OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Andrea Stewart is the daughter of immigrants, and was raised in a number of places across the United States. Her parents always emphasized science and education, so she spent her childhood immersed in Star Trek and odd-smelling library books. When her (admittedly ambitious) dreams of becoming a dragon slayer didn't pan out, she instead turned to writing fiction. Her short stories can be found in such venues as Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Daily Science Fiction, Galaxy’s Edge, and others. Her debut epic fantasy novel, The Bone Shard Daughter, was a finalist for the Locus Award for Best First Novel, the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel, the Goodreads Choice Award for Fantasy and Debut Novel, and the BookNest Award for Best Traditionally Published Novel. She now lives in sunny California, and in addition to writing, can be found herding cats, looking at birds, and falling down research rabbit holes.

FORMAT/INFO: The Bone Shard War was published by Orbit Books on April 18th, 2023. It is 624 pages split over 63 chapters. It is told in third and first person from multiple POVs, including Lin, Jovis, Phalue, Ranami and Nisong. It is available in ebook, hardcover, and audiobook format.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: It's been two years since the construct army threatening Emperor Lin Sukai's empire was defeated, but that hasn't meant the two years has been easy. Despite Lin's attempts to undo the tyrannical programs of her father, rumors of rebellion still lurk. Lin is spread thin trying to handle internal politics while also continuing research on the ancient Alongan in an attempt to understand how that ancient people was destroyed, and what it has to do with the constant threat of sinking islands. When word arrives that one of the legendary bone swords that was involved in the eradication of the Alongan has been discovered, Lin finds herself in a race to obtain it before old enemies can get there first. For if one thing has been made clear, it's that whoever wields the swords will have the power to dictate the fate of the empire.

The Bone Shard War is a triumphant finale to a series that has equally been action-packed and layered in mystery. The action here picks up two years after the events of The Bone Shard Emperor, a narrative choice which gives the consequences of book 2 time to breathe and alter the state of the empire, pushing it into somewhat dire straits. The characters are also immediately dealing with elevated stakes that will tug on heartstrings immediately; in short, it's clear from the first handful of chapters that this story is very much in the endgame.

The pacing moves fairly briskly for a 600 page book, and I frequently found myself reading "just one more chapter." I got minorly frustrated here and there with "one step forward, two steps back" beats for the heroes, but overall the story moves towards a very satisfying conclusion. The reveals are great and everything pays off in this final installment.

I appreciated that Ragan was a little more fleshed out here then his initial appearance in The Bone Shard Emperor, even if I continue to want to drop kick him into the sun. Nisong also goes through an impressive arc as she struggles with who she is and what she wants (though the ending of her storyline was one that gave me a raised eyebrow, though that resolution is one to be discussed in a much more spoiler filled conversation at a later time). My one true complaint? That Jovis seemed a little too cheerful given what he's been through for two years. I get that sarcasm can be a defense mechanism, but his character largely wasn't radically different from earlier books in the series, until some key moments in the final section of the book. THAT'S when his character development really lands and shines, and I wish it had been extended into the rest of the story a little better.

CONCLUSION: Suffice to say, if you are a fan of The Drowning Empire series, you will love this concluding book. The Bone Shard War raises the stakes and races towards an intense finale. In short, it's a book that is well worth the wait and will have you cheering for your favorite characters (when you're not trying to give them an emotional support hug).