About the Book
-
Author:
- Sara Wolf
- Genre:
- Fantasy
- Voices:
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Old Fashioned
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Expansion Pack
Bonus Factors: Reality Check, Cursing
Anti-Bonus Factor: We Can’t Have Nice Things
Relationship Status: Here’s Your Key
Red alert! Find Me Their Bones is the second book in the Bring Me Their Hearts series. If you haven’t read the first book in the series (Bring Me Their Hearts), man your battle stations turn away now, as there might be spoilers in this review. If you’re caught up, however, feel free to continue below.
Cover Story: Old Fashioned
There’s something very old-school fantasy about this cover. It evokes feelings of nostalgia in me, even though it’s a brand new book. It’s like a fantasy version of a Nancy Drew book cover! It’s also somewhat ominous—does the woman know that there’s a beast lurking behind her? Is she prepared to find out?
The Deal:
To protect the prince she first set out to betray, Zera revealed her true nature: she’s a Heartless, the pawn of a witch with a monstrous nature lurking just underneath the surface. She knew revealing herself would most likely cause her to lose the people she’d quickly become close with, but she never imagined that she’d find herself with a new master and a new purpose because of it.
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Zera’s a spitfire. She frequently speaks out of turn without thinking about the consequences, and she’s not afraid to be who she is—even when dwelling maybe a little too much on the whole Heartless thing. I can’t begin to understand her plight, and although I had a few Murtaugh MomentsTM where I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her dramatics, she’s still a badass with a killer sense of snark, and someone I’d like to be friends with, regardless of her plight.
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Crown Prince Lucien’s a little wary of Zera after learning what she truly is, but the fact that she lied to him about a whole lot of things for the two weeks they were spending time together makes him even more cautious around her for much of the book. Obviously, these two kids are crazy about each other, but it’s going to take some time for them to figure things out. Still, even when they’re “enemies,” the chemistry is pretty dang hot.
Talky Talk: Expansion Pack
In my review of Bring Me Their Hearts, I talked about how much I appreciated/enjoyed how Wolf took a familiar fantasy story and made it better. She kept it up in Find Me Their Bones. And although I have a few complaints about some Bridge Book-y elements of the novel (See: Anti-Bonus Factor, below), I continue to find this series to be a fresh take on the standard fare.
Wolf also dives deeper into the world-building in Find Me Their Bones by expanding upon the mythology of the ‘verse and bringing a new anti-hero/maybe villain(?) into the mix. It helps this second book not feel anything like a second book, but also made me appreciate the first book more for laying the groundwork.
Bonus Factor: Reality Check
Y’all know how much instalove permeates YA books. I mean, I get it—no one really wants to read hundreds and hundreds of pages on the slow process of falling in love. But Wolf points out more than once how Zera and Lucien have only known each other for two weeks, so Zera feeling the way she does is a little ridiculous. (Even though it makes perfect sense, given our experience with these books.) It’s just another delightfully subversive element Wolf utilizes to make this series feel like something new.
Bonus Factor: Cursing
The swears in the Bring Me Their Hearts series are hilarious. From “what in Kavar’s left butt cheek” to “what in Kavar’s bloody eye socket,” the New God of this universe lends himself to some pretty colorful language.
Anti-Bonus Factor: We Can’t Have Anything Nice
Something I could have used a little less of, and unfortunately was the most Bridge Book-y part of Find Me Your Bones, was the division between Zera and her former friends, especially Zera’s near-constant self-sabotage. We get it, girl! You’re a monster and no one can love you! So therefore you definitely need to do everything in your power to drive them away, in the name of making their lives better. This sort of thing always works out for the best in the end.
Relationship Status: Here’s Your Key
Things are moving pretty fast between us, Book, but I’m feeling really good about where this is heading. I kind of want to spend all of my time with you, and I hope you feel the same!
Literary Matchmaking
Zera’s adventures continue to remind me (in a good way) of Aelin’s. Also: Witches.
They’re in a different genre, but The Lady Janies’ books are another great example of how to shake up the norm.
Katy Rose Pool’s series is another in the fantasy genre that feels both familiar and fresh.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Entangled Teen, but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. Find Me Their Bones is available now.
