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lihim30's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ninakatzenwuschel's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
briggamooz's review against another edition
5.0
** I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review**
Just fantastic.
There is a dearth of broader published fantasy featuring the After. What happens after we win? What happens after the bad guy is vanquished and peace restored? How to you come back from that? Can a person come back from whole and unmarred after the trials of war and their victory? How far would you go to regain whatever it was you lost?
Sarah Beth Durst examines the After with such skill that I am still in awe three days later. In a modern publishing cycle where plucky 18yr old's gaining powers and saving the world runs rampant, it was a delight to journey along with skilled adults who have already Done The Thing. People who are confident and savvy, whose learning curves are more introspective than martial. A study in the relationships forged over decades and the love between people that has already been tested, broken and re-forged.
"Getting the band back together" has always been a favorite trope of mine, and The Bone Maker is in great company next to [b:Kings of the Wyld|30841984|Kings of the Wyld (The Band, #1)|Nicholas Eames|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477027207l/30841984._SY75_.jpg|51246585] and [b:Queens of the Wyrd|48498701|Queens of the Wyrd|Timandra Whitecastle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571993934l/48498701._SY75_.jpg|73809992] on my "You Must Read This" shelf.
The ability Durst displays in navigating these intricate relationships, in allowing cracks to form where one would imagine solidity reigned, is exquisite. The injuries felt and harsh words spoken resound with a clarity and realness that one can see echoed in their day to day life. True friendships are not shattered by a minor insult, but the wound is still felt. Having characters able to address that, work through it, and come out the other side strong in their understanding of one another is so utterly refreshing when cast against the fist clenching, gaze averted, self-doubting one might feel in the early days of an alliance, friendship or romance.
In the well-established, and the re-visited, we see a team just past their prime but not so far gone as to be incapable. Indeed, when the time comes to display their skill they don't hesitate. It's a little like watching the Guardians of the Galaxy at the start of Vol. 2 - everyone knows their part, their place. There is an implicit trust in their teammates that allows for success in the end. It. is. REFRESHING.
The Bone Maker revels in its shared past history of the characters, though never in a manner that falls to shoegazing. Each character seeks independently to be the best version of themselves, to break the monotony and evolve. Though hindered by self-doubt and past mistakes, it is the importance of reflection and recognition that allows Kreya, Zera, Jentt, Marso and Strann to regain their former glory and unite as a stronger team than ever before; it is their life journeys in the After and the In-Between that breed final success.
if you like competent heroes who are just kind of sick of heroing but dangit someone's got to do it, married couples confident in each other, friends knowing that blind trust is the best trust, and lots of re-animated dead, then this is for you.
Just fantastic.
There is a dearth of broader published fantasy featuring the After. What happens after we win? What happens after the bad guy is vanquished and peace restored? How to you come back from that? Can a person come back from whole and unmarred after the trials of war and their victory? How far would you go to regain whatever it was you lost?
Sarah Beth Durst examines the After with such skill that I am still in awe three days later. In a modern publishing cycle where plucky 18yr old's gaining powers and saving the world runs rampant, it was a delight to journey along with skilled adults who have already Done The Thing. People who are confident and savvy, whose learning curves are more introspective than martial. A study in the relationships forged over decades and the love between people that has already been tested, broken and re-forged.
"Getting the band back together" has always been a favorite trope of mine, and The Bone Maker is in great company next to [b:Kings of the Wyld|30841984|Kings of the Wyld (The Band, #1)|Nicholas Eames|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477027207l/30841984._SY75_.jpg|51246585] and [b:Queens of the Wyrd|48498701|Queens of the Wyrd|Timandra Whitecastle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571993934l/48498701._SY75_.jpg|73809992] on my "You Must Read This" shelf.
The ability Durst displays in navigating these intricate relationships, in allowing cracks to form where one would imagine solidity reigned, is exquisite. The injuries felt and harsh words spoken resound with a clarity and realness that one can see echoed in their day to day life. True friendships are not shattered by a minor insult, but the wound is still felt. Having characters able to address that, work through it, and come out the other side strong in their understanding of one another is so utterly refreshing when cast against the fist clenching, gaze averted, self-doubting one might feel in the early days of an alliance, friendship or romance.
In the well-established, and the re-visited, we see a team just past their prime but not so far gone as to be incapable. Indeed, when the time comes to display their skill they don't hesitate. It's a little like watching the Guardians of the Galaxy at the start of Vol. 2 - everyone knows their part, their place. There is an implicit trust in their teammates that allows for success in the end. It. is. REFRESHING.
The Bone Maker revels in its shared past history of the characters, though never in a manner that falls to shoegazing. Each character seeks independently to be the best version of themselves, to break the monotony and evolve. Though hindered by self-doubt and past mistakes, it is the importance of reflection and recognition that allows Kreya, Zera, Jentt, Marso and Strann to regain their former glory and unite as a stronger team than ever before; it is their life journeys in the After and the In-Between that breed final success.
if you like competent heroes who are just kind of sick of heroing but dangit someone's got to do it, married couples confident in each other, friends knowing that blind trust is the best trust, and lots of re-animated dead, then this is for you.
lex24's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
gopanini's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Body horror
lunaeclipse's review against another edition
5.0
This is hands down the best book I have read this year. I loved it so much! There's so much story and adventure packed into this book, that by the midway point it felt that other books would have just been ending. There is not a single bit of boring storytelling in this and I found myself really taking the time to imagine the scenes (I know it's sort of lazy I guess when I don't, but in other fantasies I have read it's just tedious).
I had started reading this after trying to read two other popular fantasies and being immediately put off by the main character being eighteen years old. I get it, YA is having a time right now and that's great, but I wanted a story where the heroes are my age and this book was it. It is so refreshing to read a book this good, in the fantasy genre, that had characters in their thirties/forties!
The story is about five friends who have already saved the world and must do so again. Kreya, the logical leader who makes bone constructs (think bones and whatever other material that can be combined to make a robot, whether it's wood, fabric, or metal). Jentt her husband who acts as the thief and scout for the group. Zera her best friend who can carve talismans from bones to make people and constructs fly, gain speed, be stealthily. Stran their big lovable boulder of a friend and finally Marso, their bone reader who can read the future and past in the bones.
Zera is my favorite character, her personality was fun, sassy, loyal, heart warming. Honestly I'd love to see another story in this series and if not based on the Five, then based solely on her.
Below are some quotes I pulled out.
:O
Although I have never felt protected, who can't say they haven't felt comforted by being surrounded by books?
Why did these little creatures have so much personality to them? I wanted to cry reading that!
Thanks to the author Sarah Beth Durst, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are mine.
I had started reading this after trying to read two other popular fantasies and being immediately put off by the main character being eighteen years old. I get it, YA is having a time right now and that's great, but I wanted a story where the heroes are my age and this book was it. It is so refreshing to read a book this good, in the fantasy genre, that had characters in their thirties/forties!
The story is about five friends who have already saved the world and must do so again. Kreya, the logical leader who makes bone constructs (think bones and whatever other material that can be combined to make a robot, whether it's wood, fabric, or metal). Jentt her husband who acts as the thief and scout for the group. Zera her best friend who can carve talismans from bones to make people and constructs fly, gain speed, be stealthily. Stran their big lovable boulder of a friend and finally Marso, their bone reader who can read the future and past in the bones.
Zera is my favorite character, her personality was fun, sassy, loyal, heart warming. Honestly I'd love to see another story in this series and if not based on the Five, then based solely on her.
Below are some quotes I pulled out.
As she descended the spiral stairs, she paused on the third level to check on her husband. He lay, as always, carefully wrapped in white linens. “Tomorrow, we’ll watch the sun rise together,” she told him. “You’ll say something that will make me laugh, and I’ll make willow tea that you’ll ruin with too much honey. And then we can do whatever you want. Walk in the woods. Mend that step you’re forever tripping over. We’ll have time.”
:O
It was comforting to be surrounded by so many books, as if the past experience of all the authors could protect her from the unknown future.
Although I have never felt protected, who can't say they haven't felt comforted by being surrounded by books?
Twisting in the saddle, Zera tried to check, but the horse’s fur blocked her view.The horse snorted until she pulled herself back up.“You’re a fussy one.” She decided that meant it was a boy.
Opening her eyes, Kreya noticed that the other rag dolls were clustered around, some on the bed and some by her feet. She gathered them into her arms, and they swarmed all over her, patting her hair and stroking her back.
----------------------------------------------
She looked down at the little crushed scout in her arms.
Why did these little creatures have so much personality to them? I wanted to cry reading that!
Without thinking about whether he could or not, she asked, “Marso, any predictions?” “Death and doom,” he replied. “I don’t need bones for that.”
Thanks to the author Sarah Beth Durst, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are mine.
bookedwithannie's review against another edition
3.0
I don't read much stand-alone fantasy. I think it's just too much to get through in one book. Not only are you developing characters, but you're developing a world, and rules which govern that world. It's a lot. I think Bone Maker was not a strong read for me because of these reasons.
Ultimately, I finished it, which as a true believer in DNF, says something. I was hooked from the beginning but the middle dragged a lot. It feels like everything is resolved and but there is still over 100 pages left so it just felt drug out. The ending does recapture and is quick paced.
I really enjoyed the characters. Zera specifically was my favorite. She was like a retired warrior female Hugh Hefner and she was so funny. Her friendship with Kreya was another selling point for me. Kreya was a complex character and I really enjoyed her story. But I'll be honest, the borderline necrophilia had be a bit squeamish. To clarify, the person had been brought back to life. But still, you're getting romantic with a once-dead person. I just... that's a nope from me dawg.
Ultimately, I finished it, which as a true believer in DNF, says something. I was hooked from the beginning but the middle dragged a lot. It feels like everything is resolved and but there is still over 100 pages left so it just felt drug out. The ending does recapture and is quick paced.
I really enjoyed the characters. Zera specifically was my favorite. She was like a retired warrior female Hugh Hefner and she was so funny. Her friendship with Kreya was another selling point for me. Kreya was a complex character and I really enjoyed her story. But I'll be honest, the borderline necrophilia had be a bit squeamish. To clarify, the person had been brought back to life. But still, you're getting romantic with a once-dead person. I just... that's a nope from me dawg.
rachelrozet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kiahjuni's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story begins at the end. The heroes won, the earth was saved and life moved on. Until it didn't. While on the surface, it feels like a straightforward adventure fantasy, this book explores a lot of complex themes, such as grief, ptsd, death, incompetent government and how we treat our heroes. I very much enjoyed the read, but would have love to have had some of the world explored in more detail. I also have a big question about the ending that I will have to research!