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City of Bones cover art

City of Bones

By: Martha Wells
Narrated by: Kyle McCarley
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Summary

Khat, a member of a humanoid race created by the Ancients to survive in the Waste, and Sagai, his human partner, are relic dealers working on the edge of society, trying to stay one step ahead of the Trade Inspectors and to support Sagai's family. When Khat is hired to find relics believed to be part of one of the Ancients' arcane engines, they are both reluctant to become involved. But the request comes from the Warders, powerful mages who serve Charisat's Elector.

Khat soon discovers that the deadly politics of Charisat's upper tiers aren't the only danger. The relics the Warders want are the key to an Ancient magic of unknown power, and, as all the inhabitants of Charisat know, no one understands the Ancients' magic.

©1995 Martha Wells (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This finely crafted novel expertly combines several genres-SF, fantasy, horror-and, perhaps most impressive of all, even manages to avoid an overly sentimental ending." ( Publishers Weekly Starred Review)

What listeners say about City of Bones

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interesting world

I if had to categorise the story in one sentence i would call it: "adventorus story in postapocaliptic fantasy world". Well designed and well thought world which is unique enough to be worth of listening too just for it. But martha Wells is always great at writing characters and politics which made that story great listen. I've seen from other reviews that it's getting too complicated to some but i guess it depends how much into fantasy you are to understand some ideas easier, as I've managed to follow the story well enough and english is not even my first language. It's definitely worth listening too. And narrator made great job of voicing characters.

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Lost me in chapter 10

So much about this book bothered me, 8 city tiers like a rotten cake and nothing to describe the purpose. 4 is trade but trade seems to exist in 6 to 3, every level has sewage but 1 released it sewage to help blockages in 8... then chapter 10 came and I couldn't go on.

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A favourite

This was one of the first Martha Wells books I read, and it remains one of my favourites. It is a standalone novel with a world and a set of characters that don't reappear in any of her other books, but Khat is the same type of protagonist as Moon, or Nicholas Valisarde, or, indeed, Murderbot. I like the way Wells writes outsiders who are not too concerned with trying to fit into societies that look down on them, while still being interesting, likeable, and passionate about things that are important to them. And I like the way she allows them to find friends who are prepared to risk something to save them, when they don't believe they are worth saving.

The city of Charisat is a great setting, and the mythology we get glimpses of is really rather cool.

The narrator does a good job of representing the different characters.

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1 person found this helpful