Silver in the Bone (Silver in the Bone #1) by Alexandra Bracken -- Restarting January 8th 2025

[Jenn]

A series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .

[Kay-Mika]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ "[...] known as the Ring of Dispel, or the Dispelling Ring."
Thanks for telling me this. I would have otherwise assumed the Ring was called something like Agatha or Auguste or Hugo or Barnabas.
(hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[ How the F**** does she come to her conclusions? (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[ What is Emrys doing there? (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Ch 6
(view spoiler)[Oeeeeh pretty map! Alright so there are curses and her brothers can break them, but she doesn’t have magic? And her brother Cabell is a werewolf, that’s his curse? Can’t wait to find out what curses exist. So they found Arthur’s dagger - not a sword? That’s odd. And Nash betrayed them. Now she’s some sort of fortune teller, can she even truly read them? Not sure how I feel so far, the art in the Fairyloot edition makes me think of them as little children. Wait she’s working for the sorceress Morgan le Fay, isn’t she literally Morgana from Arthur’s story? I don’t really like Emrys at all, but Morgan is definitely creepy. I wonder whether that old lady was Emrys’ mother? His behavior was so random.

Cabell fully changed damn. She thinks Nash has the ring? Damn. The ring does sound cool tho, can’t wait for them to find it. The library is also pretty cool! (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Part 2 the wasteland
(view spoiler)[He thinks Nash is dead? I definitely don’t. Poor Tasmin, Cabell acted like a dick. Don’t necessarily love anyone so far. She took basilisk venom to try and get the one vision? Dude wtf. Emrys is here. I don’t get why she hates him so much tho, he’s clearly not the bad guy here. Although I want to know who got the poison for her & what the favor will be, what if they want her to give the ring.

So it actually worked? Why on earth would that even unlock it? I still don’t get how this world works at all. Emrys has some sort of plant magic, please omg for the love of everything holy, explain the world more??? What kinds are there?? And why do some have it and others don’t?

I honestly don’t care about either of her brothers, but I think I’ll like the quest of the ring. That random chick she’s sort of friends with, I don’t trust her. Neve? Damn she’s a sorceress? Knew I couldn’t trust her but still wow. I keep forgetting Nash isn’t actually her brother huh.

So they’ll go to Avalon, how? So now they’re going with Septimus and the others then? Still annoyed by her unnecessary hate of Emrys, it’s totally ungrounded and bs. The hag taking her hair was creepy as hell, so stupid! Don’t know what she can do with it because the WORLD IS STILL SO VAGUE but I’m sure there’s some spell involving her hair. I thought a LITERAL rule was that they can’t sabotage or threaten other hunters so wtf is septimus doing then? Bs.

Omg they’re in Avalon, that was creepy but I’m glad Septimus and the others are dead & we’re back to the small group. Neve’s powers seem intense, but yeah, maybe that’s just normal sorcery because we don’t know!! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 23
(view spoiler)[So those creepy things were indeed the dead. I like the idea of Avalon so far, apparently the sorceresses saved Avalon and were banished bc they used their magic for revenge instead of healing etc & the Nine still use it for healing. Odd that their main witch died just before they came, I’m guessing Neve will be her replacement or some shit? The ‘fire in the bone’ mention was also very mysterious, I wonder if it’s that hellfire thing? Tamsin definitely has that power then, it’s all been so odd.

I wonder what Emrys is hiding under his shirt, scars probably? She mentioned a scar in his face and it’s all over the art in this book so hm. Neve is a bit too much for me so far, like a child or caricature. The hand thingy reminds me of the Addams family.

Ahh so the sword is a myth to them, funny how they believe all the aspects but not that part! Ahhh yes he has scars, I’m still thinking from his father. And what was the ‘death mark’ on her chest omg?? Definitely some hidden power. Can’t wait til we get that story! Damn Bedivere could coax Cadell back, convenient. He’s definitely going to die lmao. Still don’t believe Nash is actually dead honestly, or someone killed him to get the ring? Tamsin is unnecessary brutal and insensitive tbh, it’s starting to annoy me. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Part 3
(view spoiler)[I don’t like flea at all and I’m already sick of her omg. Poor Cabell. Some sort of ice lady touched her but another force saved her? I wonder who - maybe it has something to do with her parents? Maybe the oak king of light & summer or the lord of death is her father? The silver was so odd, especially since it’s controlling those children? It’s clearly not Cait, but I wonder what the hell is going on.

Can she suddenly see the future in those visions or something? I wonder whether caitriona is into Neve, she acts so odd towards her? Poor Cadell, he’s so depressed :( the tree talking in riddles was so odd. I can’t exactly put my finger on what it is that I’m not loving, but I’m not loving it for some reason? I think it’s just too vague for me or something.

I definitely don’t think Morgan is dead, she’s definitely behind the Children. Surprised that it was indeed Cait in the chamber tho, although the bones are from ancestors so they can consult their memories. I wonder whether tamsin was seeing memories too then? I’m slowly starting to mistrust Beldivere honestly. Also, if they break all the curses, won’t Arthur wake up too then? The ritual can clearly be done by Neve then.

She’s going to find the dagger (which I immediately thought was the dagger they’d found in the human world?), I still don’t trust Beldivere. The ‘grave’ and creatures were EXACTLY like Harry Potter damn. But shit dude! She has silver bone as well, wasn’t it just the light lol. Maybe Emrys too, because he could see the silver in the cauldron too and no one else could? I do hope we’ll get some answers by the end of this. I still can’t believe librarian let her and Cadell live in the library when they were children, I love that android dude. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 44
(view spoiler)[Damn lot to unpack, the high priestess is dead & controlling those Children, and she has both the dagger AND the ring? How is that possible, how did she get the ring? And how will Tamsin kill her if she’s already dead. The sword reminded me of HP again, but the power was cool. I wonder if only she can control it or others too.

They kissed! I don’t feel too much for their relationship, but that scene did make me smile, I liked it a lot! And his scars are indeed from his father aw, he needs money for him and his mother to escape. She’s alone with his dad now tho, that doesn’t seem too smart does it. She finally told the others everything. Technically this is all Beldivere’s fault ngl, he buried the priestess’ bones instead of burning her whole. It’s cute that they all came for her, but it’s also unrealistic bc she’s very unlikeable lol. I’m also waiting for Cadell to riot, he’s drawing away from her.

Omg they just ATE ARTHUR?? Lmao WHAT?!? Definitely didn’t see that coming. I don’t believe Emrys would just leave with the ring, that’s bs. Why does she always think the worst omg. Still sucks that he left them at all tho, I don’t think willingly? The priestess said something about her seeing Tamsin’s birth, which was odd. I wonder what she was talking about. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Holy shit? Everyone got slaughtered? That actually does surprise me omg that’s brutal. Don’t think Cabell is dead at all tho, I mean a piece of his jacket & skin could’ve just come off while shifting. Hope he didn’t do this too tho. I didn’t like Flea at all, but I still felt bad and a little teary eyed for all their deaths damn. It’s cute that they’re now all friends to death or some shit, it was an odd scene tho wtf.

So the lord of death went into the body of Bedivere and he killed all the people in the tower? I’m sort of confused but damn! Wtf is cabell’s problem damn he sucks. they brought the entirety of Avalon into the modern world? Daaamn that’s trouble, bringing the Children with them omg. Nash is indeed alive, I just don’t get how at all. They’re now all in the modern world, still can’t believe Cabell just left them. I get that Tamsin and Nash made him feel as though he should change, which sucks, but still? Betraying the sister you grew up with wtf dude where’s your loyalty. And Bedivere was actually evil from the get go, I thought he was just changed after the attack, but apparently since the beginning. That sucks. Also, is Arthur just gone then? I’m so confused.

I also don’t understand, I thought there were more people living in Avalon than just the people in the tower? I also HATE that we didn’t see Emrys at the end, we don’t have a clue why he betrayed them not what happened holy shit. And what curse does Tamsin have omg?? I hate that we still have so many unanswered questions but I think it’s like 3 stars overall. (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Switching to the German edition

[Danique]

Kay-Mika wrote: "Chapter 5
"[...] known as the Ring of Dispel, or the Dispelling Ring."
Thanks for telling me this. I would have otherwise assumed the Ring was called something like Agatha or Auguste or Hugo or Ba..."

LMAOO this is such a mood AHAH

[Danique]

Kay-Mika wrote: "Chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I was honestly wondering the same thing, I can't say that I loved Tamsin too much (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Danique wrote: "Part 2 the wasteland
He thinks Nash is dead? I definitely don’t. Poor Tasmin, Cabell acted like a dick. Don’t necessarily love anyone so far. She took basilisk venom to try and get the one vision?..."

All of the characters annoy me at this point.
Can't wait too be done with that book.

[Kay-Mika]

Chapters 19
(view spoiler)[ "he'd still managed to completely mask his body beneath long breeches, a long tunic, and a scarlet velvet vest that buttoned up to his throat"
What? What does she think is the purpose of clothes if not covering ones body? (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Chapter 23
(view spoiler)[ Wait, I thought there weren't any windows in their room ? (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[ why does Emrys father want one of those hands? (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[ why is it always Gobelin? Don't they have any other kind of fabric?
Also, don't they need sleep? How long can a human being stay awake without the help of drugs? Are they on drugs? would explain some things at least. (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[ Always this emphasis on how poor she and how much is. Ugh, it's boring.
Yes, we got it. (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[ Belonged to. I think the bone donors are dead (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Done and I don't know what to think of this. I don't care for Tamsin at all, and am more interested in the side characters and what happens to them.
What has the silver bone curse to do with anything? I sort of didn't get that?
And Lord Death? The most childish name for a villain you could get up to and that he posed as Sir Bedivere (or whatever he was called), but it was actually "Lord Death" in King Arthur's body? It was supposed to be a plot twist, but it fell flat.
What also didn't sit right with me, was the sublime conflict women vs. men.
Men were always portraited as the bad ones, who cheated and lied and stole and had everything, while the women were always portraited as the good ones, who had little to nothing, but were pure of heart and caring and.... bleh.
Miss me with that world view.
And then her version of Avalon. Yes, it was an interesting idea, but she failed to push it through in my opinion.
She tried to write something dark and horror-like and mysteryous, but in the end she didn't go there. Not really. (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Danique wrote: "Part 3
I don’t like flea at all and I’m already sick of her omg. Poor Cabell. Some sort of ice lady touched her but another force saved her? I wonder who - maybe it has something to do with her par..."

And this is what I mean with, she didn't pull her idea of something dark and horror-like off.

Why not let it be something sinister? Why not letting being Cait the bad one? Why this childish explanation?

[Danique]

Kay-Mika wrote: "Danique wrote: "Part 2 the wasteland
He thinks Nash is dead? I definitely don’t. Poor Tasmin, Cabell acted like a dick. Don’t necessarily love anyone so far. She took basilisk venom to try and get..."

yeah totally get that :/

[Danique]

Kay-Mika wrote: "Chapter 25
[spoilers removed]"

lmao it would not surprise me if they were indeed on drugs

[Danique]

Kay-Mika wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I totally agree, Tamsin was quite unlikeable and the whole 'women are great' view felt bland. I'm disappointed about that ending, it just felt a bit blah. (hide spoiler)]

[Danique]

Kay-Mika wrote: "Danique wrote: "Part 3
I don’t like flea at all and I’m already sick of her omg. Poor Cabell. Some sort of ice lady touched her but another force saved her? I wonder who - maybe it has something to..."

YES Cait being evil would be way better - I just expected more than the explanation that we did get. (view spoiler)[I also didn't really get the silver in the bone curse either, I don't think it was properly explained, was it? (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting January 8th 2025. Happy Reading ☺

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[Prisha]

Starting the book :)

[Sarah A]

I will be starting it tomorrow. I am a little behind on a couple of books right now.

[Prisha]

Chapter 1-
(view spoiler)[ I'm not sure how I feel about this book, I don't understand why Cabell is still lingering over Nash, even though its been SEVEN years. On top of that, they were less than 10 when he left. Why would Cabell talk about him in anyway but a negative one? I feel like Tasmin's reaction is more believable.

I really like Neve though, I hope she comes in again later in the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Kay-Mika]

Okay
Maybe you can explain the whole (view spoiler)[ Silver in the bone curse (hide spoiler)] because I didn't quite understand it when I read it

[Sarah A]

Prisha wrote: "Chapter 1-
I'm not sure how I feel about this book, I don't understand why Cabell is still lingering over Nash, even though its been SEVEN years. On top of that, they were less than 10 when he lef..."

(view spoiler)[ I am not sure how I feel about this book. I am listening to it while I work, so I am so confused as of now. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah A]

Kay-Mika wrote: "Okay
Maybe you can explain the whole [spoilers removed] because I didn't quite understand it when I read it"

As of now, I have no idea!

[Prisha]

(view spoiler)[ Um, well, at the start in the 7 years earlier bit, Nash was their guardian who took them hunting for relics. He was kind of mean to Tasmin because she doesn't have any magic, while Cabell does (he also turns into a monster when he's scared-that's some kind of curse, idk how he got it). They found a relic and Nash abandoned them to take the money for himself, while leaving them behind. They were less than 10 years old.

7 years later, Tasmin is doing tarot cards and stuff, a girl names Neve comes in and she's really nice and stuff. And then Cabell comes in, the girl goes out. And Tasmin describes Cabell's careless attitude as Nash-like. Furthermore, Cabell starts saying "Nash said-" I don't understand why he even talks about Nash, considering he abandoned them SEVEN YEARS AGO. Tasmin said that he can't speak Nash's name and got angry.

Thats practically the prologue and Chapter 1 summarised. (hide spoiler)]

[Prisha]

(view spoiler)[ What I find really annoying is that she keeps remembering memories with Nash, which of course happens. But the fact that he left her years ago means she should have OTHER memories to think about instead, memories with herself and Cabell instead of when they had been with Nash. Because those are the only memories she mentions so far.

And I think the book is kind of boring so far... (hide spoiler)]

[Prisha]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ Tamsin says 'L'ancelot' is French for the servant. But when I searched it up on google translate, it showed that it's not really French? Do you get the same results?

Also, I have a feeling that Nash didn't mean to abandon them, maybe the sorceress he was trading with had something to do with his disappearance. Maybe, he was trading for the ring FOR Cabell. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah A]

Prisha wrote: " What I find really annoying is that she keeps remembering memories with Nash, which of course happens. But the fact that he left her years ago means she should have OTHER memories to think about i..."

I have to agree with you. I am just not feeling this book right now, I my put it on hold and see about picking it back up in a couple of days.

[Sarah A]

Prisha wrote: "Chapter 5
Tamsin says 'L'ancelot' is French for the servant. But when I searched it up on google translate, it showed that it's not really French? Do you get the same results?

Also, I have a feel..."

No I don't. I have been listening to this story at work, I may switch to the book and see if that hold my attention more.

(view spoiler)[ I do think something happened to Nash. I just don't get the vide that he would just leave them by themselves. (hide spoiler)]

[Prisha]

Sarah A wrote: "Prisha wrote: "Chapter 5
Tamsin says 'L'ancelot' is French for the servant. But when I searched it up on google translate, it showed that it's not really French? Do you get the same results?

Also..."

I hope it gets better too. There are some parts where it is interesting, the others leave me bored.

[Kay-Mika]

Prisha wrote: "Chapter 5
Tamsin says 'L'ancelot' is French for the servant. But when I searched it up on google translate, it showed that it's not really French? Do you get the same results?

Also, I have a feel..."

I didn't think about that. dialect from a very small village in the north-east of the Bretagne.
I just assumed it was some very old french dialect. Like a medieval

[Prisha]

ohhhh, that's valid assumption to make tbh. I was just absolutely clueless.

[Prisha]

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[
I'm glad Emrys helped her out, this is one of the YAY HE SAVED HER. But tbh, he kind of drove her to using the venom. If he hadn't taunted and mocked her... I know she had it with her because she was considering it but that doesn't mean that she would've definitely used it. So, according to me, Emrys barely helped and instead just made up for something he caused. AND he's asking for a favour? Get over yourself, it's not the time.

Though it was kind of stupid of Tamsin to just go along with it. "I am not liable for your death, altered mind, or any permanent loss of functions, et cetera." The venom DOES NOT look promising. Like, why would she accept those odds??? Was she really that desperate? (hide spoiler)]

[Prisha]

Hi! I'm think of just DNFing the book.

[Sarah A]

Prisha wrote: "Hi! I'm think of just DNFing the book."

Yeah I am with you. I tried picking it up before reading Onyx Storm and I just can't.