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A review by alexinspace
The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Do you ever finish a novel and sit staring at the pages after, fundamentally altered as a person and unsure of how to proceed? That's me, right now.
The Sins on Their Bones is a dark fantasy novel about the aftermath of a civil war, the complexity of human relationships, and the farthest reaches one must go to save themselves and those they love. It's raw, and heartbreaking, and funny, and I loved every moment. I can recognize that there are some minor flaws - primarily the pacing in the first half - but sometimes a novel wows you so much that you just don't care.
Samotin has a style of writing that feels influenced by Leigh Bardugo, particularly by the Grishaverse, which only adds to my enjoyment. She writes characters that I come to love and villains that I love to hate, she crafts an interesting magic system, and she writes a normatively queer world (something that seems like such a small detail but that I, as a queer reader, find immensely meaningful and greatly appreciate). The portrayals of grief and depression in this novel are particularly hard-hitting, and it's just. so. GOOD.
Read the content warnings before you dive in because this book covers some pretty heavy topics, but it's well worth the read in the end. I promise.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me with an ARC!
The Sins on Their Bones is a dark fantasy novel about the aftermath of a civil war, the complexity of human relationships, and the farthest reaches one must go to save themselves and those they love. It's raw, and heartbreaking, and funny, and I loved every moment. I can recognize that there are some minor flaws - primarily the pacing in the first half - but sometimes a novel wows you so much that you just don't care.
Samotin has a style of writing that feels influenced by Leigh Bardugo, particularly by the Grishaverse, which only adds to my enjoyment. She writes characters that I come to love and villains that I love to hate, she crafts an interesting magic system, and she writes a normatively queer world (something that seems like such a small detail but that I, as a queer reader, find immensely meaningful and greatly appreciate). The portrayals of grief and depression in this novel are particularly hard-hitting, and it's just. so. GOOD.
Read the content warnings before you dive in because this book covers some pretty heavy topics, but it's well worth the read in the end. I promise.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me with an ARC!