THE BONE CHARMER
Author: Breeana Shields
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 400
Description:
"I was absolutely swept away by the world of The Bone Charmer." – Kendare Blake, #1 NYT Bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns
In
Saskia’s world, bones are the source of all power. They tell the
future, reveal the past, and expose secrets in the present. Each village
has a designated seer who performs readings for the townsfolk, and in
Midwood, the Bone Charmer is Saskia’s mother.
On
the day of her kenning—a special bone reading that determines the
apprenticeships of all seventeen-year-olds—Saskia’s worst fears come
true. She receives an assignment to train as a Bone Charmer, like her
mother, and even worse, a match-making reading that pairs her with
Bram—a boy who has suspicious tattoos that hint of violence.
Saskia
knows her mother saw multiple paths for her, yet chose one she knew
Saskia wouldn’t want. Their argument leads to a fracture in one of the
bones. Broken bones are always bad luck, but this particular set of
bones have been infused with extra magic, and so the break has
devastating consequences—Saskia’s future has split as well. Now she will
live her two potential paths simultaneously. Only one future can
survive. And Saskia’s life is in danger in both.
From Chapter Three:
My head swims, and I’m not sure if it’s the nauseating combination of the smoke and incense, or the loss of blood, or the prospect of these particular bones being used against me. My mother’s eyes flutter closed. She breathes deeply and the smoke seems to rush to her, as if it’s ready to do her bidding. Several minutes pass and my eyes grow heavy. My limbs go slack. I forget what I was so worried about.
But then the clatter of an iron lid lowering onto the basin pulls me from my reverie. My eyes snap open just in time to see my mother spill the blackened bones across the white carpet. As she studies them, a crease appears between her brows. Her eyes are shimmering when she lifts her head.
“You’ll be apprenticed at Ivory Hall,” she tells me, her voice flat and emotionless. “You’ll train as a Bone Charmer with the Second Sight.” She swallows and her gaze slides away from me. “Bram will be your mate.”
For a moment I’m too stunned to react. And then rage wells in my chest.
“Why would you do this?”
She doesn’t answer. I can hear my pulse roaring in my ears.
“Which one of Gran’s bones told you to ruin my life?” I ask, scooping a handful of them into my palm.
“Saskia.” Her voice is low and threatening. “Don’t.”
But what could she possibly do to me that is worse than this? I’ll be sent far from home to be trained to read bones—a fate I couldn’t be less suited for. And she’s paired me with a boy
whose tattoos have made the whole town fear him, a boy who might have been my very last choice—if choice were actually a luxury that belonged to me. I’ll not only live a miserable life, but I’ll live it alone.
“Was it this one?” I ask, holding up a slender bone. When she doesn’t answer, I throw it aside and pick up another. “Or maybe this?”
My mother’s hand shoots out, her fingers roughly brushing mine as they close around the bone. Two bright splotches stain her cheeks and she has fire in her eyes. “Give it to me.” She tugs. But I tug harder.
And the bone snaps in two.
All the blood drains from my mother’s face. She sucks in a sharp breath and snatches the other half from me.
Broken bones are bad luck.
“What have you done?” Her voice is shrill, terrified. But it should be me asking that question. She’s destroyed any chance I have of happiness. And these bones are worthless
now anyway—they can only be used once. I climb to my feet and stalk toward the door.
“The answer to your question is no,” I say. “I don’t trust you.” But she doesn’t respond. And when I cast a final glance in her direction, she’s still staring at the fractured bone, one hand
pressed against her mouth in silent horror.
Breeana
Shields is an author of fantasy novels for teens including The Bone
Charmer, Poison’s Kiss, and Poison’s Cage. She graduated from Brigham
Young University with a BA in English.
When she’s not writing, Breeana
loves reading, traveling, and playing board games with her extremely
competitive family. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband,
her three children, and two adorable, but spoiled dogs.
(3) winners will receive a signed finished copy of THE BONE CHARMER, US Only.
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Tour Schedule:
Week One:
5/21/2019- BookHounds YA- Excerpt
5/21/2019- Rhythmicbooktrovert- Review
5/22/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review
5/22/2019- Jheartlovesbooks- Review
5/23/2019- The Pages In-Between- Review
5/23/2019- Two Chicks on Books- Excerpt
5/24/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt
5/24/2019- Shelfrated- Review
Week Two:
5/27/2019- Character Madness and Musings-Spotlight
5/27/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review
5/28/2019- Some Books & Ramblings- Review
5/28/2019- Starlight-Reads- Review
5/29/2019- Eli to the nth- Review
5/29/2019- Book-Keeping- Review
5/30/2019- Jena Brown Writes- Review
5/30/2019- The Suburban Lifestyle- Review
5/31/2019- AURELIA LEO- Excerpt
5/31/2019- Confessions of a YA Reader-Excerpt
Week Three:
6/3/2019- Two Points of Interest- Review
6/3/2019- Savings in Seconds- Review
