Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I can't even begin to explain how much I loved this book! I literally read this whole thing in like 2 days and I couldn't stop thinking about it! I loved the story, the plot and the romance was so cute
I loved this book. I’m so excited for a second one. This is an enemies to lover trope with a great twist at the end. The characters have good development and the writing has a great flow to it. Interesting plot and plot twists throughout.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really enjoyed the book itself. It’s nothing mind blowing, but it was a good romantic fantasy.
However... I would rather step on an infinite number of legos than listen to the male narrator of the audiobook again.
However... I would rather step on an infinite number of legos than listen to the male narrator of the audiobook again.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was the Owlcrate pick for April. Unfortunately, I have to round down on my rating for this one. I thought the mythology was fascinating and the bond between Sabine and Ailesse was good, but it dragged on for so long I got bored about midway through. Plus there is no need for this to be stretched out even more for a sequel.
I get the negatives out of the way first so I can end on a positive note, so here we go. I'm likely the only person reading this who doesn't want Bastien to have a romance with anyone. I don't care if you're a guy or a girl-- "no" means "no", and Jules being bitter and teary-eyed because he wasn't interested in a romance with her got so irritating. Imagine if the genders were reversed in that situation. Would we be championing the whining, pouty guy who keeps pushing for something even after the girl says "no"? Not that his romance with Ailesse was any better. They just decided they were in love with each other because... fate, or something. I think this is where I really stopped caring because I don't remember there being any chemistry or build-up to affection between them. Hell, there is way more chemistry between Sabine and Ailesse.
There are a few reveals in this book that I guess are supposed to be surprising. One I figured out very early on, another made sense from what the text was hinting at, and another... Remind me why I'm supposed to care? This character comes out of nowhere and I swear I thought we had a love rhombus on our hands. It might still happen with how the book ends. I sure do love it when a book that's about these women sacrificing men for ancient gods ends with the guy needing to rescue the girl from something. True, Sabine is also trying to rescue Ailesse in this book, but still... why do they need to be rescued at all?
I would've loved it if the book answered simple questions. Why was Sabine so against killing animals to the point of crying over them? Did she still eat the meat or was she a vegetarian? It made no sense growing up in her society where they show such care and reverence to the dead, and they don't waste the parts of animals they kill. How did Bastien become the way he was? Why would Odiva tell Sabine what she was doing and why? Odiva was way too conveniently overheard when she was talking about her questionable plans. What exactly does one do in order to be Unchained? The rules on that feel very odd. I feel like way too much was put in and not given enough time to be explained or developed. It took way too much time with nothing going on, so when the action happened it was all rushed through.
All that being said, the actual society of the Bone Criers was very interesting. I would've loved more time spent among them so I could learn about their culture and the way they saw the world. I would've loved to know more about their gods and all the rituals the women performed. I wanted to know more about the other women in the group and why sixty was such an old age for them.
So, yeah. Very interesting concept with a strong female friendship. If the book had just stuck with that, it would've been amazing. But it dragged on forever without anything actually happening or learned about the characters, and the romance was weak and underdeveloped.
I get the negatives out of the way first so I can end on a positive note, so here we go. I'm likely the only person reading this who doesn't want Bastien to have a romance with anyone. I don't care if you're a guy or a girl-- "no" means "no", and Jules being bitter and teary-eyed because he wasn't interested in a romance with her got so irritating. Imagine if the genders were reversed in that situation. Would we be championing the whining, pouty guy who keeps pushing for something even after the girl says "no"? Not that his romance with Ailesse was any better. They just decided they were in love with each other because... fate, or something. I think this is where I really stopped caring because I don't remember there being any chemistry or build-up to affection between them. Hell, there is way more chemistry between Sabine and Ailesse.
There are a few reveals in this book that I guess are supposed to be surprising. One I figured out very early on, another made sense from what the text was hinting at, and another... Remind me why I'm supposed to care? This character comes out of nowhere and I swear I thought we had a love rhombus on our hands. It might still happen with how the book ends. I sure do love it when a book that's about these women sacrificing men for ancient gods ends with the guy needing to rescue the girl from something. True, Sabine is also trying to rescue Ailesse in this book, but still... why do they need to be rescued at all?
I would've loved it if the book answered simple questions. Why was Sabine so against killing animals to the point of crying over them? Did she still eat the meat or was she a vegetarian? It made no sense growing up in her society where they show such care and reverence to the dead, and they don't waste the parts of animals they kill. How did Bastien become the way he was? Why would Odiva tell Sabine what she was doing and why? Odiva was way too conveniently overheard when she was talking about her questionable plans. What exactly does one do in order to be Unchained? The rules on that feel very odd. I feel like way too much was put in and not given enough time to be explained or developed. It took way too much time with nothing going on, so when the action happened it was all rushed through.
All that being said, the actual society of the Bone Criers was very interesting. I would've loved more time spent among them so I could learn about their culture and the way they saw the world. I would've loved to know more about their gods and all the rituals the women performed. I wanted to know more about the other women in the group and why sixty was such an old age for them.
So, yeah. Very interesting concept with a strong female friendship. If the book had just stuck with that, it would've been amazing. But it dragged on forever without anything actually happening or learned about the characters, and the romance was weak and underdeveloped.
adventurous
medium-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
Strong premise and really good beginning do not make a great book, unfortunately.
