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A review by simonlorden
Root and Bone by Jessica Raney
3.5
I received an ARC through NetGalley.
Now listen, I signed up for the gory murders and creepy ghosts, so that's fine. But the domestic abuse and awful barely-consensual marital sex was just... too bleak.
Leona and Jewel are two of many siblings, and they have been learning to be witches since they were children. Leona can see ghosts - most of them only need a kind word, and they come to her for comfort and reassurance. Then a woman gets murdered in a horrific violent way, and Leona and Jewel have to figure out what happened before whatever it is catches up to them.
The murders and the ghost scenes were more than enough to freak me out, and I liked the ongoing theme of light and dark magic and what that means. But I really, really would have been happier without the two violent husbands, and the constant violence being threatened against a little girl.
I liked the side characters (the ones that weren't awful), including a romantic ghost and a shy, kind ghoul who just wants to eat dead people but wouldn't hurt a fly. I felt that Leona and Jewel were a bit too casual about their magic, talking about private things and talking to ghosts in public where anyone could hear, which was a bit strange because that sounds like a good way to get killed in a small town like this.
tldr; The horror was horroristic. The plot was interesting. But it was definitely more than a bit depressing, too. Poor Peggy.
Now listen, I signed up for the gory murders and creepy ghosts, so that's fine. But the domestic abuse and awful barely-consensual marital sex was just... too bleak.
Leona and Jewel are two of many siblings, and they have been learning to be witches since they were children. Leona can see ghosts - most of them only need a kind word, and they come to her for comfort and reassurance. Then a woman gets murdered in a horrific violent way, and Leona and Jewel have to figure out what happened before whatever it is catches up to them.
The murders and the ghost scenes were more than enough to freak me out, and I liked the ongoing theme of light and dark magic and what that means. But I really, really would have been happier without the two violent husbands, and the constant violence being threatened against a little girl.
I liked the side characters (the ones that weren't awful), including a romantic ghost and a shy, kind ghoul who just wants to eat dead people but wouldn't hurt a fly. I felt that Leona and Jewel were a bit too casual about their magic, talking about private things and talking to ghosts in public where anyone could hear, which was a bit strange because that sounds like a good way to get killed in a small town like this.
tldr; The horror was horroristic. The plot was interesting. But it was definitely more than a bit depressing, too. Poor Peggy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder