“Silver in the Bone” is the first book in a new young adult fantasy series that takes readers on an adventure inspired by Arthurian legend. The story follows Tamsin Lark, a mortal with no magical abilities, and her cursed adopted brother, Cabell. When she discovers that a long-lost relic can break her brotherâs curse, she will stop at nothing to claim it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of others who covet the artifact, among them her ârivalâ, Emrys.Let’s dive into the story. Alexandra Bracken takes a page out of Holly Blackâs book (spoiler alert: it wonât be the first time) and weaves magic into a contemporary setting. There are sorceresses and relics and thieves, called Hollowers. But don’t worry, things get more exciting when we go to Avalon. The use of Arthurian mythology and lore adds an interesting layer of intrigue to the story. Bracken’s version of Avalon is a dark and twisted place, where zombie-like creatures roam and magic is corrupted thanks to a powerful curse. Expect lots of graphic and gory scenes, which I personally don’t mind, but don’t appreciate when it’s just for shock factor. And they are. At no point I actually feared about our protagonists because they could overcome like every battle from early on. It kinda felt like the Battle of Winterfell (especially a specific scene at the end of the book).Let’s move on to the characters. Tamsin, a snarky, cynical badass that my textbook fav type of heroine, but I didnât care of her. Why? She lacked depth making it difficult to fully invest in her story. Full of pride and righteous indignation; no one else was as unfortunate in that guild of thieves. She doesnât have the One Vision, which would have allowed her to âseeâ magic, but upon embarking on the …
