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calexio's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stevemozza's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wordsofapaige's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Well I knew I would enjoy this, but I didn't expect to find it so hard to put down! The story actually starts a long time before the allotment, so much so that I checked the blurb as it seemed so far from what I was expecting. But as the plot reveals itself you understand why it is important that it starts where it does.
The plot is enthralling. It's almost slow moving after the first 25% but it doesn't feel like that when you read it. I was so wrapped up in wanting Dennie to find out what was going on (and ultimately to stop it!) that you just keep reading to find out what happens. As the reader you're fairly clued up on what's going on, who the bad guys are and what their ultimate end goal is, and how they can achieve it. This is what makes this book work so, so well. You know the horrors they're going to inflict and you want them to be thwarted for this very reason. The mystery isn't what they're doing, but how they will be stopped.
Dennie makes for a wonderful main character. She is this very sweet old lady who just wants to tend her allotment alongside her dog. But she's been involved in some interesting things throughout her life, such as helping her best friend bury the husband she murdered. So she's no stranger to being in strange situations. She is the main point of view that we follow, and you're willing her on because you know what she is experiencing is real.
We also follow Everett, who is part of a cult who worship an ancient God. But honestly this part of the story is best left to the book to explain. But it's creepy, and fascinating all in one.
Read this. Seriously. There are many parts of this book that stick in my mind. Brogen's writing is so incredible that he made this story very real, and very easy to envisage. It's captivating and you won't be able to put it down until you reach the very end.
Well I knew I would enjoy this, but I didn't expect to find it so hard to put down! The story actually starts a long time before the allotment, so much so that I checked the blurb as it seemed so far from what I was expecting. But as the plot reveals itself you understand why it is important that it starts where it does.
The plot is enthralling. It's almost slow moving after the first 25% but it doesn't feel like that when you read it. I was so wrapped up in wanting Dennie to find out what was going on (and ultimately to stop it!) that you just keep reading to find out what happens. As the reader you're fairly clued up on what's going on, who the bad guys are and what their ultimate end goal is, and how they can achieve it. This is what makes this book work so, so well. You know the horrors they're going to inflict and you want them to be thwarted for this very reason. The mystery isn't what they're doing, but how they will be stopped.
Dennie makes for a wonderful main character. She is this very sweet old lady who just wants to tend her allotment alongside her dog. But she's been involved in some interesting things throughout her life, such as helping her best friend bury the husband she murdered. So she's no stranger to being in strange situations. She is the main point of view that we follow, and you're willing her on because you know what she is experiencing is real.
We also follow Everett, who is part of a cult who worship an ancient God. But honestly this part of the story is best left to the book to explain. But it's creepy, and fascinating all in one.
Read this. Seriously. There are many parts of this book that stick in my mind. Brogen's writing is so incredible that he made this story very real, and very easy to envisage. It's captivating and you won't be able to put it down until you reach the very end.
utopiastateofmind's review
3.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: cannibalism, gore
Beginning in the middle of the trenches, Bone Harvest is a book that surprised me from the very first pages. While I had no idea that's where a good portion of the first part would go, Brogden does not shy away from human desperation. From the shadows beneath our eyes and the darkest deeds we commit in the dark. Humans continually show their ability to change. Are we able to change for the better? To pursue power and immortality?
The constant surprises in Bone Harvest kept me reading. You know those books that captivate you and then when you're finished you ask yourself, "what was I reading?" That was me basically every time I took a break. Memories unravel before us and Brogden maintains a steady pace to introduce us to all these characters. As events unfold for Everett and Dennie, the events begin to quicken and we wonder if Dennie will be able to figure out the truth.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-bone-harvest-by-james-brogden/
TW: cannibalism, gore
Beginning in the middle of the trenches, Bone Harvest is a book that surprised me from the very first pages. While I had no idea that's where a good portion of the first part would go, Brogden does not shy away from human desperation. From the shadows beneath our eyes and the darkest deeds we commit in the dark. Humans continually show their ability to change. Are we able to change for the better? To pursue power and immortality?
The constant surprises in Bone Harvest kept me reading. You know those books that captivate you and then when you're finished you ask yourself, "what was I reading?" That was me basically every time I took a break. Memories unravel before us and Brogden maintains a steady pace to introduce us to all these characters. As events unfold for Everett and Dennie, the events begin to quicken and we wonder if Dennie will be able to figure out the truth.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-bone-harvest-by-james-brogden/
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
It's a powerful, gripping and entertaining story, well written and well plotted.
It starts slowly, with a lot of word building and the introduction of parts of the characters. Even if there's plenty to consider them the "vilain" of the story you cannot help liking them with all their faults and sins.
The second part alternates descriptions of the life in an english village with building the suspense and an underlying sense of darkness.
The "good guys" are nice and you cannot help rooting for them.
I can say that somehow the first part is stronger than the second but I liked them both nonetheless.
I appreciated the style of writing, the pace that is never too fast and builds the tension.
It was a good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It starts slowly, with a lot of word building and the introduction of parts of the characters. Even if there's plenty to consider them the "vilain" of the story you cannot help liking them with all their faults and sins.
The second part alternates descriptions of the life in an english village with building the suspense and an underlying sense of darkness.
The "good guys" are nice and you cannot help rooting for them.
I can say that somehow the first part is stronger than the second but I liked them both nonetheless.
I appreciated the style of writing, the pace that is never too fast and builds the tension.
It was a good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
madarauchiha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
โค๏ธ ๐งก ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ my about info carrd: https://uchiha-madara.carrd.co/ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐งกโค๏ธ
Ah. What a book. I enjoyed Hekla's Children from this author but this was a miss for me. The pacing is a lil bizarre. The first 1/4 is very speedy, and I wish this would carry through the rest of the book. The final 3/4s is slow paced and takes it's time building up to the finale. I wish it was a little faster in pacing, but maybe that was just me getting bored of it halfway through.
It's very white cishet briddish author in tone. It's got plenty of irrelevant mentions of genitals and sex and violence and gore, and etc. It does fit the tone of the book, but it beats you over the head with it. Hey this deity involves violence and murder and sacrifice! But wait, it's totally feminist in that female womans are in charge! [Except that's mentioned once and hardly matters. Men tend to take charge and bully around regardless of having a female figurehead.]
I thought it was a decent horror story. It's more gorey torture porn horror than spooky ghost paranatural horror, if that makes sense.
I wouldn't say this is particularly diverse. There is a single character that's a survivor of mental trauma. I can appreciate portraying the police in this story as authentically useless and petty.
Content warnings:
major depictions of war, gore, unsanitary, rats, death, cannibalism, starvation, minor NSFW mentions, throat trauma, guns, murder, religion ( christianity, catholicism), scars, injuries, institutional psychiatric abuse, , some weird animal related biotruth shit, nsfw mentions of aroused genitalia, explicit sex scenes / orgy, necrophilia, gore, unsanitary, major depictions dogs, slurs against Irish Travellers, anti Rromani slurs, medium depictions of cancer, explicit murder and fire, live burial, explicit child abuse some age regression, some victim blaming, dog attacks, minor mention of missionaries, medium depictions of police, kidnapping and other things I may have missed.
Ah. What a book. I enjoyed Hekla's Children from this author but this was a miss for me. The pacing is a lil bizarre. The first 1/4 is very speedy, and I wish this would carry through the rest of the book. The final 3/4s is slow paced and takes it's time building up to the finale. I wish it was a little faster in pacing, but maybe that was just me getting bored of it halfway through.
It's very white cishet briddish author in tone. It's got plenty of irrelevant mentions of genitals and sex and violence and gore, and etc. It does fit the tone of the book, but it beats you over the head with it. Hey this deity involves violence and murder and sacrifice! But wait, it's totally feminist in that female womans are in charge! [Except that's mentioned once and hardly matters. Men tend to take charge and bully around regardless of having a female figurehead.]
I thought it was a decent horror story. It's more gorey torture porn horror than spooky ghost paranatural horror, if that makes sense.
I wouldn't say this is particularly diverse. There is a single character that's a survivor of mental trauma. I can appreciate portraying the police in this story as authentically useless and petty.
Content warnings:
major depictions of war, gore, unsanitary, rats, death, cannibalism, starvation, minor NSFW mentions, throat trauma, guns, murder, religion ( christianity, catholicism), scars, injuries, institutional psychiatric abuse, , some weird animal related biotruth shit, nsfw mentions of aroused genitalia, explicit sex scenes / orgy, necrophilia, gore, unsanitary, major depictions dogs, slurs against Irish Travellers, anti Rromani slurs, medium depictions of cancer, explicit murder and fire, live burial, explicit child abuse some age regression, some victim blaming, dog attacks, minor mention of missionaries, medium depictions of police, kidnapping and other things I may have missed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Torture
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Man, did this book deliver! It was my first James Brogden read, and based on what I saw here, I'll definitely be seeking out some of his other works in the future. I could not put it down. The characters were fun (even the baddies), the story pulls you in, and the prose itself was fantastic. I loved the sort of comedic lean in the narrative. (Especially where Everette was involved.) Would recommend to any fan of horror!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Sexual content
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