Different: Ivory and Bone

Review: Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

Title: Ivory and Bone
Author: Julie Eshbaugh
Pages: 371
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: June 7, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Synopsis: A prehistoric fantasy—with allusions to Pride and Prejudice.
Hunting, gathering, and keeping his family safe—that’s the life seventeen-year-old Kol knows. Then bold, enigmatic Mya arrives from the south with her family, and Kol is captivated. He wants her to like and trust him, but any hopes of impressing her are ruined when he makes a careless—and nearly grave—mistake. However, there’s something more to Mya’s cool disdain…a history wrought with loss that comes to light when another clan arrives. With them is Lo, an enemy from Mya’s past who Mya swears has ulterior motives.
As Kol gets to know Lo, tensions between Mya and Lo escalate until violence erupts. Faced with shattering losses, Kol is forced to question every person he’s trusted. One thing is for sure: this was a war that Mya or Lo—Kol doesn’t know which—had been planning all along.

We all know that I judge books by their covers, which isn't always a good thing. I knew nothing about Ivory and Bone going in. I checked it out, didn't even read the inside flap, and delved right in. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I have never read a book like this, and I will probably never read a book like this again. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad book, it just did nothing for me. Normally, I'll read a book and think it's amazing and original and just awesome, but this book didn't really give me any of those feelings.

I read it, and it told a pretty good story. The writing was good. The characters were somewhat interesting, and I liked them well enough. The whole clan thing didn't do anything for me. I found it a bit weird and wasn't too big of a fan of it.

It definitely wasn't my cup of tea. The plot was okay, and the ending was suspenseful. I thought the ending was good, and I liked who ended up with whom. I just didn't find this book jaw-dropping, I-must-shove-it-into-the-faces-of-all-my-friends-and-make-them-read-it good. It was an okay read, but not for me.

About the Author

Julie Eshbaugh is the author of Ivory and Bone (HarperCollins, 2016). She used to have trouble staying in one spot, having lived in places as varied as Utah, France, and New York City. Julie eventually returned home to the Philadelphia area, where she now lives with her husband, son, cat and dog. Her favorite moments are when the unexpected happens and she cheers loudest when the pitcher gets a hit.