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A Forging of Age #2
Dragon Your Bones
All hunters are hunted, but the kull remains.
Rasia is determined to slay a dragon for her Forging, a trial each child must succeed to come of age. All she needs to do is find the dragon’s den, slay the winged bastard, and haul it home before the deadline ends. Not so easy. But Rasia has Kai on her team—who may or may not have some secrets up his shroud.
Nico needs to prepare for the bloodrites, a ritual ceremony as bloody as the name. If she succeeds, she’ll earn the title of Ohan, but first she’ll have to dodge assassins and hunt whomever placed the hit on her head and hopefully kill them before they kill her.
In the Grankull, coming of age isn’t easy. There are always greater dragons to slay.
DRAGON YOUR BONES is the sequel to BONES TO THE WIND, a coming-of-age sword and sorcery fantasy adventure. The novel includes strong female characters, LGBTQIA+ representation, and mature themes. It is appropriate for a NA/Adult audience.
Rasia is determined to slay a dragon for her Forging, a trial each child must succeed to come of age. All she needs to do is find the dragon’s den, slay the winged bastard, and haul it home before the deadline ends. Not so easy. But Rasia has Kai on her team—who may or may not have some secrets up his shroud.
Nico needs to prepare for the bloodrites, a ritual ceremony as bloody as the name. If she succeeds, she’ll earn the title of Ohan, but first she’ll have to dodge assassins and hunt whomever placed the hit on her head and hopefully kill them before they kill her.
In the Grankull, coming of age isn’t easy. There are always greater dragons to slay.
DRAGON YOUR BONES is the sequel to BONES TO THE WIND, a coming-of-age sword and sorcery fantasy adventure. The novel includes strong female characters, LGBTQIA+ representation, and mature themes. It is appropriate for a NA/Adult audience.
559 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2022
4 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Tatiana Obey
9 books164 followersTatiana Obey writes badass characters slaying dragons. She enjoys combining action with character-driven stories that feature diverse heroes and heroines. She is the author of Bones to the Wind, a 2022 BBA Award Winner, and Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novella, a 2023 Indie Ink Award Winner. Locus award nominated, she has published short stories in various anthologies, including FIYAH Literary Magazine and Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025. She was also a contributing editor for Magic in the Melanin: A Black Fantasy Anthology. She taught English in South Korea, studied abroad in Japan, and spent her debut year traveling the world. Learn more about her at www.tatianaobey.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 23, 2022
Thank you to the author for an eARC and physical copy in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.
IT CAN'T END LIKE THAT! *pterodactyl screech* I want another book. Rasia and I had some growing pains, but ultimately this book and these characters are amazing.
IT CAN'T END LIKE THAT! *pterodactyl screech* I want another book. Rasia and I had some growing pains, but ultimately this book and these characters are amazing.
May 10, 2023
I was lucky enough to get the first book of this duology, Bones to the Wind, in my batch for the spfbo contest last summer. It was a fun story, featuring one the more unique worlds that I have gotten to explore, and I was pretty stoked to continue on with this series. Thank you to Tatiana Obey for the e-copy and thinking of me for the follow-up book.
Dragon Your Bones picks up directly after the first book with Rasia, Kai, and their group, hunting their injured Dragon, and Nico, and co. after a small side-trip to rescue the other kids, returning to the Grankull to complete their Forging.
World-
Still one of the most creative worlds – its a desert world where the people live around bones of a once great dragon. The dragon bones have magic that allow the soil to grow things.
The drop-in style and terminology are a lot easier to envision now we have the first book under our belts. Also, the focus this time around is in and around the Grandkull, the politics and how things are run etc. with more of the day-to-day survival in this story.
I really enjoy how alive this world feels- the conversations, the family dynamics- its noisy and natural and when you put the book down, it feels just like having a houseful of company that suddenly leaves after Thanksgiving.
Characters-
The set-up is similar to the first book with the alternating povs between Kai, Rasia and Nico- settling into longer bouts of each as the story progresses.
Nico, plans to bring the dragon graveyard to the Grankull. Her hope is that it will to unite the clans, the tents, and the scavengers- giving them all a safe place to live. But when the title of Ohan, slips through her fingers, she has to find a new way to achieve what she set-out to do.
Rasia- in some ways, doesn’t change much, she is still confident, and jumps in, ready to tackle anyone or thing that she doesn’t agree with, on a moment’s notice. But she does learn to stop and think about things, after the fact, even going so far as to admit when she was wrong.
Kai- felt like he went backwards for a time. All that self-worth he gained, was gone in an instant on his return to the Granskull, under the eyes of all who always thought he had no worth. Totally understandable, but broke my heart, and frustrated me all at one. Because I wanted him to prove to those people what he had gained without them there to hold him back.
I did miss Zephyr - he is in this book but I just wanted more of him.
While a lot of the story involves Nico, and her plans to unite the tribes I felt the heart of the story belonged to Rasia and Kai. They’re the driving force behind this series. Their relationship and everything to do with it is what kept me turning the pages.
That’s not to say Nico doesn’t have an engaging story. She does. But, for me, as much as I loved the political power-plays in her character arc, so much of that part of the story was in the background, along with her relationships. So, while I enjoyed her chapters, it was Rasia, and her unpredictable fiery personality, that always kept me coming back. Also, Kai, because everyone loves an underdog and I wanted him to succeed.
The magic is of the softer, on-the-fly variety. But it feels very mystical and cool.
The story-
Events move fast in these books, covering a lot of ground in a short amount of time. A small complaint I had was that a lot of things happen off-screen and we’re told about them later (Nico sending messages to other clans to stop assassins attempting. Nico picking up the children in dessert so all the kids make it home).
But that said, the main focus of these stories is the characters- the relationships and their growth. So, while the setting and everything around that part of the story is cool as heck, and you can’t help but want more- it’s not really as important as the rest. More than anything else, this story/series is still a coming an age story. It’s an exploration of the journey into adulthood, where these kids/young adults are coming to terms with themselves, their place in society, and their loved ones.
Age lets me appreciate their journey because I recognize their struggles from my own life, my children’s, and others around me, and I love these characters all the more for it.
Dragon Your Bones is a coming-of-age story that is willing to do and be, something different. It isn’t afraid to talk about life, sex, and everything in between- the good and the bad. And it manages to have a lot of fun while doing so. I enjoyed this series a lot.
Dragon Your Bones picks up directly after the first book with Rasia, Kai, and their group, hunting their injured Dragon, and Nico, and co. after a small side-trip to rescue the other kids, returning to the Grankull to complete their Forging.
World-
Still one of the most creative worlds – its a desert world where the people live around bones of a once great dragon. The dragon bones have magic that allow the soil to grow things.
The drop-in style and terminology are a lot easier to envision now we have the first book under our belts. Also, the focus this time around is in and around the Grandkull, the politics and how things are run etc. with more of the day-to-day survival in this story.
I really enjoy how alive this world feels- the conversations, the family dynamics- its noisy and natural and when you put the book down, it feels just like having a houseful of company that suddenly leaves after Thanksgiving.
Characters-
The set-up is similar to the first book with the alternating povs between Kai, Rasia and Nico- settling into longer bouts of each as the story progresses.
Nico, plans to bring the dragon graveyard to the Grankull. Her hope is that it will to unite the clans, the tents, and the scavengers- giving them all a safe place to live. But when the title of Ohan, slips through her fingers, she has to find a new way to achieve what she set-out to do.
Rasia- in some ways, doesn’t change much, she is still confident, and jumps in, ready to tackle anyone or thing that she doesn’t agree with, on a moment’s notice. But she does learn to stop and think about things, after the fact, even going so far as to admit when she was wrong.
Kai- felt like he went backwards for a time. All that self-worth he gained, was gone in an instant on his return to the Granskull, under the eyes of all who always thought he had no worth. Totally understandable, but broke my heart, and frustrated me all at one. Because I wanted him to prove to those people what he had gained without them there to hold him back.
I did miss Zephyr - he is in this book but I just wanted more of him.
While a lot of the story involves Nico, and her plans to unite the tribes I felt the heart of the story belonged to Rasia and Kai. They’re the driving force behind this series. Their relationship and everything to do with it is what kept me turning the pages.
That’s not to say Nico doesn’t have an engaging story. She does. But, for me, as much as I loved the political power-plays in her character arc, so much of that part of the story was in the background, along with her relationships. So, while I enjoyed her chapters, it was Rasia, and her unpredictable fiery personality, that always kept me coming back. Also, Kai, because everyone loves an underdog and I wanted him to succeed.
The magic is of the softer, on-the-fly variety. But it feels very mystical and cool.
The story-
Events move fast in these books, covering a lot of ground in a short amount of time. A small complaint I had was that a lot of things happen off-screen and we’re told about them later (Nico sending messages to other clans to stop assassins attempting. Nico picking up the children in dessert so all the kids make it home).
But that said, the main focus of these stories is the characters- the relationships and their growth. So, while the setting and everything around that part of the story is cool as heck, and you can’t help but want more- it’s not really as important as the rest. More than anything else, this story/series is still a coming an age story. It’s an exploration of the journey into adulthood, where these kids/young adults are coming to terms with themselves, their place in society, and their loved ones.
Age lets me appreciate their journey because I recognize their struggles from my own life, my children’s, and others around me, and I love these characters all the more for it.
Dragon Your Bones is a coming-of-age story that is willing to do and be, something different. It isn’t afraid to talk about life, sex, and everything in between- the good and the bad. And it manages to have a lot of fun while doing so. I enjoyed this series a lot.
November 4, 2022
Sooo goood! I need more!!! Please let this not be the end of this amazing world!
4.5🌟
After the phenomenal debut that was BONES TO THE WIND, I was hyped to read DRAGON YOUR BONES and it did not skip a beat. The story picks up straightaway from where we left it. Rasia, still impulsive and headstrong and Kai with his silent strength are off to hunt their dragon while Nico with her sights on the Ohan spot, is heading back to the Grankull after her Forging.
While there were fewer heavy action scenes, there was a lot more political intrigue, backstabbing and difficult decisions being made. All of these helped to showcase the growth and development of the characters as they tried to settle back into life in the Grankull. It was great to meet so many more wonderfully unique characters, from young Rae to each Council member and to Kenji-shi who, although divisive, brought out and gave such an important backstory and realistic family dynamic.
It is a beautiful conclusion for this duology, one that perfectly wraps up and gives a feeling of ongoing hope to the story. But I am completely needy and would absolutely love more from this world. One thing for sure is that Tatiana Obey has been added to my auto-buy author list and I will be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes in the future.
4.5🌟
After the phenomenal debut that was BONES TO THE WIND, I was hyped to read DRAGON YOUR BONES and it did not skip a beat. The story picks up straightaway from where we left it. Rasia, still impulsive and headstrong and Kai with his silent strength are off to hunt their dragon while Nico with her sights on the Ohan spot, is heading back to the Grankull after her Forging.
While there were fewer heavy action scenes, there was a lot more political intrigue, backstabbing and difficult decisions being made. All of these helped to showcase the growth and development of the characters as they tried to settle back into life in the Grankull. It was great to meet so many more wonderfully unique characters, from young Rae to each Council member and to Kenji-shi who, although divisive, brought out and gave such an important backstory and realistic family dynamic.
It is a beautiful conclusion for this duology, one that perfectly wraps up and gives a feeling of ongoing hope to the story. But I am completely needy and would absolutely love more from this world. One thing for sure is that Tatiana Obey has been added to my auto-buy author list and I will be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes in the future.
September 26, 2022
To quote Raisa this was 'ta-fuvking fantastic!'
YA as a genre for me is always a hit or miss and I am happy to report that the 'A Forging of Age' Duology was definitely a hit. Before I begin this review, I would just like to say that it will be entirely about me begging Tatiana for more books in this world because duh
- The first thing that stood out to me in this duology was the world building. I love love love dragons and I love that more authors are branching away from the fire-breathing kind(it may very well be just me now finding authors that write about other forms of dragons either way discoveries were made) but for Tatiana to not only make them so central to the story but also to create a society that thrives(?) in the bones of one ... very big brained energy methinks. I love magical creatures on a whole and both Dragon Your Bones and Bones to the Wind were chock full of them
- The society in pissed me off and we get to see so much more of the politics and just truly how not it some of the adults were , now that the kids are back home. I loved how Tatiana broached topics such as mental health/illness and body autonomy. As stated before, a big theme in Dragon Your Bones was mental health and we see many of our MCs struggling with it. What I loved the most about how it was spoken about
- Really loved the relationships in this book as well. Like if we wanna talk about older sibling supremacy we gotta talk about Ysai the Unbowed (like we need a Tales from the Kull short story compilation or something because I would love to know how he got this name, Idc really just gimme more please). And as much as I found Nico overbearing at times, nobody can say she didn't come through for her siblings when they needed it most so yeah.
I have tons more to say about this book but at the risk of not sounding like I'm rambling, I'm just gonna end with buy this book for ya self, for ya sister, mother, auntie, kid, coworker, it's that good.
TL;DR: Fantastic conclusion to a great duology, everybody should read it.
E-ARC provided in exchange for a honest review
YA as a genre for me is always a hit or miss and I am happy to report that the 'A Forging of Age' Duology was definitely a hit. Before I begin this review, I would just like to say that it will be entirely about me begging Tatiana for more books in this world because duh
- The first thing that stood out to me in this duology was the world building. I love love love dragons and I love that more authors are branching away from the fire-breathing kind(it may very well be just me now finding authors that write about other forms of dragons either way discoveries were made) but for Tatiana to not only make them so central to the story but also to create a society that thrives(?) in the bones of one ... very big brained energy methinks. I love magical creatures on a whole and both Dragon Your Bones and Bones to the Wind were chock full of them
- The society in pissed me off and we get to see so much more of the politics and just truly how not it some of the adults were , now that the kids are back home. I loved how Tatiana broached topics such as mental health/illness and body autonomy. As stated before, a big theme in Dragon Your Bones was mental health and we see many of our MCs struggling with it. What I loved the most about how it was spoken about
- Really loved the relationships in this book as well. Like if we wanna talk about older sibling supremacy we gotta talk about Ysai the Unbowed (like we need a Tales from the Kull short story compilation or something because I would love to know how he got this name, Idc really just gimme more please). And as much as I found Nico overbearing at times, nobody can say she didn't come through for her siblings when they needed it most so yeah.
