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qalminator's review
2.0
Ummm. Ooookaaaay? This was just rather odd. For most of it, it seemed to be a rather mundane version of a chosen prophet leading their chosen people according to the will of the gods. There are the occasional reminders that gods' priorities need not match human priorities. Then ... it ends. Oddly. It was heading for a 3 star rating from me up until then. That twist needed more of an epilogue, imo, so my rating decreased. Only recommended if you're really into religious treks and in-fighting.
nanceoir's review
4.0
Really atmospheric and cool. The Serial Box audio version is great; love the narrator's voice.
linneahedvig's review
3.0
This was good, but so short! I really wanted more. I was getting fun Battlestar Galactica vibes. Always more Sarah Gailey!
library_bookwyrm's review against another edition
4.0
Very unexpected little story! I like it a lot.
hartd's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the free audio version of this story on Serial Box, narrated by Xe Sands. I really liked it. It's creepy throughout, with some truly disturbing moments. It's such a short story, yet the main character is so easy to relate to, without seeming like she belongs in our world or any other specific time & place.
A lot of the reviewers here seem to think this story will continue, and maybe it will. But whether this is meant to stand alone or not, I feel that it does, although there is a lot left to the imagination. I'm so glad I listened to it.
Spoiler
My guess is that it's meant to be set in the far future, following an ecological apocalypse, and after our current society has completely collapsed, to the point where no one remembers us at all. It comes across as a story about humans, rather than aliens or fantasy creatures. But I don't know that for sure; there's a lot of ambiguity, and the Gods are definitely supernatural.A lot of the reviewers here seem to think this story will continue, and maybe it will. But whether this is meant to stand alone or not, I feel that it does, although there is a lot left to the imagination. I'm so glad I listened to it.
fitsee's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
buuboobaby's review
4.0
4.25 stars
I’m still not sure how I feel about The Fisher of Bones. All I know is that Sarah Gailey is one heck of a writer. I felt the same way after finishing River of Teeth. I mean, what the heck is this? Feral hippos?? The Fisher of Bones, sadly, is missing the feral hippos, but it does have weird bits of bones and Gods Whispers to harry the protagonist instead.
When the Prophet dies, his powers are passed on to his daughter, Fisher. Fisher doesn’t feel that she’s ready to lead her people, who have been wandering for decades, searching for the Promised Land, but when she hears the Gods Whispers, she gathers her determination and tries to become the leader her people need. Pregnant, overwhelmed by her duties, she discovers that not all of her flock are as loyal and faithful to her as they were to the Prophet. Even with her father’s last gift, the Gods Sight, some of her people still doubt her leadership.
When small disasters, as well as large ones, trouble their journey to the Promised Land, Fisher has to work even harder to hold her group together. The frantic words of the Gods, written on bits of dinosaur bones, spell out a prophecy, but she’s not sure she understands it. Can she convince her people to follow her, and that she truly hears the Gods Whispers?
I didn’t feel that I ever got to know Fisher, but since this is such a short story, that’s not really surprising. Told in serial format, the chapters are short slices of Fisher’s ordeals, mostly self-contained. I didn’t feel that I got a good handle on the larger world outside of Fisher’s clan, and I’m not sure I understand why her father strode out into the barren wilderness in the first place. What are the gods, and why can only Fisher hear them? The ending left me feeling out of sorts. “That’s it?” I thought. And do I really understand what just happened?? I’m not sure, but this was a compelling read despite my lack of complete comprehension.
I’m still not sure how I feel about The Fisher of Bones. All I know is that Sarah Gailey is one heck of a writer. I felt the same way after finishing River of Teeth. I mean, what the heck is this? Feral hippos?? The Fisher of Bones, sadly, is missing the feral hippos, but it does have weird bits of bones and Gods Whispers to harry the protagonist instead.
When the Prophet dies, his powers are passed on to his daughter, Fisher. Fisher doesn’t feel that she’s ready to lead her people, who have been wandering for decades, searching for the Promised Land, but when she hears the Gods Whispers, she gathers her determination and tries to become the leader her people need. Pregnant, overwhelmed by her duties, she discovers that not all of her flock are as loyal and faithful to her as they were to the Prophet. Even with her father’s last gift, the Gods Sight, some of her people still doubt her leadership.
When small disasters, as well as large ones, trouble their journey to the Promised Land, Fisher has to work even harder to hold her group together. The frantic words of the Gods, written on bits of dinosaur bones, spell out a prophecy, but she’s not sure she understands it. Can she convince her people to follow her, and that she truly hears the Gods Whispers?
I didn’t feel that I ever got to know Fisher, but since this is such a short story, that’s not really surprising. Told in serial format, the chapters are short slices of Fisher’s ordeals, mostly self-contained. I didn’t feel that I got a good handle on the larger world outside of Fisher’s clan, and I’m not sure I understand why her father strode out into the barren wilderness in the first place. What are the gods, and why can only Fisher hear them? The ending left me feeling out of sorts. “That’s it?” I thought. And do I really understand what just happened?? I’m not sure, but this was a compelling read despite my lack of complete comprehension.