Friday, January 22, 2021

Review ~ CROWN OF BONES by A.K. Wilder

Crown of Bones (Amassia, #1)
by: A.K. Wilder
Series: Amassia
Genre: Young Adult/Teen Fantasy
Release Date: January 5, 2021
Publisher: Entangled Publishing ~ Teen
Amazon | Hardcover | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Goodreads

Raise. Your. Phantom.

For fans of epic fantasies and sweeping adventures, this ensemble cast will immerse you in a world of unique magic, breathtaking action and unforgettable characters.

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.



Almost a year ago, I saw the cover for A.K. Wilder’s Crown of Bones. The cover is beyond amazing and piqued my interest. I read a deleted scene on the author’s website and had to know what a phantom was and what it actually meant to raise your phantom. When it came time to read the book, I forgot to read the blurb and thus had no idea what I was in for.

Crown of Bones is definitely an adventure. A.K. did an incredible job of world-building. She’s created this fantasy world on the continent of Amassia, populated by savants (humans who have phantoms) and non-savants (humans who do not have phantoms), along with pirates and Mar. Luckily, her website has a section to help you pronounce names and the back of the book has a character and location glossary.

Seventeen-year-old Marcus Adicio is Heir to the Throne of Baiseen. He is a savant who possesses a warrior phantom. Unfortunately, for the better part of nine years, he has had trouble raising and holding his phantom to form. Thankfully, he is able to finally do both, just in time to be able to travel the Sacred Isle of Aku in order to receive the training he needs for his warrior phantom and to go from a green to a yellow-robed savant. Accompanying Marcus on his trip is his best friend Ash, a non-savant who will record the trip and Marcus’s experience on Aku for the records, as well as friends Samsen and Piper who are yellow and orange robes respectively. A surprise addition to the trip is Belair Duquan, a green robe initiate from Tangeen.

The group should have an easy trip from Baiseen to the Isle of Aku via horse and ship. However, the group soon finds out nothing about this trip is easy. Attacks come from friends and foes and the group must band together like never before in order to survive. You will be transported into the pages of Crown of Bones with A.K.’s vivid descriptions. There were definitely times where she had me on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, wondering what was going to happen next. She also had me reaching for a tissue a time or two. This is an action-packed story filled with mystery, suspense, friendship, and a budding romance.

Crown of Bones was amazing in and of itself. It’s written as the first book in the Amassia series. Unlike other books in this genre, the story doesn’t necessarily end in a cliffhanger. The ending is surprising with a wow factor. You will be left with some questions, but you won’t want to throw your e-reader or book across the room. I loved all the characters. I especially loved the maturity and courage Marcus shown, as well as the courage and determination of Ash. I truly hope there is another book.

~ Favorite Quotes ~ 

“We cannot fight who we are--who we are meant to be.”

“Don’t speak another word about failure or compare yourself to anyone else. Talk only about what you will achieve.”

“Have a little faith.”

**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. Also purchased a hardcover copy.**

Rating: 5

Purchase Crown of Bones from:

Kim, born in the time of Gemini, is a fifth-generation decedent of the Wilders of Santa Cruz. In the spirit of adventure, she moved to Australia in 1981 and has lived there ever since.

She writes Epic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fantasy and Urban Fantasy under her birth name Kim Falconer.

The pen name A. K. Wilder is for her Young Adult books, a name chosen to honor the original custodians of her birth land – the Awaswas people – and the collaborations with her son Aaron.

Kim has a Masters degree in writing from Swinburne University in Melbourne and, being an astrologer like her father before her, runs the online educational site, GoodVibeAstrology.com.

A bone thrower by trade, have a go at your own cast on akwilder.com.

Currently, Kim lives near the sea with her son, grand-kids and two divinely spotted cats.

Places to find A.K. Wilder:


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