A hard-earned shield.
Days before she is to take her place as a shield maiden, like her mother before her, two deaths alter the course of Liv’s future. One belonged to a witch who called her by name, the other a chieftain from the north. Vengeance for the chieftain’s death comes in a wild fury that burns her village and slaughters her family. Left for dead, Liv pleads to Skuld – norn and weaver of the future – to spare her. A deal is struck that will endow her with the dark magic needed to claim her vengeance. But this power comes at an unfathomable price…
Ink made from the ashes of loved ones.
After his home is attacked, Calder races to warn neighboring villages of the threat. Little does he know he’s traveling into the path of fate that will lead him straight to Liv. Despite being broken, angry, and overwhelmed by power she cannot contain, it’s her willingness to defend others that draws Calder to her.
Armor forged from the bones of those she held dear.
Together, Liv and Calder discover they are two sides of the same sharpened blade. Rising from the heartache and fury in their pasts, they see a future together worth fighting for. With their strengths and hearts combined, can they become a force powerful enough to defeat the fleet of darkness coming for them? Or will the thread of fate that binds them unravel?
With Shield & Ink & Bone is the latest book from Casey L Bond. It is a Upper YA Historical Fantasy Romance. This book is full of love, war and vengeance.
My favourite type of stories are about Vikings and Norse Mythology. With Shield & Ink & Bone has both and is so wonderfully written.
The world and characters that Bond created in WSIB were beautifully done and made you care what happened to them.
Unlike other stories I have read recently that are about Vikings, Bond included the Norse mythology throughout the story and made it the main aspect. I loved seeing Odin, the Norns, Fenis Wolf and Ragnarok be mentioned.
In the first chapters we are introduce to Liv, a women who wants to earn her right to be a Shield Maiden like her mother. After her brother tells her of a dream he had everything starts to slowly fall apart.
The characters of her brother Hodor and the rest of her family, especially the mother, shapes the person Liv ends up becoming.
Relationships become an important part of WSIB especially the one between Liv and Calder. I immediately loved these two and their relationship arc kept me glued to the pages to find what happens to the two of them.
It was not only the relationship between Liv and Calder but the friendships that was built between Fell, Brux, Armund and eventually Tyr.
The different clans was also interesting to me and I liked how they all came together when it was needed.
The ending was perfect. It was what I hoped was going to happen and so happy that it did. I really enjoyed the epilogue as well as the bonus chapters. It really gave some back story to some parts of the book that I had questions for.
The cover references and imagery was perfect for the book.
My favourite quotes were:
Let me be your hands, let me be your shield, your blade, I will live as your vengeance.
With shield and ink and bone, I will have my vengeance.
Overall I loved With Shield & Ink & Bone. Casey L Bond always delivers for me and I always look forward to reading more of her books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lara Jane Reviews 