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London Bones #2
A Murder of Crones
Being dead is nothing new for Vivia Brisk. She's been doing it all her life. It's staying dead that's the problem.
When Vivia finds herself stuck in the Underworld, she turns to another hag for help.
It comes with a deadline and a price tag.
Seventy years ago, Tilde was murdered and she wants Vivia to extract vengeance.
At first, Vivia thinks there's nothing behind the claim except a good dose of paranoia, but as she digs deeper she finds it might not be so crazy after all. Someone has been methodically exterminating hags for centuries, and if Vivia doesn't figure it out quickly, she's going to be next…
When Vivia finds herself stuck in the Underworld, she turns to another hag for help.
It comes with a deadline and a price tag.
Seventy years ago, Tilde was murdered and she wants Vivia to extract vengeance.
At first, Vivia thinks there's nothing behind the claim except a good dose of paranoia, but as she digs deeper she finds it might not be so crazy after all. Someone has been methodically exterminating hags for centuries, and if Vivia doesn't figure it out quickly, she's going to be next…
260 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2014
3 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
About the author
S.W. Fairbrother
11 books28 followersI am an avid reader whose love of stories and daydreaming couldn't help but spill over into writing. I read almost every genre, but have a special love of fantasy and science fiction. My debut novel, The Secret Dead, was published on 11 April 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 20, 2021
A Murder of Crones
(London Bones #2)
by S.W. Fairbrother
I really love this series! The world building is incredible! It flows so well and feels so natural to believe that there really are creatures living along side humans and have been for centuries. It's that well written. The characters are remarkably well developed. There are some new characters in this book but many are the same interesting ones from book one.
In here, Vivia decides to go back to the world of the living if she can go back without being a zombie. The hags in the underworld make her a deal. They can arrange that but it won't last long but she has to solve a mystery for them within a set time frame. Meanwhile, a half a dozen other things are going wrong!
It's exciting, mysterious, witty, suspenseful, and complex fantasy story! Excellent from beginning to end! Loved it!
(London Bones #2)
by S.W. Fairbrother
I really love this series! The world building is incredible! It flows so well and feels so natural to believe that there really are creatures living along side humans and have been for centuries. It's that well written. The characters are remarkably well developed. There are some new characters in this book but many are the same interesting ones from book one.
In here, Vivia decides to go back to the world of the living if she can go back without being a zombie. The hags in the underworld make her a deal. They can arrange that but it won't last long but she has to solve a mystery for them within a set time frame. Meanwhile, a half a dozen other things are going wrong!
It's exciting, mysterious, witty, suspenseful, and complex fantasy story! Excellent from beginning to end! Loved it!
March 10, 2023
Stars: 5 out of 5
I am loving this series so far! The world is so unique and well-integrated. I mean, I can "see" something like that really evolving if supernaturals lived alongside us.
The first book introduced the world and our protagonist and had her solve a murder mystery involving one of her co-workers. This book goes a lot more personal. It dives deep into Vivia's childhood, and I can tell you that's stuff nightmares are made of. We finally discover where the hags came from, who her mother was, and why her sister had to die.
Since the story is more personal, it had more impact, at least on me, because I happen to like Vive as a protagonist. She tries really hard NOT to be like her mother. And seeing how Desma behaved with her daughters (and everyone else that wasn't Desma for that matter), I can understand why. Had her family been fully human, child protective services would have taken the two girls away immediately and charged Desma with aggravated child abuse. But as it stands, nobody cares what happens to some supernatural kids. It's a reminder of what often happens to children who aren't part of the main demographic in our world right now, sadly.
I found Vive even more relatable in this book than in the first one. She is faced with impossible odds - trying to solve a decades old murder before her time runs out, and trying to undo the hex that is killing her sister... again. And to accomplish either of those things, she is forced to dig through her often painful past. Also, the revelation about the origins of the hags are rather heartbreaking. It's horrible to discover that you were just a means to an end, that you were never loved by the person who created you.
And while I'm glad that this situation was resolved in a (sort of) happy ending, it seems to me that Vivia lost more than she gained in the end. She lost her mother, she all but lost her sister, and she lost her youth. Yes, she gained freedom, but that seems like a very high price to pay for that, especially since she was paying for the sins of her parents. Literally, as it turns out. I will be interested to see where the series goes in its final book.
Now that Vive finally paid all the karmic debts her family had accumulated over the millennia, I would like to see her build a life for herself that is not dependent on her mother's teachings and abuse. I want to see her happy and accomplished in what she does.
I am loving this series so far! The world is so unique and well-integrated. I mean, I can "see" something like that really evolving if supernaturals lived alongside us.
The first book introduced the world and our protagonist and had her solve a murder mystery involving one of her co-workers. This book goes a lot more personal. It dives deep into Vivia's childhood, and I can tell you that's stuff nightmares are made of. We finally discover where the hags came from, who her mother was, and why her sister had to die.
Since the story is more personal, it had more impact, at least on me, because I happen to like Vive as a protagonist. She tries really hard NOT to be like her mother. And seeing how Desma behaved with her daughters (and everyone else that wasn't Desma for that matter), I can understand why. Had her family been fully human, child protective services would have taken the two girls away immediately and charged Desma with aggravated child abuse. But as it stands, nobody cares what happens to some supernatural kids. It's a reminder of what often happens to children who aren't part of the main demographic in our world right now, sadly.
I found Vive even more relatable in this book than in the first one. She is faced with impossible odds - trying to solve a decades old murder before her time runs out, and trying to undo the hex that is killing her sister... again. And to accomplish either of those things, she is forced to dig through her often painful past. Also, the revelation about the origins of the hags are rather heartbreaking. It's horrible to discover that you were just a means to an end, that you were never loved by the person who created you.
And while I'm glad that this situation was resolved in a (sort of) happy ending, it seems to me that Vivia lost more than she gained in the end. She lost her mother, she all but lost her sister, and she lost her youth. Yes, she gained freedom, but that seems like a very high price to pay for that, especially since she was paying for the sins of her parents. Literally, as it turns out. I will be interested to see where the series goes in its final book.
Now that Vive finally paid all the karmic debts her family had accumulated over the millennia, I would like to see her build a life for herself that is not dependent on her mother's teachings and abuse. I want to see her happy and accomplished in what she does.
March 14, 2018
'A Murder of Crones' by SW Fairbrother
This is book two in the London Bones series, an enjoyable read if you like slightly dark, gruesome tales. I usually don't like them, and I did like this, so maybe it’s not as dark and gruesome as I think. Dark or not, the world and main character were interesting enough to balance out the macabre for me.
Vivia is a hag, able to come back to life at will, and hers is a world filled with fairytale creatures, curses, murders, insane crones, and all things weird. Her quest to survive the full moon and make things right with her sister turns out to be more complicated than she ever could have expected, and I admit that I had a hard time following the twists a couple of times. I'm not sure that's a fault of the writing, however, because anyone who knows me knows that I am at nearly all times either tired or in the process of getting tired, lol. I can't remember any typos or awkward sentences, no editorial oopses. The whole book felt professional.
I chose to review this book because although I can't call it diverse in the traditional sense, I think Vivia is odd enough to qualify. I'm pretty sure I mentioned this in my review of book 1, as well. She's not a pretty hag. She has to remove warts regularly. She has a typical witch's face, long nose and chin to the point of looking inhuman. She stinks of death every time she comes back from the underworld and has to do a long, thorough scrub if she doesn't want to gross people out. She's ostracized by most, accepted by few. Even other inhuman creatures can feel uncomfortable around her.
Despite all this, Vivia endeavors to solve her riddle and help those she can. She loves those who have been horrible to her, with healthy boundaries. She works hard to pull herself from the lies and dysfunction of her childhood, to make a good life for herself and others.
Language: I think there were three bad words.
Sexual Content: None.
Violence: Yes, in the tradition of old fairytales. You know, cannibalism, witches putting curses on people, explosions…
Overall Plot/Message: There are some extraordinary twists in this story, turning what looked like a simple premise into a full on fantastical mystery. I'd say it's plot-driven, but at the same time the narration is first person and Vivia is a compelling character. So, we'll go with 'nice blend'. As for messages, there are some positive themes. We're encouraged not to judge by appearances, to do the hard thing when it's the right thing, to let go of the dysfunction we've been living in and strive for something better.
My blog: rawhitebooksandmore.weebly.com
This is book two in the London Bones series, an enjoyable read if you like slightly dark, gruesome tales. I usually don't like them, and I did like this, so maybe it’s not as dark and gruesome as I think. Dark or not, the world and main character were interesting enough to balance out the macabre for me.
Vivia is a hag, able to come back to life at will, and hers is a world filled with fairytale creatures, curses, murders, insane crones, and all things weird. Her quest to survive the full moon and make things right with her sister turns out to be more complicated than she ever could have expected, and I admit that I had a hard time following the twists a couple of times. I'm not sure that's a fault of the writing, however, because anyone who knows me knows that I am at nearly all times either tired or in the process of getting tired, lol. I can't remember any typos or awkward sentences, no editorial oopses. The whole book felt professional.
I chose to review this book because although I can't call it diverse in the traditional sense, I think Vivia is odd enough to qualify. I'm pretty sure I mentioned this in my review of book 1, as well. She's not a pretty hag. She has to remove warts regularly. She has a typical witch's face, long nose and chin to the point of looking inhuman. She stinks of death every time she comes back from the underworld and has to do a long, thorough scrub if she doesn't want to gross people out. She's ostracized by most, accepted by few. Even other inhuman creatures can feel uncomfortable around her.
Despite all this, Vivia endeavors to solve her riddle and help those she can. She loves those who have been horrible to her, with healthy boundaries. She works hard to pull herself from the lies and dysfunction of her childhood, to make a good life for herself and others.
Language: I think there were three bad words.
Sexual Content: None.
Violence: Yes, in the tradition of old fairytales. You know, cannibalism, witches putting curses on people, explosions…
Overall Plot/Message: There are some extraordinary twists in this story, turning what looked like a simple premise into a full on fantastical mystery. I'd say it's plot-driven, but at the same time the narration is first person and Vivia is a compelling character. So, we'll go with 'nice blend'. As for messages, there are some positive themes. We're encouraged not to judge by appearances, to do the hard thing when it's the right thing, to let go of the dysfunction we've been living in and strive for something better.
My blog: rawhitebooksandmore.weebly.com
December 15, 2018
Fairytales are real
In this second installment about the life of a crown, horrible things keep happening to ruin any chance of a life anywhere near normal. Being immortal is not all it's cracked up to be, but the possibility of ending the curse keeping her sister dying again and again over millennia is worth trying anything. If only. It were that easy.
Lose yourself in the world of SW Fairbrother, you'll be thoroughly entertained.
In this second installment about the life of a crown, horrible things keep happening to ruin any chance of a life anywhere near normal. Being immortal is not all it's cracked up to be, but the possibility of ending the curse keeping her sister dying again and again over millennia is worth trying anything. If only. It were that easy.
Lose yourself in the world of SW Fairbrother, you'll be thoroughly entertained.
December 24, 2014
4.5 stars
Wow. Seriously, this book went in a direction I couldn't have guessed if you gave me a year to think about it.
Vivia is back from the dead...sorta. But time is running out for our favorite hag and she has more than one mystery to unravel. In fact, there are so many threads to this story, I am still in a bit of a daze as to how the author kept all those balls in the air. But in the end everything weaves together seamlessly.
I still am not sure if I liked this one as much as the first one. It was quite as good, don't get me wrong, but it was...different. The history of the hags and the weasels was fascinating and I loved the embedded 'fairy tale'(awesome stuff!), but it was a lot to process.
One thing is for sure, you have never read a story like it. The fresh blend of masterful prose, action, characters and the layers of motivations and personalities and history makes for an amazingly rich and breathless ride.
We don't deal much with the looming zombie apocolypse this time, we deal with Viv and Viv's messy complicated family. Including her insane, long-dead (yet not-dead) mother. Stunning secrets come to life, including one about Viv's sister Sigrid that will blow your mind. Dark magic abounds in this installment, will Viv prove a match for it or lose her way before her hourglass runs out?
Highly recommend this series and can't wait for the next one!
Wow. Seriously, this book went in a direction I couldn't have guessed if you gave me a year to think about it.
Vivia is back from the dead...sorta. But time is running out for our favorite hag and she has more than one mystery to unravel. In fact, there are so many threads to this story, I am still in a bit of a daze as to how the author kept all those balls in the air. But in the end everything weaves together seamlessly.
I still am not sure if I liked this one as much as the first one. It was quite as good, don't get me wrong, but it was...different. The history of the hags and the weasels was fascinating and I loved the embedded 'fairy tale'(awesome stuff!), but it was a lot to process.
One thing is for sure, you have never read a story like it. The fresh blend of masterful prose, action, characters and the layers of motivations and personalities and history makes for an amazingly rich and breathless ride.
We don't deal much with the looming zombie apocolypse this time, we deal with Viv and Viv's messy complicated family. Including her insane, long-dead (yet not-dead) mother. Stunning secrets come to life, including one about Viv's sister Sigrid that will blow your mind. Dark magic abounds in this installment, will Viv prove a match for it or lose her way before her hourglass runs out?
Highly recommend this series and can't wait for the next one!
March 10, 2015
This is a follow on to The Secret Dead, and continues where we left hag Vivia, after she was bitten by a zombie.
Again, I enjoyed the freshness of having a female protag who not only was not super hot, but was an ugly hag with warts and stuff. Brilliant and original. Vivia is likable, relate-able and a great main character.
As with The Secret Dead, this is not exactly a cheery book and is quite grim in places. It lacked some of the humour of the first one, mainly because there was a bit less interaction between characters, I felt. It is a very sensory book, with lots of smell and goop and death. I would've liked to have seen more interaction between Sigrid and Vivia, to really get a sense of their relationship, and it would've been cool to go properly back to Lipscombe and to chat with Charon and Per more.
This book is written like a who-dunnit, giving clues as we go along, to the final mystery. The mystery, as it turned out, was quite involved and you would never have guessed it, so much so that the reveal was a bit out of reach. I'm not sure I fully grasped the whole thing with the weasels and stoats and hags and sisters and who was who but I liked the idea of it linking with old fairy tales.
Overall, I enjoyed this and find SW Fairbrother to be inventive and a good writer. In a sea of self-published novels, it is worth pointing out that this is a professional standard book with professional standard writing. Worth your money.
Again, I enjoyed the freshness of having a female protag who not only was not super hot, but was an ugly hag with warts and stuff. Brilliant and original. Vivia is likable, relate-able and a great main character.
As with The Secret Dead, this is not exactly a cheery book and is quite grim in places. It lacked some of the humour of the first one, mainly because there was a bit less interaction between characters, I felt. It is a very sensory book, with lots of smell and goop and death. I would've liked to have seen more interaction between Sigrid and Vivia, to really get a sense of their relationship, and it would've been cool to go properly back to Lipscombe and to chat with Charon and Per more.
This book is written like a who-dunnit, giving clues as we go along, to the final mystery. The mystery, as it turned out, was quite involved and you would never have guessed it, so much so that the reveal was a bit out of reach. I'm not sure I fully grasped the whole thing with the weasels and stoats and hags and sisters and who was who but I liked the idea of it linking with old fairy tales.
Overall, I enjoyed this and find SW Fairbrother to be inventive and a good writer. In a sea of self-published novels, it is worth pointing out that this is a professional standard book with professional standard writing. Worth your money.
December 14, 2014
A Murder of Crones by S.W. Fairbrother
In book two of the London Bones series, Vivia is back and she is still dead. What she truly wants is to be alive again. When she is asked to go back (become alive again) and investigate a seventy year old murder massacre of hags, she is all for it. Soon she finds that hags have been being killed for centuries and it is a race against time to figure out who is doing this and why, before she becomes the next hag dead for good.
I really enjoyed this read. I love witches, but this is not your typical witch story. These hags (witches) are ugly, full of warts with long noses and pointed chins. I liked that originality. Also Vivia is so likable, she is a good hag, even though she is no beauty queen. She has a kind heart and wants to do good in the world. Again I loved the fact the heroine of the story is not perfect and beautiful.
A fantastic story with an unlikely heroine, I feel that readers of fantasy/withes will greatly enjoy A Murder of Crones. Great as a stand alone but I also highly recommend book one in the series The Secret Dead.
In book two of the London Bones series, Vivia is back and she is still dead. What she truly wants is to be alive again. When she is asked to go back (become alive again) and investigate a seventy year old murder massacre of hags, she is all for it. Soon she finds that hags have been being killed for centuries and it is a race against time to figure out who is doing this and why, before she becomes the next hag dead for good.
I really enjoyed this read. I love witches, but this is not your typical witch story. These hags (witches) are ugly, full of warts with long noses and pointed chins. I liked that originality. Also Vivia is so likable, she is a good hag, even though she is no beauty queen. She has a kind heart and wants to do good in the world. Again I loved the fact the heroine of the story is not perfect and beautiful.
A fantastic story with an unlikely heroine, I feel that readers of fantasy/withes will greatly enjoy A Murder of Crones. Great as a stand alone but I also highly recommend book one in the series The Secret Dead.
April 8, 2015
Once again I am amazed with the authors ability to create such a captivating story!! Usually when it comes to sequels, the plot or character development falls short and the story isn't as good as the first book in the series. That is Not the case here!! I was hooked within the first chapter. A Murder of Cones has unexpected plot twists, heartache, and completely changes what you thought you knew in regards to characters.
By the time I finished reading the book, I couldn't believe everything that happened. I actually had to sit and digest everything before I could write this review. My first thought was- What, it can't end like this!!! But this is the reason why I love this author, you are left always craving more. My heart goes out to Vivian. I absolutely love her character but she has had the worst luck. I'm not going to give anything away, but I promise you won't be disappointed in reading this book!! This book has everything in it and there isn't a dull moment.
Simply amazing!!
By the time I finished reading the book, I couldn't believe everything that happened. I actually had to sit and digest everything before I could write this review. My first thought was- What, it can't end like this!!! But this is the reason why I love this author, you are left always craving more. My heart goes out to Vivian. I absolutely love her character but she has had the worst luck. I'm not going to give anything away, but I promise you won't be disappointed in reading this book!! This book has everything in it and there isn't a dull moment.
Simply amazing!!
June 16, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book as part of a LibraryThing member giveaway in exchange for an honest review*
Having been pleasantly surprised by the originality, depth and humour of The Secret Dead, the first book in the London Bones series, I was eager to delve more into the world of Vivia Brisk, the death witch, and A Murder of Crones did not disappoint. While the book centres around another mystery, it is very different from the first. The focus is much less on Vivia's professional life (for reasons that become apparent) and more about her family. In this book, we learn more about Vivia's upbringing, her mysterious mother and Vivia's close bond with her sister.
I love Vivia as a character. In a refreshing departure from the stereotypical fiction heroine she is not drop dead gorgeous and does not have guys falling at her feet. But she is brave, smart, loyal and caring, and apart from the death hag part, she comes across as very real! I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to other readers.
Having been pleasantly surprised by the originality, depth and humour of The Secret Dead, the first book in the London Bones series, I was eager to delve more into the world of Vivia Brisk, the death witch, and A Murder of Crones did not disappoint. While the book centres around another mystery, it is very different from the first. The focus is much less on Vivia's professional life (for reasons that become apparent) and more about her family. In this book, we learn more about Vivia's upbringing, her mysterious mother and Vivia's close bond with her sister.
I love Vivia as a character. In a refreshing departure from the stereotypical fiction heroine she is not drop dead gorgeous and does not have guys falling at her feet. But she is brave, smart, loyal and caring, and apart from the death hag part, she comes across as very real! I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to other readers.
April 28, 2015
This is the sequel to “The Secret Dead” and deals more with Vivia’s youth and fellow death hags. Again, it’s a very imaginative, creative work and I think I was better able to connect with the characters in this book than I was in the first book. I grew to like Vivia, the hag with pointy chin and warts and a huge heart, even more through this book. Her relationship with her sister and family was explored to a greater extent and I enjoyed that part of it.
As with her first book, the author has created a completely unpredictable, unique tale, infused with humor and heart.
I won this book in a LibraryThing member giveaway and was asked to give an honest review.
As with her first book, the author has created a completely unpredictable, unique tale, infused with humor and heart.
I won this book in a LibraryThing member giveaway and was asked to give an honest review.
January 7, 2016
Absolutely freaking AWESOME! I love this author's story telling, it's unique and original and just fantastic. I didn't think book 2 could compare or live up to the callousness of book 1, but it totally did.
September 6, 2020
A darker, more gruesome, sequel...Very good!
In 'A murder of Crones' we find a greatly expanded view at Fairbrother's fictional world. The result is a rich though often bloody and disgusting tapestry on which is painted an excellent who done it. None of the descriptions rise to the level of slasher pornography, rather it remains within the realm of Grimm and company. We are promised a brighter future without cliffhangers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and author, I still highly recommend to friends. No vulgarity, no drug abuse, limited gross imagery. If you can read Stephen King, you should have no problem with the visualization of this world. Great fun!
In 'A murder of Crones' we find a greatly expanded view at Fairbrother's fictional world. The result is a rich though often bloody and disgusting tapestry on which is painted an excellent who done it. None of the descriptions rise to the level of slasher pornography, rather it remains within the realm of Grimm and company. We are promised a brighter future without cliffhangers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale and author, I still highly recommend to friends. No vulgarity, no drug abuse, limited gross imagery. If you can read Stephen King, you should have no problem with the visualization of this world. Great fun!
March 3, 2015
Sad
I love this book but hate that Vivian is left old and dying. It is DEFINITELY worth reading.
Can hardly wait for the next one.
I love this book but hate that Vivian is left old and dying. It is DEFINITELY worth reading.
Can hardly wait for the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 3, 2015kjb
February 19, 2016
Fantastical
This story had me guessing the whole time! I absolutely love the fantasy of this series. I am devoutly hooked
This story had me guessing the whole time! I absolutely love the fantasy of this series. I am devoutly hooked
December 11, 2016
Second better than the first
Author brings the threads together for the origin and actions of hags to make sense, with a great story. Story is great
Author brings the threads together for the origin and actions of hags to make sense, with a great story. Story is great
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews