, that made mistakes, still learning, but always listen to their heart.
Highly recommended! This was AMAZING, didn't want it to finish. The story is so engaging and shocking I almost couldn't stop myself in the last 100 pages. HEARTBREAKING, I almost brush into tears. Unbelievably surprising.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this great book, Castles in their Bones (Castles in their Bones #1) by Laura Sebastian, I have given my honest review.
November 6, 2021
Castles in Their Bones follows Princesses Beatriz, Sophronia, and Daphne, triplets who are each sent to different kingdoms and their betrothed. Their tasks are to initiate their mother’s plan to drive the kingdoms to war with each other so that she can sweep in and take over. However, nothing goes according to plan, and as the princesses become more ingratiated in their new worlds, political intrigue, lies, betrayal, conflicting feelings, and harsh leaders and societies prove problematic. Will Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia complete their missions, or will they go against their mother and face her wrath?
The story is told from each of the sisters’ points of view, which I liked since they spend much of the book in different kingdoms. Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia are well-developed, layered, morally grey characters, and they each go through so much throughout the story. The sisters were raised to take over the kingdom, and they were trained in espionage, poisons, coding, fighting, seduction, and more. They each have special strengths but quickly realize that it will take much more than that to enact their mother’s plan.
I like how Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia grow and change and start to think for themselves once they are out from under their mother’s clutches. They begin to question and think about how their actions and the actions of their mother will affect the kingdom. Though their mother shows an immense thirst for power, the triplets look beyond that. They develop relationships in their respective kingdoms, and these connections change them and influence their actions. They also don’t seem to have the excessive ruthless immorality that their mother exudes, though this varies with each sister. I also like that, even though the triplets are very different, they still share a deep connection and are very close. That’s not to say that there isn’t rivalry and tension between the triplets, but their bond remains strong. The themes of sisterhood and sibling love are strong throughout the story, even though the sisters are not together for most of it.
The three kingdoms that Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia journey to are vastly different from each other. They are each so vivid and detailed with their own unique landscapes, customs, lore, and beliefs. The kingdoms stand in sharp contrast to each other in many ways. However, there is a lot of political maneuvering, backstabbing, and secrecy in each, which is fascinating. This story has so many twists and turns and surprising revelations, and the ending is intense and shocking! I was on the edge of my seat for the last chapters of the book and was stunned on more than one occasion by what happened. And the ending is one of the most shocking endings I’ve read all year!
Something else I thought was really intriguing was the magic system, which is not treated the same in each kingdom. Revered by some and shunned by others, it’s interesting to see how these different places treat magic and people with power. What some see as a gift, others see as a curse, and it all seems so arbitrary and dependent on where you live.
I love a good romance, and this story has several unique love stories. I enjoyed seeing these relationships grow and change. Of course, relationships that stem from lies and deception are difficult to cultivate, but some bonds are too strong to break. The sisters each struggle with their feelings, which often conflict with their goals, and it’s interesting to see how they reconcile them.
I loved Castles in Their Bones! The characters are fascinating, the story and settings are so immersive, and the plot riveting. I would definitely recommend the book to lovers of YA fantasy, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and find out what happens next! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
The story is told from each of the sisters’ points of view, which I liked since they spend much of the book in different kingdoms. Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia are well-developed, layered, morally grey characters, and they each go through so much throughout the story. The sisters were raised to take over the kingdom, and they were trained in espionage, poisons, coding, fighting, seduction, and more. They each have special strengths but quickly realize that it will take much more than that to enact their mother’s plan.
I like how Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia grow and change and start to think for themselves once they are out from under their mother’s clutches. They begin to question and think about how their actions and the actions of their mother will affect the kingdom. Though their mother shows an immense thirst for power, the triplets look beyond that. They develop relationships in their respective kingdoms, and these connections change them and influence their actions. They also don’t seem to have the excessive ruthless immorality that their mother exudes, though this varies with each sister. I also like that, even though the triplets are very different, they still share a deep connection and are very close. That’s not to say that there isn’t rivalry and tension between the triplets, but their bond remains strong. The themes of sisterhood and sibling love are strong throughout the story, even though the sisters are not together for most of it.
The three kingdoms that Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia journey to are vastly different from each other. They are each so vivid and detailed with their own unique landscapes, customs, lore, and beliefs. The kingdoms stand in sharp contrast to each other in many ways. However, there is a lot of political maneuvering, backstabbing, and secrecy in each, which is fascinating. This story has so many twists and turns and surprising revelations, and the ending is intense and shocking! I was on the edge of my seat for the last chapters of the book and was stunned on more than one occasion by what happened. And the ending is one of the most shocking endings I’ve read all year!
Something else I thought was really intriguing was the magic system, which is not treated the same in each kingdom. Revered by some and shunned by others, it’s interesting to see how these different places treat magic and people with power. What some see as a gift, others see as a curse, and it all seems so arbitrary and dependent on where you live.
I love a good romance, and this story has several unique love stories. I enjoyed seeing these relationships grow and change. Of course, relationships that stem from lies and deception are difficult to cultivate, but some bonds are too strong to break. The sisters each struggle with their feelings, which often conflict with their goals, and it’s interesting to see how they reconcile them.
I loved Castles in Their Bones! The characters are fascinating, the story and settings are so immersive, and the plot riveting. I would definitely recommend the book to lovers of YA fantasy, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and find out what happens next! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
July 26, 2022
DNF at 50%
I don't know how a story on daughters raised for war could be this boring but let's talk about lost potential. Sebastian's prose, while strong, lyrical and accessible at once, is not enough to tide over a novel whose leaky plot and threadbare characters are insistent on sinking it .
- Writing a fantasy reliant on politics means it should be rooted heavily in economics, geography, history and prejudices. I only got hazy outlines of the world and how it operates after reading 50% of the novel.
The choices do not make sense and there's no emergency or character struggke to propel forward the work
- The characters are painfully dull. Each of the three girls' respective husbands seem to be constructs instead of characters, the antagonists lack complexity that makes them appealing and the romance is chemistry free.
- The reason why haunts me throughout the novel. Conquest of the rival kingdoms should give Bessemia some advantage but none is referred to in the text because allegedly, the other states are close to ruin. So why take on the burden when you are doing well? The economics and history student in me doesn't understand. Conquest for the sake of conquest? But the queen is touted as wise?
- Missed Opportunities- You cannot get more tragic, epic and complex than a mother raising her daughters for war but the mother barely is even present and is relegated into an angry villainess.
I could keep going but this book neither thrilled me nor enraged me. It was a long, winding meh. So why waste the energy?
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the earc in exchange for an honest review
I don't know how a story on daughters raised for war could be this boring but let's talk about lost potential. Sebastian's prose, while strong, lyrical and accessible at once, is not enough to tide over a novel whose leaky plot and threadbare characters are insistent on sinking it .
- Writing a fantasy reliant on politics means it should be rooted heavily in economics, geography, history and prejudices. I only got hazy outlines of the world and how it operates after reading 50% of the novel.
The choices do not make sense and there's no emergency or character struggke to propel forward the work
- The characters are painfully dull. Each of the three girls' respective husbands seem to be constructs instead of characters, the antagonists lack complexity that makes them appealing and the romance is chemistry free.
- The reason why haunts me throughout the novel. Conquest of the rival kingdoms should give Bessemia some advantage but none is referred to in the text because allegedly, the other states are close to ruin. So why take on the burden when you are doing well? The economics and history student in me doesn't understand. Conquest for the sake of conquest? But the queen is touted as wise?
- Missed Opportunities- You cannot get more tragic, epic and complex than a mother raising her daughters for war but the mother barely is even present and is relegated into an angry villainess.
I could keep going but this book neither thrilled me nor enraged me. It was a long, winding meh. So why waste the energy?
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the earc in exchange for an honest review
January 31, 2024
Emotional damage.
February 2, 2022
Ahoy there me mateys! This be the first book in the series and I will certainly be reading the next. Ye follow triplet princesses who have been raised for espionage and deception. At sixteen they are being married off to princes of neighboring kingdoms as the first step in their mother's plan to become Empress of the continent. Though willing participants, each daughter finds unexpected circumstances in their new homes. Can they survive without each other? Do they want to?
The premise sounds quirky and that is why I wanted to read this. There were problems with this book. The sisters were at times hard to tell apart. Despite their oh-so-amazing training, all three are naïve and don't seem to use many of the skills they supposedly know. And the romance elements are very silly. These things would usually be a deal breaker but I had a lot of fun nonetheless.
While the plot was quite over-the-top, I did enjoy the many curveballs that the author threw in from the very beginning. I may have rolled me eyes a lot but I also rolled with the entertainment of it. In fact, I didn't realize how long the book was until I had finished and looked up the page count. I enjoyed the learning about the neighboring kingdoms and the star magic. I really loved how the book ended and set up the future craziness. I shouldn't have liked these book given me personal preferences but I was won over in the end. Arrrr!
Thank ye kindly Delacorte Press for the eArc!
The premise sounds quirky and that is why I wanted to read this. There were problems with this book. The sisters were at times hard to tell apart. Despite their oh-so-amazing training, all three are naïve and don't seem to use many of the skills they supposedly know. And the romance elements are very silly. These things would usually be a deal breaker but I had a lot of fun nonetheless.
While the plot was quite over-the-top, I did enjoy the many curveballs that the author threw in from the very beginning. I may have rolled me eyes a lot but I also rolled with the entertainment of it. In fact, I didn't realize how long the book was until I had finished and looked up the page count. I enjoyed the learning about the neighboring kingdoms and the star magic. I really loved how the book ended and set up the future craziness. I shouldn't have liked these book given me personal preferences but I was won over in the end. Arrrr!
Thank ye kindly Delacorte Press for the eArc!
March 8, 2024
~Thank you Random House Children's and Netgalley for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!~
4.5⭐𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
•This book is a masterpiece. I have no words other than; Oh. My. God. Laura Sebastian really wants me to cry tonight. It is almost midnight. Do I care? No. Was it worth it? Yes.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭
•The plot is absolutely stunning. The twists and betrayals are all just heart-wrenching, and I probably need to see my doctor /therapist on Monday. The whole premise and story behind the plot as well are so unique and well-executed. I honestly felt a whirlwind of emotions reading this and was perfectly willing to sacrifice my sleep for the answers. Each event the girls got into had me biting my nails, and I love how Sebastian had the feeling to this book that there was no main character syndrome. Anyone can be hurt or killed, no matter their status. Kinda like GoT. This style had me on the edge of my seat and eager to find out what happened next.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
•I fell in love with the triplets, and I felt for all of them at some point during the book. My personal favorites are Sophronia and Pas. Side characters got so much love alongside the main three, and watching them grow and reveal their true identities was a great experience. The romance was also navigated in a way where it added to the story but didn't take away from it. All of the characters were dynamic and had so many layers. They were like a ten-tier cake I just wanted to sink my teeth in to and find out all the info.
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
•The kingdoms Sebastian creates are all full of life and riddled with their own issues and drama that fueled the plot. I also like how each kingdom almost somewhat suited each sister, yet they felt so out of place when they arrived. The star magic was such a cool concept, and I can't wait to learn more about it. YA Fantasy tends to be tropey with magic and such, but I felt Sebastian really created something unique and different that I adored.
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥
•This is an obvious must-read for anyone going to see this review. Also, the sequels can not come out fast enough so excuse me while I go purchase an in-hand copy despite reading the ARC because I can feel in my bones I will be re-reading this more than once.
4.5⭐𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
•This book is a masterpiece. I have no words other than; Oh. My. God. Laura Sebastian really wants me to cry tonight. It is almost midnight. Do I care? No. Was it worth it? Yes.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭
•The plot is absolutely stunning. The twists and betrayals are all just heart-wrenching, and I probably need to see my doctor /therapist on Monday. The whole premise and story behind the plot as well are so unique and well-executed. I honestly felt a whirlwind of emotions reading this and was perfectly willing to sacrifice my sleep for the answers. Each event the girls got into had me biting my nails, and I love how Sebastian had the feeling to this book that there was no main character syndrome. Anyone can be hurt or killed, no matter their status. Kinda like GoT. This style had me on the edge of my seat and eager to find out what happened next.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
•I fell in love with the triplets, and I felt for all of them at some point during the book. My personal favorites are Sophronia and Pas. Side characters got so much love alongside the main three, and watching them grow and reveal their true identities was a great experience. The romance was also navigated in a way where it added to the story but didn't take away from it. All of the characters were dynamic and had so many layers. They were like a ten-tier cake I just wanted to sink my teeth in to and find out all the info.
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
•The kingdoms Sebastian creates are all full of life and riddled with their own issues and drama that fueled the plot. I also like how each kingdom almost somewhat suited each sister, yet they felt so out of place when they arrived. The star magic was such a cool concept, and I can't wait to learn more about it. YA Fantasy tends to be tropey with magic and such, but I felt Sebastian really created something unique and different that I adored.
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥
•This is an obvious must-read for anyone going to see this review. Also, the sequels can not come out fast enough so excuse me while I go purchase an in-hand copy despite reading the ARC because I can feel in my bones I will be re-reading this more than once.
to-finish-later
October 25, 2021I got an ARC!!!!
Sebastian's Ash Princess series is one of my favorite YA Fantasy trilogies, so I can't wait to see what's in store with this one!
Thank you to Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press via Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Sebastian's Ash Princess series is one of my favorite YA Fantasy trilogies, so I can't wait to see what's in store with this one!
Thank you to Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press via Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 19, 2022
Disclaimer: All quotes are from an uncorrected proof and can be subjected to change in the published version.
Empress Margaraux had been raising her triplets, Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia, to fulfill her vision of ruling over the entire continent by marrying them off to three different countries. The girls had been raised learning every skill they needed to lead their mother to her goal, but once the girls' journeys started, a chain of events filled with opportunities, deceptions, betrayals, and truths threatened to disrupt their plan.
This was so fucking good. The joy I felt going into a book with no expectation only for it to blow my mind away on every aspect possible, and that was what happened with this book. I am so fucking glad that I got this ARC because holy shit this might be my new favorite YA fantasy release. I wish I had read this book in one sitting because I would plummet my level of enjoyment.
From the synopsis, I expected a generic YA Fantasy but this is everything your typical fantasy failed to do. The plot, the action, the characters, and their relationship: everything was so well-done and Sebastian's writing seems better than her debut book Ash Princess (which I DNF'd.).
The plot:
I adore the story. The political intrigue is extremely complex with shifting alliances, questionable opportunities, and a lot of betrayals. I stormed through 400 pages in one sitting because I couldn't wait to see what would happen. The change of factions and decisions kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! The multiple POVs really helped with the enjoyment of the book, because we got to see the events unfolding between the kingdoms from the eyes of our main characters, which, in my opinion, was a particularly good choice. A lot of events took turns that I totally didn't expect but aren't completely illogical, and honestly, I enjoy them all so much. The shifting alliances changed the course of the action so many times successfully and I wonder what had passed through the author's mind when she had written them as each of them is equally surprising and reasonable. Although the revelation was a little bit predictable, I still think it was very well-done.
The characters:
I envy Sebastian for her mastery of characterization in this book. Our protagonists are triplets, so I kinda expected them to be the same person in different fonts or to be completely different characters. The author nailed their characters by making them so different yet so similar. I tipped my hat to Sebastian because I have yet to read a book with twins/triplets as well-crafted as this one. Their mother, Empress Margaraux, was also one of my favorite characters of the book as she is very predictable. She was all mysterious throughout the book and the twist at the end really did her character arc justice.
For obvious reason, I also adore the main male characters. For their role as heir to the throne/reigning monarch, it's crucial for their characterization to be very solid and convincing but still authentic, and the author did exactly what she needed to. They have distinct personalities, and their back-stories are masterfully written because they just match their current personality and motivations.
I also really like the side characters, both the heroes and the villains. They aren't just random characters thrown in for the sake of creating conflict, but they stand strong by themselves as distinct characters and as an element to the plot.
The relationship:
Contrary to what the synopsis might suggest, this book is not dominated by romance at all. Romance is used as a subplot to conflict, but it is really not overwhelming. All the couples have great chemistry with each other, especially Leopold and Sophronia (my dear loves). My heart belongs to them.
