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The Bone Thief Saga #1
The Bone Thief's Tale
Introducing a newly reimagined tale written in the vein of The Little Mermaid meeting Hades and Persephone. Bound to steal her queen magical bones, thief Lynne knows only one mistake equals death. And yet, she dreams of living in the forbidden world upon the surface, hating every minute in the Underworld. When she secretly develops a crush on a human, she loses a bone in his realm and has no choice but to strike a deal with the only one who could help—an evil witch. To save her life, she must earn the man’s love and bring back the bone in 99 days. Rio Renero is a notorious gang leader in Chicago and his life has been set to one purpose—to get back at his enemies. With a mysterious, beautiful girl showing up on his doorstep, he sees the solution to his machinations. She offers him a chance at a deadly heist that could destroy all his enemies. In return, he must help her steal a book. What a cinch. As Lynne and Rio dig deep into a dark net of politics, magic, and passion, they need to learn to trust each other. Not so easy, considering they’re not quite sure whether to kiss or kill each other.
A fantasy romance with morally gray characters, a hot brooding man, a reckless and brave heroine, and page-turning suspense.
Please Note: This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, violence, and alcohol usage. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. This is book one in the Bone Thief saga series.
A fantasy romance with morally gray characters, a hot brooding man, a reckless and brave heroine, and page-turning suspense.
Please Note: This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, violence, and alcohol usage. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. This is book one in the Bone Thief saga series.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2022
499 people are currently reading
6829 people want to read
About the author
Heleen Davies
6 books51 followersHeleen Davies is a 29-year-old teacher with a passion for writing and creating different worlds. Her debut, THE BONE THIEF’S TALE, is the first in a planned trilogy. She writes Romance, set in magical worlds with fierce heroines and broody, morally gray heroes you’ll fall in love with but also contemporary romance with lots of humor and spice! Heleen is a mother to a little girl and a Golden Retriever, lives in the mountains and usually sticks her nose in all kinds of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
October 4, 2022
3.5 Stars
Heleen Davies’ Little Mermaid meets Hades and Persephone,romantasy debut was an enjoyably plot twisty read that I’m glad to have kicked off the spooky season with.
Bound in a contract to steal magical bones for her Queen, Lynne knows one little mistake means death. So, when she looses a bone during one of her secret visits topside to gaze upon her mortal crush—lynne has no choice but to strike a deal with the only one who could help, an evil witch. To save her life she must earn the man’s love and bring back the bone in 99 days.
Rio Renero is a notorious gang leader in Chicago and his goal in life is to get back at his enemies. When a mysteriously beautiful girl shows up on his doorstep, he sees an opportunity to finally put his plan of vengeance into action. She’ll help him orchestrate a deadly heist, and in return he’ll help her steal a book—what a cinch!
But as Lynne and Rio dig deep into a dark net of politics, magic and passion, they need to learn to trust each other. But things are not as easy as they seem, considering they’re not quite sure whether to kiss or kill each other.
I’m a sucker for an underworld setting so really enjoyed the decryptions of Lynne’s home in the first half of the book. Seeing her in her element with Soothie and Bory really sets up her strong and independent personality (she’s no damsel that’s for sure.) The level of detail in the descriptions was great and I enjoyed the little nods to Little Mermaid—especially Lynne’s penchant for collecting (or stealing) human items and making up her own words for them. Bory-Lynne’s creature companion amd oftentimes, voice of reason also gave of major Sebastian vibes which I really liked.
I also really enjoyed how morally grey so many of the characters actually were (aside from Cherry and a few of Rio’s family members who seemed far too sweet to be bad.) Rio’s morality was especially interesting and on more than one occasion I found myself questioning his actions and motives.
The romance was quite good if a little too Insta love-y for my tastes, but the flirtatious back and forth a between Lynne and Rio was rather enjoyable.
Overall, a fun and fairly quick read with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting, I just wish we got to see a little more of the underworld as well as the Bone and Blood Queens who govern it.
Also, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the author, Heleen for the digital arc.
Heleen Davies’ Little Mermaid meets Hades and Persephone,romantasy debut was an enjoyably plot twisty read that I’m glad to have kicked off the spooky season with.
Bound in a contract to steal magical bones for her Queen, Lynne knows one little mistake means death. So, when she looses a bone during one of her secret visits topside to gaze upon her mortal crush—lynne has no choice but to strike a deal with the only one who could help, an evil witch. To save her life she must earn the man’s love and bring back the bone in 99 days.
Rio Renero is a notorious gang leader in Chicago and his goal in life is to get back at his enemies. When a mysteriously beautiful girl shows up on his doorstep, he sees an opportunity to finally put his plan of vengeance into action. She’ll help him orchestrate a deadly heist, and in return he’ll help her steal a book—what a cinch!
But as Lynne and Rio dig deep into a dark net of politics, magic and passion, they need to learn to trust each other. But things are not as easy as they seem, considering they’re not quite sure whether to kiss or kill each other.
I’m a sucker for an underworld setting so really enjoyed the decryptions of Lynne’s home in the first half of the book. Seeing her in her element with Soothie and Bory really sets up her strong and independent personality (she’s no damsel that’s for sure.) The level of detail in the descriptions was great and I enjoyed the little nods to Little Mermaid—especially Lynne’s penchant for collecting (or stealing) human items and making up her own words for them. Bory-Lynne’s creature companion amd oftentimes, voice of reason also gave of major Sebastian vibes which I really liked.
I also really enjoyed how morally grey so many of the characters actually were (aside from Cherry and a few of Rio’s family members who seemed far too sweet to be bad.) Rio’s morality was especially interesting and on more than one occasion I found myself questioning his actions and motives.
The romance was quite good if a little too Insta love-y for my tastes, but the flirtatious back and forth a between Lynne and Rio was rather enjoyable.
Overall, a fun and fairly quick read with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting, I just wish we got to see a little more of the underworld as well as the Bone and Blood Queens who govern it.
Also, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the author, Heleen for the digital arc.
January 2, 2024
My first book of the year and I DNF. I’m sorry, I tried over and over to read it after a few really good reels and TikTok’s of this book, but the grammatical errors totally yanked me out of the book over and over. When you have two different people speaking on one line, back and forth, it makes it very confusing as to what’s going on. Add in a main character that acts like she’s 13 instead of 20 and you had me returning this book to KU.
September 27, 2022
The Bone Thief's Tale by Heleen Davies is a New Adult Romantasy inspired by The Little Mermaid + Hades and Persephone. Not everything about this book was my cup of tea exactly but it was still an enjoyable read.
What worked for me:
I love that the story was inspired by The Little Mermaid, one of my favorite fairy tales and Disney movies. You can definitely see the elements of the famous tale
Rio Renero, who's a gang leader in Chicago. I love my dark heroes and he definitely fit the bill for me.
The descriptions. I really enjoyed the descriptions, especially of the Underworld.
What didn't work for me:
The dialogue didn't always work for me. Sometimes, especially when it was a chapter in the point of view of Lynne it felt kind of juvenile and a little too YA for me.
Around the midway point I started losing my interest a bit. I powered through in the end, which I'm glad I did, but in the end I couldn't give the book more than three stars. It was an okay read but that was it for me, unfortunately.
What worked for me:
I love that the story was inspired by The Little Mermaid, one of my favorite fairy tales and Disney movies. You can definitely see the elements of the famous tale
Rio Renero, who's a gang leader in Chicago. I love my dark heroes and he definitely fit the bill for me.
The descriptions. I really enjoyed the descriptions, especially of the Underworld.
What didn't work for me:
The dialogue didn't always work for me. Sometimes, especially when it was a chapter in the point of view of Lynne it felt kind of juvenile and a little too YA for me.
Around the midway point I started losing my interest a bit. I powered through in the end, which I'm glad I did, but in the end I couldn't give the book more than three stars. It was an okay read but that was it for me, unfortunately.
February 26, 2024
This was a Stuff Your Kindle Day book, and I really enjoyed it!
The twist at the end had my jaw on the floor! While it didn't affect how I rated this book, I will say there was quite a bit of reading flow errors and grammar errors. Again, it didn't affect how I rated, but I wanted to point it out in case anyone wants to know before jumping in!
And one of my all-time favorite book covers, too 😍
The twist at the end had my jaw on the floor! While it didn't affect how I rated this book, I will say there was quite a bit of reading flow errors and grammar errors. Again, it didn't affect how I rated, but I wanted to point it out in case anyone wants to know before jumping in!
And one of my all-time favorite book covers, too 😍
October 18, 2022
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided an ARC from the author for a blog tour with Turn the Pages Tours in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, injury, murder, death, death of loved ones, sexual harassment, sexual content, alcohol consumption, panic attacks
--
The Bone Thief’s Tale is the first instalment in a New Adult Romantasy series with a Hades & Persephone meets The Little Mermaid vibe, where instead of under the sea our heroine is from the Underworld and instead of a prince her life gets entangled with a gang leader, and this worked so well!
Lynne is a bone thief, getting by in the Underworld by stealing bones for the Bone Queen but she dreams of escaping and living above in the Topworld. Once a year Lynne sneaks out to the world above, a trip where her fantasy is fed even more by the mysterious and handsome stranger who always happens to be up there on that given date but all goes wrong when she loses one of the bones she’s been collecting. Breaching the Bone Queen’s rules means losing her soul and so Lynne makes a deal with the Blood Queen, a witch and the Bone Queen’s sister. The deal is this – Lynne has 99 days to find her bone, steal a book for the witch and to also make her mystery man fall in love with her. The catch - Lynne has no voice so as not to reveal where she’s from.
Mystery man turns out to be one of Chicago’s gang leaders, Rio Ranero and when Lynne turns up on his doorstep he is immediately drawn to her. However, he also sees how he can use her skills for his own gain so in exchange for his assistance, she must return the favour and help him take his enemies down.
From the captivating Underworld to the Topworld rich with gang politics this book was entertaining through and through. Despite most of the story taking place in the Topworld the way that the Underworld and its magic bled into the setting was so cool, I really enjoyed how Davies balanced the contemporary and fantasy elements in the story.
Lynne is a feisty and impulsive character, who has an air of naivety around her and her perspective was fun to follow. When she ventured out into the human world she sort of reminded me of Giselle from Enchanted. At times her dialogue made her feel a bit like a YA character but she had a strong and determined demeanour that got her through situations which balanced out some of her childish mannerisms.
Rio was intriguing too though it took me some time to warm to his character. Again I think the dialogue felt a bit off for me but I absolutely loved how off balance Lynne threw him whenever she did something he totally didn’t expect. I really enjoyed their dynamic and watching them work together. They balanced each other out and their relationship felt well developed.
There were so many likeable side characters too including members of Rio’s gang and Bory, Lynne’s little furry companion. However, there were quite a lot of them dipping in and out of the story and quite often key moments of interaction with these characters fell into tell over show territory so they didn’t feel as fleshed out as Lynne and Rio.
That aside the primary storylines of both of the protagonists wove together really well and there were some great twists along the way – though I did guess a few things – and with how everything wrapped up at the end I’ll definitely be picking up book 2!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars
**I was provided an ARC from the author for a blog tour with Turn the Pages Tours in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, injury, murder, death, death of loved ones, sexual harassment, sexual content, alcohol consumption, panic attacks
--
The Bone Thief’s Tale is the first instalment in a New Adult Romantasy series with a Hades & Persephone meets The Little Mermaid vibe, where instead of under the sea our heroine is from the Underworld and instead of a prince her life gets entangled with a gang leader, and this worked so well!
Lynne is a bone thief, getting by in the Underworld by stealing bones for the Bone Queen but she dreams of escaping and living above in the Topworld. Once a year Lynne sneaks out to the world above, a trip where her fantasy is fed even more by the mysterious and handsome stranger who always happens to be up there on that given date but all goes wrong when she loses one of the bones she’s been collecting. Breaching the Bone Queen’s rules means losing her soul and so Lynne makes a deal with the Blood Queen, a witch and the Bone Queen’s sister. The deal is this – Lynne has 99 days to find her bone, steal a book for the witch and to also make her mystery man fall in love with her. The catch - Lynne has no voice so as not to reveal where she’s from.
Mystery man turns out to be one of Chicago’s gang leaders, Rio Ranero and when Lynne turns up on his doorstep he is immediately drawn to her. However, he also sees how he can use her skills for his own gain so in exchange for his assistance, she must return the favour and help him take his enemies down.
From the captivating Underworld to the Topworld rich with gang politics this book was entertaining through and through. Despite most of the story taking place in the Topworld the way that the Underworld and its magic bled into the setting was so cool, I really enjoyed how Davies balanced the contemporary and fantasy elements in the story.
Lynne is a feisty and impulsive character, who has an air of naivety around her and her perspective was fun to follow. When she ventured out into the human world she sort of reminded me of Giselle from Enchanted. At times her dialogue made her feel a bit like a YA character but she had a strong and determined demeanour that got her through situations which balanced out some of her childish mannerisms.
Rio was intriguing too though it took me some time to warm to his character. Again I think the dialogue felt a bit off for me but I absolutely loved how off balance Lynne threw him whenever she did something he totally didn’t expect. I really enjoyed their dynamic and watching them work together. They balanced each other out and their relationship felt well developed.
There were so many likeable side characters too including members of Rio’s gang and Bory, Lynne’s little furry companion. However, there were quite a lot of them dipping in and out of the story and quite often key moments of interaction with these characters fell into tell over show territory so they didn’t feel as fleshed out as Lynne and Rio.
That aside the primary storylines of both of the protagonists wove together really well and there were some great twists along the way – though I did guess a few things – and with how everything wrapped up at the end I’ll definitely be picking up book 2!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars
November 2, 2022
'No podía explicarlo, pero la deseé desde el momento en que la vi, como si me hubiera hechizado.'
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.
The Bone Thief's Tale de Heleen Davies
Argumento:
Obligada a robar los huesos mágicos de su reina, la ladrona Lynne sabe que solo un error equivale a la muerte. Y, sin embargo, sueña con vivir en el mundo prohibido de la superficie, odiando cada minuto en el Inframundo. Cuando se enamora en secreto de un humano, pierde un hueso en su reino y no tiene más remedio que llegar a un acuerdo con el único que podría ayudarla: una bruja malvada.
Para salvar su vida, debe ganarse el amor del hombre y recuperar el hueso en 99 días.
