A Mantle of Bones

The Essenburg Archives, Book 1

By: Emmet Moss

Narrated by: Colin Mace

The Earl of Essenburg, Steven Hargraves, is dead.

Assassinated by an unknown assailant, his death plunges the earldom into a bloody civil war. Rival siblings of the murdered lord have vied for control of the region for three long years. Frederick, the rightful heir to his father’s title, lies ensconced in Bode Castle, held under siege by his younger sister Catherine’s army.

As alliances shift and unforeseen forces are brought into the conflict, an innocent newcomer threatens to upset the delicate balance of the warring factions. A gravedigger by trade, this one man seeking redemption could change the fate of the land. For a man prone to a solitary existence, his world will forever be changed. But his attempts to navigate the cut-throat world of the nobility might also lead to his downfall.

Brave knights, cunning mercenaries, and warrior monks, along with strange and wondrous places, await the gravedigger. He may hold the key to Essenburg’s plight.

©2022 Emmet Moss (P)2023 Podium Audio

Depth of character

Unlike the shattering of kingdoms, this one was a bit of a slow burner in my opinion. Definitely worth a read, but not as much vivid description as the shattering of kingdoms series. This book was more of an in-depth look at one particular character and his trials and tribulations.The narration was good, but doesn’t draw you in quite as much as someone like Simon Vance. 

Excellent read!

Excellent read enjoyed every word. This is the first Emmet Moss book I have read. I am starting his first series soon. Thank you for the great read.

Takes a long time to get going

All in the review title really. Glad I persevered, as I started to enjoy it about a third or so of the way in. Got a bit arduous towards the very end again.

Lord of Graves

Absolutely one of the best books I have listen to, really enjoyed it from the beginning to the end, can’t wait for more. Performance was excellent.

Wonderfully written and performed!

I’m an avid listener of medieval flavored stories and this book is near the top of my list of favorites. The writing is beautifully crafted to make it easy to get lost in the story and Colin does a masterful job bringing the story and characters to life. Definitely worth the purchase!