The Bonekeeper’s Daughter: Beautiful, Brutal, Brilliant

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

There’s something quietly devastating about a world where even the dead can’t rest. The Bonekeeper’s Daughter by author Elise Fry is the kind of epic fantasy that doesn’t shout. It lingers. Set in the haunting City of Bone, where tradition binds the living and the dead in an endless cycle of offerings and obedience, this story unfolds like a whispered secret.

At the center of this fantasy book is Wren, a BoneKeeper raised to guide the souls of the departed. But what happens when the rules she’s lived by start to rot from within? This is a slow-burning romantasy built on grief, magic, and the ache of memory. If you’re craving a deeply immersive fantasy read that leans into atmosphere and emotional weight, this one belongs on your TBR. Keep reading for my full thoughts on this unforgettable fantasy fiction series starter.

Title: The BoneKeepers Daughter (The Blade and Bone Trilogy, 1)

Author: Elise Fry

Publisher: Independently Published

Format: eARC

Genre: Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Dark Romance

Release Date: June 7, 2025

Pages: 716

Star Rating: 3 stars

Spice Rating: 0 chili peppers

Born into Death before her eyes opened. To dream of softness is a wish for water.

I don’t usually read the trigger warnings. Very little triggers me—don’t be like me, read the warnings—but this time, something told me to take a peek. And honestly? I’m glad I did, because instead of deterring me, those warnings made me more excited to read. I know that probably says something questionable about me (something is wrong with me, lol), but if you’ve ever felt that rush of curiosity flipping through a Penelope Douglas book or diving into Shantel Tessier’s twisted romances, you know exactly what I mean. I didn’t need protection from the dark—I wanted to see how deep it went.

What I found in The Bonekeeper’s Daughter was a story that hums with atmosphere. The epic fantasy setup is rich with magic and myth, but it’s the whispers that stuck with me. The bones speak to Wren, soft murmurs that shape her understanding of the world, numbers and names, glimpses of memories, fragments of lives lived and lost. Their voices cascade through her like rain against pavement, relentless and rhythmic. At just five years old, Wren became the youngest BoneKeeper, the first girl to ever hold the role. Guided not by tradition, but by the bones themselves.

“Shadows have no fear, show no love, have no friends, keep no enemies, I am a servant of the Earth and Sun. A vessel for their gifts. “

The BoneKeeper’s Daughter has such a unique premise: a world ruled by sacrifice, where the earth demands offerings and BoneKeepers serve as both conduit and caretaker for the dead. There’s something haunting about that, a kind of fantasy where power doesn’t roar, it whispers. And the writing? It’s like nothing I’ve read in recent romance books or even most fantasy fiction novels. It’s not quite lyrical, not quite poetic, but it’s undeniably beautiful. Elise Fry writes with a soft flourish that spins around you until you lose your footing in the best way. It made me want to see if her other books carry that same kind of magic.

But for all its beauty, the pacing gave me pause. There’s a slowness to the story that feels intentional, like it’s meant to lull you, to wrap you in its rhythm. At times, that worked. It felt like a bedtime story unfolding under candlelight. But other times, it dragged. The plot is there, the intrigue is real, but the momentum often falters. I found myself thinking that the book was reading me, not the other way around.

This is supposed to be a why choose romance, but honestly? It reads more like a love pentagon, with emphasis on the “gon” because there’s no fire, no tension, no real romantic pull. There’s no yearning, no ache, no slow-burn that makes you want to crawl inside the pages and scream at five people to just admit it already. There’s no romance, just placeholders. Wren is placed on a pedestal so high, no one dares to reach her. She’s untouchable. Revered. And while I love a powerful heroine, fantasy romance books like this need connection, not just worship.

“Be watchful. Be wary.”

I will say Kaden came the closest. He’s the only one who dared to see Wren, not just serve her. But of course, he’s not from their village. He doesn’t follow the same rules that Silas, Rannoch, and Tahrik blindly obey. The men around her—if we can even call them that—don’t rise to the occasion. They cower in the shadow of tradition, weak in ways that feel intentional, but still deeply disappointing. These are not Penelope Douglas-level love interests, full of angst, damage, and delicious tension. These are men hiding behind ritual, placating Wren with murmurings of freedom while binding her tighter.

She has more of a spine than any of them. And that’s what stings.

Through all the death and darkness, there are moments of levity. Of softness that sneaks in and surprises you. And yet, I kept asking: Why a BoneKeeper? What is her true purpose beyond guiding souls, especially when the bones often refuse to answer questions? She’s told she is vital, yet treated as ornamental. A vessel, not a person. A tool to uphold tradition in a world where women have no autonomy and the Council bends rules as it sees fit.

“And if it isn’t Ceridwen, I don’t want her. Oh Forgotten Goddess. If it isn’t her I don’t want anyone.”

I love this book, I do. The concept, the world, the magic… It’s all so rich. This is the kind of fantasy book that could stand beside some of the best. But it needs sharpening. Not a full rewrite. Just a tightening. I don’t need a fast-paced sprint, but I did crave something more steady—like a tap-tap-tap that builds anticipation, not a tap…tap…tap that forgets it’s supposed to be moving. This fantasy series deserves motion, not stagnation.

The further I read, the deeper my interest became, like sinking into a sea you forgot had a bottom. But as my investment grew, so did my frustration. How can something feel so grand and yet so lost at the same time?

At nearly 800 pages, the pacing should be galloping, not trotting. You start to question if there’s a series plan, or if this was meant to stand alone. There’s so much story, and yet it feels like none of it is moving. The original path gets swallowed, the romance evaporates, and entire characters disappear like echoes. The breadcrumbs fade. The connection frays. And what’s left is a question: What was the point of all this?

“She feels…she feels like home.”

There’s a moment near the end, those final three chapters, that absolutely wrecked me. Suddenly, the story surged. I felt everything I had been waiting for. But by then, I was already bruised from the wandering. Nearly 600 pages of exquisite writing and haunting beauty, but very little substance driving it forward.

This fantasy novel is ambitious. It’s layered. And Elise Fry’s writing? Beautiful. Quietly powerful in a way that makes you want to look up her other books just to see if they sing the same. But if I’m honest, this story was wobbling under its own weight. What it needed was a fierce editor, a tighter structure, and a deeper commitment to the romance genre it promised.

Still, I wouldn’t tell anyone not to read The BoneKeeper’s Daughter. Especially if you’re the kind of reader who treasures slow fantasy reads, where the world matters more than the outcome. It’s not perfect, but it matters. And sometimes, that’s enough.

Thank you to author Elise Fry for providing me with an eARC to read and review. The BoneKeeper’s Daughter releases June 7, 2025, on Kindle Unlimited.

Read This Next:

The Most Anticipated Fantasy Releases Unveiled: May’s Epic Magic

The Viking Epic You Need to Read Among Historical Fiction Books

Urban Fantasy 101: Your Questions Answered + Book Recs You’ll Love

Spring 2025 Fantasy Books That Will Ruin Your Sleep

Dragons, Magic, and Mayhem: Must-Read Fantasy Novels That Slay

Kindle Unlimited Fantasy Reads to Devour—Plus, What You Need to Know