The Bone Way by Holly J. Underhill -- Starting June 17th 2021

[Jenn]

Teagan’s wife, Cressidae, is missing. She has left for the Shadow Realm, a kingdom of the dead filled with untold nightmares—and the only place that can save Teagan from a lethal poison that’s killing her slowly. It is ruled by a princess said to make powerful deals with those brave enough to find her, and Cressidae has gone to bargain for Teagan’s life. Cressidae has forgotten one very important thing: no one makes it out on their own.

Despite the risks to her own safety, Teagan is determined to save her wife—and perhaps even herself in the process. The princess of the Shadow Realm, however, doesn’t let mortals roam her territories without opposition. In this thrilling tale inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Teagan and Cressidae must face both the horrors of the Shadow Realm as well as their own past.

[Dannii]

I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate just how quickly I would get through the book. I sat down with a bowl of popcorn and just could not stop reading!

First quarter - (view spoiler)[This was such an interesting first quarter, which named so many intriguing places, such as The Hallowed Arch, the Desolate Mountain, the Deathly Palace and the Shadow Realm. (hide spoiler)]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[Why first Cressidae and then Teagan ventured into the Shadow Realm was revealed. Cressidae wanted to save the one she loved! I wanted to cry with how sweet yet tragic this was. I really enjoyed Teagan's journey through each section and the descriptions of the horrors she overcame. I wish longer had been spent in each, though. I also liked the flashback scenes, that described the Shadow Princess' origin story as well as Teagan and Cressidae's relationship. (hide spoiler)]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Part Two begun and Taegan entered the final portion of the realm, reuniting with Cress and meeting the Princess. It was sad to witness how cold Cress was, putting up a wall to distract from just how much she was keeping her hurt and fear secret from Taegan. (hide spoiler)]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[I loved this book! It was so emotional and so tragic. I wish it was longer, as each portion of the Princess' realm deserved chapters and chapters to be fully explored. I have not read the myth this was based upon but am aware of the story. I liked how different this one was but was fully anticipating a harrowing ending, based upon the original. I'm so glad they had their happy ever after instead! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate just how quickly I would get thr..."

First quarter: (view spoiler)[Yes, I agree, though I'm still pretty confused! I do like the writing style with revealing stuff slowly, but I wish it was a bit more forthcoming? Like, through the first chapter (I think) we got no indication of this injury, and then suddenly we find out about this injury....it kinda reads as if it's a fanfic and the author forgot to introduce something before and so introduced it later, if that makes sense? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate just how quickly I would get thr..."

Second quarter: (view spoiler)[I agree that I would also have enjoyed more time spent in the different places, because while Teagan said it took too much time or something, to me it only seemed as if a few minutes had passed. (hide spoiler)]
And, 60%(view spoiler)[
Also, is it just me or is the writing of the princess a bit comic-villain-y? I don't know, I'm finding it a bit hard to take her too seriously, and I don't really feel all that much scared of her. She seems a bit cruel without reason, and I don't know, I just can't take her seriously. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Trisha wrote: "Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate just how quickly ..."

(view spoiler)[I actually totally get what you mean. I did like the slow reveal but in a book as short as this one every page counts. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Trisha wrote: "Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate just how quickly ..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah, the princess does have a comic-book-villain type character creation. My favourite aspect about this book was definitely the trials overcome in order to meet her. I think, given how difficult they were, that she was less 'boss level' villain than anticipated when actually introduced. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate just how quickly I would get thr..."

Third quarter (view spoiler)[It was! I was a bit sad, but also surprised because I couldn't understand why exactly she was doing it....maybe to hide the depth of her relief in front of the princess so she could no longer exploit it? (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Trisha wrote: "Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate just how quickly ..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I think I gathered that was the cause for the front she put up too. Still, though... where was the reunion I was longing for!? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

92%
(view spoiler)[I'm a bit confused about what exactly the cost of this magic is in this realm? We were told that there are consequences, but I really didn't see anything different after Teagan first used it?
Also, is Teagan a healer or an inventor? Because at first we were told she was studying to be a healer, but later in that first hallucination I got the feeling that it was making her think she's an inventor? but then, since then, I only got the feeling that she's an inventor? What, then, is real? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate just how quickly I would get thr..."

Fourth quarter (view spoiler)[I agree, we could have done with a lot more focus on the individual trials! Just so you mentioned, in the original he didn't succeed, right? Or was that some other myth with rescuing from the underworld? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Dannii wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate ju..."

(view spoiler)[Yes, she turned out to be pretty underwhelming, and spiteful without reason, if that makes sense? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Dannii wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Dannii wrote: "I'm a little early but started this one now. I was feeling like a read I could fly through, and the short length was really appealing to me, but I didn't anticipate ju..."

(view spoiler)[Same, we were cheated on that front! I would have liked more reunion, and maybe it was just that I don't usually read anything with an already established relationship, but their fights would seem very petty, and serous at the same time, but would be resolved with just a few words with no actual conversation sometimes? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

100%
(view spoiler)[Also, I really felt like this was something like an additional prequel, or side story to an established series? The writing style was something I usually associate with supplementary novellas, along with the speed, and I have the feeling this would have been better received by me if this was like a an expansion over an already existing series, something like the two characters having reminisced this incident in one of the books, and this is the 'this is what really happened'. (hide spoiler)]