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The Seer's Bone
An epic fantasy of secrets, shifting loyalties, and the dangerous game of uncovering truths that powerful men have spent decades burying.
A bargain has been struck. The Beggar's King will rise again—if he can carry out his end of it.
Kayo must help Rose escape Bermeia once and for all. But another mystery is pulling at him—and Rose, who feels at home for the first time in her life, is beginning to wonder if she even wants to go.
Lucy never expected to survive saving the king's life. Now she's been elevated to his favorite, an advisor whose powers he intends to use. But everyone—inside and outside the castle—is turning against him. And Lucy has plans of her own. There are secrets hidden in these walls, magic the king cannot begin to comprehend. She aims to pick apart the careful lies he's spent decades weaving and expose the truth at last.
As clandestine plots prepare to plunge the country into war, as unrest grows in the streets, and as the most dangerous people on the Peninsula begin to circle, only what lies buried in the past—and glimpsed in the future—can quench the fire before it consumes them all.
Dark, intricate, and impossible to put down—The Seer's Bone raises the stakes of The Orphan's Code with secrets that could shatter a kingdom.
Perfect for readers who
– Multiple POVs circling the same dangerous truth
– Political intrigue and palace secrets
– Magic that reveals what power wants hidden
– Epic fantasy building toward war
A bargain has been struck. The Beggar's King will rise again—if he can carry out his end of it.
Kayo must help Rose escape Bermeia once and for all. But another mystery is pulling at him—and Rose, who feels at home for the first time in her life, is beginning to wonder if she even wants to go.
Lucy never expected to survive saving the king's life. Now she's been elevated to his favorite, an advisor whose powers he intends to use. But everyone—inside and outside the castle—is turning against him. And Lucy has plans of her own. There are secrets hidden in these walls, magic the king cannot begin to comprehend. She aims to pick apart the careful lies he's spent decades weaving and expose the truth at last.
As clandestine plots prepare to plunge the country into war, as unrest grows in the streets, and as the most dangerous people on the Peninsula begin to circle, only what lies buried in the past—and glimpsed in the future—can quench the fire before it consumes them all.
Dark, intricate, and impossible to put down—The Seer's Bone raises the stakes of The Orphan's Code with secrets that could shatter a kingdom.
Perfect for readers who
– Multiple POVs circling the same dangerous truth
– Political intrigue and palace secrets
– Magic that reveals what power wants hidden
– Epic fantasy building toward war
- GenresFantasy
593 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2026
About the author
C.R.R. Hillin
7 books59 followersCRR Hillin (she/they) is the author of The Orphan's Code series and The Actually Autistic Guide with Elora Dodd (releasing 2026). An American living in Bavaria, Germany, she has several degrees, none of which are useful. Always down for learning new things or fighting the system. Find anywhere @crrhillin or crrhillin.com.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
4,5 ⭐
Aaah gyus, I have so many thoughts and so many notes on this book, I’m drowning in them! And I genuinely don’t know how to talk about it when it’s a second book in a fairly expansive, medieval fantasy - but I’m gonna try. I’m gonna yap a lot, I’m afraid - sorry in advance!
The Orphan’s Code is an ongoing series of possibly 7 books, and usually I would stay away from such long WIPs but book one got its hooks in me so here I am. As a fantasy, it has everything you could possibly want and more. Somewhat medieval timeline and European setting. City build in levels, with the poorest living in the lower level (or even in the sewer system). One plotline following a ragtag group of undesirable orphans who hide from the king and his soldiers and just try to survive, even while there’s a desire for change of their fates brewing. Unconventional and morally gray main characters - autistic and with actual mental health problems. A second big plotline about king Romero and his cut-throat queens playing a convoluted political game, with the other countries and against each other. Well-crafted antagonists you hate while being able to sympathize with their initial motives. A deadly prophecy Romero is desperate to avoid. And finally, the numerous female characters next to whom even the sadistic king often looks like a bumbling idiot. 😏
This non-exhaustive list creates a sense of a vast, barely explored world, while physically being contained in one city. Two books down and I’m getting to know the main players better and forming emotional connections to them, yet I can still barely see the scope of everything and it actually fills me with excitement because I trust the author has it all perfectly mapped out.
