A review by hobbithopeful
Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Note: I am updating this written review after having in essence an intervention, different text will be in bold

This is a story about war, and a girl trying to get her sister back while keeping her magic a secret. Toma has lived a relatively uneventful life, if you count the fact her family is undead and yet can still walk and talk thanks to her magic. Her peaceful life is soon completely upended when her sister is kidnapped. She will have to venture across a country ravaged by civil war to get her sister back, meeting unlikely companions along the way. 
I almost expected it to end with the 3 main characters as a throuple because the book touts itself as being LGBT. I wouldn't label this as an LGBT book even though the authors says that
Vanya(male character) is bisexual and Mikhail (male character) is gay
It really reads as more of an after thought or as an attempt to diversify the cast of characters. Even the main romance is between one of the Vanya(male character) and Toma(the female lead) .  I guess to me a book isn't LGBT just because one or two characters is, unless it is a major plot point or romance, or even point of discussion in this book it was used as the equivalent of her hair is such and such color. The main focus of the story remains on Toma and her discovering her identity and who she is.
There were parts of it that I liked, and some parts I didn't. The world building and lore is truly excellent. (We all know I love world building!) And I am so grateful that there was a glossary, so many books don't have that and need it! But some of the characters I just wanted *more* from. After some author revelations, it's hard not to look at this book differently. The way Toma has to hide her magic and not reveal who she really is for fear of ostracization or worse. I can't imagine, and would never be able to imagine what is like to have to hide who you are for years and years and years, for fears of being hurt or bullied, or worse. I think because my experience with this book was up and down, I will read another book by the author and see what I think. While being a consistent author is great, being an author that improves with each book is even better, there is no limit to how great they will become.
  
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