The Road of Bones by Demi Winters

Title: The Road of Bones
Author: Demi Winters

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Ashen # 1

Publication: June 27, 2023, 561 pages

Source: Libby 

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Silla Nordvig is running for her life.

The queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous quest: travel the treacherous Road of Bones–a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer–and go to Kopa, where a shield-house awaits her.

After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. But the queen’s ruthless assassin has other plans and hunts Silla obsessively.

Will Silla make it safely to Kopa? Or will she fall prey to the perils of the Road of Bones?

MY THOUGHTS

I've seen The Road of Bones recommended time and time again. The synopsis sounded interesting, but the few Viking fantasies I've read over the years have been disappointing. They often feel as though an amateur writer is trying to convince the reader that this book is Viking-inspired when, in reality, it couldn't feel further from it. That was not the case with The Road of Bones.

I enjoyed The Road of Bones much more than I expected. It was so easy to get wrapped up in the world and characters. Winters doesn't rely on generic supernatural creatures; instead, she uses or perhaps creates her own monsters to inhabit the world. The fact that I couldn't tell which was which is a good thing because it means they felt believable within the worldbuilding. The concept of galdra/galdur (people with powers) was also cool. I thought the book was well written and easy to follow. The plot, romance, and action were all balanced nicely. I never felt the story drag, and the twists toward the end were so good that they completely caught me off guard.

Silla was an unexpected surprise. From the moment readers meet her, we see a smart young woman who is kind but neither accustomed to nor fond of the violence in her world. She's definitely not a fighter. Yet she does whatever it takes to reach her destination, even sneaking into the notorious Bloodaxe Crew's wagon, a group of ruthless, mercenary-like monster hunters. I loved watching Silla's growth throughout the book. She doesn't let the world change who she is; she remains authentically herself from beginning to end. Even when things get difficult, she doesn't shy away from them and takes responsibility for her mistakes. It was refreshing to see a different take on a strong FMC.

I loved the crew so much that, after only a few chapters, it felt like I'd known these characters my whole life. Let me just say: I knew, KNEW, Jonas was an a-hole from the moment he discovered Silla hiding in the back of the wagon. If anyone ever wonders what a narcissist looks like, Jonas is the perfect example. Despite knowing that, I was still taken aback by the turn of events toward the end of the book.

I can't wait to start the next book in the series, and I already have it ready to go. Great writing, a compelling story, and memorable characters. I'm glad I read it.