I have tons more to say about this book but at the risk of not sounding like I'm rambling, I'm just gonna end with buy this book for ya self, for ya sister, mother, auntie, kid, coworker, it's that good.
TL;DR: Fantastic conclusion to a great duology, everybody should read it.
E-ARC provided in exchange for a honest review
November 19, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up!
Tatiana Obey has done it again!
I was pleasantly surprised by how great the first book was, but I think this one might be even better! Tatiana Obey is now one of my favorite indie authors! I'm so glad I gave this series a shot.
While Rasia, Nico, Kai, and co. have moved on from the coming-of-age Forging competition, it'll forever follow them through their lives. Collective memory and societal prejudices get mixed, mangled, and manipulated to the point where it becomes damaging to the individual in this society. And you can see how it affects each character as they try to build their lives post-Forging and as young adults.
I also love how this is shown when a character recounts their parents' history, whether they're proud of their parent or not. And you can see how familial history affects each character, whether good or bad. I was completely fascinated and floored by how Tatiana Obey can convey such an in-depth view of a fantasy society without having to resort to the pitfalls of telling and not showing.
The characters live in such a harsh society that's based on scarcity and competition, and this affects each of them in varying degrees according to their social proximity to the Grankull and its council members.
Everyone experiences varying degrees of character growth (we already see this in the first book, but the second book really gets to the meat and bones of it), and everyone has different ways of reacting to external events and internal conflict. Each MC is their own person and they're not lumped in together as a whole. It's like looking at the inner workings of a machine to see how each part works by itself and together as a whole.
I'm only knocking down half a star because I'm not a huge fan of the numerous sex scenes, but ymmv.
I can't wait to read more of the author's work! And I'd love to read more books based on this universe! Doesn't matter if it's about the original characters or a whole new set of characters. I'd love to read about Rasia's new adventures, or even Rae's Forging when they grow up. Hell, even their tahs had interesting histories and I'd read a short story or novella about that too.
Thank you so much to Tatiana Obey for the arc!
Tatiana Obey has done it again!
I was pleasantly surprised by how great the first book was, but I think this one might be even better! Tatiana Obey is now one of my favorite indie authors! I'm so glad I gave this series a shot.
While Rasia, Nico, Kai, and co. have moved on from the coming-of-age Forging competition, it'll forever follow them through their lives. Collective memory and societal prejudices get mixed, mangled, and manipulated to the point where it becomes damaging to the individual in this society. And you can see how it affects each character as they try to build their lives post-Forging and as young adults.
I also love how this is shown when a character recounts their parents' history, whether they're proud of their parent or not. And you can see how familial history affects each character, whether good or bad. I was completely fascinated and floored by how Tatiana Obey can convey such an in-depth view of a fantasy society without having to resort to the pitfalls of telling and not showing.
The characters live in such a harsh society that's based on scarcity and competition, and this affects each of them in varying degrees according to their social proximity to the Grankull and its council members.
Everyone experiences varying degrees of character growth (we already see this in the first book, but the second book really gets to the meat and bones of it), and everyone has different ways of reacting to external events and internal conflict. Each MC is their own person and they're not lumped in together as a whole. It's like looking at the inner workings of a machine to see how each part works by itself and together as a whole.
I'm only knocking down half a star because I'm not a huge fan of the numerous sex scenes, but ymmv.
I can't wait to read more of the author's work! And I'd love to read more books based on this universe! Doesn't matter if it's about the original characters or a whole new set of characters. I'd love to read about Rasia's new adventures, or even Rae's Forging when they grow up. Hell, even their tahs had interesting histories and I'd read a short story or novella about that too.
Thank you so much to Tatiana Obey for the arc!
November 19, 2023
Dragon your Bones is the explosive sequel to Bones to the Wind and wraps up the Forging of Age duology. It wasn’t the conclusion that I was expecting, but it somehow ended up being everything I needed.
The story picks up immediately where book 1 left off, which makes sense given that the author has mentioned that this duology was intended as one long, continuous story which was only split up for publishing reasons.
Anyway, we jump straight back into the action and the stakes remain high throughout the entirety of the novel. While book 1 focused heavily on the Forging hunt, book 2 quickly wraps up that storyline and then dives deep into the brutal and cut-throat Grankull politics. Our favourites from book 1 are returning back home, ready to settle into adulthood, but they quickly learn that their hardest challenges may yet to be overcome. They must decide if they are willing to live in a corrupt system that is working against them or if they are brave enough to fight back and create a society where everyone can live safely as their true authentic selves.
If you liked these characters in the first book, then I can’t see how this sequel wouldn’t be a major hit for you. This book still has some great action and tension, but the pace slows down significantly and we focus much more on these characters’ internal struggles and their complex interpersonal relationships. There’s so much history between all of these characters and it was both painful and beautiful to see them navigate their complicated and messy feelings for each other. Whether we’re exploring familial, platonic or romantic relationships, Obey really manages to portray these dynamics in a genuine and authentic way.
Also, the character growth over the course of this story is absolutely outstanding and I loved that we really got to experience all their growing pains from the front-row seat. This story is really emotionally-driven, which makes it so easy to empathise with them and get swept up in their messy lives. Some of these characters can be a bit unlikable, frustrating or even unhinged, but I just love them all the more for it.
Because of the slower pacing, we really get to dive deeper into the themes that are explored in this story, such as classism, corruption, power imbalance, mental illness, parenthood, adulthood, gender and sexuality. This might sound like a lot, but I actually think the author pulled it off and explored all these themes in a really nuanced, delicate and careful manner.
I really appreciated that this story acknowledges how difficult it is to enact change, be it on a personal or on a political level. These characters are constantly striving for progress and change, but that doesn’t come without a price. They constantly have to reevaluate their own beliefs and life goals, which made their journeys all the more believable and realistic.
Now, despite the fact that I absolutely adored this finale, I did have some minor quibbles that just knocked off half a star.
Firstly, I think that the pacing and plot suffered a bit from the fact that this duology was one long narrative that was split up in two, with most of the falling-action taking place in this conclusion. Some parts felt a bit repetitive and I personally got a bit tired of the constant lusting and dirty talk that was going on, especially in the beginning of the novel. Don’t get me wrong, I love how sex-positive, diverse and queer this story is, but it did get a bit much for me.
Another quibble that I had has more to do with the writing rather than the story itself. While I love Obey’s approachable yet visceral writing style, I started to notice that there were multiple shifts from past to present tense, sometimes even within the same paragraph or sentence. It happened so often that I almost started to wonder if it was intentional, but if it was, I have certainly never seen it done before. It didn’t have a major impact on my enjoyment of the story, because I just adored following these characters, but it did keep breaking my immersion a bit.
All that said, I was very pleased with the way this story wrapped up and I think all of the individual character arcs were extremely satisfying, if somewhat unexpected. I really didn’t see some of the twists and turns coming and I believe these characters were just as surprised by some of their final choices as I was. This story is unpredictable, messy and painful, but that’s exactly what makes it so beautifully human.
I highly recommend this duology to anyone who is looking for an emotionally-driven story with a desert setting, morally complex characters, thought-provoking themes, cutthroat political intrigue, high stakes, backstabbing and betrayals, pulse-pounding action, queer love and, of course, dragons!
Obey has quickly launched herself into my list of favourite authors and I will be eagerly anticipating whatever else she decides to write next. In the meantime, I will keep thinking about these characters and try to convince as many people as possible to read these books. That was one hell of a great adventure.
The story picks up immediately where book 1 left off, which makes sense given that the author has mentioned that this duology was intended as one long, continuous story which was only split up for publishing reasons.
Anyway, we jump straight back into the action and the stakes remain high throughout the entirety of the novel. While book 1 focused heavily on the Forging hunt, book 2 quickly wraps up that storyline and then dives deep into the brutal and cut-throat Grankull politics. Our favourites from book 1 are returning back home, ready to settle into adulthood, but they quickly learn that their hardest challenges may yet to be overcome. They must decide if they are willing to live in a corrupt system that is working against them or if they are brave enough to fight back and create a society where everyone can live safely as their true authentic selves.
If you liked these characters in the first book, then I can’t see how this sequel wouldn’t be a major hit for you. This book still has some great action and tension, but the pace slows down significantly and we focus much more on these characters’ internal struggles and their complex interpersonal relationships. There’s so much history between all of these characters and it was both painful and beautiful to see them navigate their complicated and messy feelings for each other. Whether we’re exploring familial, platonic or romantic relationships, Obey really manages to portray these dynamics in a genuine and authentic way.
Also, the character growth over the course of this story is absolutely outstanding and I loved that we really got to experience all their growing pains from the front-row seat. This story is really emotionally-driven, which makes it so easy to empathise with them and get swept up in their messy lives. Some of these characters can be a bit unlikable, frustrating or even unhinged, but I just love them all the more for it.
Because of the slower pacing, we really get to dive deeper into the themes that are explored in this story, such as classism, corruption, power imbalance, mental illness, parenthood, adulthood, gender and sexuality. This might sound like a lot, but I actually think the author pulled it off and explored all these themes in a really nuanced, delicate and careful manner.
I really appreciated that this story acknowledges how difficult it is to enact change, be it on a personal or on a political level. These characters are constantly striving for progress and change, but that doesn’t come without a price. They constantly have to reevaluate their own beliefs and life goals, which made their journeys all the more believable and realistic.
Now, despite the fact that I absolutely adored this finale, I did have some minor quibbles that just knocked off half a star.
Firstly, I think that the pacing and plot suffered a bit from the fact that this duology was one long narrative that was split up in two, with most of the falling-action taking place in this conclusion. Some parts felt a bit repetitive and I personally got a bit tired of the constant lusting and dirty talk that was going on, especially in the beginning of the novel. Don’t get me wrong, I love how sex-positive, diverse and queer this story is, but it did get a bit much for me.
Another quibble that I had has more to do with the writing rather than the story itself. While I love Obey’s approachable yet visceral writing style, I started to notice that there were multiple shifts from past to present tense, sometimes even within the same paragraph or sentence. It happened so often that I almost started to wonder if it was intentional, but if it was, I have certainly never seen it done before. It didn’t have a major impact on my enjoyment of the story, because I just adored following these characters, but it did keep breaking my immersion a bit.
All that said, I was very pleased with the way this story wrapped up and I think all of the individual character arcs were extremely satisfying, if somewhat unexpected. I really didn’t see some of the twists and turns coming and I believe these characters were just as surprised by some of their final choices as I was. This story is unpredictable, messy and painful, but that’s exactly what makes it so beautifully human.
I highly recommend this duology to anyone who is looking for an emotionally-driven story with a desert setting, morally complex characters, thought-provoking themes, cutthroat political intrigue, high stakes, backstabbing and betrayals, pulse-pounding action, queer love and, of course, dragons!
Obey has quickly launched herself into my list of favourite authors and I will be eagerly anticipating whatever else she decides to write next. In the meantime, I will keep thinking about these characters and try to convince as many people as possible to read these books. That was one hell of a great adventure.
January 13, 2025
A worthy sequel and conclusion to this duology. I had a great time with this one. I think it lived up to the character development of the first one. It was also a bit steamier which is always good to see in a queer book. I also found that I was more emotionally invested in the characters and their relationship in this one.
There were a couple of things that prevented me from giving it the full five stars, the first being that the pacing, which was never particularly break neck, was slowed dooooooooown in this one and I could feel my interest occasionally waning. And there were some writing choices that didn't really work for my brain, I don't know if that's just the English teacher in me being pedantic though.
However for the most part this was a wonderful series and I'm glad to have read it. If you liked the character work and relationship in book one, then I think this one will certainly satisfy.
There were a couple of things that prevented me from giving it the full five stars, the first being that the pacing, which was never particularly break neck, was slowed dooooooooown in this one and I could feel my interest occasionally waning. And there were some writing choices that didn't really work for my brain, I don't know if that's just the English teacher in me being pedantic though.
However for the most part this was a wonderful series and I'm glad to have read it. If you liked the character work and relationship in book one, then I think this one will certainly satisfy.
February 24, 2023
This is more of a religion than a book. I've had to physically stop everything, sit down, comb through all the pent up emotions to write this review. And it is coming from a very emotional place.
Remember how I told Y'all Rasia was like me. Well she still is, but I thought y'all had to know. Kai, Nico, Rasia, Zephyr are all back and writing their own stories. Nico is badass (as says the cover) and Rasia has grown up and everything.
This is my comfort book (even though Grankull sucks and everything) no for real, imagine a world where you are respected nevertheless of your gender or orientation. I mean, sure Grankull was not all that amazing but it was unique.
The premise is so enriching, magical, unique and immersive, I'm still in love. And I will be for the foreseeable future. No words I say would do justice to this book. Words aren't enough. The book is so potent with emotions and magic, you have no choice other than to fall headfirst. I'm a shallow person. I usually read a book for smut and nothing else. But Dragon Your Bones reminded me of why I read in the first place.
The ending left me in shreds (literally) but, no book will ever be enough for me. I might read a million books but this one will always, always have a special place in my heart
Remember how I told Y'all Rasia was like me. Well she still is, but I thought y'all had to know. Kai, Nico, Rasia, Zephyr are all back and writing their own stories. Nico is badass (as says the cover) and Rasia has grown up and everything.
This is my comfort book (even though Grankull sucks and everything) no for real, imagine a world where you are respected nevertheless of your gender or orientation. I mean, sure Grankull was not all that amazing but it was unique.
The premise is so enriching, magical, unique and immersive, I'm still in love. And I will be for the foreseeable future. No words I say would do justice to this book. Words aren't enough. The book is so potent with emotions and magic, you have no choice other than to fall headfirst. I'm a shallow person. I usually read a book for smut and nothing else. But Dragon Your Bones reminded me of why I read in the first place.
The ending left me in shreds (literally) but, no book will ever be enough for me. I might read a million books but this one will always, always have a special place in my heart
November 1, 2022
Wow. Just wow. I’ve yet to have read a duology that has snatched my soul the way that this duology has. Dragon your Bones was the perfect follow up to Bones to the Wind and one of the best sequels I’ve read in a long time. I didn’t want it to end! Tatiana’s writing is amazing and I’ve completely fallen in love with the characters she’s created. The character growth was especially beautiful to witness. Rasia and Kai will sit with me for a long time to come. The story has a steady driving intensity and doesn’t let up. The world building is absolutely incredible. I don’t think I really have the words to articulate just how good this book was. I did receive this book for free from the author, but I’ve already ordered 2 full sets of the duology to give to friends because I love it that much!
March 16, 2023
A forewarning— this review will have some (extremely mild) spoilers about Bones to the Wind, but that shouldn’t be an issue because why are you reading the reviews for a sequel if you haven’t read the dazzling, enchanting first book?
Tatiana Obey is a blisteringly talented author that everyone should be keeping their eye on. Her prose is funny, witty, sometimes a bit silly (but intentionally so)— but it’s more than that. When Obey writes about the desert, you can feel the heat of the High Noon sun. You can feel the sand whipping against your cheeks as you ride your windship across the sand dunes. Every region of the Grankull she describes is unique and the atmosphere is palpable. Bones to the Wind is pure fun from start to finish, and Dragon Your Bones more than carries that legacy, it builds on it.
Obey’s characterization is nothing to scoff at, either. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, but Obey is so talented at defining unique voices that you’ll be baffled how many characters and backstories you know by the end of the duology. I can name at least a dozen characters, have strong feelings about each of them, and could recite their entire backstories. It’s absolutely mind-boggling how easily she makes it look to weave the tapestry of their stories in your mind. You’ll hardly know it’s happening, then think back and realize she’s created a masterpiece. It’s genuinely awe-inspiring. Even more impressive is the way her characters grow and evolve— each character has come into their own by the end and their growth is realistic. They don’t lose their identities to become better people, they evolve and develop in a way that feels completely natural and they remain unique by the book’s end.
The plot is equally as beautiful as its characters. Obey’s story tackles themes of poverty, discrimination, inequality, corruption of power, sex abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, triumph, and grief with care and precision. Dragon Your Bones tackles a whole different sort of adventure than Nico, Rasia, Kai and their kulls face in Bones to the Wind, but it’s equally as engrossing as it’s predecessor.
My only complaint— I would break a few ribs for another entry into this world. I’d love a novella that sees a few years into their future. I understand why the book ended where it did, but I can’t help but crave more. It’s been a while since a book left me so hungry for more.
Please just do yourself a favor and pick up this duology. It is so, SO good. You’re doing yourself a disservice to overlook it. It’s an absolutely stunning debut by Obey and I’m impatiently waiting for the release of her next book, Sistah Samurai!
Tatiana Obey is a blisteringly talented author that everyone should be keeping their eye on. Her prose is funny, witty, sometimes a bit silly (but intentionally so)— but it’s more than that. When Obey writes about the desert, you can feel the heat of the High Noon sun. You can feel the sand whipping against your cheeks as you ride your windship across the sand dunes. Every region of the Grankull she describes is unique and the atmosphere is palpable. Bones to the Wind is pure fun from start to finish, and Dragon Your Bones more than carries that legacy, it builds on it.
Obey’s characterization is nothing to scoff at, either. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, but Obey is so talented at defining unique voices that you’ll be baffled how many characters and backstories you know by the end of the duology. I can name at least a dozen characters, have strong feelings about each of them, and could recite their entire backstories. It’s absolutely mind-boggling how easily she makes it look to weave the tapestry of their stories in your mind. You’ll hardly know it’s happening, then think back and realize she’s created a masterpiece. It’s genuinely awe-inspiring. Even more impressive is the way her characters grow and evolve— each character has come into their own by the end and their growth is realistic. They don’t lose their identities to become better people, they evolve and develop in a way that feels completely natural and they remain unique by the book’s end.
The plot is equally as beautiful as its characters. Obey’s story tackles themes of poverty, discrimination, inequality, corruption of power, sex abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, triumph, and grief with care and precision. Dragon Your Bones tackles a whole different sort of adventure than Nico, Rasia, Kai and their kulls face in Bones to the Wind, but it’s equally as engrossing as it’s predecessor.
My only complaint— I would break a few ribs for another entry into this world. I’d love a novella that sees a few years into their future. I understand why the book ended where it did, but I can’t help but crave more. It’s been a while since a book left me so hungry for more.
Please just do yourself a favor and pick up this duology. It is so, SO good. You’re doing yourself a disservice to overlook it. It’s an absolutely stunning debut by Obey and I’m impatiently waiting for the release of her next book, Sistah Samurai!
November 4, 2022
I am such a fan of Obey's writing! Dragon Your Bones literally picks up where Bones to the Wind ends. Now that Rasia has killed her dragon and Nico, Kai and the others have returned from their Forging, they now have a bigger dragon to slay which is the Grankull itself. I love a book with political intrigue and we get a lot of that within the corrupted society. Rasia, Nico and Kai face great adversity as they struggle to earn their status and respect against a society that rejects and attempts to kill them.
This was a great conclusion to A Forging of Age. I'm slightly sad though. I'm going to miss this world and Rasia (she's still a badass!!) but I'm excited for whatever Tatiana Obey has coming next!!
This was a great conclusion to A Forging of Age. I'm slightly sad though. I'm going to miss this world and Rasia (she's still a badass!!) but I'm excited for whatever Tatiana Obey has coming next!!
November 1, 2022
"Dragon Your Bones" by Tatiana Obey is a move from the wild, careless fun of kids hunting gondas in the desert to mature adults who occupy a space in the Kull with tough responsibilities to uphold. This cutthroat and heart-stopping conclusion to the forging duology is a vicious battle for a Kull that fights for all or dies trying.
The kids of the Grankull are home, signalling the end of their hunt and the start of their adulthood with names they have rightfully and brutally won. Well, most of them. Back in the Kull, life has returned to normal and the time out in the desert seems like eons ago when everyone was a different person.
Now, the divide between communities and people has turned friends into enemies. The corruptness of the council seems to have no bounds and its power-hungry members will stop at nothing to have everyone under their control or kill anyone who steps out of line.
While many want to find their place in the Kull, others cannot ignore the power imbalances and unfair treatment occurring in their community. In this showdown, Nico, Rasia, Kai, and their friends from the hunt must decide what truly matters: trying to live in a system that works against them or fighting back to create a Kull everyone can call home.
Sadly, this is the end of Nico, Rasia, and Kai's stories, but alas, everything must come to an end. This was a truly amazing series and this finale did not fall short of its high expectations. This book touched on many subjects such as classism, corruption, mental health, social awareness, and the coming-of-age theme that was prevalent in the first. Somehow, Obey sneaks these topics into her writing in a way that feels less like a lesson on morals and more like a true reflection on human behaviour. One has to wonder if Obey secretly has a magical portal to another realm where these incredible characters exist or if she's Rasia in disguise.
There are so many reasons why this book absolutely kicks ass and why it will always be a book that comes highly recommended to others. Obey's writing style is fresh and visceral, which makes this story easy to dive into, especially when it's like flicking on a TV in the mind. The gentle but honest way she handles tough topics like mental health is so, so appreciated and unbelievably relatable. Her wild and creative imagination is a beautiful, wicked thing that offers so much more than the universe could ever attempt to live up to.
One thing is for sure, if you do not buy and read this series NOW, you can consider yourselves bait for the gonda!
"Dragon Your Bones" is out on November 1st, 2022. This is not a standalone and the first book "Bones to the Wind" must be read beforehand. Go purchase this book immediately to find out what you've all been missing out on ;)
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-arc of this story and for the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
The kids of the Grankull are home, signalling the end of their hunt and the start of their adulthood with names they have rightfully and brutally won. Well, most of them. Back in the Kull, life has returned to normal and the time out in the desert seems like eons ago when everyone was a different person.
Now, the divide between communities and people has turned friends into enemies. The corruptness of the council seems to have no bounds and its power-hungry members will stop at nothing to have everyone under their control or kill anyone who steps out of line.
While many want to find their place in the Kull, others cannot ignore the power imbalances and unfair treatment occurring in their community. In this showdown, Nico, Rasia, Kai, and their friends from the hunt must decide what truly matters: trying to live in a system that works against them or fighting back to create a Kull everyone can call home.
Sadly, this is the end of Nico, Rasia, and Kai's stories, but alas, everything must come to an end. This was a truly amazing series and this finale did not fall short of its high expectations. This book touched on many subjects such as classism, corruption, mental health, social awareness, and the coming-of-age theme that was prevalent in the first. Somehow, Obey sneaks these topics into her writing in a way that feels less like a lesson on morals and more like a true reflection on human behaviour. One has to wonder if Obey secretly has a magical portal to another realm where these incredible characters exist or if she's Rasia in disguise.
There are so many reasons why this book absolutely kicks ass and why it will always be a book that comes highly recommended to others. Obey's writing style is fresh and visceral, which makes this story easy to dive into, especially when it's like flicking on a TV in the mind. The gentle but honest way she handles tough topics like mental health is so, so appreciated and unbelievably relatable. Her wild and creative imagination is a beautiful, wicked thing that offers so much more than the universe could ever attempt to live up to.
One thing is for sure, if you do not buy and read this series NOW, you can consider yourselves bait for the gonda!
"Dragon Your Bones" is out on November 1st, 2022. This is not a standalone and the first book "Bones to the Wind" must be read beforehand. Go purchase this book immediately to find out what you've all been missing out on ;)
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-arc of this story and for the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
November 2, 2022
"This is my dragon. I can no more walk away than you could from yours."
I was so excited to dive back into this world! I didn’t want to put this book down! (Yes, I read instead of sleeping.) I was expecting the dragon hunt, the return to their society, and the exploration of moving past childhood to adulthood. I wasn’t expecting that the pain of growing into adulthood would be explored. I wasn’t expecting a dive into this society’s harsh politics. It was thrilling!
I really loved that settling into adulthood, even when certain characters thought they’d gotten all they’d ever wanted, still came with growing pains and having to re-evaluate what they want out of life. The Granskull is a harsh world to live in and I really enjoyed watching several characters come together to try and make their society better. I liked the acknowledgement that this would be a slow process. There’s also explorations of mental illness, gender, and attraction. There was so much packed into this duology! The ending was perfect! (That being said I would love more books exploring this world.)
I love how Nico worries about everyone else. She cares so much and this book shows how much she’s grown as a person and leader. Kai’s difficulty in maintaining the confidence and belief in himself he develops during the Forging now that he’s back living in a society that hates and devalues him was heartbreaking. I’m grateful he realized that he had people in his life who believe in him. Rasia continued to be brash. I appreciated the insights into her backstory and watching her grow to realize what she wants out of life.
I know that this is duology I’ll enjoy reading over and over again!
Thank you to the author for an advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was so excited to dive back into this world! I didn’t want to put this book down! (Yes, I read instead of sleeping.) I was expecting the dragon hunt, the return to their society, and the exploration of moving past childhood to adulthood. I wasn’t expecting that the pain of growing into adulthood would be explored. I wasn’t expecting a dive into this society’s harsh politics. It was thrilling!
I really loved that settling into adulthood, even when certain characters thought they’d gotten all they’d ever wanted, still came with growing pains and having to re-evaluate what they want out of life. The Granskull is a harsh world to live in and I really enjoyed watching several characters come together to try and make their society better. I liked the acknowledgement that this would be a slow process. There’s also explorations of mental illness, gender, and attraction. There was so much packed into this duology! The ending was perfect! (That being said I would love more books exploring this world.)
I love how Nico worries about everyone else. She cares so much and this book shows how much she’s grown as a person and leader. Kai’s difficulty in maintaining the confidence and belief in himself he develops during the Forging now that he’s back living in a society that hates and devalues him was heartbreaking. I’m grateful he realized that he had people in his life who believe in him. Rasia continued to be brash. I appreciated the insights into her backstory and watching her grow to realize what she wants out of life.
I know that this is duology I’ll enjoy reading over and over again!
Thank you to the author for an advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 7, 2022
I received an ARC e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I already liked the first book very much and was excited to be able to receive an ARC of the second installment. First of all, I love the cover art.
Kids are coming back from their extremely successful forging in the desert and Rasia looks forward to living with Kai. But there are so many things to settle. The assassins are coming for Nico and want her to stop from making any changes in the Grankull politics. Kai is still a lesser one in the eyes of regular people at home and his father is giving him a hard time. Rasia and Kai want to enjoy themselves, but their transition to adulthood falls flat.
I liked the complexity of the characters. They have their expectations, which crash into illogical traditions and law. But there is always hope for a change in society. The author also touches on many issues like alcoholism, depression, and PTSD. There is also the question, whether it is OK to restrict kids from s*x just by law and not give them any contraception, which is allowed only after they become working adults. The protagonists are angry as the society restricts them from touching each other, and they must cover themselves with a shroud until they become adults. And then during the forging, they are left alone together in the desert. Every unwanted pregnancy is punished and it doesn’t matter if rape has been involved.
S*x is again described very graphically. Best category for this book is New Adult. I don’t mind it but I had a little problem with the phrasing. I couldn’t imagine using words as f**c and d**k in a romantic way. It sounded weird, as Rasia and Kai loved each other, but the description matched just a random s*x experience. You can still make love, have s*x, sleep with somebody instead of f***king your loved one.
I’m really happy I could read this duology. I feel this world is still full of adventures and I hope to see some other novels by Tatiana Obey.
I already liked the first book very much and was excited to be able to receive an ARC of the second installment. First of all, I love the cover art.
Kids are coming back from their extremely successful forging in the desert and Rasia looks forward to living with Kai. But there are so many things to settle. The assassins are coming for Nico and want her to stop from making any changes in the Grankull politics. Kai is still a lesser one in the eyes of regular people at home and his father is giving him a hard time. Rasia and Kai want to enjoy themselves, but their transition to adulthood falls flat.
I liked the complexity of the characters. They have their expectations, which crash into illogical traditions and law. But there is always hope for a change in society. The author also touches on many issues like alcoholism, depression, and PTSD. There is also the question, whether it is OK to restrict kids from s*x just by law and not give them any contraception, which is allowed only after they become working adults. The protagonists are angry as the society restricts them from touching each other, and they must cover themselves with a shroud until they become adults. And then during the forging, they are left alone together in the desert. Every unwanted pregnancy is punished and it doesn’t matter if rape has been involved.
S*x is again described very graphically. Best category for this book is New Adult. I don’t mind it but I had a little problem with the phrasing. I couldn’t imagine using words as f**c and d**k in a romantic way. It sounded weird, as Rasia and Kai loved each other, but the description matched just a random s*x experience. You can still make love, have s*x, sleep with somebody instead of f***king your loved one.
I’m really happy I could read this duology. I feel this world is still full of adventures and I hope to see some other novels by Tatiana Obey.
September 25, 2024
This was just as enjoyable as the first book minus some minor issues I had.
It was only in this book that I realized how young our characters are. This is an adult book yet it contains a lot of 15-17 year olds having sex and I have to ask why?? Outside of ephebephiles, what adult is trying to consume this much teenaged sex in their media? It just seemed like quite a bit of sexual content when teens are the subject here but I digress.
I also felt the last 50 pages dragged a bit. It's like we kept reaching points where the story could've ended but it just kept trucking along there. I do like that, just as in the first installment, what's described in the synopsis is only a small portion of the book so you're somewhat in the dark about the rest of it.
I like that the character development, while present and lasting from the first book, didn't completely overtake their personalities so there was still tons of growing to do. There was a character I felt was forgiven too easily given their actions-felt like we went through his change of heart rather quickly so we could wrap things up nicely but it was executed in a mostly satisfying way. Though I wasn't surprised with how Rasia and Kai's story concluded, it still managed to tear on my heartstrings just a bit.
This duology is phenomenal; it feels so fresh and is so compelling that I hate it's not more well-known. This was a damn good read and I am so glad I trusted the recommendation that I received.
It was only in this book that I realized how young our characters are. This is an adult book yet it contains a lot of 15-17 year olds having sex and I have to ask why?? Outside of ephebephiles, what adult is trying to consume this much teenaged sex in their media? It just seemed like quite a bit of sexual content when teens are the subject here but I digress.
I also felt the last 50 pages dragged a bit. It's like we kept reaching points where the story could've ended but it just kept trucking along there. I do like that, just as in the first installment, what's described in the synopsis is only a small portion of the book so you're somewhat in the dark about the rest of it.
I like that the character development, while present and lasting from the first book, didn't completely overtake their personalities so there was still tons of growing to do. There was a character I felt was forgiven too easily given their actions-felt like we went through his change of heart rather quickly so we could wrap things up nicely but it was executed in a mostly satisfying way. Though I wasn't surprised with how Rasia and Kai's story concluded, it still managed to tear on my heartstrings just a bit.
This duology is phenomenal; it feels so fresh and is so compelling that I hate it's not more well-known. This was a damn good read and I am so glad I trusted the recommendation that I received.
September 16, 2022
This sequel wasn't what I was expecting, but it was what I needed. The characters are so well written, & the world building is intricate & full of all the little details that make society beautiful & terrifying all at once. This is a coming of age story in every way imaginable. Book 1 is all about the adventure of reaching that elusive goal that everyone believes will usher them into adulthood. It shows us that even once we've obtained it, our journey isn't done, that life & the world have other plans. While following Kai, Raisia, & Nico on their journey's you'll laugh, you'll cry, & you'll get so angry you will throw your book only to run after it so you can keep reading. If you're a character driven reader this is the book for you. Each of these characters encompasses a little bit of all of us. Raisia is who we all wish we could be at times. Fearless, don't give a *@$! attitude, always believes in yourself. Nico is who we all hope to be. Kind, generous, & selfless. Kai is who we all try to be. Strong enough to push through the doubt & fear life has thrown at us, always trying to push their way out of the box the world put them in. So do yourself a favor & get this book (& the first one if you haven't yet). Join these people as they figure out who they want to be.
October 11, 2022
So I have to preface this off by saying I was blessed to receive an ARC copy from the amazing author Tatiana Obey @obeytheauthor . Now that, that’s out of the way all I can say after finishing this read is…..wow….Bones to the Wind was a sure 5/5 read, but this? This was a piece with so much introspection, so much character growth, pain, acknowledgment, personal dragon slaying that with each chapter you grow to both love each character, but understand and eventually relate on a personal with them from Kai to Nico, Zephyr and Raisa. There are no slow chapters per se just slow realizations as each character comes into their true selves or at least what they thought they’d become when they cast their bones full of dreams. End of the day I have to give this 5/5 🐉 Dragons Slayed. Stay wary the Hunter!
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#blackauthors #pocwriters #pocauthors #indieauthor #indiewriter #fantasyromance #fantasyromancebooks #blackwritersofinstagram #blackwriters #blackwritersmatter #pocfiction #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #bookish #bonestothewind #tatianaobey #blackwritersrock #indieauthorsofinstagram #bookstagram
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#blackauthors #pocwriters #pocauthors #indieauthor #indiewriter #fantasyromance #fantasyromancebooks #blackwritersofinstagram #blackwriters #blackwritersmatter #pocfiction #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #bookish #bonestothewind #tatianaobey #blackwritersrock #indieauthorsofinstagram #bookstagram
August 18, 2023
This is, by far, one of my favorite fantasy books this year! I still often think of this book after finishing it days ago! 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 is book 2 of 𝑨 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒈𝒆 duology. Picking up immediately after book 1, our FMC Rasia and team set off to finish HER mission. She remains to be that fierce, badass character she was in book 1, but with some soft spots because of her Kulani! ❤️
These young teens not only find what they are looking for, but they also find themselves throughout the book. Just as the Forging is set to bring the teens from children to adults, it also allowed mostly everyone to find out that they can change the dynamic of what once was in their world. Rasia, Kai, and Nico break societal and class barriers!
Ms. Obey killed it in this book! This book has bits of everything you will need in a fantasy book. She has fierce characters, love/hate characters, romance, representation, political issues, and more. This is what I look for in my fantasy book, books that can keep me reading. Ones that have many levels with action and a great plot! It gave what it needed to give when you needed it! From beginning to end, you are immersed in this world with these characters. I was connected to so many of them, but mostly Rasia and Kai had my heart!
Ok, have I convinced you to read it yet?? Please pick this duology! 😉 OH, did I mention that this author, @obeytheauthor, is an indie author? Well, yea, she is. Support one of my new favorites, and add a new favorite to your TBR! K, bye!
These young teens not only find what they are looking for, but they also find themselves throughout the book. Just as the Forging is set to bring the teens from children to adults, it also allowed mostly everyone to find out that they can change the dynamic of what once was in their world. Rasia, Kai, and Nico break societal and class barriers!
Ms. Obey killed it in this book! This book has bits of everything you will need in a fantasy book. She has fierce characters, love/hate characters, romance, representation, political issues, and more. This is what I look for in my fantasy book, books that can keep me reading. Ones that have many levels with action and a great plot! It gave what it needed to give when you needed it! From beginning to end, you are immersed in this world with these characters. I was connected to so many of them, but mostly Rasia and Kai had my heart!
Ok, have I convinced you to read it yet?? Please pick this duology! 😉 OH, did I mention that this author, @obeytheauthor, is an indie author? Well, yea, she is. Support one of my new favorites, and add a new favorite to your TBR! K, bye!
July 30, 2023
A Whirlwind of Events
Make sure to keep your notes on terminology used in the first book because this story is fast-paced and you'll be left behind! In the first book I could not stand Nico. I'm shocked to say she moved up past Kai on my favorite list! However, Rasia is still my #1.
Along with your list of terminology, I would recommend keeping a list of characters, their descriptions, and relations. My only critique (being very nitpicky) is that sometimes an old character would be reintroduced and I would not know who they are. It's great the book has so many great characters, but my brain could not keep up at times. Add in the factor of the occasional re-naming and I was doomed haha (more so my fault than the author).
The storyline was partly predictable but mostly unpredictable. It made me uncomfortable, excited, proud, sad, angry, and all the great feelings linked to a great book!
