I received a digital advance reader’s copy (ARC) of A Burning in the Bones by Scott Reintgen. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

A Burning in the Bones by Scott Reintgen closes the Waxways trilogy, following Ren Monroe as she seeks to take down the ruling class of Kathor, therefore getting justice for the wrongful death of her father several years ago. However, her former ally Nevelyn has her own plan, which might conflict with Ren’s. Meanwhile, a young doctor is sent out of the city to a small town to investigate a bizarre ailment that could be magical in origin, and sinister as well. As disease threatens, a foe emerges from the shadows and seeks to change—or perhaps destroy—everything in Kathor.

I didn’t think I’d like any book in this trilogy more than the first one, but… this one might be the best of the trilogy. Actually, there’s no “might” about it. This one rules.

Ren is such a fantastic protagonist. She’s fierce and determined and filled with righteous anger, but also has a soft side, especially for Theo Brood, the young man she’s magically bonded to. I still wish we had a few scenes from his perspective, but I still like their relationship. They make a good team, and actually are able to communicate and complement each other very well. It was also cool to see Nevelyn and her siblings again. They weren’t my favorite part of the second book, but I thought their role in this story was really good. Nev provides a different view on the situation, and her own character development was pretty solid. I liked her bond with Josey a lot, as it allowed her to be gentler, even in dire situations.

The other POV character, Dr. Mercy Whitaker, is also great. Her perspective, while not one I expected, was invaluable. She has a very different personality and skillset than Ren and Nevelyn, but she’s strong in her own way, and I loved her scenes. Her knowledge also allows for some dramatic irony, which I always enjoy, and Reintgen executes it so well. (Side note, every time I saw “Dr. Whitaker,” I just called her “Thirteen” in my head. Because Doctor Who, as we know, has a tight grip on me for some reason.)

This is also one of those rare books where I enjoy each perspective equally. It also kept me wanting to read, as each storyline was so engaging and exciting, especially as the story progressed toward the final act. There are some sequences, involving the magical disease, that definitely would not have existed if Reintgen hadn’t lived through the early days of the COVID pandemic, and they are intense, gripping scenes. Those scenes, in addition to the plot thread about the group of people called the Makers, make this book pretty topical (though I’m verging into spoiler territory, so I’ll move on).

The final act of this book is probably my favorite part. So much action and wonderful moments between different characters, plus a twist that was absolutely amazing. I flew through this section, delighted by how everything came together and paid off in such a satisfying way. Some elements are pretty tragic, others epic, and all of it is so well written.

In the end, A Burning in the Bones is incredible, and the trilogy’s conclusion that far surpassed my expectations. It feels like everything was leading here, and it was so wonderful to see it all unfold. There were great moments of character growth, as well as some exhilarating action scenes. I loved this!

A Burning in the Bones will be published on February 4th, 2025!