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A review by kevinscorner
Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros
4.0
Bone Weaver is a haunting soviet Russian-inspired YA historical fantasy set in a world where the dead can come back to life. Toma is a young woman disconnected from her past now having found her place with her undead family. Mikhail is the dethroned Tsar fleeing the revolutionary leader that stole his kingdom and magic. Vanya is an accused witch who dreams of a better future for his people. These three lives intersect to form a bond that will change their world.
Aden Polydoros has created a lush world where magic, spirits, and the undead meet guns, dirigibles, and electricity. It is a place full of history and strife on the edge of revolution against tradition, prejudice, and legend. The setting is well established and imaginative.
I liked all three protagonists who each have distinct personalities and story arcs. Toma must learn to remember her past in order to wield the power of her ancestors. Mikhail must learn from the mistakes of his ruling family’s legacy as he struggles with his forbidden desires. Vanya has learned to live in a society that won’t accept him but still fights for what he believes in. Together, they must set aside their differences and work towards a common goal to change the trajectory of their lives. On a side note, there is also a romantic thread between the three of them that suggest they will definitely become a throuple given time, and no one can dissuade me otherwise.
I do think the there was way more potential to be told from this story which felt expedited in this single standalone YA novel. There was room to marinate and to develop more the relationships and conflicts in the story. And this certainly felt incomplete for a standalone with plenty of story threads yet to be tied given its relatively quick and abrupt ending.
Bone Weaver is a lush and haunting historical fantasy with so much more potential than just this standalone novel.
Aden Polydoros has created a lush world where magic, spirits, and the undead meet guns, dirigibles, and electricity. It is a place full of history and strife on the edge of revolution against tradition, prejudice, and legend. The setting is well established and imaginative.
I liked all three protagonists who each have distinct personalities and story arcs. Toma must learn to remember her past in order to wield the power of her ancestors. Mikhail must learn from the mistakes of his ruling family’s legacy as he struggles with his forbidden desires. Vanya has learned to live in a society that won’t accept him but still fights for what he believes in. Together, they must set aside their differences and work towards a common goal to change the trajectory of their lives. On a side note, there is also a romantic thread between the three of them that suggest they will definitely become a throuple given time, and no one can dissuade me otherwise.
I do think the there was way more potential to be told from this story which felt expedited in this single standalone YA novel. There was room to marinate and to develop more the relationships and conflicts in the story. And this certainly felt incomplete for a standalone with plenty of story threads yet to be tied given its relatively quick and abrupt ending.
Bone Weaver is a lush and haunting historical fantasy with so much more potential than just this standalone novel.