Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Leave Our Bones Where They Lay

Rate this book
Every solstice, Jupi―just as his father did before him, and his before him―must make a nearly impossible pilgrimage to light an oil lamp at the base of a remote cliff. There he must wait for Kipik, an ancient being who has bound Jupi’s family to a mammoth task: share a story every visit that appeases the fickle Kipik, or suffer unthinkable consequences.

For decades Jupi has made the trek, growing grey and exhausted carrying this burden. Nearing the end of his life, Jupi knows he must name a successor, someone from his bloodline who can carry this weight and pass it on to future generations. But Jupi’s life has not been easy. His three children, one deceased, one incarcerated, one addicted, are not suitable successors. So Jupi must connect with a granddaughter he barely knows, whose language he barely speaks, and convince her to carry the weight of their family, perhaps their whole community, for the rest of her life.

This moving collection explores shifting definitions of what it means to be accountable to others, how family and community are defined, and how the spirits and demons of the past (both personal and legendary) are very much alive today.

136 pages, Paperback

First published October 21, 2025

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Aviaq Johnston

16 books82 followers
Aviaq Johnston is a young Inuk author from Igloolik, Nunavut. Her debut novel Those Who Run in the Sky was released in the spring of 2017. In 2014, she won first place in the Aboriginal Arts and Stories competition for her short story “Tarnikuluk,” which also earned her a Governor General’s History Award. Aviaq is a graduate of Nunavut Sivuniksavut, and she has a diploma in Social Service Work from Canadore College. Aviaq loves to travel and has lived in Australia and Vietnam. She spends most of her time reading, writing, studying, and procrastinating. She goes back and forth between Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Ottawa, Ontario.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
22 (61%)
4 stars
13 (36%)
3 stars
1 (2%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Translator Monkey.
803 reviews27 followers
September 17, 2025
When I'm between books, I often look around for the niche categories of my want-to-read stacks, one of which is "indigenous voices". I often find them to be a refreshing look at familiar territory, like having a foreign friend visit your hometown and marvel at everything you take for granted. And I'm certain that the same applies when I ooh and ahh over indigenous writing that I've just stumbled on that everyone else has already been into. But I digress.

I'm tickled pink to have stumbled upon this book, and to have been fortunate enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.

"Leave Our Bones Where They Lay" introduces us to Jupi, an elderly Inuk who must make a difficult journey five times a year to light a lamp and await the coming of Kipik, an ancient, mysterious spirit, with whom Jupi's ancestors have had an agreement - every solstice, a storyteller from the family will have to provide a story to Kipik (who often fails to attend the storytellings). Jupi understands that he must identify a new storyteller from among his sons, as he is entering the winter of his years and the journey is becoming no easier to make. But each of his sons - for their own reasons - are unable to fulfill the role. Kipik has made it clear to Jupi that if the next storyteller in line is not identified and makes good on his obligation, the last (Jupi himself) will have to spend all of eternity in rather dark circumstances. At wit's end, Jupi turns to his very young granddaughter, Maati, with whom he has very little connection or contact. He understands that, in doing this, even as she appears willing, without her knowledge or approval he would be tying her to the weight of the same lifelong obligation that he has carried.

In the book, Jupi's story is split up by the stories he regales Kipik with. During the setup for each story, after Jupi has been rewarded with Kipik's arrival, the two engage in a weary dialogue as if between two old friends, albeit with a hint of sass and danger. After all, we're still not sure what motivates Kipik to press Jupi's line into telling stories for the former's apparent entertainment.

I enjoyed this book for so many reasons. First, we see and feel the frustration of the older generations with the younger and youngest generations, seemingly eschewing traditions and rituals for the ease of 21st century life - television, Nintendo, fast food, Skidoos. As Jupi's story progresses, we are given the ability to understand how each of the generations encountered are able to cope with the inherent changes brought to us by time and technology, as well as each other, up- and downstream.

