Book Review: The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart

Today marks the release of the sequel to The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart: The Bone Shard Emperor. The Bone Shard Emperor picks up right where the first book left off, following the adventures of Lin, Jovis, Phalue, Ranami, and Sand across the drifting islands of the Phoenix Empire. Bone shard magic, monstrous constructs, adorable animal companions and mysteries aplenty await.

But how does The Bone Shard Emperor stack up to the first book? Does it answer any of the myriad mysteries set forth by its predecessor? Most importantly, does Mephi get the page time we all know he deserves? (We’ll answer that last one right away: yes, yes he does.)

We’ll touch on all this and more below, but first, a SPOILER warning. I’ll be doing my best to keep this review as close to spoiler-free as possible, but due to the massive number of reveals and shifts that happened in the first novel of The Drowning Empire it’ll be impossible to discuss it without touching on some of those. So if you haven’t read The Bone Shard Daughter yet, come back here after you do. The twists in this series are so good that you really don’t want them spoiled for you.

But if you’ve already unlocked those secrets, already know some of the skeletons the Sukai Dynasty has in its closet, well…let’s get to the review!

The Bone Shard Emperor begins with our main character Lin adjusting to her new role as the Emperor of the Sukai Dynasty after overthrowing her father in a bloody coup. With all the power and responsibility that the post has thrust upon her, Lin is forced to ask herself not only how to save the Empire, but if it’s even worth saving. The first novel delved into the conflicted view the Empire’s citizens have of their ruler, who uses constructs powered by bone shards chiseled from the skulls of its living citizens in a militarily enforced ceremony. The draconian process was put in place so that the Sukai line of rulers — through their army of constructs, sewn together from the bodies of different animals — could protect the drifting island chain of the Phoenix Empire from an ancient threat called the Alanga, beings that supposedly possess such powerful magic that they can destroy villages single-handedly, and cared so little that they sometimes did so by accident.

I say “supposedly” because not much is actually remembered about the Alanga. They’ve been gone a long time, and the Sukai Dynasty isn’t exactly known for its forthrightness. The mystery of the Alanga is something The Bone Shard Emperor delves into quite a bit, and it’s a highlight. All I’ll say is it that Stewart handles the Alanga mystery in a very satisfactory way, giving readers a lot of information while simultaneously setting the scene for an explosive conclusion in the forthcoming final book of the trilogy: The Bone Shard War, due out in 2022.

In terms of plot and pacing, we have to circle back around to the fact that Lin is now Emperor, because her political maneuverings take up a pretty large portion of the book. If there’s one criticism I would level at The Bone Shard Emperor, it’s that things do get a tiny bit slow as Lin travels throughout the realm attempting to convince her reluctant vassals to remain true to the Empire. Huge emphasis on the tiny bit though, because Stewart does an excellent job of threading lots of mysteries and reveals into Lin’s quest. Despite her aim of turning over a new leaf for the Empire, Lin has quite a few secrets herself — and so does her Captain of the Imperial Guard, Jovis.

Jovis, our Han Solo-type scoundrel and former smuggler-turned-folk-hero, is torn between his new duties to Lin and a deal he made with the rebel group the Shardless Few, who want to see the Empire dissolved. While Jovis spent much of the first book on his own adventure across the far flung isles, in The Bone Shard Emperor his storyline plays out largely alongside Lin’s. The interplay between the two characters is one of the delights of the novel, and the way it’s reflected in their growing animal companions, Mephi and Thrana, is ridiculously enjoyable. It should basically go without saying that any time one of the otter-like animals is on the page, they completely steal the scene.

I’d take things a step further, however, and say that one thing that really sets The Bone Shard Emperor apart from its predecessor is the degree to which the plotlines are interwoven. Lin and Jovis spend much of the story working together, as do two of the other point-of-view characters, Phalue and her wife Ranami. It made the book feel like it didn’t hold back any punches, and like it always had an even bigger punch to deliver next.

One thing I did miss was the pervading horror elements from The Bone Shard Daughter. They’re still around, but since Lin is no longer trapped in her father’s palace full of constructs, things feel less claustrophobic. The body horror elements really shine when they do show up though, especially through the final point-of-view character, Sand. The stretches with Sand and her army of constructs are powerful yet traumatizing, riveting to read and hard to endure. Despite the things Sand does, you can’t help but sympathize with her situation as she marches doggedly toward her goal.

Which brings us to the climax of this book. They say that an ending can either ruin a story or elevate it, and I’m happy to report that the ending of The Bone Shard Emperor thoroughly elevates everything that came before. The final quarter of the story is an extended action set piece that is on par with anything I’ve read in the genre. If you enjoy stories where converging plot threads and emotional payoffs pummel you one after the other all the way to the finish, then you have happy reading ahead of you. Add on to that the deeper exploration of bone shard magic and the Alanga, solidly written action scenes, great dialogue and a satisfying plot, and The Bone Shard Emperor launches the series forward like a ship powered by witstone.

The Bone Shard Emperor is out today from Orbit Books. Be sure to check out our interview with the author as well!

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