BLOG TOUR: the Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart

2020 can eat me now.

That's all I can say, because 2020 is a game changer.

I've been living under a rock for almost my whole life— just reading books that the western and US media feeds me— so I am really thankful that I got back to reading this year and found that there's more to stories than the white and the western ones. 

So far, fantasy-wise, I've started with this one and I'm currently reading The Wolf of Oren-yaro. I've started my reading right, right?? (By the time this post comes up, I'll be finished with TWOOY)

Title: The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire #1)

Author: Andrea Stewart

Release Date: 08 September 2020

Genre: Epic Fantasy

In  this epic start to a unique new series from Andrea Stewart, we follow five perspectives:

Lin, the potential heir to the throne-well, granted that her foster brother doesn't get the emperor's blessing- lost her memories of the last five years.

Jovis, a smuggler following the trail of the mysterious blue ship that transports kidnapped people to an unknown destination.

Phalue, the governor's daughter torn between love and duty. 

Ranami, the woman who knows and experiences injustice and tries to find a way to tip the scale and help start a revolution.

Lastly, a mysterious character named Sand, who claws through her foggy mind to find out why she does what she does and why she's trapped in an island with nowhere to run?

These five people will eventually cross paths one way or another, but are you ready to find out how, when and why? Then pick up the book! I'm not gonna tell that to you, sister!

So let me tell you in a manner of conciseness only I could muster the reasons why you should read this book..... 

oh god, I don't do concise. I'm your messy reviewer and I don't want to gush and gush (girl, you need to sound professional! Andrea Stewart would read this!) like a weird and unreliable reviewer! So, yep, here iz me trying *cue T.Swift's This is Me Trying* 

DIVERSE CHARACTERS & MUCH REPRESENTATION

Well, you see this is what I'm going to tell you.

If a book makes same-sex relationships a big deal, then you would see that it wants you to actually notice that it's there and you SHOULD know it.

But normalizing it in a way that people around your characters accept that and see that as normal? Girl, that's what makes it a better read.

FORK OFF THE HERO TROPE WHO ALWAYS DOES GOOD DEEDS

I've read a lot of books in the past, and honestly, a hero with a bright and pure heart would lose its luster after being read on different books over and over. After diving into these recurring tropes, I yearned for the true human nature - to see myself reflected in the characters' eyes. I wanted to see the characters I read get torn between saving the world and being selfish and do what they want for themselves. You know? H-U-M-A-N. 

OH GOSH, MEPHI, BE MINE

Cute and talking creatures who will stand by you and be your very own familiar. Hello, I feel like they are the dragons that protagonists in other books use to, like, symbolize their power?

Well, these talking familiars are absolutely the opposite of that! They're your loyal, cute, and friendly companion to all your adventures! Hey, think of Toothless and how cute he is! Oh gosh, I just want my very own Mephi.

GROTESQUE. WHO CARES IF THE CREATURES AREN'T PRETTY?

There are some books that always wanted to put on a glossy face, you know, characters with stubbornness as her central and biggest flaw? *ehem, I have a favorite series like this. ehem* 

Not only with the characters though, I feel like these books wouldn't want a grotesque creature to be a big part of the story so I was shocked when I read that the constructs, which played a big part in this book, are U-G-L-Y and grotesque and sewn pieces of different animals! I was so sucked into the small world of non-diverse books, and now, diverse books are pulling me out of a sink hole and you'll find no resistance from me. *Take me away from here* PLEASE!!!

UNIQUE MAGIC SYSTEM

Urm........ you know when you read a fantasy book with intricate magic that is so complex that your tiny brain - I mean MY TINY BRAIN - literally screams because of info overload?

Well let me tell you.... This book doesn't bombard you with how it works, why it works. It is simple yet it is so unique. The magic system in TBSD doesn't draw life from the wielder, but robs from normal people until it sucks the life out of them. And with a ruler like that? Revolution is just brewing on the sidelines until it gets a clear shot to strike the government down! (Or the emperor, for this matter)

In this universe, magic is pretty normal. I mean, nobody asks a regular smuggler why he can shake a whole pub like he's an earth bender! I am guessing this will be tackled in depthly in the next book (hopefully), or is it as simple as he gets his strengh from somewhere.......? :D

The book ended with questions. I know I said that the book's pacing had me believing in its world and not entirely questioning it, but there was a hint of elemental magic that is only uncovered by the end of the book so I'll just sit here patiently waiting to know more about the talking familiar that I wanted for myself.

BY.THE.WAY.

Just a burning question I got. Can anyone wield bone shard magic when taken as the emperor's apprentice??? I feel like anyone can. I mean, the foster son of the emperor was able to do it??

WOMEN. WOMEN. WOMEN ARE STRONG. 

First off, women leaders are not frowned upon in this book. Never questioned. I feel like this is the Imperial 2020 we all needed!

Nobody questions a woman's place in society and she can be whoever she wants. That's badassery right there.

I love that an heir to any position in this world need not have a dick to be crowned ruler. Oh god, I love it. 

I love that a woman can kick a man's ass in a brawl.

I love that  woman leads imperial guards.

I mean, what more can you ask for, right?

All in all, the book is a strong debut series with its strong foundations built on character diversity, profound world building, and unique (really, one of a kind) magic system.

I found myself struggling on the first few chapters, but once I got past that, I was sucked right in.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Andrea Stewart is the daughter of immigrants, and was raised in a number of places across the United States. Her parents always emphasized science and education, so she spent her childhood immersed in Star Trek and odd-smelling library books.

When her (admittedly ambitious) dreams of becoming a dragon slayer didn't pan out, she instead turned to writing books. She now lives in sunny California, and in addition to writing, can be found herding cats, looking at birds, and falling down research rabbit holes.

Bone Shard Daughter Links:

Goodreads || Amazon || Book Depository || Barnes & Noble

If there's anything I left out, you can always check these people's blog tour stop and find out why they LOVE The Bone Shard Daughter: