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A review by the_novel_approach
Bones and Bourbon by Dorian Graves
4.0
I’m going to start this one with, if you are looking for a romantic tale with a paranormal plot, this book won’t fit that bill. Though Jarrod does have a boyfriend, Farris, there is no real physical intimacy between them except for some captured moments of cuddles and intimate conversations. But if you are looking for something unlike anything I personally have read before? Read on.
What is this story, then? I honestly don’t know how to describe it for all its individuality, but I’ll do my best without giving too much of the plot away.
Everything that happens here is one gigantic chess game with a ton of different players. Jarrod, Farris, Retz, and Nelam are at the center but are joined by a brother and sister, Aimi and Isamu. They are being moved, pushed, and forced into situations and directions for purposes unformed. I still can’t quite figure out the Harvester, Alexander or the other characters’ schemes, or the end result of everything, but I can tell you that this has got to be the set up for a series because it if isn’t, this story itself is incomplete. There are so many threads and half revealed pieces of the puzzle that remain lingering, as though the story is only at its beginning. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it does leave so many questions and aspects unresolved. It all seemed to me an introduction to the different players and what could be driving them, but not really showing its hand at the larger picture.
Everything that happens in Bones and Bourbon is set in a moral gray area. Jarrod and Retz aren’t exactly the good guys or the bad guys. Both are bound by circumstances they didn’t have a choice in andare trying to straddle the line of doing right, even if it means doing wrong to get there. But ideas of right and wrong are skewed by their life experiences and influences.
Told in alternating POVs from the brothers, Retz and Jarrod, it is clear that they are both messed up guys. Retz is essentially a slave to Nelam and his machinations, as Nelam has been a constant companion in his head and has had control over his body for as long as he can remember. Nelam, who is an enigma in and of himself, has wreaked havoc on Retz’s ethical compass. Jarrod is controlled by his curse. Unlike Retz, Jarrod genuinely seems a caring, if mistrustful, individual, but is repeatedly put into situations and forced to behave in a way that is morally wrong to him. How does he deal? He drinks. A lot. And keeps everyone, including Farris, at a distance.
Jarrod and Retz are extremely flawed. One is borderline sociopathic in his thoughts and actions, while the other is an alcoholic who knows he is and has no plans to change it. I was more sympathetic to Jarrod, as he seemed to be doing his best with what little free will he had. Retz was a little harder; his personality has been molded by Nelam’s influence. Though he has managed to maintain some sort of emotion and feel regret for Nelam’s actions at times, he is also jaded by his life and his occupant, choosing to roll with it since fighting it results in nothing good for him—and often those around him. He acknowledges he is a freak, and his thoughts on death and taking life are far from the norm, but he accepts there isn’t much that can be done. But then there are moments he does seem effected and does his best to resist. Those are the moments that made Retz’s character stand out for me.
Nelam…. I honestly don’t even know how to describe how I feel about him. His character’s schemes and personality set a huge basis for all the pieces of this adventure, and there is definitely a much larger plotline where he is concerned. There were times when it seemed he genuinely cared for Retz, in his own odd way. But then he managed to completely blow me away with the level of violence and abuse he is able to inflict for his “cause”, and how he explained his actions as justified. He is an enigma. I want to know more, to find out what happened to create such a hardened and cruel individual who also has moments of softness and understanding.
The brothers are apart for a decade, so the reader picks up somewhere in the middle of where it really all began. What starts out as seemingly two different missions leads them back to one another, and events unfold from there. As the story develops, details are revealed as to what occurred to split them apart and how the chain of events thus far has led them to where they are. They have distance in their relationship, and it continues to be there due to their circumstances individually as well as the outside influences treating them as pawns. There is distrust, and rightfully so, yet they do seem to want to save each other. I wouldn’t say there is a lot of emotion between the two (or really anyone) except for doubt, anger and mistrust. Farris seems to be the only one of the four who is capable of showing true caring and support. For that I adored Farris, as he added a lightheartedness to an otherwise dour group, but he is not exactly what he seems either, as more is revealed about him—not a lot but just enough to whet the appetite.
Though there is humor, the story as a whole is definitely on the darker side. It is compelling and kept me on the edge of my seat. The world building is amazing, with a host of supernatural creatures that are rarely used and an interesting take on their abilities and personalities. Unfortunately, it seems the supernatural world is filled with a lot of jerks.
If I had one complaint, it’s that most of the characters don’t have much of an emotional connection. There is some slipped in here and there, but it’s not fully developed, just stolen moments or thoughts. However, there are hints and bonds forming, and through this particular adventure the brothers are reestablishing themselves and getting to know one another again. So, if this is a series (and as I stated previously, it really needs to be) my hope is that more and more of those connections and positive emotions towards one another will make themselves present.
I’ll admit Bones and Bourbon won’t be for everyone. This isn’t a romance. Though there is humor, it is not a comedy. Or for some maybe it could be, but it would to be me classified as a dark comedy. Some of the characters are cruel and abusive. The imagery is gritty and gruesome and sometimes flat out gross. BUT!!!! If you want a wild ride, one you don’t know what is going to happen, one that takes you to surprising places with unique characters who are fleshed out and interesting, one that is amazingly well written with its descriptions, and one that is mostly dark with an unexpected lightness within its conversations, situations and character traits, give it a go. It was quite the journey that I couldn’t seem to put down, and I definitely am up for what happens next with these guys.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
What is this story, then? I honestly don’t know how to describe it for all its individuality, but I’ll do my best without giving too much of the plot away.
Everything that happens here is one gigantic chess game with a ton of different players. Jarrod, Farris, Retz, and Nelam are at the center but are joined by a brother and sister, Aimi and Isamu. They are being moved, pushed, and forced into situations and directions for purposes unformed. I still can’t quite figure out the Harvester, Alexander or the other characters’ schemes, or the end result of everything, but I can tell you that this has got to be the set up for a series because it if isn’t, this story itself is incomplete. There are so many threads and half revealed pieces of the puzzle that remain lingering, as though the story is only at its beginning. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it does leave so many questions and aspects unresolved. It all seemed to me an introduction to the different players and what could be driving them, but not really showing its hand at the larger picture.
Everything that happens in Bones and Bourbon is set in a moral gray area. Jarrod and Retz aren’t exactly the good guys or the bad guys. Both are bound by circumstances they didn’t have a choice in andare trying to straddle the line of doing right, even if it means doing wrong to get there. But ideas of right and wrong are skewed by their life experiences and influences.
Told in alternating POVs from the brothers, Retz and Jarrod, it is clear that they are both messed up guys. Retz is essentially a slave to Nelam and his machinations, as Nelam has been a constant companion in his head and has had control over his body for as long as he can remember. Nelam, who is an enigma in and of himself, has wreaked havoc on Retz’s ethical compass. Jarrod is controlled by his curse. Unlike Retz, Jarrod genuinely seems a caring, if mistrustful, individual, but is repeatedly put into situations and forced to behave in a way that is morally wrong to him. How does he deal? He drinks. A lot. And keeps everyone, including Farris, at a distance.
Jarrod and Retz are extremely flawed. One is borderline sociopathic in his thoughts and actions, while the other is an alcoholic who knows he is and has no plans to change it. I was more sympathetic to Jarrod, as he seemed to be doing his best with what little free will he had. Retz was a little harder; his personality has been molded by Nelam’s influence. Though he has managed to maintain some sort of emotion and feel regret for Nelam’s actions at times, he is also jaded by his life and his occupant, choosing to roll with it since fighting it results in nothing good for him—and often those around him. He acknowledges he is a freak, and his thoughts on death and taking life are far from the norm, but he accepts there isn’t much that can be done. But then there are moments he does seem effected and does his best to resist. Those are the moments that made Retz’s character stand out for me.
Nelam…. I honestly don’t even know how to describe how I feel about him. His character’s schemes and personality set a huge basis for all the pieces of this adventure, and there is definitely a much larger plotline where he is concerned. There were times when it seemed he genuinely cared for Retz, in his own odd way. But then he managed to completely blow me away with the level of violence and abuse he is able to inflict for his “cause”, and how he explained his actions as justified. He is an enigma. I want to know more, to find out what happened to create such a hardened and cruel individual who also has moments of softness and understanding.
The brothers are apart for a decade, so the reader picks up somewhere in the middle of where it really all began. What starts out as seemingly two different missions leads them back to one another, and events unfold from there. As the story develops, details are revealed as to what occurred to split them apart and how the chain of events thus far has led them to where they are. They have distance in their relationship, and it continues to be there due to their circumstances individually as well as the outside influences treating them as pawns. There is distrust, and rightfully so, yet they do seem to want to save each other. I wouldn’t say there is a lot of emotion between the two (or really anyone) except for doubt, anger and mistrust. Farris seems to be the only one of the four who is capable of showing true caring and support. For that I adored Farris, as he added a lightheartedness to an otherwise dour group, but he is not exactly what he seems either, as more is revealed about him—not a lot but just enough to whet the appetite.
Though there is humor, the story as a whole is definitely on the darker side. It is compelling and kept me on the edge of my seat. The world building is amazing, with a host of supernatural creatures that are rarely used and an interesting take on their abilities and personalities. Unfortunately, it seems the supernatural world is filled with a lot of jerks.
If I had one complaint, it’s that most of the characters don’t have much of an emotional connection. There is some slipped in here and there, but it’s not fully developed, just stolen moments or thoughts. However, there are hints and bonds forming, and through this particular adventure the brothers are reestablishing themselves and getting to know one another again. So, if this is a series (and as I stated previously, it really needs to be) my hope is that more and more of those connections and positive emotions towards one another will make themselves present.
I’ll admit Bones and Bourbon won’t be for everyone. This isn’t a romance. Though there is humor, it is not a comedy. Or for some maybe it could be, but it would to be me classified as a dark comedy. Some of the characters are cruel and abusive. The imagery is gritty and gruesome and sometimes flat out gross. BUT!!!! If you want a wild ride, one you don’t know what is going to happen, one that takes you to surprising places with unique characters who are fleshed out and interesting, one that is amazingly well written with its descriptions, and one that is mostly dark with an unexpected lightness within its conversations, situations and character traits, give it a go. It was quite the journey that I couldn’t seem to put down, and I definitely am up for what happens next with these guys.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach