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A review by deedireads
The Bone Maker by Sarah Beth Durst
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Bone Maker was a fun, creative standalone fantasy novel. I loved the characters, and I thought it did well with the “heroes: where are they now” premise.
For you if: You are looking for a quick, in-and-out foray into a new fantasy universe in between longer series.
FULL REVIEW
When I read the premise for The Bone Maker — a team of heroes, 25 years after they defeated the bad guy — and saw it was by Sarah Beth Durst, who has a zillion fantasy novels, I was on board. I’d read (and enjoyed) Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth, which is also a “heroes: where are they now” story, and I was happy to read another book with that kind of timeline.
I thought this was very well done. It’s a standalone, which is so rare in fantasy as to be refreshing. You get in, fall in love with some characters, go on an adventure, and get out. In this case, the main character is Kreya, who can animate constructs using animal bones. But in the 25 years since her husband was killed in the battle that made them heroes, she’s sequestered herself and learned the forbidden kind of bone magic that brings him back. That goal brings her back into contact with her friends — and they discover that evil may not be as vanquished as they thought.
I think the thing I loved most about this book was that even though it obviously deals with death and grief and trauma, it also managed to have lots and lots of moments that felt lighthearted and funny. The characters are lovable and entertaining, and the dialogue was often just plain fun. The worldbuilding also felt nice and satisfying despite this being a standalone (which is impressive), with just enough backstory to get us through this adventure without weighing us down too much.
If you are looking for a quick dip into fantasy between heavier reads or big series, this could be a really great choice!
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Bone Maker was a fun, creative standalone fantasy novel. I loved the characters, and I thought it did well with the “heroes: where are they now” premise.
For you if: You are looking for a quick, in-and-out foray into a new fantasy universe in between longer series.
FULL REVIEW
When I read the premise for The Bone Maker — a team of heroes, 25 years after they defeated the bad guy — and saw it was by Sarah Beth Durst, who has a zillion fantasy novels, I was on board. I’d read (and enjoyed) Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth, which is also a “heroes: where are they now” story, and I was happy to read another book with that kind of timeline.
I thought this was very well done. It’s a standalone, which is so rare in fantasy as to be refreshing. You get in, fall in love with some characters, go on an adventure, and get out. In this case, the main character is Kreya, who can animate constructs using animal bones. But in the 25 years since her husband was killed in the battle that made them heroes, she’s sequestered herself and learned the forbidden kind of bone magic that brings him back. That goal brings her back into contact with her friends — and they discover that evil may not be as vanquished as they thought.
I think the thing I loved most about this book was that even though it obviously deals with death and grief and trauma, it also managed to have lots and lots of moments that felt lighthearted and funny. The characters are lovable and entertaining, and the dialogue was often just plain fun. The worldbuilding also felt nice and satisfying despite this being a standalone (which is impressive), with just enough backstory to get us through this adventure without weighing us down too much.
If you are looking for a quick dip into fantasy between heavier reads or big series, this could be a really great choice!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, and Blood