I've been very excited to dive into today's read. It's the last in the WaxWays series, and I did read the first book, A Door in the Darkness, when it hit the market in 2023. I loved that first book...somehow, managed to sleep through the release of book two...but got my little hands on this last one, so I can end the series, at least.
I'm curious if this skipping over the middle will cause problems or not, or if the tale is as exciting and wonderful as I remember it to be?
Let's find out!
(Note: This one is headed to my possible favorites of 2025 list)
A BURNING IN THE BONES
Waxways #3
by Scott Reintgen
Margaret K. McEldberry Books
YA Fantasy
544 pages
Ren’s quest to dismantle Kathor’s corrupt system comes to a head as political machinations and a mysterious disease take hold of the city in this edge-of-your-seat conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Waxways series.
After taking control of House Brood, Ren and Theo dreamed of using their newfound influence to change the rest of Kathor, but now they find their efforts being countered by the other great houses, who have no interest in a world where they enjoy less power.
No one understands that better than the Tin’Vori siblings. The return of their ancestral home was a decade in the making, but they’re eager to keep rising from the ashes. Nevelyn begins researching House Brood—and ends up face-to-face with an enemy that’s already slouching toward the gates of the city. The one enemy no one can a plague.
The victims experience strange bruising, an unquenchable thirst, and a temporary disruption in magic. When doctors trace the illness to its source, they find another corpses placed in strategic locations around the city. As Ren leads the hunt for the culprits, she’ll find herself two steps behind a devious enemy whose sights are set on an unexpected the city’s magic.
Survival will require every ounce of their skill, every bond old and new, or else the future Ren and Theo have worked to build will burn down with the rest of the world.
After taking control of House Brood, Ren and Theo dreamed of using their newfound influence to change the rest of Kathor, but now they find their efforts being countered by the other great houses, who have no interest in a world where they enjoy less power.
No one understands that better than the Tin’Vori siblings. The return of their ancestral home was a decade in the making, but they’re eager to keep rising from the ashes. Nevelyn begins researching House Brood—and ends up face-to-face with an enemy that’s already slouching toward the gates of the city. The one enemy no one can a plague.
The victims experience strange bruising, an unquenchable thirst, and a temporary disruption in magic. When doctors trace the illness to its source, they find another corpses placed in strategic locations around the city. As Ren leads the hunt for the culprits, she’ll find herself two steps behind a devious enemy whose sights are set on an unexpected the city’s magic.
Survival will require every ounce of their skill, every bond old and new, or else the future Ren and Theo have worked to build will burn down with the rest of the world.
MY TIDBITS
Tense and fast-paced, this is a read that drives forward the entire way through.
I'd read the first in this series, missed the second, and grabbed up this one, and surprisingly, this wasn't a huge issue thanks to the way the author sets it up. Granted, reading this one from beginning to end would still be recommend, since the story builds.
The read rotates between several characters and does so with finesse. Mercy is now added to the mix as she deals with a mysterious disease outbreak. Ren and Theo have their hands full with running House Brood and are coming to terms with the workload involved, and Nevelyn, while at first more on the side, runs across some interesting information surrounding House Brood. While these threads begin separately, they weave ever closer together to create a grabbing plot with tons of intrigue and more.
The pacing runs a similar course. While the starting scenes draw in, the first chapters allow the reader to sink into each character's situation and allow depth to sink in as to what they are up against. Before this can begin to drag, the action shoots high taking the tension and intrigue with it. The scenes hook and make it hard to put the read down, since something is always happening and each event carries impact. This is sold as YA, although the characters don't really give that feel, anymore, and come across with adult maturity. It is appropriate, however, for the age group.
A lot of secrets and past situations are exposed, some expected and others not. Not everything is addressed, and Theo doesn't reach the depth the others do, but this also adds a more natural feel since life doesn't clearly wrap everything with nice bows, either. The emotions run high, making the characters no problem to root for as they make understandable decisions. Especially Ren takes the reigns and creates a cause to root for and keeps the reader on the edge of their seats.
This is a very, grabbing read and rounds off the series nicely.
And here he is...
Scott Reintgen is a former public school teacher from North Carolina. When he’s not writing, he uses his imagination to entertain his wife, Katie, and their three children. Scott is the New York Times bestselling author of the Waxways series, the Nyxia trilogy, the Dragonships series, and the Celia Cleary series for younger readers. You can find him on Instagram @Reintgen, on X @Scott_Thought, or on his website at ItsPronouncedRankin.com.
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