The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco
Summary
In The Bone Witch, Tea mastered resurrection―now she's after revenge.
No one knows death like Tea. A bone witch who can resurrect the dead, she has the power to take life...and return it. And she is done with her self-imposed exile. Her heart is set on vengeance, and she now possesses all she needs to command the mighty daeva. With the help of these terrifying beasts, she can finally enact revenge against the royals who wronged her―and took the life of her one true love.
But there are those who plot against her, those who would use Tea's dark power for their own nefarious ends. Because you can't kill someone who can never die...
War is brewing among the kingdoms, and when dark magic is at play, no one is safe.
Book Details
The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco
Series: The Bone Witch #2
On Sale Date: March 20, 2018
Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Wizards & Witches
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Hardcover, 528 Pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Books in Series
Book Review
Filled with intricate political intrigue, fierce battles of dark magic, swoony romance, and lush world-building, THE HEART FORGER is the second book in The Bone Witch series. It continues the story of Tea, a bone witch who can resurrect the dead. Now, with the power to command the mighty daeva, epic beasts of myth, she forsakes her self-imposed exile on a quest for revenge against those who wronged her.
There is just so much to love in this second installment of The Bone Witch—a sequel that is even better than the first.
Once again, the world-building is infused with Asian-Persian influences. Still lyrical, the purple prose is limited, and instead, a denser plot and characterization fill this story of dark magic while romance and humor lighten it. THE HEART FORGER surpassed my expectations: each character given greater meaning, while the romance had me swooning. The strong brother-sister relationship between Fox and Tea continues to be a favorite highlight while new friends and old alliances continue to grow and mature right along with Tea.
The story follows the same format readers were introduced to in The Bone Witch. An intermingling of timelines that I found myself falling into.
It follows the story of Tea through two timelines: the present, where Bard is entrusted with chronicling her actions as she prepares for war, and the past, which is Tea's recounting of her journey—leaving readers to slowly unravel the why in a brilliant and twisty way.
There are plenty of moments of intrigues, action, and dark magic to make it a page-turning read.
With war brewing among the eight kingdoms and its royals and a sinister new threat holding someone close to Tea hostage—she will need the help of an army of the dead and her loyal daeva. Her quest may just cost her soul bringing into question the grey line she must walk.
“She wore the corpses for show. They trailed behind her: grotesque fabrics of writhing flesh and bone, spreading across the plain for miles around us.
”Intimidation,” she told me, amused by my repulsion.
”Men abandon battle when they see their own fates in these ruined faces.”
The Daeva are monstrously epic: fierce beasts that form a bond with Tea and I just couldn't get enough page-time of them.
There are bloody battles, armies of the dead, creature pitted against creature, and lots of stabbing. Whereas in the first book, Tea is learning about her abilities, THE HEART FORGER concentrates on using her growing abilities to uncover corruption within the kingdoms, usually in the form of battles and intrigue.
It is hard to believe a book featuring necromancing romantic, but it is.
At the shocking conclusion of The Bone Witch, readers wondered at the surprising reveal. THE HEART FORGER is equally romantic and through Bard and Tea's story, we learn how it all comes about. I love the direction Chupeco went with the romance.
In the End
THE HEART FORGER really is a must-read for fans of The Bone Witch.
Chupeco expands her world of the asha, necromancers, and daeva while thrilling romance and explosive battles fill its pages. As the Bard holds letters from Tea in his hand, he reminds us that though one battle has ended, the tale is far from over. I can't wait for more in this exciting series.
