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Nia Rivers Adventures #1
Dragon Bones
Tomb Raider meets urban fantasy in a new, spine-tingling adventure...
Meet Nia Rivers: archaeologist, fashionista, and an ancient immortal with a serious memory problem.
For the last couple of centuries, Nia has been trying to fill in the blanks of her past by shedding light on history's darkest stories. Her motto: the ugliest stories are the ones that deserve to be told the most.
But when a mysterious woman comes forth with a two-thousand year old relic from Nia's past, Nia isn't sure if the story connected to it is one she wants told to the world. Unfortunately, Nia has no choice but to uncover the truth — fast — before a greedy land developer buries the site forever. The fact that he's also an immortal, with a millennia-old grudge against her, doesn't help. Neither do the dark assassins who have been stalking her for centuries, and who've suddenly decided to up their game to end her life.
Letting her enemies have their way might be best for Nia, especially when the truth might expose a horrific crime from Nia's past. But all stories deserve to be told.
Even the ugliest ones.
Even if they say you might be a mass murderer.
Meet Nia Rivers: archaeologist, fashionista, and an ancient immortal with a serious memory problem.
For the last couple of centuries, Nia has been trying to fill in the blanks of her past by shedding light on history's darkest stories. Her motto: the ugliest stories are the ones that deserve to be told the most.
But when a mysterious woman comes forth with a two-thousand year old relic from Nia's past, Nia isn't sure if the story connected to it is one she wants told to the world. Unfortunately, Nia has no choice but to uncover the truth — fast — before a greedy land developer buries the site forever. The fact that he's also an immortal, with a millennia-old grudge against her, doesn't help. Neither do the dark assassins who have been stalking her for centuries, and who've suddenly decided to up their game to end her life.
Letting her enemies have their way might be best for Nia, especially when the truth might expose a horrific crime from Nia's past. But all stories deserve to be told.
Even the ugliest ones.
Even if they say you might be a mass murderer.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2017
904 people are currently reading
1373 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
May 28, 2017
If you are looking for an action packed book with a strong female lead that has a dark past to uncover, and a little bit of romance then give this book a try.
This book has a blend of mystery, romance, and action built around Nia who is immortal, she seems to have lost a part of her memory which she really wants to remember, what she didn't know is all the hassle she would have to go through just to recover the mystery of her memory which can be found in a very desolate place on a dragon bone. (Note a dragon bone is not an actual dragon bone, dragon bones are bones or stone which people used to carve memories or writing into long ago before pencil and paper.) Stalked by ninjas that should not be able to hurt her, because only someone who is immortal can hurt another immortal; Nia feels frustrated about this and wants to figure out just why they keep coming after her, but that will have to wait, because she needs her memory back.
I really liked the blend this book had. This book wasn't what I expected; it was in fact more than I expected. It was like Urban fantasy with archaeology too, not only that but the book also fit in bits and pieces to making up immortal mythology, basicly we get to hear a little bit about what the immortals did long ago and why the memory Nia was looking for was so important which I found really cool, because I feel like it really pulled the book together.
This book has a blend of mystery, romance, and action built around Nia who is immortal, she seems to have lost a part of her memory which she really wants to remember, what she didn't know is all the hassle she would have to go through just to recover the mystery of her memory which can be found in a very desolate place on a dragon bone. (Note a dragon bone is not an actual dragon bone, dragon bones are bones or stone which people used to carve memories or writing into long ago before pencil and paper.) Stalked by ninjas that should not be able to hurt her, because only someone who is immortal can hurt another immortal; Nia feels frustrated about this and wants to figure out just why they keep coming after her, but that will have to wait, because she needs her memory back.
I really liked the blend this book had. This book wasn't what I expected; it was in fact more than I expected. It was like Urban fantasy with archaeology too, not only that but the book also fit in bits and pieces to making up immortal mythology, basicly we get to hear a little bit about what the immortals did long ago and why the memory Nia was looking for was so important which I found really cool, because I feel like it really pulled the book together.
January 25, 2022
This definitely was an entertaining read but not as "spine tingling" as described. But a quick adventure story that was enjoyable after some heavier reads for a while
May 17, 2017
Worth a read
Worth a read but not. brilliant. Unique story but no depth for me in the characters or story. Spoilers contained:
Nia's memory issues loose the character, if a character doesn't remember her past and herself how can the reader invest in that character? Who wants a female character that cant remember friends, lovers and the past. I understand traumatic memory loss but everything?? Ugg. What's the point having a kick ass female character who is immortal but forgets everything? She might as well just be human. It just becomes frustrating. I didn't really care for her to be honest and the name changes one person calling her one name and then another. It is all a bit messy.
Worth a read but not. brilliant. Unique story but no depth for me in the characters or story. Spoilers contained:
Nia's memory issues loose the character, if a character doesn't remember her past and herself how can the reader invest in that character? Who wants a female character that cant remember friends, lovers and the past. I understand traumatic memory loss but everything?? Ugg. What's the point having a kick ass female character who is immortal but forgets everything? She might as well just be human. It just becomes frustrating. I didn't really care for her to be honest and the name changes one person calling her one name and then another. It is all a bit messy.
March 15, 2018
If you asked me to describe this book in three words, I'd use one: eh.
Much of the book was just kind of dull. I went into it hoping for some simple, fun adventure. What I got was a woman who despite being around for centuries, acts more like an undergrad anthropology major than an expert archaeologist. I feel like this concept could've been good and I think the author had good intentions, but the research is so half-assed, it doesn't work. Nothing about her job is believable. She gives high-school level presentations and is lauded as some kind of genius (I shit you not, people actually want to take selfies with her after her academic conference presentation). But I shrugged this off thinking it's not that important, this is just a light fun novel.
Then we meet the love interest: Zane. Zane is clearly psychotic. He literally worships Nia and spends much of his time painting pictures of her. He even prays to her nethers during sex. It's weird. I THINK this was supposed to be charming in that he loves her SO much (?!). It was creepy as hell though and I think it's wrong for Nia to indulge him in these weird fantasies. That said, Zane was probably my favorite part of the book because he was just so weird and hard to predict that he stood out from all the blah.
We also have a bit of traveling around and meeting some other immortal characters, though they're all pretty forgettable (even though they're named after the numbers they represent, I can't even remember any of their names, they were that forgettable). These characters served no real purpose for the plot and could've been deleted without really changing anything.
Eventually, we get to the main plot in which Nia is trying to stop Tres, a man she's labeled her enemy (though she's not sure she's ever met him), who is supposed to be a total douchebag opposed to everything she stands for and a constant thorn in her side, from doing some bad stuff in "China." So yeah, you know where this is going. She meets him at a party and thinks he has amazing boobs and then decides she should really hang out with him more. They do. He says some douchey things and doesn't really indicate that he plans to change or anything and he's incredibly uninteresting otherwise, but she decides she might kinda have a thing for him despite her centuries-long relationship with Zane because, I mean, again, boobs. So thankfully, we get our love triangle going because you thought this was going to be an action-adventure book about lore and exploration and will be so pleased to find out it's not. Instead, Nia will pine over whether she likes her serial killer boyfriend or the jerk with the boobs. Admittedly, this is a tough decision.
There are also random ninja fights.
Eventually we get to the ending with the big twist that you won't see coming because it doesn't make any sense with the rest of the plot. There are some problematic implications of this revelation that I can't really say without spoiling things, but it just adds insult to injury. It's not a real twist ending as it doesn't really explain the red herrings away and thus felt incredibly unsatisfying.
Usually when I don't like a book, I say "but if you're into X/you don't mind Y, then you might like this book." Not really sure I can say that here. This book has its fans, but I'm not sure why. The lore was shallow and dull and instead of focusing on anything that might've made the book more interesting, we get a weird love triangle with a weirdo and a guy I have no idea why she likes—oh wait, that's right, his boobs—that I don't think would be all that interesting even if you like that sort of trope. The prose isn't terrible, the action is decent, and I think the premise could be good if more work were put into it (maybe the sequels are better?). But the best thing I can really say for the book is that it didn't do a ton of things to specifically piss me off (which is why I gave it a whole 2 stars instead of 1). I was mostly just disappointed and a little bored when I wasn't laughing at Zane's everything.
Much of the book was just kind of dull. I went into it hoping for some simple, fun adventure. What I got was a woman who despite being around for centuries, acts more like an undergrad anthropology major than an expert archaeologist. I feel like this concept could've been good and I think the author had good intentions, but the research is so half-assed, it doesn't work. Nothing about her job is believable. She gives high-school level presentations and is lauded as some kind of genius (I shit you not, people actually want to take selfies with her after her academic conference presentation). But I shrugged this off thinking it's not that important, this is just a light fun novel.
Then we meet the love interest: Zane. Zane is clearly psychotic. He literally worships Nia and spends much of his time painting pictures of her. He even prays to her nethers during sex. It's weird. I THINK this was supposed to be charming in that he loves her SO much (?!). It was creepy as hell though and I think it's wrong for Nia to indulge him in these weird fantasies. That said, Zane was probably my favorite part of the book because he was just so weird and hard to predict that he stood out from all the blah.
We also have a bit of traveling around and meeting some other immortal characters, though they're all pretty forgettable (even though they're named after the numbers they represent, I can't even remember any of their names, they were that forgettable). These characters served no real purpose for the plot and could've been deleted without really changing anything.
Eventually, we get to the main plot in which Nia is trying to stop Tres, a man she's labeled her enemy (though she's not sure she's ever met him), who is supposed to be a total douchebag opposed to everything she stands for and a constant thorn in her side, from doing some bad stuff in "China." So yeah, you know where this is going. She meets him at a party and thinks he has amazing boobs and then decides she should really hang out with him more. They do. He says some douchey things and doesn't really indicate that he plans to change or anything and he's incredibly uninteresting otherwise, but she decides she might kinda have a thing for him despite her centuries-long relationship with Zane because, I mean, again, boobs. So thankfully, we get our love triangle going because you thought this was going to be an action-adventure book about lore and exploration and will be so pleased to find out it's not. Instead, Nia will pine over whether she likes her serial killer boyfriend or the jerk with the boobs. Admittedly, this is a tough decision.
There are also random ninja fights.
Eventually we get to the ending with the big twist that you won't see coming because it doesn't make any sense with the rest of the plot. There are some problematic implications of this revelation that I can't really say without spoiling things, but it just adds insult to injury. It's not a real twist ending as it doesn't really explain the red herrings away and thus felt incredibly unsatisfying.
Usually when I don't like a book, I say "but if you're into X/you don't mind Y, then you might like this book." Not really sure I can say that here. This book has its fans, but I'm not sure why. The lore was shallow and dull and instead of focusing on anything that might've made the book more interesting, we get a weird love triangle with a weirdo and a guy I have no idea why she likes—oh wait, that's right, his boobs—that I don't think would be all that interesting even if you like that sort of trope. The prose isn't terrible, the action is decent, and I think the premise could be good if more work were put into it (maybe the sequels are better?). But the best thing I can really say for the book is that it didn't do a ton of things to specifically piss me off (which is why I gave it a whole 2 stars instead of 1). I was mostly just disappointed and a little bored when I wasn't laughing at Zane's everything.
April 1, 2020
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Dragon Bones is the first installment in co-authors Jasmine Walt and Ines Johnson's Nia Rivers Adventures. Dr. Nia Rivers is an archaeologist, fashionista, and immortal who has severe memory issues of her past. When Loren Van Alst, daughter of an archeologist who lost credulity for faking an artifact, approaches Nia with a Dragon Bone that appears to not only be 2,000 years old, but a written account about the Xia who used to live in China and are rumored to having been led by a queen, Nia immediately recognizes the artifact as genuine since she wrote that.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Dragon Bones is the first installment in co-authors Jasmine Walt and Ines Johnson's Nia Rivers Adventures. Dr. Nia Rivers is an archaeologist, fashionista, and immortal who has severe memory issues of her past. When Loren Van Alst, daughter of an archeologist who lost credulity for faking an artifact, approaches Nia with a Dragon Bone that appears to not only be 2,000 years old, but a written account about the Xia who used to live in China and are rumored to having been led by a queen, Nia immediately recognizes the artifact as genuine since she wrote that.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
August 28, 2017
This series should be right up my alley. It is a mixture of Indiana Jones, Forever (TV series) and Hancock (movie). Why these 3?
Indiana Jones because Nia wants to uncover the mysteries of the past and share it with the world. In the first chapter the author describes a dig site which reveals that there may have been a culture before the Mayans. She goes out of her way to protect this site against Tomb Raiders. I really like novels that show a tiny bit of history, especially if they offer a lot of fact garnished with a little fiction and not the other way around.
In Forever there is an immortal that works as a mortician and helps the police solve crimes. Some of these crimes he can solve, because he has memories of past events that link to the present crime. When the daughter of an archeologist who lost his credulity for faking an artifact approaches Nia with a Dragon Bone, a written account about the Xia, who used to live in China and are rumored to having been led by a queen, Nia immediately recognizes the artifact as genuine since she wrote that. Of course there wouldn't be much of a mystery to uncover, if Nia remembered everything, so the Immortals only remember more recent events (probably to keep them from going insane). Nia apparently keeps away from China because of a traumatic experience even though she doesn't remember what it was.
These two aspects make for a really interesting premise, but the third comparison is my problem and responsible for me having real problems continuing the story.
Now Hancock may not be the most obvious comparison, but that is because only part of the story made it into this book. For all those who haven't seen the movie. Hancock is a guy with super powers and some serious attitude issues, which makes him one of the most despised people in the world. A PR agent comes along and wants to help Hancock to become a better hero. The first ⅔ of Hancock are an action flick and actually pretty funny. In the last third a new element is introduced. Hancock and the PR agents wife belong to a race of Immortals. When they spend to much time together, they start becoming mortal. For some reason they are always hunted (not even by particular people, but they generally draw conflict) and Hancock and his wife are the last two. Because of this mortality issue they separated a long time ago and he forgot about her. In the end she almost dies and he saves her by flying away giving her the chance to recuperate her mortality and survive. He then moves to another city, but stays in regular contact with the PR agent by phone.
This particular overdramatic storyline already sucked in Hancock and not only because its tone didn't suit the rest of the movie. The author took only that Immortals part and even enhanced it. By staying together their immune system is weakened resulting in life threatening diseases. by separating they don't recuperate immediately, but have to spend equal times apart as together. Staying in touch by phone etc. is hard, as technology acts up when two Immortals communicate. So prepare for Nia almost crying because the Skype conversation with her hubby froze.
I find this part so incredibly melodramatic that I haven't been able to convince myself to pick the book up again and finish the story.
Update 15/08/17
I finally finished reading the book. The 1st third really dragged. I never read more than 2-3 pages at a time. But shortly after the meeting with Aleph Nia finally sets off to uncover the secrets of the Xia and the Lin Kuie and that is were it starts getting interesting. Based on that I give the book 3 1/2 stars.
What I liked was the well researched history part concerning the Xia. In future installments I just hope that there will be a little more research and visits of archeological sites involved then just basing everything either on Nia's memories or someone else's research (in this case Loren's father).
The mystery behind the twelve immortals, who are named after the Aramaic alphabet (with Aleph being 1, Tres 3, Zane 7 and Nia 9) and as Nia believes are descended from the Nephilim is also quite intriguing. It will also be interesting to see, which interpretation of the Nephilim myth the authors will base the twelve on. Simply based on their number they could be a twist on the 12 spies associated with the Nephilim.
Above I've already ranted about the part of the Immortals I didn't like.
The characters themselves have potential, but are a little shallow at the moment. Loren became a tomb raider to vindicate her father. Her moral code is somewhat lose and she uses her womanly wiles to get what she wants. Other than that she didn't have an awful lot to do here, but she has potential.
Nia herself is what you call a straight arrow and she truly believes in conserving the past, so that we can learn from our mistakes. However, it is also implied that she has the tendency to run from troubles both literally and figuratively by erasing the memories, which is why she has no records of her time with the Xia, Tres or Zane (other than her memories of the last 500 years).
Which brings us to our love triangle. Nia recovers some vague memories of being with Tres, but knows nothing more. She is angry at Tres for destroying history, but I have to say that he probably also does so to protect the twelve. Just think of Zane having painted Nia for the last 500 years or her leaving behind records such as the Dragon Bones. This can only lead to problems.
Zane on the other hand is kind of creepy. Before she sets of to China he explains his feelings to Nia. These reek of obsession. Also, he slips up and basically admits that they have known each other way longer than 500 years. But he keeps these memories from her. That per se isn't necessarily bad, maybe he prefers living in the present. But he knows what happened in China and travels there to keep Nia from going to the Xia. However, he does so by trying to convince her to spend their anniversary together instead of just telling her and given her dreams about being sacrificed therefore endangers her life. And that makes him really shady. But also interesting, because I now want to know how this plays out.
Indiana Jones because Nia wants to uncover the mysteries of the past and share it with the world. In the first chapter the author describes a dig site which reveals that there may have been a culture before the Mayans. She goes out of her way to protect this site against Tomb Raiders. I really like novels that show a tiny bit of history, especially if they offer a lot of fact garnished with a little fiction and not the other way around.
In Forever there is an immortal that works as a mortician and helps the police solve crimes. Some of these crimes he can solve, because he has memories of past events that link to the present crime. When the daughter of an archeologist who lost his credulity for faking an artifact approaches Nia with a Dragon Bone, a written account about the Xia, who used to live in China and are rumored to having been led by a queen, Nia immediately recognizes the artifact as genuine since she wrote that. Of course there wouldn't be much of a mystery to uncover, if Nia remembered everything, so the Immortals only remember more recent events (probably to keep them from going insane). Nia apparently keeps away from China because of a traumatic experience even though she doesn't remember what it was.
These two aspects make for a really interesting premise, but the third comparison is my problem and responsible for me having real problems continuing the story.
Now Hancock may not be the most obvious comparison, but that is because only part of the story made it into this book. For all those who haven't seen the movie. Hancock is a guy with super powers and some serious attitude issues, which makes him one of the most despised people in the world. A PR agent comes along and wants to help Hancock to become a better hero. The first ⅔ of Hancock are an action flick and actually pretty funny. In the last third a new element is introduced. Hancock and the PR agents wife belong to a race of Immortals. When they spend to much time together, they start becoming mortal. For some reason they are always hunted (not even by particular people, but they generally draw conflict) and Hancock and his wife are the last two. Because of this mortality issue they separated a long time ago and he forgot about her. In the end she almost dies and he saves her by flying away giving her the chance to recuperate her mortality and survive. He then moves to another city, but stays in regular contact with the PR agent by phone.
This particular overdramatic storyline already sucked in Hancock and not only because its tone didn't suit the rest of the movie. The author took only that Immortals part and even enhanced it. By staying together their immune system is weakened resulting in life threatening diseases. by separating they don't recuperate immediately, but have to spend equal times apart as together. Staying in touch by phone etc. is hard, as technology acts up when two Immortals communicate. So prepare for Nia almost crying because the Skype conversation with her hubby froze.
I find this part so incredibly melodramatic that I haven't been able to convince myself to pick the book up again and finish the story.
Update 15/08/17
I finally finished reading the book. The 1st third really dragged. I never read more than 2-3 pages at a time. But shortly after the meeting with Aleph Nia finally sets off to uncover the secrets of the Xia and the Lin Kuie and that is were it starts getting interesting. Based on that I give the book 3 1/2 stars.
What I liked was the well researched history part concerning the Xia. In future installments I just hope that there will be a little more research and visits of archeological sites involved then just basing everything either on Nia's memories or someone else's research (in this case Loren's father).
The mystery behind the twelve immortals, who are named after the Aramaic alphabet (with Aleph being 1, Tres 3, Zane 7 and Nia 9) and as Nia believes are descended from the Nephilim is also quite intriguing. It will also be interesting to see, which interpretation of the Nephilim myth the authors will base the twelve on. Simply based on their number they could be a twist on the 12 spies associated with the Nephilim.
Above I've already ranted about the part of the Immortals I didn't like.
The characters themselves have potential, but are a little shallow at the moment. Loren became a tomb raider to vindicate her father. Her moral code is somewhat lose and she uses her womanly wiles to get what she wants. Other than that she didn't have an awful lot to do here, but she has potential.
Nia herself is what you call a straight arrow and she truly believes in conserving the past, so that we can learn from our mistakes. However, it is also implied that she has the tendency to run from troubles both literally and figuratively by erasing the memories, which is why she has no records of her time with the Xia, Tres or Zane (other than her memories of the last 500 years).
Which brings us to our love triangle. Nia recovers some vague memories of being with Tres, but knows nothing more. She is angry at Tres for destroying history, but I have to say that he probably also does so to protect the twelve. Just think of Zane having painted Nia for the last 500 years or her leaving behind records such as the Dragon Bones. This can only lead to problems.
Zane on the other hand is kind of creepy. Before she sets of to China he explains his feelings to Nia. These reek of obsession. Also, he slips up and basically admits that they have known each other way longer than 500 years. But he keeps these memories from her. That per se isn't necessarily bad, maybe he prefers living in the present. But he knows what happened in China and travels there to keep Nia from going to the Xia. However, he does so by trying to convince her to spend their anniversary together instead of just telling her and given her dreams about being sacrificed therefore endangers her life. And that makes him really shady. But also interesting, because I now want to know how this plays out.
December 27, 2022
EXCELLENT slow burn romance!
October 8, 2017
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
May 12, 2017
Great new introductory story into a fascinating and captivating series.
Nia Rivers is a skilled archaeologist that tends to avoid much publicity and focuses on revealing historical secrets, especially the overlooked ones- intentionally or not. Acting on her motto that all stories should be told, even the ugly ones, she cannot resist the temptation that offers unexpectedly. Approached by Loren, the daughter of a scientist with tainted reputation, she holds in her hand a relic from her own past, with inscription in a long dead language. However, if she wants to uncover this particular secret, she must travel to China.. and she was avoiding that for the last two millenia. Moreover, the true relic is hidden on a site where a developer intends to build modern residences. Tris is immortal, just like Nia, part of the twelve, holding a grudge against Nia from past long forgotten by her unreliable memory. If these black holes in her memory weren´t enough, the complications in the life of an Immortal, romantical interests pushing Nia one way or another, hunt for a treasured relic and more frequent ninja attacks will certainly make it up for the reader to enjoy a whirlwind of adventure and emotions.
Comparing to previous works I have read by Jasmine Walt, this story is a shade darker, and standing out in a very positive way. Smooth, well-written, holding the interest of the reader the whole time. You do not even have time to think about taking a break because you are supplied with one exciting hit after another. With many twists and turns, the story brings up much light on the dark secrets covered for centuries and before you put yourself together from one surprise, another is already waiting on the next page.
