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The Bone Shaker
In the heart of the Great Forest, nothing is as it should be. Sir Vladisal and her Knights of Boska are lost and far from home. The son of their Duchess has been kidnapped, spirited away to a nameless place within these dark and endless woodlands. Vladisal is his only hope, but an evil has come to the Great Forest, an evil that is corrupting the trees with demons born from ancient magic.
If Vladisal is to save her Duchess’ son, if he and the women of Boska are to live through the horrors of the Great Forest, then she must place her trust in Abildan the assassin. But Abildan hails from an age-old enemy, and she once served the very evil they all must fight to survive.
In The Bone Shaker, the author of The Relic Guild delivers his most potent tale yet; a powerful story of valour, betrayal, dark magic, blood and death, but also of hope.
Novella Set 6, Blood and Blade: four books, each containing an outstanding tale of epic fantasy squeezed within the covers of a novella. Four independent stories by four talented authors, linked only by their cover art.
If Vladisal is to save her Duchess’ son, if he and the women of Boska are to live through the horrors of the Great Forest, then she must place her trust in Abildan the assassin. But Abildan hails from an age-old enemy, and she once served the very evil they all must fight to survive.
In The Bone Shaker, the author of The Relic Guild delivers his most potent tale yet; a powerful story of valour, betrayal, dark magic, blood and death, but also of hope.
Novella Set 6, Blood and Blade: four books, each containing an outstanding tale of epic fantasy squeezed within the covers of a novella. Four independent stories by four talented authors, linked only by their cover art.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2019
3 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Edward Cox
61 books104 followersAuthor of THE RELIC GUILD trilogy (The Relic Guild, The Cathedral of Known Things, The Watcher of Dead Time) published by Gollancz. Represented by Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. Daddy, husband, reader.
I can also be found here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdwardCox10
Tumblr: http://edward-cox.tumblr.com/
Wattpad:http://www.wattpad.com/user/Edward_Cox
I can also be found here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdwardCox10
Tumblr: http://edward-cox.tumblr.com/
Wattpad:http://www.wattpad.com/user/Edward_Cox
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 31, 2019
‘Sword in hand, the old knight’s eagerness to cleave head from neck filled her ears with the rushing of blood. Behind her, the Knight’s of Boska echoes Vladisal’s battle cry, and the sound of the charge drowned out bestial moaning made by the the unholy merging of corpses and forest life.’
The Bone Shaker by Edward Cox is a novella that’s part of a set of dark fantasy novellas published by New Con Press. I was lucky enough to win this in a giveaway on Twitter, and I’m so thrilled and thankful that I did because this book was an absolute gem!
The story follows the women of Boska, who are a a band of female knights led by their captain Vladisal. The knights are on a mission to rescue the Duchess’s son, Elander, whom has been captured by the witch, Dun-Wyrd, also known as the Bone Shaker. The women’s journey takes them through The Great Forest, a place where the dead come alive, a place filled with monstrosities.
Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Now, I have to admit, previous to reading this, I had my doubts about how well a short novella; only 114 pages long to be more precise, could deliver a satisfying enjoyable epic fantasy tale. Well, Cox, you proved me wrong, because I’m delighted to say the execution of the story lived up to its exciting premise.
The Bone Shaker was a fast paced, action packed, and quite impressive read. In such a short space, Cox managed to deliver a well fleshed out world, where magic was used to forge evil monsters, a creepy and dark atmospheric was ever present, and he managed to create some memorable characters that we really root for. Vladisal, Uban, and Redheart were amongst some of my favourite knights, they were strong, loyal and held such a bond with each other.
However, my most favourite character was Abildan, who was a Feliwyrd - half feline and half human, and jeez was she fierce! Now this character was so ambiguous, you could never tell her true intent. Would she be true to the Knights of Boska and lead them through the forest to find Elander, or was she leading them straight into a trap? Personally, this kind of character is my favourite kind, because they keep you on your toes, and in this case, Abildan served to keep me gripped until the climax of the story.
‘Abildan bit harder and deeper, down through bark-like skin until the bitter taste of sap-like blood flooded her mouth. Her teeth tore away chunks of woody flesh, the fur of her face matted with amber blood, claws stabbed into her adversary’s throat.’
