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irl_bookworms's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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
4.0
I think the best way to describe this lovely little novella is: An Orpheus and Eurydice retelling, but with sapphic, cottagecore witches. I mean, what else could you want??
The story of Teagan and Cressidae is told in a mix of cozy flashbacks (from Teagan’s youth, to their meeting in the city, to their wedding night) and the tense scenes of Teagan’s journey through the Bone Way. Before the start of the book, Teagan is attacked by a monster and is lethally poisoned. With no cure, Teagan and Cressidae consider making a bargain with the Princess of the Shadow Realm, but Teagan refuses to risk Cressidae’s life. Unwilling to let the chance slip by, Cressidae steals away in the middle of the night to make the bargain herself. But Teagan knows how treacherous both the journey and the princess are, so she follows her wife into the Shadow realm with the hopes of bringing Cressidae back safely...
Their world is a lush, queer normative, cottage core world, that I so badly want to visit. But as beautiful as the surface realm is, the Shadow Realm is just as haunting and eerie. Both sides were fascinating to read.
I found The Bone Way to be a wonderful little novella that I would happily recommend to anyone queer or with a love of queer stories. It’s sweet and lovely and tense and adventurous and all of the good stuff. I can’t wait to see what Underhill decides to write next!
PS - All the props to the cover artist, because the cover art is absolutely STUNNING!!
*Thank you Nyx Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC*
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Blood
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