Mistress Of Bones by Maria Z. Medina

Blurb:

An epic, multi-POV debut fantasy perfect for fans of The Bone Shard Daughter and Six of Crows, where a necromancer trying to resurrect her sister gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead

Necromancer Azul del Arroyo only wants one thing: to steal her sister back from Death by reclaiming her sister’s bones. But the Emissary of the Lord Death will do anything to stop her, no matter how alluring he finds her . . .

As their paths collide, they’re drawn into a deadly game of pawns and power with a count who begrudgingly works for a child king, a faceless witch who transforms the bones of gods into dreams she can peddle, and a long-lost half-brother with a secret of his own―and soon realize the fate of the lands is hanging in the balance.

For long ago the gods raised the continents, binding them with their own bones to keep humanity alive. But in an era when the gods’ sacrifice has been forgotten, Death might not be the only resentful god Azul must defy.

Swashbuckling, grand, and tragically romantic, Mistress of Bones is a can't-miss start to a duology about love, loss, and, of course, death.

Review:

"What better place for one who deals with death than among the remains of the dead?"

- Maria Z. Medina, Mistress of Bones

In Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina, necromancer Azul de Arroyo has no idea what she’s capable of—save reviving her older sister and keeping her alive. Determined to keep her sister, Isadora, safe at any cost, her plans for a peaceful life with her elder sibling are foiled when she demands they travel to a different land, as they’ve always dreamed of. But when her sister sets foot in the land of Death, her sister’s body—which had been resurrected years prior—crumbled to its prior state of decay. Desperate to save her and escape the questioning of the Emissary of Death called upon to investigate her sister’s unordinary demise, Azul makes a deal with a guard in order to flee the emissary’s attentions and recover her sister’s bones from her homeland in order to revive her again. The cost? Raising a stranger on behalf of the very woman who will help her escape.

I originally was a bit hesitant to dive into Mistress of Bones because I’d heard mixed views on it from a variety of my prolific reader friends. While the beginning does take some getting used to in terms of the terms and monikers used, I am so glad I stuck through the initial few chapters and read the full novel!

Mistress Of Bones is one of the first necromancy-based fantasy novels I’ve read in the wave I’ve noticed is rising for necromancy-based fantasy books, and it was a compelling and evocative ride. I absolutely loved the strength of the various main characters, especially Azul, who showcased their prowess and expertise in ways I don’t often see in main characters in fiction. Rather than having all the main characters be excellent fighters or cunning masterminds, they were written to be strong in other ways: through their desperation, through their quick-thinking, through their motivations. Medina truly has an expert touch in writing characters who are intriguing to read without drawing on stereotypes so prevalent in today’s works of fiction.

My favorite part of this novel was most definitely the magic system. Medina brings a unique flavor to the idea of necromantic magic, and how it can be used to cure—or destroy. I absolutely adored learning how the magic worked for Azul, as well as how it affected other characters. It was so, so masterfully done.

Another aspect of this story that I fell in love with was the composition of the chapters. I’ve never read a story with so many flashbacks—nor so many flashbacks written and composed in such a tasteful, tactful way. Every chapter begins with a flashback of some sort, giving insights into the characters and their motives, and how their pasts inform the present narrative.

Any reader could tell how masterfully Medina writes characterization, as even when the POV switched between chapters, it was easy to tell who was being narrated at any given time. While some of the monikers and titles for the characters were a bit difficult to hook onto at first, they were interesting ways to learn about the culture of the author behind the novel.

Medina’s Mistress of Bones was an absolutely compelling read, perfect for avid readers looking for a fresh take on the dark side of fantasy and fiction. Definitely give it a read if you’re looking for a new series to get hooked on!