Reviews

The Bone Mother by David Demchuk

icelore's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

As I was reading this, it was a 3 star book, and then...

Easy read, yet interesting. The "stand alone" stories are overall pretty good. When you realize that they mostly (all?) are somewhat tied together, that's when your brain kicks into overdrive. Never had a short story compilation that I wanted to reread, especially not right after finishing, yet here we are!

Favorite quote from the book:
“You may pass slowly through a valley dark and drenched with tears, but you must not rest there,” she said. “These things happen.”

iancarpenter's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I've never read anything like this. Soaked in a Romanian mysticism with ghosts and witches and an obsessive focus on the body and bones and what goes on inside us and what we inherit from our ancestors - the world is deep and detailed and an absolute pleasure to disappear into.

nikolai_k's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A girl walks home alone at night but she's also the road, the night and the monster. And you.

belletex's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.25

Interesting read but not the easiest to get through. The stories vary in lengths and writing styles and can be a bit confusing. BUT there were a few that were awesome or terrifying to imagine.

daria__m's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

stepriot's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I loved this book. I will read it many times more. Everytime it will give me something new, I have no doubt.

quibiee's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

bibliobecs's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

alerycelery's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Simple writing style for these very short stories. Sneaky scary. Like, not terrifying in the moment, but maybe you wake in the night and you’re still thinking about them. The photos with each story were a nice touch, and I appreciate the historical background.

torontobookworm's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Chilling! If you're looking for satisfying horror that you can pick up and put down when you need a scare I highly recommend this novel.
Each story builds on the last as if Demchuk is casting a spell from Baba Yaga's own ghastly book of incantations.
Keep the lights on for this one (I did).