What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bone Mage
“As flesh serves in life, so too shall bone serve in death.”
In the continent of Azu, bones are a source of power. Mages known as osteomancers draw strength from the dead—and the older the bone, the greater its potency. Across the Outlands, tombs are plundered for skeletons to trade, while in the city of Mubal, burial is forbidden and the state cult hoards the largest necropolis in history.
Amid a world of crypt raiders and rival city-states, two young osteomancers are set on converging paths. Tariro, an Obuyo refugee, strives to rise above prejudice and earn his place among Mubal’s elite warriors. Kaiya, a Scavenger hardened by the lawless Outlands, plies her trade raiding tombs for profit under the employ of bone collectors. Though they walk different paths, their fates are bound by both tragedy and chance.
The Bone Mage begins a saga of magic, memory, and forgotten legacies.
In the continent of Azu, bones are a source of power. Mages known as osteomancers draw strength from the dead—and the older the bone, the greater its potency. Across the Outlands, tombs are plundered for skeletons to trade, while in the city of Mubal, burial is forbidden and the state cult hoards the largest necropolis in history.
Amid a world of crypt raiders and rival city-states, two young osteomancers are set on converging paths. Tariro, an Obuyo refugee, strives to rise above prejudice and earn his place among Mubal’s elite warriors. Kaiya, a Scavenger hardened by the lawless Outlands, plies her trade raiding tombs for profit under the employ of bone collectors. Though they walk different paths, their fates are bound by both tragedy and chance.
The Bone Mage begins a saga of magic, memory, and forgotten legacies.
254 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 7, 2025
This is EVERYTHING I have been wanting from South Africa fantasy authors! Oh my goodness! The magic system, the world-building, the politics, the teenager characters with big aspirations and big flaws (I see character growth coming in the next book). The Bone Mage has it all! Adventure, magic, loss, growth, friendships, adversaries, and big political secrets and plots.
I cannot wait for the next one! Well done to the authors for such a stunning opening novel in what I am hoping will be an epic series!
I cannot wait for the next one! Well done to the authors for such a stunning opening novel in what I am hoping will be an epic series!
April 3, 2026
I've been looking for South African fantasy that I can obsess over and in 2025 I found it! Now, I want you to suffer with me while we wait for book 2, yeah? 🤩
The Bone Mage - where do I start?
I loved the world-building and magic system - TBM is set on the continent of Azu where bones hold amazing power, thus Bone Mages, the people who can use the bones' powers, are incredibly revered and sought-after. Some are particularly good at using mandibles to draw truth out of people, others are masters of the spine or rib cage. Every bone has a purpose. And the older the bones are the more powerful they are.
So, now picture School of Magic mixed with Tomb Raider, but in Africa.
I love our main characters - Tariro & Kaiya.
Tariro, the student. Kaiya, the scavenger.
Both unlikely mages, both flawed and ambitious, but their backgrounds, personalities and circumstances keep them worlds apart. Until their paths collide. Ka-boom! The chaos that ensues is tragically beautiful.
I love that the book is character-driven. I love that Kaiya's family is a hyena and vulture, and that she chooses the path less taken.
I love that the places we get to see, like the city of Mubal, are vivid and complicated and politically and culturally rich.
And I love that there is still so much to explore.
Oh and it doesn't feel like it is written by 2 people - vocab, plot, style - it's all consistent!
TBM was definitely my top read of 2025. And the cherry on the cake is that the authors are brilliant, passionate people! 👏
Read this if you enjoy:
✨️ Unique magic systems
💨 Fast-paced plots
🧙🏿 Strong, relatable, flawed characters
☠️ Scary, spooky skeletons
🐆 Familiars
The Bone Mage - where do I start?
I loved the world-building and magic system - TBM is set on the continent of Azu where bones hold amazing power, thus Bone Mages, the people who can use the bones' powers, are incredibly revered and sought-after. Some are particularly good at using mandibles to draw truth out of people, others are masters of the spine or rib cage. Every bone has a purpose. And the older the bones are the more powerful they are.
So, now picture School of Magic mixed with Tomb Raider, but in Africa.
I love our main characters - Tariro & Kaiya.
Tariro, the student. Kaiya, the scavenger.
Both unlikely mages, both flawed and ambitious, but their backgrounds, personalities and circumstances keep them worlds apart. Until their paths collide. Ka-boom! The chaos that ensues is tragically beautiful.
I love that the book is character-driven. I love that Kaiya's family is a hyena and vulture, and that she chooses the path less taken.
I love that the places we get to see, like the city of Mubal, are vivid and complicated and politically and culturally rich.
And I love that there is still so much to explore.
Oh and it doesn't feel like it is written by 2 people - vocab, plot, style - it's all consistent!
TBM was definitely my top read of 2025. And the cherry on the cake is that the authors are brilliant, passionate people! 👏
Read this if you enjoy:
✨️ Unique magic systems
💨 Fast-paced plots
🧙🏿 Strong, relatable, flawed characters
☠️ Scary, spooky skeletons
🐆 Familiars
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews