With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian

Publication Date: 1 February 2022

As soon as I read the synopsis I knew this was a must read for me and it exceeded my expectations. I loved everything the story had to offer and couldn’t read it fast enough whilst never wanting it to end!

The spellbinding writing captured my attention from the get go and I had a good feeling this was going to be a new favourite! The world building was incredible, the characters so well developed they felt like real people jumping off the pages, and the beautifully woven stories of each Sister’s epic journey completely pulled me in and kept me hooked throughout.

I loved that the story is told from all three Sisters’ points of view - we get to know each of their lives from their own eyes and can experience the world as they do and feel what they are feeling. It creates a real sense of connection to them.

They each have a mission to complete assigned by their Mother who wants to become Ruler over all the Kingdoms. Beatriz must marry Prince Pascale of Cellaria who has his own secret. Sophronia is tasked with marrying the King of Temarin - but is he the one pulling the strings? Daphne is to marry the Prince of Friv - but what is she really walking into?

The Princesses have been trained since birth to plot, seduce, manipulate - whatever it takes to achieve their Mother’s goals. They are shown no love and affection by their Mother - she instills in them that love is just an illusion and a weakness.

The Princesses are pawns on their Mother’s chess board which puts them in danger at every turn, but as they assume the roles she thrusts them into and meet the “enemies” will they stick to the script or will they realise there’s more to life than their Mother’s quest for world domination? Will their journeys change them and what they truly value? My mind was a whirl with questions, and the intrigue and suspense grew each page I turned.

I really enjoyed the Royal elements - each Court has its own customs, intrigues, plotting, subterfuge and new characters to learn about and love or hate! The power struggle is real! As Daphne mentions, the thing about power is that once you have it everyone wants to take it from you. They never know who they can truly trust, or what ulterior motives people may have.

I found myself instantly warming to the Princes and King - they each have their own flaws and struggles and are as much bound by duty as the Princesses. I couldn’t wait to see how each match would play out. In coming together can it be a catalyst for change? Is love the weakness they’ve been taught to believe or can they draw strength from it?

I loved the magic which was beautifully intwined through the story. It captured my imagination and created infinite possibilities. I also enjoyed learning about the meanings given to the constellations and the importance given to these and the stars. The ability to be able to wish upon a star and it actually coming true was so special, if only!

There were some shocking betrayals which really affected the outcomes and left me reeling - it was an emotional rollercoaster throughout as I became invested in how their stories would play out. I could not have predicted the ending, it really pulled on my heartstrings and is the plot twist of all plot twists!

Where’s that vial of stardust when you need it!

This is a stunning, enchanting and completely mesmerising story which I wholeheartedly recommend. The characters feel so real and they capture your interest and don’t let go. Daphne, Beatriz, Sophronia, Bairre, Pas and Leo all hold a special place in my heart.

I can’t wait for the second book of this new trilogy to see where the story takes us and to enter this magical world again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

This book broke me.

I adore the magic system in this book. Stardust and wishing on stars and pulling them down from the sky? GORGEOUS.

Each of these girls, Beatriz, Sophronia, and Daphne, struggle with not only their mother’s perception of them, but their own. Who is Beatriz, the beautiful one, if her mark doesn’t care about beauty? Is Daphne truly a cold ruthless bitch? Is Sophronia only fit to stand behind her mother? These struggles are in a high fantasy setting, and yet are so accurate to the thoughts and struggles young girls go through.

The central conceit of the book is: if you raise queens, can you really expect them to go back to being princesses? And the Empress knows this.

There were so many moments that shocked, horrified, or overjoyed me. I could not put the book down. I did find it a bit hard to differentiate the girls’ voices because they were all in third person. I think first person probably would have made them a bit more distinct. But the rest of the book more than made up for this, and by the end, it really did not feel like an issue anymore.

The ending absolutely shook me to my core. I kept thinking there was no way that Sebastian would actually do this to me, but she did and now I am frothing at the mouth for the next book. Literally. I am desperate.

Five stars pulled from the sky, turned into stardust, and wished on by me for the next book right now.

I found the start of this book a little slow, long winded even however it soon picked up and once it did, I couldn't stop reading. The multiple POVs kept the plot moving smoothly, even with all of the details. The sisters each have perfect descriptions and personalities so that when the POV changes you can tell straight away who it is and it doesn't feel like it could be all the same person as sometimes happens with multiple POVs.

The map and the family trees were a nice touch which you could keep checking if you got confused.  I really wasn't expecting some of the twists and loved that I was surprised.

The politics are a little tricky to keep up with but you get used to that as the book goes on.

The magic was interesting and the world building was very creative. My only complaint is that I now have to wait for the next book

* Thank you to NetGalley, @HodderBooks and @HodderPublicity for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *

It's no secret that fantasy is one of my favourite genres!! So whenever a new fantasy read finds its way to me I'm all kinds of excited, and let me tell you friends, Castle in their Bones did not disappoint !!

This was truly such a fantastic read!
I will admit when I realised the book would follow all 3 sisters and their pov, I was nervous that it would be a tiny bit difficult to read, but if this book has taught me anything it's that @lauraksebastian is a genius who should never be doubted 😂❤️

My favourite of the sisters is Sophie! 🥺❤️
I simply can not wait for everyone to read this book and hear which of the triplets stole their heart! All of the characters were wonderfully written and so well developed! The court politics and political intrigue of the story never grew boring or tiresome!

I refuse to spoil this for anyone but trust me when I say the world is not ready for the ending of this book 🤯 I am still reeling 😂
How am I expected to wait all this time for book 2 😩

Wow. Wow. Wow!
What an incredible book to start off what I can only assume will be an amazing series!

Firstly, I loved the characters. The sisters were written so well and I loved them from the get go. The princes: Leo, Pas and Bairre were perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the growth of all the characters, the way they handle the situations etc. I also love the relationships between them all.

This book is about power, political games, some romance and friendships. It contains a whopper of an ending and I’m left reeling, knowing I’ll have to wait for book two given book one isn’t even out yet!

If you’re looking for an action packed fantasy, this is the one to pick up!

I hate to utter the word reading slump. But I have been struggling a bit to get excited about the books I’m reading, and I’m once again starting far too many and then just starting a new one next time I pick up a book. And while I do eventually finish them, I never really get immersed. Not so with Castles in Their Bones. Slightly aided by a lazy day due to Booster side effects, I raced through the 500-odd pages of this epic fantasy in a few hours, and I already want more. I especially loved the ending – I think Laura Sebastian made some great choices that not every author would have had the guts to go through with – one that sets up strong character arcs for the next book in the series.

The three princesses, Sophronia, Daphne and Beatriz start out as sort of an entity, but as the story goes on, they really develop into their own characters and the differences between the sisters become clear. They are not damsels, but manipulators, though it soon becomes clear that they may not be in control as much as they believe themselves to be. I did feel like the side characters did not get quite as much attention as the triplets, and, for example, their respective spouses/fiancés were not as well-rounded as the girls themselves. It did sometimes feel like they were interchangeable almost. But ultimately, it didn’t diminish my reading experience.

In terms of plot, the story was compelling, if not fully surprising. I think the best way to describe Castles in Their Bones is as a comfort read – taking on enough of the familiar beats of YA epic fantasy to create an atmosphere of recognition in some ways, while also taking them and twisting them into something of its own. It is reasonably fast paced, which adds to the compulsive readability. For me, this will be a book I’m going to reread, because it’s perfect to curl up with under a blanket and sip on a mug of tea or hot choc. Because I too have castles in my bones.

I really ended up enjoying this one, I found the beginning of this to be a little slow going but once the plot started to get going I was always wondering what was going to happen next!

I thought this one was going to be a standalone but I'm looking forwards to the next book to find out what happens to the triplets.

Towards the end of the book, it takes quite a dark turn and we have one chapter from the triplets mother about her agenda, the reveal surprised me!

I found that Laura Sebastian's writing has developed a lot since Ash Princess too.

