Tar and Bone: An Achten Tan Prequel

Sands of Achten Tan #0

by Debbie Iancu-Haddad

Thirteen-year-old Kamal has been waiting his whole life to join the An'chers - the giant ant riders who protect the desert town of Achten Tan. Despite his disability, a crooked leg caused by a childhood injury, he's determined to succeed in the try outs and become a cadet. To overcome the challenge, he strikes a bargain with an unexpected ally.

D'or is a half-elf with a dark secret. When the young giant Tar-tule rider agrees to help Kamal, his hazardous magic and the enemies it attracts put both boys in harm's way.

Now they must evade the fanatic high elves who see D'or's very existence as an abomination, and the dread sorcerer C'naga, whose interest in the boy threatens to lead them both down a dark path, from which there is no return.

Tar and Bone is a standalone prequel story to Speechless in Achten Tan. It includes themes of friendship, coming of age, and making tough choices. PG-13 content is suitable for younger teen readers.

Genres: Fantasy

334 pages, Paperback

Published August 2, 2024

Reviews

[Bieke De Klerck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kamal and D'Or both live in Achten Tan, the city of bones and tar surrounded by the desert filled with all sorts of monsters.
Kamal suffers from a poorly healed leg from an injury he got in his childhood. D'Or, a half-elf, has always struggled to find his place. The dark secret he carries with him makes it more difficult for him to feel accepted.
Kamal dreams of becoming a G'ant rider, D'or chooses a different path than his father, who is a G'ant rider, to become a Tar-tule rider.
Although their first encounter between Kamal and D'Or was not very friendly, they will become very good friends.

I love both Kamal and D'Or and I love that the story is written in double pov.
I think the world where the story is set is so well-created and I'd love to be an G'ant rider myself!
Despite Kamal's bad leg he is such a strong minded person pursuing his dream. The friendship and affection he shares with D'Or are truly heartwarming. They are perfect for eachother and I hope to read more about their friendship turning into a beautiful and strong love.


Here are some scenes/quotes I realy loved:

D'Or: I was drawn to him at first. Intrigued by his big golden eyes and the pale smattering of sandy freckles, scattered like constellations across his cheeks, but then he opened his big bashdun mouth, calling me a smish.
-> their first encounter was not so smooth

More than anything, I longed to show my new charge to D'Or. He'd hatched Lotan from an egg so he'd understand.
-> the scene when Kamal gets Namala and his first thought is to show D'or

Being around D'Orr was reward enough. I didn't need a reward for being his friend.
-> Kamal's love for D'Or is so pure

I thought of my mother. Of Namala as a white pumble and as a full-grown G'ant. What it felt like to ride her, like flying high above the ground. I thought of D'Or's green-eyed smile and the way he tipped his head sideways when I confused him or made him laugh. And hot sticky cakes.
-> all the good things he was thinking about when making his bone-sword.

Kamal: "Fight him," I pleaded. "You won't go dark. Your light is too bright. Your heart is too pure for his magic to sully."
-> awwww Kamal

[Kelly Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fascinating concept for the setting. In the middle of a desert, a city carved into the bones of a massive creature surrounded by a most of tar. City soldiers ride 20 foot tall ants and the city guards ride huge turtles that swim in the tar.

Add in a wonderfully written comong-of-age story of two young boys, both bullied outcasts. One is a half elf son of a G'ant rider. He dreams of becoming a tar-tule rider to get away from over-protective parents. The other a crippled, adopted son of the city healer. And he insists he "is not a goblin." He dreams of being a G'ant rider because being crippled doesn't matter when riding.

Sprinkle generously with magic, massive desert monsters, a mythical evil sorcerer, and a murderous religious sect, and you end up with the recipe for a book I couldn't put down.
I loved the interplay between all the young characters. Such a perfect depiction of angsty young teens learning their roles in their families, their chosen profession, and the world.

Book 3 of a series about the city of Achten Tan, but each book is a complete story that can be read in any order.

[Alex D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC copy of this book and I enjoyed it. The premise is quite intriguing with Tar-tule (that’s giant turtle’s who swim in tar, by the way) and G’ant (Giant ants, obviously) riders acting as a key role in this story.

The book follows two teens, D’or and Kamal, both characters who are quite loveable and I definitely enjoyed reading their story. They go through their journey to become Riders however I wished there was more romantic concepts and ideas portrayed as it was marketed as this sort of novel.

However, I enjoyed reading their story and I feel it was quite easy to get swept up in the world. The world is definitely unique, something I admire and appreciate in a world that is so horribly mundane. The book contained disability representation, which I think was great. I feel like it could have been portrayed better, but having it in there did manage to give the novel another layer.

I would like to give this book 3 stars. Personally, it is not one I would heavily recommend to others, but it was an enjoyable read.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tar and Bone is the prequel to Speechless in Acthen Tan. This prequel can be read as a standalone book or you can continue the adventure into Speechless in Achten Tan where you’ll be reunited with Kamal and D’or.
In this book you’ll follow along with Kamal, a boy who doesn’t know his true origins, and D’or, a half-elf who has no idea that he has magical powers until an incident sees them released. Kamal has dreamed of becoming an An’cher for years. Riding a G’ant and helping protect Achten Tan, it’s all he’s ever wanted. Bu he fears that his disability due to his leg may hinder him. So, he’ll have to work twice as hard to prove himself. When he and D’or help each other neither could have known the implications it will lead to.
Tar and Bone is a page-turner of a YA fantasy novel. The characters are engaging, you get sparks of romance (nothing happens, but the drama is there and it’s delightful). You get two boys who struggle with their friendship initially, but it only brings them closer in the end.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book follows D’or and Kamal, two extraordinarily brilliant boys. D’or, a half-elf, half-human, is a wild and ambitious young man with a temper as hot as the desert of Achten Tan. Meanwhile, Kamal, who might be a gnome—or perhaps something else entirely—with his blonde hair and bright eyes, is on his way to becoming an An’cher (G’ant rider), despite a bad leg caused by a mysterious injury from his unknown childhood.
When the two meet, it seems like fate itself has destined them for each other. Together, they embark on spectacular adventures in the bustling desert.
This engrossing book is one of those rare reads you won’t be able to put down. D’or and Kamal, along with the exciting side characters, will carve their way into the hearts of readers. It feels as though Debbie Iancu-Haddad has built sandcastles of words and documented them in this captivating new novel.

* The book can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the previous books in the series.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world-building in this book was superb, and the characters are well-developed, and the story will keep you captivated. I absolutely loved the idea of a city built from the bones of large animals, surrounded by tar and desert. The imagery is absolutely amazing, and puts you right into the middle of everything. We get to follow the story of two boys, both outcasts, with different dreams, and getting to see the world through both of their eyes adds another level of depth to the story. You really get attached to them before you reach the end. The story moves along smoothly and keeps you engaged from cover to cover. I cannot recommend this enough for fantasy adventure lovers who are looking for a unique setting, evil sorcerers, determined heroes, and so much more.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Tar and Bone. I had already read the other two books in the series, so it was wonderful getting so know D'or and Kamal's earlier story. The world of Achten Tan is vivid and engrossing, and the characters are very well developed. I had a hard time putting this book down, and was delighted every time I was able to get back to reading it. I highly recommend Tar and Bone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ilana Weinstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accidentally read the series out of order, so finally learning the backstory and connecting the dots was great. The world building and character development was really great and the tension between the two characters realizing they are falling in love is perfect!