Rio Renero es un notorio líder de pandillas en Chicago y su vida se ha fijado un propósito: vengarse de sus enemigos. Con una hermosa y misteriosa chica apareciendo en su puerta, ve la solución a sus maquinaciones. Ella le ofrece la oportunidad de un atraco mortal que podría destruir a todos sus enemigos. A cambio, debe ayudarla a robar un libro. Qué pan comido.
Mientras Lynne y Rio profundizan en una oscura red de política, magia y pasión, necesitan aprender a confiar el uno en el otro. No es tan fácil, teniendo en cuenta que no están muy seguros de si besarse o matarse.
Un romance de fantasía con personajes moralmente grises, un hombre melancólico, una heroína temeraria y valiente, y un suspenso que cambia las páginas.
Mi humilde opinión:
The Bone Thief's Tale es un libro del género fantástico inspirado en la Sirenita, Hades y Perséfone con un romance de enemigos a amantes.
La historia de Lynne, la heroína del libro, comienza en el inframundo. Ella es una hábil ladrona que está robando huesos mágicos para su reina.
Me gustó visitar el inframundo y el detalle de que esté dividido en territorios cada uno con sus reinas que pueden hacer poderosa magia y ambicionan los huesos. Aquí se dan a conocer dos hermanas reinas, Bone Queen y Blood Queen.
No se dice mucho de Lynne ni como llegó, solo que la cuidó alguien allí desde que era pequeña. Ni tampoco dice como es que está trabajando para La Reina de los huesos, Bone Queen. Su historia es una incógnita que se revela más adelante pero me encantó que me mantenga preguntando quién era ella.
Ella no está sola y tiene como amigos unas raras criaturas realmente leales y adorables. Mí preferido era Boris!
Lástima que solo hay un pequeño vistazo al mundo de Lynne antes de ir al Chicago actual.
Hay una torre en un cementerio que es como un portal al mundo de Río, el protagonista masculino de la historia. Cada día de los muertos, Lynne pasa por el portal y visita el mundo de los vivos, más bien Eglewood en Chicago. Es algo que ella ha hecho por años y no puede evitar hacer a pesar de que está prohibido. Se siente atraída como un imán hacía Río. El chico que llora delante de una lápida pero no puede verla. Pero cuando lo vuelve a ver él ya no es un chico, es mayor pero aún puede ver su dolor y quiere saber más sobre él. Cuando el portal la empuja de nuevo al inframundo se da cuenta que se le cayó un hueso que debe entregar a su reina Bone Queen, cerca de las lápidas y que ahora está en manos de Río.
La historia toma más ritmo cuando Lynne desesperada busca la ayuda de la reina Blood Queen. Necesita volver al mundo de arriba pero no puede estar mucho tiempo allí. Necesita tiempo para buscar el hueso perdido. Boris le dice que es un gran error. Nunca debes ser tan estúpido para hacer un trato, menos un segundo, con una reina del inframundo. Pero ella no tiene otra opción. A cambio de comprarle tiempo, 99 días, la reina le pide un beso con sentimiento de Río y un libro de hechizos, de no lograrlo Lynne se volverá su esclava.
Con el reloj corriendo, Lynne regresa a Chicago por el portal y descubre de una forma impactante que cualquier persona que toque con sus manos cae muerta y que la reina Blood Queen le ha quitado la voz para que no revele información del inframundo. Acompañada de Boris, invisible para los ojos de los vivos, debe buscar a un tal Baron que luego descubre es Río su chico del cementerio.
Rio es un jefe de la mafia y una especie de antihéroe. Él mismo dice que no es un persona en la que puedes confiar, que no es bueno. Él se siente de inmediato atraído por Lynne a apenas la ve, como si la conociera de algún lado. Este es otro misterio que tiene una épica revelación al final. Lynne por accidente mata delante de él a uno de sus esbirros y Rio decide mantenerla en su club por su belleza y para su plan de venganza. Lynne no puede creer que este Jefe mafioso sin corazón sea el mismo chico que ella visita desde hace años. No solo es frío sino que le devolverá el hueso solo si ella trabaja para él.
Me gustan los romances de enemigos a amantes que se cuecen a fuego lento. Aquí hubo mucho tira y afloja, tensión, miradas que matan, disfruté todo eso y más pero me pareció que tardaron demasiado en juntarse! La espera me mataba! Y me faltó más conversación entre ellos. Como Lynne recupera su voz muy hacía el final no hay mucho diálogo entre ellos sino más mostrar en la narración. Lo que estuvo bien también.
La construcción de los personajes estuvo muy bien, cada uno tenía una inconfundible personalidad.
Lynne es tan temeraria e impulsiva, me encantó su fuerza. Me encantó verla adaptarse al mundo actual con un deje de inocencia y decapitar al zombie! Esa escena fue increíble!
Tengo sentimientos encontrados en cuanto a Río. Es quien era y lo fue hasta el final. Tenía un plan y nada lo hizo retractarse. Ni siquiera traicionar a Lynne. Yo no pude perdonarle eso. Hubo cosas rescatables pero esa traición fue demasiado para mí. No sé cómo me sentí cuando Lynne se lo perdona fácil. Quizás fue un tema de tiempo que es lo que no tenían.
