My goodness, I loved reading Bone Crier’s Moon so much. It’s heavy, but full of passion. I loved getting to know the characters as the story progressed. I loved Ailesse so much, but Sabine even more as her loyalty to her dear friend is truly remarkable. Even though we have three points of view going on, Sabine’s internal struggles definitely made her character stand out to me. Before I get started with my review, I do want to add a small trigger warning: if you don’t like reading about animal killing/death, I would take caution in reading this book.
With that said, Bone Crier’s Moon tells the story of Bone Criers, women who have taken an oath to ferry the souls of the dead into the heavens or underworld. In order to dedicate their lives in service to the Gods, the women must sacrifice their one true love. Ailesse has been training since birth to become the next matriarch of the Bone Crier’s, drawing her strength from the bones of the animals she kills, and is now ready to complete her rite of passage. Elsewhere, Bastien seeks revenge for his father, slain by the Bone Crier’s, and sets a trap. He captures Ailesse, but his plans to kill her will have to wait, because now their destinies are entwined in life and death. Ailesse’s best friend Sabine doesn’t care much for the Bone Crier’s work, but with dear friend in danger, she will do whatever it takes to save her…even if it means defying her matriarch and everything she was taught to do as a Bone Crier.
This story is told in three points of view: Sabine, Ailesse, and Bastien. The story begins with Sabine’s point of view, and I loved it. It’s full of action, but also sets up the relationship that these two women share. You can immediately see the distinction in personalities through Sabine’s internal struggles with the fact that she is a Bone Crier. On the other hand, Ailesse is confident, reckless, and a bit brash in her decisions. She knows what she wants and how she intends on getting it. She’s never faltered. Until she meets Bastien.
I felt like Bastien is very similar in personality to Ailesse. They’re both determined, stubborn, cunning, and as it turns out, a little insecure at their core. It makes for great clashes, and a passionate romance that burns as bright as the hate they supposedly spew at each other. I hate to say it, but I’m a sucker for good star-crossed lover tropes. I will say that I would love to see Bastien and Ailesse’s relationship be further explored in the next book because I didn’t feel like we got to know them as well as we got to know Sabine.
Let’s talk about that magic system, because it’s definitely unique. The Bone Crier’s get their strength from the bones of the animals they kill. While I won’t linger on that aspect of it, I was very interested in the strengths that different types of animals were given. The choices of those animals seemed very personal to the Bone Crier, and perhaps I am reading too much into it but also created a mindfulness of their connections to nature. Throughout the story there’s also these little breadcrumbs that are teasing to something more about the magic, and I want to find out what it is so badly! It goes hand in hand with the folklore of this world.
Something that I loved in this story were the complex motivations and desires of the antagonist(s). There’s so many secrets in this story, no one can truly be called innocent per se, but there are certainly those with more malicious intentions disguising their actions as good. When you see what makes them fall into the depths that they do, there’s something sad about it. I wish I could talk a little bit more about this, but you’ll have to read it if you want to know more!
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It’s dark and moody, and there’s so much tension between characters, you want to keep turning the page to find out what is happening next. I will say that I wish that I would have gotten to know a little bit more folklore, because I was so fascinated by Tyrus and Elara. There’s so many secrets still waiting to be uncovered and I cannot believe I have to wait another year for the next book to come out! I’d rate this book a 9/10, please go add it to your TBR!
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Bone Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.
Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.
Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.
Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD