The Bone Maker. Sarah Beth Durst. 2021. [March] 496 pages. [Source: Review copy]
First sentence: Kreya always wore her coat with many pockets when she went out to steal bones.
Premise/plot: The war has been over for twenty-five years, but for the five heroes of Vos who "saved the world," it feels like yesterday. Especially for our heroine, Kreya, who has never come to terms with her husband's death. But all five heroes--Kreya, Jentt, Zera, Marso and Stran--have paid dearly for their so-called victory.
The Bone Maker is dark fantasy with elements of horror, romance, and comedy. Definitely an adult novel. Mainly we get two points of view that of Kreya and Zera. Though readers get to know all five (yes, even the supposedly "dead" Jentt) heroes to some extent. (There are a few scenes from other points of view.)
So essentially the premise is, what if the grand victory wasn't really so FINAL and "the end." What if the heroes--twenty-five years later--are called upon to save the world again...in their middle age years.
My thoughts: The Bone Maker is an odd book. I think it will definitely appeal to some readers. Those that like their books spooky, creepy, with gothic, horror vibes. An unsettling discomfort that drives the plot forward. We've got dark magic that is ethically suspect. Big time ethically suspect. We've got heroes--and villains--using dark magic to raise the dead. The world building in this one has depth--we've got layers upon layers. Not just with the world-building but with the characterization as well. Perhaps not all five characters are given equal treatment. But what is spared on some of the heroes perhaps is poured out onto the villain. And perhaps that is how it should be.
The book deals with some serious issues--grief, post traumatic stress disorder, trauma, war, mental health, etc. Not to mention the ethics of using dark magic. It explores what it means to be labeled a "hero" vs. labeled a "villain." But it also blends in some crude passages and slightly distasteful humor. Perhaps for a comedic effect that did nothing for me. I did at times expect it to veer into a philosophical direction and go a bit deeper, but it didn't really.
The Bone Maker is set in a fantasy world. I have to keep reminding myself of that. The characters do not have any hope of resurrection (and reunion) outside of dark magic. This made me a bit sad.
This one reminded me of a couple science fiction shows. Babylon 5's "Quality of Mercy" and "Rising Star." (The first being from season one and the second being from season four.) There is a device in those episodes. If you've seen Babylon 5 you probably know what I'm talking about. Once you've seen how it is used in season four, even the introduction of the device in season one is brutal to the heart.
Star Trek The Next Generation's Time Arrow (Part I and II) also comes to mind.
© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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