A review by crothe77
The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin

dark emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin is a multi-POV Queer Ashkenazi Jewish dark fantasy about moving on from toxic relationships and finding a partner who loves and respects you rather than wanting to control you. Dimitri was the Tzar of Noto-Svitsevo before his estranged husband, Alexey, took the throne from him. After a civil war that leaves Dimitri with only a few people from his court, he runs from Alexey and makes a plan with Vasily, his spymaster and lover, to invade Alexey’s court and bring the immortal down.

Laura R. Samotin doesn’t pull any punches when depicting Alexey’s obsession with Dimitri, his desire for control, and how far Alexey is willing to go to get Dimitri back. Alexey even takes Dimitri’s half-brother, Ivan, who looks remarkably like Dimitri, as his lover. When we’re inside Alexey’s head, we can see just how dangerous Alexey is and how much he doesn’t view Dimitri as his own person or as a partner no matter what he tells himself. He ‘molded’ Dimitri, he crossed Dimitri’s boundaries to make him how Alexey wanted him to be, and Alexey cannot let go. 

The romance between Vasily and Dimitri is vastly different from the relationship between Alexey and Ivan and Alexey and Dimitri. Vasily doesn’t want to own or control or dominate Dimitri, but instead wants to love him exactly how he is. By the time the novel starts, Dimitri has had time to examine his marriage with Alexey and knows Alexey is not only bad for him but is bad for Ivan as well, but a part of him does still love Alexey. This was so realistic and really showed how complex abusive relationships can be because that love from the beginning of a relationship doesn’t just automatically go away once you realize someone is hurting you. 

The worldbuilding is strongly rooted in Eastern European and Jewish traditions and folklore. There’s a bit of an Anastasia vibe with Dimitri’s story as the only surviving member of the royal family and him being on the run, but it’s not a retelling so much as a very loose reimagining. Samotin does include additional readings for people if they are interested in the ideas presented in the work and I love it when authors provide avenues that they trust and they think are useful to help their readers continue learning about real world experiences, cultures, and religions presented in fantasy.

I would recommend this to readers looking for Queer Jewish fantasy, fans of Anastasia retellings and reimaginings, and those looking for a fantasy exploring leaving toxic exes. 

 
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