by Tricia and Nathan Goyer
publisher’s synopsis
When darkness falls, a new guardian emerges.
Kateřina Dubová has always aspired to walk in her father’s footsteps as a respected journalist, and the Second World War presents a unique opportunity for her to prove her worth to the world. A tip about an assassination attempt on a high-ranking Nazi official, Reinhard Heydrich, the “Butcher of Prague” leads Kateřina into the shadows of the Nazi occupation. Soon she discovers things are not as they seem.
As intrigue unfurls, Kateřina joins forces with Josef Loew, a descendant of the famous Rabbi Loew, renowned for creating a mystical guardian in the form of a golem to protect the souls of 16th-century Jews in Prague. In the chaos of war, some believe a new golem can once again bring help to those in need.
Like flickering candles in the abyss, Kateřina and Josef work to protect the innocent and end the evil that plagues their world. Yet, in their quest to save the Jewish people, have they inadvertently created a new danger? Could the very entity they had forged to protect become their greatest enemy?
(It’s been a while since I finished Breath of Bones, so I’m sorry this review is sparse)
What I Liked:
-The blend of steampunk and WWII worked really well together and was written in a way that felt authentic.
-The interior of the book is beautiful. I loved the newspaper clippings interspersed among the chapters.
What I Struggled With:
-There isn’t one specific thing I can pinpoint, but something about the book overall kept it from clicking with me completely. But reading is subjective, and everyone’s reading experiences will be different.
-The pacing was maybe a little slow at times.
Overall:
A fresh spin on WWII novels for both fans of speculative fiction and historical fiction.
Cautions*: light romance; semi-detailed moderate violence^
*Since it’s been a while since I finished Breath of Bones, I’ve possibly forgotten a caution.
^I can’t remember whether or not the violence was detailed for certain, but I’m pretty sure there were some descriptions.
*I received an eARC from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Hailey Huntington 
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