Make sure to keep your notes on terminology used in the first book because this story is fast-paced and you'll be left behind! In the first book I could not stand Nico. I'm shocked to say she moved up past Kai on my favorite list! However, Rasia is still my #1.
Along with your list of terminology, I would recommend keeping a list of characters, their descriptions, and relations. My only critique (being very nitpicky) is that sometimes an old character would be reintroduced and I would not know who they are. It's great the book has so many great characters, but my brain could not keep up at times. Add in the factor of the occasional re-naming and I was doomed haha (more so my fault than the author).
The storyline was partly predictable but mostly unpredictable. It made me uncomfortable, excited, proud, sad, angry, and all the great feelings linked to a great book!
January 26, 2024
This was a fantastic sequel to the first book. The world and the politics in this book are rich and well fleshed out, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the dragons, how the Grandkull operates and learning more about the magic. The pacing is good, and a lot is constantly happening in this book, which made it hard for me to put it down. That said, I agree with other reviewers that noted that while Nico and the politics happening are a big part of the book, the heart of it is Rasia and Kai’s relationship. I would love a novella that looks into the future and gives an update on these characters, because I care deeply for these charters and would love to see more of what becomes of them or where they end up. Tatiana Obey is a fantastic author that crafted an impeccable story with a cast characters that I came to love.
November 1, 2022
Dragon Your Bones picks up right where Bones To The Wind left off. This story didn’t slow down at all. The adventure continues with how all the characters grow and continue to learn about themselves. Learning even more of of their world just made me fall even more in love with this story. I can’t believe it’s over, would have loved to see it continue. I’m gonna miss theses characters. Rasia and Kai are definitely my favorites. Sorry Nico. This is definitely one of my favorites reads of the year and very highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers. This world Tatiana has created is very unique and creative. Loved reading it and can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with. Thank you Tatiana for a free copy.
November 1, 2022
Rating: 4.5
I want to start by asking who Tatiana Obey thinks she is?! Blowing my mind like this! I wished this was a trilogy instead of a duology. Obey’s writing is phenomenal, and she’s a gifted storyteller.
The world-building was great, and the character development was well done. I really appreciated the representation in this duology. The addition of a few new characters brought this story to life, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read this series. The plot was fantastic and made this fast-paced novel engaging. When I finished, I found myself wanting to be immersed in this world again.
Obey has a fan in me, and I’m excited to see what’s next for her. Check out this duology; you won’t be disappointed!
I want to start by asking who Tatiana Obey thinks she is?! Blowing my mind like this! I wished this was a trilogy instead of a duology. Obey’s writing is phenomenal, and she’s a gifted storyteller.
The world-building was great, and the character development was well done. I really appreciated the representation in this duology. The addition of a few new characters brought this story to life, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read this series. The plot was fantastic and made this fast-paced novel engaging. When I finished, I found myself wanting to be immersed in this world again.
Obey has a fan in me, and I’m excited to see what’s next for her. Check out this duology; you won’t be disappointed!
September 21, 2022
This is an ARC read. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Minor spoilers ahead.
The second and final installment of A Forging of Age Duology, Dragon your Bones, picks up right after the end of the first book, Bones to the Wind. With the forging winding down, Rasia and Kai achieve their goal of slaying a dragon and head back to the Grankull to be formally declared adults and claim their names. Unfortunately, nothing in the Grandkull is ever that easy and they find that the dragon they have hunted is far easier than the dragon they are now facing—that of a rigid and constrained society.
Nico for her part, no longer obsessed with protecting her older brother, finds that she must now protect herself at all costs. Someone on the council wants her dead no matter what, so she must gather her allies from likely and unlikely places to fight and defend herself with all that she’s got. Unfortunately, she too soon learns that even all she’s got might not be enough to create the bigger boat she dreams of to save everyone.
Dragon your Bones is a much more subtle book than its first part, Bones to the Wind, but it is no less action packed. It presents the reality of life in its most brutal form and although the choices made by the characters might not be the best ones, they are realistic ones. What do you do when society itself is hunting you down? With the enemy on all sides and close to home, Rasia, Nico, and Kai must now choose what path to follow after becoming adults: would it be to fight, to struggle, or to leave?
The second and final installment of A Forging of Age Duology, Dragon your Bones, picks up right after the end of the first book, Bones to the Wind. With the forging winding down, Rasia and Kai achieve their goal of slaying a dragon and head back to the Grankull to be formally declared adults and claim their names. Unfortunately, nothing in the Grandkull is ever that easy and they find that the dragon they have hunted is far easier than the dragon they are now facing—that of a rigid and constrained society.
Nico for her part, no longer obsessed with protecting her older brother, finds that she must now protect herself at all costs. Someone on the council wants her dead no matter what, so she must gather her allies from likely and unlikely places to fight and defend herself with all that she’s got. Unfortunately, she too soon learns that even all she’s got might not be enough to create the bigger boat she dreams of to save everyone.
Dragon your Bones is a much more subtle book than its first part, Bones to the Wind, but it is no less action packed. It presents the reality of life in its most brutal form and although the choices made by the characters might not be the best ones, they are realistic ones. What do you do when society itself is hunting you down? With the enemy on all sides and close to home, Rasia, Nico, and Kai must now choose what path to follow after becoming adults: would it be to fight, to struggle, or to leave?
March 14, 2023
Dragons, Friendship, Adventure
I greatly enjoyed book two of this series. Rasia is fierce and full of witty banter. She and Kai won me over in no time. This book is a fun adventure for those willing to take steer of the wheel to slay a dragon. The world building and descriptions of battles was on point. The author knows how to make you turn the page to see what happens next, who says what, and who survives. I’m looking forward to more projects from Tatiana Obey, who puts the ‘C’ in creativity.
I greatly enjoyed book two of this series. Rasia is fierce and full of witty banter. She and Kai won me over in no time. This book is a fun adventure for those willing to take steer of the wheel to slay a dragon. The world building and descriptions of battles was on point. The author knows how to make you turn the page to see what happens next, who says what, and who survives. I’m looking forward to more projects from Tatiana Obey, who puts the ‘C’ in creativity.
March 1, 2023
sobbing, throwing up, banging my head against the wall, sitting on the highway. i’m screaming at the ending. it can’t end that way…i can now say i truly like nicos character. im proud of how far kai has come and rasia thrived like i knew she would. i am not ready to say goodbye…now regretting binge reading this. my heart hurts, definitely hope for more books about them in the future. it’s rare i like the second book more than the first but this definitely did it for me. i loved it
August 1, 2023
A new fantasy favorite. I really want to learn more about this world and the character work is amazing. I was so invested in the stories, emotions and decisions of these characters. They were all so broken and yet so strong. I will definitely read more from this author.
May 1, 2024
Content and Trigger warnings:
April 4, 2025
4.5 rounded up
Say one thing for Rasia Dragonfire, she is unforgettable.
An incredibly vivid and character driven story full of life, love and the determination to never give up on your dreams for the sake of someone else.
This story is brilliant.
Say one thing for Rasia Dragonfire, she is unforgettable.
An incredibly vivid and character driven story full of life, love and the determination to never give up on your dreams for the sake of someone else.
This story is brilliant.
June 7, 2023
i am SHATTERED
April 2, 2024
4.5. The ending broke my heart.
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