Andrea Stewart

The Drowning Empire #2

Bone Shard Emperor

In this action-packed magical fantasy epic, a heroine at the head of a powerful empire confronts a raging battle as she’s forced to do whatever it takes to restore peace. The Emperor is Dead. Long live the Emperor. Lin Sukai finally sits on the throne she won at so much cost, but her struggles are only just beginning. Her people don’t trust her. Her political alliances are weak. And in the north-east of the Empire, a rebel army of constructs is gathering, its leader determined to take the throne by force. Yet an even greater threat is on the horizon, for the Alanga–the powerful magicians of legend–have returned to the Empire. They claim they come in peace, and Lin will need their help in order to defeat the rebels and restore peace. But can she trust them?

The Bone Shard Emperor

Minnie Mazuera

 I could nearly feel the smugness vibrating of the beast. Like most adolescents, he very much enjoyed being right about things. Obviously I just didn't know better. Not until he came along to correct me.

The Bone Shard Daughter was hailed as "one of the best debut fantasy novels of the year," (BuzzFeed News), an "amazing start to a new trilogy," (Culturess), and a "richly told, emotional, action-laced debut," (Library Journal, starred). Now, Andrea Stewart returns with The Bone Shard Emperor, the second installment of this unmissable, action-packed, magic-laced fantasy epic. The Emperor is Dead. Long live the Emperor. Lin Sukai finally sits on the throne she won at so much cost, but her struggles are only just beginning. Her people don't trust her. Her political alliances are weak. And in the north-east of the Empire, a rebel army of constructs is gathering, its leader determined to take the throne by force. Yet an even greater threat is on the horizon, for the Alanga - the powerful magicians of legend - have returned to the Empire. They claim they come in peace, and Lin will need their help in order to defeat the rebels and restore peace. But can she trust them?

I'm so fascinated by the bone shard magic in these books.  I love Lin and it's so understandable that she has trust issues.  Shiyen was something else...  And most of the people around her keep pretty big secrets!

The slow reveals on the history of the Alanga have been well placed.  I absolutely adore the ossalen.  Where do I sign up for one?

Planning to dive straight into book 3 tomorrow!

Jeanne L Collier

I'm so fascinated by the bone shard magic in these books.  I love Lin and it's so understandable that she has trust issues.  Shiyen was something else...  And most of the people around her keep pretty big secrets!

The slow reveals on the history of the Alanga have been well placed.  I absolutely adore the ossalen.  Where do I sign up for one?

Planning to dive straight into book 3 tomorrow!

ANDREA STEWART

THE BONE SHARD EMPEROR

The world building, the magic, people who don't seem like they have anything in common who end up family. This books is even more compelling than the first with the relationships, politics, and stakes all building. Mephi and Thrana (and S****) are so so charming. 

Samantha 

kelsey

I had to know my place, he’d said, otherwise others would decide my place for me.

PHEW! what an ending

Lara Engle

This could have been about 150 pages shorter. It took a really long time to get anywhere, which is not a problem the first book had. But get somewhere it did, and it set up some good stuff for the last book. For real, authors, you've got to add some more excitement to middle books in trilogies or change to duologies or something. Oh, and Jovis and Mephi are still my favorite.

Alice Hyman

This book answered so many questions I had from the first book but somehow its also left me with even more ? This book progresses so well from the first one, upping both the stakes and the world building. Even though its been ages since I read the first one ( this one has been staring at me in derision from the shelf since I preordered it before its release ) I had no trouble at all aclimatising myself to the world again. One of salt water, blood and bone magic. Where the divide between people and state grows ever wider and the walls of palaces and mansions seem ever taller. The smell of rain and mud and sweat, the sound of love and laughter and tears. This book keeps more secrets than it tells - hinting at gems glistening in the past. With plot twists to knock your socks off and on the ground politics that can make your head spin - and most importantly did I mention how adorable Mephi and Thrana are ?? Honestly just read the books for Mephi and Thrana

This kind of adult fantasy book feels like it was curated exactly for me. Incredible worldbuilding, moving interpersonal dynamics, political intrigue, little-to-no spice, and courage to confront grey areas of morality. Cannot wait for book 3!!

Liz Griffin

This kind of adult fantasy book feels like it was curated exactly for me. Incredible worldbuilding, moving interpersonal dynamics, political intrigue, little-to-no spice, and courage to confront grey areas of morality. Cannot wait for book 3!!

CW: death, gore/blood, war

Stephanie Ridiculous

This... was not good. 

Book one was an unexpected 5 star read for me but this is one of the worst follow ups I've read. 

The problems:
-Forced, angsty, unbelievable romance that dominates two/five POVs
-Constant over writing/over explaining/over dwelling on plot points instead of trusting the reader to connect the dots/remember what happened 10 pages ago (which was not a problem in book one)
-Character arcs that started in book one come to a grinding halt in book 2; very little personal growth occurs
-In an effort to keep time progressing there are some things that get glossed over/quickly summarized. In general this is fine, however there are a few things handled this way that end up being major plot points later- it feels like those are not the things to gloss over. Far less time could have been spent on the crappy romance and more attention given to the important things that come up later so that they have the emotional weight it seems Stewart wanted them to have.
-Easily 200 pages longer than it needed it be

Despite the massive tank in writing quality, there were still some good things:
-The magics continue to be interesting
-The plot overall is still interesting/intriguing
-There was one reveal here that was genuinely great, and a few other revelations that were at least interesting

Overall this was kind of a baffling read. Book one was so great, and this just wasn't. It's so bad that I am very hesitant to finish the trilogy.

Lia Yuliana

Update 16/11/2021

Find my reviews on :  An Ode to Fiction
Official Release Date : 23rd November 2021
Buy the book :
 Amazon |  Book Depository

4.5/5 ⭐️

ARC provided by the publisher Orbit Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


  
    There was always a way to fix things. There was always a way to come back.
  


An excellent follow up to a solid debut. The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart is the drip feed epic fantasy that will keep you guessing.

As I said in the previous reviews of books I’ve picked up it is #NetGalleyNovember and the #1 book that I target myself to finish is the second book of The Drowning Empire series, The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart. I read The Bone Shard Daughter around a couple of months ago and I liked it. The book is a solid debut and first book to a refreshing new series. Going into this second book I have worries because second book syndrome is one of my biggest fears and it can make or break a series for me personally. As you can see from my rating there is nothing to worry about because it slightly exceeded it’s predecessor in terms of quality. Before I dive into the review I would like to gush about the cover of this book done by Sasha Vinogradova and designed by Lauren Panepinto. This amount of detail that goes into the cover is absolutely stunning and every time I look at it I see a something new to appreciate.

The Bone Shard Emperor is the second book of The Drowning Empire series and sequel to The Bone Shard Daughter that was released back in 2020 by Andrea Stewart. It is a multi POV epic fantasy centered in the Phoenix Empire, an empire with a vast archipelago, ruled for centuries by the Sukai family. The recluse and tyrannical Emperor has closed himself of from the world letting the constructs he created run the Empire. The people fear the Emperor and is suffering under his rule. A rebellion, earthquakes, and an uprising of a construct army threatens Lin’s rule as she sits on her father’s throne. There is also the ever mysterious awakening of Alanga artifacts across the Empire. In this sequel the stakes are higher and the focus of the story is centered around Lin trying to stabilize an already crumbling empire faced with a variety of challenges. The story takes on a more political narrative filled with negotiations, alliances, and whole deal of rallying to unite the Empire clouded in doubt towards their newly crowned ruler.


  
    But this was the truth I could not escape from : if I stood against the tyranny of the Empire, then I had to stand against all tyranny.
  


The world building is much more expansive and broader compared to the first book. The already good foundation that is established in the first book is slowly built up by showing a lot of interesting lore and secrets through Lin and Jovis’s discoveries. The way Stewart revealed these bits of lore throughout the story is well intentioned and strategically clever with the timing to keep readers guessing at the edge of their seat. Before it took me a while to read through the first book because of it’s slow pacing in this sequel the pacing improved exponentially. The story is more stream lined as the story picks up it’s pace and stakes building up to a climax that got me shaking with excitement while reading. The world exploration that I was craving in The Bone Shard Daughter is answered as Lin’s travels around the Empire trying to repair the relationship with the other islands. We get to see more of the people on the other islands as they interact with the main characters. The convergence of plot connecting all the characters together is smooth and masterfully done. Stewart weaved everything together consistently throughout the story and it is satisfying to see the tapestry taking form on an epic scale, all the while still treating readers to more threads to chase.

The bone shard magic isn’t shown more in this sequel compared to the first book as the story takes on a different approach in it’s magic trajectory. Though we’ll get to see more bone shard magic in the action scenes it’s presence is lowkey. By lowkey I meant there isn’t anything new that Lin learns as she focuses her duties more as the Emperor. Have no fear because Stewart shows a new kind of magic that is previously shown can be done by Jovis in the first book. The magic is deeply connected with the lore of the world as a whole and it is also the root that started the ripples that is felt in the present. The magic is connected with Mephi, Jovis’ animal companion, that I can’t wait to know more about in the third book. To avoid spoilers I’ll stop here. Though I would like to gush about the explosive, avatar-esque, and vivid action scenes that is executed marvelously. Especially the last battle! I’d say compared to the first book The Bone Shard Emperor exceeded my expectations in terms of action.


  
    “A coward is not a man who feels fear. A coward is one who would volunteer others for the suffering he would not take on himself.”
  


In The Bone Shard Emperor we follow the same cast of characters such as : Lin, the Emperor’s daughter, that can do bone shard magic and only heir of the Phoenix Empire; Jovis, a reluctant hero and smuggler that travels with his companion Mephi, a creature that can grant him powers; Phalue, daughter and heir of the governor of the island of Nephilanu; Ranami, Phalue’s partner and rebel that is working with The Shardless Few; Sand, a mysterious woman that is determined to take back what was hers. Adding to these pre existing characters is the introduction of more characters that will play a major role in this sequel and future instalment. The characterization in The Bone Shard Emperor is consistent and believable in terms of development. Each of them have something they are working on in this sequel as Stewart layers more seeds of growth in their characterization. The way Stewart balanced between character arcs and the major plot line is neatly done. Everything is written clearly and articulate that doesn’t falter from the crisp quality of the previous book. There are many themes explored in The Bone Shard Emperor but the major them I found weaved into it’s characters is trust and all the complexities related to it such as : betrayal, loyalty, promises, etc. What’s interesting is readers can find the various manifestations of trust in each of the characters, both in main and side characters. Some characters are trying to trust again, some are trying to gain trust, some has given up on the idea of trusting someone, some are going through the fresh pains of betrayal—a breaking of trust, and many more. It is so fascinating seeing this across all Stewart’s characters that I can’t help just think in awe the grip they have on me.


  
    “I don’t care where you came from. I don’t care about your heritage. Come back to me.” I didn’t ask, but he offered it anyway.

“I promise,” He took my hand and held it over his heart. It beat, strong and steady, beneath my palm. “And I’ll never break a promise to you again.”
  


Even though it is a multi POV story, in my opinion, Lin and Jovis carried the story in this sequel. They both play a big part in progressing the plot as they spearheads the movement in uniting the empire. Lin is now the emperor and she is under a lot of pressure from all sides of the empire. The determination that we got to see in her from the first book is stronger as she makes it her mission to be better than her father. Conflicted by her own sense of identity and place in the world Lin is grappled with issues that plagues her thoughts with loneliness, distrust, and imposter syndrome. Jovis now a former smuggler is deeply involved with the on goings of the empire. He is struggling to root himself into the position that is bestowed upon him as he questions his loyalty and intentions. Jovis’ reluctant demeanor is still a big part of his character which led to him projecting his worries and insecurities to Lin. They are both tied together by strands of fate; seeing their interaction as they bounce off each other with ideas and banter is the relationship development that surprised me. Even with the difference in station they both aren’t afraid to challenge each other. Their overall character development is thanks to each other as they are each other’s catalyst.


  
    “We were your mistakes, to be crumpled and burned like so many ink blotted pages. Give me your Empire or give your deaths.”
  


Another character that stood out to me is Sand. A character that turned to a path of destruction and death as she is motivated by vengeance to reclaim what is rightfully hers. I’ll be honest in the first book Sand’s POVs isn’t as compelling as the other POVs. Piecing together Sand’s position in the grand scheme of things is slightly hard in the first book but now her characterization is much clearer with intent and motivation. Though the end goal is still up to debate to fully understand what she expects to achieve in the long term. For Phalue and Ranami they are the epitome of that IT queer couple that is just so wholesome and heartwarming. Their rocky relationship is now more harmonious, fulfilling, and so full of love. Amongst all the sad and intense conflicts there is fluff that readers can expect from Phalue and Ranami. Personally, I didn’t like Ranami but she did redeem herself in this sequel as she becomes a person of power that grows to expand her tunnel vision view of the world.


  
    I was Lin. And that would have to be enough.
  


Final thoughts, The Bone Shard Emperor is a consistently good sequel to one of best debuts in 2020 with expansive world building, noteworthy character development, gripping mystery and lore, explosive action, and incredibly well balanced pacing. I can now finally sigh in relief because Andrea Stewart has wrote a story that overcome the second book syndrome proving that The Drowning Empire series is an epic fantasy heavy hitter. This series also has grown to be one of my favorites. I highly recommend for readers who don’t know about The Drowning Empire to pick up a copy and dive right in because it is a book that is perfect for readers who are interested to get into adult fantasy. It checks all the boxes for an incredible story that is adventurous, gripping, and SO MUCH LORE! The Bone Shard Emperor accomplished to get me so hyped for the third book, The Bone Shard War, of the series that will hopefully release in 2022.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

** spoiler alert **
           Lin is struggling to prove herself as the Emperor and gain the support of Islands. She's decided to end the tithing festival and use of constructs. Islands are sinking one by one and an army of constructs, who want revenge, are attacking and taking over islands. Not to mention the threat of the Alanga returning. Jovis is caught between the shardless few, Ioph Carn and Lin unsure where his loyalties lie. 

So, it turns out that Lin and Jovis are Alanga. I love the relationship between Jovis and Mephi. They were are my favorite. The romance between Jovis and Lin was unnecessary. It was set up really weirdly and kind of randomly, especially because, the reason Jovis was drawn to her in the first place was that she literally had the eyes of his dead wife. A strong friendship would've worked just fine. Phalue and ranami adopted a child 👀

Random, but I love how Lins's title is Emperor not Empress.

Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mia Kern

I could feel the pull to be out on the open sea, away from the mess of politics, of trying to untangle the knots my father had wrought. 

4.5 stars

This sequel had so much going for it but, unfortunately, a couple things that detracted from it as well.

To get those out of the way: Nisong, as the main antagonist, was The Worst. There's complex, morally gray villains. There's villains you love to hate. I just hated her - she had no redeeming qualities, and I really just did not enjoy reading her sections. Also, the Ragan storyline was fairly predictable, and he just felt like an annoyance. I could've done without his inclusion entirely. 

HOWEVER, there's a ton that I enjoyed about this book too! 

- Mephi (and now Thrana too) continue to deliver as quirky animal companions. 

- Lin and Jovis' dynamics were SO INTERESTING. I usually hate miscommunication tropes, but both had very understandable reasons for keeping things from one another. They bickered a ton but also supported each other fiercely. I really enjoyed both of their arcs, both together and apart. 

- I freaking adore Phalue and Ranami. Seeing how their relationship (now marriage!!) has evolved from the first book was really great, as well as the love and support they have for one another. Both of their personalities really shined in this book, and I'm excited to see where they go in the final one.

- I thought the politics were really well done. Now, granted, I'm a sucker for political books that don't have to do with OUR politics, but it was really fascinating to read how Lin navigated her relationships with the governors to earn favor and move along her plans. Plus, the discussion of how damaging rhetoric coming from those in power has the power to impact how relationships are navigated and to corrupt statuses. *ahem* yeah that one hits a little close to home.

Overall, a really enjoyable read, as expected. I saw several of the plot twists coming, but others definitely threw me for a loop. Very much looking forward to the final installment.

Naty Corbett

I really enjoyed this book, and it was an especially good sequel. The author was able to write all the characters in ways where you understood their reasoning and motivations even though you might not agree with their actions. That is the mark of a good storyteller. I found myself surprised by what came next and cannot wait for the third book.

Sara Bean Duncan

The Bone Shard Daughter was one of my top 10 books of 2020 and this strong second book in The Drowning Empire Series did not disappoint

I will admit to being very emotionally invested in the health and well-being of Jovis and Lin (and Thrana & Mephi!) so watching each character struggle with their new roles and responsibilities hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved how Stewart showed the internal conflict and questioning moments they faced as they grappled with how much they were going to let their past dictate their future.

Andrea Stewart has one of my favorite fantasy world minds right now. Bone shard and Alanga magic creates unique opportunities for plot twists, betrayal, and development. I felt like I was diving into a world I had missed when I started this book and have come out of it anxiously awaiting how she weaves everything together for the final book!
 
Fours stars instead of five solely because of the inconsistent pacing. I felt like I had to struggle through the middle third to get to what was an incredible final third. While I liked getting a deeper impression and history of Lin & Jovis (and getting to know Phalue and Ranami more!), I felt like the middle third could have used some editing down. I already can't wait for the final installment! 

Thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer

Aww I love The Bone Shard Emperor!! It's a heartfelt and engaging sequel to the excellent The Bone Shard Daughter that I've read back in 2020. Not only Andrea Stewart defied the notorious sophomore slump, this equally adventure packed and emotionally charged sequel made kept me highly invested in the different perspectives of its intricate East Asian-inspired worldbuilding.

Without giving away too much about what happened in the series (for people who haven't read The Bone Shard Daughter), I think The Bone Shard Emperor is a very solid sequel by its own merits. And it digs further into Lin Sukai's sense of self and her partnerships:

+ Characterisation: I must admit that I enjoyed reading about the side characters more in this book. While I liked the characters back in The Bone Shard Daughter, I felt like the secondary characters are more distinctive voices in the sequel. Personally I'm pleasantly surprised of how much I've enjoyed reading from Jovis' POV this time around!! The way he digs deep to find the hidden secrets of the empire and I also enjoyed his partnership (which is at times intense) with Lin.

But Jovis isn't the only character who has a level up in The Bone Shard Emperor. I also found Phalue, Ranami, and Nisong's perspective intriguing that it paints a more comprehsnsive picture of the worldbuilding. As well as their perception of Lin Sukai.

+ Political intrigue: Thanks to the excellent execution of the third person POV chapters, Stewart not only established a well drawn worldbuilding but also puts some page-turning political intrigue into action. And she accomplished this by exploring the different parts of the empire in great detail!

+ Magical system: While the concept of constructs were introduced in the predecessor, it's in The Bone Shard Emperor where some of the loose ends in the magic system were straightened up. Partially I think it's due to the more plot development in the sequel, the fitting backstories the drive the plot, as well as Lin & Jovis' relationship with their respective pets Thrana and Mephis.

+ Themes: Thematically The Bone Shard Emperor touches my heart through excellent storytelling revolving themes about self-identity, partnership, the notion of power, as well as betrayal. While the story is set in a fictional secondary world, what makes it a worthwhile read is that the emotions that I've felt reading this is very relatable in real life.

And I definitely struggle to name major drawbacks / weaknesses in The Bone Shard Emperor, though here's a disclaimer this book is narrated from many different perspectives and that there are some content warnings to be aware of:

Content warnings: blood mention, death, violence, corpse, natural disasters, and injuries

To sum it up, I'm very impressed. The Bone Shard Emperor is an excellent sequel that captures both my adventurous side as well as my heart. And now I'm very eagerly waiting for its finale which will be coming in 2022:D

(4.5 stars out of 5)

Elianna Lucas

“It’s a fantasy that makes the Sukais sound more noble and intrepid than they actually are. In the end we are all animals, scraping by with what we can. None of us are noble.”
 —Andrea Stewart

Similar to the first book, I thought this one started slow, but a few chapters in and I was not ready to put it down or have the story end! Andrea Stewart has continued to weave a beautiful fantasy with political intrigue, a unique magic system and plenty of adventure. I am still incredibly impressed with this series and I will be paying close attention for information on the release of the third installment. 

One of my favorite aspects of this story is the way that the characters actually act their age. Oftentimes in fantasy stories, the characters seem to just know what to do automatically regardless of the fact that they're young and/or have never been in this type of situation before. When Lin becomes Emperor, she does not immediately know how to act, nor does she know all the right decisions to make. I appreciated watching her grow into the position and make mistakes along the way. It felt more real and authentic. 

Just like the first installment, there are multiple POVs telling the story, which I love. I appreciate the variety in perspective and the ways that multiple voices make it easier to get to know the characters. In the first book, I was curious to know how these characters would connect to one another. Bits and pieces have been revealed, but I am 

There is more background offered on the state of the empire and its relationship with different islands. Tensions are high and I felt like I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book curious as to what Lin was going to do next. With the return of the Alanga, there is more to learn about them. I’m still unsure of their motives so I will be curious to see their role in the next book.

I can’t believe I don’t hear more people talking about this book. It's truly unique and one of my favorite series of the year! If you haven’t picked up The Bone Shard Daughter, you need to. It is 100% worth it.

Bone Shard Emperor The Drowning Empire #2

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