A review by witcheep
The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book made my heart ache so much! The characters go through a lot of suffering and hardships amidst the turmoils of the volatile Empire and its many warring factions of people. There is just enough hope to keep going (and to keep reading), but oh how the characters' suffering and impossible situations to navigate made me feel sad and just wish they could get some semblance of peace and happiness for even a moment longer.

The alliances, enemities, and friendships shift fast, making it hard for everyone to react, let alone plan their actions accordingly. Many people must adapt to use improvisation as their tactic – something my favorite character Jovis is very familiar with.

Maybe no one was a hero. Maybe I'd gotten it wrong from the beginning. Maybe there were only heroic moments and decisions and we all had to keep choosing those as best we could. When we could.
– Jovis

We learn a lot more about the worldbuilding, especially about the Alanga and their ossalen.   Most of it was hinted enough to predict, but enough was also left unsaid before the reveal to feel the satisfaction of finally getting the last shards of knowledge. Even if this book wraps up this trilogy, I hope we'll get to return to the Shifting Isles at the Endless Sea; even glimpses at the bittersweet aftermath of everything and the lives of these beloved characters would be much appreciated.
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