Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts
Of Blood and Bone: Chronicles of The One (Book 2)
Author: Nora Roberts
Published: December 4 , 2018
Audiobook
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: March 17-25, 2019
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
They look like an everyday family living an ordinary life. But beyond the edges of this peaceful farm, unimaginable forces of light and dark have been unleashed.
Fallon Swift, approaching her thirteenth birthday, barely knows the world that existed before—the city where her parents lived, now in ruins and reclaimed by nature since the Doom sickened and killed billions. Traveling anywhere is a danger, as vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next victim. Those like Fallon, in possession of gifts, are hunted—and the time is coming when her true nature, her identity as The One, can no longer be hidden.
In a mysterious shelter in the forest, her training is about to begin under the guidance of Mallick, whose skills have been honed over centuries. She will learn the old ways of healing; study and spar; encounter faeries and elves and shifters; and find powers within herself she never imagined. And when the time is right, she will take up the sword, and fight. For until she grows into the woman she was born to be, the world outside will never be whole again.
Jessica’s Review:
Year One was the first in this series and now we have book two in the trilogy with Of Blood and Bone. The story continues and the books focus is on Fallon, who is nearly thirteen, and she knows what her future will be in being The One. And let me tell you, even in a post-apocalyptic world, teenagers will still be teenagers! At times it was humorous to read. We do see Fallon grow as she undergoes her training with Mallick. It was good to see some of the other characters returning from the previous book to see what is going on in their lives. My favorite character is Arylis, so I liked being ‘updated’ on her life.
Now, I am not a fantasy reader and the fantasy element really kicks in for this book. It’s the story of the people and living in an apocalyptic world that intrigues me. I couldn’t care less about the faeries, magic, etc, so Of Blood and Bone isn’t really for me. Because Fallon is the focus, Of Blood and Bone has a YA feel to it, but remember she IS a teenager! I am still surprised that this series is written by Nora Roberts, who writes romance. I have never read any of her other books, but wow, she can write!
Year One dealt with the ‘end of the world’ and I am thinking the final book in this series will heavily focus on the future battles and will have a significant fantasy element, so I might skip out on it. There is nothing wrong with the novel, I am just not the demographic reader for this series. If you enjoy fantasy books, then The Chronicles of The One series will be for you!
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My review for Year One is here. Year One made my Top 10 of 2018! That list is here.
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Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
First Line Friday #68
This week’s First Line Friday was a pleasant surprise for me: And it ended being a 5 star read for me this year! Nora Roberts writes more than romance!?!?!? My review for it is here. Today I share the first two lines:
When Ross MacLeod pulled the trigger and brought down the pheasant, he had no way of knowing he’s killed himself. And billions of others.
It began on New Year’s Eve.
The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed—and more than half of the world’s population was decimated.
Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magic rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river—or in the ones you know and love the most.
As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.
In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.
The end has come. The beginning comes next.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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Year One
Year One: Chronicles of The One Book 1
Author: Nora Roberts
Published: December 5, 2017
419 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: January 25- February 8, 2018
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description from Amazon:
It began on New Year’s Eve.
The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed—and more than half of the world’s population was decimated.
Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magic rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river—or in the ones you know and love the most.
As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.
In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.
The end has come. The beginning comes next.
Jessica’s Review:
Wait a minute. Nora Roberts writes more than just romance?!? What caught my attention to this novel was that another book blogger read and reviewed it. He doesn’t read romance, so why is he reading a Nora Roberts book? I read his review and it sparked my interest in Year One. Then the description also had me curious. I am not much of a Fantasy reader, so going into Year One I could have done without all that. My thoughts were: “Just kill nearly the whole world and let everyone start over!” Despite that, the story grew on me and I really enjoyed it! It took some adjusting to the fantasy elements (witches, fairies, elves) but then I just sat back and listened to the audiobook.
I became attached and invested in all the characters. There are three groups and you want them to all pull through at the end. There is of course goodness and darkness as we experience the end of the world. We see people come together while others fall apart. We also see people become prejudiced against others for their non-human differences. Yes, there is some romance in this novel.
There were a few things that seemed extreme to me, but I am sure Roberts has her reasons which will play out in the other two novels in this trilogy. (I’m sorry, but three infants were a bit much for me. But ok, I will suspend my belief in this. She HAS to have her reasons….)
The cover is simplistic but catches your attention. I had seen it in the store, but did not pick it up because I saw Roberts was the author. For that I must apologize to Roberts. Don’t let preconceived notions pull you away from looking at a book. If I did I never would have listened to this novel which I highly enjoyed. I look forward to the next in the series which is supposed to come out at the end of the year. I want to know what happens next in this world!
Year One is highly recommended.
**Special thanks to Drew over at The Tattooed Book Geek for bringing Year One to my attention! If you have not looked at his blog check him out. He’s not for everyone as he speaks his mind in the sarcastic, fun way that only he can! (Yes, there is cursing involved fyi… You have been warned!)
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