Esta aventura de la ladrona de huesos está cargada de emociones fuertes y el final te deja la sensación de no todo ha terminado. Qué planes tiene la reina Blood Queen con el libro de hechizos y ese beso que le pidio a Lynne? Es el fin de la historia de amor de Río y Lynne? Volverán a verse el día de los muertos? Espero que haya una continuación!
January 22, 2023
Has potential, but needs some major revisions
I wanted to like this book so much after seeing a preview on TikTok but the writing is just not there. It’s got a good basis for a storyline but there were several places that I’m shocked made it through editing. I don’t know anything about the author but it reads like she’s 15-18. I think a revised version of the book when the author is a little more seasoned would be fantastic. I don’t normally write reviews but I’d have stayed far away from this one if I’d known ahead of time.
I wanted to like this book so much after seeing a preview on TikTok but the writing is just not there. It’s got a good basis for a storyline but there were several places that I’m shocked made it through editing. I don’t know anything about the author but it reads like she’s 15-18. I think a revised version of the book when the author is a little more seasoned would be fantastic. I don’t normally write reviews but I’d have stayed far away from this one if I’d known ahead of time.
October 17, 2022
I’m a sucker for both Little Mermaid and Hades & Persephone retellings so when I saw this I knew I needed to check it out. I thought it was a great introduction to this world. I really loved Lynne and Rio as characters. I did find the book to be a bit slow at times but it really started picking up after Lynne makes a certain deal, then I was flying through this book! I can’t wait to read the next one.
June 18, 2023
2.5 Stars
This was okay, I guess.
I found some elements exciting and engaging, and they all have to do with the fantastical world. The atmosphere was creepy and I found the horror side of the story to be well executed.
Unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy the romance or the characters. I found the characters to be predictable and the romance to be lacking. The final twist didn't help either. It made me more disappointed than I thought possible.
October 1, 2022
I really love the idea behind this book, and I think the story has a lot of room to grow from here. Like every book there are parts that worked for me and parts that I didn’t love as much. Lynne felt a little immature/juvenile in her dialogue… however that might be on purpose, and it gives her character room to grow in future books. But she is also so strong and a pretty bad ass girl. The romance was a little to slow burn for me, it felt more along the lines of YA fantasy romance instead of adult. However with an enemy to lover vibe it takes time for the hate/love to boil over. I am also a little sad that I didn’t get to know the blood queen and bone queen more, or really more about the underworld because it sounds sooo interesting! but I have lots of hope for the story to continue. Overall I enjoyed the read, and I really want my own Bory.
I received an ARC of this book from the author at no cost.
I received an ARC of this book from the author at no cost.
Want to read
October 8, 2022Part of me just wants to read this due to the MC's name - very rarely is MY name in a book <3
October 18, 2022
I received an ARC for this book and I LOVED it! I absolutely can't wait for more.
I found few typos, especially in the beginning, but they didn't bother me too much. Loved the Character building and world building! Will definitely be buying a physical copy. The Cover Art is just beautiful as well!
I found few typos, especially in the beginning, but they didn't bother me too much. Loved the Character building and world building! Will definitely be buying a physical copy. The Cover Art is just beautiful as well!
January 19, 2023
I'm not even gonna lie I got the epub off of the internet after seeing a TikTok about this book. I was pretty disappointed. Maybe the copy I found was an ARC but I don't really think so, since I cross-referenced several.
First off, the author's TikTok account is very misleading! Several of the scenarios she showed on TikTok don't happen. Like yeah there's similar vibes, but not really. I loved the plot and the world building, I just wish we saw MORE of that! I wish the entire book was like how the first three and the last three chapters were. Yes the stuff in the middle held most love development but I wanted a little more plot (and dragons)!
I won't spoil anything but the ending was REALLY well planned, the writing just wasn't up to snuff. I did not like the writing style and found myself skimming through huge parts of chapters to try and speed it up. I read this book in one day. I am trying to be understanding that the author is a younger author but I definitely think she could've used a better editor!
There's definitely a lot of room for improvement for the second book. Please please PLEASE just have a better editor or more EXPERIENCED beta readers because it just felt a little sloppy.
To end on a good note, beautiful concept, beautiful planning for that last reveal, just wish it had better writing and better pacing/plot.
First off, the author's TikTok account is very misleading! Several of the scenarios she showed on TikTok don't happen. Like yeah there's similar vibes, but not really. I loved the plot and the world building, I just wish we saw MORE of that! I wish the entire book was like how the first three and the last three chapters were. Yes the stuff in the middle held most love development but I wanted a little more plot (and dragons)!
I won't spoil anything but the ending was REALLY well planned, the writing just wasn't up to snuff. I did not like the writing style and found myself skimming through huge parts of chapters to try and speed it up. I read this book in one day. I am trying to be understanding that the author is a younger author but I definitely think she could've used a better editor!