The non-romantic relationships are also very constructed. A particular friendship has my whole heart (IYKYK), especially in one of the last. Under the circumstances, they are set to be something else, but their friendship is so precious, and I hope Mrs. Sebastian won't do anything to them (I am looking at you, Laura Sebastian)
Conclusion:
Dark, dangerously fun, and thrilling, Castles in Their Bones delivered everything it promised to and more. I love this book with my whole heart (especially Sophie and Leo, my little doves, you deserved better) and I will not be surprised if it makes up the list of my favorite reads of 2022. Book 1 is not even out, yet my needy hands will do anything to lay hands on the sequel.
Biggest thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange of my honest thoughts. This review is my opinion and mine only.
Born to rule. Raise to deceive.
Empress Margaraux had been raising her triplets, Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia, to fulfill her vision of ruling over the entire continent by marrying them off to three different countries. The girls had been raised learning every skill they needed to lead their mother to her goal, but once the girls' journeys started, a chain of events filled with opportunities, deceptions, betrayals, and truths threatened to disrupt their plan.
This was so fucking good. The joy I felt going into a book with no expectation only for it to blow my mind away on every aspect possible, and that was what happened with this book. I am so fucking glad that I got this ARC because holy shit this might be my new favorite YA fantasy release. I wish I had read this book in one sitting because I would plummet my level of enjoyment.
From the synopsis, I expected a generic YA Fantasy but this is everything your typical fantasy failed to do. The plot, the action, the characters, and their relationship: everything was so well-done and Sebastian's writing seems better than her debut book Ash Princess (which I DNF'd.).
The plot:
I adore the story. The political intrigue is extremely complex with shifting alliances, questionable opportunities, and a lot of betrayals. I stormed through 400 pages in one sitting because I couldn't wait to see what would happen. The change of factions and decisions kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! The multiple POVs really helped with the enjoyment of the book, because we got to see the events unfolding between the kingdoms from the eyes of our main characters, which, in my opinion, was a particularly good choice. A lot of events took turns that I totally didn't expect but aren't completely illogical, and honestly, I enjoy them all so much. The shifting alliances changed the course of the action so many times successfully and I wonder what had passed through the author's mind when she had written them as each of them is equally surprising and reasonable. Although the revelation was a little bit predictable, I still think it was very well-done.
The characters:
I envy Sebastian for her mastery of characterization in this book. Our protagonists are triplets, so I kinda expected them to be the same person in different fonts or to be completely different characters. The author nailed their characters by making them so different yet so similar. I tipped my hat to Sebastian because I have yet to read a book with twins/triplets as well-crafted as this one. Their mother, Empress Margaraux, was also one of my favorite characters of the book as she is very predictable. She was all mysterious throughout the book and the twist at the end really did her character arc justice.
For obvious reason, I also adore the main male characters. For their role as heir to the throne/reigning monarch, it's crucial for their characterization to be very solid and convincing but still authentic, and the author did exactly what she needed to. They have distinct personalities, and their back-stories are masterfully written because they just match their current personality and motivations.
I also really like the side characters, both the heroes and the villains. They aren't just random characters thrown in for the sake of creating conflict, but they stand strong by themselves as distinct characters and as an element to the plot.
The relationship:
After we survive this", he tells her, "I'm going to be furious with you."
[Redacted] forced a smile. "After we survive this," she echoes.
Contrary to what the synopsis might suggest, this book is not dominated by romance at all. Romance is used as a subplot to conflict, but it is really not overwhelming. All the couples have great chemistry with each other, especially Leopold and Sophronia (my dear loves). My heart belongs to them.
The non-romantic relationships are also very constructed. A particular friendship has my whole heart (IYKYK), especially in one of the last. Under the circumstances, they are set to be something else, but their friendship is so precious, and I hope Mrs. Sebastian won't do anything to them (I am looking at you, Laura Sebastian)
"No matter what happens, [redacted], I'll do whatever I can to protect you."
[Redacted] holds his gaze and smiles, a small, tight-lipped smile. "And I'll protect you," she tells him. "No matter what."
Conclusion:
Dark, dangerously fun, and thrilling, Castles in Their Bones delivered everything it promised to and more. I love this book with my whole heart (especially Sophie and Leo, my little doves, you deserved better) and I will not be surprised if it makes up the list of my favorite reads of 2022. Book 1 is not even out, yet my needy hands will do anything to lay hands on the sequel.
Biggest thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange of my honest thoughts. This review is my opinion and mine only.
February 21, 2022
5 STARS
What I just read? This was amazing I love it, so brilliant and it was fast paced!I devour it, it has such a brilliant plot.There are twists and I was in agony many times.I couldn't put it down I wanted to see what will happen next!
Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia were such an interesting characters. We get each ones POV and this made the story even better because we get a better look in their lives. I loved the way all three managed to get through unexpected challenges they face. Sophronia was my favorite but I loved them all.
This is a page turning ,full of twists,politics,love and friendships .The ending was shocking and I need the next now!!
“Thanks for the free book PRH International”
#sponsored #prhinternational
What I just read? This was amazing I love it, so brilliant and it was fast paced!I devour it, it has such a brilliant plot.There are twists and I was in agony many times.I couldn't put it down I wanted to see what will happen next!
Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia were such an interesting characters. We get each ones POV and this made the story even better because we get a better look in their lives. I loved the way all three managed to get through unexpected challenges they face. Sophronia was my favorite but I loved them all.
This is a page turning ,full of twists,politics,love and friendships .The ending was shocking and I need the next now!!
“Thanks for the free book PRH International”
#sponsored #prhinternational
December 6, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Castles in Their Bones was hands down a wonderful adventure. It gave me Tangled vibes in the beginning and then turned into Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones in a way. No, there's no sibling romance but there's so much family betrayal. It's insane!
Each twist, turn, and secret coded message kept me fully engaged in the lives of the three princesses, Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz, and their mother, Empress Margaraux. From the very moment they were born, these three were trained and formed into the perfect bride for their prince. Well, almost.
Lurking in every corner, and inside them, was betrayal waiting to happen. Trust doesn't come easy in these kingdoms, but it also makes you underestimate your own family too. There was so much going on throughout this, that I wasn't surprised when certain things happened in a certain way. Mostly because it seemed like power was the main thing and once you had it - you wanted more.
In the end, I'm secretly hoping they have this kick ass plan to take down their mom. I also hope everyone is alive and well because I don't know how I will act if I find something is definite in the next book. I'm just sitting here freaking out because of the unknown. I can't wait for Laura to drop the sequel because I need it.
Castles in Their Bones was hands down a wonderful adventure. It gave me Tangled vibes in the beginning and then turned into Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones in a way. No, there's no sibling romance but there's so much family betrayal. It's insane!
Each twist, turn, and secret coded message kept me fully engaged in the lives of the three princesses, Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz, and their mother, Empress Margaraux. From the very moment they were born, these three were trained and formed into the perfect bride for their prince. Well, almost.
Lurking in every corner, and inside them, was betrayal waiting to happen. Trust doesn't come easy in these kingdoms, but it also makes you underestimate your own family too. There was so much going on throughout this, that I wasn't surprised when certain things happened in a certain way. Mostly because it seemed like power was the main thing and once you had it - you wanted more.
In the end, I'm secretly hoping they have this kick ass plan to take down their mom. I also hope everyone is alive and well because I don't know how I will act if I find something is definite in the next book. I'm just sitting here freaking out because of the unknown. I can't wait for Laura to drop the sequel because I need it.
March 6, 2022
Ummm...I need it? Now?
Edit: WE HAVE A COVER PEOPLE
3/3/22: AGGGGHH THIS WAS AMAZING BUT I WAS NOT EXPECTING SOPHRONIA TO DIE LIKE…ARE DAPHNE AND BEATRIZ GONNA DIE IN THE NEXT TWO BOOKS?! I NEED TO KNOOOOOOWWW!!!
Edit: WE HAVE A COVER PEOPLE
3/3/22: AGGGGHH THIS WAS AMAZING BUT I WAS NOT EXPECTING SOPHRONIA TO DIE LIKE…ARE DAPHNE AND BEATRIZ GONNA DIE IN THE NEXT TWO BOOKS?! I NEED TO KNOOOOOOWWW!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2022
WHAT THE
literally finished reading it and IMMEDIATELY ORDERED IT MAAM THE WAY THIS BOOK HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW
literally finished reading it and IMMEDIATELY ORDERED IT MAAM THE WAY THIS BOOK HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW
January 17, 2023
Second time reading
I had to do a reread of this book before I jump into the sequel. There are so many details and characters and I didn't want to miss anything. This flew by and I was once again sucked in immediately. All the secrets, spying, and betrayals make this a roller coaster, I didn't want to stop reading!
So excited to move on to the next book and see what happens!
********************************************
I was not prepared for how good this is! Three sisters, trained from birth to takeover kingdoms, master weapons, magic, and ruling. How could that not be awesome?! Each sister is great in her own way and watching them grow once they're out of their mother's sight was fun, exciting, and a bit sad. I so enjoyed this and now I'm already dying for the sequel.
The rotating points of view helped the plot move along and there are political games, assassination attempts, and some love that fills the story up. I loved how smart and cunning the girls are and the way they started making moves and getting people to follow them was a lot of fun.
I can't get over the ending, so many things I didn't see coming. This book isn't even out yet and I'd like the sequel now please.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy.
I had to do a reread of this book before I jump into the sequel. There are so many details and characters and I didn't want to miss anything. This flew by and I was once again sucked in immediately. All the secrets, spying, and betrayals make this a roller coaster, I didn't want to stop reading!
So excited to move on to the next book and see what happens!
********************************************
I was not prepared for how good this is! Three sisters, trained from birth to takeover kingdoms, master weapons, magic, and ruling. How could that not be awesome?! Each sister is great in her own way and watching them grow once they're out of their mother's sight was fun, exciting, and a bit sad. I so enjoyed this and now I'm already dying for the sequel.
The rotating points of view helped the plot move along and there are political games, assassination attempts, and some love that fills the story up. I loved how smart and cunning the girls are and the way they started making moves and getting people to follow them was a lot of fun.
I can't get over the ending, so many things I didn't see coming. This book isn't even out yet and I'd like the sequel now please.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy.
January 10, 2022
Y’ALL BETTER DROP EVERYTHING AND GO BUY THIS BOOK ON FEBRUARY 1ST
I’m torn between 4.5 and 5 stars but went ahead and rounded up because HOLY CRAP - I’ve just been staring at the last page for like 5 minutes in shock because THAT ENDING
I cant give too much more away but the characters, the dynamics, and the overall plot is just *chef’s kiss* If I were you I’d go ahead and preorder this beauty because you won’t want to miss it
castles in their bones pintrest board - https://pin.it/4qLtrPw
{ thank you so much to NetGalley & Childrens Random House for the ARC }
I’m torn between 4.5 and 5 stars but went ahead and rounded up because HOLY CRAP - I’ve just been staring at the last page for like 5 minutes in shock because THAT ENDING
I cant give too much more away but the characters, the dynamics, and the overall plot is just *chef’s kiss* If I were you I’d go ahead and preorder this beauty because you won’t want to miss it
castles in their bones pintrest board - https://pin.it/4qLtrPw
{ thank you so much to NetGalley & Childrens Random House for the ARC }
February 3, 2022
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour for choosing me as one of the participants in the #CastlesinTheirBones tour. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Check out the full review on my blog, thisbellereadstoo
Startouched, the three daughters of Empress Margaraux are born for their mother’s ultimate goal: Reigning the entire continent of Vesteria. Once of age, the sisters are married off to three different kingdoms. Sophronia to Temarin where weekly executions are normal, Beatriz to Cellaria where magic is outlawed, and Daphne to Friv where it’s cold and dreary. Armed with the skills of deception and seduction, bringing down the monarchies would be easy until they have a change in mind. Their betrothal means nothing but a duty to their mother. Of course, easier said than done, the three sisters encountered issues of the heart while in their respective kingdoms.
Having multiple perspectives can confuse readers if the voices and personalities of each character aren’t distinct enough. I didn’t find that to be a problem in Castles in Their Bones as Sophronia, Beatriz, and Daphne each possess a unique quality. Moreover, they are distinctively separated from one another based on the side characters around them and the setting. Sophronia enjoys economics and code-breaking, Beatriz is best with flirtation, and Daphne works with poisons and archery.
The concept of stardust and startouched children in Bessemia added another layer to this setting. While stardust is not rare and can be collected during starshowers, the ability to wish upon a star is far more valuable. An empyrea can bring down a star while wishing upon it but only in the worst scenarios. Each country has its own politics depending on the rule of the monarchies. Despite being separated for most of the book, the sisters obviously care and love each other immensely. Sophie, Beatriz, and Daphne find themselves in a bind as they started to know their own betrothed.