I’m a little in awe of how, despite the incredibly slow pace in the first...three quarters?? of the book, there wasn’t even a second of boredom. It almost felt like a trap to lull me into a false sense of security because the last hundred or so pages? Absolutely heart-pounding. The story suddenly grabbed me by the throat and dragged me down the rollercoaster, while I could only gasp and hold on for dear life 😳
While the plot is very interesting, it’s definitely the characters who are the highlight.
Poor Kayo has the makings of a scholar, thriving among scrolls and books, but after his brother Liam’s (the so-called Beggar’s King, somewhat of an unhinged Robin Hood persona) death at the king’s hand, he feels the responsibility of stepping into Liam’s shoes, to keep the orphans going. He’s very dear to my heart, written as suffering from depression and anxiety, which I’ll address a bit more later because seeing that in a fantasy setting is a bit unprecedented.
New to the group is Rose and while she’s the one I’m often struggling with, her character stands out the most. She’s...well. An autistic cave gremlin? She’s completely feral, unlikable, aggravating, bullheaded and easy to anger. Unable to regulate her emotions so they’re coming out in violent outbursts. She’s just frustrating, okay? But she’s also someone you root for with all her flaws because she’s very much capable of listening and thinking, and there’s already quite a huge progress in comparison to book 1. Especially when it comes to Kayo; Rose gets protective of him (while threatening to club him over the head lol) and I like how she softens when Kayo needs it the most and expects it the least.
Dominic, Artemis, and Alysia, together with a bunch of little kids the older ones are taking care of, are all part of the orphans, and the group undeniably cares about each other without feeling quite cohesive yet. They’re being torn in two directions - a quiet survival in hiding, or a desperate attempt at changing everything for everyone, possibly going after the king himself, like Liam did? Heroics are treated as something reckless and dangerous here, often resulting in multiple deaths of innocent people, and I found that spin to be very bleak yet realistic.
There’s always an interesting tonal shift from the big political machinations plotline - where new players are constantly entering the chessboard, being woven into the web of lies and deception, with a few key players holding the most important threads of truth - to this little group of ordinary young people whose backs the city is literally built on.
And I loved how the characters took the time to have conversations about some important topics. Xenophobia and racism, class differences, blind faith and the loss of it in the face of knowledge, misogyny and the role of women in society. Topics you wouldn’t necessarily expect to be questioned in the 16th century...but there’s always the free thinkers and idealists, the visionaries who could see how twisted the world is because rich people said so.
I have to applaud the author for how cinematic and readable her writing is. The page count looks intimidating (though the printed version is apparently not even 500 pages!) but I genuinely didn’t even notice, despite the mostly slow pace with small pockets of action and revelations. Hillin IS overly fond of cursive, using the font to emphasize words during dialogue - which is fine, unless you’re me with an inner voice that gets very dramatic with reading it that way in my head and annoying me to no end (I swear I’m fine lol).
If you’ve actually read all that till here, you’re probably wondering, is there any romance? Well, relationships - yes. So far, all between men and women. Romero and his three queens, with Corrine my absolute favorite (she’s like a beautiful tiger. You wanna pet it but it would certainly be the last thing you would do.), and those two together are goddamn hot. But mostly, we get an incredibly slowburn development of a romantic interest between Kayo and Rose. And when I say slowburn, I actually mean it - come on, they have much more important things to do than moon over each other constantly! Which I honestly appreciate.
STILL - I have to be completely honest here. The reason I’m not feral over them is simple. If Rose were another boy, I would be gnawing on my ereader over them. MF relationships just don’t hit the same for me, even though this dynamic is great in a sense that if there’s ever any kind of power imbalance...Rose won’t be the disadvantaged one, I bet xD
And now, I’ve been itching to address the depression rep. What I’m most interested in for the future installments is Kayo’s character and his mental issues, and where the author takes it. Recently, she posted on her IG account a very thoughtful piece regarding MCs with depression in fantasy, or their lack thereof.
You know what? She’s absolutely right.
Because we often see characters going through grief, a dark period after a devastating loss of a loved one. And they always manage to overcome it, find a new motivation to go on - and that’s just not depression, not the clinical one. The one where the real answer to “Why do you feel sad and hopeless yet again?” is simply I don’t fucking know.
This kind of rep is nowhere to be seen...and for a damn good reason. Who would want to read about a hero who struggles with motivation to do or change anything in a demanding fantasy world? Readers would find it boring because the story would inevitably stagnate.
Because people with depression in high fantasy aren’t the heroes or the villains. Most likely, they’re the rotting corpses the main cast passed by on filthy streets.
So, seeing Kayo struggle in a similar sense, not quite as apparent due to the setting...it’s very interesting and precious. Even though I’m a bit uneasy where the author takes him while still staying true to this kind of rep. Because...yeah, there’s no cure. No miraculous awakening of inner strength and resilience. Just the pure, exhausting fight through the world that continues to spin, with or without.
To be fair, Kayo’s depression doesn’t seem to be quite as severe as what we would call an MDD now, he’s still pretty high-functioning. Still - curiouser and curiouser. I’m here for it.
Aaand this might be my longest mind-dump ever so either I’m sorry for the loss of your time, or good for you to just skim 😬
I may be giving the individual books 4-star ratings so far but honestly, the series in its entirety has a massive potential to become an unforgettable, infinity-star experience. Time (and more books) will tell. Now, excuse me while I go offer my non-existent firstborn to the author for information because I have many questions and she has all the answers. 👀
Biggest thank you to the author C.R.R. Hillin for generously sharing the e-arc with me! The Seer’s Bone is set to be published on August 11, 2026.
Aaah gyus, I have so many thoughts and so many notes on this book, I’m drowning in them! And I genuinely don’t know how to talk about it when it’s a second book in a fairly expansive, medieval fantasy - but I’m gonna try. I’m gonna yap a lot, I’m afraid - sorry in advance!
The Orphan’s Code is an ongoing series of possibly 7 books, and usually I would stay away from such long WIPs but book one got its hooks in me so here I am. As a fantasy, it has everything you could possibly want and more. Somewhat medieval timeline and European setting. City build in levels, with the poorest living in the lower level (or even in the sewer system). One plotline following a ragtag group of undesirable orphans who hide from the king and his soldiers and just try to survive, even while there’s a desire for change of their fates brewing. Unconventional and morally gray main characters - autistic and with actual mental health problems. A second big plotline about king Romero and his cut-throat queens playing a convoluted political game, with the other countries and against each other. Well-crafted antagonists you hate while being able to sympathize with their initial motives. A deadly prophecy Romero is desperate to avoid. And finally, the numerous female characters next to whom even the sadistic king often looks like a bumbling idiot. 😏
This non-exhaustive list creates a sense of a vast, barely explored world, while physically being contained in one city. Two books down and I’m getting to know the main players better and forming emotional connections to them, yet I can still barely see the scope of everything and it actually fills me with excitement because I trust the author has it all perfectly mapped out.
I’m a little in awe of how, despite the incredibly slow pace in the first...three quarters?? of the book, there wasn’t even a second of boredom. It almost felt like a trap to lull me into a false sense of security because the last hundred or so pages? Absolutely heart-pounding. The story suddenly grabbed me by the throat and dragged me down the rollercoaster, while I could only gasp and hold on for dear life 😳
While the plot is very interesting, it’s definitely the characters who are the highlight.
Poor Kayo has the makings of a scholar, thriving among scrolls and books, but after his brother Liam’s (the so-called Beggar’s King, somewhat of an unhinged Robin Hood persona) death at the king’s hand, he feels the responsibility of stepping into Liam’s shoes, to keep the orphans going. He’s very dear to my heart, written as suffering from depression and anxiety, which I’ll address a bit more later because seeing that in a fantasy setting is a bit unprecedented.
New to the group is Rose and while she’s the one I’m often struggling with, her character stands out the most. She’s...well. An autistic cave gremlin? She’s completely feral, unlikable, aggravating, bullheaded and easy to anger. Unable to regulate her emotions so they’re coming out in violent outbursts. She’s just frustrating, okay? But she’s also someone you root for with all her flaws because she’s very much capable of listening and thinking, and there’s already quite a huge progress in comparison to book 1. Especially when it comes to Kayo; Rose gets protective of him (while threatening to club him over the head lol) and I like how she softens when Kayo needs it the most and expects it the least.
