Malevolent Bones

Bones and Shadow #2

by Jules D'Or, J.C. Andrijeski

“You should kill it. Now. While you still can.”

Caelum Bones, heir to the wealthiest and most powerful family in Magical England, hell, possibly all of civilized Magique, appears to have more than anyone could reasonably want. All of Magique, the parallel world to Earth following what Magicals call “The Great Rendering,” worships the ground his father walks upon, which is perhaps not surprising, given how much of that ground their family owns.

Caelum’s life, beyond charmed, looks from the outside to belong to a commoner’s fairytale.

But secrets lurk in the shadowy halls of the famed Bones estate, known as The Black Tower. His father, Malefic Bones, proudly shoulders a legacy of powerful magic with a greater purpose, that of reunited two estranged worlds into one glorious empire.

Caelum is his chosen weapon. But will Caelum live long enough to do as his father demands? Maybe more to the point, does he even want to anymore?

Fighting to keep his dual identities apart, the one at home and the one he wears for school and out in the world, Caelum finds his mask slipping when he finally meets someone who can see past it. Leda Shadow, the least likely person imaginable, has begun to see past his carefully constructed facade. Unfortunately, it will likely only get her killed.

For fans fantasy academy (with adult characters!)enemies to loversslow burn, epic romancedark and light magicforced proximityangsty, trapped, morally grey herosecret identitiesunique world and magical systemfound family (ensemble cast)plot twists, complicated political world, and big character reveals!lots of banter :)dark cults and hidden enemies Malevolent Bones is book two in the romantic fantasy series, Bones and Shadow, which takes place in a fantasy academy setting with all adult characters in a brand new world, filled with deadly creatures, dark sorcerers, invisible cities, ancient myths, animal gods and spirits, strange magic, and cults obsessed with wiping out the human race.

484 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2026

About the author

Writer of magic, dark and light heroes, strange races, and unusual fantasy worlds, often with lots of found family. When not hanging out with her imaginary friends, can be found drinking coffee at various shops, collecting odd trinkets, and wandering foreign lands with her laptop and a camera. Resides more regularly in California at the moment, although the urge to be elsewhere remains, so it's difficult to know how long that might last, particularly in these troubled times.

Reviews

[Jen T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malevolent Bones is the second book in the amazing Bones and Shadow series by one of my favorite authors, Jules D’Or/JC Andrijeski. Book two begins with summer break and Leda starting her second year in the academy. She’s feeling rather unsettled about the way things were left between her and Caelum at the end of the last book, but she’s trying to move past it. Her magic skills have grown, and she and Alaric have begun a new ‘hobby’ over summer that puts them at risk of being discovered by the Dark Cathedral. Leda’s setting in to her new normal when Alaric goes missing and she finds herself joining forces with an unlikely ally to try to discover what happened.

I truly enjoyed this book! It kept me up much later than I should have reading just one more chapter. I appreciate the time and effort that was put into creating the world, it’s very thorough and intriguing! I like Leda, she’s adapted since discovering that she’s a Magical and she’s really grown as the series progresses. What I really liked even more about the book is how much we learned about Caelum. I appreciated the flashbacks, which help the reader to understand the horror of Caelum’s childhood. I loved getting to know him better and I was happy with his relationship with Leda by the end of the book (this is one of those times when I want to say more, but I don’t want to give any spoilers away!). I’m loving this series so much and I’m really bummed that I have to wait for the third book to be released!

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dimension of Caelum's misery is so deeply hidden under his scoffing disdain, his cold indifference and entitled rudeness that it's heartbreaking. So are his terror, his fear of hurting others, his pain, his scars and his hopelessness.
The flashbacks appearing in book 2 bring a whole new dimension to not only his character, but to Malevolent as well. Such pure, unadulterated evil made my soul dim and my skin crawl.

It all boils down to the realities of our world, the beauty and the ugliness of it, and an intelligent, careful vigilante movement trying to bring the balance of justice to a deeply corrupt, unfair, greedy ruling class. It's dangerous, titilating, unexpected, cunning, inventive and prepared, and it will keep you on the roller coaster long after you'll get off.