Overall The Bone Shaker is a little novella that packs quite a punch, and turns the age old fairytale trope on its head. If you like your fantasy to have a band of female knights, to include monsters galore, and to have a plot that continuously keeps you guessing the outcome, then I’d definitely add this one to your wishlist.
The Bone Shaker by Edward Cox is a novella that’s part of a set of dark fantasy novellas published by New Con Press. I was lucky enough to win this in a giveaway on Twitter, and I’m so thrilled and thankful that I did because this book was an absolute gem!
The story follows the women of Boska, who are a a band of female knights led by their captain Vladisal. The knights are on a mission to rescue the Duchess’s son, Elander, whom has been captured by the witch, Dun-Wyrd, also known as the Bone Shaker. The women’s journey takes them through The Great Forest, a place where the dead come alive, a place filled with monstrosities.
Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Now, I have to admit, previous to reading this, I had my doubts about how well a short novella; only 114 pages long to be more precise, could deliver a satisfying enjoyable epic fantasy tale. Well, Cox, you proved me wrong, because I’m delighted to say the execution of the story lived up to its exciting premise.
The Bone Shaker was a fast paced, action packed, and quite impressive read. In such a short space, Cox managed to deliver a well fleshed out world, where magic was used to forge evil monsters, a creepy and dark atmospheric was ever present, and he managed to create some memorable characters that we really root for. Vladisal, Uban, and Redheart were amongst some of my favourite knights, they were strong, loyal and held such a bond with each other.
However, my most favourite character was Abildan, who was a Feliwyrd - half feline and half human, and jeez was she fierce! Now this character was so ambiguous, you could never tell her true intent. Would she be true to the Knights of Boska and lead them through the forest to find Elander, or was she leading them straight into a trap? Personally, this kind of character is my favourite kind, because they keep you on your toes, and in this case, Abildan served to keep me gripped until the climax of the story.
‘Abildan bit harder and deeper, down through bark-like skin until the bitter taste of sap-like blood flooded her mouth. Her teeth tore away chunks of woody flesh, the fur of her face matted with amber blood, claws stabbed into her adversary’s throat.’
Overall The Bone Shaker is a little novella that packs quite a punch, and turns the age old fairytale trope on its head. If you like your fantasy to have a band of female knights, to include monsters galore, and to have a plot that continuously keeps you guessing the outcome, then I’d definitely add this one to your wishlist.
August 3, 2019
An absorbing, eldritch adventure.
My friend Nils recently won this in a contest on Twitter, and she loved it, so of course I was going to read it promptly. As this is a novella, I will keep things brief to avoid giving too much away.
The Bone Shaker is at its heart, that well known fantasy staple, the quest. On the one hand we have Vladisal and the Knights of Boska in a fragile alliance with the feliwyrd called Abildan (a sorcerous merging of human and mountain cat, known to be extremely dangerous and deceitful). While the knights seek to save the kidnapped son of their duchess from the evil, sorcerous madwoman called Dun-Wyrd, Abildan has a more singular goal. She seeks only to assassinate this Wyrd necromancer.
The Wyrd were famed for their monstrous armies; for using dark magic to merge humans with animals, creating vicious abominations to fight for their cause.
On the other hand, one of the knights, Redheart, has been sent to enlist the help of the Ulyyn or Forest Dwellers. It is believed that the Ulyyn will not stand for such evil as Dun-Wyrd upon their lands and they will send reinforcements upon hearing of the plight of the knights.
While that all sounds classically fantastic, Edward Cox has added elements that elevate this dark tale. Novellas inherently are short on time for authors to make much impact and immerse you in the world, but The Bone Shaker succeeds with aplomb. The dread atmosphere was palpable as the knights made their way through the forest and were set upon by arboreal horrors that were so vividly described as to make them grow from the page.
Twisted by corruption, fleshy roots protruding from their bodies, coiling around them, snaking from their mouths, they came on unsteady feet but with ravenous intent. One after the other, creeping from the forest, they headed straight for the dead boy. Men and women, old and young. The reek of decay and gargled moans filled the air.
