Devilish intrigue in a magical library...
Devil bureaucrat Essimore Darkenchyl barely made it out of the jungle alive, but next she’s going straight to hell—aka her hometown. When she finds out about a dark and desperate plan for immortality originating from her own people, her family ties, her sense of right and wrong, and her silly sense of humor will all be put to the test!
In the second book of The Saltwater Chronicles, the stakes are higher, the villains are scarier, and the jokes about cannibalism are more common.
“You nicked me in the dance, remember? The council might be scandalized if we slept in the same tent.”
She laughed, remembering how embarrassed she’d been as the other girls gasped and the doctors swarmed him. Her dad said, ‘Essie, if you didn’t want Vashon to be eligible to marry you, you just had to poke him! You didn’t have to stab so deep!’ But she did like him. It wasn’t her fault he couldn’t block. And it had been nice to think the one boy she liked couldn’t marry her. There had been more important things than boys. Like Gossen’s Guide to Shipping Law.
“Nicked you?” she asked as she stood and walked for the tent. “Sir, I stabbed so deep they had to use medical magic to get the knife out.”
Vashon touched his shoulder where the knife had been.
“Yeah, like I said, you nicked me. I’ll sleep outside.”
Essie put a hand on her hip.
“It’s too cold, Vashon.” She crouched and crawled into the tent. “It’s not like you’re proposing. If you keep your underwear on, I’m sure the council will forgive us.”
“I’m not wearing underwear,” he said.
“Oh.”
Vashon cleared his throat.
“It’s not part of the cossetter’s ritual outfit.”
Essie bit her lip and looked away.
“Of course.”
“The first cossetters practiced naked to be closer to essential—”
“Okay, I get it!”
“So—I should sleep out here?” he asked.
Essie returns!
Cargo of Bones is the second book in the author Z. Lindsey’s Saltwater Chronicles featuring Essimore “Essie Darkenchyl, the magical (and fully licensed) shipping coordinator of the Brigand Noble. With its engaging main character, quirky friends, magical fun, and surprising plot, readers are sure to enjoy returning to this amazing series.
Essie is the 20-year-old protagonist, a graduate of the Academy of the Blessed Agency, and now a seasoned shipping coordinator. She is also an Æordes, a being most often labeled a devil by the humans in the story. She is the story’s narrator, and her unique voice, introduced in the first book in the series, continues to delight me.
While readers new to the series can begin with this book, the stories would be enjoyed best if read in order. As with the previous novel, this story hits the ground running and doesn’t let up. Her inner monologue is priceless, and the dialogue is so much fun. I started laughing immediately with the first scene in the duende’s office, and they were just doing paperwork! However, things took a dark and dangerous turn almost right away, and I was on the edge of my seat from then on.
The author does a great job building Essie’s world and
populating it with interesting and quirky characters. The descriptions are
vivid and made me feel at hand for the action alongside Essie and her fellows. I
recommend CARGO OF BONES to readers who enjoy dark, action-packed fantasies with
a touch of humor.
This should be a great novel. Thanks for sharing.
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