Scan barcode
megsbookishtwins's review against another edition
4.0
I received this free from the publishers via NetGalley
Tea lives in a world where witches are commonplace. Tea, however, is different from the witches in her family, which was showcased after her brother died when she raised him from the dead. Tea’s gift relates to the dead – to necromancy. She is a Bone Witch. The most feared but important witches in the kingdom. However, Tea needs to control and hone her gifts which means she has to leave her home and train to become an asha under the watchful eye of an older and more experienced witch, Lady Mykaela. However, while in the city, she learns that the kingdom is on the brink of war with an enemy called The Faceless and everyone she has ever cared about are in danger.
The Bone Witch is a slow-paced, but an atmospheric, original, and dark high fantasy which is PERFECT for fans of witches and magic. As I mentioned, it was slow paced at times, but it had such vivid and rich world-building that made up for it – full of culture, folklore and mythology which is a breath of fresh air for fantasy.
In The Bone Witch, people wear their hearts around their necks, they are called heart glass. When their heart glass turns silver, they are deemed to be magical and, if they are women, they are trained to become asha. Each asha can draw different runes which align with different elements. Tea is a Bone Witch because she can raise the dead and she deals with dark magic. Asha are trained to become skilled warriors but are also trained to become entertainers and refined women. They learn to dance, sing, play instruments, etc. So if you want a fantasy with kick-ass women who are also feminine, then The Bone Witch is for you.
In terms of characters, I loved Tea. She isn’t your typical protagonist and she isn’t considered to be the hero of the story as she’s the villain in many people’s eyes. The Bone Witch was told in two alternative timelines, one where Tea was finding out about her magic and training to hone it, and one where she is a powerful witch feared and ostracised due to something she did, which we have yet to find out. I loved this, where you slowly are starting to learn how Tea became the witch, and the dark asha, that everyone fears. But really, she is just finding a way to try and save her people but because she has fell too far into dark magic, she’s deemed too dangerous and branded the enemy. She’s the anti-hero protagonist I’ve been waiting for and what we need more of in YA, especially fantasy.
Fox is also a great character, Tea’s brother, and I really loved their sibling bond. Which was made even more pronounced because she raised him from the dead so they are now connected in more ways than just being brother and sister I loved the protectiveness and the love the two had for each other. There were also hints of a romance, but it wasn’t at the forefront of the story.
Overall, a unique, atmospheric, dark and magical fantasy that I highly recommend.
Tea lives in a world where witches are commonplace. Tea, however, is different from the witches in her family, which was showcased after her brother died when she raised him from the dead. Tea’s gift relates to the dead – to necromancy. She is a Bone Witch. The most feared but important witches in the kingdom. However, Tea needs to control and hone her gifts which means she has to leave her home and train to become an asha under the watchful eye of an older and more experienced witch, Lady Mykaela. However, while in the city, she learns that the kingdom is on the brink of war with an enemy called The Faceless and everyone she has ever cared about are in danger.
The Bone Witch is a slow-paced, but an atmospheric, original, and dark high fantasy which is PERFECT for fans of witches and magic. As I mentioned, it was slow paced at times, but it had such vivid and rich world-building that made up for it – full of culture, folklore and mythology which is a breath of fresh air for fantasy.
In The Bone Witch, people wear their hearts around their necks, they are called heart glass. When their heart glass turns silver, they are deemed to be magical and, if they are women, they are trained to become asha. Each asha can draw different runes which align with different elements. Tea is a Bone Witch because she can raise the dead and she deals with dark magic. Asha are trained to become skilled warriors but are also trained to become entertainers and refined women. They learn to dance, sing, play instruments, etc. So if you want a fantasy with kick-ass women who are also feminine, then The Bone Witch is for you.
In terms of characters, I loved Tea. She isn’t your typical protagonist and she isn’t considered to be the hero of the story as she’s the villain in many people’s eyes. The Bone Witch was told in two alternative timelines, one where Tea was finding out about her magic and training to hone it, and one where she is a powerful witch feared and ostracised due to something she did, which we have yet to find out. I loved this, where you slowly are starting to learn how Tea became the witch, and the dark asha, that everyone fears. But really, she is just finding a way to try and save her people but because she has fell too far into dark magic, she’s deemed too dangerous and branded the enemy. She’s the anti-hero protagonist I’ve been waiting for and what we need more of in YA, especially fantasy.
