Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken snuck up on me. It is one of those novels I didn’t know I was enjoying until something big happened. When it did, I was SO upset, and I knew Ms. Bracken got me. I love when that happens, don’t you?
I didn’t think I was enjoying Silver in the Bone because it lags in the middle. There is a big rush to get to a specific place, which is exciting and interesting. Then, the story drags as Tamsin learns everything there is to know about this place and the people who live there. However, the last third of the book makes up for the slowness, and the ending has more than a few shocks to make you scream.
What I love about Silver in the Bone is this new world of magic. It is unlike anything I’ve read before, with its magical community, Sorceresses, fae, monsters, curses, and legends that are real. Ms. Bracken adds edges of reality to her world by using genuine locations across England and touches on legends we all know, namely King Arthur and Camelot. The lengths Tamsin goes to not just survive but thrive in this world only increases my interest.
I also love Tamsin herself. We know she is fierce because she is one of the topic relic hunters in this magical world. We also know she is capable because she survives independently, caring and providing for her brother when their foster father leaves them one night. What we don’t know but learn about her is how alone she is. We see the barriers she erects over her heart to prevent herself from feeling too much, but there is an emotional fragility to her all the same. It breaks your heart to see but invests you in her fate that much more.
Then there is Emrys. It is evident from the moment we meet him that Tamsin’s perception of him is inaccurate. There is an entire story behind his behavior and actions, more than what Tamsin assumes about his lineage. Like with Tamsin, we get glimpses of the truth, and Emrys becomes a much more interesting character as a result. Then, Ms. Bracken does something with his character that still upsets me. There better be a damn good explanation for it, Ms. Bracken!
In the end, it turns out I loved Silver in the Bone. Despite the slow pacing at times, I loved it so much that it would have been a five-star review if it weren’t for what happened with Emrys; it loses a half-star just because I’m still pissed about it. Tamsin’s world is dark and dangerous, something I always appreciate and love, and Tamsin is one hell of a scrappy fighter. The ending leaves plenty of unanswered questions and a surprising plot twist I never saw coming. I can’t wait to read what happens next!
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