There's definitely a lot of room for improvement for the second book. Please please PLEASE just have a better editor or more EXPERIENCED beta readers because it just felt a little sloppy.
To end on a good note, beautiful concept, beautiful planning for that last reveal, just wish it had better writing and better pacing/plot.
October 31, 2023
Check out the full review over at The Litt Librarian now!
A story that blended a dark version of The Little Mermaid, the Greek mythology-esq of Hades and Persephone, with a hint of Pirates of the Caribbean, was something I wasn’t expecting to go over so well. Davies was able to make an Adult Disney story dream come true!
I checked out the audio featuring Meg Price and C.J. Grey. I liked them paired together. The other easily picked up where one left off and continued the story.
TBTT is a duel POV angsty story with danger, a little bit of mystery, and romance. There is cracked-door spice for you horn dogs out there. Oh, and that ending was something I didn't quite see coming!
I don't have much else to say. I liked the book and rated 3.5 stars. I already have the sequel waiting for its turn.
Check out the full review over at The Litt Librarian now!
A story that blended a dark version of The Little Mermaid, the Greek mythology-esq of Hades and Persephone, with a hint of Pirates of the Caribbean, was something I wasn’t expecting to go over so well. Davies was able to make an Adult Disney story dream come true!
I checked out the audio featuring Meg Price and C.J. Grey. I liked them paired together. The other easily picked up where one left off and continued the story.
TBTT is a duel POV angsty story with danger, a little bit of mystery, and romance. There is cracked-door spice for you horn dogs out there. Oh, and that ending was something I didn't quite see coming!
I don't have much else to say. I liked the book and rated 3.5 stars. I already have the sequel waiting for its turn.
Check out the full review over at The Litt Librarian now!
September 7, 2023
Quit at chapter 4.
Atrocious.
Came across as Wattpad-style writing with not a single form of editing/proofreading/any sort of professional input whatsoever. Can book characters be wooden? Because literally every human and human-adjacent character gave me metaphorical splinters.
This should have stayed in the drafts.
Atrocious.
Came across as Wattpad-style writing with not a single form of editing/proofreading/any sort of professional input whatsoever. Can book characters be wooden? Because literally every human and human-adjacent character gave me metaphorical splinters.
This should have stayed in the drafts.
May 14, 2024
It was OK. Too many typos and grammatical errors for me.. and the story was pretty predictable. Still enjoyed it enough to finish, but thought about DNF-ing many times.
February 11, 2024
"The Bone Thief's Tale" by Heleen Davies offers a fun blend of fantasy, romance, and underworld intrigue. Set in a unique world where the Underworld meets the TopWorld, the story follows Lynne, a strong and impulsive protagonist, tasked with stealing magical bones for the Bone Queen. A chance encounter with Rio, a Chicago gang leader, sets off a series of events that unravel Lynne's world, leading to a deal with the Blood Queen and a 99-day quest to retrieve a lost bone, a book, and a kiss from her mortal crush, Rio.
The narrative introduces morally grey characters, including the enigmatic Rio and Lynne, whose complexities and past traumas add layers to the story. The supporting cast, such as Soothie, the kind Sircha Dragon, and Bory, her adorably blue fuzzy friend, contribute to the heartwarming dynamics of the tale. The romantic tension between Lynne and Rio is skillfully woven, with a realistic exploration of the contrast between Lynne's imagined version of Rio and the actual persona she encounters.
The plot unfolds with gripping twists, turns, and action, creating a sense of edge-of-the-seat anticipation. While the communication and dialogue can occasionally come off as juvenile or repetitive, the immersive world-building and engaging characters compensate for these minor concerns. The book successfully offers a unique retelling of classic tales like "The Little Mermaid" with Hades and Persephone influences, showcasing Davies' storytelling prowess.
The dynamics between Lynne and Rio, the morally grey elements, and the exploration of a new world add depth to the narrative. Despite occasional pacing critiques, the story's overall immersion and the promise of future developments make "The Bone Thief's Tale" a fantastic read for fans of fantasy, romance, and morally complex characters. I look forward to exploring more of Heleen Davies' imaginative storytelling in potential sequels.
The narrative introduces morally grey characters, including the enigmatic Rio and Lynne, whose complexities and past traumas add layers to the story. The supporting cast, such as Soothie, the kind Sircha Dragon, and Bory, her adorably blue fuzzy friend, contribute to the heartwarming dynamics of the tale. The romantic tension between Lynne and Rio is skillfully woven, with a realistic exploration of the contrast between Lynne's imagined version of Rio and the actual persona she encounters.
The plot unfolds with gripping twists, turns, and action, creating a sense of edge-of-the-seat anticipation. While the communication and dialogue can occasionally come off as juvenile or repetitive, the immersive world-building and engaging characters compensate for these minor concerns. The book successfully offers a unique retelling of classic tales like "The Little Mermaid" with Hades and Persephone influences, showcasing Davies' storytelling prowess.
