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meetyouineveryplace's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
coltenb's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
vague_coffeecup's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Physical abuse
lanternsjourney's review against another edition
5.0
The protagonist in this story is a young boy who loves to study insects and is sent to a boarding school because his father is fighting in South Africa and his mother has passed away. Don't be mistaken though, this story is not young adult by any means. It will make your skin crawl, your stomach turn, and your eyes water. Read's prose are so poetic you have no choice but to be immersed in the gothic world she creates. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
leahrosereads's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The basics
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Start: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I loved
The concept and atmosphere were really good even though some of the plot and pacing felt a little less developed and rushed.
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Start: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
What I loved
The concept and atmosphere were really good even though some of the plot and pacing felt a little less developed and rushed.
evavroslin's review
5.0
I have admired Sarah Read’s short fiction for a long time so when I heard she had a novel coming out, I anxiously counted down the months to be able to purchase it because I knew it would be epic and amazing, and I’m pleased to say I was darn right :-)
Set in North Yorkshire, England, in 1926, Charley Winslow is the misfit protagonist at a boarding school for boys, which is already creepy. Add to that the fact that it looks like an ancient abbey with some eerie things along the way and you’ve got the recipe for a solid hook for a beginning. The chilling Gothic atmosphere is strong throughout this novel. Read effectively conjures an alluring tone that sets the mood very well for this horror tale.
Charley is very much into insects and as one might imagine, this doesn’t exactly get him off to a great start with the others boys, not to mention some predictably unfortunate things happen because of their presence, but as the novel goes on, this adds wonderful dimensions to the overall narrative.
The comparison to Harry Potter is a natural one for fans who loved the books, but Read takes things several shades darker, much to the horror reader’s delight. There are mysteries to solve that highlight the insidious and interesting nuances of the relationships among the boys, particularly the Head Boy, Malcolm.
Overall, The Bone Weaver’s Orchard is a suspenseful read told by a gifted writer that features a plucky young protagonist, mysteries, secrets, puzzles to be solved, family secrets, buried pasts, and so much more. Please consider picking up a copy and immersing yourself in the rich world that Read has carefully and meticulously crafted.
Set in North Yorkshire, England, in 1926, Charley Winslow is the misfit protagonist at a boarding school for boys, which is already creepy. Add to that the fact that it looks like an ancient abbey with some eerie things along the way and you’ve got the recipe for a solid hook for a beginning. The chilling Gothic atmosphere is strong throughout this novel. Read effectively conjures an alluring tone that sets the mood very well for this horror tale.
Charley is very much into insects and as one might imagine, this doesn’t exactly get him off to a great start with the others boys, not to mention some predictably unfortunate things happen because of their presence, but as the novel goes on, this adds wonderful dimensions to the overall narrative.
The comparison to Harry Potter is a natural one for fans who loved the books, but Read takes things several shades darker, much to the horror reader’s delight. There are mysteries to solve that highlight the insidious and interesting nuances of the relationships among the boys, particularly the Head Boy, Malcolm.
Overall, The Bone Weaver’s Orchard is a suspenseful read told by a gifted writer that features a plucky young protagonist, mysteries, secrets, puzzles to be solved, family secrets, buried pasts, and so much more. Please consider picking up a copy and immersing yourself in the rich world that Read has carefully and meticulously crafted.
archergal's review
3.0
Unpleasant hijinks at an English boy’s school just after WW 1. Warning for a labyrinthine manor house converted to a school with lots of weird twisty dark passages. Contains torture, mutilation, & abuse.
I don’t know what I was thinking when I started reading this, because it’s way to dark for me to read at this point in this timeline. But TBH I didn’t expect it to be quite THIS dark.
Yikes.
I don’t know what I was thinking when I started reading this, because it’s way to dark for me to read at this point in this timeline. But TBH I didn’t expect it to be quite THIS dark.
Yikes.