Mistress of Bones

A Novel

By: Maria Z. Medina

Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

An epic and romantic debut adventure fantasy, where a necromancer trying to resurrect her sister gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead

It's been thousands of years since the gods lifted the continents into the air so humanity could thrive, chaining the lands down with their bones and turning them into Anchor.

Azul del Arroyo doesn't care about gods or Anchor; she cares about being responsible for her sister's death and getting her bones from the capital so she can bring her back to life. Again. But in her way stands the Emissary of the Lord Death, who will do anything in his power to stop her, because a necromancer like her shouldn’t exist—no matter how alluring.

As Azul and the Emissary's cat-and-mouse game leads them to the dangerous Court of Cienpuentes, their fate becomes entwined with a count who begrudgingly works for a child king, a faceless witch who transforms Anchor into dreams she can peddle, and a long-lost half-brother with a secret of his own. It's a time of enlightenment, of rapiers and scientific prowess, in a country where Anchor ceased to be something worth revering a long time ago, and people have forgotten the gods' sacrifice.

But the gods haven’t. Because the gods want their bones back, and they're not opposed to becoming players in their own game.

Swashbuckling, grand, and tragically romantic, Mistress of Bones is a can't-miss debut about love, about loss, and, of course, about death.

©2025 Maria Z. Medina (P)2025 Macmillan Young Listeners

Critic reviews

“Mistress of Bones is a breath of fresh air, with richly layered worldbuilding, complex social dynamics, and morally grey characters you can’t help but root for. Intricately plotted, the enemies-to-lovers romance between Azul del Arroyo and Virel Enjul is spectacular—the tension and chemistry absolutely drips off the page. A masterful debut!” - Keshe Chow, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Girl with no Reflection

"Bone magic, rapier duels, and fickle gods–Mistress of Bones is a masterclass in worldbuilding, with a setting that is wholly original and deliciously atmospheric, and characters that will steal your heart." – Genoveva Dimova, author of Foul Days

"Mistress of Bones is a richly imagined, high stakes fantasy steeped in intrigue, magic, myth, and necromancy. From the memorable cast to the lush worldbuilding, I couldn't put this book down." - Rati Mehrotra, author of Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove

"With evocative worldbuilding, biting prose, and an intriguing cast of characters, Mistress of Bones is a transportive dark fantasy readers will eagerly devour." - Emily Thiede, author of This Vicious Grace and This Cursed Light