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A review by raforall
Boneset & Feathers by Gwendolyn Kiste
5.0
Star review in the October 2020 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: lyrical, fluid style, social justice
Returning with her second novel after winning numerous awards for THE RUST MAIDENS, Kiste introduces readers to Odette, the last of the witches, living on the outskirts of a small town, who has banished herself to a magic-free life of isolation after the Witchfinders came from “The Capitol,” five years previously, violently burning every witch, except for Odette, who would not burn. When the birds start falling from the sky, Odette is forced to stop hiding, confront her extreme loss and trauma, reckon with her past, stop living in fear of the future, and seek out justice, no matter the cost. Using a style that moves fluidly back and forth through time and lyrical language to describe awful things, readers will hang on every word, cringe and cheer through the action, and passionately root for Odette, despite her obvious unreliability as a narrator, as they watch her grow into her true self.
Verdict: Kiste casts a spell with this original and suspenseful horror story, but it holds more than meets the eye. It is also an honest look at what it means to be a woman who doesn’t conform to societal stereotypes, once who bravely stands up to systematic oppression. Clearly influenced by Shirley Jackson, this novel will also appeal to readers who enjoyed THE POWER by Alderman, THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Henderson or WONDERLAND by Stage.
Three Words That Describe This Book: lyrical, fluid style, social justice
Returning with her second novel after winning numerous awards for THE RUST MAIDENS, Kiste introduces readers to Odette, the last of the witches, living on the outskirts of a small town, who has banished herself to a magic-free life of isolation after the Witchfinders came from “The Capitol,” five years previously, violently burning every witch, except for Odette, who would not burn. When the birds start falling from the sky, Odette is forced to stop hiding, confront her extreme loss and trauma, reckon with her past, stop living in fear of the future, and seek out justice, no matter the cost. Using a style that moves fluidly back and forth through time and lyrical language to describe awful things, readers will hang on every word, cringe and cheer through the action, and passionately root for Odette, despite her obvious unreliability as a narrator, as they watch her grow into her true self.
Verdict: Kiste casts a spell with this original and suspenseful horror story, but it holds more than meets the eye. It is also an honest look at what it means to be a woman who doesn’t conform to societal stereotypes, once who bravely stands up to systematic oppression. Clearly influenced by Shirley Jackson, this novel will also appeal to readers who enjoyed THE POWER by Alderman, THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Henderson or WONDERLAND by Stage.