Mistress of Bones | Paperback

By Maria Z. Medina Releases 2 July 2026. Description An epic, multi-POV debut fantasy perfect for fans of The Bone Shard Daughter and Six of Crows, where a necromancer trying to resurrect her sister gets embroiled in bigger, world-ending plans instead. Necromancer Azul del Arroyo only wants one thing: to steal her sister back from Death by reclaiming her sister’s bones. But the Emissary of the Lord Death will do anything to stop her, no matter how alluring he finds her . . . As their paths collide, they’re drawn into a deadly game of pawns and power with a count who begrudgingly works for a child king, a faceless witch who transforms the bones of gods into dreams she can peddle, and a long-lost half-brother with a secret of his own—and soon realize the fate of the lands is hanging in the balance. For long ago the gods raised the continents, binding them with their own bones to keep humanity alive. But in an era when the gods’ sacrifice has been forgotten, Death might not be the only resentful god Azul must defy. Swashbuckling, grand, and tragically romantic, Mistress of Bones is a can't-miss start to a duology about love, loss, and, of course, death. “Mistress of Bones features the bold, complex world-building I love most in fantasy. It felt like stepping into one of my favorite RPGs--so many rich details to discover on each page. Not to mention, plenty of characters to root for.” - Susan Dennard, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series “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 breath of fresh air, with richly layered worldbuilding, complex social dynamics, and morally grey characters you can’t help but root for. A masterful debut!” - Keshe Chow, #1 Sunday Times Bestseller author of The Girl with no Reflection “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 “Medina's thoughtful, beautiful prose paints a lushly-imagined fantasy world that utterly entranced me. Readers will be quick to fall under the spell of this spooky yet swashbuckling debut.” - Andrea Tang, author of These Deadly Prophecies