Fox is also a great character, Tea’s brother, and I really loved their sibling bond. Which was made even more pronounced because she raised him from the dead so they are now connected in more ways than just being brother and sister I loved the protectiveness and the love the two had for each other. There were also hints of a romance, but it wasn’t at the forefront of the story.
Overall, a unique, atmospheric, dark and magical fantasy that I highly recommend.
ashlynnmae's review against another edition
2.0
this book took me AGES to read. i had such high hopes for it given the premise- but what actually was the plot in this book? i also am frustrated that the FMC’s motivations are never explained or detailed. i will maybe read the next book, but i am just so frustrated with this one.
karenholmes's review against another edition
4.0
This book has everything I love about YA (strong female lead, an adventurous and learning way, wonderful side characters and a few surprises) and nothing that I hate about it. There might be a hint of a love triangle, but it's not really an important part, not even the romance is central, which i love.
Also, there are witches, here called asha and there are also necromancers. HOw can I not like this? Impossible.
It is complex but not too much so it can be followed. It's rich in its magic and in its world building. And it has an amazing story told in two times that leaves you screaming for what? NO! I need more! So I will read the second book soon enough.
Also, there are witches, here called asha and there are also necromancers. HOw can I not like this? Impossible.
It is complex but not too much so it can be followed. It's rich in its magic and in its world building. And it has an amazing story told in two times that leaves you screaming for what? NO! I need more! So I will read the second book soon enough.
lostinlore's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pj_reads_stuff's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.0
kaylann's review against another edition
DNF 15%
I tried my best to pick this up multiple times and in multiple different formats…
I don’t know why but this just wasn’t grabbing me
I tried my best to pick this up multiple times and in multiple different formats…
I don’t know why but this just wasn’t grabbing me
winemakerssister's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
Beautiful descriptions but ultimately boring.
Beautiful descriptions but ultimately boring.
stephanie_mcel's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
buttonsandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I've had this on Audible for a really long time and just recently went ahead and started it. I wasn't sure what to expect.
When Tea shocks everyone and resurrects her brother Fox from the dead at his funeral, she leaves her friends, family, and community shaken. She is different from the other witches in her family and is small minds, different is dangerous. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, feared by some and also revered by many. Tea is taken away, along with Fox, to get proper training and learn what it is to be an asha.
This was good but many times left me wondering what the end result would be. It was cool reading about Tea gaining strength and confidence in herself, but overall felt like a lot of building to get to the next book.
⭐⭐⭐
When Tea shocks everyone and resurrects her brother Fox from the dead at his funeral, she leaves her friends, family, and community shaken. She is different from the other witches in her family and is small minds, different is dangerous. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, feared by some and also revered by many. Tea is taken away, along with Fox, to get proper training and learn what it is to be an asha.
This was good but many times left me wondering what the end result would be. It was cool reading about Tea gaining strength and confidence in herself, but overall felt like a lot of building to get to the next book.
⭐⭐⭐
jayarna's review against another edition
3.0
This was good but damn I wish it was better. I like the idea and I think in skilled hands it would such a cool read. Chupeco has weaknesses as a writer and this really tainted my experience of it.
Characters and dialogue - a lot the characters voices in this blended together and that lost a lot of the impact for me. They seem quite one dimensional with many of them just fitting into 'mean' 'sweet' 'quiet'
Tea herself was quite uninteresting and it was boring to be in her perspective.
Plot - I enjoy training scenes so it wasn't too hard too keep listening, but overall the scenes are pretty unforgettable. With the way the narrative is structured, we know that Tea is eventually going to down a different part to what she initially sets out on - but I can't see it being satisfying or well done, because Chupeco's character work is quite weak.
Writing - great! The prose was lovely and part of the reason why I held on.
Not sure if I should continue with this series, I hope they get better.
Characters and dialogue - a lot the characters voices in this blended together and that lost a lot of the impact for me. They seem quite one dimensional with many of them just fitting into 'mean' 'sweet' 'quiet'
Tea herself was quite uninteresting and it was boring to be in her perspective.
Plot - I enjoy training scenes so it wasn't too hard too keep listening, but overall the scenes are pretty unforgettable. With the way the narrative is structured, we know that Tea is eventually going to down a different part to what she initially sets out on - but I can't see it being satisfying or well done, because Chupeco's character work is quite weak.
Writing - great! The prose was lovely and part of the reason why I held on.
Not sure if I should continue with this series, I hope they get better.