purplesapphire's review
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
ballrooms_of_mars's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Reading this was a very strange experience. I wasn't sure, for most of the book, whether I was enjoying it or not. I was perplexed by it often, and it was quite ponderous at times and overly rambly, but by the end I realised I had enjoyed it, and that was party because it was so perplexing. I'll be looking up more by the author.
I appreciated (and these are MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS) I also appreciated the central themes around how irreconcilable fucked up family legacies are, and how those histories will thrust someone out in rebellion against the family while at the same time defining who they are.
I think it was a mistake to read this directly after Affinity by Sarah Waters, which I did not much enjoy (though the ending did come through!). Both books have a lot in common with writing style (first person, very journal-ish), both hold the readers hand overmuch, which I loathe. I hate being made to feel like the author thinks I'm not smart enough to keep track of a story. But All the Murmuring Bones at least had a plot that moved.
Also really interesting to have read this so soon after reading Things in Jars by Jess Kidd, since both travel some of the same territory: gothic horror, tip into gratuitous with descriptions of the icky stuff. Things in Jars was pretty at the expense of plot, whereas Murmuring Bones managed to rein itself just enough.
I appreciated (and these are MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS)
Spoiler
that there was no love story; that there was no great reunion with estranged parents; that there was murder without sentiment; that the mythology of this world was horrific.I think it was a mistake to read this directly after Affinity by Sarah Waters, which I did not much enjoy (though the ending did come through!). Both books have a lot in common with writing style (first person, very journal-ish), both hold the readers hand overmuch, which I loathe. I hate being made to feel like the author thinks I'm not smart enough to keep track of a story. But All the Murmuring Bones at least had a plot that moved.
Also really interesting to have read this so soon after reading Things in Jars by Jess Kidd, since both travel some of the same territory: gothic horror, tip into gratuitous with descriptions of the icky stuff. Things in Jars was pretty at the expense of plot, whereas Murmuring Bones managed to rein itself just enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
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.vegtoble's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Moderate: Child death
readwithbells's review against another edition
4.75
I loved this book. It was dark and full of fairytale magic and family curses and mermaids (I am such a sucker for mermaids). The main character was fabulous and I constantly found myself actually fist-bumping when she did cool things. It’s also the first book I’ve read in a single day in a long time! I really enjoyed it.
There is a certain rhythm to this prose, a cadence that really adds to the fairytale quality. Almost like you dug around in an attic and happened upon a fairytale you’ve never heard of before. I loved that the opening chapter had a narrator setting the scene and then the rest of the book was in first-person. I loved the kelpie and Delphine the automaton was so sad.
The one thing that stops this from being a five star book is some of the language really pulled me out of the story. Every time Miren meets a male fairytale creature she goes “he - for he was obviously male” like 🤦🏻♀️ . How are we supposed to know what genders look like for fairytale creatures? (Side note: gender dynamics are a huge part of this book so I understand this was in theming). But it did pull me out of the story. Also there was some weird fatphobia throughout; like Miren early on describes a girl who used to be her closest friend and, in her mind, feels like she’s better than her because she’s skinny which was weird and I didn’t like that very much.
As a whole, though, this was a wonderful fairytale romp and I will absolutely be reading the short stories to round out this world.
There is a certain rhythm to this prose, a cadence that really adds to the fairytale quality. Almost like you dug around in an attic and happened upon a fairytale you’ve never heard of before. I loved that the opening chapter had a narrator setting the scene and then the rest of the book was in first-person. I loved the kelpie and Delphine the automaton was so sad.
The one thing that stops this from being a five star book is some of the language really pulled me out of the story. Every time Miren meets a male fairytale creature she goes “he - for he was obviously male” like 🤦🏻♀️ . How are we supposed to know what genders look like for fairytale creatures? (Side note: gender dynamics are a huge part of this book so I understand this was in theming). But it did pull me out of the story. Also there was some weird fatphobia throughout; like Miren early on describes a girl who used to be her closest friend and, in her mind, feels like she’s better than her because she’s skinny which was weird and I didn’t like that very much.
As a whole, though, this was a wonderful fairytale romp and I will absolutely be reading the short stories to round out this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, and Child death
Minor: Fatphobia
undersea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
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
msholden's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death