Mistress of Bones

Gr 9 Up–No one is more shocked than Azul del Arroyo when her older sister Isadora dissolves into a pile of dirt once they disembark their boat in the neighboring Valanje. Necromancer Azul knows she has to retrieve her sister’s bones from the Sancian capital Cienpuentes to bring her back to life. Again. Giving up a piece of her own soul to resurrect the dead has made Azul cautious with her gift but letting Isadora stay dead is out of the question. Unfortunately, Virel Enjul, Emissary of the Lord Death in Valanje, is equally determined that Azul never use her unholy malady again. This debut fantasy introduces a world infused with Latinx culture alongside an inclusive setting where women are as likely as men to cross rapiers at dawn. Medina’s intricate plot highlights the far-reaching consequences of Azul’s continued intervention in matters of death and life as she crosses paths (and rapiers) with the Emissary and becomes embroiled in an insidious plot threatening both Sancia and Valanje. Disjointed flashbacks create distance between readers and the novel’s large cast. The shifting third-person perspective also undermines much of the chemistry between characters and the hints of very light romance. An instance of ableist language by the Faceless Witch late in the story is jarring with the overall tone of the novel.