Fragments of Destiny: Reviewing Andrea Stewart's 'The Bone Shard Daughter'

Summary

Andrea Stewart’s ‘The Bone Shard Daughter’ takes place in a kingdom that is made up of several islands and the story line focuses on a few different characters on some of the islands. One of the main characters is Lin, the emperor’s daughter who is competing with her brother to take the throne, while also searching for answers regarding her inability to remember her past. Another primary character is Jovis, a smuggler from one of the smaller islands in the empire, who is on a mission to find his wife, Emahla who has been missing for some years. Some subplots follow a governor’s daughter and her girlfriend, who are at odds with each other regarding the current leadership of their island. Lastly, we are introduced to Sand, a woman who is trapped on a strange island with no idea of how she got there or who she is.

Characters

There were quite a few characters to keep track of because the novel follows five different characters with their own individual stories that eventually intertwine. I enjoyed reading Lin’s and Jovis’ perspectives more than the others. I found that they had the most character development and their story lines really drove the novel forward. Phalue’s and Ramani’s were by far the least interesting to me. I can’t quite figure out why, but I just found them to be a bit inconsequential. Sand’s chapters were interesting. However, since she can’t really remember much or is in a slight trance when she is introduced, it is a little tough to form any sort of connection with her.

The Magic System

The magic system was quite interesting. The emperor has mastered the art of bone shard magic, which allows him to build creatures that are powered from shards of bone. The idea of the constructs was well-explored and you slowly learned about it as Lin did. I really enjoyed the fact that using the magic system had consequences and raised certain moral questions.

My Thoughts

The plot was engaging, for the most part, however, I really felt that Phalue’s and Ramani’s chapters were weaker than the others and it became a bit of a chore to read. In saying this, the plot did have some compelling elements that kept me coming back for more. I have mixed feelings about this particular novel, but I do plan to carry on with the series. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who is getting a bit bored of the run-of-the-mill fantasy novels. Most of them have very Euro-centric worldviews, whereas ‘The Bone Shard Daughter’ is rooted in Chinese history and re-imagines it with a fantastical twist.