Bracken takes the myth of King Arthur in Silver in the Bone, diving headfirst into the magic of Avalon and the darkness that lies there.

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Silver in the Bone follows Tamsin Lark, a Hollower, a treasure hunter for magical items. The problem is Tamsin has no magical gift herself and a cursed brother; Tamsin struggles with hope until it’s all she has.

Storytelling

I really enjoyed Silver in the Bone. This novel isn’t the fastest-paced novel. However, the story is captivating enough to hold my attention.

I loved the dynamic between Caleb and Tamsin. They aren’t blood-related, but they were rescued by the same man, raised in this world of Hollowers, trained to mind magical artifacts.

Tamsin’s snark, attitude, and devotion to her brother and the Hand of Glory, which keeps her company, make her such an interesting character. She’s gone on this quest to find answers to why her foster father abandoned them. But not only that. The rumors say he disappeared with a powerful object that could break Caleb’s curse.

Tamsin is determined. Even without the ability to see magic, she is determined to make a name for herself and save her brother. I love that about her and how she stays strong, even when it feels like her heart is breaking.

Bracken does much foundational work in the story, setting up the stage to make those plot twists jaw-dropping moments. Again, this does slow down the novel because there is so much build-up and world-building. However, the magic system and the cursed element hook in the reader.

Once we’re in Avalon, we see that this is not the paradise everyone thought it was. Again, there is a lot of world-building here, but this is where the tension begins to rise, and that’s because of the menacing atmosphere. It gives rise to the tension in the plot and turns it into a mystery laced with fantasy.

This is also where the character dynamics begin to flourish and are put to the test. Caleb’s curse begins to manifest more, but the steady pacing also connects readers to the slow-burn romance between Tamsin and Emrys.

Final Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed Silver in the Bone and found it hard to put down.