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abby_ace_of_books 's review for:
Bone Weaver
by Aden Polydoros
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This feels like a culmination of all the new tropes/vibes I've discovered and come to love over the summer, and I'm on the verge of becoming obsessed with this book in a way that's unhealthy.
Bone Weaver is a YA fantasy novel full of magic, myth, and wonder. The story itself reminded me a lot of the books I've read by Margaret Owen (I got both The Merciful Crow and Little Thieves vibes) and Emily Lloyd-Jones, two more of my recently discovered and immediately loved authors. Bone Weaver has been close to the top of my TBR for about a year or so, and I snagged it on a whim on Libby...and I read 60% of it in basically one sitting (I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours). I'm already ready to reread it and will likely be purchasing a physical copy for myself in the future because I'm in love with this world and its characters.
The worldbuilding is rooted in Slavic folklore, as noted in the author's note at the end of the book. I'm not super familiar with Slavic folklore, but I loved learning little pieces of it through this story. I love how the figures we saw (it feels wrong to call them creatures) are all related to death in some form, which is fitting given the themes of the novel, and they were all intriguing in various ways. I especially liked the Rusalka and the different forms of magic that the living possess, specifically Vanya and his plant/life magic, and the way he wielded it.
The book begins with Toma, a girl living alone in the forest with her family of the undead, discovering a dethroned tsar, Mikhail, in the wreckage of an airship crash. After her sister is captured by the same men who want Mikhail dead, Toma and Mikhail reluctantly team up to retrieve both Toma's sister and Mikhail's magic. They eventually meet up with Vanya, a boy witch with the mind of a rebel, and the three of them embark on a journey to save the empire. The pacing is quick; the mix of action and more touching, softer scenes is balanced extremely well to maximize the emotional impact. The last 30% really speeds up the story while also managing to break your heart in a dozen different ways, which is why I read most of it in one sitting. It's full of tension and suspense; I didn't feel like the characters really had plot armor, which helped escalate the stakes. The plot has some Anastasia vibes at times, though I could be thinking that because I recently watched the musical and I'm desperately searching for more. My only complaint - and the only reason I didn't give a full 5 stars - is that the ending feels a bit incomplete. I'm guessing this was pitched as a standalone with series potential, so the conclusion is satisfying...somewhat. I just wish there were more. More backstory, more conclusion, more time with these characters. I sincerely hope the author decides to return to this world someday, because this is easily one of my favorite books of the year.
Trios are the best for dynamics, and this book proves it. Toma is our protagonist. She grew up with the undead, so she doesn't have much experience interacting with living people (which leads to some interesting observations). Despite that, she loves fiercely and boldly; I loved her as a main character, and I wanted to see more of her backstory, too. Mikhail is the reserved tsar, having lost his magic and everything else he has ever known. His friendship with Toma was so sweet, especially before Vanya joined, and even after Vanya appeared, I enjoyed seeing him grow more open and vulnerable. His backstory intrigues me deeply, and I wish we could've seen how he continued to grow in his arc. Vanya is a witch and a commoner, a dreamer and a fighter. His banter was witty, and I enjoyed seeing him poke fun at Mikhail. The dynamics between the two of them were amazing in so many different ways, and I loved watching Toma observe it all. Vanya's past was a bit clearer than the other two MCs, but that didn't mean I didn't love him less. I can't say what I want to say for spoiler reasons, but the dynamics between him and Toma are also perfect. These characters were the focus of the book, and while I was intrigued by some of the other characters, this trio was the highlight of the book. I will be thinking about them for weeks.
If you enjoy any of Emily Lloyd-Jones or Margaret Owen's novels, I implore you to check out Bone Weaver. It has fantasy zombies, creepy plant magic, Anastasia vibes, and one of my favorite trios of all time. Please. I need someone to talk about this with.
4.75/5
Bone Weaver is a YA fantasy novel full of magic, myth, and wonder. The story itself reminded me a lot of the books I've read by Margaret Owen (I got both The Merciful Crow and Little Thieves vibes) and Emily Lloyd-Jones, two more of my recently discovered and immediately loved authors. Bone Weaver has been close to the top of my TBR for about a year or so, and I snagged it on a whim on Libby...and I read 60% of it in basically one sitting (I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours). I'm already ready to reread it and will likely be purchasing a physical copy for myself in the future because I'm in love with this world and its characters.
The worldbuilding is rooted in Slavic folklore, as noted in the author's note at the end of the book. I'm not super familiar with Slavic folklore, but I loved learning little pieces of it through this story. I love how the figures we saw (it feels wrong to call them creatures) are all related to death in some form, which is fitting given the themes of the novel, and they were all intriguing in various ways. I especially liked the Rusalka and the different forms of magic that the living possess, specifically Vanya and his plant/life magic, and the way he wielded it.
The book begins with Toma, a girl living alone in the forest with her family of the undead, discovering a dethroned tsar, Mikhail, in the wreckage of an airship crash. After her sister is captured by the same men who want Mikhail dead, Toma and Mikhail reluctantly team up to retrieve both Toma's sister and Mikhail's magic. They eventually meet up with Vanya, a boy witch with the mind of a rebel, and the three of them embark on a journey to save the empire. The pacing is quick; the mix of action and more touching, softer scenes is balanced extremely well to maximize the emotional impact. The last 30% really speeds up the story while also managing to break your heart in a dozen different ways, which is why I read most of it in one sitting. It's full of tension and suspense; I didn't feel like the characters really had plot armor, which helped escalate the stakes. The plot has some Anastasia vibes at times, though I could be thinking that because I recently watched the musical and I'm desperately searching for more. My only complaint - and the only reason I didn't give a full 5 stars - is that the ending feels a bit incomplete. I'm guessing this was pitched as a standalone with series potential, so the conclusion is satisfying...somewhat. I just wish there were more. More backstory, more conclusion, more time with these characters. I sincerely hope the author decides to return to this world someday, because this is easily one of my favorite books of the year.
Trios are the best for dynamics, and this book proves it. Toma is our protagonist. She grew up with the undead, so she doesn't have much experience interacting with living people (which leads to some interesting observations). Despite that, she loves fiercely and boldly; I loved her as a main character, and I wanted to see more of her backstory, too. Mikhail is the reserved tsar, having lost his magic and everything else he has ever known. His friendship with Toma was so sweet, especially before Vanya joined, and even after Vanya appeared, I enjoyed seeing him grow more open and vulnerable. His backstory intrigues me deeply, and I wish we could've seen how he continued to grow in his arc. Vanya is a witch and a commoner, a dreamer and a fighter. His banter was witty, and I enjoyed seeing him poke fun at Mikhail. The dynamics between the two of them were amazing in so many different ways, and I loved watching Toma observe it all. Vanya's past was a bit clearer than the other two MCs, but that didn't mean I didn't love him less. I can't say what I want to say for spoiler reasons, but the dynamics between him and Toma are also perfect. These characters were the focus of the book, and while I was intrigued by some of the other characters, this trio was the highlight of the book. I will be thinking about them for weeks.
If you enjoy any of Emily Lloyd-Jones or Margaret Owen's novels, I implore you to check out Bone Weaver. It has fantasy zombies, creepy plant magic, Anastasia vibes, and one of my favorite trios of all time. Please. I need someone to talk about this with.
4.75/5