The Road of Bones

This book was very interesting and refreshing. Lately, most romantasy books I’ve read have felt quite similar, but this one stood out a bit—even though it still shared some common tropes.

I definitely saw the protagonist’s identity coming. Unfortunately, I also knew Jonas wouldn’t remain the main love interest because of some fan art I stumbled upon (I just couldn’t avoid it!). I expected he would either die or be Tamlinized—a word I just made up to mean “turned bad”, if you know, you know 🤣—and it turned out to be the latter, which was disappointing. He is waaaaaay worse than Tamlin 😭

However, the reveal about Rey around the 90% mark genuinely surprised me, and that was exciting!

The sunshine x grumpy trope isn’t my favorite, but I’ll keep reading, since this book is anything but conclusive.

The pace was a bit too slow for me, but it was a fun read. The plot twist towards the end took me by surprise, but I wish it would've been a standalone. I'm not sure I want to read part two, if it's going to be more of the same (being on the run, confusion surrounding her power, enemies left and right).

After watching her father killed by mysterious assassins, Silla Nordvig is trying to escape her dangerous past and the unknown secrets that come with it. She sets out on a risky journey to safety along the Road of Bones. Hoping to get a ride with a tough group of Viking warriors, she stows away on their wagon and has to prove herself when discovered. Along the way, she faces tricky alliances, dark creatures, and a love that grows even when it seems impossible.

Demi Winters creates a vivid world inspired by Viking culture and Norse myths. The setting feels like Skyrim plus Dragon Age, which I love. The scenes are beautifully described, and the fights are intense, making it difficult to put down. Getting used to the complicated society and the different characters takes some time if you are unfamiliar with Norse words, but there is a handy glossary in the back.

The characters are interesting and well-developed. Silla grows throughout her journey as she learns to balance her fight for survival with her inner strength. I love that all the Bloodaxe crew members are distinct individuals and some of them have disabilities that are handled with grace, love the inclusion! Her interactions with the Bloodaxe Crew, especially her complicated relationships with Axe Eyes and Wolf, keep the story engaging and the fight scenes are well-written and fun to read.

If you enjoy dark low fantasy or dark romantasy, “The Road of Bones” is a book that fans of gritty tales like Throne of Glass and The Last Kingdom will love. It's great for readers who appreciate themes of found family, slow-building romance, and stories set in Viking-inspired worlds.

Themes/Tropes
- Found family
- Enemies becoming lovers
- Slow-building romance
- Brooding warrior character(s)
- Dangerous quest

Some content warnings: This book includes violence and gore, attempted sexual assault, emotional abuse, addiction, grief, forced drugging, captivity, and loss of family.

The Road of Bones is a unique entry in the romantasy genre that combines Vikings with an intriguing magic system, setting it apart from the usual tropes. The world-building is rich, filled with Norse-inspired elements that pull you into a dark, atmospheric setting. The story has plenty of action, and the romance aspect, while not groundbreaking, has an engaging dynamic that complements the plot well. Unfortunately, the smut is quite basic—it’s there, but it doesn’t go far enough to be memorable. Some of the plot twists feel predictable, lacking the punch that would elevate the story to the next level. However, as the book progresses, it manages to hit its stride, building up to a satisfying ending that leaves just enough mystery and intrigue to make you curious about the next installment. If you’re a fan of Viking-themed romantasy and don’t mind a few predictable moments, The Road of Bones is worth a read and sets up what could be a promising series.

Sadness is filling my veins after reading this for two reasons. I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would.

You can tell the love the author put into this book from the research to the beautiful writing and the depth of the character development. If my review was just that, five stars zero doubt.

BUT it's not. The writing was so SLOW for me. I was reading this on my kindle and ending up buying the audio book other wise. I did love our characters and that's why I stuck around.

The second thing I am very sad about. I had surgery yesterday and all I wanted to do after surgery was listen to this audiobook and play animal crossing so that is what I did! My drugged brain did not follow the plot twist at all which heavily affected my ability to love this book.

Also I knew that no good son and a bitch!! I knew it I knew it. I had bad vibes from the start.

The last quarter of this book is an absolute roller coaster, but at the midway point I wasn't sure I was going to continue this series.

Silla can be incredibly naive, and I don't always have the patience for that (especially in a book this long). Some of her internal dialogue felt too repetitive for me, but there's enough character growth by the end that I don't think that will be as much of an issue moving forward.

There are twists. One in particular felt a little clunky. I could tell where the author was trying to build it up but it felt so out of the blue that I thought the character's emotions were being manipulated through magic. The other big twist was a fun surprise I hadn't considered, and that is the one that is bringing me back. I had an idea of where the plot was going and was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.

Recommended for people who like fantasy romance, slow burn romance, found family, and a sunshine main character who is full of secrets.

The next book seems to have some tropes I enjoy so I'll continue reading, but I don't know that I'll come back and reread this one.