Excellent writing gives the characters depth and makes the plot credible, immersing the reader in a wonderfully imaginative, vivid world of politics, abuse, prejudice and magic. It ends in a soft cliffhanger, and I will wait impatiently for the sequel.

[Karen Sorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!! Caelum Bones is a very powerful person. So powerful his father uses him as a weapon. But in walks Leda Shadow and she really sees Caelium as he really is. So many twits and turns. Great read.

For fans of:
dark academia (with adult characters)
enemies to lovers
spicy, spicy, spicy (although you might have to be patient!)
“touch her and die”
slow burn, epic romance
dark and light magic
forced proximity
angsty, trapped, morally grey hero
secret identities
unique world and magical system
found family (ensemble cast)
plot twists, complicated political world, and big character reveals
lots of arguing :)
possessive, protective MMC and FMC
dark cults and hidden enemies

[Talia the book-addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Whenever Caelum says “darling,” my heart stops.

Genuinely.

I’m so obsessed with this series. It’s everything I dreamed and hoped for and the cliffhanger just TORE MY HEART OUT.

I have no idea what’s going to happen and I’m scared.

My babies just need to be together.

I also want to emphasize again how much I’m in love with Caelum. I really want someone to call me darling.

Aside from that. Jules is just an incredible author. The way she weaves the worldbuilding together with the plot? The FEELINGS which are evoked? I love it, love it, love it.

Please. Can I have some more???

***ARC Received in Exchange for Honest Review***

[Leah Desjardins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are really gearing up for the bad guys planned war in this book. The stakes are getting higher and higher, especially for Alaric, Bones and Leda.

The plot really starts to advance here, with more pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. Getting to read about events that happened to Bones throughout the years is a very hard read, but equally eye-opening.

The enemies to lovers is really ratcheting up here too. Finally, we get to see some bones and Leda action and it is so very satisfying to be honest.

This was a great time, but there are some points in the book where you get kinda complacent and distracted, not as fully invested as the other parts.

4⭐️
1.5🌶️

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m struggling with how to rate this book.
I want to rate it higher because really liked the story and it would have been a really easy read… but someone desperately needs to proof read it. There are SOOOOO many errors in the book and it distracted from the story.

3.5 ⭐️

Jules D’Or - please please please fix up all the errors in the book! I want a physical copy but without all the jumbled sentences, words are repeated, and places where words have been added then the rest of the sentence not fixed so it flows.

[Barbara Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait for the next book

This was even better than the first book. Great world building, wonderfully complex characters, and amazing tension in the scenes with the two leads. It also manages to have real heat both emotionally and physically in all the right places but without taking away from story line which is so much more than a romance. It is an intricate and well thought out read.

[Jules Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
Omg I love this book so much! I’ve been in such a bad reading slump and this has been really helping me wanna read more. I absolutely love Leda and Caelum and I need book 3 now so badly. There was only one scene/decision I didn’t care for that angered me a little because Leda even acknowledges that she made a bad decision but other than that I loved it.

[Lauren Snowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need everyone to read these books RIGHT NOW!!!!

Five stars because I literally DEVOURED this book. I could not physically stop reading. I was so upset to learn the third book hasn’t been published yet. I love the characters, and I think the Dark Cathedral plot is really interesting. I’m so obsessed with Bones and Shadow it’s unhealthy. Need more of this series ASAP!

[dlfuller54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So recommend reading this book! Malevolent Bones pulled me out of my reading slump and had me in its grip until the last page. So much to take in between the twists and turns that I’m on pins and needles for the next book. I love this series.

[⚔️TINA Polley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been an instant hit for me. I can't get enough. I was dreading the end, I was so nervous to read it that I literally put my kindle down fir a week because I wasn't ready.....but I did it. this is a series that will keep you engaged and when your finished you keep thinking about it. 5 stars can't wait for more!

[H.S. Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!

Oh. My. Gosh!!! Love, love, love this book and this series! The characters are truly coming into their own as secrets are being revealed!