I also appreciate the author's use of language - not just Inuit, but other closely- and not-so-closely-related languages. By book's end, I was reaching for the Googlesphere to guide me through the pronunciations. The author also does not stick to traditional storytelling when Jupi is entertaining Kipik. Rather than pulling fables from his own ancestors' times, he crafts new ones using modern-day characters dealing with modern-day problems. It's an appropriate touch for Jupi by bringing Kipik out of its own dimension and into Jupi's world and challenges.

By book's end, we gain an appreciation of the entire picture put before us. It's not a question of a jigsaw puzzle coming together, but one of stepping back and getting a bigger picture, an appreciation of all of the characters, the good, and bad, and the ghastly, across the main story and each of the fables, and seeing their contribution to the whole.

Aviaq Johnston should be proud of this slim novel. It was a treat to read.
Profile Image for Sarah-Hope.
1,511 reviews225 followers
April 10, 2026
Aviaq Johnston's Leave Our Bones Where They lay is a remarkable little read—and I'm using "little" in terms of the book's 136 pages, not implying there is anything small about the content or the writing.

Set in a First People's community in Canada, the book opens with Jupi moving through the frozen landscape on a journey to meet with and tell a story to Kipik, an otherworldly being. Generations and generations back, one of Jupi's ancestors angered Kipik. Since then, at each solstice a member of the family Jupi is descended from, must make this trek to tell Kipik a story—or...? We don't know what the "or" is because so far, Jupi's line has succeeded in providing these stories, but we do know that the "or" will be huge and horrendous.

Jupi is aging, and Kipik is troubling him about the choice of the next generation's storyteller. The role used to be passed from father to son, but rapid changes in culture means Jupi doesn't have an obvious heir and must look beyond his own sons to find someone with fortitude and intelligence necessary to take on the role.

The novel moves between the story of Jupi's efforts to find an heir and the stories that are told to Kipik.

The writing here is exquisite—clear and unadorned, the way one might imagine an arctic winter landscape to be. The characters, their lives, the culture they are trying to maintain or to forget or reshape are riches enough to move the book along. Johnston has worked magic here just by letting the small events of a daily life play out.

The best comparisons I can make are to Helen Humphreys' The Frozen Thames and Laird Hunt's Zorrie. If you're familiar with the rich minimalism of these two titles, you'll have a sense of what I mean when I refer to Johnston's magical writing.

Pick up Leave Our Bones Where They Lay when you want a read that is contemplative and doesn't need to be scattered with high drama or literary pretension. Reading it is like enjoying a glass of ice cold water when thirsty—anything more elaborate wouldn't be as satisfying. I am doing to be carefully tracking Johnston's work and look forward to reading more.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss+; the opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Lena Leimgruber Haraldsson.
31 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 18, 2026
Leave Our Bones Where They Lay is structured as a collection of interconnected short stories framed by a primary narrative about an aging Inuit hunter named Jupi and his duty to an ancient spirit named Kipik.

The central plot follows Jupi, who for decades has travelled to a treacherous, secret inlet during the midpoint of each of the five Inuit seasons to light a stone lamp and tell stories to Kipik. This ritual fulfills a millennia-old oath made by an ancestor to the spirit, who was once a caribou that allowed itself to be caught to save a starving family.

As Jupi ages, the spirit demands he bring a successor. Jupi’s sons, struggling with the effects of colonial trauma, addiction and incarceration, are unable to take on the task. Ultimately, Jupi brings his ten-year-old granddaughter, Maati, who has grown up in the south. Maati proves to be a gifted storyteller and eventually reclaims her Inuit identity, language and cultural practices as she takes over the mantle from her grandfather. The novel concludes years later when Maati brings her own son to meet Kipik, and the spirit finally says goodbye for good, satisfied that the strength and stories of the Inuit people will not be forgotten.

Interspersed between the chapters of Jupi and Maati’s lives are several standalone stories that explore Inuit life, mythology, and modern struggles:

"Maniittuq": A young woman named Saa searches for her father at a remote cabin and is plagued by supernatural sightings that lead to a tragic accident.

"Tarnikuluk": A raven spirit named Tulugaq guides the soul of a young girl who committed suicide toward forgiveness and healing.

"Welcome to Maktaaq City": Set in a world where infants are born from the earth, two women navigate a bureaucratic system to deliver a foundling to an orphanage

"Earring Repair Shop": A jewelry maker named Akpa is compelled by a mysterious shaman to repair a set of Narwhal ivory earrings, leading her into a trance-like obsession.

"Grumpy Old Man": An elder named Tumasi, who is bitter about modern changes and traditional tattoos, eventually finds peace and reconnects with his family through an ancestral gift.

"Mussels and Qunguliq": A girl named Taisy forms a deep bond with an elder named Angusaaruk and eventually honours her memory by reclaiming her traditional name and culture.

Several of the stories in this collection ("Maniittuq", "Tarnikuluk" and "Earring Repair Shop") were previously published in other formats.

The setting is defined by the five Inuit seasons: Ukiuq (Winter), Upirngassaaq (Early Spring), Upirngaaq (Spring), Aujaq (Summer) and Ukiaq (Fall). They dictate the characters' movements, from travelling by snowmobile (Ski-Doo) or ATV over ice and tundra to boating through shallow inlets during the brief summer months.

I enjoyed this short book very much. It truly showcases the power of storytelling. But it also reminds readers of the hardship faced by Indigenous communities. I cannot wait to read what Aviaq Johnston writes next.

Thank you to Inhabit Media for sending me a digital arc of Leave Our Bones Where They Lay!
Profile Image for Dr. Devine.
117 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2026
Six excellent stories framed by a tale of building relationships and culture.
A great combination of traditional Inuit lore with modern updates.
Love this type of work.
Profile Image for Enid Wray.
1,529 reviews82 followers
Read
September 5, 2025
Interesting collection of linked short stories. I always love reading titles from Inhabit Media - a window into another world.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
Profile Image for Bentley.
703 reviews10 followers
Read
April 12, 2026
Every once in a while, I like to stroll through my library’s new releases and pick one I haven’t heard of and know nothing about. Something that grabs my attention for any number of reasons: the title, the cover, the premise, etc.. I stumbled across this novel due to the cover + the title. It just immediately caught my attention. And it delivered with a magical level of story telling.

This is a hard one to rate, so I will not be doing that. It was a short story and tells stories based on the Inuit people - who, I will honestly say, I knew little about beforehand. I actually didn’t even google this group until after I finished the novel, because I wanted to fully embrace this before doing more research.

We get multiple stories within this short novel. Ones that deal with grief, families, relationships, traditions, spirits, and honestly so many I’m probably leaving out.

We have a glossary at the end of the novel that I kept going to because the author kept multiple things in Inuktut. Giving us the pronunciation and the meaning. I honestly really enjoyed that the author kept their history throughout their words by keeping their language in the story this way. I know some people get annoying over glossaries in books and want everything to be readable in their language, but I loved the preservation of this.

I will say, due to going in pretty blind, I don’t know what I expected but it really wasn’t this. That’s neither a good nor bad things; however, I do feel like I learned so much that I was not expecting (bc again.. went in blind).

I do feel it’s very important to read from people who have different backgrounds, ethnicities, lifestyles, etc. from yourself - and I think this novel proved that.