Once at Friv, Daphne received the news that her betrothed had passed on due to his poor health. Taking Prince Cillian’s place would be King Bartholomew’s bastard son, Bairre, who is pretty hostile and suspicious of Daphne from the start. From hiding in the shadows to being openly scrutinized, it’s no wonder that Bairre is guarded against Daphne.
Sophronia’s the most romantic of the three sisters. She paints scenarios in her mind even though she knows not to. Her first encounter at Cellaria is witnessing King Leopold’s ignorance in ruling a kingdom and Dowager Queen Eugenia’s hand in the game. In Cellaria, Sophie discovers that Leopold isn’t actually that bad, merely a puppet king. Things are dire with a burning every fortnight. Anyone found practicing magic or breaking the law is executed by fire.
Married to Pasquale, a man who has no eyes for Beatriz should’ve made her mission easier to accomplish. However, Beatriz soon finds herself wanting to protect the soft Pas and being attracted to the king’s cupbearer. Over there, Beatriz finds out something about herself that relates to magic.
In a series surrounding royals, there is no lacking of court politics, political maneuvering, quiet deceptions, and painful betrayals. With their mother’s skilled machinations, the sisters have to decide whether they want to follow their hearts or continue on down the path. By the end of it, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Can I have book two already?
Check out the full review on my blog, thisbellereadstoo
Startouched, the three daughters of Empress Margaraux are born for their mother’s ultimate goal: Reigning the entire continent of Vesteria. Once of age, the sisters are married off to three different kingdoms. Sophronia to Temarin where weekly executions are normal, Beatriz to Cellaria where magic is outlawed, and Daphne to Friv where it’s cold and dreary. Armed with the skills of deception and seduction, bringing down the monarchies would be easy until they have a change in mind. Their betrothal means nothing but a duty to their mother. Of course, easier said than done, the three sisters encountered issues of the heart while in their respective kingdoms.
Having multiple perspectives can confuse readers if the voices and personalities of each character aren’t distinct enough. I didn’t find that to be a problem in Castles in Their Bones as Sophronia, Beatriz, and Daphne each possess a unique quality. Moreover, they are distinctively separated from one another based on the side characters around them and the setting. Sophronia enjoys economics and code-breaking, Beatriz is best with flirtation, and Daphne works with poisons and archery.
The concept of stardust and startouched children in Bessemia added another layer to this setting. While stardust is not rare and can be collected during starshowers, the ability to wish upon a star is far more valuable. An empyrea can bring down a star while wishing upon it but only in the worst scenarios. Each country has its own politics depending on the rule of the monarchies. Despite being separated for most of the book, the sisters obviously care and love each other immensely. Sophie, Beatriz, and Daphne find themselves in a bind as they started to know their own betrothed.
Once at Friv, Daphne received the news that her betrothed had passed on due to his poor health. Taking Prince Cillian’s place would be King Bartholomew’s bastard son, Bairre, who is pretty hostile and suspicious of Daphne from the start. From hiding in the shadows to being openly scrutinized, it’s no wonder that Bairre is guarded against Daphne.
Sophronia’s the most romantic of the three sisters. She paints scenarios in her mind even though she knows not to. Her first encounter at Cellaria is witnessing King Leopold’s ignorance in ruling a kingdom and Dowager Queen Eugenia’s hand in the game. In Cellaria, Sophie discovers that Leopold isn’t actually that bad, merely a puppet king. Things are dire with a burning every fortnight. Anyone found practicing magic or breaking the law is executed by fire.
Married to Pasquale, a man who has no eyes for Beatriz should’ve made her mission easier to accomplish. However, Beatriz soon finds herself wanting to protect the soft Pas and being attracted to the king’s cupbearer. Over there, Beatriz finds out something about herself that relates to magic.
In a series surrounding royals, there is no lacking of court politics, political maneuvering, quiet deceptions, and painful betrayals. With their mother’s skilled machinations, the sisters have to decide whether they want to follow their hearts or continue on down the path. By the end of it, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Can I have book two already?
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