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sniktbubgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mythaster's review against another edition
2.0
Emily Woo Zeller is such a champ, an artist, a rockstar, but even her narration can’t save Toma from being an inconsistent character - sometimes she’s born-yesterday stupid, sometimes she’s oh so sweet and naive and loving and truthful, sometimes she’s hard and violent and cynical, and while I do think those attributes aren’t mutually exclusive, it takes a much defter hand than Polydoros’s to make it palatable. I just got so tired of Toma being whatever would make a scene more hokily dramatic, instead of being a real character. Vanya had so much potential (his magical power is really, really cool) but he felt very… hmm, Stiles Stilinski to Mikhail’s Scott McCall? Which is accurate because Scott is obviously the best boy and so is Mikhail, outside of his ever-so-cliche “wow I was just a dumb ignorant monarch but now that I’ve met one (1) commoner and seen one (1) riot I promise that I will be better and make everything right and no one will ever know what oppression or discrimination is again” shtick.
I don’t know, I just agree with all the reviews that said this book feels like a lot of not much until the last couple hours, and then it just… ends? No closure on, like, anything? Idk. I wanted to like this one a lot, but I didn’t even get as much poly vibes from it as everyone else seemed to. Or maybe that’s just because I don’t care about 2/3 of the three.
I don’t know, I just agree with all the reviews that said this book feels like a lot of not much until the last couple hours, and then it just… ends? No closure on, like, anything? Idk. I wanted to like this one a lot, but I didn’t even get as much poly vibes from it as everyone else seemed to. Or maybe that’s just because I don’t care about 2/3 of the three.
writerweaver's review against another edition
3.0
A big thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for gifting an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't quite know what to expect when diving into this novel, save for there would be zombies and magic. Which seemed like the weirdest thing to read at the time. But this book will pleasantly surprise you. In both good and bad.
Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros is YA fantasy/historical fantasy (as it has a historical heft to it) following the life of Toma and her peculiarly undead family as she travels across a war torn country to save her younger sister. But things go awry when Toma discovers she might have magic. And with the help of a supposed witchy Vanya and Tzar seeking his throne, Mikhail, things become even more complicated.
Though I wouldn't call this my favorite book of the year. It is a hauntingly gorgeous story to read. Especially if you read closer to all Hallows Eve.
I didn't quite know what to expect when diving into this novel, save for there would be zombies and magic. Which seemed like the weirdest thing to read at the time. But this book will pleasantly surprise you. In both good and bad.
Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros is YA fantasy/historical fantasy (as it has a historical heft to it) following the life of Toma and her peculiarly undead family as she travels across a war torn country to save her younger sister. But things go awry when Toma discovers she might have magic. And with the help of a supposed witchy Vanya and Tzar seeking his throne, Mikhail, things become even more complicated.
Though I wouldn't call this my favorite book of the year. It is a hauntingly gorgeous story to read. Especially if you read closer to all Hallows Eve.
thesaurus_17's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this twist on Russian folklore and imperial Russia plus magic. I really hope there'll be a sequel someday.
mimispahnsattler's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.25
scurvycur's review against another edition
3.0
[[thank you to netgalley for the arc of bone weaver]]
so, bone weaver was an interesting book. there were parts i liked, and then parts that i thought meh, this could be improved on (maybe in the second book...?).
i enjoyed our teenage characters, although they were more flippant than most. toma, our heroine, got on my nerves far too much. still, she was strong, and awesome, and her companions, mikhail and vanya were great. the relationships between all three held up, and the dialogue was great.
i also enjoyed our magical creatures. i liked learning about their descriptions, personalities, and what they favored. it was brand new to me, and i think it was a beautiful addition to this book.
there was a bit of a lull in the middle. the beginning was packed, then a percentage of the middle of the book was flat, and then it gets jam packed again about 60% in. lots of action towards the end, and very exciting. i did not want to put the book down.
if you are sensitive to gore, or monsters, or anything that is uncanny, i do NOT suggest this book for you. it has high amounts, and personally i enjoyed all of that aspect, but i can also see why it would be unsettling to most.
unfortunately, i thought the title was misleading, but i really thought about an alternate title and could not think of one (after knowing the context of the book). there is a glossary in the back, which is welcomed!!! i just read it on e-book, and did not know until the very end that there was one. i just used my dictionary app, which was not really a problem for me. i would suggest reading in as a hardcover.
so, bone weaver was an interesting book. there were parts i liked, and then parts that i thought meh, this could be improved on (maybe in the second book...?).
i enjoyed our teenage characters, although they were more flippant than most. toma, our heroine, got on my nerves far too much. still, she was strong, and awesome, and her companions, mikhail and vanya were great. the relationships between all three held up, and the dialogue was great.
i also enjoyed our magical creatures. i liked learning about their descriptions, personalities, and what they favored. it was brand new to me, and i think it was a beautiful addition to this book.
there was a bit of a lull in the middle. the beginning was packed, then a percentage of the middle of the book was flat, and then it gets jam packed again about 60% in. lots of action towards the end, and very exciting. i did not want to put the book down.
if you are sensitive to gore, or monsters, or anything that is uncanny, i do NOT suggest this book for you. it has high amounts, and personally i enjoyed all of that aspect, but i can also see why it would be unsettling to most.
unfortunately, i thought the title was misleading, but i really thought about an alternate title and could not think of one (after knowing the context of the book). there is a glossary in the back, which is welcomed!!! i just read it on e-book, and did not know until the very end that there was one. i just used my dictionary app, which was not really a problem for me. i would suggest reading in as a hardcover.
seconddaysea's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
petalpetal's review against another edition
I just couldn't get over how clueless Toma was about everything
a_devine_read's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Toma lives with her adoptive family, who happen to be undead. When her sister is taken, Toma sets off to find her. Along the way, Toma is reminded what it is like to live among the living. She finds danger and happiness.
Opinion
I really thought this book was strange. Normally I go for these types of books but I found my eyebrows shooting up at different points along the way.
I do think the book was well written and that it would be a great story for the right audience. I just was not it.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Inkyard Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. Many apologies for taking so long to review it.
Opinion
I really thought this book was strange. Normally I go for these types of books but I found my eyebrows shooting up at different points along the way.
I do think the book was well written and that it would be a great story for the right audience. I just was not it.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Inkyard Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. Many apologies for taking so long to review it.