Review + #Giveaway: Stones and Finger Bones by Jessica Minyard

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Aurelia Barone, Jewel of Starry Stone, harbors no illusions about the purpose of her life as heir to the throne. But after two failed betrothals, she starts to feel like nothing more than a pawn being moved aimlessly about a game board.
Until the night she loses everything.

Kidnapped by a wise-cracking mercenary with more than one identity, Aurelia embarks on a mission across land and sea to avenge her father’s death.

But an evil is rising from the ashes of memory. Insidious magic is stirring. The dregs of a once-powerful nation are thirsty for blood and revenge.

They seek to harness Aurelia. To tempt her. To manipulate her.

And if necessary, to destroy her.

While I wouldn’t call this story thrilling, it was most definitely captivating.  It had a slow build right from the beginning, winding together a perfectly crafted world. It’s so believable that it reads almost like historical fiction, in a world build around magic. Minyard’s writing style was perfectly suited to this genre, and she painted the most beautiful scenes! It was so easy for me to imagine the forest, ocean or desert, the castles and the villages. And of course, Aurelia and her kidnapper, Rycin, fit right in.

What I really love about a book like this is the blurred lines. Even Aurelia, who is the obvious character to root for, has a taste of darkness in her. I can easily see her being corrupted by the power that lies within her. The villains are walking an equally thin line, with questionable motives. Maybe they could have more noble intentions? The most obvious of the villains is Kostadin, a tempter of sorts, who is responsible for most of the conflict. But I get the impression that we haven’t heard his whole story yet. Even the most evil of characters is not so cut and dry.

Magic doesn’t play a very large role so far in the story. We’re still being taught the dark history of its past. Though most of the chapters are told either from Aurelia’s or her uncle’s POV, there is the occasional chapter from an ancient journal, filling in the details of how magic came to be so reviled in this world.

So, while I may not be able to say that the story made me feel anxious or excited, it has made me feel compelled to read more. I can’t stay away from this series!

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Lindsay

One woman stuck in a house full of boys, I immerse myself in books and save my sanity by reading, writing and blogging. I'll read just about anything, from any genre, and LOVE supporting Indie authors. <3

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