Along with great story development, I must praise the work of the authors with the world development. They must have done extensive research to collect all the historical facts and knowledge and build a believable magical world on its base. The fantasy tangles with the historical facts, geographical knowledge and mythology in a very realistic way.
Most pleased I was with the characters. Nia is by far the most complex and outstanding lead character I have ever found in Jasmine´s books, and one of the best heroines I came across in books in several years. She is very mature, full of wisdom and sentiment, protective and curious, with much developed personality that corresponds to her age and experience despite her memory issues. Both Tris and Zane as the male characters connected to Nia are formed with attention to every detail, conflicted and attracting the reader´s interest in different ways. They both have their talents, abilities and virtues you will love them for, and vices and flaws showing their dark side. None of them is who he appears to be on the spot. But, I must admit, maybe I loved Loren more - she was the cherry on top of this story, bringing excitement, driving action, and her sassy comments and amusing behavior sparkled over the pages. She is totally my girl.
If you are a fan of this genre, this is a must read for you. If you are new to it, this is a safe bet for a first pick - and you will be definitely attracted to read more books. At least in this series.
Absolutely recommended.
I have read an ARC. Twice. Which is a fact that says something. And nobody needs to persuade me to write a review - honestly, such a long praise would come only from my own will.
Nia Rivers is a skilled archaeologist that tends to avoid much publicity and focuses on revealing historical secrets, especially the overlooked ones- intentionally or not. Acting on her motto that all stories should be told, even the ugly ones, she cannot resist the temptation that offers unexpectedly. Approached by Loren, the daughter of a scientist with tainted reputation, she holds in her hand a relic from her own past, with inscription in a long dead language. However, if she wants to uncover this particular secret, she must travel to China.. and she was avoiding that for the last two millenia. Moreover, the true relic is hidden on a site where a developer intends to build modern residences. Tris is immortal, just like Nia, part of the twelve, holding a grudge against Nia from past long forgotten by her unreliable memory. If these black holes in her memory weren´t enough, the complications in the life of an Immortal, romantical interests pushing Nia one way or another, hunt for a treasured relic and more frequent ninja attacks will certainly make it up for the reader to enjoy a whirlwind of adventure and emotions.
Comparing to previous works I have read by Jasmine Walt, this story is a shade darker, and standing out in a very positive way. Smooth, well-written, holding the interest of the reader the whole time. You do not even have time to think about taking a break because you are supplied with one exciting hit after another. With many twists and turns, the story brings up much light on the dark secrets covered for centuries and before you put yourself together from one surprise, another is already waiting on the next page.
Along with great story development, I must praise the work of the authors with the world development. They must have done extensive research to collect all the historical facts and knowledge and build a believable magical world on its base. The fantasy tangles with the historical facts, geographical knowledge and mythology in a very realistic way.
Most pleased I was with the characters. Nia is by far the most complex and outstanding lead character I have ever found in Jasmine´s books, and one of the best heroines I came across in books in several years. She is very mature, full of wisdom and sentiment, protective and curious, with much developed personality that corresponds to her age and experience despite her memory issues. Both Tris and Zane as the male characters connected to Nia are formed with attention to every detail, conflicted and attracting the reader´s interest in different ways. They both have their talents, abilities and virtues you will love them for, and vices and flaws showing their dark side. None of them is who he appears to be on the spot. But, I must admit, maybe I loved Loren more - she was the cherry on top of this story, bringing excitement, driving action, and her sassy comments and amusing behavior sparkled over the pages. She is totally my girl.
If you are a fan of this genre, this is a must read for you. If you are new to it, this is a safe bet for a first pick - and you will be definitely attracted to read more books. At least in this series.
Absolutely recommended.
I have read an ARC. Twice. Which is a fact that says something. And nobody needs to persuade me to write a review - honestly, such a long praise would come only from my own will.
May 13, 2017
I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first in a new series and I was so excited to read it. I knew that I'd be in for a treat and unable to pull myself away and I wasn't disappointed!
Nia is an Archaeologist and an Immortal though she has no idea where she came from and doesn't remember her life past six hundred years or so ago which is probably a part of the reason why she's so drawn to lost cultures and wanting to reveal them to the public. Also she's been with the same guy for the last five hundred years who is also an Immortal who named Zane who was once known as Set (yes the Egyptian God) who she can only spend a limited time with him or they both will weaken and eventually die if together for too long. Then there's Tres who is also part of Nia's past though she doesn't start to remember until after they meet up by chance in the present and she feels a connection to him. So Nia's life is full of mystery and surprises and her life is about to get more complicated.
Nia finds herself teaming up with Loren Van Alst who is a tomb raider and is determined to clear her late Dad's name on a scandal in China and Nia wants to learn the truth about a lost culture who may have been connected to her thousands of years ago. Mr. Van Alst was once respected in the Archaeology World until he forged writing on a supposed Dragon Bone about the lost Xia culture in China and recently died in disgrace.
This unlikely duo become friends though are both in way over their heads and have no idea what kind of disaster is about to blow up. Nia is determined to learn why China seems to be where her nightmares stem from, set the truth free about the Xia people who were nearly wiped out, find out where a couple of her friends disappeared, why she's drawn to the broody Tres who apparently remembers her and whether she might have done something to the Xia people but not remembered.
What Nia learns will blow things right out of the water and cause her to question many things that she once accepted and grew accustomed to, including her relationship with Zane.
I really enjoyed reading this book and Loren is such a riot. I would for sure want her in my corner. I can't wait to see what new adventures Nia will go on. Hopefully she'll be able to fill in some of the holes in her memory and maybe have more encounters with Mr. Broody (aka Tres).
I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself!
This is the first in a new series and I was so excited to read it. I knew that I'd be in for a treat and unable to pull myself away and I wasn't disappointed!
Nia is an Archaeologist and an Immortal though she has no idea where she came from and doesn't remember her life past six hundred years or so ago which is probably a part of the reason why she's so drawn to lost cultures and wanting to reveal them to the public. Also she's been with the same guy for the last five hundred years who is also an Immortal who named Zane who was once known as Set (yes the Egyptian God) who she can only spend a limited time with him or they both will weaken and eventually die if together for too long. Then there's Tres who is also part of Nia's past though she doesn't start to remember until after they meet up by chance in the present and she feels a connection to him. So Nia's life is full of mystery and surprises and her life is about to get more complicated.
Nia finds herself teaming up with Loren Van Alst who is a tomb raider and is determined to clear her late Dad's name on a scandal in China and Nia wants to learn the truth about a lost culture who may have been connected to her thousands of years ago. Mr. Van Alst was once respected in the Archaeology World until he forged writing on a supposed Dragon Bone about the lost Xia culture in China and recently died in disgrace.
This unlikely duo become friends though are both in way over their heads and have no idea what kind of disaster is about to blow up. Nia is determined to learn why China seems to be where her nightmares stem from, set the truth free about the Xia people who were nearly wiped out, find out where a couple of her friends disappeared, why she's drawn to the broody Tres who apparently remembers her and whether she might have done something to the Xia people but not remembered.
What Nia learns will blow things right out of the water and cause her to question many things that she once accepted and grew accustomed to, including her relationship with Zane.
I really enjoyed reading this book and Loren is such a riot. I would for sure want her in my corner. I can't wait to see what new adventures Nia will go on. Hopefully she'll be able to fill in some of the holes in her memory and maybe have more encounters with Mr. Broody (aka Tres).
I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself!
January 11, 2018
I cannot BELIEVE how good this book was.
OK so like, urban fantasy is one of those things that you like because of predictability, but you also keep reading in the hope of something fresh.
Dragon Bones is really evocative of lots of other “classics” in the genre—unabashedly making references to Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and is really similar to the Georgia Kincaid series in a lot of ways. But it’s also incredibly inventive. The idea of immortals spanning across millennia of cultures and languages and replaying out the same stories over and over again is fantastic, and not something I’ve seen since that one series about Adam and Eve, and even that was a bit too heavy on the weird Garden of Eden.
The best part of this book is the irreverent nature it has. I hate urban fantasy that takes itself too seriously—the whole “love/hate with the immortal omg I’m so ANGSTY” thing is AWFUL. And quite frankly, there aren’t enough real good gal pals in urban fantasy. It’s all “oh I have all these men in my life who are after me for my love.”
I actually really appreciate the love triangle because *SPOILER ALERT* men who can put aside their differences for the woman they love are SMART MEN. Thank god there was no nonsensical posturing and any violence and crimes actually has really good justification. I would hate to hate Zayn. I already hate Tres, but hey, what can ya do? He was introduced as the stereotypical urban fantasy Love Interest and it’s great because Nia clearly doesn’t like him all that much, and he’s getting off on being unrequited.
I would say that the whole clone/chinese thingie was the only thing that made me hesitant. THe climax of the novel felt too much like Temple of Doom to me, which I think was probably on purpose but also a regrettable decision in an otherwise super culturally aware and hyper intersectional novel. But in the end, I was hooked. Thank goodness for a new series on kindle unlimited!!!
OK so like, urban fantasy is one of those things that you like because of predictability, but you also keep reading in the hope of something fresh.
Dragon Bones is really evocative of lots of other “classics” in the genre—unabashedly making references to Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and is really similar to the Georgia Kincaid series in a lot of ways. But it’s also incredibly inventive. The idea of immortals spanning across millennia of cultures and languages and replaying out the same stories over and over again is fantastic, and not something I’ve seen since that one series about Adam and Eve, and even that was a bit too heavy on the weird Garden of Eden.
The best part of this book is the irreverent nature it has. I hate urban fantasy that takes itself too seriously—the whole “love/hate with the immortal omg I’m so ANGSTY” thing is AWFUL. And quite frankly, there aren’t enough real good gal pals in urban fantasy. It’s all “oh I have all these men in my life who are after me for my love.”
I actually really appreciate the love triangle because *SPOILER ALERT* men who can put aside their differences for the woman they love are SMART MEN. Thank god there was no nonsensical posturing and any violence and crimes actually has really good justification. I would hate to hate Zayn. I already hate Tres, but hey, what can ya do? He was introduced as the stereotypical urban fantasy Love Interest and it’s great because Nia clearly doesn’t like him all that much, and he’s getting off on being unrequited.
I would say that the whole clone/chinese thingie was the only thing that made me hesitant. THe climax of the novel felt too much like Temple of Doom to me, which I think was probably on purpose but also a regrettable decision in an otherwise super culturally aware and hyper intersectional novel. But in the end, I was hooked. Thank goodness for a new series on kindle unlimited!!!
July 1, 2017
Good book but not as exciting as i expect from jasmine walt
This book is about an immortal, Dr nia rivers, who spends her time collecting artifacts from the past. There are only a small amount of immortals and Dr rivers has known them all over the years yet they are all allergic to each other and make each other sick in prolonged company of each other. Only problem is her boyfriend of 500 years is one of these immortals and she ends up on an adventure to save a culture with a very perceptive human lady. This is all a great,different premise for a book and that is what I like about it and jasmine Walt's books. However ,I haven't read any of the other authors books which I will have to fix. I love the baine chronicles and marked by sin. They quickly moved jasmine Walt to one of my favorite authors. Her stories are original, with different , strong characters. This one is not my favorite. It was good,I read it in 2 days. But I found it short and not much to it. Maybe I am still stuck in the other two stories but I didn't fall in love with any of the characters and feel like there is so much more that could have been told. I can't wait for the second book,maybe it further develops the characters and I can add this series to my favorites. But I feel there wasn't as much action or character development as the other two series I read from this author .
I can't wait for the then second one as I am sure that these problems will be remedied in the next book. It is worth reading. It is more of a mystery than fantasy even though the main characters are immortal. Right now I am stuck on urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When I was reading thrillers/mysteries, I loved James rollins and this reminds me loosely of something he might write. So it is good,just not what I was in the mood for.
This book is about an immortal, Dr nia rivers, who spends her time collecting artifacts from the past. There are only a small amount of immortals and Dr rivers has known them all over the years yet they are all allergic to each other and make each other sick in prolonged company of each other. Only problem is her boyfriend of 500 years is one of these immortals and she ends up on an adventure to save a culture with a very perceptive human lady. This is all a great,different premise for a book and that is what I like about it and jasmine Walt's books. However ,I haven't read any of the other authors books which I will have to fix. I love the baine chronicles and marked by sin. They quickly moved jasmine Walt to one of my favorite authors. Her stories are original, with different , strong characters. This one is not my favorite. It was good,I read it in 2 days. But I found it short and not much to it. Maybe I am still stuck in the other two stories but I didn't fall in love with any of the characters and feel like there is so much more that could have been told. I can't wait for the second book,maybe it further develops the characters and I can add this series to my favorites. But I feel there wasn't as much action or character development as the other two series I read from this author .
I can't wait for the then second one as I am sure that these problems will be remedied in the next book. It is worth reading. It is more of a mystery than fantasy even though the main characters are immortal. Right now I am stuck on urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When I was reading thrillers/mysteries, I loved James rollins and this reminds me loosely of something he might write. So it is good,just not what I was in the mood for.
October 18, 2017
4.5 stars, leaning upwards 5. I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. I picked it up thinking it was something else entirely, and ended up not being able to put it down (does that saying still work when it's an e-book?).
The background behind the story is actually going to be really familiar to anyone who's seen the movie Hancock (Will Smith and Charlize Theron). I have no idea if that was intentional or not because I knew nothing about the book going in, but it seemed really odd at first that the basic underpinnings of the story were so familiar.
However, the actual characters themselves and the mystery and action were brand new and fun. There was a satisfying lack of one-dimensional characters, and those who could seem that way at first often resolved to have more depth. I also really enjoyed seeing Washington DC portrayed in something other than politics or legal/military thriller. As a local it's always fun to see your city show up in a book, and to picture those places you've walked down a thousand times inhabited by characters from that book.
Despite my desire to finish the book in one setting, I had to stop reading near the end to go somewhere, and found myself unable to stop thinking about what was happening in the book. So despite whatever faults it may have--which I often miss on a first read since I tend to go fast--I was dying to find out what would happen in the end, and driven enough by satisfaction at the denouement to leave this review. Highly recommended!
The background behind the story is actually going to be really familiar to anyone who's seen the movie Hancock (Will Smith and Charlize Theron). I have no idea if that was intentional or not because I knew nothing about the book going in, but it seemed really odd at first that the basic underpinnings of the story were so familiar.
However, the actual characters themselves and the mystery and action were brand new and fun. There was a satisfying lack of one-dimensional characters, and those who could seem that way at first often resolved to have more depth. I also really enjoyed seeing Washington DC portrayed in something other than politics or legal/military thriller. As a local it's always fun to see your city show up in a book, and to picture those places you've walked down a thousand times inhabited by characters from that book.
Despite my desire to finish the book in one setting, I had to stop reading near the end to go somewhere, and found myself unable to stop thinking about what was happening in the book. So despite whatever faults it may have--which I often miss on a first read since I tend to go fast--I was dying to find out what would happen in the end, and driven enough by satisfaction at the denouement to leave this review. Highly recommended!
January 2, 2022
While the blurb is technically accurate it paints a misleading picture.
This is a chick-lit steamy romance with a love triangle first and foremost, full of innuendo and pining.
Everything else including the actual plot is very much secondary to that.
This continues throughout the second book as well.
If you are looking for a fast-paced urban fantasy adventure this is probably not the book for you.
What annoyed me are some of the women-power chick-lit tropes. Faithfulness in romantic relationships for example is treated more like a general guideline. Because all men are sexist pigs anyway and they deserve it except if they are hawt and rich, then it's ok. I hope you can tell the kind of story this is from that.
Later on, the whole mixture of Gods from basically all ancient mythology gets a lot more attention. If you are into seeing a huge number of different mythologies and legends being interwoven into motley chaos, this aspect might be worth its other flaws.
This is a chick-lit steamy romance with a love triangle first and foremost, full of innuendo and pining.
Everything else including the actual plot is very much secondary to that.
This continues throughout the second book as well.
If you are looking for a fast-paced urban fantasy adventure this is probably not the book for you.
What annoyed me are some of the women-power chick-lit tropes. Faithfulness in romantic relationships for example is treated more like a general guideline. Because all men are sexist pigs anyway and they deserve it except if they are hawt and rich, then it's ok. I hope you can tell the kind of story this is from that.
Later on, the whole mixture of Gods from basically all ancient mythology gets a lot more attention. If you are into seeing a huge number of different mythologies and legends being interwoven into motley chaos, this aspect might be worth its other flaws.
September 26, 2020
Dragon Bones by Ines Johnson is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I have fallen in love with. I am so hooked on this wonderful series I can not wait to read the rest of this wonderful series. I highly recommend this wonderful series to everyone who loves reading about history and mysteries in your stories.
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.
June 18, 2022
This was my first Ines Johnson book, but it certainly won't be the last. I was drawn to this book for two main reasons: archeology and the word "dragon;" two of my favorite subjects. To have them woven so skillfully into an exciting romantic adventure was a real treat.
Dr. Nia Rivers, a millenial old immortal, together with new-found friend and cohort, Loren VanAlst, delve into the Honduran rainforest in search of a civilization older than the Maya. Loren has sought out Nia to help her prove the authenticity of a "dragon bone" claimed to have been found by Loren's father in China. In the course of their quest, Dr. Rivers is faced with the appearance of a former lover turned temporary enemy and the potential betrayal of her current one. Through challenge after challenge they manage to persevere without killing each other.
From the Honduran jungle to a river basin in China, Nia was pursued by an ancient sect of ninja who seem hell bent upon bringing about her demise. With the reluctant assistance of her ex, she and Loren make their way to the dig site where the "dragon bone" was found. It is there that the most serious attack from the ninjas takes place. It is a nail-biter until the most unlikely hero appears.
Ms. Johnson has successfully blended mystery, intrigue, adventure, eroticism and paranormal romance into an insightful lesson in archeology. I look forward to the next exciting adventure with Nia, her two immortal lovers, Zane and Tres... and one human friend, Loren (who would be happy to take one extra lover off Nia's hands.) Join me, won't you?
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for a voluntary,true, honest and complete review.
Dr. Nia Rivers, a millenial old immortal, together with new-found friend and cohort, Loren VanAlst, delve into the Honduran rainforest in search of a civilization older than the Maya. Loren has sought out Nia to help her prove the authenticity of a "dragon bone" claimed to have been found by Loren's father in China. In the course of their quest, Dr. Rivers is faced with the appearance of a former lover turned temporary enemy and the potential betrayal of her current one. Through challenge after challenge they manage to persevere without killing each other.
From the Honduran jungle to a river basin in China, Nia was pursued by an ancient sect of ninja who seem hell bent upon bringing about her demise. With the reluctant assistance of her ex, she and Loren make their way to the dig site where the "dragon bone" was found. It is there that the most serious attack from the ninjas takes place. It is a nail-biter until the most unlikely hero appears.
Ms. Johnson has successfully blended mystery, intrigue, adventure, eroticism and paranormal romance into an insightful lesson in archeology. I look forward to the next exciting adventure with Nia, her two immortal lovers, Zane and Tres... and one human friend, Loren (who would be happy to take one extra lover off Nia's hands.) Join me, won't you?
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for a voluntary,true, honest and complete review.
August 22, 2020
For some reason, I thought this novel was a continuation of a series, rather than a first and I felt like I had known Nia Rivers somewhere before. Dr Nia Rivers is an immortal trying to save the history of civilisations passed while dealing with the fact that her long term memory is faulty. She is straight-talking, determined, smart and resillient.
I quite enjoyed the mystery writing and the pace of this novel. Walt & Johnson have gone to a lot of effort to ensure that the historical facts within this fictional piece are detailed and, as far as I know, correct- though I have not gone to any great length to research them.
Initially, I really disliked the artist love interest for Nia as he seemed quite a non-event for an immortal and a partner to Nia, whose kick-ass personality allows her to be involved with solving the mysteries of the past and to beat off semi-immortal warriors mostly on her own.
The concept that these immortals weaken one another made them more relatable- allergies!- and avoided dropping them in that infallible category where the hero always wins. However, I did expect a bigger fallout considering how long they spent with one another in this novel.
I would be curious to read on in this series because I would like to see how Nia deals with this rediscovered love triangle and her disappearing memories. Additionally, I would like to know more about Nia's 'french' lover and how his character has changed over the millennia.
A good read. I will be going back for more.
I quite enjoyed the mystery writing and the pace of this novel. Walt & Johnson have gone to a lot of effort to ensure that the historical facts within this fictional piece are detailed and, as far as I know, correct- though I have not gone to any great length to research them.
Initially, I really disliked the artist love interest for Nia as he seemed quite a non-event for an immortal and a partner to Nia, whose kick-ass personality allows her to be involved with solving the mysteries of the past and to beat off semi-immortal warriors mostly on her own.
The concept that these immortals weaken one another made them more relatable- allergies!- and avoided dropping them in that infallible category where the hero always wins. However, I did expect a bigger fallout considering how long they spent with one another in this novel.
I would be curious to read on in this series because I would like to see how Nia deals with this rediscovered love triangle and her disappearing memories. Additionally, I would like to know more about Nia's 'french' lover and how his character has changed over the millennia.
A good read. I will be going back for more.
April 21, 2023
First, let me just say that I love urban fantasy, but it takes some specific ingredients in the mix for it to work - at least for me. Dragon Bones was a bit of a mixed bag for me, with some things working and some not. The problem is that too many things didn't work for me, and I did a great deal of eye rolling when I wasn't getting irritated.
The premise is good, in my opinion, but the overall story ended up being a cross between Tomb Raider and Hancock. I won't elaborate on that to avoid spoilers, but for me, the combination just didn't work, and the similarities felt unoriginal. Then there was the repetitiveness of the story. Way too many things were explained over and over, and it felt like being spoon-fed or that the author was afraid the reader wouldn't understand. We do get an interesting love interest for Nia, but it was more that he's so utterly unpredictable. Again, I'll leave it there so I don't spoil anything. There are some unanswered questions and open-ended threads, but to be honest, I don't think I'll continue with the series. I never became invested in the story or the characters enough to want to know more.
I did listen to this one and for me, Kate Marcin was the best of it. She kept things moving with her narration, and I kept listening when I otherwise might have set a book aside. This is my first time listening to Marcin, but I would gladly listen to her again.
