Recently I had the pleasure of reading Rin Chupeco’s The Bone Witch. It follows the protagonist, Tea (what a great name, right?) as she discovers and learns to use supernatural powers. If you’re a fan of necromancy, this is the story for you!
Greatest Hits:
This story is as lyrical as they come. The prose style is incredibly lush and feels like the literary equivalent of slipping into a hot bath. Fans of fantasy classics like The Golden Compass will appreciate the way the story unfolds, pulling the reader in with rich characters. Another great strength of this story is it’s visual and sensory details. While a lot of stories could get bogged down with providing descriptions of everything, this book absolutely nails the delicate balance of plot and description.
Possibly the best thing about this book is it’s hero, Tea. She’s fierce and tenacious without falling into the easy cardboard cutout of “strong female character” archetypes, but is instead a fully fleshed out character, written with great care and skill. Tea’s relationship with her mentor is compelling, and the author’s skill with writing interpersonal relationships carries the reader deeper into Tea’s world. The book covers an extended period of time, and yet manages to feel like a slow burn in the best way, allowing the reader to meander through the world and fall in love with it without being hurried along towards the novel’s turning points.
My Conclusion:
This is a beautifully written and thoroughly enjoyable book, which unfolds gradually to reveal it’s wonders for readers. If you love rich descriptions and gorgeously written fight scenes, this is the book for you. I personally can hardly wait for the inevitable sequel, and I highly recommend this book!
-Kat
Kat Pollock 