Oh my goodness - what a rollercoaster of a book! I don't know what I was expecting going in but the story sunk it's teeth into me and didn't let me go until I was a nervous wreck at the end.

I love how different the three sister are - they may be triplets and have been raised in the same way, but they still have their own characteristic differences, whilst still feeling like a family. The premise of this book had me intrigued from the beginning, and there was enough betrayal and shock to keep me hooked until the end. Needless to say, I cannot wait for the next book!

The premise of this book sounded fantastic, and I was very excited to start it despite not having read any of the authors previous work.

The storyline was good, it took me a few tries to actually get into it but I persevered and got through it!

I liked that there were multiple POV’s and that we got to explore the world through different characters eyes. This made for interesting reading.

Loved The romances too. Daphne is my personal favourite sister, but the three of them make a interesting force.

A cliffhanger ending, but I’m not sure I will be picking it up. I’m not emotionally connected to this story like I was hoping.

Empress Margaraux had been raising her triplets, Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia, to fulfill her vision of ruling over the entire continent by marrying them off to three different countries. The girls had been raised learning every skill they needed to lead their mother to her goal, but once the girls' journeys started, a chain of events filled with opportunities, deceptions, betrayals, and truths threatened to disrupt their plan.

This was so fucking good. The joy I felt going into a book with no expectation only for it to blow my mind away on every aspect possible, and that was what happened with this book. I am so fucking glad that I got this ARC because holy shit this might be my new favorite YA fantasy release. I wish I had read this book in one sitting because I would plummet my level of enjoyment.

From the synopsis, I expected a generic YA Fantasy but this is everything your typical fantasy failed to do. The plot, the action, the characters, and their relationship: everything was so well-done and Sebastian's writing seems better than her debut book Ash Princess (which I DNF'd.).

The plot:

I adore the story. The political intrigue is extremely complex with shifting alliances, questionable opportunities, and a lot of betrayals. I stormed through 400 pages in one sitting because I couldn't wait to see what would happen. The change of factions and decisions kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! The multiple POVs really helped with the enjoyment of the book, because we got to see the events unfolding between the kingdoms from the eyes of our main characters, which, in my opinion, was a particularly good choice. A lot of events took turns that I totally didn't expect but aren't completely illogical, and honestly, I enjoy them all so much. The shifting alliances changed the course of the action so many times successfully and I wonder what had passed through the author's mind when she had written them as each of them is equally surprising and reasonable. Although the revelation was a little bit predictable, I still think it was very well-done.

The characters:

I envy Sebastian for her mastery of characterization in this book. Our protagonists are triplets, so I kinda expected them to be the same person in different fonts or to be completely different characters. The author nailed their characters by making them so different yet so similar. I tipped my hat to Sebastian because I have yet to read a book with twins/triplets as well-crafted as this one. Their mother, Empress Margaraux, was also one of my favorite characters of the book as she is very predictable. She was all mysterious throughout the book and the twist at the end really did her character arc justice.
For obvious reason, I also adore the main male characters. For their role as heir to the throne/reigning monarch, it's crucial for their characterization to be very solid and convincing but still authentic, and the author did exactly what she needed to. They have distinct personalities, and their back-stories are masterfully written because they just match their current personality and motivations.
I also really like the side characters, both the heroes and the villains. They aren't just random characters thrown in for the sake of creating conflict, but they stand strong by themselves as distinct characters and as an element to the plot.

The relationship:

After we survive this", he tells her, "I'm going to be furious with you."
[Redacted] forced a smile. "After we survive this," she echoes.


Contrary to what the synopsis might suggest, this book is not dominated by romance at all. Romance is used as a subplot to conflict, but it is really not overwhelming. All the couples have great chemistry with each other, especially Leopold and Sophronia (my dear loves). My heart belongs to them.
The non-romantic relationships are also very constructed. A particular friendship has my whole heart (IYKYK), especially in one of the last. Under the circumstances, they are set to be something else, but their friendship is so precious, and I hope Mrs. Sebastian won't do anything to them (I am looking at you, Laura Sebastian)
"No matter what happens, [redacted], I'll do whatever I can to protect you."
[Redacted] holds his gaze and smiles, a small, tight-lipped smile. "And I'll protect you," she tells him. "No matter what."


Conclusion:

Dark, dangerously fun, and thrilling, Castles in Their Bones delivered everything it promised to and more. I love this book with my whole heart (especially Sophie and Leo, my little doves, you deserved better) and I will not be surprised it made up the list of my favorite reads of 2022. Book 1 is not even out, yet my needy hands will do anything to lay hands on the sequel.

Biggest thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange of my honest thoughts. This review is my opinion and mine only.

I loved the premise of Castles in their Bones: three sisters, trained to take down kigndoms so their mother can be an empress of the whole continent. To me this means main heroins with dubious morals, lots of drama and plot twists, and barely any romance aka a breash of fresh air amidst the pool of YA fantasy that I've been reading recently. Did I get all that? Not exactly but it was very close to what I was hoping for!

The reasons why I gave Castles in their Bones 4 instead of 5 stars are two:
1. I felt like Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz should've been more evil and scheming. Throughout the whole book, we're told about how they've been studying poison and seduction and combat and lying and so on, but when it comes down to it, they seem to be so easily fooled and hurt. I'd imagine if you have 16 years to go through all these learnings, you'll be less gullable. The only one that seems to have some bone to her is Daphne, while I found Sophronia to be quite an annoying character - very "damsel in distress" and barely any "badass".
2. The second reason is the romance. I didn't expect for there to be so much of it and for it to blossom so quickly. I understand that Sophronia has been enchanging letters with her bethroted for years but it was all part of her mother's plan. I find it hard to believe that she'll leave all of her years of training and plotting for a man she's barely spent any time with.

That said, I didn't expect the twist at the end and actually really enjoyed it. The book could've ended on a bit of a bigger cliffhanger but that's not a dealbreaker for me; I'm definitely reading the rest in the series!

Castles in their bones ended up being a lot better than expected. The blurb really lets the book down, and doesn't quite mention the intricacies of the true story.

As much as I loved the plot, I feel like the characters were lacking. Unfortunately I think this is more of a you than me problem, as I have had similar experiences with Sebastian in the past. Overall it was a good story, just not the perfect one for me. I kind of wished that there was a little less emphasis on the characters romances, and a little bit more time spent investing in the larger world and plots that are being undertaken in the universe.

I don't think I would read the next instalment, though I highly recommend this story for anyone who is invested in more character heavy tales rather than plot-centric ones.

I absolutely loved her other book, ASH PRINCESS and as one might expect, I went into this book expecting the exact same standard (my first mistake). The writing wasn't particularly hooking, and the characters were, to say the least, bland. I found the premise extremely promising and dove into this head first with high expectations, but then... yeah, that happened. However, don't let my review discourage you from reading this because a) I shouldn't have read this expecting a similar storyline to ASH PRINCESS and b) I should have waited for a while before starting this instead of racing to finish it as soon as my exams were done.

In short, the aspects I didn't like were:
- the (potential) love triangle [judging by the way it ended, I suspect the author is setting up a love triangle for the next book]
- the sisters having a similar character voice, thus making it extremely difficult to differentiate them
- the writing [I found it monotonous and dull and it really dampened my mood]

The positives (there's always something positive):
- the plot [I know I said I didn't like the writing, but the plot was surprisingly solid with no plot holes whatsoever]
- there's a cliffhanger at the end [even though it hints at a love triangle, it's still a cliffhanger!]

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<b>"Babies born beneath the Thorned Rose are known to be beautiful.
Those born beneath the Hungry Hawk are ambitious.
Lonely Heart children are known to sacrifice more than others.
The Crown of Flames offers its offspring power.
And the Sisters Three bestow balance and harmony."</b>
Imagine that you're born into the world where everything is fated in stars, above that your mother engages you to stranger when you're no older than three weeks old, same goes for your two other sisters. And for your whole life until you're of age you're being prepared to conquer the world for her. Meet Beatriz, Daphne and Sophronia <i> (quick note, I believe it's Sophronia on the cover! (; )</i>, daughters of the Empress of Bessemia that miraculously came to this world on their father's deathbed. During their training that'd turn them into dutiful wives each specialises in respectful techniques such as charm, poisons or enciphering.