The dynamics between Lynne and Rio, the morally grey elements, and the exploration of a new world add depth to the narrative. Despite occasional pacing critiques, the story's overall immersion and the promise of future developments make "The Bone Thief's Tale" a fantastic read for fans of fantasy, romance, and morally complex characters. I look forward to exploring more of Heleen Davies' imaginative storytelling in potential sequels.
January 9, 2024
"A little mermaid retelling"
I really enjoy reading kindle unlimited books and small indie authors because it gives me something new.
But this book....
I felt like the writing was rough, a lot of things were over explained and it took 3 pages to get though something that I got within the first paragraph or we were told the same information multiple times throughout the book.
There were also some hard core cringe parts....like parkour...all I could see was that episode from The Office US when Andy jumped into the box.
If you take out those things the story itself was cute and a pretty accurate retelling as far as sequences with how things happen.
I won't spoil the ending but I eventually saw it coming, took me awhile to get there though. Like more than 50% of the way through the book.
I love the vibes of the underworld, with the Chicago mafia boss. It all blending very well together.
It took me to about 50% way through the book to start rating it a 2 star read, the ending got to me though and I bumped it up. I wasn't a fan of the ending but I know there's a sequel so you need that kind of ending.
So 3 star read in the end and I'll give the second book a read as well.
I really enjoy reading kindle unlimited books and small indie authors because it gives me something new.
But this book....
I felt like the writing was rough, a lot of things were over explained and it took 3 pages to get though something that I got within the first paragraph or we were told the same information multiple times throughout the book.
There were also some hard core cringe parts....like parkour...all I could see was that episode from The Office US when Andy jumped into the box.
If you take out those things the story itself was cute and a pretty accurate retelling as far as sequences with how things happen.
I won't spoil the ending but I eventually saw it coming, took me awhile to get there though. Like more than 50% of the way through the book.
I love the vibes of the underworld, with the Chicago mafia boss. It all blending very well together.
It took me to about 50% way through the book to start rating it a 2 star read, the ending got to me though and I bumped it up. I wasn't a fan of the ending but I know there's a sequel so you need that kind of ending.
So 3 star read in the end and I'll give the second book a read as well.
January 30, 2023
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, dark romance, supernatural
Rio is a mob boss of the largest gang in Chicago and drug dealer. Lynne is a bone thief from the underworld thrown into his world of crime, drugs, and strippers when she has to retrieve a lost bone and magical book.
Overall an interesting story, the underworld was unique and I wish we spent more time in that realm than Chicago. The world building of Rio's club and house takes up more space than the underworld.
Parts of the story felt very juvenile for how dark and sexy this story was meant to be (for example "my body guards, called Slappy and Punchy" 🙄).
There is sexual tension between our MCs but Rio doesn't mix business and pleasure, and he has enlisted Lynne into his gang after seeing how deadly she can be. The spice in this book is overall mild and doesn't come until the end.
*I received a free copy from KatieandBreyPA and the author and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.*
Rio is a mob boss of the largest gang in Chicago and drug dealer. Lynne is a bone thief from the underworld thrown into his world of crime, drugs, and strippers when she has to retrieve a lost bone and magical book.
Overall an interesting story, the underworld was unique and I wish we spent more time in that realm than Chicago. The world building of Rio's club and house takes up more space than the underworld.
Parts of the story felt very juvenile for how dark and sexy this story was meant to be (for example "my body guards, called Slappy and Punchy" 🙄).
There is sexual tension between our MCs but Rio doesn't mix business and pleasure, and he has enlisted Lynne into his gang after seeing how deadly she can be. The spice in this book is overall mild and doesn't come until the end.
*I received a free copy from KatieandBreyPA and the author and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.*
January 5, 2023
This book was really good! Little Mermaid with an Underground twist...
Did not see that coming.
Lynne needs to retrieve the bone that she dropped and she needs to do it fast!
The only way she can get it back is by making a deal with the Blood Queen!
Lynne is running out of time, she needs to face a new world and accomplish her mission as soon as possible!
Lynne is drawn to Rio and cannot get him out of her mind (the same goes for Rio).
I loved that they both felt their connection instantly but got together after knowing about each other!
I wish the book was longer and hope the next book comes soon.
Did not see that coming.
Lynne needs to retrieve the bone that she dropped and she needs to do it fast!
The only way she can get it back is by making a deal with the Blood Queen!
Lynne is running out of time, she needs to face a new world and accomplish her mission as soon as possible!
Lynne is drawn to Rio and cannot get him out of her mind (the same goes for Rio).
I loved that they both felt their connection instantly but got together after knowing about each other!
I wish the book was longer and hope the next book comes soon.
September 27, 2022
I love it! I love the characters and the plot twist ending I did not see coming and I LOVE that.
I will definitely read this again, many times!
I will definitely read this again, many times!
February 13, 2023
A very captivating and exciting story from the first to the last page. You can´t help it but fall in love with the characters. I am looking forward to read book 2.
June 15, 2023
Finally, a 5 star read in what feels like forever!!
November 23, 2023
This is so beautiful
Plot+ tension+their chemistry+and so much laugh
Her touch is deadly
Plot+ tension+their chemistry+and so much laugh
Her touch is deadly
January 1, 2024
This book was very hyped, I gave it 2.5 stars.
January 2, 2024
This isn’t usually something of my type of reading style, but I have to say, I adored this book.
I’ve *just* finished, and I’m not sure how much I like plot twist at the end.
I saw it going differently.
However that’s my own personal opinion, and it doesn’t change the fact this is a well written, fantastic book.
Now it’s time for book 2…!
I’ve *just* finished, and I’m not sure how much I like plot twist at the end.
I saw it going differently.
However that’s my own personal opinion, and it doesn’t change the fact this is a well written, fantastic book.
Now it’s time for book 2…!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2022
– I received the ARC review of this book from the author at no cost. The review is absolutely voluntary and honest.
– I just couldn't finish reading it. I was skip reading the whole thing. I'll mention the reason below.
– I LOVED Lynne, the female main character. Her 'side chicks' ; Soothie (the dragon) and Bory (a mythical creature) were an amazing entertainment and funny characters.
–I liked the concept too. After death, sinned souls are sent to the underworld to get a chance at redemption. If they don't succeed, their souls are damned by the Bone Queen.
But, the background information on the existence of the world and Bone Queen, felt really summed up. Just 2 lines describing the Bone Queen is evil. Throwing in a small detail that she's got evil siblings as well. It wasn't bad, but I think I'm into more detailed scenarios.
– I disliked Rio, the main male character. He felt like SUCH a wanna-be gang leader. He'd LITERALLY plainly say "I'm the boss", "No one messes with me" etc. Felt 'meh'.
– I just couldn't bear chapters in Rio's pov. I was trying to atleast read the book for Lynne by skip reading through Rio's chapters, but then it started making less sense as I kept progressing (obviously).
– I might still try to push myself to read it just for Lynne, Bory and Soothie though.
– Overall, the concept of the book is amazing. The storyline is good too. Just, Rio was the meh part for me.
– Stay tuned for the official release of The Bone Thief's Tale on October 18th!
** Constructive criticism. I don't mean to offend anyone. Your review/experience might be entirely different than mine.
– I just couldn't finish reading it. I was skip reading the whole thing. I'll mention the reason below.
– I LOVED Lynne, the female main character. Her 'side chicks' ; Soothie (the dragon) and Bory (a mythical creature) were an amazing entertainment and funny characters.
–I liked the concept too. After death, sinned souls are sent to the underworld to get a chance at redemption. If they don't succeed, their souls are damned by the Bone Queen.
But, the background information on the existence of the world and Bone Queen, felt really summed up. Just 2 lines describing the Bone Queen is evil. Throwing in a small detail that she's got evil siblings as well. It wasn't bad, but I think I'm into more detailed scenarios.
– I disliked Rio, the main male character. He felt like SUCH a wanna-be gang leader. He'd LITERALLY plainly say "I'm the boss", "No one messes with me" etc. Felt 'meh'.
– I just couldn't bear chapters in Rio's pov. I was trying to atleast read the book for Lynne by skip reading through Rio's chapters, but then it started making less sense as I kept progressing (obviously).
– I might still try to push myself to read it just for Lynne, Bory and Soothie though.
– Overall, the concept of the book is amazing. The storyline is good too. Just, Rio was the meh part for me.
– Stay tuned for the official release of The Bone Thief's Tale on October 18th!
** Constructive criticism. I don't mean to offend anyone. Your review/experience might be entirely different than mine.
October 19, 2022
This book was amazing! The plot twists, world building, and character building were on point! This story goes along the lines of Lynne messing up big time in the underworld. To solve her problem and get out of trouble, she has to have Rio kiss her. It’s practically a retelling of Little Mermaid! Lynne is a mischievous woman who falls in love with Rio and every year, she goes from the Underworld to go up to Topworld to see him. This book has all the tension and slow-burn romance and the plot twists are crazy. I loved how this book sucked me in from the beginning and kept me sucked in until 3:30 in the morning. This book gave me all the feels and made me invested in the book. It gave me the laughs, frustration, happiness, sadness and many other emotions.
I received an ARC of this book at no cost from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC of this book at no cost from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2022
I absolutely loved the book! It's about a girl that messes up in her world and has to make up for her mistakes. There are many plot twists and you have to really guess and keep an eye for red herrings and I freaking LOVE that. It's perfect for new adult fantasy fans that love reckless and fierce heroines. It was an absolute page-turner for me. If you're in for a HANDSOME morally gray hero and a thrilling fantasy plot, that book is for you.
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