Mistress of Bones Maria Z. Medina 9780008774196

An epic and romantic debut adventure fantasy, where a necromancer trying to resurrect her sister gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead

'A transportive dark fantasy readers will eagerly devour' Emily Thiede, author of This Vicious Grace

Necromancer Azul del Arroyo only wants one thing: to steal her sister back from Death by reclaiming her sister's bones. But the Emissary of the Lord Death will do anything to stop her, no matter how alluring he finds her ...

As their paths collide, they're drawn into a deadly game of pawns and power with a scheming court, a faceless witch, and the fate of the lands hanging in the balance.

For long ago the gods raised the continents, binding them with their own bones to keep humanity alive. But in an era when the gods' sacrifice has been forgotten, Death might not be the only resentful god Azul must defy.

Swashbuckling, grand, and tragically romantic, Mistress of Bones is a can't-miss start to a duology about love, loss, and, of course, death.

Born and raised in Spain, Maria Z. Medina loves everything speculative and fantasy. She is a writer and an avid video game player who discovered the joy of making up stories at a young age, aided by her grandmother's love for books and sci-fi/fantasy TV shows. Her short fiction has appeared in various fantasy and science-fiction publications.

Praise for Mistress of Bones

'With evocative worldbuilding, biting prose, and an intriguing cast of characters, Mistress of Bones is a transportive dark fantasy readers will eagerly devour'

Emily Thiede, author of This Vicious Grace

'A breath of fresh air, with richly layered worldbuilding, complex social dynamics, and morally grey characters you can't help but root for. Intricately plotted, the enemies-to-lovers romance between Azul del Arroyo and Virel Enjul is spectacular - the tension and chemistry absolutely drips off the page. A masterful debut!'

Keshe Chow, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Girl With No Reflection

'Mistress of Bones features the bold, complex world-building I love most in fantasy. It felt like stepping into one of my favourite RPGs - so many rich details to discover on each page. Not to mention, plenty of characters to root for'

Susan Dennard, New York Times bestselling author of The Luminaries

'Bone magic, rapier duels, and fickle gods - Mistress of Bones is a masterclass in worldbuilding, with a setting that is wholly original and deliciously atmospheric, and characters that will steal your heart'

Genoveva Dimova, author of Foul Days

'A richly imagined, high stakes fantasy steeped in intrigue, magic, myth, and necromancy. From the memorable cast to the lush worldbuilding, I couldn't put this book down'

Rati Mehrotra, author of Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove

'Mistress of Bones' rich storytelling pulls you into a wholly imaginative world filled with an engrossing cast of characters. I can't help but applaud this ambitious tale of gods and magic, of secrets and betrayals, and of a girl fighting against all odds to save her sister from Death himself'

Jasmine Skye, author of Daughter of the Bone Forest

'Medina's thoughtful, beautiful prose paints a lushly imagined fantasy world that utterly entranced me. Readers will be quick to fall under the spell of this spooky yet swashbuckling debut'

Andrea Tang, author of These Deadly Prophecies