In a world on the brink of the next Great Dying, no amount of training can prepare us for what is to come...
A young heir will raise the most powerful phantom in all of Baiseen.
A dangerous High Savant will do anything to control the nine realms.
A mysterious and deadly Mar race will steal children into the sea.
And a handsome guide with far too many secrets will make me fall in love.
My name is Ash. A lowly scribe meant to observe and record. And yet I think I’m destined to surprise us all.
"For much of the tale, Marcus feels like the protagonist, but a substantial twist subverts this, and it’s only one among several exciting reveals that will shape subsequent volumes. A dense but polished novel that provides a solid foundation for a new series." --Kirkus Reviews
"Wilder has created a magical, enthralling world that keeps readers engaged from the first page. Most characters are cued as white and male, apart from Ash, a strong female lead...Recommended for fantasy fans, especially those who enjoyed Leigh Bardugo's "Shadow and Bone" trilogy and Rin Chupeco's "The Bone Witch" trilogy." --School Library Journal
“With the perfect combination of adventure, romance (yes, there’s romance), and all the mystery that comes with some sweet betrayal, the kind we hate to love and love to hate. The world building and character descriptions were also super unique and out of this world (literally). It almost gave me some Avatar vibes. It’s SO Good!” -Ellie’s Infinite Books
“What an adventure! I didn't want to put this book down. I didn't want to miss out on any of this amazingness! I'm sad that it's over with and can't wait for the next book...” -Heidi S., NetGalley
“An intriguing story full of adventure, friendship, and romance with many twists and turns that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more.” -P.L., Goodreads
“This was a fabulous debut YA epic fantasy adventure! The worldbuilding was top notch, a vast fantastical world that we’ve only just been introduced to. I’m super curious and excited to see even more of the inner depths explored in coming novels.” -Bookworm Coalition
“Crown of Bones is so very different from the average fantasy because it something happening every minute and the world that A.K. Wilder has created is so unique.” -Diane, M., Goodreads
“What a rollercoaster ride of a book! I've done nothing but think of it for the past few days and picked it up whenever I've had chance. This book went from strength to strength. The plot has an original twist with the savants and their phantoms.” -Tiny Book Reviews
“The world building in this book is, quite simply, superb.” -Splashes Into Books
“A fantastical mix of high-seas adventures, dangerous travels, feuding lands and magic trials, with a dash of romance, a delightful morally grey sailor, and deadly sea creatures that aren't as extinct as previously thought.” -Meigan Z., Goodreads
“A gripping and highly entertaining story that kept me hooked.” -Anna G., NetGalley
This book is my heart. Waiting on more edits. So excited about the Cinco de Mayo release date!
Check the new site - akwilder.com> - for concept art, excerpts and all the behind the scenes goodies.
YES! You can throw the bones for a card reading too. :)
I can't wait to hear what you all think!
All paths ...more
Crown of Bones takes place in a very imaginative new world, Amassia. I've always appreciated Kim's gift to create all these new worlds and dimensions - and the lovable and unique characters that come with it.
CoB has an intriguing concept and picks up more and more pace the further you get into the ...more
I’ve read plenty of YA fantasies where worlds are in danger or on the brink of war. But raising phantoms? This was something I haven’t seen and I needed to know more. The lavish cover was a bonus.
I’m not sure what my favorite part of this novel was – the wildly creative world-building, the well-draw ...more
4/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ash is a non-savant. She can’t raise a phantom. She is a practiced wordsmith, but there’s a lot more to her than that, secrets that even she is unaware of. Marcus is the Heir to the throne of his kingdom, plus he raises a pow ...more
In a world where only the lucky few people are gifted enough to summon phantoms (or beings they can call up to fight for them kind of like the familiars in The Golden Compass), a scribe who was raised to believe she didn’t have one embarks on her first journey and slowly starts unraveling her abilit ...more
In a world where only the lucky few people are gifted enough to summon phantoms (or beings they can call up to fight for them kind of like the familiars in The Golden Compass), a scribe who was raised to believe she didn’t have one embarks on her first journey and slowly starts unraveling her abilit ...more
A K Wilder knows how to create an adventure for us, we are in, from the very first page, wanting more. The characters are instantly relatable, you feel a connection to them and want to know more about where they are headed as well as their past. I’m only some of the way through, but like all books f ...more
A compelling read with a completely different magic system than any I have read before. Raising spirits that fight for you in such a way that they are phantoms. It's imaginative. I enjoyed the main plot and the fact that we get to go inside more than one characters head.
It had a ton of world buildi ...more
Outstanding!
This book made me stay up way too late every night and through a rainy weekend, until I breathlessly reached the end. I loved the adventure, the danger, the Suspense!, the blood, the passion - of travel through these primitive/future/fantastic times. Fasten your seatbelt, remember to bre ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review!
This book was such a fun adventure!
The magic system is so fun and truly unique! The phantoms are such a neat concept, and I absolutely love the world-building, too! It's very rich, and it almost feels as if you're tr ...more
This is the first novel of A.K. Wilder’s that I’ve read. “Crown of Bones” is an adventure of fantasy that is so worth reading.
Wilder’s ability to have so many characters “come to life” is amazing. I was especially intrigued with the Mar.
The places in this book like the Isle of Aku are magical.
And w ...more
I love the worlds A.K. Wilder builds. I didn't want to finish it and certainly hope it is the beginning of a series. ...more
Writing under the YA nom de plume of ‘A.K Wilder,’ Kim Falconer has created a whole new universe of suspenseful adventure; a universe where humans have existed, in one form or another, on a single world for more than 50 million years. On a pre-industrial world almost reminiscent of Phillip Pullman’s ...more
I’m always looking for excellent world-building, strong characters and a great narrative - and this book has all three. The world is richly and skilfully populated with diverse cultures, traditions and political systems - my favourite mix! - while the characters bring a complex variety of goals and ...more
Crown of Bones was a thrilling read for me. It boasted a unique storyline with A LOT happening, and while sometimes that can be detrimental to a story for me, this time it worked very well.
There were multiple POVs (mainly Ash and Marcus with a couple more interspersed), and I appreciated the differe ...more
From Page One and the moment where dirt bursts from the ground and a phantom was risen, I knew that I was gripped with a hunger to know more.
Although I have read many, many, fantasy novels, Crown of Bones is like no other. A. K. Wilder has created a world as rich as a medieval tapestry and characte ...more
Crown of Bones is one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. When I read the synopsis I thought the Phantoms were like ghosts, but I was completely wrong. It’s hard to explain but it’s kind of like a patronuse from Harry Potter but more of a badass version. You’ll just have to read the book t ...more
This review is based on my ARC reading:
In this new story, Wilder expertly builds a solid new fantasy world. It's something fresh and supernatural, with characters drawn so charmingly that they’ll pull you in tight, then dip you into their very hearts. It is a tale both astonishing and unsettling, in ...more
First I want to say that I recieved this Advanced Readers Copy from Netgalley, which I'm very thankful for, and I read this voluntarily and my review is definitely my own thoughts on this great read. Now, let's first talk about this beautiful cover! This drew me in and is a great representation of t ...more
ARC provided by Edelweiss:
I requested this mainly for the cover but ended up really enjoying the story. The characters and adventure was fun to read.
Ash is a non-savant, one who doesn’t have a phantom, and in this society they are outcasts. She is friends with the heir of the kingdom, Marcus, who ha ...more
Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder is a magnificent tale of magic, villains, and heroes. From the first page, I was captivated by the story, in love with the characters, and enchanted by the world. It feels like A.K. Wilder has not written a novel in CROWN OF BONES, but rather has chronicled the lives of ...more
A.K. Wilder writes THE GREATEST fantasy ride that I have been taken on for decades! Thank you, from the depths of my soul, a journey through seas and majestic, yet daring countryside upon horseback, Atlantian heroism, justice, magik, strength of spirit, unity, resilience, the unlikely warrior, A.K. ...more
I loved the book crown of bones
I laid back and read crown of bones for two day's , I was gripped to every page from the very beginning.
There were moment's were I had to stop and breath falling deep inside of every characters heroic transformation, trials and tales of adventure.
I am indeed looking fo ...more