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A review by exorcismemily
The Bone Weaver's Orchard by Sarah Read
4.0
"Getting sewn together isn't as bad as having pieces cut off."
The Bone Weaver's Orchard is Sarah Read's debut novel, but it does not read like it's new territory to her. The storytelling in this book is so good, and it's a wonderfully atmospheric read.
I was introduced to Sarah's work in the Suspended in Dusk II anthology - her story Still Life with Natalie caught my attention, and I was so excited to get my hands on The Bone Weaver's Orchard as soon as I heard about it.
Horror fans who enjoy stories with young protagonists growing up & combatting evi (IT, Boy's Life, etc.) should check this one out. While it deals with the standard themes in these types of stories (things like loneliness, friendship, knowing who to trust, lack of help from most adults), The Bone Weaver's Orchard stands apart with its setting. It's fairly gothic and has a more serious tone than the other stories. It feels bleak at times, and I really loved being in the world that Sarah created.
There were moments in the story that reminded me of certain books or movies that I love. I am not comparing this book to them, so don't freak out. Although it's not a magical school, it reminded me of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Boarding school is such a fun environment to read about, and I loved the castle exploration and mischief in both books. Charley, the main character in The Bone Weaver's Orchard, doesn't have much of a family, either...which also led me to think about the movie A Little Princess (I love it!). His father is stationed abroad, and he isn't treated well by the people in charge. I was also reminded of Great Expectations since he is in this environment with people who seem to be of higher stature & they want him to be something he can't be. There's a lot more to this story than these aspects, but this is what stood out to me.
The only thing that I didn't really love was the ending. I wanted more answers, and then it just sort of ended. There's still enough to wrap the story up, but I just wanted more of a reason behind what was going on. It was also sometimes hard to keep track of who was who at times, but I eventually sorted it out.
The Bone Weaver's Orchard is a solid debut, and Sarah Read is definitely one to watch. I can't wait to see what else she does, and I am crossing my fingers for more gothic stories since she's so damn good at it. Thank you to Trepidatio Publishing for sending me a copy. The Bone Weaver's Orchard will be out on 2/1!
The Bone Weaver's Orchard is Sarah Read's debut novel, but it does not read like it's new territory to her. The storytelling in this book is so good, and it's a wonderfully atmospheric read.
I was introduced to Sarah's work in the Suspended in Dusk II anthology - her story Still Life with Natalie caught my attention, and I was so excited to get my hands on The Bone Weaver's Orchard as soon as I heard about it.
Horror fans who enjoy stories with young protagonists growing up & combatting evi (IT, Boy's Life, etc.) should check this one out. While it deals with the standard themes in these types of stories (things like loneliness, friendship, knowing who to trust, lack of help from most adults), The Bone Weaver's Orchard stands apart with its setting. It's fairly gothic and has a more serious tone than the other stories. It feels bleak at times, and I really loved being in the world that Sarah created.
There were moments in the story that reminded me of certain books or movies that I love. I am not comparing this book to them, so don't freak out. Although it's not a magical school, it reminded me of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Boarding school is such a fun environment to read about, and I loved the castle exploration and mischief in both books. Charley, the main character in The Bone Weaver's Orchard, doesn't have much of a family, either...which also led me to think about the movie A Little Princess (I love it!). His father is stationed abroad, and he isn't treated well by the people in charge. I was also reminded of Great Expectations since he is in this environment with people who seem to be of higher stature & they want him to be something he can't be. There's a lot more to this story than these aspects, but this is what stood out to me.
The only thing that I didn't really love was the ending. I wanted more answers, and then it just sort of ended. There's still enough to wrap the story up, but I just wanted more of a reason behind what was going on. It was also sometimes hard to keep track of who was who at times, but I eventually sorted it out.
The Bone Weaver's Orchard is a solid debut, and Sarah Read is definitely one to watch. I can't wait to see what else she does, and I am crossing my fingers for more gothic stories since she's so damn good at it. Thank you to Trepidatio Publishing for sending me a copy. The Bone Weaver's Orchard will be out on 2/1!