Castles in Their Bones (Castles in Their Bones, #1) by Laura Sebastian
Published by Delacorte Press on February 1, 2022
ISBN: 0593118162
Pages: 514
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
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Triplet sisters Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia have turned 16, and as such, it is time for them to leave their homeland of Bessemia and marry the princes of three other countries they’ve been betrothed to since childhood. Their mother, Empress Margaraux , has trained the girls to drive each monarchy into war so that she may rule over the entire continent herself. Armed with a variety of skills and a bit of stardust, the three sisters test themselves and each other in hopes of accomplishing their tasks and staying in their mother’s good graces, all the while hurtling towards a destiny they are completely unaware of.

Castles in Their Bones, the first in a planned trilogy, is a bit formulaic but nevertheless did manage to surprise me in a few areas, especially towards the end. While the book is difficult to get into initially because it is written in present-tense, the story itself picks up rather quickly and the distraction of the writing style is quickly forgotten. The sisters take turns narrating the story, each with a distinct voice and circumstance, which makes 500 pages worth of content surprisingly easy to keep track of. Fans of palace intrigue, family secrets, and a touch of magic will want to add this to their reading list. Recommended for general purchase. Ages 14 and up.

Reviewed by Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School