I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

This is a long one, but the story moves so fast that you really don’t notice! This high fantasy Viking-inspired romance is full of action, and full of strong characters. (I particularly loved the main character’s arc; the way you truly experience everything she goes through.)

I’m not normally one for stories with this much sexual tension, and if you’re not one for darker stories it might be worth checking out the trigger warnings first! But the plot really ties it all together and really sets up for the rest of the series.

The Road of Bones is a Viking-inspired fantasy that really got its claws into me. Navigating the titular road of bones is the main setting for the majority of this book, and it almost reads like a road-trip novel, with much higher stakes and an increased level of magic and monsters. The pacing can be quite slow at times but I personally found it added more to the experience, getting to know the setting and the characters alongside the protagonist. Silla experiences some really well crafted character growth, and she is a great example of a softer heroine who finds her own strengths. Loved her interacting and developing bonds with the other side characters, especially Hekla. I always appreciate when a book puts as much respect and effort into friendships as well as romance. Speaking of, I’m very intrigued to see where this goes in book two (ACOMAF vibes, IFKYK.)
Really, really excited for book two.
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group | Gollancz and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC, All opinions are my own.

I adored this book, I had seen it do the rounds in the US booktok community and I wanted to read it. As soon as I saw it on NetGalley I knew I had to have it and it did not disappoint.

This book had everything I wanted in a book and more. The way it dealt with such hard themes such as Grief, Loss and addiction was so beautifully done yet real.

I also enjoyed that the characters you know you probably shouldn't like we're real people as well, you could understand why they were the way they were and it was perfect!

Thank you for this book Demi!! I can't wait to read book 2.

The Road of Bones was a great debut novel. Demi Winters has assembled a great cast of characters and built a rich fantasy world, steeped in Norse mythology and filled with intrigue and magic. The writing was beautiful and it made me feel like I was there on the Road of Bones with the rest of the Crew.

The main issue I had with this book was the pacing, which was very uneven. While I think the ending of this book was very strong, for the most part, I felt that nothing significant was happening for the larger portion of the story. As such, I found may attention was wavering during certain sections of the story.

Overall, this was a promising start of a new fantasy series and I would definitely check out the second book to see where this story goes.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group| Gollancz and NetGalley for providing this review copy!

A Viking Fantasy, with hidden magic and secret identities... I LOVED this book!

It was refreshing to have a softer FMC, with inner strength rather than being a trained warrior. The way the plot developed had me on edge, especially the last 25% (didn't expect some of those twists)

Loved the story. It was a real struggle to put the book down (therefore, I hardly did), and now the struggle is that I can’t read book two right away.

I’m not usually into Nordic inspired fantasies, but this had just the right amount of lore and action. I liked the humour and, although it was rather slow burn, the romance was a bit different and love interests were fun to figure out. 4.25⭐️

Really enjoyed this Viking romance. The characters and world building were well executed and the plot had a good pace and was easy to follow. Strong FMC which I always love to see, as well as some strong enemies to lovers vibes.

Swoony vikings, thrilling fight scenes and magic that must be hidden away.

The opening chapters are weighed down by backstory and it feels like it starts a little too early. It is also confused as after 6 chapters about who you assume is the main character, you begin jumping POV which immediately feels unnecessary - particularly more so when Jonas is introduced. However this becomes more interesting later on when we learn about the characters and the pacing.

The deeper we came to understanding the characters and their motivations, the more I enjoyed it. The viking elements were interesting and were well woven into the story.

A lot of promise.
When her father is killed, Silla is on the run from the Queen of Íseldur and her warriors and assassins. To survive, she finds herself hiding in the wagon of the Bloodaxe Crew, a small but violent crew known for handling the worst of creatures. When discovered, she begs for their companionship on the Road of Bones, trying to prove her worth to the brooding leader and second in command.

I had such a fun time with this!
Was it predictable? Yes! But I have accepted this for all romantasy books I have read - they all follow similar troupes and patterns. Yet, Demi keeps this refreshing with the character archetypes and fun shenanigans.

Silla blinked after him. That man needs to hug a baby or pat a dog, she thought.

Cue eye-rolling:
There is in an obvious set up of a love triangle of sorts.
One of the love interests is obsessively, uncomfortably possessive - ‘mine’, ‘you belong to me’, ridiculously jealous, ‘staking his claim’.

The first 60% was almost a rounded up four stars, but the last part was a bit of a let down where I didn’t enjoy the progression of the characters.
It almost felt like an ACOTAR/ACOMAF imitation without delving into spoilers.

I was both frustrated and endeared by Silas a main character. I loved seeing a softer female protagonist who is extremely naive, pretty untalented, and not someone where everything comes easy to her. However, this saw her making stupid decisions and barely being able to stand up for herself.

By the end, Silla definitely gained some self-confidence which I am excited to see how it develops.

And then Silla thought it all this time, she'd been searching for a place to feel safe, but what if she'd been looking at it all wrong? What if safety was not a place, but a person? People?

Thank you to the publisher for sending me the arc in exchange for a review.

Loved this book, well paced, with an interesting and endearing main character. Also enjoyed the Bloodaxe Crew and all their interactions. This had some great twists and turns but nothing that didn't make complete sense in hindsight (I love those). I'm going to be looking out for the sequel now. Hope there's not too long to wait.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I really enjoyed the first part of this, found family is one of my favourite troupes and I also love viking style settings. However, I did not enjoy part 2 as much, I was not a fan of the romance and the lack of communication. I personally would have preferred more focus on the world building, especially more detail of the Galdra and their powers.

Road of Bones by Demi Winters is a thoroughly enjoyable read that immerses readers in the journey of Silla, a young woman on the run after a brutal encounter leaves her father murdered. As she navigates the dangers of her new reality, Silla heads north, seeking refuge with a friend of her father’s.

Her path takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with a band of mercenaries. Through her resourcefulness, she persuades them to allow her to join their ranks, setting the stage for a gripping adventure filled with intrigue. The narrative is rich with twists and turns, keeping readers on their toes as Silla's secrets unfold alongside those of her companions.

What stands out most is Silla herself; she is a well-developed character who defies the typical portrayal of a helpless damsel. Instead, she demonstrates strength and resilience, making her journey all the more compelling. The character of Reynir is also incredibly interesting, and there's definitely more than meets the eye and a further tale to be told when it comes to him

Demi Winters crafts a story that not only entertains but also highlights the complexities of trust and survival in a harsh world.

Overall, Road of Bones is a captivating tale that will resonate with fans of adventure and strong female protagonists.

This was fantastic, I haven’t read a Viking-inspired story before so I loved the new elements of fantasy. I am a huge fan of enemies to lovers and high stakes action. The pacing was great and kept me on my toes. I can’t wait for the sequel.

Oh wow!
The road of bones by @demiwinterswrites was such a good read! It is definitely a traveling story so if those aren't your jam this might not be the read for you but I thought it was phenomenal! You think you know exactly what is going on only for the biggest FREAKING PLOT TWISTS in the last quarter of the book to jump scare you!
What I really liked about this book are all of the interesting creatures in the woods and I can't wait to explore them more in the next book which releases so soon on audible! I've never read a book where you don't have any idea who the main character is or anything about why she is the way she is until the very ending of the book. I'm trying to say all the things I can without giving anything away. Again, just a great read. Definitely recommend!