Book Review: The Crown of Bones by Rosalyn Briar

There should be NO reason why I want to personally pummel a character so badly, as I do in this book

Author: Rosalyn Briar

Website: https://www.rosalynbriar.com/

Bio:

Rosalyn Briar is a former teacher who is married to her high school sweetheart. Together, they have built a beautiful life and have two fearless daughters. Rosalyn is obsessed with gothic fairy tales, scary movies, sundresses, traveling, and reading books. She is the published author of The Crown of Bones and A Sea of Pearls & Leaves, both of which are fairy tale retellings. Rosalyn is also the host of #NovelBuilding, a daily Twitter question with monthly themes for fellow writers to connect. When Rosalyn isn’t writing or reading, you can find her playing dress-up with her two princesses or exploring the woods for wildflowers.

Released: May 5, 2020

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Fairytale Fantasy

Age: 18 and Up

Trigger Warnings: This book contains graphic violence, cursing, and sexual situations.

Purchase: Amazon

Blurb: Gisela knows about sacrifice all too well.

She abandoned her education, friends, and fairy tales to support her family and care for her sister.

But when she jilts a wealthy suitor, Gisela is chosen for another type of sacrifice.

As an Offering to the Goddess Bergot, Gisela and seven others are sent on a deadly quest for a mythical crown. To return home, Gisela must overcome obstacles that darkly resemble the fairy tales she once believed in.

Weaving through a tapestry of friendship, romance, violence, and magic—Gisela becomes the target of an ancient evil force, while an ominous detail from the past haunts her at every turn.

To what lengths will Gisela go to save the ones she loves?

Sometimes sacrifices must be made.

What I Love About It: This book has almost all the elements that an adult who loves drama and horror, would love out of fairy tales. It really brings in the original Brother Grimms stories and switches the thing around with twists and turns that are cool. This is not a Disney fairy tale! The adventure in and of itself was high stakes, and full of anxiety. If you make me go and get one of my meds, then you are doing it right!

I’m in love with the main character Gisela and Brahm. The love Brahm has for her, is so apparent within the first scene, that I am just like “Sis, you KNOW he loves you, stop with the games.” How he loves her, and how he cares for her is literally what dreams are made of. A few spicy scenes that made me do a few “Whew ChilAY!”. Come through Brahm, because he had me like

What I like about this writer is she’s not afraid to go where some won't. A diverse cast, with POC, special needs, and LGBTQ+, I mean...she has my heart! And it isn’t just the fact that those characters are in there, but it's how it's so tastefully and effortlessly done. We are a part of that world, and not made to feel as if an extra, and when it's done in that way, it's absolutely beautiful. But even so, her ability to take you into that place, and she does it without being overly wordy, and such a flow, it's pretty awesome. I read this book in 5 hours. That's how much I didn’t want to put it down.

What I Didn't: There wasn’t much that I could say that I didn’t like about the book, other than Ferdinand and Lord Albert can see my hands. All-day. I swear on everything I love, especially Ferdinand *wooosaaahhh*. I wasn’t even as mad at the main antagonists, as I was those two! That's how much the author was able to get me to despise him. I will say Gisela had me miffed for a few, which I can say I didn’t like. I felt she was in denial about a lot.

, but she was strong. Sometimes maybe even too strong for her own good. I would love to have seen a little bit more explanation with the missing sibling, and more on Gisela’s own brother. I had a little confusion on that story, but hey, maybe more will come out into the next one. Also more of a clarification on a few things, but I’m sure that in the next book it will be covered.

Briar has an amazing ability to storytelling, and how she delivered this story, along with the creativity and just how her mind works are terrific. And a little birdy told me that she is working on the next book for the series because she decided to leave a cliffhanger that almost made me personally email her 4:38 am on a Sunday with a “WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!”.

I recommend this novel to any that love fairytale retellings, with horror elements, adventure, etc., and geared toward Dark Fantasy, New Adult, or Adult Fantasy readers. Definitely looking for more from this author!

Rating: 4.6 out of 5