Characters were just as compelling and I found myself empathising with Vladislav. She has to walk a fine line as the leader of the knights, trying to keep everyone in line and also motivated. It is clear she is well respected and has a loyal following, but the current situation has eroded confidence in her leadership. The presence of Abildan, who is traditionally their enemy, is a blight on the honour of the knights. Her help might be of the utmost importance, but the knights hate working with the abomination and Vladislav is caught in the middle. I could feel the knights bristling at the injustice of having to follow the feliwyrd instead of killing it, the tension tangible. The author also manages to touch on themes of friendship as those closest to Vladislav confide in her and try to help her navigate this slippery slope. Redheart, oh loyal, Redheart. Much of her story is spent in solitary, but her journey and it’s consequences also play into this theme; she is willing to do whatever is necessary. Abildan on the other hand radiates cunning and ambiguousness off every page, with Cox doing such a splendid job that I went to and fro in my support of her numerous times, her actual intent indecipherable until the very last page. Fascinating reading.
The world at large is only hinted at, but there is enough here to engross you. Bits and pieces of its history are also interspersed throughout, whetting the appetite for more and giving the sense of a vast supply of storytelling material waiting in the wings.
Lastly, I’d like to tip my hat at the writing. Edward Cox is in fact adept at a lovely turn of phrase, and I found myself highlighting random passages for the beautifully descriptive prose.
Deep inside the Great Forest, night had cast its shroud. The air was rife with the damp and earthy scent of leaf-mould. Thin tendrils of mist crept over twisting roots, weaving between skeletal trees like lost ghosts searching for a place to haunt. A new moon hung in a clear sky, its blue-grey light casting long shadows in the forest.
In conclusion, this is a great novella and you would do well to add it to your wishlist.
PS: Did I mention the ALL female cast? BADASS.
My friend Nils recently won this in a contest on Twitter, and she loved it, so of course I was going to read it promptly. As this is a novella, I will keep things brief to avoid giving too much away.
The Bone Shaker is at its heart, that well known fantasy staple, the quest. On the one hand we have Vladisal and the Knights of Boska in a fragile alliance with the feliwyrd called Abildan (a sorcerous merging of human and mountain cat, known to be extremely dangerous and deceitful). While the knights seek to save the kidnapped son of their duchess from the evil, sorcerous madwoman called Dun-Wyrd, Abildan has a more singular goal. She seeks only to assassinate this Wyrd necromancer.
The Wyrd were famed for their monstrous armies; for using dark magic to merge humans with animals, creating vicious abominations to fight for their cause.
On the other hand, one of the knights, Redheart, has been sent to enlist the help of the Ulyyn or Forest Dwellers. It is believed that the Ulyyn will not stand for such evil as Dun-Wyrd upon their lands and they will send reinforcements upon hearing of the plight of the knights.
While that all sounds classically fantastic, Edward Cox has added elements that elevate this dark tale. Novellas inherently are short on time for authors to make much impact and immerse you in the world, but The Bone Shaker succeeds with aplomb. The dread atmosphere was palpable as the knights made their way through the forest and were set upon by arboreal horrors that were so vividly described as to make them grow from the page.
Twisted by corruption, fleshy roots protruding from their bodies, coiling around them, snaking from their mouths, they came on unsteady feet but with ravenous intent. One after the other, creeping from the forest, they headed straight for the dead boy. Men and women, old and young. The reek of decay and gargled moans filled the air.
Characters were just as compelling and I found myself empathising with Vladislav. She has to walk a fine line as the leader of the knights, trying to keep everyone in line and also motivated. It is clear she is well respected and has a loyal following, but the current situation has eroded confidence in her leadership. The presence of Abildan, who is traditionally their enemy, is a blight on the honour of the knights. Her help might be of the utmost importance, but the knights hate working with the abomination and Vladislav is caught in the middle. I could feel the knights bristling at the injustice of having to follow the feliwyrd instead of killing it, the tension tangible. The author also manages to touch on themes of friendship as those closest to Vladislav confide in her and try to help her navigate this slippery slope. Redheart, oh loyal, Redheart. Much of her story is spent in solitary, but her journey and it’s consequences also play into this theme; she is willing to do whatever is necessary. Abildan on the other hand radiates cunning and ambiguousness off every page, with Cox doing such a splendid job that I went to and fro in my support of her numerous times, her actual intent indecipherable until the very last page. Fascinating reading.