„Bone Crier’s Moon” had a vastly promising premise dipped in mythology somewhat reminiscent of Ancient Greece with a dash of old French folklore, if only in ritualistic phrases because those were entirely French, same as character names and names of locations.
The book starts off on a high note introducing two soul ferriers in training, Ailesse and her best friend, basically a sister in all but blood, Sabine. In order for Ailesse to fulfill her destiny and become a soul ferrier keeping balance of the world in check, she needs to complete a ritual. Once her soul’s true mate hears the song she plays on a blessed bone flute, her victim ultimately lured by magic, she has to kill him within a year of the spell taking hold or suffer the consequences and die, too. On a full moon night everything is set in motion but the boy who answers the true soul’s mate call has an agenda. Bastien has been waiting years to avenge his father’s death as he too was once a bone crier’s true mate and he too had to die.
I went into this with reasonably high expectations because that mix of Greek mythology with French folklore really spoke to me. Seeing as it was just 20 pages short of 500, I also had reason to believe it would be set in a world well built-up, the style descriptive enough to paint a thorough picture of where we were at but not too dense so the characters wouldn’t suffer from insufficient dialogue.
I would say „Bone Crier’s Moon” delivered on the mythology front, if failed to be engrossing enough on all the others. The love story of the book, two star-crossed lovers, didn’t convince me. I can’t say what exactly it was that put me off but I didn’t believe in their love. I didn’t hate them but they did nothing to me and damn, I would have expected at least some emotions to be stirred. I just didn’t care enough one way or another.
The stakes were high and the antes were constantly being upped so I can’t say the action bits weren’t there because they were. I was just so thoroughly detached from all that was happening, to be honest. What I think was missing was something that would make me feel connected to the characters. Their motivations and passions were stated but I wasn’t allowed an opportunity to realize them for myself while I was reading. I ended up being bored out of my mind for over half the book and wishing it would be over.
The one bit that stirred something in me was introduction of a male character towards the very end of the book. A character who will, for certain, play a key role in the sequel. He seemed fun in a wicked sort of way but then a few scenes later when I thought I could at least start being excited the execution disappointed me so much I honestly don’t think I’ll be reaching for book 2.
At the end of the day I just think this book lacked in something that would convince me it was all just as dramatic as the characters behaved like it was. There were twists, a character on a hunt, then off of it and then back on it (come on, Sabine!), a betrayal here and there, unresolved issues with the past but I could just as well stare at my ceiling because that was the extent of thrill it was bringing me.
I say this with a heavy heart because I wanted to enjoy this story immensely. Unfortunately I cannot in good conscience give it more than 2.5 stars.
**massive thank you to the publishers and Edelweiss for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
„Bone Crier’s Moon” had a vastly promising premise dipped in mythology somewhat reminiscent of Ancient Greece with a dash of old French folklore, if only in ritualistic phrases because those were entirely French, same as character names and names of locations.
The book starts off on a high note introducing two soul ferriers in training, Ailesse and her best friend, basically a sister in all but blood, Sabine. In order for Ailesse to fulfill her destiny and become a soul ferrier keeping balance of the world in check, she needs to complete a ritual. Once her soul’s true mate hears the song she plays on a blessed bone flute, her victim ultimately lured by magic, she has to kill him within a year of the spell taking hold or suffer the consequences and die, too. On a full moon night everything is set in motion but the boy who answers the true soul’s mate call has an agenda. Bastien has been waiting years to avenge his father’s death as he too was once a bone crier’s true mate and he too had to die.
I went into this with reasonably high expectations because that mix of Greek mythology with French folklore really spoke to me. Seeing as it was just 20 pages short of 500, I also had reason to believe it would be set in a world well built-up, the style descriptive enough to paint a thorough picture of where we were at but not too dense so the characters wouldn’t suffer from insufficient dialogue.
I would say „Bone Crier’s Moon” delivered on the mythology front, if failed to be engrossing enough on all the others. The love story of the book, two star-crossed lovers, didn’t convince me. I can’t say what exactly it was that put me off but I didn’t believe in their love. I didn’t hate them but they did nothing to me and damn, I would have expected at least some emotions to be stirred. I just didn’t care enough one way or another.
The stakes were high and the antes were constantly being upped so I can’t say the action bits weren’t there because they were. I was just so thoroughly detached from all that was happening, to be honest. What I think was missing was something that would make me feel connected to the characters. Their motivations and passions were stated but I wasn’t allowed an opportunity to realize them for myself while I was reading. I ended up being bored out of my mind for over half the book and wishing it would be over.
The one bit that stirred something in me was introduction of a male character towards the very end of the book. A character who will, for certain, play a key role in the sequel. He seemed fun in a wicked sort of way but then a few scenes later when I thought I could at least start being excited the execution disappointed me so much I honestly don’t think I’ll be reaching for book 2.
At the end of the day I just think this book lacked in something that would convince me it was all just as dramatic as the characters behaved like it was. There were twists, a character on a hunt, then off of it and then back on it (come on, Sabine!), a betrayal here and there, unresolved issues with the past but I could just as well stare at my ceiling because that was the extent of thrill it was bringing me.
I say this with a heavy heart because I wanted to enjoy this story immensely. Unfortunately I cannot in good conscience give it more than 2.5 stars.
**massive thank you to the publishers and Edelweiss for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**