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mutterwithtutter's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
justinekorson's review
5.0
I read Aden’s novel “The City Beautiful” in one sitting and SURPRISE SURPRISE I did the same here. I loved Toma and her family from the get go and became enamored but Mikhail and Vanya as well. Their friendship was adorable and the world building was so immersive. There were parts that gave me pause mainly a violent death I hadn’t anticipated but overall I loved this book to pieces! (Get it? Pieces?? Lol)
izzykate93's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
rmgmorrow's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
emiann2023's review
3.0
I liked the concept and the world-building, but the characters fell really flat for me. And the plot was too predictable.
annsbibliotherapy's review
4.0
With Magic woven throughout the story with the intent, delicacy, and precision of a tapestry you see so many magical moments, some subtle and some so powerful you find yourself questioning who's really in control, who's good and who's just plain evil.
Bone Weaver is a Seemless blending of folk lore and imagination that will awaken your senses and your mind to a tale that takes you through this intense world like you're right there experiencing all of the ups and downs with Toma, Mikhail, and everyone that makes this book so special.
These Characters will take you through a lifetime of emotion in the course of the story and never lets you down while in a setting that will bring tears to your eyes with its beauty and sincerity.
This book is wonderfully written, well thought out and has a voice and uniqueness all its own.
This is a solid 4.5 book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
Bone Weaver is a Seemless blending of folk lore and imagination that will awaken your senses and your mind to a tale that takes you through this intense world like you're right there experiencing all of the ups and downs with Toma, Mikhail, and everyone that makes this book so special.
These Characters will take you through a lifetime of emotion in the course of the story and never lets you down while in a setting that will bring tears to your eyes with its beauty and sincerity.
This book is wonderfully written, well thought out and has a voice and uniqueness all its own.
This is a solid 4.5 book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
winglesswarrior's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Gun violence, War, Hate crime, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child death and Homophobia
devilsivyandpaperbacks's review
Didn't grab my interest right away and my TBR pile was growing too big
sacajaguido's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
queerlyread's review against another edition
3.75
Bone weaver was super interesting conceptually! It moved fast and there was a sort of... steampunky slavic folklore mashup to the worldbuilding that I don't think I've really encountered quite yet in what I've read. Since those are all settings I enjoy and Aden writes with a natural dark grit underlying everything, I really liked it.
Vanya, Mikhail, and Toma are honestly all great individually and I enjoyed the fact that they all very clearly had different personal goals and motivations. It made the three of them traveling together to achieve a common goal really interesting because you don't just have a group of yes men and you do see them clash at times.
I found the concept of magic and Toma's found family really intriguing, especially her relationship with her sister, Galina, and what it means to be living and fiercely love the dead. I'd be very curious to see that play out in a future book.
One thing I'd like to see done better is the queer aspect of the book, especially since that marketing is why I picked it up. It is incredibly subtle in a blink-and-you-might-miss-it, will-they-won't-they, wait-WHO-will-it-be-in-the-will-they-won't-they kind of way. Not a bad thing, but definitely something that if teased that lightly that you would expect to be explored more thoroughly later, probably in a sequel, to really satisfy a reader's curiosity. I do think the author set it up that way intentionally though, so I didn't see it as queerbaiting or a misdirection. I think there just simply wasn't *time* without making it feel rushed in this book.
On a whim, I checked social media to see if there was a sequel in the works and was a little bit shocked the publisher didn't sign this as a duology. There was a clear resolution to the main plot line between Toma and her sister, which I appreciated, but there is still so much space left for the story to develop and breathe. I would have loved to see the plot points that were left open ended explored more in a future book(s?), especially when it comes to Vanya and Mikhail.
I think this book would be better upon a re-read where you're familiar with the world, but I know myself enough to know I probably won't *unless* a follow up book is published because I'll just want more again.
Vanya, Mikhail, and Toma are honestly all great individually and I enjoyed the fact that they all very clearly had different personal goals and motivations. It made the three of them traveling together to achieve a common goal really interesting because you don't just have a group of yes men and you do see them clash at times.
I found the concept of magic and Toma's found family really intriguing, especially her relationship with her sister, Galina, and what it means to be living and fiercely love the dead. I'd be very curious to see that play out in a future book.
One thing I'd like to see done better is the queer aspect of the book, especially since that marketing is why I picked it up. It is incredibly subtle in a blink-and-you-might-miss-it, will-they-won't-they, wait-WHO-will-it-be-in-the-will-they-won't-they kind of way. Not a bad thing, but definitely something that if teased that lightly that you would expect to be explored more thoroughly later, probably in a sequel, to really satisfy a reader's curiosity. I do think the author set it up that way intentionally though, so I didn't see it as queerbaiting or a misdirection. I think there just simply wasn't *time* without making it feel rushed in this book.
On a whim, I checked social media to see if there was a sequel in the works and was a little bit shocked the publisher didn't sign this as a duology. There was a clear resolution to the main plot line between Toma and her sister, which I appreciated, but there is still so much space left for the story to develop and breathe. I would have loved to see the plot points that were left open ended explored more in a future book(s?), especially when it comes to Vanya and Mikhail.
I think this book would be better upon a re-read where you're familiar with the world, but I know myself enough to know I probably won't *unless* a follow up book is published because I'll just want more again.