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The Bones of the Earth #1
The Bones of the Earth
Is it wrong to kill a human …
when you’re not human yourself?
It’s been two hundred years since the Trauma, a catastrophic event of a now forgotten origin, wreaked havoc upon the Earth, reducing the human population from billions to thousands, and leaving the survivors as prey to humanoid hunters. Vrana of the Raven is one of these hunters. Her tribe has made killing humans, now known as the Corrupted, its purpose—to “keep the balance”—to ensure that the Corrupted do not rise to power and lay the Earth to ruin once more.
But, one night, in the great northern city-state of Geharra, over ten thousand Corrupted disappear.
And if so many can disappear so quickly, what’s to stop it from happening again elsewhere, or to Vrana’s own?
Geharra, however, is not the only place to suffer from strange happenings. In Caldera, Vrana sleeps fitfully, dreaming of a Void and the Witch trapped within. When she is called upon to travel with Serra, Lucan, and Deimos to the abandoned city, she accepts, but only to get away from Caldera, because the Witch that haunts her nightmares has begun to haunt her days.
when you’re not human yourself?
It’s been two hundred years since the Trauma, a catastrophic event of a now forgotten origin, wreaked havoc upon the Earth, reducing the human population from billions to thousands, and leaving the survivors as prey to humanoid hunters. Vrana of the Raven is one of these hunters. Her tribe has made killing humans, now known as the Corrupted, its purpose—to “keep the balance”—to ensure that the Corrupted do not rise to power and lay the Earth to ruin once more.
But, one night, in the great northern city-state of Geharra, over ten thousand Corrupted disappear.
And if so many can disappear so quickly, what’s to stop it from happening again elsewhere, or to Vrana’s own?
Geharra, however, is not the only place to suffer from strange happenings. In Caldera, Vrana sleeps fitfully, dreaming of a Void and the Witch trapped within. When she is called upon to travel with Serra, Lucan, and Deimos to the abandoned city, she accepts, but only to get away from Caldera, because the Witch that haunts her nightmares has begun to haunt her days.
306 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2015
71 people are currently reading
2705 people want to read
About the author
Scott Hale
23 books150 followersScott Hale has always been obsessed with all things horror. While it's not uncommon for his writings to blend multiple genres together, Horror is ever-present, be it in the scenarios themselves, or the uncomfortable truths he dares to explore.
Scott is the demented mastermind behind The Bones of the Earth series. Six books and four years later, the series has come to an end, but his addiction to writing has not. With more books on the way (In Sheep's Skin, The Body is a Cruel Mistress, and Sickness in the Stars), it won't be long until you're invited to explore his grotesque, imaginative, and oddly beautiful worlds.
Scott is married to his wife, Hannah - his muse, frequent collaborator, and illustrator for his work. He has a masters in Social Work and is currently practicing in a psychiatric hospital.
Scott is the demented mastermind behind The Bones of the Earth series. Six books and four years later, the series has come to an end, but his addiction to writing has not. With more books on the way (In Sheep's Skin, The Body is a Cruel Mistress, and Sickness in the Stars), it won't be long until you're invited to explore his grotesque, imaginative, and oddly beautiful worlds.
Scott is married to his wife, Hannah - his muse, frequent collaborator, and illustrator for his work. He has a masters in Social Work and is currently practicing in a psychiatric hospital.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
September 20, 2018
"The Corrupted living on Lacuna were entirely self-sufficient, but what they could not cultivate quickly enough was life. They kept coming to the mainland for offerings, sacrifices to be given up to their lord. Why is that? Why is it that humans always seem to think the best way to get on their god's good side is to rub his nose in the corpses of all his children they've killed?"
i fully confess that this book took me forever to read because i am too dumb for fantasy. this isn't fantasy-fantasy, it's dark fantasy/horror but it is wicked detailed, and that is where my troubles always occur. much as i love well thought-out worldbuilding, when i am confronted with like 50 different capital-letter concepts, it takes me about two seconds per word to pause and remember "okay, this thing is this and that thing is that" and paragraphs like this make my head spin (spoiler-tagged because it's a chunk of exposition that maybe you will want to come upon naturally in your reading)
COME ON!
that's just a random paragraph from the book, but there are a lot of similar passages, full of the Corrupted and the Crossbreed and Caldera and Cathedra and i am just not equipped to handle so many unfamiliar concepts at once. it brings back memories of me in deli-type stores in eastern europe, confronted with exotic products, waving my board game money in the air and shouting; "what do these things even DOOOO?"
but despite how creaky my brain is when exposed to new meanings/contexts for familiar words, i have to say that the descriptions in this book are a-plus. not the descriptions around "what this character looks like" or "what color the trees are" because that is unimportant. i'm talking about the disgusting splattery carnage and twisted repulsive scenes that bleed all over this book. it is gore-tastic. i don't know what anne's talking about when she's all blasé about "pretty standard gross-out stuff" or what she's been reading (is this something i will encounter if i keep reading hawkeye, anne?), but dude - there's a TON of ick in here. heaving pits of ick. really fun and meticulously described ick. but it's not ALL icky - there's some other good description which is just hinting at the ick - the calm before the ick. (i'm going to keep typing "ick" until my spellcheck admits defeat)
One does not see the string of pearls among a heap of diamonds, and so Vrana was surprised when they veered into an iron-fenced yard and stopped before the steps of a beautiful church. Its front door was chipped, beaten in by overzealous parishioners too impatient to wait for heaven. From on high, its massive stained-glass windows scrutinized the city like drug-addled eyes. Around the foundation, holy inscriptions had been carved into the stonework, coupled with faded images of religious iconography entirely foreign to Vrana. It was from here and the black bowels of this basilica that the foul smell of lingering death originated.
i thought the story overall was really strong, even though i was confused by about eight different things. which is again likely down to my inability to absorb conceptual abstractions and not down to the writing. some of my confusion is around proportion, and how these animal skulls would fit on humanoid heads so uniformly. i'm unclear on how the black hour works, i don't understand why the blue worm was dealt with as it was since it seems like it was helping? i don't understand how a dropped necklace can have such ... dramatic consequences, and i'm unclear about the specific differences, biologically and ontologically, between the various humanoids. and crazy witch and skeleton-man, what's your deal?
but when i did understand it, i loved it. it's a good quest-novel, and it has strong characters. i love bjørn, the cinna to vrana's katniss, i loved vrana's underground archivist boyfriend, with whom she does NOT have hot sweaty intercourse before she goes on her journey, which is rare when girls are in fantasy novels. i mean later there is time for that, but i like the prioritizing in their first scene together. i also appreciate the nonchalant appearance of a homosexual relationship later on the book. in a future wasteland-scenario in which birth rates are dangerously low, usually that would be treated as a frowned-upon "luxury" because of the need for baby-making, but here it wasn't even an issue. this book doesn't bash you over the head with DO YOU SEE WHAT I AM DOING WITH SOCIAL COMMENTARY?? the way some fantasy-ish books can. there's stuff there, but it's politely whispered.
what else…? i love vrana's mom, i loved r'lyeh (except for that NAME, although i did like her explanation for her name) and i even loved blixa, despite the fact that he's a birrrrrrd.
there's a lot to like here, even though i frequently felt like i was dragging my brain through oatmeal. if your brain has had better fantasy-training than mine, by all means jump into this puppy.
it's a 3.5 for me, rounded up because so many good things.
also - RICHAAAAAAAAARD!!
also - ick.
damn you, spellcheck - SUBMIT!
come to my blog!
i fully confess that this book took me forever to read because i am too dumb for fantasy. this isn't fantasy-fantasy, it's dark fantasy/horror but it is wicked detailed, and that is where my troubles always occur. much as i love well thought-out worldbuilding, when i am confronted with like 50 different capital-letter concepts, it takes me about two seconds per word to pause and remember "okay, this thing is this and that thing is that" and paragraphs like this make my head spin (spoiler-tagged because it's a chunk of exposition that maybe you will want to come upon naturally in your reading)
COME ON!
that's just a random paragraph from the book, but there are a lot of similar passages, full of the Corrupted and the Crossbreed and Caldera and Cathedra and i am just not equipped to handle so many unfamiliar concepts at once. it brings back memories of me in deli-type stores in eastern europe, confronted with exotic products, waving my board game money in the air and shouting; "what do these things even DOOOO?"
but despite how creaky my brain is when exposed to new meanings/contexts for familiar words, i have to say that the descriptions in this book are a-plus. not the descriptions around "what this character looks like" or "what color the trees are" because that is unimportant. i'm talking about the disgusting splattery carnage and twisted repulsive scenes that bleed all over this book. it is gore-tastic. i don't know what anne's talking about when she's all blasé about "pretty standard gross-out stuff" or what she's been reading (is this something i will encounter if i keep reading hawkeye, anne?), but dude - there's a TON of ick in here. heaving pits of ick. really fun and meticulously described ick. but it's not ALL icky - there's some other good description which is just hinting at the ick - the calm before the ick. (i'm going to keep typing "ick" until my spellcheck admits defeat)
One does not see the string of pearls among a heap of diamonds, and so Vrana was surprised when they veered into an iron-fenced yard and stopped before the steps of a beautiful church. Its front door was chipped, beaten in by overzealous parishioners too impatient to wait for heaven. From on high, its massive stained-glass windows scrutinized the city like drug-addled eyes. Around the foundation, holy inscriptions had been carved into the stonework, coupled with faded images of religious iconography entirely foreign to Vrana. It was from here and the black bowels of this basilica that the foul smell of lingering death originated.
i thought the story overall was really strong, even though i was confused by about eight different things. which is again likely down to my inability to absorb conceptual abstractions and not down to the writing. some of my confusion is around proportion, and how these animal skulls would fit on humanoid heads so uniformly. i'm unclear on how the black hour works, i don't understand why the blue worm was dealt with as it was since it seems like it was helping? i don't understand how a dropped necklace can have such ... dramatic consequences, and i'm unclear about the specific differences, biologically and ontologically, between the various humanoids. and crazy witch and skeleton-man, what's your deal?
but when i did understand it, i loved it. it's a good quest-novel, and it has strong characters. i love bjørn, the cinna to vrana's katniss, i loved vrana's underground archivist boyfriend, with whom she does NOT have hot sweaty intercourse before she goes on her journey, which is rare when girls are in fantasy novels. i mean later there is time for that, but i like the prioritizing in their first scene together. i also appreciate the nonchalant appearance of a homosexual relationship later on the book. in a future wasteland-scenario in which birth rates are dangerously low, usually that would be treated as a frowned-upon "luxury" because of the need for baby-making, but here it wasn't even an issue. this book doesn't bash you over the head with DO YOU SEE WHAT I AM DOING WITH SOCIAL COMMENTARY?? the way some fantasy-ish books can. there's stuff there, but it's politely whispered.
what else…? i love vrana's mom, i loved r'lyeh (except for that NAME, although i did like her explanation for her name) and i even loved blixa, despite the fact that he's a birrrrrrd.
there's a lot to like here, even though i frequently felt like i was dragging my brain through oatmeal. if your brain has had better fantasy-training than mine, by all means jump into this puppy.
it's a 3.5 for me, rounded up because so many good things.
also - RICHAAAAAAAAARD!!
also - ick.
damn you, spellcheck - SUBMIT!
come to my blog!
October 20, 2015
Alright, so this is a self-published work that was given to me by the author. Normally, I'd say, no thank you, but Bones of the Earth had been on my reading list for a while, and came highly recommended by a good friend of mine. And then another friend of mine. And then another...
Ok, you get the picture. People loved this one!
And I kind of went into it with this vague knowledge that it was some kind of a horror/fantasy/dystopia mash-up about non-human animalish people vs. some kind of hybrid humans after the world has been destroyed...then rebuilt.
Plus magic!
Or something awesome like that!
And that's still about all I know.
I had a mighty number of questions that went unanswered! I don't want to give any spoilers, but there were quite a few basic world-building questions that I felt I never got any sort of satisfactory answer to by the end.
I mean, I'm not even sure why these people wear animals on their heads. I guess it's some sort of a tribal ritual thing, but it wasn't explained other than to say that's what they did.
Get a hat, kids!
I'm also not sure why the humans are referred to as Corrupted. Evidently, they all have one red arm, and their ancestors fucked up everything royally in the past. Now, sometimes Vrana's people kill them. Sometimes they don't.
Do they need to meet a quota to keep The Balance?
And what is so special about Vrana's people, other than their lack of red arms? Are they stronger or something? I guess they were, but in all honesty it seemed like the main difference between them was the oversized dead animal hats. Was that it?
Did I miss the point, and the humans were kept in check due to fear of the hats?
And that set the tone for the rest of the book for me. I just didn't understand why/what/who was going on for most of the book.
There are two main enemies, the Witch and this tribe of religious nutters. I'm not sure...
Ok, I get what happened, just not why it happened.
So, Vrana goes on these errands for the elders of her tribe, and a lot of horrible things happen, and there's magic stuff, & plain old evil people stuff. It kind of bleeds together, and it was hard (for me) to get a bead on where this thing was going.
I kept making notes to myself that I hoped there would be some sort of clarification in the reasons behind everything, or a clear-cut path that Vrana needed to take, or something...anything! But, no.
The entire time I was reading I felt like this:
But since I have friends who loved this so much, I'm going to have to say that perhaps it wasn't the book's fault. This just might not have been the kind of book for someone like me. Now, I'm not terribly self-aware, but I do understand that I'm not the kind of person who enjoys poetry, or meta writing, or anything that requires me to read it twice to get the layered meanings.
In other words, I'm willing to take the blame for not getting the underlying story.
As far as the horror stuff? It's not that bad. I was preparing myself for something really disgusting, but it's pretty standard gross-out stuff. Rape, dead babies, dismemberment, penises stuffed in mouths, that sort of thing. If that makes you squeamish, then step back. But it all happens off-page, so you really don't have to deal with anything in an up-close and personal way. So, those of you who don't like to roll in the gore should be able to handle this stuff.
Now, as far as the characters go?
Mr. Hale has that one down pat! If you peel back all the stuff that I didn't get, you'd be left with characters that I did get. Vrana and the rest of the cast were all so natural and relatable.
I know, right?
No one was more surprised than me. Here's this weird chick wearing a bird corpse on her head, and yet I loved her! She was an excellent young female character. She wasn't stupidly cocky or bullheaded, but she was still tough and brave. The relationship with her mother was well done and felt realistic, as well. It was so nice to see a good healthy bond between a mother and daughter for once.
Vrana's relationship with her BFF/boyfriend was another one that I really liked. It grew in an organic way, didn't feel forced or cheesy, and she didn't let their budding love change any of her plans.
Nicely done!
So, in the end, I'd say that this is a book for those of you who like to dig for answers, don't mind a bit of mystery to the origins of things, and aren't the type to pull out your hair when things aren't spoon-fed to you.
For a debut (self-published!!!) book, this was really interesting. And even if it wasn't totally my cuppa, I still think this guy is an excellent writer. The prose was beautiful and the characters were surprisingly easy to identify with, so if you think this sounds like something you'd be interested in, go ahead and give it a try!
Ok, you get the picture. People loved this one!
And I kind of went into it with this vague knowledge that it was some kind of a horror/fantasy/dystopia mash-up about non-human animalish people vs. some kind of hybrid humans after the world has been destroyed...then rebuilt.
Plus magic!
Or something awesome like that!
And that's still about all I know.
I had a mighty number of questions that went unanswered! I don't want to give any spoilers, but there were quite a few basic world-building questions that I felt I never got any sort of satisfactory answer to by the end.
I mean, I'm not even sure why these people wear animals on their heads. I guess it's some sort of a tribal ritual thing, but it wasn't explained other than to say that's what they did.
Get a hat, kids!
I'm also not sure why the humans are referred to as Corrupted. Evidently, they all have one red arm, and their ancestors fucked up everything royally in the past. Now, sometimes Vrana's people kill them. Sometimes they don't.
Do they need to meet a quota to keep The Balance?
And what is so special about Vrana's people, other than their lack of red arms? Are they stronger or something? I guess they were, but in all honesty it seemed like the main difference between them was the oversized dead animal hats. Was that it?
Did I miss the point, and the humans were kept in check due to fear of the hats?
And that set the tone for the rest of the book for me. I just didn't understand why/what/who was going on for most of the book.
There are two main enemies, the Witch and this tribe of religious nutters. I'm not sure...
Ok, I get what happened, just not why it happened.
So, Vrana goes on these errands for the elders of her tribe, and a lot of horrible things happen, and there's magic stuff, & plain old evil people stuff. It kind of bleeds together, and it was hard (for me) to get a bead on where this thing was going.
I kept making notes to myself that I hoped there would be some sort of clarification in the reasons behind everything, or a clear-cut path that Vrana needed to take, or something...anything! But, no.
The entire time I was reading I felt like this:
But since I have friends who loved this so much, I'm going to have to say that perhaps it wasn't the book's fault. This just might not have been the kind of book for someone like me. Now, I'm not terribly self-aware, but I do understand that I'm not the kind of person who enjoys poetry, or meta writing, or anything that requires me to read it twice to get the layered meanings.
In other words, I'm willing to take the blame for not getting the underlying story.
As far as the horror stuff? It's not that bad. I was preparing myself for something really disgusting, but it's pretty standard gross-out stuff. Rape, dead babies, dismemberment, penises stuffed in mouths, that sort of thing. If that makes you squeamish, then step back. But it all happens off-page, so you really don't have to deal with anything in an up-close and personal way. So, those of you who don't like to roll in the gore should be able to handle this stuff.
Now, as far as the characters go?
Mr. Hale has that one down pat! If you peel back all the stuff that I didn't get, you'd be left with characters that I did get. Vrana and the rest of the cast were all so natural and relatable.
I know, right?
No one was more surprised than me. Here's this weird chick wearing a bird corpse on her head, and yet I loved her! She was an excellent young female character. She wasn't stupidly cocky or bullheaded, but she was still tough and brave. The relationship with her mother was well done and felt realistic, as well. It was so nice to see a good healthy bond between a mother and daughter for once.
Vrana's relationship with her BFF/boyfriend was another one that I really liked. It grew in an organic way, didn't feel forced or cheesy, and she didn't let their budding love change any of her plans.
Nicely done!
So, in the end, I'd say that this is a book for those of you who like to dig for answers, don't mind a bit of mystery to the origins of things, and aren't the type to pull out your hair when things aren't spoon-fed to you.
For a debut (self-published!!!) book, this was really interesting. And even if it wasn't totally my cuppa, I still think this guy is an excellent writer. The prose was beautiful and the characters were surprisingly easy to identify with, so if you think this sounds like something you'd be interested in, go ahead and give it a try!
February 18, 2016
dark journeys within a dark, post-apocalyptic science fantasy landscape. featuring much slaughter.
Bones of the Earth was my kindle bus book for a little over a month and I should have chosen more wisely. this was an oppressive experience for me and I found myself dreading it. not a great way to start each day. ugh!
about a third or so of the way in I starting comparing the protagonist and her kind to Nazis. she and her ilk are people who fancy themselves altogether different from the humans who somehow precipitated the apocalypse; their difference lies in an attachment to totem animals (whose skulls they wear) and their overarching goal of slimming down the human herd so that there are no future apocalypses. because they think and act exactly like human beings while randomly killing human beings to further some ambiguous yet stupid goal - all the while insisting that they are better than their victims - my mind just went to Nazis. I don't know why, it just did. it certainly was not what the author intended. but as soon as that connection was made I found myself utterly repulsed by these characters. I had zero interest about whether they lived or died or suffered or loved or if their whole frickin' village was attacked and nearly wiped out by some dimension-hopping witch. good job, witch, next time kill 'em all! Hale tries to make this murderous goal less squirm-inducing by not featuring murders of women and children, only adult or teenage men, but it didn't matter to me; if anything I thought that was a weak decision, as if he wanted to make his repulsive characters somehow less repulsive by not showing women and children being murdered by them. only luckless men.
it wasn't just that major point that continually distanced me from any enjoyment and often made me wince. at times - although not too often - there is some genuinely bad writing, of the kind that a tough editor should have noticed. repetitiveness is a problem. characters use modern day slang in a way that felt weird and amateurish. there's some flirty love scenes between two characters that made me sigh in irritation at the forced cutesiness on display. and Hale is overly fond of the word "squeal" - overuse of that word often made me feel like squealing.
still, this is far from a 1 star book. Hale's creativity runs too deep and in too many fascinatingly strange and surprising directions for me to dismiss him. he knows how to create a very foreign world that is made even more foreign by its connection to an archaic past that is our present. an impressive imagination.
Bones of the Earth was my kindle bus book for a little over a month and I should have chosen more wisely. this was an oppressive experience for me and I found myself dreading it. not a great way to start each day. ugh!
about a third or so of the way in I starting comparing the protagonist and her kind to Nazis. she and her ilk are people who fancy themselves altogether different from the humans who somehow precipitated the apocalypse; their difference lies in an attachment to totem animals (whose skulls they wear) and their overarching goal of slimming down the human herd so that there are no future apocalypses. because they think and act exactly like human beings while randomly killing human beings to further some ambiguous yet stupid goal - all the while insisting that they are better than their victims - my mind just went to Nazis. I don't know why, it just did. it certainly was not what the author intended. but as soon as that connection was made I found myself utterly repulsed by these characters. I had zero interest about whether they lived or died or suffered or loved or if their whole frickin' village was attacked and nearly wiped out by some dimension-hopping witch. good job, witch, next time kill 'em all! Hale tries to make this murderous goal less squirm-inducing by not featuring murders of women and children, only adult or teenage men, but it didn't matter to me; if anything I thought that was a weak decision, as if he wanted to make his repulsive characters somehow less repulsive by not showing women and children being murdered by them. only luckless men.
it wasn't just that major point that continually distanced me from any enjoyment and often made me wince. at times - although not too often - there is some genuinely bad writing, of the kind that a tough editor should have noticed. repetitiveness is a problem. characters use modern day slang in a way that felt weird and amateurish. there's some flirty love scenes between two characters that made me sigh in irritation at the forced cutesiness on display. and Hale is overly fond of the word "squeal" - overuse of that word often made me feel like squealing.
still, this is far from a 1 star book. Hale's creativity runs too deep and in too many fascinatingly strange and surprising directions for me to dismiss him. he knows how to create a very foreign world that is made even more foreign by its connection to an archaic past that is our present. an impressive imagination.
September 6, 2015
This is a book that practically no one has read, but
THAT MUST CHANGE.
First, a word to the wise. This novel continues a long tradition of great adventure fantasy and discovery while being extremely rooted in the very best traditions of better-than-Cthulhu horrorgore.
Getting through the book was was like eating great key-lime pie (and I like key-lime pie) while understanding that I'm actually a post-Cthulhu monstrosity born to a world that has already had the great beast awaken and convert our modern landscape into so much trash and reality-corruption, and the key-lime pie is actually dead babies.
Sound like too much for you? Well, just wait! The beginning of the book gets us a solid introduction by way of an initiation ceremony, which is pretty standard stuff until she passes dead cell phones in the brackish water. After that, and moving through a few important scenes leading to being part of a larger scouting party, the novel is really easy to enjoy. Her quests keep the story moving so smoothly that I just couldn't put the book down until I drowned in my body's exhaustion, and the first thing I did upon waking was resume it. Finishing it has left me with an enormous hunger for more.
Am I impressed as hell? Did I get my fill of key-lime pie? No! Because I haven't read anything quite this horrifying and unabashedly imaginative since only a few of Clive Barker's books, and those tend to get a bit digressive. Scott Hale's novel was damn direct and adventuresome, and while the eventual reveals were not entirely mind-blowing, they were, on the other hand, very satisfying and grand. There was a hell of a lot of payoff in this novel, and not only from the evocations of horror, but also from characterizations through actions, pathos through deeds and force of will in doing what she thinks is right.
I LOVE HORROR, and I feel that love pouring through to me from this author, too!
I have no higher praise that I can give to this, or any other, novel. It grabbed me by my tastebuds and threw me into a post-apocalyptic supernatural nightmare world and never once let up or lost its tension. Please, may I have some more?
Update: The book is free for a limited time on Amazon, so there's no real reason to avoid reading this, peeps.
It is truly excellent and holds up well on reflection. I'm still very excited about it. :)
THAT MUST CHANGE.
First, a word to the wise. This novel continues a long tradition of great adventure fantasy and discovery while being extremely rooted in the very best traditions of better-than-Cthulhu horrorgore.
Getting through the book was was like eating great key-lime pie (and I like key-lime pie) while understanding that I'm actually a post-Cthulhu monstrosity born to a world that has already had the great beast awaken and convert our modern landscape into so much trash and reality-corruption, and the key-lime pie is actually dead babies.
Sound like too much for you? Well, just wait! The beginning of the book gets us a solid introduction by way of an initiation ceremony, which is pretty standard stuff until she passes dead cell phones in the brackish water. After that, and moving through a few important scenes leading to being part of a larger scouting party, the novel is really easy to enjoy. Her quests keep the story moving so smoothly that I just couldn't put the book down until I drowned in my body's exhaustion, and the first thing I did upon waking was resume it. Finishing it has left me with an enormous hunger for more.
Am I impressed as hell? Did I get my fill of key-lime pie? No! Because I haven't read anything quite this horrifying and unabashedly imaginative since only a few of Clive Barker's books, and those tend to get a bit digressive. Scott Hale's novel was damn direct and adventuresome, and while the eventual reveals were not entirely mind-blowing, they were, on the other hand, very satisfying and grand. There was a hell of a lot of payoff in this novel, and not only from the evocations of horror, but also from characterizations through actions, pathos through deeds and force of will in doing what she thinks is right.
I LOVE HORROR, and I feel that love pouring through to me from this author, too!
I have no higher praise that I can give to this, or any other, novel. It grabbed me by my tastebuds and threw me into a post-apocalyptic supernatural nightmare world and never once let up or lost its tension. Please, may I have some more?
Update: The book is free for a limited time on Amazon, so there's no real reason to avoid reading this, peeps.
It is truly excellent and holds up well on reflection. I'm still very excited about it. :)
September 21, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
Well that was a crazy ride in a crazy world!
Vrana is the main character and the books starts with her out on her eighteenth birthday doing the tribal rituals all of the people do in order to become an official tribe member.
This books is fantasy/horror/something else. I felt like I was in an alternate universe and it was so weird to read about people like this when there was the normal human world years ago. It didn't seem like that world even existed until Vrana was in a river kicking garbage and cell phones away from her feet. Cell phones? LoL, I was like wait.. and had to read the blurb again. This book is so intricate in the telling of the new world you totally forget there was an old world, our world as we know it today.
You never know what kinds of horrors or strange things could happen if our world ceased to exist. This one has monsters and crazy things I would never have thought of, I mean Vrana is Vrana of the Raven because she wears a Raven skull on her head as you can see on the cover of the book. But there are people in her tribe that wear different skulls so it's not just the one group.
There is magic in the book as well, along with battles and gruesome parts. There is also a little bit of love going on between Vrana and Aeson but you never really get the full on with so much stuff going happening, who has time.
Like I said before this book is very different and I really want to know where this is going. I want to find out where they go from this book, all of the characters that are left to go anywhere.
Well that was a crazy ride in a crazy world!
Vrana is the main character and the books starts with her out on her eighteenth birthday doing the tribal rituals all of the people do in order to become an official tribe member.
This books is fantasy/horror/something else. I felt like I was in an alternate universe and it was so weird to read about people like this when there was the normal human world years ago. It didn't seem like that world even existed until Vrana was in a river kicking garbage and cell phones away from her feet. Cell phones? LoL, I was like wait.. and had to read the blurb again. This book is so intricate in the telling of the new world you totally forget there was an old world, our world as we know it today.
You never know what kinds of horrors or strange things could happen if our world ceased to exist. This one has monsters and crazy things I would never have thought of, I mean Vrana is Vrana of the Raven because she wears a Raven skull on her head as you can see on the cover of the book. But there are people in her tribe that wear different skulls so it's not just the one group.
There is magic in the book as well, along with battles and gruesome parts. There is also a little bit of love going on between Vrana and Aeson but you never really get the full on with so much stuff going happening, who has time.
Like I said before this book is very different and I really want to know where this is going. I want to find out where they go from this book, all of the characters that are left to go anywhere.
June 2, 2018
This book grabbed my interest because it is a mash-up of stuff I love : post-apocalyptic Earth and weird vaguely Lovecraftian magic/horror. I’m not sure why I am so fascinated with the idea of human civilization being brought back to a tribal society that has to manage around the ruins of the hyper-modern digital age, but it’s obviously an easy way to sell me books…
There is no exposition in “The Bones of the Earth”, and the world-building reveals itself slowly through the story, which makes for a rather abrupt beginning. Vrana is a young woman undergoing her tribe’s initiation rites: during that trial, she will have strange and terrifying visions that will send her on a quest to find and kill an ancient and dangerous entity. Vrana has been raised to hate and hunt what is known as the Corrupted: humans whose arm bears an unusual red coloring, and who are held to be responsible for the Trauma, an unspecified event that destroyed the old civilization. Her own tribe do not consider themselves to be human the same way these Corrupted are, and always wear an animal skull mask to identify themselves. But what Vrana will discover on her quest will show her that things are not as simple as her tribe’s elders would have her believe.
The story and the setting are really interesting: it’s impossible not to flip the page wondering what fresh weirdness you will encounter as the quest unfolds, but I found the writing style to be very uneven and choppy. I’ve read plenty of books that throw you into an unknown new world without a glossary, but for some reason, this one remained confusing almost the whole way. A clearer understanding of the world would have probably made the ride smoother, especially when Hale decides to jump between scenes too suddenly. The result is that the story simply felt rushed, like it needed a bit more exposition and transition between action sequences. Things got a bit better in the second half, but the choppiness was still a problem all the way to end...
I understand that reading speculative fiction requires a suspense of disbelief, but some elements of “Bones of the Earth” really made no sense and that bothered me much more than the violence and gore (which doesn’t faze me much, as it turns out). I did wonder how these people found animal skulls big enough for their entire heads to fit behind. I mean, raven heads are tiny, how does that make a mask that effectively covers Vrana’s face? She does have a run-in with a massive raven, but where did that giant bird come from anyway? Did the Trauma cause a bunch of animals to suddenly get monstrously huge? R’lyeh’s mask is a dead octopus, not an animal that has actual bones, so how come it’s not simply rotting on her head? That’s the kind of detail that will ruin a good story for me if left unexplained… Also, Vrana’s tribe are basically human; as far as I can tell, the only difference between them and the Corrupted is the red-arm situation. Is that seriously enough to justify genocide?...
While this book is filled with really great ideas that could make a fascinating story, the elements are not brought together clearly enough for me to have enjoyed it. I’m not sure I am curious enough to read the sequels…
There is no exposition in “The Bones of the Earth”, and the world-building reveals itself slowly through the story, which makes for a rather abrupt beginning. Vrana is a young woman undergoing her tribe’s initiation rites: during that trial, she will have strange and terrifying visions that will send her on a quest to find and kill an ancient and dangerous entity. Vrana has been raised to hate and hunt what is known as the Corrupted: humans whose arm bears an unusual red coloring, and who are held to be responsible for the Trauma, an unspecified event that destroyed the old civilization. Her own tribe do not consider themselves to be human the same way these Corrupted are, and always wear an animal skull mask to identify themselves. But what Vrana will discover on her quest will show her that things are not as simple as her tribe’s elders would have her believe.
The story and the setting are really interesting: it’s impossible not to flip the page wondering what fresh weirdness you will encounter as the quest unfolds, but I found the writing style to be very uneven and choppy. I’ve read plenty of books that throw you into an unknown new world without a glossary, but for some reason, this one remained confusing almost the whole way. A clearer understanding of the world would have probably made the ride smoother, especially when Hale decides to jump between scenes too suddenly. The result is that the story simply felt rushed, like it needed a bit more exposition and transition between action sequences. Things got a bit better in the second half, but the choppiness was still a problem all the way to end...
I understand that reading speculative fiction requires a suspense of disbelief, but some elements of “Bones of the Earth” really made no sense and that bothered me much more than the violence and gore (which doesn’t faze me much, as it turns out). I did wonder how these people found animal skulls big enough for their entire heads to fit behind. I mean, raven heads are tiny, how does that make a mask that effectively covers Vrana’s face? She does have a run-in with a massive raven, but where did that giant bird come from anyway? Did the Trauma cause a bunch of animals to suddenly get monstrously huge? R’lyeh’s mask is a dead octopus, not an animal that has actual bones, so how come it’s not simply rotting on her head? That’s the kind of detail that will ruin a good story for me if left unexplained… Also, Vrana’s tribe are basically human; as far as I can tell, the only difference between them and the Corrupted is the red-arm situation. Is that seriously enough to justify genocide?...
While this book is filled with really great ideas that could make a fascinating story, the elements are not brought together clearly enough for me to have enjoyed it. I’m not sure I am curious enough to read the sequels…
September 3, 2015
Omg!! Wow. Just WOW. HOLY MOLY, PEOPLE!!! YOU HAVE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!
So I finished it yesterday, but was rendered absolutely speechless when it was over (sigh) so was in no state to write about it...until NOW.
Every once in a great, too-long while, a book might come along that has the power to pivot one's thinking...to send us spinning...to force us to reconsider all that we read before that one magical book. And Bones of the Earth? It is precisely the kind of book I'm referring to here.
From its very beginning, I recognized that I was holding something so unlike any book I'd read before. Is it a fantasy novel? Oh yes. But it is a thrilling, gritty, mind blowing sort. Unlike any I've read to date.
The writing is just gorgeous. Hard to believe this is Scott Hale's first novel. I'm grateful I bought 2 copies, one an ebook, and the other, corporeal, for I highlighted the hell out of the former. The latter is just too beautiful to adulterate in any fashion. I mean, hell!!! Would you just look at this cover?! : )
Without spoiling anything about the plot, allow me to treat you to a tiny sample of the prose therein:
They waded by ochre stalks of Reprieve and crimson reeds of Hunger; stepped over thorny Veracity, while grazing bristled Bite; moved through green corridors of Null, Void, and Nicety; and pricked their fingers willingly on blue Calm and bluer Content. So quickly were they moving that Vrana felt as though the garden itself was expanding before their very eyes, creating a place for their feet to fall where there was once nothing. One could be lost in worse places, she thought, deciding that, if she were to resign from this world, it would be the garden to which she turned to live out her final days.
Tell me, is that not amazing writing? The book lets the reader feel as if they're there. And this is how the novel reads from its very beginning, all the way through to its final page.
Vrana's story is not so much written, as it is composed. As I reflected upon the novel, that was the thought that appeared and reappeared in my head: This book is like a symphony. It is so perfectly complete. It has everything. Amazing characters that literally appear to step off the page and jump into your life, a detailed and beautifully depicted world, action scenes that caused me to nibble my fingernails down to nothing by the time the book was finished, plot turns that never even began to occur to me, and mystery...delicious, yummy mystery. So much that is left for the reader to decipher as the story continues into its next installment, then the next, etcetera.
Information about the world, and its all important history, is revealed to us in stages. Slowly. And at times, all we get are hints of what will be unveiled in books to come. But all of it worked perfectly together. There was not a single paragraph, not a sentence or even a word beyond what belonged in and to the story. I believe this had a huge part to play in the book being unputdownable.
And I tried, people. I did. I tried to slow myself down, to savor every page. But it became impossible. So many developments! So many twists and turns!! So much to anticipate and to look forward to. The pages nearly flew by of their own accord.
This is a beautiful, beautiful novel. From start to finish. It is so rich, so alive. It has more to offer than I could possibly describe here. All I can say is READ IT. PLEASE. I PROMISE, you shall NOT be disappointed. And I cannot imagine a single reader out there not wanting more upon finishing this book. It felt to me like I was holding the most breathtaking, colorful and multifaceted prism in my hands as I read this book. I suspect any of you who take my word for it and read the book for yourselves will feel similarly. When I came upon this book, it was like I stumbled upon a piece of buried treasure. The time has come for this treasure to be seen by as many eyes as possible.
Recommended HIGHLY. Amazing beyond words. Enjoy, all!!! : )
So I finished it yesterday, but was rendered absolutely speechless when it was over (sigh) so was in no state to write about it...until NOW.
Every once in a great, too-long while, a book might come along that has the power to pivot one's thinking...to send us spinning...to force us to reconsider all that we read before that one magical book. And Bones of the Earth? It is precisely the kind of book I'm referring to here.
From its very beginning, I recognized that I was holding something so unlike any book I'd read before. Is it a fantasy novel? Oh yes. But it is a thrilling, gritty, mind blowing sort. Unlike any I've read to date.
The writing is just gorgeous. Hard to believe this is Scott Hale's first novel. I'm grateful I bought 2 copies, one an ebook, and the other, corporeal, for I highlighted the hell out of the former. The latter is just too beautiful to adulterate in any fashion. I mean, hell!!! Would you just look at this cover?! : )
Without spoiling anything about the plot, allow me to treat you to a tiny sample of the prose therein:
They waded by ochre stalks of Reprieve and crimson reeds of Hunger; stepped over thorny Veracity, while grazing bristled Bite; moved through green corridors of Null, Void, and Nicety; and pricked their fingers willingly on blue Calm and bluer Content. So quickly were they moving that Vrana felt as though the garden itself was expanding before their very eyes, creating a place for their feet to fall where there was once nothing. One could be lost in worse places, she thought, deciding that, if she were to resign from this world, it would be the garden to which she turned to live out her final days.
Tell me, is that not amazing writing? The book lets the reader feel as if they're there. And this is how the novel reads from its very beginning, all the way through to its final page.
Vrana's story is not so much written, as it is composed. As I reflected upon the novel, that was the thought that appeared and reappeared in my head: This book is like a symphony. It is so perfectly complete. It has everything. Amazing characters that literally appear to step off the page and jump into your life, a detailed and beautifully depicted world, action scenes that caused me to nibble my fingernails down to nothing by the time the book was finished, plot turns that never even began to occur to me, and mystery...delicious, yummy mystery. So much that is left for the reader to decipher as the story continues into its next installment, then the next, etcetera.
Information about the world, and its all important history, is revealed to us in stages. Slowly. And at times, all we get are hints of what will be unveiled in books to come. But all of it worked perfectly together. There was not a single paragraph, not a sentence or even a word beyond what belonged in and to the story. I believe this had a huge part to play in the book being unputdownable.
And I tried, people. I did. I tried to slow myself down, to savor every page. But it became impossible. So many developments! So many twists and turns!! So much to anticipate and to look forward to. The pages nearly flew by of their own accord.
This is a beautiful, beautiful novel. From start to finish. It is so rich, so alive. It has more to offer than I could possibly describe here. All I can say is READ IT. PLEASE. I PROMISE, you shall NOT be disappointed. And I cannot imagine a single reader out there not wanting more upon finishing this book. It felt to me like I was holding the most breathtaking, colorful and multifaceted prism in my hands as I read this book. I suspect any of you who take my word for it and read the book for yourselves will feel similarly. When I came upon this book, it was like I stumbled upon a piece of buried treasure. The time has come for this treasure to be seen by as many eyes as possible.
Recommended HIGHLY. Amazing beyond words. Enjoy, all!!! : )
May 23, 2019
Breaking my heart to say this, but I DNF at 35%. Let me tell you a bit about The Bones of the Earth and why I would still give a 3 ⭐️ rating to a book I didn’t finish.
From what I read so far, The Bones of the Earth is like The Secret of Nim meets Mirrormask. It’s dark, it’s a little trippy, and it would likely make a great movie like the other titles listed!
So why didn’t this book have me hooked?
The Bones of the Earth follows Vrana as she completes these trials for her people, during which she accidentally provoked The Witch.
That’s about as much as I can confidently say about the plot because this book is told in a way that makes you feel like you’re reliving a nightmare through a foggy recollection. I felt as though the story was unraveling in scattered bits that didn’t quite line up but were unique and interesting enough to keep me reading. Every time I’d start to catch up with Vrana and think I understood what was happening in the story, I’d start to lose her again.
But I think that was intentional. The mechanisms in which the story is told are very reminiscent to the dreamscapes in the novel.
That being said, the plot became much easier to follow at 28% or so, but by then I sort of no longer cared. Too much of the start of the story was vague and confusing for me to really be interested in the characters once the story started moving forward. Even our MC, Vrana, was difficult to relate to by that point.
So why not 1-star this bad boy?
Because the writing is actually good! The author gives great descriptions and there were a couple scenes that hit me hard. And like I said earlier, I think the storytelling is intentional and would likely be adored by a lot of other readers!
But it was just a little too vague for me, especially when my shelf is overflowing with other potentially great books.
Maybe I’ll try this one again in the future though, just to give it another shot because I really do feel like it’s a book I should’ve enjoyed.
From what I read so far, The Bones of the Earth is like The Secret of Nim meets Mirrormask. It’s dark, it’s a little trippy, and it would likely make a great movie like the other titles listed!
So why didn’t this book have me hooked?
The Bones of the Earth follows Vrana as she completes these trials for her people, during which she accidentally provoked The Witch.
That’s about as much as I can confidently say about the plot because this book is told in a way that makes you feel like you’re reliving a nightmare through a foggy recollection. I felt as though the story was unraveling in scattered bits that didn’t quite line up but were unique and interesting enough to keep me reading. Every time I’d start to catch up with Vrana and think I understood what was happening in the story, I’d start to lose her again.
But I think that was intentional. The mechanisms in which the story is told are very reminiscent to the dreamscapes in the novel.
That being said, the plot became much easier to follow at 28% or so, but by then I sort of no longer cared. Too much of the start of the story was vague and confusing for me to really be interested in the characters once the story started moving forward. Even our MC, Vrana, was difficult to relate to by that point.
So why not 1-star this bad boy?
Because the writing is actually good! The author gives great descriptions and there were a couple scenes that hit me hard. And like I said earlier, I think the storytelling is intentional and would likely be adored by a lot of other readers!
But it was just a little too vague for me, especially when my shelf is overflowing with other potentially great books.
Maybe I’ll try this one again in the future though, just to give it another shot because I really do feel like it’s a book I should’ve enjoyed.
August 29, 2015
The Bones of the Earth is an extremely intriguing work of horror sci-fi fantasy. Whilst that might seem like a jumble of genres and hard to get working into a single book, author Scott Hale has pulled this off admirably.
These days, authors need more than a good story to stand out, so the presentation is important. The book's cover is quite a work of art. It is unusual, makes you want to know more. Is the main character a force for good, or for bad?
In Vrana, we have a plucky and strong heroine who is thrown into action almost from page one. Her motivations are not too clear to me at first, but as I read more of the book, Vrana's story became more easy to understand, compelling me to read the rest of the book.
Scott Hale describes the world he has created beautifully. He does so with great command of English, and the writing is poetic in many aspects, for me, this was the star of the book.
I read a book in late 2013 that had a similar MC, but this one was male, and seemed a little one dimensional to me. That said I enjoyed how the character killed so many and with ease.
Vrana, thankfully, is a more complex character. Her kills always mean something, always having consequences, and I wondered would the hunter become the hunted?
There is a dreamlike quality to the writing that I can only imagine will improve as the author grows in stature. I would recommend this to people who enjoy different genres - there's a great mix of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure in this book, and it works.
I love the description of Vrana herself, and the cover art reinforces my view on that. The tribal aspect of the book is interesting too, and will have readers hooked. I would just suggest that readers go beyond the 10% or so that Amazon allow on their preview - this book needs the reader's attention. Once you get into it, you won't leave it down.
These days, authors need more than a good story to stand out, so the presentation is important. The book's cover is quite a work of art. It is unusual, makes you want to know more. Is the main character a force for good, or for bad?
In Vrana, we have a plucky and strong heroine who is thrown into action almost from page one. Her motivations are not too clear to me at first, but as I read more of the book, Vrana's story became more easy to understand, compelling me to read the rest of the book.
Scott Hale describes the world he has created beautifully. He does so with great command of English, and the writing is poetic in many aspects, for me, this was the star of the book.
I read a book in late 2013 that had a similar MC, but this one was male, and seemed a little one dimensional to me. That said I enjoyed how the character killed so many and with ease.
Vrana, thankfully, is a more complex character. Her kills always mean something, always having consequences, and I wondered would the hunter become the hunted?
There is a dreamlike quality to the writing that I can only imagine will improve as the author grows in stature. I would recommend this to people who enjoy different genres - there's a great mix of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, adventure in this book, and it works.
I love the description of Vrana herself, and the cover art reinforces my view on that. The tribal aspect of the book is interesting too, and will have readers hooked. I would just suggest that readers go beyond the 10% or so that Amazon allow on their preview - this book needs the reader's attention. Once you get into it, you won't leave it down.
September 26, 2015
Scott Hale is destined to be a best seller, a legend in his class. The Bones of the Earth is unpredictable, vivid, terrifying and above all else, makes it near impossible to put down and even when you can, you spend your time daydreaming of the world and what will happen next.
It is a tale of post apocalypse where humans have split off blamed for the Trauma and then there are the tribes who are human in a sense but have decided to pretend they aren't human at all. The people likened to Native Americans in their totems and spirituality. Now there is a world bred of science, fantasy, horror and Magic. What a blend!
It's hard to place Scotts writing style, but it's clear, and gives you enough detail to picture the world of your own interpretation. It hasn't followed traditional story lines so most turns are unexpected and delicious. It is devoid of filler so every paragraph is savoured and relished with the importance it carries.
You don't expect the horrors that Scott presents but even though they are terrifying and nightmarish you can't help but love them and call for more. The atrocities experienced by the Corrupted are unimaginable and leave the reader for a good half hour trying to absorb what has happened and overcome it all.
The end? What a twist. You'd never expect for it to end that way and it leaves you not just hungry but desperate for the next instalment. I can't wait for the next which I expect will be just as unique and full of horrors and twists and turns.
It is a tale of post apocalypse where humans have split off blamed for the Trauma and then there are the tribes who are human in a sense but have decided to pretend they aren't human at all. The people likened to Native Americans in their totems and spirituality. Now there is a world bred of science, fantasy, horror and Magic. What a blend!
It's hard to place Scotts writing style, but it's clear, and gives you enough detail to picture the world of your own interpretation. It hasn't followed traditional story lines so most turns are unexpected and delicious. It is devoid of filler so every paragraph is savoured and relished with the importance it carries.
You don't expect the horrors that Scott presents but even though they are terrifying and nightmarish you can't help but love them and call for more. The atrocities experienced by the Corrupted are unimaginable and leave the reader for a good half hour trying to absorb what has happened and overcome it all.
The end? What a twist. You'd never expect for it to end that way and it leaves you not just hungry but desperate for the next instalment. I can't wait for the next which I expect will be just as unique and full of horrors and twists and turns.
September 14, 2021
I received this copy for free from the author. Thank you very much!
My goodreads friends so far all loved this book. I don't know why, because I don't get it. I really wanted to like this book. It sounded great, the premise of the story sounded good and I liked the cover art. But the writing did not work for me. I found it to be slow, with a meandering plot and at times overly florid prose, weird dream sequences and confusing chapter beginnings. The things that I did not like are probably those, that make the book so great for my fellow readers.
I liked the characters and when they engaged in "normal" interactions, the story developed momentum and my interest sparked. But that only ever took me a few pages forward, until I got stuck again.
Would I get this book for a friend or recommend it to someone? Funnily enough, I probably would, if it is a friend with a quirky taste, who likes novels off the beaten path...
DNF at 35%, after eight days of not getting very far.
My goodreads friends so far all loved this book. I don't know why, because I don't get it. I really wanted to like this book. It sounded great, the premise of the story sounded good and I liked the cover art. But the writing did not work for me. I found it to be slow, with a meandering plot and at times overly florid prose, weird dream sequences and confusing chapter beginnings. The things that I did not like are probably those, that make the book so great for my fellow readers.
I liked the characters and when they engaged in "normal" interactions, the story developed momentum and my interest sparked. But that only ever took me a few pages forward, until I got stuck again.
Would I get this book for a friend or recommend it to someone? Funnily enough, I probably would, if it is a friend with a quirky taste, who likes novels off the beaten path...
DNF at 35%, after eight days of not getting very far.
September 15, 2015
I'm speechless
I was consumed by this book from the very beginning. From the descriptive scenes to the unbelievable dialogue all I can say is wow!
What I liked about the most about the story was the author let us dive into it right away. The female lead was my favorite character, a strong, no nonsense warrior. The beginning starts with her journey towards home where she encounters a man who is shooting arrows at her. She chased him down and kills him with an axe. As she continues her path towards home, she sees a small cabin and walks up to see a little boy standing there she quickly realized he is the surviving son of the man she has just killed. Will she kill the little boy? To find out the answer you will have to read the book!
I was consumed by this book from the very beginning. From the descriptive scenes to the unbelievable dialogue all I can say is wow!
What I liked about the most about the story was the author let us dive into it right away. The female lead was my favorite character, a strong, no nonsense warrior. The beginning starts with her journey towards home where she encounters a man who is shooting arrows at her. She chased him down and kills him with an axe. As she continues her path towards home, she sees a small cabin and walks up to see a little boy standing there she quickly realized he is the surviving son of the man she has just killed. Will she kill the little boy? To find out the answer you will have to read the book!
July 13, 2016
This book made me cringe... in a good way! It is very hard to make me cringe but you did it. I loved Vrana she is great. This story is very dark but enjoyable. Recommended to people who like dark and gritty horror stories that have you on the edge of your seat.
I also love the artwork on the cover.
Can't wait for the next book , hurry up Scott :) !
I also love the artwork on the cover.
Can't wait for the next book , hurry up Scott :) !
July 2, 2016
I give it a 4.5/5 stars.
I had to wait 2 days to write this review because all i could put on paper when i finished it was:
WOW...so it means that? ohh..oh my.. wow.....
The Story follows Vrana of the Raven, a fearless Badass 18 yo in a post apocalyptic world, along the story she meets R'lyeh and they develop a Katniss-and-rue kind of relation ship. In Caldera her village they take upon a mask and they become it, in Vrana's case it was one of the raven: " 'Maybe i am a raven after all ', she said to herself 'A raven follows Death and revels in its works and keeps the company of violence. A raven gathers secrets as a mage gathers trinkets. A raven is a shadow , a shade__ all those things we tell ourselves we could not ever do and then do anyway.
This book has some gory scenes so if you are softhearted this isn't the book for you.
At first reading this book i felt as if a load of new foreign words were catapulted on me but you catch up after a while .
One thing i didn't like bout this book was that in the first 30 pages there was too many descriptive metaphors, good ones but too many it felt as if the author was trying too hard, but then it all gives way to awesomeness and pure kickassery (is that word?)
It had a top notch villain that i had a rather frightening nightmare about the other day; "It is the darkest corners of the world that she calls home.It is from the deepest depths of the mind that she is inspired.None shall gaze upon her and think her fair or kind, for she is neither and has never known these words to be said of her.They are foreign to her, painful to conceive. There is no place for her or in the worlds beyond;she exists in the space between, where she pledges allegiance to neither God or Satan but only herself. Her acts of cruelty are beyond measure, for it is seldom realized that it was her hand that guided the knife to the back, the child to the cliff, the lover to the liar,he poison to the well. Of her sculptures of flesh, which merge life and death into one torturous state of being, little can be said by the pen which could rival the sight seen by her eyes. She is horror if horror should ever take upon a form.She is death and despair.She is the maiden of pain. "
And amazing pieces of lore here and there
"Echoes: the elders told Vrana and her peers in their youth that all actions were not without consequences, that all choices would be remembered and felt throughout time for time itself was alive; others said that when the earth slept it sometimes dreamed of what had been but no longer was. "
The book had it's own romantic story but it was more woven into it than the center of it , which gave way to more adventure and action packed scenes and battles between illusion and reality.
The best thing about this book was the Twists i was Ouh and Ah -ing all over it, by the hundredth page i was eating it up like a starving book worm!
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes fast paced adventure and just a dash of mystery
I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RN!!!!!!!
I had to wait 2 days to write this review because all i could put on paper when i finished it was:
WOW...so it means that? ohh..oh my.. wow.....
The Story follows Vrana of the Raven, a fearless Badass 18 yo in a post apocalyptic world, along the story she meets R'lyeh and they develop a Katniss-and-rue kind of relation ship. In Caldera her village they take upon a mask and they become it, in Vrana's case it was one of the raven: " 'Maybe i am a raven after all ', she said to herself 'A raven follows Death and revels in its works and keeps the company of violence. A raven gathers secrets as a mage gathers trinkets. A raven is a shadow , a shade__ all those things we tell ourselves we could not ever do and then do anyway.
This book has some gory scenes so if you are softhearted this isn't the book for you.
At first reading this book i felt as if a load of new foreign words were catapulted on me but you catch up after a while .
One thing i didn't like bout this book was that in the first 30 pages there was too many descriptive metaphors, good ones but too many it felt as if the author was trying too hard, but then it all gives way to awesomeness and pure kickassery (is that word?)
It had a top notch villain that i had a rather frightening nightmare about the other day; "It is the darkest corners of the world that she calls home.It is from the deepest depths of the mind that she is inspired.None shall gaze upon her and think her fair or kind, for she is neither and has never known these words to be said of her.They are foreign to her, painful to conceive. There is no place for her or in the worlds beyond;she exists in the space between, where she pledges allegiance to neither God or Satan but only herself. Her acts of cruelty are beyond measure, for it is seldom realized that it was her hand that guided the knife to the back, the child to the cliff, the lover to the liar,he poison to the well. Of her sculptures of flesh, which merge life and death into one torturous state of being, little can be said by the pen which could rival the sight seen by her eyes. She is horror if horror should ever take upon a form.She is death and despair.She is the maiden of pain. "
And amazing pieces of lore here and there
"Echoes: the elders told Vrana and her peers in their youth that all actions were not without consequences, that all choices would be remembered and felt throughout time for time itself was alive; others said that when the earth slept it sometimes dreamed of what had been but no longer was. "
The book had it's own romantic story but it was more woven into it than the center of it , which gave way to more adventure and action packed scenes and battles between illusion and reality.
The best thing about this book was the Twists i was Ouh and Ah -ing all over it, by the hundredth page i was eating it up like a starving book worm!
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes fast paced adventure and just a dash of mystery
I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RN!!!!!!!
August 13, 2015
I liked this book a lot. This book takes you on the journey of Vrana. We begin the book with Vrana taking part in her tribes traditional trials to be accepted as a full member of their tribe. Vrana has just turned 18 and must complete certain tasks to complete the trials.
Lets just say that although I would assume that the world Vrana is on may or may not be earth, it is a post-apocalyptic world where there are mutated creatures and the humans that remain are now known as the Corrupted.
Vrana and the people of her tribe are humanoid in the manner that they are part of other species. Vrana is part Raven and her first Trial was to kill the Cruel Mother, a mutated giant Raven. This has given Vrana her skull helmet and allows her to take on her form of her humanoid species, the Raven.
While on her trials, Vrana encounters a long forgotten and vengeful spirit, a Witch that torments Vrana in her sleep and reeks havoc and destruction on her village. Vrana feels guilty because she believes that this blight on her village is due to compassion that she showed to a Corrupted, when her people are not supposed to show compassion.
Vrana also meets a stranger and begins to doubt and distrust her elders when she finds out that there are great cities beyond her mountain. Cities that hold tens of thousand Corrupted, when she was always told by the Elders she trusted that there were no more than small villages of the Corrupted. As villages of her people and cities of the Corrupted begin to disappear, Vrana is tasked to find the truth.
This story is well written and very descriptive. Makes you feel like you are immersed into the story. Characters are very dynamic and animated. Loved it.
Lets just say that although I would assume that the world Vrana is on may or may not be earth, it is a post-apocalyptic world where there are mutated creatures and the humans that remain are now known as the Corrupted.
Vrana and the people of her tribe are humanoid in the manner that they are part of other species. Vrana is part Raven and her first Trial was to kill the Cruel Mother, a mutated giant Raven. This has given Vrana her skull helmet and allows her to take on her form of her humanoid species, the Raven.
While on her trials, Vrana encounters a long forgotten and vengeful spirit, a Witch that torments Vrana in her sleep and reeks havoc and destruction on her village. Vrana feels guilty because she believes that this blight on her village is due to compassion that she showed to a Corrupted, when her people are not supposed to show compassion.
Vrana also meets a stranger and begins to doubt and distrust her elders when she finds out that there are great cities beyond her mountain. Cities that hold tens of thousand Corrupted, when she was always told by the Elders she trusted that there were no more than small villages of the Corrupted. As villages of her people and cities of the Corrupted begin to disappear, Vrana is tasked to find the truth.
This story is well written and very descriptive. Makes you feel like you are immersed into the story. Characters are very dynamic and animated. Loved it.
September 19, 2015
"The Bones of the Earth" sucked me in right away. Scott Hale's writing style, and the story itself (which I'd describe as fantasy with shades of horror), will keep you reading long past bed time!
Despite a few niggles with the editing, I really enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
Despite a few niggles with the editing, I really enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
August 23, 2016
I LOVE Scott Hale's writing style ( unique and very descriptive ), and the story itself was amazing !
very strong characters.
it all happens in a post-apocalyptic world , Vrana Of the Raven is the main character , a hunter who goes on an adventure to seek answers, a journey that changes her life forever.
haunting, horrific, all in all just great !
very strong characters.
it all happens in a post-apocalyptic world , Vrana Of the Raven is the main character , a hunter who goes on an adventure to seek answers, a journey that changes her life forever.
haunting, horrific, all in all just great !
February 21, 2018
3.5 stars. A nice mix of several genres and some good characterization, but the story didn't grab me.
The book was an interesting mix of dystopia, fantasy and horror. Each side was nicely developed and everything intertwined to form a full story. I liked the dystopian part with the various societies and creatures that came after the apocalyptic event, even if many questions about the past stayed in the shadows. The horror side was well mastered, leading to uncomfortable descriptions and other ugly events, giving an overall dark tone to the read. I didn't expect it, but was ok with it and it was a nice change from other dystopias. The fantasy parts weren't really my cup of tea as the setting felt too much realistic to accept fully magical powers and other paranormal things, so it decreased my interest in what was happening and Vrana's quest. The read was overall pleasant with a nice writing style and characters who felt lively and had good interactions, however I was more interested by the first chapters than by the quests that happened after that. The beginnings of most of the chapters were a little disturbing as they weren't the true sequels of what happened at the end of the previous chapter, so it was sometimes difficult to follow what was happening, especially as I didn't read many chapters in a row and I'm used to read several books at the same time. I'd the impression I missed something or forgot what the characters were doing on the previous chapter, so it was a bit tiresome. Overall, it wasn't a boring read, I enjoyed several parts of it, but I've mixed feeling about the whole story. I may check the sequel but I'm not decided about it yet.
The book was an interesting mix of dystopia, fantasy and horror. Each side was nicely developed and everything intertwined to form a full story. I liked the dystopian part with the various societies and creatures that came after the apocalyptic event, even if many questions about the past stayed in the shadows. The horror side was well mastered, leading to uncomfortable descriptions and other ugly events, giving an overall dark tone to the read. I didn't expect it, but was ok with it and it was a nice change from other dystopias. The fantasy parts weren't really my cup of tea as the setting felt too much realistic to accept fully magical powers and other paranormal things, so it decreased my interest in what was happening and Vrana's quest. The read was overall pleasant with a nice writing style and characters who felt lively and had good interactions, however I was more interested by the first chapters than by the quests that happened after that. The beginnings of most of the chapters were a little disturbing as they weren't the true sequels of what happened at the end of the previous chapter, so it was sometimes difficult to follow what was happening, especially as I didn't read many chapters in a row and I'm used to read several books at the same time. I'd the impression I missed something or forgot what the characters were doing on the previous chapter, so it was a bit tiresome. Overall, it wasn't a boring read, I enjoyed several parts of it, but I've mixed feeling about the whole story. I may check the sequel but I'm not decided about it yet.
June 1, 2017
Set in a post-apocalyptic world of madness, mayhem, and mutation, The Bones of the Earth, by Scott Hale, brings you to a place of ancient rich history long forgotten. A place where the strong minded prevail and the weak fail. The Bones of the Earth is a story that forces you to set aside the truths you know about this life and throw them in the trash. The old ways no longer exist. There is only persuasion through force, and that is what Hale demonstrates in his prose. Beautifully written and grotesque descriptions, it is everything a reader would want in an epic horror novel.
This story in general represents a classical metaphor told time and time again, yet described in a new, fresh way. It's about the cleansing of the earth where Mankind has gone to far for the last time. They dug to deep into the bowels of the earth and now Mother Earth seeks retribution. Her pawns, the Hybrids, will carry out her master plan. With their origins only known to few, it is they who keep the balance of the world now, or so they think. Keeping the overpopulation of the world in check, they are the ones who manage the corrupted by use of brute strength, supernatural powers, and wit. Under the guise of dead animal skulls, they take on the appearance of creatures suited to their nature, horrible monsters to be feared in the eyes of the corrupted. Consequently it is this pragmatic focal point the story revolves around making it that more compelling. Hale uses the simplest features of cultural dress to strike fear into those who would "corrupt" the earth a second time. A race of hybrid humans to coral the lesser corrupted humans. It is no surprise that mankind is keen on destroying itself and it is this weakness the earth takes advantage of. The Bones of the Earth forces the reader to think and second guess what is really happening from start to finish. There is such an exquisite presence of mystery here.
My take on this story (of fantastic horror) is that no place is safe from the carnal force and rage of the earth. Ideas such as the Black Hour and The Witch add to the suspense and drive of the story. The vaguity of their explination yields hours and hours of wonderment which furthers Hale's intention of revealing crucial parts of the story later on. The earth has its ways of preserving it self and Scott does an incredible job of showing this through his description of massive environments, disgusting monsters and unforgettable (and relatable) characters.
Which leads me to the protagonist, Vrana. Excellent development of character, exposed to a brutal world of ruin and destruction. Throughout the story, her conscious screams the questions, What is right? What am I meant to do in this life? These topics surface straight from the beginning chapters of the book and stay with Vrana until the end. Every good story needs conflict and Hale delivers without out failure. Vrana, fated to be a hybrid, questions her own morales wether to kill or not, and the dynamic is revisited throughout the duration of the novel. There are handfuls of other characters which appear in the story, but it is Vrana who is focused on and becomes the role model for others to follow. With that said, I won't write any spoilers, but Vrana’s development (as the veil is pulled from her eyes) is crucial for other characters to develop.
Overall, I give the book five out of five stars for its originality, it's mystery, and most importantly, it's character development. Vrana goes on a journey across a vast country side full of rot and ruin, encounters a storm of monsters, and faces scrutiny from just about everyone she meets with only her pet Raven to show her morale support. The Bones of the Earth is book one of a trilogy and I look forward to reading what happens in the next novel, The Three Heretics. What sort of mayhem awaits me?
- F. D. Gross
This story in general represents a classical metaphor told time and time again, yet described in a new, fresh way. It's about the cleansing of the earth where Mankind has gone to far for the last time. They dug to deep into the bowels of the earth and now Mother Earth seeks retribution. Her pawns, the Hybrids, will carry out her master plan. With their origins only known to few, it is they who keep the balance of the world now, or so they think. Keeping the overpopulation of the world in check, they are the ones who manage the corrupted by use of brute strength, supernatural powers, and wit. Under the guise of dead animal skulls, they take on the appearance of creatures suited to their nature, horrible monsters to be feared in the eyes of the corrupted. Consequently it is this pragmatic focal point the story revolves around making it that more compelling. Hale uses the simplest features of cultural dress to strike fear into those who would "corrupt" the earth a second time. A race of hybrid humans to coral the lesser corrupted humans. It is no surprise that mankind is keen on destroying itself and it is this weakness the earth takes advantage of. The Bones of the Earth forces the reader to think and second guess what is really happening from start to finish. There is such an exquisite presence of mystery here.
My take on this story (of fantastic horror) is that no place is safe from the carnal force and rage of the earth. Ideas such as the Black Hour and The Witch add to the suspense and drive of the story. The vaguity of their explination yields hours and hours of wonderment which furthers Hale's intention of revealing crucial parts of the story later on. The earth has its ways of preserving it self and Scott does an incredible job of showing this through his description of massive environments, disgusting monsters and unforgettable (and relatable) characters.
Which leads me to the protagonist, Vrana. Excellent development of character, exposed to a brutal world of ruin and destruction. Throughout the story, her conscious screams the questions, What is right? What am I meant to do in this life? These topics surface straight from the beginning chapters of the book and stay with Vrana until the end. Every good story needs conflict and Hale delivers without out failure. Vrana, fated to be a hybrid, questions her own morales wether to kill or not, and the dynamic is revisited throughout the duration of the novel. There are handfuls of other characters which appear in the story, but it is Vrana who is focused on and becomes the role model for others to follow. With that said, I won't write any spoilers, but Vrana’s development (as the veil is pulled from her eyes) is crucial for other characters to develop.
Overall, I give the book five out of five stars for its originality, it's mystery, and most importantly, it's character development. Vrana goes on a journey across a vast country side full of rot and ruin, encounters a storm of monsters, and faces scrutiny from just about everyone she meets with only her pet Raven to show her morale support. The Bones of the Earth is book one of a trilogy and I look forward to reading what happens in the next novel, The Three Heretics. What sort of mayhem awaits me?
- F. D. Gross
October 7, 2015
3.5 stars
I share most of Anne's opinions.
I liked the character of Vrana very much. I could easily identify with her. Her relationships with R'lyeh, Aeson and Mother seemed realistic and healthy. I like the fact that the author did not include instalove or many romantic scenes as other writers do. He was able to create a capturing story with a strong female character. No love triangle- horrrrayyyy! :D
I like the fact that as the story progresses, the line between black and white, good and bad becomes blurred and we discover that things are not so simple as in children's story books. Real life (even post-apocalyptic) is just more complex and sometimes it is painful to discover one's true identity.
The plot was imaginative and fast- paced.
Reasons why I won't give 5 stars:
As Anne has already written, I too was often lost in the plot. I did not quite understand what and why is happening. It seemed to me like the author wrote an explanatory paragraph but than someone has deleted it so we just ended up with a scene that didn't make sense to me.
Another negative is the amount of violence described. Of course, I understand this is a post-apocalyptic novel, maybe even horror. I don't mind reading about blood, intestines, dead babies etc. But in this case, it was too much and sometimes without any reasonable purpose or sense. It was strong language for the "shock effect" with no real meaning. I am not saying here that the language in this kind of book should be "clean". Definitely not. But in my opinion, if the author had made 15-20% less descriptions of torn flesh, showers of blood, torn genitals stuffed into someone's mouth, the book would have been better.
When I first encountered such passages, I felt emotional and interested in the plot (this was the first book of this genre I've read). But as I approached the end, such passages became more boring and eventually I was skipping them because I knew there would be no new or interesting information in them.
I share most of Anne's opinions.
I liked the character of Vrana very much. I could easily identify with her. Her relationships with R'lyeh, Aeson and Mother seemed realistic and healthy. I like the fact that the author did not include instalove or many romantic scenes as other writers do. He was able to create a capturing story with a strong female character. No love triangle- horrrrayyyy! :D
I like the fact that as the story progresses, the line between black and white, good and bad becomes blurred and we discover that things are not so simple as in children's story books. Real life (even post-apocalyptic) is just more complex and sometimes it is painful to discover one's true identity.
The plot was imaginative and fast- paced.
Reasons why I won't give 5 stars:
As Anne has already written, I too was often lost in the plot. I did not quite understand what and why is happening. It seemed to me like the author wrote an explanatory paragraph but than someone has deleted it so we just ended up with a scene that didn't make sense to me.
Another negative is the amount of violence described. Of course, I understand this is a post-apocalyptic novel, maybe even horror. I don't mind reading about blood, intestines, dead babies etc. But in this case, it was too much and sometimes without any reasonable purpose or sense. It was strong language for the "shock effect" with no real meaning. I am not saying here that the language in this kind of book should be "clean". Definitely not. But in my opinion, if the author had made 15-20% less descriptions of torn flesh, showers of blood, torn genitals stuffed into someone's mouth, the book would have been better.
When I first encountered such passages, I felt emotional and interested in the plot (this was the first book of this genre I've read). But as I approached the end, such passages became more boring and eventually I was skipping them because I knew there would be no new or interesting information in them.
October 15, 2015
A post-apocalyptic, Cthulhu style, fantasy, horror?
Or...something?
It's kind of hard to pigeon hole this one. Let's just let it be its own thing. Cuz you know what? I loved the shit outta whatever it was doing. It worked.
Scott Hale immediately blew me away with his words. The words were with intention. They had weight. It felt like taking my time reading the words was important. So often I just blow through books, they kinda just zip right through me and are done. Which is fine - I like a zippy story as much as the next person. But with The Bones Of The Earth I almost felt like I should be cautious with the words. To take my time with them and make sure I completely chewed before swallowing.
So I did. I took my time.
Not gonna lie, this is a fucking fucked up book. Yup. Double fucks. And I say that in a good way! Still, there's no getting around it. This book chewed me up and splatooed me all over its pages.
What?
What I'm trying to say is that sometimes the book was creepy as shit - then all of a sudden it would make me smirk and give one of those chuckles that aren't even a real chuckle but you do it cuz you know somewhere in there you are supposed to chuckle. And then all of a sudden there's battles and swords stabbing in guts and then...oh look!! Kissing!!
It really tuckered me out.
But by taking my time and letting Mr. Hales words slowly dissolve into me...well...it all made for a very surreal (and often grizzly) experience.
I was pretty much intent on giving this book a nice solid 3-star review. But as I sit here typing this out (I write all my reviews pants) and processing my journey, it has become pretty obvious that this is getting bumped up to 4-stars.
The book made me think. It tossed a few curve balls at me, and most importantly, it made me react.
Thanks for the story, Scott Hale! It was...an experience.
August 19, 2020
Holy F!#%
Only one other story has given me nightmares, and it was the comparatively mild At the mountains of madness. Needless to say my nightmares were much worse during this read.
The first things to catch my attention were the detailed descriptions of setting and the fluid action sequences within. Each battle kept me fully absorbed, and never once did I feel the action was clunky or forced. The multiple plot elements overwhelmed me at first and were seemingly disjointed from one another, but they are, by the end, webbed together in a very satisfying way. This is one of the most original fantasy novels I've come across, and by far the most gruesome horror novel I've had the pleasure of reading. I can't wait to see where this goes.
Only one other story has given me nightmares, and it was the comparatively mild At the mountains of madness. Needless to say my nightmares were much worse during this read.
The first things to catch my attention were the detailed descriptions of setting and the fluid action sequences within. Each battle kept me fully absorbed, and never once did I feel the action was clunky or forced. The multiple plot elements overwhelmed me at first and were seemingly disjointed from one another, but they are, by the end, webbed together in a very satisfying way. This is one of the most original fantasy novels I've come across, and by far the most gruesome horror novel I've had the pleasure of reading. I can't wait to see where this goes.
March 31, 2017
Beautiful, weird and very dark.
I experienced notes of early Clive Barker with a post apocalyptic fantasy aftertaste.
I experienced notes of early Clive Barker with a post apocalyptic fantasy aftertaste.
July 9, 2015
This book wrenched me out of my reading comfort zone and took me on a journey that was wonderfully horrific.The cover art is darkly beautiful. The main character is immediately compelling. The reader is powered through the heroine's trials because of the author's deft writing. The description is crisp and precise and the entire book reads like a movie. The movie industry would be wise to jump on this novel. The horror is served up with healthy doses of symbolism, archetypes and mind bending imagery. Neil Gaiman may want to watch out!
Some of the imagery will haunt me for all of my days but that is great writing. If I survive the apocalypse I want to be with these indomitable women and I want to have a crow friend named Blix.These characters don't just go into the belly of the beast but into the regurgitated bowels of the beast. It's a wild ride. I loved the not so subtle damnation of organized religion and the deeply evil power of corruption. And I want to read more. I am eagerly awaiting the next book... or movie. Kudos Scott Hale!
Some of the imagery will haunt me for all of my days but that is great writing. If I survive the apocalypse I want to be with these indomitable women and I want to have a crow friend named Blix.These characters don't just go into the belly of the beast but into the regurgitated bowels of the beast. It's a wild ride. I loved the not so subtle damnation of organized religion and the deeply evil power of corruption. And I want to read more. I am eagerly awaiting the next book... or movie. Kudos Scott Hale!
August 22, 2015
Scott Hale's The Bones of the Earth was truly an incredible literary experience. I have never read a book quite like this. The story takes post apocalyptic themes and mixes them with myth and magic to create a story that sucks you in from the first page.
Hale lets you into the character's lives and you begin an epic journey along with them. You cannot easily let go of them when the final pages come to. Each character is unique and complete with flaws and integrity. Some you hate and fear and other you root for and empathize with.
The novel provides just enough information about what has happened to the world as you learn how and where people live now. The world is rife with evil, gore, corruption, and sin which is juxtaposed with fantastical creatures, magic, mystery, and love.
I could easily imagine each page coming to life in my mind and had a very hard time ripping myself away from the world of The Bones of the Earth. I am greatly looking forward to his next novel!
Hale lets you into the character's lives and you begin an epic journey along with them. You cannot easily let go of them when the final pages come to. Each character is unique and complete with flaws and integrity. Some you hate and fear and other you root for and empathize with.
The novel provides just enough information about what has happened to the world as you learn how and where people live now. The world is rife with evil, gore, corruption, and sin which is juxtaposed with fantastical creatures, magic, mystery, and love.
I could easily imagine each page coming to life in my mind and had a very hard time ripping myself away from the world of The Bones of the Earth. I am greatly looking forward to his next novel!
June 14, 2015
I was given a free copy of this book in return for an honest review, and if you enjoy horror stories then you’ll love this book. In fact, it might leave you with nightmares. It’s extremely well written and evokes a weird post-apocalyptic world where Vrana, the main protagonist, wears a stinking, rotting raven’s head and, in her quest to save the world her tribe of humanoid hunters now inhabit, she is also tasked the kill humans, the Corrupted. She’s courageous and determined, athletic and skilled. Her one ‘weakness’ is that she sometimes shows compassion. Scott Hale is a talented author. His descriptions are vivid, the pace is fast, and the images scary. I look forward to more books in this series.
October 7, 2015
The Bones of the Earth is a great read hard to put down once started.
We begin the book with Vrana who has turned 18 and must complete tasks to complete the trials.
Vrana wears a Raven skull on her head but a lot of her tribe wear different skulls so it is not just about one group.
There are some gruesome parts to the book a horror book but also it has love thrown in as well.
Great story well done.
Thank you Catlady and the Author for a chance to read this rook.
We begin the book with Vrana who has turned 18 and must complete tasks to complete the trials.
Vrana wears a Raven skull on her head but a lot of her tribe wear different skulls so it is not just about one group.
There are some gruesome parts to the book a horror book but also it has love thrown in as well.
Great story well done.
Thank you Catlady and the Author for a chance to read this rook.
October 6, 2015
I got this free from the author for a fair and honest review. I just cannot finish this....quit 67% in. The horrible sex scene with the "do you know where pee comes from?" finalized it for me. Reads too much like a fantasy than apoc fiction. Jumps between scenes feeling rushed and with no good transition.
April 26, 2017
If you’re looking for a quick read that you can skim through without reading every word and still kind of know what’s going on, this isn’t the book for you. This book is a lot of work; every word is important, every small detail, each name of a new person/place/thing that you have to remember. The detail Hale weaves into this book is amazing. I found myself re-reading several passages to try and take everything in. The main character, Vrana, is strong, rational, and easy to root for. She’s intriguing without being too mysterious, and I was able to connect with her immediately. The pace of the book is perfect. There is a good balance of gore, suspense, action, and an appropriately small amount of romance. A thoroughly enjoyable work of art. I would love to see a film interpretation of this book! This is definitely one of those I will re-read again at some point.
June 7, 2019
Your typical apocalypse has the basics: once-proud ruins, ground zero, and the last of humanity picking up the scraps; but Scott Hale’s is something more. Horror and fantasy collide in this series as we follow Vrana on her trek across the post-apocalyptic wasteland, causing her to question everything she’s come to learn and love of her tribe. Scott Hale is able to bring your nightmares to life in this macabre series. Get lost —wander— and second guess reality and morals in this post-traumatized world that is Bones of The Earth.
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