purplesapphire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
se deaI have to say, I almost DNFed this one once it was a third of the way in and nothing had seemed to happen for me. Then, one point made me stick around and the last quarter was a WILD ride. Definitely dark and sticks to the gothic genre well. Give it a longer chance than you might usually and you won't regret it. There are some good twists in there too.
I also have to say I appreciated this version of a strong female MC and women in general. They were strong, vindictive, greedy, sly, soft, smart, kind, and feminine all in one without it being forced or badly written. They were just written as real people. Then you add the witch parts, and the ghouls parts and it makes for a great tale.
I also have to say I appreciated this version of a strong female MC and women in general. They were strong, vindictive, greedy, sly, soft, smart, kind, and feminine all in one without it being forced or badly written. They were just written as real people. Then you add the witch parts, and the ghouls parts and it makes for a great tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, and Incest
Moderate: Misogyny, Gaslighting, Murder, Blood, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship
yvonne_does's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexism, Suicide, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death and Incest
Minor: Animal death
chainsiren's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, and Incest
imaginaryalchemist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This is a dark, haunting fantasy story about family secrets and forging your own path.
I loved the stories within the story that helped unravel the mystery of Miren's family. (They're apparently all in a collection AG Slatter wrote, and I'd love to read it if I can get my hands on a copy.)
I love stories with magical and supernatural elements, so I enjoyed the inclusion of mythical and folkloric creatures. Mer feature very heavily in the story, and it also has creatures such as selkies and kelpies.
I also enjoyed the way the story's many mysteries unravelled. It kept me engaged. I wanted to see Miren solve them and learn all her family's secrets.
Slatter's prose drew me in immediately. It helped paint the picture of the world Miren lives in.
Overall I greatly enjoyed this book! I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in dark, gothic fantasy and folklore.
I loved the stories within the story that helped unravel the mystery of Miren's family. (They're apparently all in a collection AG Slatter wrote, and I'd love to read it if I can get my hands on a copy.)
I love stories with magical and supernatural elements, so I enjoyed the inclusion of mythical and folkloric creatures. Mer feature very heavily in the story, and it also has creatures such as selkies and kelpies.
I also enjoyed the way the story's many mysteries unravelled. It kept me engaged. I wanted to see Miren solve them and learn all her family's secrets.
Slatter's prose drew me in immediately. It helped paint the picture of the world Miren lives in.
Overall I greatly enjoyed this book! I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in dark, gothic fantasy and folklore.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Murder, and Child death
Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
There are a couple scenes with sexual content but it doesn't get graphic. There are also mentions of the abuse Miren experiences at the hands of her cousin Aidan. There are, however, a lot of mentions of incest, child sacrifice, child death, and murder.skrulls's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Confinement, Incest, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Stalking, and Alcoholism
ashleynewman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Felt like a fever dream. Dark gothic fantasy. Witches, mermaids, curses, twisted fairytales, abandoned mansions, sea creatures, horror, mystery. Definitely something different for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Incest, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexism
Minor: Pregnancy
poetpenelopee's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was kinda meh as far as books go. Though that might be because I thought the merfolk would be a bigger part of the story. Perhaps if my expectations had been different I would have enjoyed it more. It’s not a bad book, just not what I expected and not for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Confinement, Sexual assault, and Murder
crreature's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
5.0
All The Murmuring Bones is a dark gothic fairytale, set in fantasy Ireland in that undefined 'olden days' time period where everyone relies on horses for transport and swords for murder. There's magic, blood, death and dangerous dark creatures - but it's also more of a family drama than a fantasy novel. The horrors that lurk in the deep are an important element to the story, but we also don't spend that much time with them.
The book opens with the O'Malleys, who were once a hugely successful sea-faring family due to a deal struck with the mer. In return for the safety of their ships, each generation was required to sacrifice a child to the sea. Over time, the family's numbers have dwindled and the debt has not been paid for many years. Miren O'Malley is now the last of the line, the one last hope to bring back the glory of the O'Malley family, if only she will do what her Grandmother has planned for her (spoiler: she doesn't).
I really enjoyed this book. The pace is slow, but I was never bored. It's a very lyrical book, with lots of descriptions. There's action, but it's got that slow building pace to it. I loved the inclusion of all the creepy O'Malley family fairy tales. I loved the Kelpie. I loved the ghosts. I loved the townsfolk. I loved the green-eyed man, and I also loved what Miren did to him. The slow creepy horror vibes on this book were excellent (though it wasn't a scary book). I loved the world building - the acceptance of magical creatures who wanted to eat you as normal, the 'home remedies', the incidiousness of the Church (and calling their priests "god-hounds"), the burning of women as witches, the fact they had an assassins market right in the middle of town and everyone knew about it...! CHEFS KISS.
Will definitely be picking up Slatter's next book in this world (The Path of Thorns) when it comes out.
Aoife McMahon was also a fantastic narrator - would highly recommend the audiobook.
The book opens with the O'Malleys, who were once a hugely successful sea-faring family due to a deal struck with the mer. In return for the safety of their ships, each generation was required to sacrifice a child to the sea. Over time, the family's numbers have dwindled and the debt has not been paid for many years. Miren O'Malley is now the last of the line, the one last hope to bring back the glory of the O'Malley family, if only she will do what her Grandmother has planned for her (spoiler: she doesn't).
I really enjoyed this book. The pace is slow, but I was never bored. It's a very lyrical book, with lots of descriptions. There's action, but it's got that slow building pace to it. I loved the inclusion of all the creepy O'Malley family fairy tales. I loved the Kelpie. I loved the ghosts. I loved the townsfolk. I loved the green-eyed man, and I also loved what Miren did to him. The slow creepy horror vibes on this book were excellent (though it wasn't a scary book). I loved the world building - the acceptance of magical creatures who wanted to eat you as normal, the 'home remedies', the incidiousness of the Church (and calling their priests "god-hounds"), the burning of women as witches, the fact they had an assassins market right in the middle of town and everyone knew about it...! CHEFS KISS.
Will definitely be picking up Slatter's next book in this world (The Path of Thorns) when it comes out.
Aoife McMahon was also a fantastic narrator - would highly recommend the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Incest
briely's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Death, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse, Incest, and Sexual content
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Incest, Murder, and Physical abuse