<b>"Like Mama always says, we're three stars of the same constellation. Distance won't change that."</b>
Sixteenth birthday of the princesses comes, and after having a drunkard night together (believe me, their attitude is nowhere close to the perfect disney princess) they are send off to different kingdoms to marry theit betrotheds. Before leaving, the Empress made sure they're taught well of what is expected of them - to let her get each of their realms as new addidtions to her own empire.

<b>"One day,""we'll live in a better world."
"One day, we'll make one,"</b>
I have to admit the beginning of girls journey sounded quite boring, as each of them have been facing same problems and first timers, making everything repetitive, but later on we get to see more of their individualities. You could feel every page brings them closer together as their mother promised - that after conquering their kingdom they're free to come back home and live their happily ever after once again together as one. I'm a big fan of books that are set entirely in palace, so that was really satisfying for me but I can't guarantee we'll be getting the same setting in the next installments.

<b>"You don't want me to be charming. You want me to be honest,""So here's the truth—everyone wants power."</b>
We could assume, that if one has been schooled to become the perfect puppet for the assigment everything would go smooth. Especially considering how could someone put a crush on a stranger above a love to dearest mother. Without her being close to the daughters, to whisper into their ears girls start to have their own opinion on how the world should be, and how abusive their maternal love has always been. Even with a wish on a star, not everything can be changed that easily when a plan was prepared even before they all were born.

<b>"Her fingers go to the bracelet her mother gave her. <i> In case you need of it. </i> She knows this is not what her mother meant, but here she is, having need of a miracle."</b>
If I could describe you of what one can expect of that story, be prepared for a pinch of magic, cup of forbidden love, and a whole bucket of betrayal. The plot gets better with each chapter, thou you have to be prepared for the confusion in the first quarter of the book when you're gifted thrice new group of characters you don't know yet and have to recognize. The ending actually pushes you into your seat and makes you reconsider your life choices, because all I can say is that Laura Sebastian wasn't gentle with her characters <i> at all</i>.

Let me just sneeze in the corner bursting my eyes out waiting too long for the sequel, with giving this story a strong 4.5/5 stars raiting.

Castles in Their Bones is a gripping tale of three princesses raised to be the downfall of a continent. Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia have been training as long as they can remember to enter political marriages at 16 and cause the downfall of their respective adoptive countries.

This book was brilliant and tense, with enough twists and turns to leave me desperate to keep reading. The cover really doesn't do the story justice - the characters are badass, the world building is brilliant and the ending is everything!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars
While I have not read Laura Sebastian's other trilogy, I was very intrigued by the synopsis of Castles in Their Bones . This is the story of three princesses, Beatriz, Sophronia and Daphne who are raised by their mother to bring destruction and war among the three kingdoms they are sent too. But of course, things don't work out the way they want. Often, with more than two POVs, it can be pretty hard to distinguish between character voices, but all three princesses were very distinct and I loved reading from all their perspectives. I loved seeing how all of them faced such distinct challenges and how they developed throughout the course of the story. I also loved the worldbuilding and the kingdoms the sisters got to visit. All of them are distinct, of various landscapes and have very differing traditions.

I also loved how Beatriz, Sophronia and Daphne all got their own unique romances which were done and developed pretty well. Laura Sebastian's writing is also really nice and after reading this, I'm excited to try out the Ash Princess series.

When an Empress is gifted three daughters from the stars they’re betrothed to princes from neighbouring countries and from the outside those marriages look to be the thing of fairytales. But with all three having hidden agendas they have to fight their growing love for the countries they now rule and the hold that their mother has on them.