The premise is good, in my opinion, but the overall story ended up being a cross between Tomb Raider and Hancock. I won't elaborate on that to avoid spoilers, but for me, the combination just didn't work, and the similarities felt unoriginal. Then there was the repetitiveness of the story. Way too many things were explained over and over, and it felt like being spoon-fed or that the author was afraid the reader wouldn't understand. We do get an interesting love interest for Nia, but it was more that he's so utterly unpredictable. Again, I'll leave it there so I don't spoil anything. There are some unanswered questions and open-ended threads, but to be honest, I don't think I'll continue with the series. I never became invested in the story or the characters enough to want to know more.
I did listen to this one and for me, Kate Marcin was the best of it. She kept things moving with her narration, and I kept listening when I otherwise might have set a book aside. This is my first time listening to Marcin, but I would gladly listen to her again.
May 12, 2017
This is an interesting new story by Jasmine Walt and Ines Johnson. I've not read a story with this theme before so for me that made it more intriguing and captured my attention.
The book starts straight off with mystery and action and then takes us from there. The cast of characters are great, although the main heroine, Nia, is not actually my favourite. She took a while for me to warm up to and I feel that the sidekick is a lot more entertaining and likeable person at the moment, however I will be interested to see how Nia develops in the next book. She definitely has some very intriguing history to her though and I really want to delve deeper into her background to discover everything about her.
I love the various myths that the authors have bought together in this book and the fact that they're not all jumbled up, which for many different countries mythologies is not an easy task to do. It shows the skill of the authors in having a clear plan for their story and that the telling if it to us is smooth that it is cleverly done. I do enjoy when I'm reading a story the feeling that I'm also learning something about history too, and in Dragon Bones I really did feel that. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the story and learning more about all the characters and their secrets.
The book starts straight off with mystery and action and then takes us from there. The cast of characters are great, although the main heroine, Nia, is not actually my favourite. She took a while for me to warm up to and I feel that the sidekick is a lot more entertaining and likeable person at the moment, however I will be interested to see how Nia develops in the next book. She definitely has some very intriguing history to her though and I really want to delve deeper into her background to discover everything about her.
I love the various myths that the authors have bought together in this book and the fact that they're not all jumbled up, which for many different countries mythologies is not an easy task to do. It shows the skill of the authors in having a clear plan for their story and that the telling if it to us is smooth that it is cleverly done. I do enjoy when I'm reading a story the feeling that I'm also learning something about history too, and in Dragon Bones I really did feel that. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the story and learning more about all the characters and their secrets.
October 8, 2017
This is a new series by Jasmine Walt and Ines Johnson, and I have to say it's really fun. The story is of an relic hunter, Nia as she is approached with a new and intriguing find, a dragon bone, the left behind relic carved with the story of a missing civilization. As Nia heads out on this unplanned adventure, things start lighting up. The team up of the two authors is a good one, with it not being a lot of Jasmine's normal style. Yes, you still get my favorite part, a kick ass, smart mouthed heroine. This book has more of an Indiana Jones action feel to it, rather than the Urban Fantasy that I usually read even though there are supes in it.
I liked the book, it had fun action and adventure in it. The story seemed to flow along well and was interesting. There is intrigue as to what type of supernatural Nia is, but it's explained early enough in the book and I like that.
The one part I was kind of meh on, is the part of her memory that is missing. I felt like that was drawn upon a lot much, as well, how immortals tend to or choose to forget, seemed weak. Also some of the other immortals mentioned in the book don't seem like they are expanded on much, so I'm interested in seeing where book 2 goes with this.
Overall, I liked the book. It was a good read, and I would recommend it for a fun summer read.
I liked the book, it had fun action and adventure in it. The story seemed to flow along well and was interesting. There is intrigue as to what type of supernatural Nia is, but it's explained early enough in the book and I like that.
The one part I was kind of meh on, is the part of her memory that is missing. I felt like that was drawn upon a lot much, as well, how immortals tend to or choose to forget, seemed weak. Also some of the other immortals mentioned in the book don't seem like they are expanded on much, so I'm interested in seeing where book 2 goes with this.
Overall, I liked the book. It was a good read, and I would recommend it for a fun summer read.
June 1, 2023
Nia Rivers is not your typical archeologist . She is an immortal who has a serious memory problem but makes up for it when it comes to all things fashion related . Willing to stop at nothing to get her memory back she finds herself needing to find a very ancient dragon bone which holds text of why her memory was taken . The trouble is how dangerous it will be to find the dragon bone + make it out alive .
While on the hunt for the dragon bone, Nia also finds herself as the prey for some evil, dark assassins . Starting to remember little pieces at a time she recalls that they have been hunting her for centuries + will not stop until she is dead . Drama, mystery, romance + action all blended up into one amazing story with an incredibly strong female lead .
This was my first book by Ines Johnson but it certainly won’t be my last ! I loved how the story blended so many themes together - immortality, friendships, undying love, miscommunications + never ending action + so much more . At times I did find myself frustrated with just how much her memory lost got in the way but it all tied together beautifully at the end . I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series + where the story will take us next .
This book was given to me for honest review by Valentine PR + Literary Management .
While on the hunt for the dragon bone, Nia also finds herself as the prey for some evil, dark assassins . Starting to remember little pieces at a time she recalls that they have been hunting her for centuries + will not stop until she is dead . Drama, mystery, romance + action all blended up into one amazing story with an incredibly strong female lead .
This was my first book by Ines Johnson but it certainly won’t be my last ! I loved how the story blended so many themes together - immortality, friendships, undying love, miscommunications + never ending action + so much more . At times I did find myself frustrated with just how much her memory lost got in the way but it all tied together beautifully at the end . I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series + where the story will take us next .
This book was given to me for honest review by Valentine PR + Literary Management .
October 10, 2017
Absolutely no Dragons involved in this story but plenty of mythology come to life.
A Dragon Bone is, according to this novel, an ancient artefact with writing on it, usually fund in China. Often a shell and ground up for medecine.
it seems that there are - or were - 12 immortals 'birthed', possibly in the Garden of Eden but they are not quite sure. What they are certain of, is that they were born at different times and the oldest is 1 - as numbered on his back in Aramaic/Hebrew script. Nia is number 9.
Nine, aka Nia, Nueve or other variants, is an archaeologist who is several thousand years old, but she is not sure as she forgets. She tells this story in the 1st person as she goes to China to find a Dragon Bone which seems to say something about her ancient history and which she has forgotten. In fact she doesn't remember ever visiting China in all her years on Earth.
I liked this fantasy story as it starts with a very different premise. The immortals are not Angels, fallen or otherwise. I will be following this series through.
A Dragon Bone is, according to this novel, an ancient artefact with writing on it, usually fund in China. Often a shell and ground up for medecine.
it seems that there are - or were - 12 immortals 'birthed', possibly in the Garden of Eden but they are not quite sure. What they are certain of, is that they were born at different times and the oldest is 1 - as numbered on his back in Aramaic/Hebrew script. Nia is number 9.
Nine, aka Nia, Nueve or other variants, is an archaeologist who is several thousand years old, but she is not sure as she forgets. She tells this story in the 1st person as she goes to China to find a Dragon Bone which seems to say something about her ancient history and which she has forgotten. In fact she doesn't remember ever visiting China in all her years on Earth.
I liked this fantasy story as it starts with a very different premise. The immortals are not Angels, fallen or otherwise. I will be following this series through.
May 27, 2017
Nia Rivers is an immortal archaeologist with a serious memory problem. She has been concentrating on using history's ugliest stories to shed detail on her past but the 2000 year old relic that surfaces in the hands of a woman gets past Nia's misgivings about revealing the truth as a wealthy land developer wants to level and build on the site. It appears he is also an immortal and he has a grudge against her. There are some dark assassins that have stalked her for centuries and are determined to kill her (which may be fr the best from the little she is starting to remember).
Wow - this was a great start to the series and was a tale of immortality, love, friendship and misunderstandings. There was lots of action and twists and turns as the story unfolded and the truth became clearer. I loved the way the past came back to assert itself as part of investigating what really happened and the resolution at the end. I can't wait to see how it develops going forward.
Wow - this was a great start to the series and was a tale of immortality, love, friendship and misunderstandings. There was lots of action and twists and turns as the story unfolded and the truth became clearer. I loved the way the past came back to assert itself as part of investigating what really happened and the resolution at the end. I can't wait to see how it develops going forward.
July 4, 2017
I actually really enjoyed this, and the only reason why it's not a 5 star-rating is probably because of how slow it seemed in some areas. If it wasn't for that, I'm pretty sure this would've been perfect for me. I loved the way the characters' depths were revealed, I LOVED their voices and how I just clicked with them. When I started this, it took a while to trudge through because of the pacing but somewhere along Z's intro, it suddenly dawned on me just what Nia Rivers was about, and it went from struggling to read it to devouring the thing. I had my ups and downs cause of the pacing, like I mentioned earlier, but honestly? I think this thing is pure gold. It reminds me of the thing I loved most about Hancock... which is about as spoilery as I'll get. And if you caught on, then what in the world are you waiting for?? It sounds cool, right?!
Loved the people, loved the struggles, loved the ending. Definitely makes me want to read the second installment.
Loved the people, loved the struggles, loved the ending. Definitely makes me want to read the second installment.
May 12, 2017
There are some stories which you never knew needed to be told. This is one of them. Nia Rivers is an archeologist of sorts. The sort who was there when the article was created. She is part of a very small group of immortals - men and women who never age and have great power and wisdom. For Nia, while time has left her beautiful and dangerous, it has also robbed her of memories here and there. She has the constant of her beautiful Zane in her life, thankfully, to keep her grounded but as she finds her self in an area with one of her greatest mental holes, she starts to see that she may have indeed forgotten things which should never have been. While this book does have a stand alone store ARC there are so many areas to be explored that one can't but want more as soon as the last word is read.
May 19, 2017
Awesome book!
As a lover of history, archeology, and the paranormal, this book was perfect for me! I can't wait until more books in this series are released as I would LOVE to find out the origins of the Immortals and some of the stories regarding the other 9. When and how were they created and why? Their allergic reaction to each other reminds me of that movie with Will Smith and Charleze Theron. There were 12 and they each have a brand or birthmark of their number somewhere on their body. We get to follow the story of Theta, or Dr. Nina Rivers. She is a female Indians Jones since she seems to preserve artifacts of history and not to as them for riches. However, she has forgotten her own history and seek to find answers; some of which are to be found in China. Fast-paced and a thrilling ride; I highly recommend this book!
As a lover of history, archeology, and the paranormal, this book was perfect for me! I can't wait until more books in this series are released as I would LOVE to find out the origins of the Immortals and some of the stories regarding the other 9. When and how were they created and why? Their allergic reaction to each other reminds me of that movie with Will Smith and Charleze Theron. There were 12 and they each have a brand or birthmark of their number somewhere on their body. We get to follow the story of Theta, or Dr. Nina Rivers. She is a female Indians Jones since she seems to preserve artifacts of history and not to as them for riches. However, she has forgotten her own history and seek to find answers; some of which are to be found in China. Fast-paced and a thrilling ride; I highly recommend this book!
May 24, 2017
Allergic Immortality
I love the idea of immortals being allergic to each other as why they cannot stay together for more than a few weeks or so at a time. This was a good story that drew me in quickly.
However, and not a complaint, I did find myself reminded more than a few time of Lindsay Hall's books. The opening scene in this was also the same site used in (oddly enough) Magic Revealed, Dragon's Gift. I found myself on Amazon double checking because the archeology site seemed familiar. This does not take away from this story as both are very well written books. Mostly, I just felt that Nia should be friends with Cass, Del, and Nix. Especially as they are all history buffs, love preserving but not destroying, and the mention a time or 2 of hoards. Anyway, read both. 😆
I love the idea of immortals being allergic to each other as why they cannot stay together for more than a few weeks or so at a time. This was a good story that drew me in quickly.
However, and not a complaint, I did find myself reminded more than a few time of Lindsay Hall's books. The opening scene in this was also the same site used in (oddly enough) Magic Revealed, Dragon's Gift. I found myself on Amazon double checking because the archeology site seemed familiar. This does not take away from this story as both are very well written books. Mostly, I just felt that Nia should be friends with Cass, Del, and Nix. Especially as they are all history buffs, love preserving but not destroying, and the mention a time or 2 of hoards. Anyway, read both. 😆
April 10, 2021
Loads of fun!
The first book in Ines Johnson's "Nia Rivers Adventure" series, "Dragon Bones" was fun, interesting, and had a different premise than any I've read; which kept me reading, even when I needed to put it down.
Also - it was refreshing to read a book that had so few, and none I can clearly remember, grammatical errors! Yay!
I apologize for the following rant which has no bearing on this book: as most readers know, so many books are published (even printed) with a disgusting amount of grammar problems that I get embarrassed for the whole team- writer, proofreaders, editor, publisher, etc, who allowed such travesty to happen, especially since the invention of spellchecker & similar software is available to everyone - maybe that's the problem, too much relying on basic spellchecker. (I'll let it go now, I've been wanting to do that for awhile).
The first book in Ines Johnson's "Nia Rivers Adventure" series, "Dragon Bones" was fun, interesting, and had a different premise than any I've read; which kept me reading, even when I needed to put it down.
Also - it was refreshing to read a book that had so few, and none I can clearly remember, grammatical errors! Yay!
I apologize for the following rant which has no bearing on this book: as most readers know, so many books are published (even printed) with a disgusting amount of grammar problems that I get embarrassed for the whole team- writer, proofreaders, editor, publisher, etc, who allowed such travesty to happen, especially since the invention of spellchecker & similar software is available to everyone - maybe that's the problem, too much relying on basic spellchecker. (I'll let it go now, I've been wanting to do that for awhile).
April 12, 2020
Enjoyable read with a smart, capable heroine. Story-wise it held my attention from the first to the last page. I'm deducting a star for two contentious issues - firstly, Nia's memory loss? Way too convenient. And for all her talk of recording everything - well, obviously she recorded nothing much of anything. And why doesn't she recall her memories and all the other immortals do? Why does the weakness when she is in another immortals presence not seem to hit them as hard? Something about their age? Which doesn't make any sense.
The second issue is the love triangle. This came out of left field but, admittedly, was done really well. But I'm not a fan of the trope. And despite liking Nia and her new BFF, I probably won't carry on with the series because of it.
The second issue is the love triangle. This came out of left field but, admittedly, was done really well. But I'm not a fan of the trope. And despite liking Nia and her new BFF, I probably won't carry on with the series because of it.
April 17, 2023
This was a paranormal romance/mystery about an immortal woman who works as an archeologist, always trying to share the stories of long dead people. She is invited to save the ancestral grounds of a people in China from the modern development of another immortal. She is also hoping it could help her answer some questions she has about something that she cannot remember from her own past. What ensues is a growing female friendship and more answers than she bargained for. She realizes that she has forgotten more of her past than she realized, including about the men she has loved. It was a delightful book with a minimal amount of sexy time and more focus on the plot and the impact of different relationships at different times in her existence. This was a new author for me, but I will be searching for more as I loved the authors’ writing style, it has some original concepts, and no guarantee of a happy ending beyond surviving. It was a little reminiscent of an immortal archeologist Stephanie Plum at times, but since I am a huge Stephanie Plum fan, that works for me. The narrator was great and made the entire book really enjoyable. This is an all around good choice! I am voluntarily submitting this review after listening to an advanced complementary copy of this audiobook.
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