A Spell of Bones and Madness

by E.K. Condos

Blood.

Daggers.

Golden chains.

Katrin’s nightmares have returned. This time they are not visions of the past, but the present. His present.

Castle Drakos hadn’t been attacked since the ancient war. Until that day. The day everything changed. The day she became Queen. The day she barely escaped with her life in exchange for Alexander’s.

Now Katrin must work with the crew of The Nostos and several unlikely allies to not only rescue Alexander, but journey through the depths of Aidesian itself to prevent Hades from being resurrected.

Because if King Athanas and the King of Harrenfort have their way, the fallen will rise.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy

421 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Kendra Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: I have never SCREAMED so loud about an ARC in my entire life as I did for this book. 5 stars. Easily. No question.

Thank you SO MUCH to EK Condos for this gorgeous whirlwind of pain and longing.

ASpell of Bones and Madness was even more fast paced than A Wrecking of Salt and Fire was (and I really, truly, deeply adored that book). Emily upped the stakes across the board. There were Cardan Greenbriar love letter vibes and physical agony for their beloveds. Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann have literally NOTHING on the loves of my life between these pages. The Greek Odyssey turned romantasy feel is my new Roman Empire.

If you never listen to a single book I've recommended ever again, know that I would drag myself across a beach of broken glass to get you all to read this book.

Be right back, immediately racing to reread both books together again. *swoons*



SHRIEKS IN INCOMPREHENSIBLE WAILS

GIRLIE GIMME THE BOOK PLEEEEEEEASE. LET ME IN LET ME INNNNNN.

[readsbyanaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWOWOWOW! You guys already know how much I loved book one and ASOBAM picks up right where we left off and when I tell you this book consumed every part of my soul, I speak no lies! I love having multiple POVs so I was thrilled when we got more in this book.

The lore was so intriguing that you can’t help but be sucked into the story. Condos does an exceptional job of capturing the essence of your traditional Greek mythology and weaving a unique and beautiful narrative. And the villains?? I mean I was screaming, shouting, and throwing my kindle across the room. But man oh man did this check all of the boxes! If you haven’t read book one (A Wrecking of Salt and Fire) do so and pre-order your copy of book two because this is a must read!

Thank you EK Condos for having me as an ARC reader!

[Effy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I know I am late to the party BUT happy release day to this beautiful masterpiece and its creator, first and foremost. I haven’t been part of an ARC team in a long while and it is an incredible honour for me that I could to return to ARC’s with this beautifully crafted story. I loved the first book immensely, the Greek mythology elements already sparking through then and taking its pique presence in “A spell of bones and madness”was my personal highlight, as someone who is an incredible Greek mythology nerd. I know in my previous post about this series I made the pirate elements a big point, but this is more than just a pirate trope. It’s a complex crafted world with several beloved attributes and tropes playing into each other and weaving a beautiful pictures. The author really manages to capture beauty, sass, love, action, friendship, betrayal, loss and many more emotions with her words, and she hooks you right in it, making you feel and fear for the characters and everything and everyone they love. My personal favourite character was Ember and Ajax, their story gripping me ever since their first interaction in the first book. Naturally, the cliffhanger at the end had me nearly tossing my kindle out into the water, and I need to know how it continues ASAP, I need to know what happens to Ajax, to the kingdom, (and low key? I need to know what’s up with Kohl that lil mf)

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Spell of Bones & Madness✨

Wow y’all. If you love Greek mythology with a twist, multi romance, high stakes, and meddling gods then you will LOVE this series!

We begin this sequel right where we left off after that wild ending in Wrecking of Salt & Fire and this time we get way more POVs!! This book was equally an intense ride and I found myself wanting to keep reading to know what happened next. There is more magic. More torture. New abilities. Plot twists. Hidden identities. The villains are VILLAINOUS. And so much fun mythology. The world is split between land and water with many new Caribbean and Mediterranean vibe places! The found family is so good and expands in this installment full of tension, spice, and plenty of yearning. AND SO MANY NEW QUESTIONS!! I have so many questions and am so intrigued with all these reveals and loose ends. Condos definitely keeps you intrigued and guessing!

