Jessica (HDB)

Mixing religious aspects with the legends of old, 24 Bones is a book that really impressed me. I'll admit that I did have to re-read the prologue once to really understand what was being set up for me. Still, from that point on I was completely immersed in this story. A warning, don't read this before bed. You won't sleep, you'll just keep reading.

Although I'm not one hundred percent certain about the accuracy of the history described here, I can say that 24 Bones makes it feel real. At the end of the day, isn't that all that matters? Michael Stewart creates a story that meshes the old world with the new, and brings to life an epic battle between good and evil. It honors the idea of balance and ultimate power. There are so many layers within Samiya's story, and it creates a whole reading experience.

It's hard to discuss the characters in detail because they are so vividly written and plentiful. Our group of heroes, and their villainous counterparts race to come out the victors in the quest for domination. I very much enjoyed the blurred lines between good and evil here. Stewart shows that there isn't a stark delineation and that intent has a lot to do with it as well. With twists, and turns, you never quite know where loyalties lie in this book.

Suffice it to say that 24 Bones drew me in from the beginning. There were slight slow parts, but really they were there to set up the stunning landscape the story takes place in. If you are a fan of books that mix fantasy and reality, that blur the line between myth and legend, this is one for you.