The world at large is only hinted at, but there is enough here to engross you. Bits and pieces of its history are also interspersed throughout, whetting the appetite for more and giving the sense of a vast supply of storytelling material waiting in the wings.
Lastly, I’d like to tip my hat at the writing. Edward Cox is in fact adept at a lovely turn of phrase, and I found myself highlighting random passages for the beautifully descriptive prose.
Deep inside the Great Forest, night had cast its shroud. The air was rife with the damp and earthy scent of leaf-mould. Thin tendrils of mist crept over twisting roots, weaving between skeletal trees like lost ghosts searching for a place to haunt. A new moon hung in a clear sky, its blue-grey light casting long shadows in the forest.
In conclusion, this is a great novella and you would do well to add it to your wishlist.
PS: Did I mention the ALL female cast? BADASS.
January 19, 2020
The Bone Shaker is a perfect short read if you love fantasy that has many magical elements and an adventure to safe a prince. The Knights of Boska pair up with Abildan, a cat like person with its own agenda. The group doesn't trust Abildan but they are desperate and need help to safe their prince. The Great Forest is fast and dangerous and Abildan knows where to look for Dun-Wyrd who took the prince. A Bone Shaker that uses people with dark magic to do her bidding.
The story has several magical people and their ways explained which was interesting. I liked that there were tense fights with tree demons and some rituals for dark magic were neatly described. In such a short span everything is nicely balanced out for the plot to be clear and to keep you hooked. And there was a nice dark atmosphere.
The story has several magical people and their ways explained which was interesting. I liked that there were tense fights with tree demons and some rituals for dark magic were neatly described. In such a short span everything is nicely balanced out for the plot to be clear and to keep you hooked. And there was a nice dark atmosphere.
August 16, 2023
Well that was an absolute gem of a side-quest…!
This short story/novella is a hint of a much grander picture that could be an epic setup for a much longer, much larger and far more elaborate series.
Essentially, The Bone Shaker is a story of Sir Vladisal and their group of brave Knights keen to recover the heir to their Duchess, the struggles that the company of Knights face in a forest that seems as dark and foreboding as the Wyrd that has stolen their charge. There’s group politics, an uneasy alliance, magical creatures, zombie trees (yep… zombie trees…), fights, despair, joy, double crossing, dark magics, friendship and loss. Dammit, why is this not a bloody sight longer I’d have happily slipped down the rabbit hole into the lives of the Ulyyn.
I. Want. More.
(Stamps foot…).
I missed intrigue. There’s intrigue as well.
This short story/novella is a hint of a much grander picture that could be an epic setup for a much longer, much larger and far more elaborate series.
Essentially, The Bone Shaker is a story of Sir Vladisal and their group of brave Knights keen to recover the heir to their Duchess, the struggles that the company of Knights face in a forest that seems as dark and foreboding as the Wyrd that has stolen their charge. There’s group politics, an uneasy alliance, magical creatures, zombie trees (yep… zombie trees…), fights, despair, joy, double crossing, dark magics, friendship and loss. Dammit, why is this not a bloody sight longer I’d have happily slipped down the rabbit hole into the lives of the Ulyyn.
I. Want. More.
(Stamps foot…).
I missed intrigue. There’s intrigue as well.
October 16, 2019
Edward Cox is back and doing what he does best: writing bloody creepy magic and horrible monsters in this lovely slice of dark swords and sorcery.
The son of the Duchess has been kidnapped by a vile sorcerer and the Knights of Boska brave an ancient forest and dark corrupting magic on their quest to retrieve him. Great characters and frantic action in a marvellously dark and magical world that left me wanting even more after it ended, which is always a great sign :)
The son of the Duchess has been kidnapped by a vile sorcerer and the Knights of Boska brave an ancient forest and dark corrupting magic on their quest to retrieve him. Great characters and frantic action in a marvellously dark and magical world that left me wanting even more after it ended, which is always a great sign :)
July 31, 2019
Clever fantasy quest story as a group of all female knights track down a lost prince but who can be trusted?
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews