The Bone Maker Audiobook Summary
“Durst consistently defies expectations.”–Publishers Weekly (starred review)
From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, a standalone epic fantasy set in a brand-new world of towering mountains and sparkling cities, in which a band of aging warriors have a second chance to defeat dark magic and avenge a haunting loss.
Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor–a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones. But victory came at a tragic price. Only four of the heroes survived.
Since then, Kreya, the group’s leader, has exiled herself to a remote tower and devoted herself to one purpose: resurrecting her dead husband. But such a task requires both a cache of human bones and a sacrifice–for each day he lives, she will live one less.
She’d rather live one year with her husband than a hundred without him, but using human bones for magic is illegal in Vos. The dead are burned–as are any bone workers who violate the law. Yet Kreya knows where she can find the bones she needs: the battlefield where her husband and countless others lost their lives.
But defying the laws of the land exposes a terrible possibility. Maybe the dead don’t rest in peace after all.
Five warriors–one broken, one gone soft, one pursuing a simple life, one stuck in the past, and one who should dead. Their story should have been finished. But evil doesn’t stop just because someone once said, “the end.”
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The Bone Maker Audiobook Narrator
Soneela Nankani is the narrator of The Bone Maker audiobook that was written by Sarah Beth Durst
Sarah Beth Durst is the award-winning author of over twenty fantasy books for adults, teens, and kids, including The Queens of Renthia series, Drink Slay Love, and The Stone Girl’s Story. She won an ALA Alex Award and a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and has been a finalist for SFWA’s Andre Norton Award three times. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. For more information, visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.
About the Author(s) of The Bone Maker
Sarah Beth Durst is the author of The Bone Maker
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The Bone Maker Full Details
Narrator | Soneela Nankani |
Length | 16 hours 35 minutes |
Author | Sarah Beth Durst |
Category | |
Publisher | HarperAudio |
Release date | March 09, 2021 |
ISBN | 9780063069756 |
Subjects
The publisher of the The Bone Maker is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Coming of Age, Fiction
Additional info
The publisher of the The Bone Maker is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780063069756.
Global Availability
This book is only available in the United States.
Goodreads Reviews
Emily May
November 12, 2021
"Do you trust me?""I know you want me to say 'with my life,' but in the interest of complete honesty, I'm going to have to go with 'sometimes.'" As with every other book I've read by Durst, I had such a fun time reading The Bone Maker. I'm going to say right here that I don't feel this book is quite as dark in tone as the cover might have you think. Some of the themes it touches upon are dark - death, war, PTSD, etc. - but the tone was reminiscent of late 2000s urban fantasy. It's a fast-paced, highly-readable story with memorable characters, and the banter between them was one of the main highlights of the novel.I found this similar in concept to Roth's Chosen Ones, but I enjoyed this one much more. Years after a band of heroes defeated the bad guy, they are now older and jaded, living with PTSD, still nursing dead-ish loved ones, or else seeking out a simpler happy life. This is about the "after", when the young heroes who saved the world have grown up and need to live with the trauma of everything they've been through. And also what happens when it looks like old foes might be stirring once again.As the blurb says: "Their story should have been finished. But evil doesn’t stop just because someone once said, 'the end.'"That's not all though. I have loved every place Durst's imagination has taken me so far, and this one was no exception. This world, with its bone magic, bone makers, and bone readers, many of whom stoop to stealing from corpses to perform the magic they need, is absolutely enthralling. And I found the magic system here really creative.But, more than anything, I fell for the characters. The dynamic between Kreya and Zera-- two old friends who have grown apart --is just hilarious. Then we have Marso, Stran and Jennt, each of whom have gone down different paths since they won the war, some weirder than others, but each one carved themselves a place in my heart.Six out of six for Ms Durst. I'm wondering if I should check out some of her earlier stuff...
Jackie ϟ Bookseller
March 09, 2021
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.5/5 stars: ★★★★★"Maybe there were no perfect choices for anyone to make, hero or villain. Maybe there was only doing the best you could with the time you had."Expected publication date: March 9, 2021With elements of The Final Empire and Gideon the Ninth, a splash of V.E. Schwab, but with its own identity entirely, The Bone Maker held me entranced from unlikely beginning to poetic end. Bone-based magic, immortality, friendship, romance, wit, morality, and plan after clever plan kept me unable to put this one down, and if any of the aforementioned things appeal to you, then I have a feeling that you too will enjoy this unique tale.Twenty-five years after they defeated an evil tyrant and became legendary heroes, five aging warriors come together once again to fight for the country of Vos. This time, however, the stakes are higher, the magic darker and more costly, and the trauma of their past deeds heavy on their shoulders. Will these five bone-magicians overcome their own struggles and defeat the evil force they failed to expunge the first time, or will they die trying?Kreya, a bone maker who uses animal bones to animate the inanimate and the primary character leading readers through this story, has her own trials to contend with. She feels guilt over separating herself from her group of warriors after their initial battle, grief over the loss of her husband in that battle, and shame for what she does in order to get her husband and teammate, Jennt, back. I won't go into too much more detail on that latter point as it would be a slight spoiler, but let's just say that Kreya's internal monologue, in which she questions what separates her from her greatest enemy, the evil Eklor, is fascinating and one of my favorite parts of this book: what separates heroes from villains?We also get to know Zera, a bone wizard who creates talismans out of animal bones that imbue their users with powers like strength, speed, and stealth, Marso, a bone reader who uses animal bones to glimpse the past, present, and future, and Stran, the "muscle" of the group who uses many of Zera's talismans to assist in battle and defense.Following these heroes through their clever plans, witty banter, and heartbreaking failures, through lessons on time and love, and the costs of both, was one of the most satisfying reading experiences I have had in a long time. This is already my favorite book of 2021. "Some of us are better at hiding it than others, but we are all broken. You can't live without breaking a few times. But that doesn't mean that's a bad thing. It just means you've lived in the world. What matters is you keep living in it, despite your broken bits- or even because of them.