Okay, so the book was completely unpredictable! I have to start with the plot because I’m still shook that I couldn’t guess what was going to happen. I loved that each sister had a specific task set for them and that we had the three POV’s throughout the book. Each kingdom has their own power struggles, whether that be rebels, court shenanigans or uprisings which kept the book entertaining throughout. The plot is quite simple in that YA way, so some mature readers might not enjoy it as much; but in a world where the Fae are currently dominating this book was like a breath of fresh air.

The pace of the book was very good, although I did sometimes get a little confused by which sister was in which kingdom when we changed setting. The writing style was good, but the world building could’ve been better. I also wished we’d seen more of the princesses with the Empress, maybe with their training, just so we got a better feel for all of the relationships. I found some parts of the story were more telling over showing e.g. when it came to the princesses personalities.

Character development was a bit hit and miss. I don’t think we really got to know their original personalities before they left their home country enough to say there was massive development. We’re told certain things about how they were and we see a complete 180 with some of the sisters. I think the best character development was probably with Daphne and I think the most work has gone into her character and story; which is a shame because I’d have liked the other two to have been fleshed out a bit more too.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It will be a bit hit and miss for some people though but I did love how it isn’t following the current trend. The ending has actually killed me off and I cannot wait for book two. I think if you enjoyed Throne of Glass this one might be a book for you.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Stephanie Garber. The writing is lively and I enjoyed the sense of adventure.

Gloriously immersive and full of intrigue, this plot twisty tale of sisterhood is the perfect start to Laura Sebastian’s brand new series—fans of Tricia Levenseller’s The Shadows Between Us are going to absolutely love it!

Born to rule. Raised to deceive.

In a plot that’s been in motion since their births, the triplet princesses of Bessemia are trained in seduction, espionage and deception. On their sixteenth birthday they’re sent to three distant lands to marry three princes (technically two princes and a King) with the sole intention of destroying and weakening the kingdoms from within—allowing their mother to sweep in and expand her rule.

But when they arrive, each sister discovers that her task is not so simple and their mother’s motives may not be as straightforward as they seem…

An exquisitely written and enjoyable read, so much so that I practically devoured it! The world building was beautifully expansive—full of vivid detail and varied settings the Sebastian’s writing here is a true feast for the senses.

I loved the use of multiple POVs (we get four: Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia for the majority of the book, with a fourth in the last chapter) and the vast but utterly compelling cast of characters really helped to bring the whole world to life. The multiple POVs also really helped to provide insight into the triplet’s lives pre marriage (and their mother,who is definitely a piece of work and gives off major Cersei Lannister vibes) with the added benefit of keeping the momentum of the narrative going.

All three sisters; Daphne, Beatriz and Sophronia were well written and full of depth, I loved the way all three tackle unexpected challenges they face and showcase their individual strengths whilst combating their own weaknesses in creative and unique ways— I feel even Machiavelli would be proud.

I did like all three sisters but I definitely have a soft spot for Sophronia, who is portrayed as the kindest of the sisters,Daphne the mercenary one and Beatriz a complex mix of the two.

The romance is really well written and the relationships are pretty varied (enemies to lovers, friends to lovers and arranged marriage leads to love) so there’s definitely something for everyone. Out of all the couples, I loved the chemistry between Daphne and Bairre the most—their scenes were quite emotionally intense at times and utterly swoon worthy.

Overall this exquisitely expansive, female centric YA Fantasy is a page turning and unforgettable read with an ending that will literally blow you mind —it’s unbelievably magnificent!

Thanks to Hodder&Stoughton and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Thank you to the publisher for letting me read via Netgalley.

Startouched triplets are tasked with bringing 3 kingdoms to their knees, each Princess armed with a wish and 16 years training, with the design to unite the continent under the rule of their mother the Empress.

I loved the sister's separate story lines as they navigate their betrothals and new courts, lots of twists and turns kept me guessing at people's agendas. The pace was slow to start as it sets up the 3 storylines but I enjoyed seeing how they converge and the pace definitely picks up. I was shocked by the events at the end of the book and am looking forward to seeing how the sister's stories will continue.

My only down point weird as it is was I personally found Sophronia's name not the easiest to read, and in third person you end up reading it a lot (preferred her nickname Sophie).