Bard to the Bone

by Luna Ryder

I’m just a halfling rogue. Saving the world was never in the job description...

Ten years ago, I failed. I watched the greatest evil in the land capture my partner and barely escaped with my life. I’ve spent every day since trying to forget the secrets buried in that cursed fortress.

Now, I’m going back. With a spitfire half-elf, her chaos-loving ice dragon, and a mercenary who doesn’t trust me, I’m marching back into the heart of the Void. We’re seeking the Genesis Crest, an artifact of unimaginable power.

But the fortress is not as I remember it. It’s guarded by a beast of smoke and shadow, and the necromancer himself is waiting. He knows I’m coming. And he knows the secret I’m carrying—one I’ve kept even from my own party. This isn’t just a heist anymore; it’s a reckoning.

Read this if you

🧭 Epic Quest
🌋 World-Ending Stakes
🐾 Magical Creature Sidekick
🌟 Found Family
🎭 Secret Identity
📚 Reluctant Mentor
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
🌸 Slow-Burn Sapphic Romance

Final warning, This is the third and final book in the trilogy. If you haven’t joined the adventure from the start, begin with When Life Gives You Legends to experience the full quest as it was meant to unfold. Every choice, every battle, every bit of chaos has led to this. The end is here... and it’s one worth fighting for.

Bard to the Bone is the hilarious, high-stakes finale to the Tilda Quickthatch trilogy. If you love humorous fantasy, queer found family, magical misfits, and just a hint of unexpected romance, it’s time to roll for initiative and see how the story ends.

Genres: Fantasy

436 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2025

Reviews

[Susan May · Rating 5 out of 5]

 

I really enjoyed this trilogy. The author did a great job creating the characters and the world building. The characters were very easy to relate to as you read about their successes & failures. There is plenty of action and bickering among the group of misfits that keeps the reader turning pages.

In this final book, the group gets separated when a spell goes wrong. Tilda is so worried about Tulip & Rurik. She hopes that they will be re-united soon. As if that isn’t enough for her to worry about she now has to deal with the grumpy assasin Dayna who has joined the misfits on their adventure. In her eyes Tilda can do nothing right and scolds Tilda if she even tries to speak. They still have to rescue her friend. They decide to carry out the rescue first and then find their missing companions. Once the rescue is done Tilda fears her friend is permanently changed and she worries he will hurt his daughter who is desperately trying to establish a connection with a father she never knew. Now the search for Tulip & Rurik is filled with accomplishments and failures along with a constant battle with an impossible assassin. Tilda wonders if she will make it through.

This has been a great trilogy and I am anxious to see what the author creates next.

[Lover of books · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was fun. but wasn't my favorite of the trilogy.

[Tristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Luna Ryder for providing me with a digital ARC of Bard to the Bone. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What began as a playful, D&D-inspired romp has evolved into something so much deeper. When I first met Tilda Quickthatch and her ragtag crew, I expected humor, cozy adventure, and clever references to tabletop campaigns. I never imagined the emotional journey I would be taken on over the course of this trilogy.

If the first book introduced us to the dynamic between a reluctant mentor and a crew of scrappy, determined kids, and the second ramped up the stakes and character development, then this third installment launches the story into something absolutely spectacular. Ryder manages to hold onto all the charm and humor that made this series special from the beginning, while layering in a profound sense of heart, urgency, and emotional weight that hit me like a spell to the chest.

There were moments in Bard to the Bone that genuinely brought me to tears. Not just misty-eyed, but streaming, full-on sobbing because these characters, their arcs, and their relationships had become so meaningful. Tilda remains the core of this story, but every member of the party feels essential, vibrant, and real. The growth from each of them, the way they rise to the challenges before them, and how they lean on each other, all adds to a climax that feels earned, cathartic, and unforgettable.

This series sneaks up on you. It starts with a familiar premise, a retired reluctant hero turned mentor leading a band of misfits into a series of mishaps. But by the end, it becomes a reflection on found family, identity, loss, and resilience. It is a story about learning who you are, no matter your age, and finding connection in the most unexpected places.

Bard to the Bone is a perfect conclusion to one of the most charming and surprisingly moving trilogies I’ve read in recent memory. If you’ve journeyed with Tilda this far, this finale will not only satisfy, it will stay with you long after the final page.

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[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe this is the last book in the series, but Luna wraps it up lovely!

I admire the characters sense of unity and loyalty, even when they’re separated. I find it interesting how Tilda somehow feels defeated as she tries to finalize the mission, but she has all this support from the group of people she’s with, and her loyalty and perseverance reigns supreme!

I found myself laughing at certain parts of the book and the sense of humor used balances the somewhat “dark” parts of the story but it works so well. One of my fave characters is the dragon baby because to me he represents all of their fears, distrust, anxiety, and willingness to move forward with the mission no matter what happens and what might be setting them back a bit - but he is also the rock that keeps them together too. He represents uncertainty at times but also the willpower for the characters to seek change and continuously move forward. I really enjoyed this book and wish Luna would make another book that connects to Bard to the Bone. Everyone must read this book!!!!! It is so damn good and I appreciate all the laughing moments I had while reading it, and it has my fave group of misfits!!!!

[Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful ending to this trilogy! Book three picks up right where book two ended, and we have Tilda and three other members separated from the rest of her party. They decide it's best to save the bard first since they are already here and then find the rest of their party. The addition of my personal favorite grumpy assassin was an interesting counterbalance to Tilda and her constant worry. But what adventuring story wouldn't be complete without shenanigans and side quests.
There is so much growth for all of the characters in this book, and it was hard to pick out my favorite parts, as there were so many! The banter and humor were on point and balanced out the emotional moments. I'm sad that their adventure has come to an end, but the author did such an amazing job wrapping up all the threads that I feel truly satisfied.

"These people were chaos incarnate, but they were my people."

[Susan1566 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun ending to a fun series.
It starts where book 2 ended, the young heroes are separated with Tilda, Calina, Dayna along with baby frost dragon, Frosty, on their way to rescue Gaaron. They’re closer to him and have no idea where the others are.
Surprisingly the rescue works, too easy but the reasons why remain to be seen.
With some help from Dayna, they manage to join the others and more trouble arrives.
This book is a fun adventure. The “kids” have grown up immensely since the first book. Tilda has also grown.
Things don’t necessarily happen the way you would expect but it works perfectly.
There is action, magic, surprises, suspense, humour and some romance.
This is definitely a good read.

[Halcyone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilda is back! With the delicious conclusion to her journey. There is adventuring and silliness. The demons of the past confronted and defeated or made peace with. Prices paid and lessons learned (my favorite, or at least the one that feels all too relevant at the moment: "You don't fix the world by being better than everyone else. You fix it by being better with everyone else")

I found myself delighted by the conclusion of Tilda's story. Appreciating the layers of storytelling that allowed me to be caught up in the story and just enjoy, while also making it super easy to see the gaming table around which this story unfolded.

A wonderful story, well told.

[Hanna Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it concluded a series

Ok, so when I started this series , I was enamored. Fun characters adventure. Intrigue. There was good character building, etc. the second book was also but didn't sparkle like the first.and then came this one. The thing is, to me, the book felt like it was trying to end from about 65% on. It all felt like a conclusion that just wouldn't conclude- like listening to a little kid tell a story, or those movies that have "hidden scenes" all through the credits. Just end already. It had Moments of honesty, but mostly it was just a really, really long goodbye.

[Unnati Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bard to the Bone felt like coming home—a perfect return to a world I've grown to love with each book in the trilogy. It stayed with me long after, and I'm so glad I got to read it before its release on May 16, 2025.
I felt as if I was finally returning home after a long journey called life. It wasn't just Tilda's quest to save her friend and discover herself; it was a deep longing for a place to call home, and at last, to find it—complete with everything needed to make it truly feel like home.

[The Literary Chimera · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Clean
Trigger warnings:
Mentions of death
Past and current trauma
Intense scenes
Blood
Fighting
Magic use

Bard to the Bone, indeed!
This book is bad@$$! Luna Ryder spared no emotional expense on the third and final book of the Tilda Quickthatch Series. I laughed, I cried, I "awwed", and I couldn't get enough. There are few books that I ever got back and read again as I'm always on to something new, this is a series I'd like to read again. The journey told within these pages is an epic one and I am honored that I got to go along for the ride.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a warm hug and a goodbye to beautifully written characters. Development? Yes. Great plot? Yes. Characters you can't help but love? Also a big yes, and to see how everything changed form the first book until now was stunning. I cried at some parts and laughed through the trilogy. Please, do yourself a favor and read this series. The characters will worm their way into your hearts and when it's over, you'll be glad they're there. I don't reread books often but this is a series I will always come back to.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first rule of adventuring

Ok ok. Yes the kids grew on me as this story went on. Tilda is my hero: a slightly broken (she thinks), middle aged halfling who thinks she has messed up and is hiding out trying to live her best life. She has her faults, but her heart is pure gold and she would do anything for those she cares about. This one became all about finding your family and your home and I loved it.

[Phi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely FLEW by! What a fantastic ending! This one was so heartwarming, and I absolutely love all the found family. The happy ending was delightful, and I'm so glad everyone got what they deserved!

[Kimthebookishbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conclusion to a fun trilogy. There was definitely more romance in this one, so be forewarned! I loved that there was basically a HEA for the majority of the characters. Definitely a fun, faster-paced stunning conclusion!

[Divya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great culmination to an interesting series. The main character Tilda is quirky and entertaining. The story is nicely paced and is an interesting read.

[Loren Braunecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great ending

This book had a beautiful ending to a fun and cozy series. The loose ends from the precious two books were tied nicely for a clean ending to the trilogy.