Daughter of the Bone Forest
May 14, 2023Book 1 of the Witch Hall duology
I wanted nothing to do with Shaw’s war. I wouldn’t let the princess think she could make a weapon out of another Holt familiar. But I also couldn’t resist following the path before me. I would do anything to save Gran and make my family whole again.
Daughter of the Bone Forest, Chapter 4
Rosamund Holt is a bone familiar, gifted with the power to shift into powerful dangerous animals marked with exposed bone. She spends most of her days in the magical Bone Forest, caring for her feral grandmother and hiding her powers to avoid conscription by the Witch King’s army. Until the day that Shaw, a princess known as Death’s Heir, visits the Forest. When Rosy saves Shaw’s life, the princess offers her the chance to attend the prestigious school, Witch Hall, as payment. Though Rosy is wary of Shaw’s intentions, she cannot pass up the opportunity to find the cure for her grandmother’s affliction.
But at Witch Hall, Rosy finds herself embroiled in political games she doesn’t understand. Shaw wants Rosy for her entourage, a partner to help lead the coming war. All Rosy wants is to stay out of trouble until she can graduate and save her grandmother, but she can’t deny her attraction to Shaw or the comfort Shaw’s magic gives her. Will Rosy give in to her destiny, or will the Bone Forest call her home once and for all?
Released 2/27/24 with Feiwel and Friends – Macmillan
REVIEWS
“Part fairy tale, part epic fantasy, and part magic school story, Daughter of the Bone Forest is wholly engrossing. It’s a fierce, wild-hearted coming of age story about love, loyalty, and staying true to oneself. I absolutely devoured it.” – Nicki Pau Preto, Sunday Times bestselling author of Bonesmith and the Crown of Feathers trilogy
“Daughter of the Bone Forest seamlessly pulls you into a lush and enchanting world, complete with a magical school so immersive that Hogwarts pales in comparison. An exquisitely crafted tale of tender romance, family loyalty, and the crushing inevitability of adulthood–this book sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go.” – Kylie Lee Baker, author of The Keeper of Night
“Daughter of the Bone Forest is an absolute powerhouse of a debut. In Skye’s deft prose, a magic school and living landscapes showcase Daughter of the Bone Forest‘s beautiful heart: a longing to break free from the roles pushed upon us, to protect those we love, and to hold fast to our convictions and ourselves, even in the direst of circumstances. This is a truly special book, one that readers will be sure to love and one that I will be thinking about for a very long time.” – Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All
“A captivating, high-stakes fantasy steeped in magic, witches and familiars, set against a backdrop of looming war. I was enthralled from the first page to the last and cannot wait for the sequel!” – Rati Mehrotra, author of Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
“Daughter of the Bone Forest pulled me in from the first chapter and didn’t let go until the end—a unique and enthralling magic system, a complicated world asking hard questions with no easy answers, and characters you can’t help but root for. I loved it!” – C.L. Clark, award-winning author of The Unbroken
“This is a rich, queernormative fantasy… Give it to teens who love high fantasy and get incredibly invested in series books. It’s not to be missed.” — Booklist, starred review
“Richly rendered characters, an inventive magic system, and Rosy and Shaw’s sweetly budding and emotionally fraught relationship add verve to this queernormative fantasy adventure.” —Publishers Weekly
“Peopled with queer characters representing the breadth of the gender spectrum, this epic hero’s journey is at turns touchingly romantic and graphically violent… A robustly imagined, intrinsically queer, and romantic high-fantasy epic.” — Kirkus
“This magical school dark fantasy set in a diverse and queer-normative world will leave readers eager for the next installment.” — School Library Journal
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TAGS
Sapphic Romance, Princess x Peasant, Semi Dual POV, Magic School, Witches, Human Familiars who can shapeshift into animals, Magical Bonds, Courtship, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Necromancy, Bone Wolves, Horse Girls, Ride-or-Die Friend Group, Cousins who act like sisters, Feral Grandma, Fairytale references, Political Fantasy, Military Fantasy, Prophecies, War Games, Autumn Setting, Halloween/Samhain Ritual
Content/Trigger Warnings available here.
IN THE MEDIA
Read Chapter One of Daughter of the Bone Forest on Fierce Reads’ blog.
“A Violent Meeting Will Change Everything For Two Young Women” an excerpt of Daughter of the Bone Forest on Paste Magazine Online.
“New Release Radar” Spotlight on 2/27 Book Releases.
“Interview with Jasmine Skye” and behind-the-scenes of Daughter of the Bone Forest with Utopia State of Mind.
Jasmine Skye, Kamilah Cole, Devin Greenlee, Robin Wasley, and A.B. Paranek discuss their upcoming debuts on Utopia State of Mind’s YouTube channel.
Take a Buzzfeed Quiz to figure out what type of witch or familiar you are!