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lenar3ad's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Finished in one couple-hour sitting as I didn't want to put it down. The mythology/folklore was captivating and I was adequately spooked by the bone houses. I'll be buying for my shelf to reread when I want a mystical, undead adventure.
May be a little tough for anyone experiencing grief from losing a parent or finds corpse descriptions hard, all at a YA level.
May be a little tough for anyone experiencing grief from losing a parent or finds corpse descriptions hard, all at a YA level.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Grief, and Gore
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, Violence, and War
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, and Sexual content
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
March 2024-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖
I had so much re-reading this. It was better than I remembered. The characters were good and their relationships were solid. I liked the worldbuilding. The plot was good, though a little predictable, and the pacing was alright. With the pacing, I felt it was off in a few places, but not many complaints.
September 2022-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📱
This was good. I loved the goat.
📖
I had so much re-reading this. It was better than I remembered. The characters were good and their relationships were solid. I liked the worldbuilding. The plot was good, though a little predictable, and the pacing was alright. With the pacing, I felt it was off in a few places, but not many complaints.
September 2022-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📱
This was good. I loved the goat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Animal death
Moderate: Gore, Body horror, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Vomit
trippyotter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
Such an amazing read!
I only wish I'd read the triggers before reading the book. There's nothing I'd consider concerning, but a few weeks before we'd lost a close friend of the family and there are certain parts in the story that had me crying with all the feels.
I only wish I'd read the triggers before reading the book. There's nothing I'd consider concerning, but a few weeks before we'd lost a close friend of the family and there are certain parts in the story that had me crying with all the feels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death
lennybiird's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gore, Death of parent, and Body horror
emilylou's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Gravedigger vs zombies, plus a mapmaker sidekick and an undead goat. Emily Lloyd-Jones has a special talent to infuse magic into situations that would be grievously tragic or absolutely horrific otherwise. Instead, you walk away with a sense of wonder and a respect for both life and death.
Ryn is a gravedigger by trade, taking over after her father disappeared on a scouting trip and her mother passed away from a lung illness. Not quite an adult, she is attempting to keep her siblings together and make a living wage. In a time when her fellow townspeople are more likely to burn their dead than hire a gravedigger, due to the uptick of deceased peoples wandering through the nearby forest, this is no easy feat.
Enter a visiting mapmaker, Ellis, who needs a guide to map the forest and mountains beyond. Ryn, having learned the tricks to safely navigate these haunted woods, becomes the obvious choice for this endeavor. The night before they are set to depart, the village is overran by murderous zombies. Without another choice, Ryn, Ellis, and an undead goat head for the hills to accomplish the goal of finding a way to break the magic enchanting the dead through the forest and mountains, and finally give the deceased a long awaited rest.
Ryn is a gravedigger by trade, taking over after her father disappeared on a scouting trip and her mother passed away from a lung illness. Not quite an adult, she is attempting to keep her siblings together and make a living wage. In a time when her fellow townspeople are more likely to burn their dead than hire a gravedigger, due to the uptick of deceased peoples wandering through the nearby forest, this is no easy feat.
Enter a visiting mapmaker, Ellis, who needs a guide to map the forest and mountains beyond. Ryn, having learned the tricks to safely navigate these haunted woods, becomes the obvious choice for this endeavor. The night before they are set to depart, the village is overran by murderous zombies. Without another choice, Ryn, Ellis, and an undead goat head for the hills to accomplish the goal of finding a way to break the magic enchanting the dead through the forest and mountains, and finally give the deceased a long awaited rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, Classism, and Gore
Minor: Child death
edrickashay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Otherworldly, enchanting, heartwarming, a unique take on zombies and YA characters – and a beautifully crafted, well written story I wanted to read slowly. This is a modern fairytale done right, sticking true to the essence of myth and a hero’s journey. I have absolutely nothing negative to say, highly recommend.
Slow burn romance and friendship first, a story dealing with grief, loss, and closure…I feel like this would hit harder if I had ever lost someone close to me too soon, but it still left me enchanted none the less. Breathtakingly beautiful ambiance, creepy and spooky inserts that are not overly indulgent or violently gory for gore’s sake, absolutely unique characters, and a beautifully impactful twist on a cliché ending, with surprises that you can guess if you pay attention (and I find that enjoyable, these crumbs are cleverly left, leaving the reader either in awe of the surprise or feeling smart).
Would check trigger warnings if you have recently lost someone.
Side notes:
I did not feel like I was reading about two eighteen-year-old characters. I imagined, honestly, late twenties or thirties. I don’t think it matters to the story how you imagine them.
I began reading this while reading by a stream in the forest. 10/10 recommend for the vibes.
Slow burn romance and friendship first, a story dealing with grief, loss, and closure…I feel like this would hit harder if I had ever lost someone close to me too soon, but it still left me enchanted none the less. Breathtakingly beautiful ambiance, creepy and spooky inserts that are not overly indulgent or violently gory for gore’s sake, absolutely unique characters, and a beautifully impactful twist on a cliché ending, with surprises that you can guess if you pay attention (and I find that enjoyable, these crumbs are cleverly left, leaving the reader either in awe of the surprise or feeling smart).
Would check trigger warnings if you have recently lost someone.
Side notes:
I did not feel like I was reading about two eighteen-year-old characters. I imagined, honestly, late twenties or thirties. I don’t think it matters to the story how you imagine them.
I began reading this while reading by a stream in the forest. 10/10 recommend for the vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
dangerdragon_destroyerofworlds's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal death, and Death
thalia16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, and Violence
velvetsilk42's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
ash_ton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book really reminded me of Among the Beasts & Briars. The Bone Houses was written first, but I read Among the Beasts & Briars first lol. Both good books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Blood
Minor: Child death and Classism