OH!! I LOVED how the title of the book came around at the end!!!!!!!
1,097 reviews14 followers
Review of advance copy
March 23, 2026
(You guys are behind hand because this is definitely published by Inhabit Media Inc and I borrowed it from the public library.)
This is a collection of short stories from the people of Nunavut, supposedly told to an other world person to ensure or prevent something about which no one is actually sure. The first story teller is told he needs to find someone to follow him and carry the responsibility of story telling. He doesn't know what to do because he feels his sons are not appropriate: one is dead, one is in and out of jail and one is addicted and unreliable. He stalls as long as possible but understands the responsibility and finally takes his young granddaughter as his heir. The whole trip, the camp and the story telling are actually a secret, being described to the family as "the long hunt". The two living sons know about it and are supportive of the granddaughter and her taking on of the family responsibility.
It is a fascinating book and the stories are good and different from southern narratives.
As a colonial person I am not commenting on the grammar.
Profile Image for Zoom.
552 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy
January 27, 2026
An interesting story full of interesting stories. The basic premise is that an Inuit man, Jupi, must go to a particular hard-to-reach place 5 times a year (one for every season, and yes, the Inuit have 5 seasons), to tell a story to Kipik (a spirit) - if Kipik even shows up, which he often doesn't. Sometimes years go by and Kipik doesn't appear. Jupi's ancestors have had to do this for many generations before him, and he needs to pass the task to a descendant before he dies. His own 3 sons are not suitable candidates - one is dead, one is an addict, and the third is in prison.

He ends up choosing his very young granddaughter, Maati, who he barely knows and who doesn't speak their language. But she's the family's only hope, so he must pass this multigenerational burden to her.

I loved the main story, and also loved the stories that Jupi and Maati told to Kipik.

It's a short book - only 112 pages - and very readable.
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,500 reviews79 followers
Review of advance copy
January 15, 2026
This is a great collection of connected stories. It is about family, community, culture, and hope.

It is kind of like a short story collection but they are stories told within the framework of another story. It is an Inuit story, written by an Inuk (I learned this from the book, this is the singular form). Really good stories, some more traditional and some more modern, but I really enjoyed the family story that was told as the framework. Also, I like the hope and positiveness. So many books by indigenous peoples are sad and depressing (I mean, not unrightly) but I still like the hope for the future in this one.

It isn't released in the States until April. But I got it from the library in Canada as it was released here October 21, 2025.
Profile Image for Erin.
509 reviews11 followers
April 19, 2026
This is a collection of short stories sewn together by the thread of Jupi, an Inuit man trying to do best by his family. The stories are about humanity and endurance, what it means to live in community, with all of the ups and downs.

This seemingly short, simple collection house depth and complexity that exists below the surface. Tackling intense subjects, with a beautifully written content warning at the start, this collection does not shy away from the more difficult aspects of life in the north. I appreciate that. There is much to reflect upon and I plan to keep this as a volume I return to because I feel like my understanding and appreciation of the stories will shift and grow, as I do.
Profile Image for Ken Fredette.
1,221 reviews58 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 21, 2026
Well I can finally make sense of the Antlers and Skull. It was made as a curse put on the Inuk for carving the antlers and skull of a caribou for generations. It ended as Maati (first women) told Kipik (the caribou) after continuing the duty of telling stories for twenty years. It finally ended as she brought her son to meet Kipik. It actually means that stories should be told by the Inuk always.
Profile Image for Kgoffin.
111 reviews
Review of advance copy
March 29, 2026
An unvarnished look at the life of one Inuit family who owe a debt to a spirit. Interspersed with legends that are at times quite spooky. The author has included a glossary at the back for the Inuktut words written throughout the novela. After reading, I am interested in finding more novels and legends written by Inuit authors.
Profile Image for Anna.
155 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
April 2, 2026
Leave Our Bones Where They Lay is an impactful short read about storytelling born from a supernatural curse in an Inuk family.

This read got me interested in finding more legends written by Inuit authors.

Thank you Edelweiss for the DRC.
Profile Image for Michelle.
50 reviews
Review of advance copy
January 30, 2026
A short yet impactful read about an Inuk family’s multigenerational story telling tradition born of a supernatural curse. I loved it. Seamlessly written, interesting and sad.
Profile Image for Tali.
26 reviews
May 6, 2026
Gorgeous and impactful. Very well written and quick paced. I loved every story within the collection, but the main story has my heart.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews