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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘The Bone Witch’ by Rin Chupeco was not a YA Fantasy that I found very entertaining. It bored me. The problem for me mostly was this book, the first of a trilogy, was top heavy in stage-setting and world-building. It also is incredibly old-fashioned, feeling like a fantasy written in the 1950's for girls, instead of what looks to me should have been a more modern fairy tale of romance for YA teens and adults.
Since ‘The Bone Witch’ is a fantasy there are a lot of weird forms of magic abilities that the witch characters are born with, and some very imaginative sword-and-demon-monster world building, which I thought was spectacular. But for me, most of the writing was very pedestrian and dull, often simply a description of magical rules and tools, and rituals of geisha behavior the trained ashas (the witches with various types of magical abilities) had to abide by while taking up their duties as social hostess entertainers and sometimes bodyguard warriors for aristocratic men of wealth and means.
The main character, Tea, was born in Knightscross, a small village in the kingdom of Odalia. Her two sisters were also witches, but Tea’s magic was Dark, the most powerful kind. She can raise the dead. She did not know this until her warrior brother Fox was killed in a battle with a magical beast. When his body was returned to Knightscross, Tea was so distressed she felt a power take over her mind and she forced Fox’s spirit to return to his dead body. He does not come back entirely the same, of course! Since Tea is only fourteen, and this was a talent everyone was unaware that Tea had, including herself, she believes she will be killed for having it. The village does not like Dark ashas, calling them the Bone Witches for obvious reasons.
The Bone witch Lady Mykaela comes to the fearful village to claim Tea as her apprentice and takes Tea, along with her new familiar, the dead-man-walking Fox, away from her family. The three travel on horseback to Tea’s new home in a neighboring kingdom, Kion. She will live in an asha House in the capital of Kion, the large city of Ankyo, initially working as a maid until she proves herself worthy of the House’s investment into training her to use her magical abilities and the tools, mostly magical jewels and stones and the weaving of runes to raise dead things to life. She was also be trained in the fine arts of dancing, singing and entertaining noble gentlemen.
Sigh. This is so f*kced up. Give me a break. Tea can raise dead people and monsters and make them her slaves. Yet she will have to dance and sing for rich men to earn her living and social place in this fantasy magical society? Really? ffs. Haven’t we moved past this shit yet? Thousands of women who have to suppress their powers and be servants only, to men, to live?
Many readers are liking this book. Maybe you will, too. People really like the imaginative concept of the wearing of heartsglasses too, which are magical necklaces containing each individual’s “heart” everyone has to wear which reveal what kind of magic people have as well as every feeling, like those aroused when telling lies and having crushes on boys. Not everyone can read the colors which swirl in the heartsglasses for emotions, though, thank the gods. Can you imagine being fourteen and everyone around you, like parents, teachers, neighbors, friends, rivals, being able to see your every emotion simply by looking at a glowing heartsglass around your neck?
Anyway, other asha apprentices and recently graduated asha pole-dancing girls are jealous of Tea and her House, so they decide to harass her and bully her - easy to do because of all of the rules of asha hierarchy and ritual behaviors. So. Even though Tea could kill them all with the magical power of her mind, the other witches try to shame her because Tea hasn’t learned how to dance or to sing provocatively in order to attract a paying male customer without any strong magical powers, just money and a castle. Even more shameful, Tea has to wear a cheaper asha novice dress and funky cheap jewelry - to pay her dues - than what the witch girls wear who have graduated from their finishing classes on how to dance and sing attractively.
The writing was too ordinary for my tastes for the most part, although there were surprises here and there. The novel’s characters were written with a touch too much stereotyping. Everybody is being very rural 1950's teenager in behaviors, even though many of them were actually adults who strangely are acting like they are teens. The novel also has stolen most of the geisha rituals detailed in the novel ‘[b:Memoirs of a Geisha|929|Memoirs of a Geisha|Arthur Golden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409595968l/929._SY75_.jpg|1558965]’ - which isn’t necessarily a bad thing - almost all books take ideas from other books and repackage them. However, ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is a gorgeously written literary novel about a genuine historical cultural artifact of the past. It is a tough act to follow when copied by a much more plain-spoken fantasy story obviously aiming for a younger reader.
I know many of you will probably disagree with me about this book. I just can’t handle this non-satiric, playing-it-straight old-fashioned YA story myself. If I could raise dead people and warriors and monsters from battle fields and enslave them, would I care about how the bejeweled hair pin holding my bangs out of my eyes compares to what the other girls are wearing? Or worry about what the other sorority, I mean asha, House’s mean girls are going to do to me to embarrass me because my makeup is all wrong for what all of the other magical witches are wearing this year? That the cute prince likes another girl prettier than me even though she can’t raise dead warrior slaves? Plus, if I fall in love, and marry, I have to give my husband my heartsglass which will take away 3/4ths of my magical power turning me pathetically weak and dependent? Really? Really?
F*kc this. I just can’t recommend this book, despite that many Goodreads YA folks are liking it.
Since ‘The Bone Witch’ is a fantasy there are a lot of weird forms of magic abilities that the witch characters are born with, and some very imaginative sword-and-demon-monster world building, which I thought was spectacular. But for me, most of the writing was very pedestrian and dull, often simply a description of magical rules and tools, and rituals of geisha behavior the trained ashas (the witches with various types of magical abilities) had to abide by while taking up their duties as social hostess entertainers and sometimes bodyguard warriors for aristocratic men of wealth and means.
The main character, Tea, was born in Knightscross, a small village in the kingdom of Odalia. Her two sisters were also witches, but Tea’s magic was Dark, the most powerful kind. She can raise the dead. She did not know this until her warrior brother Fox was killed in a battle with a magical beast. When his body was returned to Knightscross, Tea was so distressed she felt a power take over her mind and she forced Fox’s spirit to return to his dead body. He does not come back entirely the same, of course! Since Tea is only fourteen, and this was a talent everyone was unaware that Tea had, including herself, she believes she will be killed for having it. The village does not like Dark ashas, calling them the Bone Witches for obvious reasons.
The Bone witch Lady Mykaela comes to the fearful village to claim Tea as her apprentice and takes Tea, along with her new familiar, the dead-man-walking Fox, away from her family. The three travel on horseback to Tea’s new home in a neighboring kingdom, Kion. She will live in an asha House in the capital of Kion, the large city of Ankyo, initially working as a maid until she proves herself worthy of the House’s investment into training her to use her magical abilities and the tools, mostly magical jewels and stones and the weaving of runes to raise dead things to life. She was also be trained in the fine arts of dancing, singing and entertaining noble gentlemen.
Sigh. This is so f*kced up. Give me a break. Tea can raise dead people and monsters and make them her slaves. Yet she will have to dance and sing for rich men to earn her living and social place in this fantasy magical society? Really? ffs. Haven’t we moved past this shit yet? Thousands of women who have to suppress their powers and be servants only, to men, to live?
Many readers are liking this book. Maybe you will, too. People really like the imaginative concept of the wearing of heartsglasses too, which are magical necklaces containing each individual’s “heart” everyone has to wear which reveal what kind of magic people have as well as every feeling, like those aroused when telling lies and having crushes on boys. Not everyone can read the colors which swirl in the heartsglasses for emotions, though, thank the gods. Can you imagine being fourteen and everyone around you, like parents, teachers, neighbors, friends, rivals, being able to see your every emotion simply by looking at a glowing heartsglass around your neck?
Anyway, other asha apprentices and recently graduated asha pole-dancing girls are jealous of Tea and her House, so they decide to harass her and bully her - easy to do because of all of the rules of asha hierarchy and ritual behaviors. So. Even though Tea could kill them all with the magical power of her mind, the other witches try to shame her because Tea hasn’t learned how to dance or to sing provocatively in order to attract a paying male customer without any strong magical powers, just money and a castle. Even more shameful, Tea has to wear a cheaper asha novice dress and funky cheap jewelry - to pay her dues - than what the witch girls wear who have graduated from their finishing classes on how to dance and sing attractively.
The writing was too ordinary for my tastes for the most part, although there were surprises here and there. The novel’s characters were written with a touch too much stereotyping. Everybody is being very rural 1950's teenager in behaviors, even though many of them were actually adults who strangely are acting like they are teens. The novel also has stolen most of the geisha rituals detailed in the novel ‘[b:Memoirs of a Geisha|929|Memoirs of a Geisha|Arthur Golden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409595968l/929._SY75_.jpg|1558965]’ - which isn’t necessarily a bad thing - almost all books take ideas from other books and repackage them. However, ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is a gorgeously written literary novel about a genuine historical cultural artifact of the past. It is a tough act to follow when copied by a much more plain-spoken fantasy story obviously aiming for a younger reader.
I know many of you will probably disagree with me about this book. I just can’t handle this non-satiric, playing-it-straight old-fashioned YA story myself. If I could raise dead people and warriors and monsters from battle fields and enslave them, would I care about how the bejeweled hair pin holding my bangs out of my eyes compares to what the other girls are wearing? Or worry about what the other sorority, I mean asha, House’s mean girls are going to do to me to embarrass me because my makeup is all wrong for what all of the other magical witches are wearing this year? That the cute prince likes another girl prettier than me even though she can’t raise dead warrior slaves? Plus, if I fall in love, and marry, I have to give my husband my heartsglass which will take away 3/4ths of my magical power turning me pathetically weak and dependent? Really? Really?
F*kc this. I just can’t recommend this book, despite that many Goodreads YA folks are liking it.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book club video
3.5 stars.
This book was massive prequel. The ending is a disappointment that leaves you wanting more. The good news? It's still a really interesting and unique world. I loved a lot of things about it. Ness said it best in book club it's like book 1 and 3 of a 4 part series. I'm excited for book two.
3.5 stars.
This book was massive prequel. The ending is a disappointment that leaves you wanting more. The good news? It's still a really interesting and unique world. I loved a lot of things about it. Ness said it best in book club it's like book 1 and 3 of a 4 part series. I'm excited for book two.
This book was just one long set up for the rest of the series! That's not necessarily a bad thing to me but fair warning. Chapter after chapter started with a teaser about what happens after the events of this books and I'm guessing even those of the second. Because it was nothing but build up I feel like I didn't get a very good feel for any of the characters or the locations. I'm hoping the second expands everything a lot more
This is my first book of this author. I was really into it in the beginning. But the pace is too slow and I eventually got bored. I am not sure if I will read the rest of the trilogy.
This first volume was unique and refreshing with excellent world-building and intriguing characters. While the middle was a bit plodding, there were enough threads to build to an exciting conclusion. There were no cringe-worthy relationships nor was there a neat ending. I’m looking forward to journeying through the next volume. Highly recommended!
You know how some people complain that Tolkin waxes poetic about trees waaaay too often? Or GRR Martin is obsessed with feasts? THIS BOOK is OBSESSED with DRESSES!!! Almost the entire book is descriptions of fabrics, wraps, accessories... Yes there is a language of symbols going on here, but it's WAY TOO MANY lists of outfits, or scenes of someone buying an outfit, commissioning an outfit, changing their outfit.... And the simple act of day-to-day getting fitted read more like a teenager's diary than a BOOK! Who wants that?!
With what remains after you yada yada over clothing descriptions... the book felt oddly stilted. Every character's dialogue is just an info dump, every conversation expositional. They explain the world they live in, instead of having genuine conversations. And the descriptions were full of so many proper nouns in another language (I THINK a made up language?), with no context clues as to what those words MEANT, that whole passages were just unintelligible.
But, beyond excessive makeovers, or info shoe-horned into unnatural dialogue, THE CARDINAL SIN is that this book BORED me. It bored me to tears! I fell asleep multiple times! For all the fun that should have been had with heart-sharing and necromancy, this book was just a run of the mill origina story. Here's a girl who thought she was average, but turns out she harbors a magical taboo, and has to go to secret magic school! There's the Mean Girl who makes magic school unfun. There's the stuffy old mentor who's a hard@$$ but will mold our hero well. There's the love triangle, the royalty she falls for first and the brooding bodyguard who will be her actual love. There's the dying maternal figure. There's the enemy she defeats, captures, and will inevitably go to for a fresh perspective. Snooooore. I have seen ALL of these tropes so many times before. But THIS book seemed to be on a quest to use every stinkin' trope! Trope Bingo!
If you need a sleep aid, read this book. Otherwise, skip.
A paint-by-numbers YA fantasy without banter, sizzle,
With what remains after you yada yada over clothing descriptions... the book felt oddly stilted. Every character's dialogue is just an info dump, every conversation expositional. They explain the world they live in, instead of having genuine conversations. And the descriptions were full of so many proper nouns in another language (I THINK a made up language?), with no context clues as to what those words MEANT, that whole passages were just unintelligible.
But, beyond excessive makeovers, or info shoe-horned into unnatural dialogue, THE CARDINAL SIN is that this book BORED me. It bored me to tears! I fell asleep multiple times! For all the fun that should have been had with heart-sharing and necromancy, this book was just a run of the mill origina story. Here's a girl who thought she was average, but turns out she harbors a magical taboo, and has to go to secret magic school! There's the Mean Girl who makes magic school unfun. There's the stuffy old mentor who's a hard@$$ but will mold our hero well. There's the love triangle, the royalty she falls for first and the brooding bodyguard who will be her actual love. There's the dying maternal figure. There's the enemy she defeats, captures, and will inevitably go to for a fresh perspective. Snooooore. I have seen ALL of these tropes so many times before. But THIS book seemed to be on a quest to use every stinkin' trope! Trope Bingo!
If you need a sleep aid, read this book. Otherwise, skip.
A paint-by-numbers YA fantasy without banter, sizzle,
The bone witch keeps you hooked because it uses teasers for things that haven't happened yet and you want to know what's going on. During the course of the entire book you never know exactly what's going on. My guess is you only find out in the second or third book of the series.
I liked the book, however, I think it would've needed more descriptions of the world and the creatures in it. Some creatures were just named and their looks weren't described at all, which made it hard to imagine them and completely fall into the book.
I'm definitely gonna read the next books at some point, but it's not a high priority right now.
I liked the book, however, I think it would've needed more descriptions of the world and the creatures in it. Some creatures were just named and their looks weren't described at all, which made it hard to imagine them and completely fall into the book.
I'm definitely gonna read the next books at some point, but it's not a high priority right now.