I think this book gets better every time I read it.

This is my third time reading Crown of Bones, and every time I finish it, I say I'll read the sequel but I haven't got around to it yet. This time, I actually intend to read the sequel within the next two weeks because I always forget what a great ending the story has.
The book follows Ash, a scribe, and Marcus, an heir and savant (basically someone with a spirit animal except it's not always an animal), as they make their way to a school meant to train Marcus...only it becomes clear that war is imminent and no one can be trusted. The concept itself doesn't sound amazing, but the action scenes are well written (and there are lots of them) and the end is full of plenty of twists, some predictable and some not so much. I completely forgot how fast-paced and enjoyable the book was.
Besides the action, my favorite parts were the characters and their dynamics. Ash is the main narrator and her chapters are mainly focused on her discovering the lore of the world, which I think was an interesting way to build the world. Marcus is the other main character and I remember disliking him in my past reads, but this time I liked him. I also remember disliking Kaylin, and while he's still not my favorite, I don't hate him. I want to see more Samsen and Piper because their dynamic was mentioned but never really explored. As for my favorite character...it's Belair. He has a leopard that's literally all we really know about him. I don't care that his personality is just "big cat small boy," he's my favorite and you can't change that.
With fast-paced adventure, a cast of great characters, and a story full of twists, Crown of Bones is a novel perfect for fantasy fans looking for a more traditional story.
4/5