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A review by evavroslin
The Bone Weaver's Orchard by Sarah Read
5.0
I have admired Sarah Read’s short fiction for a long time so when I heard she had a novel coming out, I anxiously counted down the months to be able to purchase it because I knew it would be epic and amazing, and I’m pleased to say I was darn right :-)
Set in North Yorkshire, England, in 1926, Charley Winslow is the misfit protagonist at a boarding school for boys, which is already creepy. Add to that the fact that it looks like an ancient abbey with some eerie things along the way and you’ve got the recipe for a solid hook for a beginning. The chilling Gothic atmosphere is strong throughout this novel. Read effectively conjures an alluring tone that sets the mood very well for this horror tale.
Charley is very much into insects and as one might imagine, this doesn’t exactly get him off to a great start with the others boys, not to mention some predictably unfortunate things happen because of their presence, but as the novel goes on, this adds wonderful dimensions to the overall narrative.
The comparison to Harry Potter is a natural one for fans who loved the books, but Read takes things several shades darker, much to the horror reader’s delight. There are mysteries to solve that highlight the insidious and interesting nuances of the relationships among the boys, particularly the Head Boy, Malcolm.
Overall, The Bone Weaver’s Orchard is a suspenseful read told by a gifted writer that features a plucky young protagonist, mysteries, secrets, puzzles to be solved, family secrets, buried pasts, and so much more. Please consider picking up a copy and immersing yourself in the rich world that Read has carefully and meticulously crafted.
Set in North Yorkshire, England, in 1926, Charley Winslow is the misfit protagonist at a boarding school for boys, which is already creepy. Add to that the fact that it looks like an ancient abbey with some eerie things along the way and you’ve got the recipe for a solid hook for a beginning. The chilling Gothic atmosphere is strong throughout this novel. Read effectively conjures an alluring tone that sets the mood very well for this horror tale.
Charley is very much into insects and as one might imagine, this doesn’t exactly get him off to a great start with the others boys, not to mention some predictably unfortunate things happen because of their presence, but as the novel goes on, this adds wonderful dimensions to the overall narrative.
The comparison to Harry Potter is a natural one for fans who loved the books, but Read takes things several shades darker, much to the horror reader’s delight. There are mysteries to solve that highlight the insidious and interesting nuances of the relationships among the boys, particularly the Head Boy, Malcolm.
Overall, The Bone Weaver’s Orchard is a suspenseful read told by a gifted writer that features a plucky young protagonist, mysteries, secrets, puzzles to be solved, family secrets, buried pasts, and so much more. Please consider picking up a copy and immersing yourself in the rich world that Read has carefully and meticulously crafted.