#Review - Bone Crier's Dawn by Kathryn Purdie #YA #Fantasy

Series: Bone Grace # 2
Format: Hardcover, 448 pages
Release Date: March 30, 2021
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic

Ailesse and her friends change the afterlife in the gripping conclusion to the fantasy duology that began with Bone Crier’s Moon from New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie—perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber and Roshani Chokshi.

Love is a matter of life and death.

Bone Criers have been ferrying the dead into the afterlife for centuries, a dangerous duty only possible with the powers they gain from sacrificing their amourés, the men destined to love them and die. But Bone Criers Ailesse and Sabine—along with Ailesse’s love, Bastien—are working to chart their own course and rewrite the rules of the afterlife. If they don’t break the soul bond between Ailesse and her amouré, she could die—just as Bastien’s father did.

Sabine struggles to maintain her authority as matrone of her famille—the role always destined for her sister—even as she fights to control the violent jackal power within her.

Bastien is faced with a new dilemma as the spirits of the Underworld threaten the souls of his friends—and his father.

Ailesse attempts to resist her mother’s siren song as she’s drawn into her own version of the Underworld. How will she save her friends once she’s cut off from their world?

This pulse-pounding follow-up to Bone Crier’s Moon is a story of love, sisterhood, and determination as three friends find the courage and power to shatter the boundary between the living and the dead.

 

Bone Crier's Dawn is the second installment in author Kathryn Purdie's Bone Grace duology. The story begins where Boon Crier's Bone finished. Sabine and Bastien are working to free Ailesse from Prince Casimir, while the dead wreak havoc on the living. The story has three distinct narrators: Ailesse, Bastien, and Sabine who offer different insights into their world and leave something for every reader to love, whether they’re shy, cunning, or brash. Even though Prince Casimir isn't considered to be a main character, you would be remiss in ignoring his role in this story which is why I love the three POV's. 

Also, while this story does have three POVs, the driving conflict isn’t a love triangle, which will be a breath of fresh air for readers tired of the trope. Bone Criers have been ferrying the dead into the afterlife for centuries, a dangerous duty only possible with the powers they gain from sacrificing their amourés, the men destined to love them and die. But Ailesse and Sabine—along with Bastien—are working to chart their own course and rewrite the rules of the afterlife. If they don’t break the soul bond between Ailesse and her amouré, she could die—just as Bastien’s father did. 

Ailesse is soul bound to Casimir who got caught up in something he had no control over. Now he's trying to make the best of a bad situation. I think most audiences love a doomed romance, and there’s nothing more dramatic than soulmates destined to kill each other—with the added backdrop of a lush French gothic setting. In this story, however, Bastien is a disappointment with his constant pining for Ailesse. Everything about his character from the previous book disappeared, except for his adoration of Ailesse. That's the problem with their romance. 

When you have an enemies to lovers, at least keep SOME enemies in there. As with the first book, Bastien's best friends, Jules and Marcel, once again provide depth to the series. Especially Jules. Ailesse and Sabine were set at odds when Sabine was named matrone by their mother; the very title Ailesse was working so hard for in the first book. Even though they are at odds, they are still sisters, and sisters don't normally leave their loved ones behind when they both were given a shock of their lives with the revelation provided that they are both blood.  

Ailesse faces many interpersonal trials throughout this book, and it's interesting if not a little difficult to watch her grow through them. But it's Sabine who ends up with the short stick for most of the story. At 16, she's been thrust into a leadership position which she never wanted and also learned who her real parents are. It was always supposed to be Ailesse who was matrone but shenanigans ensued. Sabine's trials are mostly internal, but she has people who don't trust her in her own famille. She has much thrust on her that she was unprepared for, including find a way to defeat a God. 

As she struggles with insecurities and self doubt, she also struggles to maintain her title as matrone. At a time when she should be finding her way and discovering who she is, she's forced into fighting evil incarnate. There's the obvious sister development between Ailesse and Sabine, but there's also a moment where all the Bone Criers have to come together in sisterhood to save the day.

I found it interesting at how the story ends. No, I will not spoil it. I will say that everything you thought might happened, was thrown out the door and rewritten. One could legitimately call this Jules redemption after her antics of the first installment. She also does something remarkably brave and heroic which ends up turning the tides for our heroines. It is fair to say the reasoning for my rating is the slowness of this story. Nothing really happens until almost 50% of the book has been read. The final chapters were the best, Ailesse's chapters were the best, Bastien's were the worse, and Sabine picks up the pieces with her character growth towards the end of this story.

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