Blog Tour | The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart has such a fun and interesting way of immersing you into the story by introducing you to all the perspectives you really ought to consider when getting into politics. And if I’m right, this book is what it is: a very political book. While it discusses themes such as class disparity and privilege, its very interesting magic system also shows us just how power as great as that goes hand in hand in politics–and just how far it can go when your empire is crumbling amidst a growing revolution.

The Bone Shard Daughter

In an empire controlled by bone shard magic, Lin, the former heir to the emperor will fight to reclaim her magic and her place on the throne. The Bone Shard Daughter marks the debut of a major new voice in epic fantasy.

The emperor’s reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire’s many islands.

Lin is the emperor’s daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright – and save her people.

Author: Andrea Stewart
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Genres: Adult Fantasy, Adventure, LGBTQIA+

My Thoughts

Jumping right into it, my first impression of the book was that it had a slow start and way too many perspectives. Just when I was getting invested in one character, I was thrown into another one with a completely different journey. The change between perspectives didn’t have a pattern too which caught me off-guard.

However, as I continued reading, I found that there was an upside to this. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, drinking in the words before the chapter ends with a cliffhanger and moves on to the next. There was an element of surprise; an aura of mystery that I couldn’t help but get addicted to. What I had thought might be one of the book’s weaknesses was actually one of its strengths. It was really a pleasant surprise.

Everyone’s characterization and their own personal journey were also very interesting to follow. I found that the characters were so distinct from each other that whenever there was a shift in perspective, I wouldn’t have to keep guessing who I’m following next. Another thing that I really liked was that you can feel the internal and external conflicts of the characters, and that you can sympathize with them. It was all so carefully done that it allows you to develop your own opinion on their situation–especially in terms of politics.

One instance is when Phalue and Ranami often discussed the stances of either parties when it comes to class disparity and privilege.

“The premise of the Empire? The very things it was built upon? They don’t exist anymore. But still everything goes to the heart of the Empire to be picked through before the scraps are returned to us. We are tired of picking through scraps, Phalue. We want to build something new. Think of it: a stop to the Tithing Festivals. Wealth distributed more equitably. A Council made up of representatives from each of the islands. You could be a part of this if you wanted. The people would love you more than they already do.”

It didn’t move her. Ranami had tried such speeches on her, and Phalue had only repeated her father’s talking points. Everyone had a job to do in the Empire. Those that worked hard were rewarded. She gave examples of those who had lifted themselves from poverty. And yes, a few had, while the rest reached and scraped and hoped. It was like explaining the concept of a tree to a giant squid.

“You want to help the farmers? Help them meet their quotas.”

This excerpt had come from Ranami’s first chapter and already then, we can see the conflict and the themes their relationship had to deal with. But what really strikes me as interesting in this excerpt is that this is the kind of relationship the people and the government have. They are important to one another, but no matter how much the other pleads for change, it only falls on deaf ears. After all, it is easier to conform to an existing norm than have to adjust to a new one.

Another thing I had found interesting is that there’s not a lot of gritty action in this book like most SFF books usually do. However, there was definitely a lot of sneaking around that managed to keep the tension high. Will this character finally break? Will the empire catch them this time around? They keep you at the edge of your seat as you try to to find out what happens to them. It was an adventure that relied on charisma and stealth than fight scenes. It was smart and clever, and you know what? It definitely held up.

So my verdict? I would give this a 4 out 5 stars. Really, my only gripe with the book was with how it starts. It doesn’t leave the best first impression but is it worth sticking around for? I would say that it definitely is.

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Author’s Bio:

Andrea Stewart is the daughter of immigrants, and was raised in a number of places across the United States. Her parents always emphasized science and education, so she spent her childhood immersed in Star Trek and odd-smelling library books.

When her (admittedly ambitious) dreams of becoming a dragon slayer didn’t pan out, she instead turned to writing books. She now lives in sunny California, and in addition to writing, can be found herding cats, looking at birds, and falling down research rabbit holes.

Bone Shard Daughter Links:

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