I love love loved the romance. The lore was so intriguing and I enjoyed its familiarity as well as its uniqueness. The ending! Woof! I am just so eager to know what Condos has up her sleeve! Can’t wait to see how this continues!

Tropes you may find in ASOBAM are forced proximity, shifters and magic, meddling gods, fated mates and unique bonds, mental speak and pet familiars, greek mythology twists, medium-ish spice (2 scenes, but not super graphic), touch her and ☠️, lots of protective and handsome males, she saves him, found family, “good boy” and a bit of a cliffy.

Emily, thank you so much for letting me be an arc reader for you again! It was such a pleasure and I love your story!

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

A Spell of Bones and Madness is the second book in the series. This book picks up right where we left off in book one. Katrin joins some unlikely allies as they journey to save Ander. More action and twists than the first book. Very high stakes and full of new dangers. They must also journey to the underworld to prevent Hades from returning. Condos introduces a lot more POVs in this one too. I loved getting more from some of the other characters, especially Ember.

If you like your romantasy books with action and adventure this would be perfect for you. It has everything from pirates to Greek mythology to meddling gods. Don’t forget a strong group of characters and an fmc who would burn the world down.

[Hillary Hammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

- multi-POV
- Pirates of the Caribbean meets Greek mythology
- multi-romance
- meddling gods
- Shifters & magic

This pirate romantasy is everything - with magic, betrayal, meddling gods, handsome pirates, heartbreak, and romance.

We begin book 2 right after the insane cliffhanger from the first book. The Nostos crew faces an emotional and epic journey has they rescue Ander and explore the depths of Aidesian to prevent Hades from resurrecting. We get more raw, beautiful moments with almost every beloved character.

I love this world so much - the characters, the war strategy, the magic, the old & new gods dynamic, and of course of the romance between Ander and Katrin.

I’m on the edge of my seat with new questions and need the next book already!

[Ashley Merwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

If greek mythology is your thing you definitely want to give this series a chance!

This book picked up right where book 1 (a wrecking of salt and fire) left off with them planning to go rescue Ander. Through the story they are trying to prevent Hades from coming back and fighting against time. This book was just as involved and intense as book one. More plot twists, more secrets, more abilities revealed, and hidden identities! The story is split between land and water just like the first and also multi POV which i appreciate because then you get to see what is going on with other characters in different areas (on a boat, on a different isle, back home etc).

The romance is good, the lore is intriguing, and just like with the previous book you are 👏🏼 LEFT 👏🏼 WANTING 👏🏼 MORE!

In this book you’ll find:
-forced proximity
-shifters & magic
-meddling gods
-fated mates
-pet “familiars”
-she saves him
-found family
-touch her and ☠️

Thanks so much to E.K. Condos for allowing me to read the ARC!! Already impatiently waiting for book 3!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could not get myself to give a shit after reading 30% of the second book. Too many plot holes, 'dare I say's, and POV's.

[Sydney Victorson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Spell of Bones and Madness is a truly phenomenal follow up to A Wrecking of Salt and Fire! It picks up pretty much right where we left off in book one, and the pacing was relentless. There really weren’t any dull moments. I was fully enthralled every time I picked up the book (and very reluctant every time I had to put it down to participate in real life).

Ander, my beloved…he really goes through it in this book. My heart was hurting for him. I loved getting his POV in this book. Getting to see inside his head rather than just viewing him through Katrin’s eyes was great. I’m hoping we continue getting his POV in the next book as well.

I really enjoyed getting to see how both Ember and Katrin have grown over the past two books. These two are incredibly fierce and strong women. Personally, I wouldn’t try to make an enemy of them, but hey, that’s just me (cough Kohl cough).

We learn a bit more about the magic system and history of the world these characters live in in this installment, and I loved that! I also, as it always is with me, love the Greek mythology inspiration in this series. It’s so fun for me to see these characters and these myths that I recognize while also following a totally new story.

Overall, The Nostos is a fantastic series so far. I genuinely love it so much. It’s Greek mythology meets Pirates of the Caribbean, so if you love one or both of those things, check out these books!

Thank you to E.K. Condos for the early review copy! All opinions are my own!

And out of obligation from my review of AWOSAF and because I still feel this way:

Kohl can rot.

[Heather Altundag · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Reader: 4.25⭐️

OH MY GOODNESS! What was that ending? 🤯 Um… excuse me?!? On another note, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the continuation of the plot from the first book into this one, and how we learn more about some well kept secrets, but then we are left with even more secrets. Has me waiting for the next book to be released. One thing I will say, is I wish the timelines within the book were a little more clear. I kept getting lost in time with how long things would take, and it seemed we would travel through time to see scenes that happen at the same time but in different places from different POVs. I just had to keep taking a moment to figure out how much time and truly passed. But besides that, I think this book is fabulous and everyone should read this whole series. Truly a nice retelling of Greek gods and the myths and legends behind them.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Greek mythology and pirates.. this was a very unique and new type of story! I was hooked from the beginning. This book was fast paced and action packed! I was on my toes the whole time! The yearning and romance side of the story line was perfect. The MMCs were yearning their butts off and I was eating that up and don’t even get me started on the spicy scenes!! The ending omgg give me the next book!! Absolutely a 5 star read! So excited to continue this story!

[Hijabi_booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a sequel that literally drops you in the deep end of where the last book left off. Look no further than this one. I didn’t know this was a sequel when I got the arc. So I went back and read book one first which is ok KU yay. However, I flew through the pages of book one and couldn’t put this one down either. If you love Greek Mythology, if you love epic fantasy and romantasies this is the series for you. Excited for book 3. This book is an enchanting and encapsulating adventure that started from the first word and doesn’t release you until well after the final words. If even then?? What’s better than that it’s written by and indie author so run don’t walk to support this amazing authors dreams.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whirlwind of constant worrying on my end, but in a good way. This was action packed and adventurous. I adored meeting the new additions to the group
I don't have a favorite among the characters involved because they are all so beautiful in their own way! I can't wait for (I'm hoping because that cliffhanger was brutal) the next one!

[Cindy Caballero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful women, devoted men, and a ship full of vengeance-fueled chaos? A Spell of Bones and Madness delivered. Katrin is a full-force storm, dead-set on saving Ander with the help of a found family forged in sacrifice. Ember and Katrin? Unshakable. Ander and Ajax? Obsessed and ready to burn the world down for their girls. The crew of The Nostos doesn’t just face battles — they become the storm.

[Krystan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid 4.5 stars for the second book in the Nostos series. The first book was a surprise favorite for me and I was psyched to get an ARC for book two. I love the characters and the side characters. The mix of pirates and Greek mythology and magic are a big time winner for me.

[Tierney Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ I need the third book 😭

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly what the heck did I read? The first book had so much promise but I feel the second really took a nosedive. The multiple narratives really caused mayhem this book. Storylines were not able to be followed easily. Personalities didn’t change, everyone felt the exact same but it was supposed to be someone new. Last book felt more build up a couple character perspectives so you can get their story and what’s going on and it worked and this felt like everyone needs their own chapter. It didn’t work.

So much confusion of what the plot of this book even is about. Not sure if the author even knows end game of the series here either.

Overall probably not going to read another one of these.

[Bookish Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dedication: To anyone who has ever felt like they weren't worth saving.

From the prologue, I was hooked. I mean, you don’t start a book with letters full of heartbreak from our favorite character & then just stop reading. No. You demand more. You need to know how everyone is doing after that bombshell of a finale in book 1. And, let me tell you, they aren’t doing great. But I love it. No, not in the “I like people in pain” kind of way, but in the “damn, this is fantastic storytelling” kind of way. Emily pulls no punches with this book.

“You may hurt me, strip skin and flesh from my body, sear fire into my bones, but you will never touch her again.”

The consequences from A Wrecking of Salt and Fire (book 1) are not simply swept under the rug & moved on from quickly. Instead, she fleshes them out, making everything feel more realistic as we move alongside the characters dealing with their trauma in real-time.

“It is alright to remember—to remember love. They cannot take that from you. They can never take love from you, not truly, not from here.” She placed her small hand over his heart.
...
Not once that night did she leave, and despite his initial dismissal, Ander was grateful. For once in his life, someone had chosen to save him.

The way she writes is cinematic. Everything feels heightened, even the character-driven scenes that typically make the reader slow down, are written with an emotional urgency so the words fly off the page.

Ander had saved her, time and time again. Now it was her time to do the same. She would burn them all, set the courtyards ablaze, see her castle reduced to ash if it meant he was safe. If it meant the kings were dead. To see those sea-swept eyes filled with such love and longing, to meet those lips even one more time. Wars had been started for much less in ancient times. This was one she’d be happy to wage.

There really isn’t a character I don’t like. Well, I mean, obviously I don’t like the vile ones, but they’re written beautifully wicked. Sometimes, series run into a little bit of an identity crisis & it leaves the reader flailing around, but that’s not the case here. After reading this book, the potential of this series has become increasingly clear & I feel like I know a rough outline of where this journey will take us.

"...What about the Binding Law? What about interfering in the will of the Fates? There will be consequences.” ...
“These are times of war, Katrin, the consequences are worth it.” He was insane. The plan was insane. But it was so insane it might just work..."

But Emily’s writing is so sophisticated that I can’t predict exactly how things will happen, which is both thrilling & frustrating, haha. This is a fantastic follow-up to a book I already loved & I’m excited to see what else is in store for us (especially after that ending!).

If you haven't read A Wrecking of Salt & Fire (book 1), stop right now & go back to read that. This book picks up just after the end of AWOSAF & hits the ground running. Overall, this story expands the world, taking us to more islands & introducing us to more characters.

"...torn between two men. The one who had pretended to be your savior and the one who had sacrificed it all from the shadows.”

Plus, we get a lot more of the myth/lore, meet creatures of the underworld, & there's more magic at work here.

"... You’ll need to save whatever power you have for there. That is where terror can consume you, deep within the caves where the darkness is spurred by spells of bones and madness. It is different than the power you all wield. This is the blood magic of Hades himself. An abomination to the balance between life and death. It will win if left unchecked.”

(And there's one of the best spicy scenes that I just KNOW everyone will be giddy & blushing over when they read it.) Overall, this is such a great level up from the 1st book & it really sets up future stories in this series nicely.

[Ashley - taleswithash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure where to even start… I am so enchanted by this series. I love the mythological elements and the intricate plot and lore. I truly feel like I’ve dove into a new world where I don’t know what will happen next. Even though I’ve read plenty of mythology before, I never know what dynamics and lore will be drawn from in this story. It creates a familiar yet unknown journey that I am so here for!

We really get to dive into the dynamics between Ajax and Ember in this book. They go through so much, and the ups and downs are like, WTF is happening?! The ending with them is just like, OK, we’ll see what happens in the next book, fuck! LOL. I did enjoy their ups and downs though, as you learn more and more about each of them and why they act and think the way they do. It was a great build, and even though I have ALL THE QUESTIONS, I’m excited to see what happens next.

I adore Katrin and Ander. Ander, sweet boy, I was holding my breath through so much of this book for you! You broke my heart. The strength you showed and that moment where I thought it would all be over with Katrin, AHHH! I really had to take a minute to realize my heart rate was going up over words on a page, but I am the way I am. I’ll forever love them but hate how much they had to shoulder in this book. We get the serious side of both of them as they navigate so many challenges. They both feel such deep responsibility for everything that happens, and I just wish they would see how much support they really have. I hope to see their sassy sides with each other again, but they still have quite the journey ahead of them.

There are also SO MANY wonderful characters in this book, and I really enjoy getting to know more and more of them. It takes me a minute to organize who’s who, but it really adds to the intricate plot and makes it that much more exciting to read and try to figure out what’s happening. Then there’s the one character I do not like, Kohl. I eye-roll every time his POV comes up because I know it’ll be some wild shit where he’s basically gaslighting himself. It almost, heavy on the almost, makes me feel bad for him, but then the next line reminds me why I never will, LOL. Sorry, I hold all the grudges, even when Katrin is the most understanding person on the planet.

I cannot wait for the next book! I hope you’re all enjoying this crazy ride too, because this has quickly become one of my favorite series.

[Mary Ann Santay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, Thank you E.K. Condos for letting me ARC read for you!!

Without words. That’s where I am right now. I am going to need some time to process. And SOME ANSWERS 😭 That end….. Ugh for no spoilers I’ll just send emojis 😮😫😭🥲🙃💀😭😐 it was a rollercoaster and I think the ride has just started. I’m both super excited and also terrified for the rest of the series. This is the second in the series so I would definitely read book 1 before this one. Or be chaotic read this first. Who am I to tell you? 🤣 Anywho onto the characters!

The characters….. I love them. Well most of them. And some of them I hate with the white hot heat of a thousand suns. Though I think that just means the Author is doing her job since they are villains. But the other characters some of them we meet in book one, some we get to meet in this book and then some we get more of a background of in this book. Getting to see more sides of the characters we meet in book one was enlightening and I loved seeing more from my favorite characters who get a bigger part in this book. And some of the new characters? Well there is one who I am in love with. If anything happens to them I will riot. And potentially throw something. Jury’s out.

And then the story just continues to intrigue me more and more. I love all of the culture and the Greek Mythology references and seeing how it’s all coming together. I don’t even know where to begin guessing on what is going to happen next or what twists and turns this series is going to take. It’s one heck of a ride and I don’t want to miss it! Even though I’m sure it’s gonna be a painful one. But hey all the best ones are right?

Overall this book was fantastic. It was fast paced and action packed. And the love story between the characters just got even better. Seeing them fight for themselves and each other was riveting. I simply cannot wait for the next book. I am going to need the next book in the series ASAP.

CW: Graphic Torture, moderate strong language, a few open door spice scenes, death and fantasy violence

[Catherine Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words can’t describe how riveting and gripping ASOBAM is! Getting to dive back into Condo’s world with all my favorite characters was a treat! If I thought the last chapter left it on a cliffhanger this one…phew by the end I was putting the book down and staring off into space just utterly devastated and also needing to know WHAT HAPPENED?! Every chapter increases with intensity and the stakes grow higher and higher. The Greek myth lore is woven so beautifully into the story AND Condos has carved out a really unique story that stands so well within the world!

The multi-POV had to be one of my favorite aspects of the book. All the characters are so amazing! Katrin coming to rescue Ander tore my heart open and Ander’s letters + torment were so heartbreaking. *emotional damage* I enjoyed seeing Katrin and Ander together again and also see Katrin really lean into that confident Queen energy!

Ember and Ajax. These two are just so sweet and passionate and angsty! lol I enjoyed finally seeing these two grow closer as the story progressed. I love how each sister is so different but both are such strong FMC’s in their own unique way! I was HEARTBROKEN for my boy Ajax at the end while also super curious how the Lady Of Spring will come into play later.

And Kohl… I started out wanting a redemption arc for him, but the further in I got into the story the more I started to wonder if it was even possible to redeem himself. Maybe it isn’t too late. Maybe… But I’m like this freaking dude RAN at the end and he knew he was being a coward! 😩

All the other characters from Farah to Thalia and Dimitris and Chloe I LOVE SO MUCH! And can’t wait to read more. I just need to know what happens ASAP because Hades is about to catch these hands if he messes with my babies !!! 🤣❤️

[Leapoldnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to return to the crew of the Nostos as they continued the fight against the evil that threatened their world from book one. The author writes such wonderful charcters and throughout her books you can't help but wish you were part of this found family.

The action and the danger keeps you on your toes and rooting for them to triumph.





Spoilers
The end of A Wrecking of Salt and Fire left us with Ander being tortured in the dungeons of Alentus by the enemy.
Katrin and the crew of the Nostos are left to deal with the guilt of leaving their captain behind and how in Odessia they were going to get him back. Katrin also comes to terms with the fact that she does in fact love Ander and he is her fated mate and not Kohl as she had been lead to believe. She is determined to make things right after feeling that Ander's capture was her fault because she chose not to believe him after his lies and yet, he still came for her.

A Spell of Bones and Madness takes us to Ander's home of Nexos and the introduction to his family. As secrets are shared and prophesies are discovered, the complexity of what they face becomes overwhelming. Without giving away too much more, I just have to say I am going to need the next book ASAP!!

Will evil prevail? Or will starlight banish the darkness?

This story has it all. There is forgiveness. There is acceptance and healing. There is romance. There is adventure. And by the gods...there are some swoon worthy moments.

[Kaitlyn Lopez-Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Emily for the gifted copy of this book. I am so in love with this series because I love Greek mythology and I love pirates, so it’s the best of both worlds. This book is getting released at the perfect time because it’s not only for the end of the summer with the Pirates, but it also has little hints of autumn.

Book one ended on a cliffhanger that had me so eager for book 2 and this book was everything I could’ve hoped for and more. This series is the definition of a slow burn and it does pay off towards the end. I enjoy all the POVs in this series and it takes place in third person POV which is my favorite in fantasy. Ember and Katrin’s stories are so interesting and really stand out on their own.

The magic in this series keeps surprising me because you learn so much about different abilities as the series goes on. The imagery in this book is also stunning and Emily does a great job making you feel like you’re in the book.

The book had lots of action and twists. The creatures and demons added such a cool level of suspense for the characters. There were so many things I didn’t expect and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. The book is the perfect length and does leave you eager for book three. I really hope certain characters are okay 🥹🥹I highly recommend this series to any romantasy fan!!

[Emily Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5
Thankyou so much for letting me be part of the fabulous street team and arc team! I loved this book so much! The slow burn and yearning between certain characters 👀 🌶️ . The possibilities of other relationships being hinted at…aaahhh it’s so good! It was so nice to see the journey the characters had undergone, to get certain characters back and try and defeat others. This book definitely left me wanting to read more, I have so many ideas about what might happen next and would really like to see if each characters journeys were worth it, if they can finally take down the big bad boss. As I guessed, Khol was still a coward and a guy just making all the wrong decisions. I really don’t like him. Ander and Katrin are just precious and so are Ajax and Ember. It will be nice to see some more of Dimiris and see what occurs with him as I like him. There is spice in 2 chapters so be warned, it is quite detailed but so worth it when you get to those points after the insane amount of times I was yelling at certain characters to just get on with it. 😅

The book was overall fabulous and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next story! I’m begging for more, I want to know what happens next! Do certain characters survive? Does the memory flash mean something? Will a certain 2 characters finally fall for each other? I need to know!

[Staceinshadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Dark, magical, and seriously unputdownable

A Spell of Bones and Madness is the second book in E.K. Condos’s series, and honestly—it might be even better than the first. It leans harder into the darker side of magic and totally nails that eerie, myth-infused atmosphere. If you’re into Greek mythology, you’ll love how Condos weaves it through the story without ever feeling heavy-handed. It adds this haunting, ancient weight to everything.

The writing is gorgeous—lyrical and immersive—but never so flowery that it distracts. And the characters? Deeply flawed, often unreliable, but completely fascinating. The descent into madness is so well done, and the emotional tension feels very real.

Special shoutout to the villains in this one—they’re layered, chilling, and at times, unsettlingly relatable. No cartoonish evil here; just the kind of morally murky antagonists that stick with you.

My only (small) gripe is that the middle dragged just a bit with all the introspection. But the payoff more than made up for it.

If you like dark fantasy with strong mythological threads, complex characters, and prose that gives you chills—this is one to check out.

Thank you E.K. condos for having me as an arc reader

[RyanIsReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in The Nostos series was a very exciting second installment. If you haven’t read the first book (A Wrecking of Salt and Fire), stop reading now.

ABOUT
The book gets down to business and picks up where we left off from book 1, which is devastated. This book has danger, adventure, and challenges that the crew of The Nostos (and a few new friends) must figure out how to best face. The world as they know it and their lives are at stake and everyone’s skills must be used to maximize their chances of success. If you like pirates, Greek Gods, shifters, and YEARNING - what are you waiting for?

REVIEW

We get a lot of our key characters from book one’s point of views. This means MORE yearning from within multiple pairings! We even get a few POVs from a new side character that I can’t wait to learn more about. There are also a few well written spicy scenes that were very satisfying with all the tension built up! I absolutely loved the heart pumping excitement and danger of this story. There were a couple times I was a little confused on where I was in the timeline, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. Just like any series, I have questions and I hope they are answered in book 3, which I will absolutely be reading!

[FloofyMooseReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Spell of Bones and Madness is the second book of the Nostos series, and the sequel to A Wrecking of Salt and Fire. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the anuthor for my eArc.

Tropes and themes include:
✨Meddling gods
✨Forced proximity
✨Fated mates
✨Touch her and die
✨Found family
✨Twists on Greek mythology
✨Betrayal
✨More than one couple

Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Nickname: Starling

The Lovely: I loved how the author took traditional Greek mythology and then twisted it back on itself a few times. It felt fresh and unique and this entertaining. I also loved Katrin and Ander’s relationship and how they dealt with the aftermath of their struggles.

The Mundane: While I enjoyed the multiple POVs I felt like it made much of the story chaotic. With long-ish gaps before circling back to a character’s POV I often had to flip back to see where their POV last left off.

Recommendation: Well that ending was straight up mean. Ouch. I suppose I will now be anxiously awaiting book three. If you like a pirate/Greek myth themed romantasy with complex characters and a well tensioned plot, I think you would like this book.

[GenXBookBestie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek mythology with piratey vibes? Fated mates, forbidden love, enemies to lovers, found family? Trauma, danger, battles, deadly secrets? Yes to all!!

Picking up from the crushing cliffhanger of book one, this jumps right with even more high stakes and tension! The pace of this keeps you on the edge of your seat! It moves so fast that you'll lose track of time!

We get further world building, more secrets and mystery, and some incredible new side characters. Our MCs are growing in all the best ways and learning from each other.

The tid bits of info dropped throughout are just enough that you think you've got things figured out. Just when you think you know, you don't.
The way this built to the end, with multiple POVs, had me frantic, holding on to hope for a positive outcome.
Then I got to the last page where my response was, "Wait!! What???"
Now, all I can do is wait for the next book while overthinking about all the clues the author gave us! And I love it!

**Also, a certain male character, whose name starts with a K, can kick rocks!!! I yelled out loud at him so many times that my poor dog probably thought his human is crazy.

[Alli Carlson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 stars

Book 2 in the Nostos series, A Spell of Bones and Madness, truly lives up to its tagline:
“A broody commander, a smug prince, and monsters of the underworld—what could possibly go wrong?”
Apparently this storyline can take a total wrong turn.


This installment is darker than Book 1, but the adventure is undeniably creative and unique. I loved the expanded cast of characters and multiple POVs, as well as the dual plotlines:
1. A rescue mission.
2. A dangerous trip to the underworld to face Katrin and Ember’s father and uncover the truth about an inevitable war.

The imagination poured into this book is so impressive, and for the first 60% I was hooked—I even read it in a single day. Unfortunately, the last 40% (especially the final 10%) unraveled into complete chaos. It was messy, confusing, and left me repeatedly asking, “What is even going on?” It took what could’ve been a 4-star read down to a 2.5.

I’m torn on whether I’ll continue the series, which is disappointing given how much fun the first half of this book was.

[Pà · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to get so emotionally invested again, but this book pulled me in right from page one. I gave it 5 stars because it had everything, action, romance, magic, and gods who never stop causing problems. I loved that it continued right after the first book without losing any momentum. It felt like diving straight back into chaos, but the kind of chaos you want. The worldbuilding was impressive, with so many unique details and mythology woven in. The dynamics between the characters kept me hooked the whole time, especially with all the yearning. Every twist kept me guessing, and just when I thought I figured it out. I loved how the story mixed familiar myth with fresh ideas, and the found family vibes were so strong and warm. The villains were actual threats and the stakes felt real. Now I seriously need the next book because that ending? Not okay, at all. Can’t wait to see where this story goes next. Thank you so much to the author and Twisted Tale for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving an honest review.