Jessi
February 08, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for the ARCI absolutely loved this book! It is the story of what happens after the heroes save the world. We follow our heroes 25 years after their heroic act that saved the world and ended a brutal war. I love following older protagonists, and I especially love how morally grey every character is! We really get to see how far is too far to save someone you love. What are lines that you won't cross, and what lines will you?I also really loved the fact that I ended up empathizing with the villain in this story! to me, that makes a GREAT villain. We get to see an exploration of grief and trauma and PTSD. We see the heroes so many years later, and it isn't hard to imagine they could be any of the heroes from any of our favorite stories. This was a fantastic standalone, it wrapped up beautifully and the ending was beautiful and perfect! Now though, I want the prequel. I want their young story and I want to see how we got here!
Jane
March 21, 2021
4 starsYou can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.Durst has done it again -written a fantastic, can't-put-down, stand alone fantasy book. I love her writing, I love her characters and I love her original story-telling. I get excited every time she releases a new book - and this one does not disappoint.The story is set in the kingdom of Vos. The kingdom has bone makers who can animate bones to create objects that can do a variety of things, like clean, send messages, etc. They also create charms that give people a limited amount of "super-powers", like strength, speed, stealth, etc. These creations are made from animal bones - the use of human bones is illegal. Twenty-five years ago, five heroes risked their lives to defeat the bone maker Eklor—a corrupt magician who created an inhuman army using animal bones. They defeated him - and supposedly killed him - but one of the heroes was killed, Kreya's husband. Since their defeat of Eklor, Kreya has hibernated away from everyone, scavenging human bones from dead people and illegally using them to bring her husband back to life. But it comes at a cost. For every day her husband lives, she will live one day less. Desperate to bring her husband back for more than a few hours at a time, she devises a plan to cross the wall to the forbidden land on which the battlefield of the war with Eklor lays to gather human bones left on the field.She travels to the capital city to gain the assistance of one of her fellow heroes, a gifted bone maker who creates some of the best charms in the kingdom. Considering she hadn't seen any of her fellow heroes since the battle, she is not exactly welcome. Nevertheless, the teammate accompanies Kreya to the battlefield to gather the bones, and they run into some of Eklor's inhuman army. Could he still be alive? Vowing to make certain Eklor is dead, Kreya gathers the rest of the heroes together to scout the battlefield. But are they still the heroes from the past, and are they ready to sacrifice their lives again for the kingdom?The author does a great job of portraying Kreya's grief over losing her husband, and her grit and determination to bring him back to life. She is laser focused on that, and once she brings him back, is single-minded in her quest to destroy Eklor if he still lives - at times to the detriment of others in her team. The other members of the team aren't as fleshed out as Kreya, but it's ok, they lend a lot to the plot as minor characters and round out the story well. This book is fast paced and full of action. It's 496 pages, but is still a quick read because you won't want to put it down. I recommend you read this fantastic book.I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.
Sara Oliveira
August 03, 2021
4 ⭐️TW/CW: death, blood, bones, dead bodies, PTSD, death of a child, loss of a loves one, self-harm, violenceI did really enjoy that this was a stand-alone and we got the whole story and a decent amount of backstory to bring it all together, I did think certain parts were rushed but overall had a good time reading and really enjoyed several of the characters. Note: just finished reading the Bone Shard Daughter and if you enjoyed the "magic" system there and some of the same base ideas I think you will definitely like this stand-alone with bone magic as well! Part of my: #NamesakeChallenge where I read books by authors with the same first name as me!
Amanda
June 20, 2021
You can also read my review here:https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....Review: 5 StarsReview: 5 StarsWhile part of me was drawn to this book because it looked rather dark, the reason I requested a review copy is because it’s by Sarah Beth Durst. I absolutely loved Race the Sands and when I saw that this book was by Sarah Beth Durst I decided to give it a shot. I didn’t really have any expectations for this book, I just thought that I would give it a shot and see if it was any good. I struggle with slow beginnings, so when this book had me crying by the end of the second chapter, I knew that I was hooked. The Bone Maker absolutely blew me away and is my favorite book that I’ve read so far this year.The characters were done so incredibly well. I loved them all fiercely and was emotionally invested in each of their lives. This book is the best example of a found family that I’ve ever read. These characters would die for one another, but they’d prefer to fight to keep each other alive. Each character is fully fleshed out and filled with personality. Kreya was the main character and I loved her fierce determination, but Zera was my favorite. Zera was theatrical and a bit full of herself, but she was also bold and a source of comic relief. Her character arc was fantastic, I loved watching her change from being narcissistic and petty to becoming someone who put others first. The plot was filled with so much action and adventure that I had such a hard time setting it down, not that I wanted to. It was an emotional ride that had me on the edge of my seat a lot of the time. The first half of the book was filled with a lot of action and the second half was more political. I loved the characters so much and found myself rooting for them and at many times I was anxious with worry for them. It was really an emotional book that I think anyone who has lost a loved one will find impactful. The story made you want to cherish your loved ones and live life to the fullest. I cried, I laughed and I was tense with worry when reading The Bone Maker. It really was an incredible ride.The world building was so fascinating. The magic system was so cool and unique, which by itself would have me raving about this book. Immediately I was reminded of another recent favorite, The Bone Shard Daughter, because in both books bone shards are used to create constructs, but that is where the similarities between the two books end. There are also bone readers who can read the past, present and future in the bones and bone wizards who create talismans for strength, speed and other things. The world revolves around bone magic and there are plenty of politics and history given as well. The world is incredibly vivid and magical, but it is also filled with horrors.The Bone Maker blew me away. Prior to reading this I had read two of Sarah Beth Durst’s books, Race the Sands, which I absolutely loved and Fire and Heist, which I thought was pretty mediocre. After reading The Bone Maker I need to check out her other books because now I’ve read 2 books by her, both of which I went into with no expectations and they both absolutely blew me away. This book was powerful, it was emotional, but it was also fast paced and fun to read. I highly recommend this incredible stand-alone fantasy to those who love found family stories, action packed fantasy and unique magic systems.
Kat
March 09, 2021
The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst is a fantasy novel.First, let me thank Edelweiss, the publisher Harper Voyager, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)All she wants is her husband back. She lost him 25 years ago, when she and four others risked their lives to defeat the corrupt magician Eklor. Her husband did not survive the battle.Since then, Kreya has lead a solitary life in a remote tower, trying to resurrect her dead husband using human bones and a sacrifice of her blood. For every day she resurrects him, her own life loses a day. That is no concern, but finding the bones has become an issue, and even though she uses the bones from the already dead, what she does is unlawful.She has no choice left. She approaches Zera, once her best friend, and one of the five heroes who battled Eklor. Only Zera's skill at creating talismans can protect her while she searches for bones to resurrect her dead husband. But the reunion was not as she had hoped, and although Zera eventually agrees to Kreya's rather outrageous idea, nothing goes according to plan. It forces the original 5 hero's to re-unite to once again save the day.And so they come together 25 years after the first battle. Kreya, the leader, the one who can make the bones into mechanical "constructs" to perform almost any task. Zera, who can make talisman's out of bones to empower them. Jentt, who could manipulate talismans and perform amazing feats. Marso, who could read the future in the bones. Stran, whose warrior strength is enhanced even more by the talismans that Zera creates. All of them have changed since that first battle, but their enemy remains the same. But this time, the five alone will not be enough.My Opinions: Well, this novel surprised me, as did the author. The author created a new world of magical creations that had me begging for more.I loved the banter between Kreya and Zera. It felt like a true friendship. The characters were amazing, and they all sucked me in to caring about them. Both their strength and weaknesses made them "real". Strangely enough, even the "constructs" earned my admiration and devotion. Those little rag doll constructs had me on edge every time they were asked to do something. I feared for their lives! And that little bird.....The plot was fast-paced, wildly entertaining, and it was very well-written. There were no major surprises, but none were needed. The story just carried the reader through. It is a long book, but it didn't drag.It was a story of friendship, of love, of redemption, of second chances. It is also a story of overcoming fears, of ethics, of sacrifice, and of acceptance.I liked the ending. It wasn't a true happily ever after, but it was right...and it left me wanting more.For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information, the reason I chose to read/review this book, and a few favorite quotations from it), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Bri
April 29, 2022
This book really blew me away. I’m not usually a fan of the fantasy genre but I read this as part of a book club pick and wow I’m so glad I did! I found the book to be extremely engaging and enthralling throughout. Between the storyline and the parts of action I was captivated throughout the book, which is saying a lot considering it is a rather long read. I loved the characters, the plot and how the story infused the elements of fantasy while still making it palatable and enjoyable for those that don’t usually enjoy the fantasy genre. Really have to give thanks to my book club’s avid fantasy reader for suggesting this wonderful read!
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