Scan barcode
A review by natashaleighton_
Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Bone Weaver was an intriguingly dark and thought provoking fantasy that seamlessly blends the rich and diverse folklore of Eastern Europe with Jewish and Imperial Russian history to create a beautifully vivid though unflinchingly bloody tale of power, persecution, grief, identity, found family and belonging that’s an absolute must read for lovers of magic, monsters or mythology infused YA fantasy.
It follows seventeen year old Toma who has spent the last seven years living in the wilderness, adopted by a family ofUpyri—human corpses reanimated by magic—and lives happily with her sister Galina and their parents. But, when the dethroned Tsar, Mikhail crash lands outside her home whilst fleeing from revolutionaries, Galina ends up captured by them.She’ll do anything to rescue Galina even if it means diving headfirst into the Empire’s bloody political conflict and helping Mikhail.
The pair soon meet Vanya, a charming commoner branded as a witch by his own neighbors, the unlikely trio bond over trying to restore Mikhail’s magic and protect the empire from Koschei, the brutal revolutionary leader who deposed Mikhail—and whose forces have now stolen the castle. Vanya has his magic, and Mikhail has his title, but if Toma can’t dig deep and find her power in time, all of their lives including Galina’s will be at Koschei’s mercy.
I genuinely enjoyed every second of Aden Polydoros’ richly detailed world building & loved how viscerally immersive the setting felt. I also really enjoyed the fantastical elements and folkloric beings we encounter (like the man tickling Mavka and river based Rusalka) that made me want to research more about them.
All the characters were well developed and wonderfully compelling, Toma our protagonist was one such character—driven by her love (and unwavering loyalty) for her sister. But, I must admit my fave character had to be the charismatic Vanya who manages to keep his easy going and friendly nature despite the atrocities he’s witnessed firsthand from being Strannik—one of the Empire’s religiously persecuted minority groups.
The conflicts that all three encounter (and previously experienced) were absolutely heartbreaking at times, and made all the more poignant knowing that they parallel real world situations (both past and present) and struggles that diaspora/minority communities endure—especially in terms of cultural identity and nationality.
The pacing was a little slower than I would’ve liked but, the chance to explore the more surreal (fantastical) elements, as well as the slow burn romance between Toma and Vanya definitely helped to make up for it.
Overall, a gorgeously wrought and uncompromisingly dark fantasy that I genuinely couldn’t put down! Though I do warn there’s quite a lot of graphic violence (blood, death, body horror, gore) so do bear in mind if you decide to pick this up.
It follows seventeen year old Toma who has spent the last seven years living in the wilderness, adopted by a family ofUpyri—human corpses reanimated by magic—and lives happily with her sister Galina and their parents. But, when the dethroned Tsar, Mikhail crash lands outside her home whilst fleeing from revolutionaries, Galina ends up captured by them.She’ll do anything to rescue Galina even if it means diving headfirst into the Empire’s bloody political conflict and helping Mikhail.
The pair soon meet Vanya, a charming commoner branded as a witch by his own neighbors, the unlikely trio bond over trying to restore Mikhail’s magic and protect the empire from Koschei, the brutal revolutionary leader who deposed Mikhail—and whose forces have now stolen the castle. Vanya has his magic, and Mikhail has his title, but if Toma can’t dig deep and find her power in time, all of their lives including Galina’s will be at Koschei’s mercy.
I genuinely enjoyed every second of Aden Polydoros’ richly detailed world building & loved how viscerally immersive the setting felt. I also really enjoyed the fantastical elements and folkloric beings we encounter (like the man tickling Mavka and river based Rusalka) that made me want to research more about them.
All the characters were well developed and wonderfully compelling, Toma our protagonist was one such character—driven by her love (and unwavering loyalty) for her sister. But, I must admit my fave character had to be the charismatic Vanya who manages to keep his easy going and friendly nature despite the atrocities he’s witnessed firsthand from being Strannik—one of the Empire’s religiously persecuted minority groups.
The conflicts that all three encounter (and previously experienced) were absolutely heartbreaking at times, and made all the more poignant knowing that they parallel real world situations (both past and present) and struggles that diaspora/minority communities endure—especially in terms of cultural identity and nationality.
The pacing was a little slower than I would’ve liked but, the chance to explore the more surreal (fantastical) elements, as well as the slow burn romance between Toma and Vanya definitely helped to make up for it.
Overall, a gorgeously wrought and uncompromisingly dark fantasy that I genuinely couldn’t put down! Though I do warn there’s quite a lot of graphic violence (blood, death, body horror, gore) so do bear in mind if you decide to pick this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Blood, Death, Gore, and Body horror