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abby_can_read's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. It sounded good and like something I would enjoyed. I just don't think it was for me. While the ending left me wanting to know what happens next, I won't be continuing this series.
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, and War
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Transphobia
dragongirl271's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Have you ever been pleasantly surprised by a book? I was with this one. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, so I wasn’t sure right away if I was going to stick with this book or not. Not only did Chupeco’s writing manage to pull me into the world of The Bone Witch, but the whole trilogy may very well be one of the best YA fantasy trilogies I’ve ever read.
The Bone Witch starts telling the story of our main protagonist, Tea (Tee-ah), in two different ways. The book begins with a bard finding her on the beach in his point of view. This is in the current time of the overarching story. We continue to get fed snippets from his POV at the end of each chapter. The bulk of the chapters are Tea narrating her story, set back in the past, to the bard. We learn of the discovery of her powers, her training as an asha (witches who use magic, entertainment, and sharp wit to influence the world around them), and the start of her realizing how great her magical potential is.
Chupeco gives us complex worldbuilding in small, easy-to-swallow doses that are conveniently wrapped up in lessons for Tea instead of always being pushed out in inner monologues (a complaint I often have with first-person writing). There’s some political intrigue. Mysterious side characters. A hint at a love story. Strong bonds between siblings. And a dragon!
The book is a tad long for YA fantasy and the plot is a bit slow - Tea enjoys narrating in slice-of-life doses as she grows, studies, and explores her new life. However, I’m a big epic fantasy reader so I’m quite used to both.
1st person POV - two narrators and timeline placements. Slow pacing. Beautifully creative worldbuilding and plot development. East Asian-inspired fantasy. Dragon!!
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
akgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Stalking
kathrynleereads's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
In my mind, this book can be split into two very distinct parts, the first being the majority of the book, and the second being the last 100 pages.
For most of the book, the pace is slow, the plot basically nonexistent, and the character development mild.
Lady Mykaela- Despite having to deal with the daeva on her own for the most part, and without the presence of her heartsglass, Lady Mykaela is such a calming and positive presence. I do wish that she fought back against the kingdoms using her basically as a tool though.
Zoya-
Likh- I wish Likh had been a little more present in this book. I love his character and the debate that his presence brings up about tradition.
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Having Tea explain things to the Bard was a seamless way to foreshadow, and to fill readers in on things they may have overlooked, but I think the Bard’s reactions to Tea’s stories are so much more valuable.
Fictional worlds are sometimes hard for readers to grasp because even with different customs and traditions explained through world-building, it is not always easy to gauge the level of difference between that world and our own.
Putting aside the Bard and the added world-building element that they provided, I enjoyed the presence of the flash-forwards because of the intrigue they created.
Obviously, there are some slight spoilers released through the flash-forwards, but they are so far-fetched from the current direction of the story that it only builds the suspense more.
This book taught me that it is not world-building alone that makes or breaks a book, but world-building that is well-paced.
I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for Tea in the rest of the trilogy!
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, and Classism
directorpurry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Grief, and War
tifftastic87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Tea is a necromancy witch in a world where witches are known. Female witches are trained to use their rune magic to both protect and entertain the wealthy and high class. In their training to entertain they are very highly educated in history, dance, musical instruments and song, as well as fighting. Male witches join the military ranks as Death Seekers. Tea discovers her ability as a Dark Asha by accidentally raising her brother, a fallen death seeker when she is only 12. From here the story follows Tea as she is trained in her craft, but the training doesn't come easy and Dark Asha's are more feared and ridiculed than respected.
The story itself was a little slow, but is told in two timelines. When the reveal of why happens the story starts to pick up. As with most YA stories, Tea is incredibly strong and special. But it didn't feel as Mary Sue as it could have. We see her struggle with many things and we see her fail and we see her punished. I did enjoy the aspect of her making mistakes and learning from them, we aren't told she is smart but we see that she is smart. Though that doesn't mean she doesn't make stupid young teen mistakes. Which I greatly appreciated.
The building of the world and weaving of cultures honestly gives it extra points for me.
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Sexism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Violence
amre23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Violence, Grief, War, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
lakinglaze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ashleycmms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Transphobia
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief and War