Dominic, Artemis, and Alysia, together with a bunch of little kids the older ones are taking care of, are all part of the orphans, and the group undeniably cares about each other without feeling quite cohesive yet. They’re being torn in two directions - a quiet survival in hiding, or a desperate attempt at changing everything for everyone, possibly going after the king himself, like Liam did? Heroics are treated as something reckless and dangerous here, often resulting in multiple deaths of innocent people, and I found that spin to be very bleak yet realistic.
There’s always an interesting tonal shift from the big political machinations plotline - where new players are constantly entering the chessboard, being woven into the web of lies and deception, with a few key players holding the most important threads of truth - to this little group of ordinary young people whose backs the city is literally built on.
And I loved how the characters took the time to have conversations about some important topics. Xenophobia and racism, class differences, blind faith and the loss of it in the face of knowledge, misogyny and the role of women in society. Topics you wouldn’t necessarily expect to be questioned in the 16th century...but there’s always the free thinkers and idealists, the visionaries who could see how twisted the world is because rich people said so.
I have to applaud the author for how cinematic and readable her writing is. The page count looks intimidating (though the printed version is apparently not even 500 pages!) but I genuinely didn’t even notice, despite the mostly slow pace with small pockets of action and revelations. Hillin IS overly fond of cursive, using the font to emphasize words during dialogue - which is fine, unless you’re me with an inner voice that gets very dramatic with reading it that way in my head and annoying me to no end (I swear I’m fine lol).
If you’ve actually read all that till here, you’re probably wondering, is there any romance? Well, relationships - yes. So far, all between men and women. Romero and his three queens, with Corrine my absolute favorite (she’s like a beautiful tiger. You wanna pet it but it would certainly be the last thing you would do.), and those two together are goddamn hot. But mostly, we get an incredibly slowburn development of a romantic interest between Kayo and Rose. And when I say slowburn, I actually mean it - come on, they have much more important things to do than moon over each other constantly! Which I honestly appreciate.
STILL - I have to be completely honest here. The reason I’m not feral over them is simple. If Rose were another boy, I would be gnawing on my ereader over them. MF relationships just don’t hit the same for me, even though this dynamic is great in a sense that if there’s ever any kind of power imbalance...Rose won’t be the disadvantaged one, I bet xD
And now, I’ve been itching to address the depression rep. What I’m most interested in for the future installments is Kayo’s character and his mental issues, and where the author takes it. Recently, she posted on her IG account a very thoughtful piece regarding MCs with depression in fantasy, or their lack thereof.
You know what? She’s absolutely right.
Because we often see characters going through grief, a dark period after a devastating loss of a loved one. And they always manage to overcome it, find a new motivation to go on - and that’s just not depression, not the clinical one. The one where the real answer to “Why do you feel sad and hopeless yet again?” is simply I don’t fucking know.
This kind of rep is nowhere to be seen...and for a damn good reason. Who would want to read about a hero who struggles with motivation to do or change anything in a demanding fantasy world? Readers would find it boring because the story would inevitably stagnate.
Because people with depression in high fantasy aren’t the heroes or the villains. Most likely, they’re the rotting corpses the main cast passed by on filthy streets.
So, seeing Kayo struggle in a similar sense, not quite as apparent due to the setting...it’s very interesting and precious. Even though I’m a bit uneasy where the author takes him while still staying true to this kind of rep. Because...yeah, there’s no cure. No miraculous awakening of inner strength and resilience. Just the pure, exhausting fight through the world that continues to spin, with or without.
To be fair, Kayo’s depression doesn’t seem to be quite as severe as what we would call an MDD now, he’s still pretty high-functioning. Still - curiouser and curiouser. I’m here for it.
Aaand this might be my longest mind-dump ever so either I’m sorry for the loss of your time, or good for you to just skim 😬
I may be giving the individual books 4-star ratings so far but honestly, the series in its entirety has a massive potential to become an unforgettable, infinity-star experience. Time (and more books) will tell. Now, excuse me while I go offer my non-existent firstborn to the author for information because I have many questions and she has all the answers. 👀
Biggest thank you to the author C.R.R. Hillin for generously sharing the e-arc with me! The Seer’s Bone is set to be published on August 11, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The cover for this book really appealed to me, that and the title. Based on that I didn't hold out much hope that it would satisfy me. However, I'm pleased to say that I was wrong. It was a good story, the second in the series. I hadn't read the first book, but there was enough content in this one to enable me to deduce the salient points underpinning this story.
I didn't find out till I'd finished the book that there is a translation section at the end. I'd used Google to get translations while reading it. So bear that in mind to save yourself some time and effort.
There are quite a number of characters and I did keep forgetting some of them temporarily, so when switching from one set to another it would take me a moment or two to re-orientate myself. I'd been too lazy to note down the characters, because I just wanted to get on with reading it.
Bermeia is the city where Rose and Kayo live in what used to be a shrine to the goddess, run by the Divinae. Rose wants Kayo to help her escape the city. Kayo wants Rose to help him become the beggar king.
Romeo is the king, there has been an assassination attempt against him and Lucy has to save his life. She has no choice, she's a prisoner!
The new, third, queen (Auna Sangor d’Allesino) is trying to rise above the second queen (Corrine Beírne), with her plotting, but not getting very far. The first queen is Marisa Saoirse Éorahn Sangor, who doesn't feature much, but has a presence.
King Romero has played a part in Kayo's previous life experiences. Some want him dead, others fear the war that his death would bring.
There's quite a world constructed here, bursting with inhabitants. Busy city sections hum with activity. The characters are rounded and fleshed out, with history, some known, some discovered as you read, some yet to see. It is well written and very easy to read. It's good to read a story of good quality and enjoyable too. I'd definitely recommend it to those who like detailed intrigue in their stories.
I am thankful to the author, OHB and Booksprout for allowing me to read this book for free.
I didn't find out till I'd finished the book that there is a translation section at the end. I'd used Google to get translations while reading it. So bear that in mind to save yourself some time and effort.
There are quite a number of characters and I did keep forgetting some of them temporarily, so when switching from one set to another it would take me a moment or two to re-orientate myself. I'd been too lazy to note down the characters, because I just wanted to get on with reading it.
Bermeia is the city where Rose and Kayo live in what used to be a shrine to the goddess, run by the Divinae. Rose wants Kayo to help her escape the city. Kayo wants Rose to help him become the beggar king.
Romeo is the king, there has been an assassination attempt against him and Lucy has to save his life. She has no choice, she's a prisoner!
The new, third, queen (Auna Sangor d’Allesino) is trying to rise above the second queen (Corrine Beírne), with her plotting, but not getting very far. The first queen is Marisa Saoirse Éorahn Sangor, who doesn't feature much, but has a presence.
King Romero has played a part in Kayo's previous life experiences. Some want him dead, others fear the war that his death would bring.
There's quite a world constructed here, bursting with inhabitants. Busy city sections hum with activity. The characters are rounded and fleshed out, with history, some known, some discovered as you read, some yet to see. It is well written and very easy to read. It's good to read a story of good quality and enjoyable too. I'd definitely recommend it to those who like detailed intrigue in their stories.
I am thankful to the author, OHB and Booksprout for allowing me to read this book for free.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So grateful to have received an advanced reader copy from the author. Seer’s Bone is even better than books 1. The characters really come into their own and start to develop their unique voices. The lore and political intrigue are deepened substantially. The fantasy world grows very naturally around the characters. But most of all, just like in the first book, the characters and their relationships are at the forefront of this fantasy epic. This time around I found myself liking Lucy more and more as her story and history broadens within the narrative. I loved the development of the villain(?) as well. Understanding his background and motives makes him a little more sympathetic and human. There are some interesting parallels to our own world and the difficult times we’re living through, which was done subtlety and doesn’t at all distract from the story or come across as preachy but definitely makes the fantasy setting feel more relatable and lived in. As always, Hillin’s writing is on point and easy to follow with excellent pacing that keeps you wanting to read just one more chapter before going to bed. If you were on the fence at all about book 1, read book 2 and I promise you will be rewarded. I’m already waiting for book 3!
August 14, 2026
I enjoyed reading this story. This is the second in the series and quickly pulls you in. Great escape and I will be watching for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 19, 2026
Once again, you get pulled into the story from the start, wondering how these characters are going to resolve their choices. Fascinating world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely loved. This was a bit longer than the first but this got me hooked. So good. I couldn’t put it down. Ugh I can’t believe I have to wait for the next one 😓😩
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews