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Chapel Hollow #1
The Thread That Binds the Bones
Winner of the Bram Stoker Tom can see ghosts—and that’s the least of his gifts. Now he must harness his newfound magic to save Chapel Hollow. A drifter trying to hide his extraordinary powers—and find a place where he belongs—Tom Renfield has recently settled in the small Oregon town of Arcadia. But when Laura Bolte gets into his cab, he’s plunged deep into a world of magic he didn’t even know existed. The pair is thrown together by supernatural forces, and Tom learns that Laura is the gifted daughter of an ancient family who lives in the nearby enclave of Chapel Hollow. But the mysterious clan has dark—and dangerous—secrets. If Tom is to have any hope of finding the kinship he’s been looking for, he and Laura must find a way to protect the home of her ancestors and the innocent citizens of Arcadia. The debut of a Philip K. Dick Award nominee who has been called “this generation’s Ray Bradbury,” The Thread That Binds the Bones is an extraordinary fantasy novel by the author of A Fistful of Sky and The Silent Strength of Stones (TheSunday Oregonian). The Thread That Binds the Bones is the 1st book in the Chapel Hollow Novels, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order. This ebook includes the bonus stories “Lost Lives” and “Caretaking.”
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1993
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2338 people want to read
About the author
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
302 books345 followersNina Kiriki Hoffman’s first solo novel, The Thread That Binds the Bones (1993), won the Bram Stoker Award for first novel; her second novel, The Silent Strength of Stones (1995) was a finalist for the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards. A Red Heart of Memories (1999, part of her “Matt Black” series), nominated for a World Fantasy Award, was followed by sequel Past the Size of Dreaming in 2001. Much of her work to date is short fiction, including “Matt Black” novella “Unmasking” (1992), nominated for a World Fantasy Award; and “Matt Black” novelette “Home for Christmas” (1995), nominated for the Nebula, World Fantasy, and Sturgeon awards. In addition to writing, Hoffman has taught, worked part-time at a B. Dalton bookstore, and done production work on The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. An accomplished fiddle player, she has played regularly at various granges near her home in Eugene, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
January 5, 2017
Tom Renfield, janitor-cum-taxi driver, has always had some weird abilities - seeing ghosts, perceiving other 'currents' of energy... but he's always tried to ignore them. Running from himself seems to be a large part of how he ended up in the tiny town of Arcadia. However, when he picks up a beautiful model from the big city in his taxi and sets off to take her to her brother's wedding at an obscure house in the woods, little does he know what he's in for. Laura's extended family are an ancient clan of witches(?) who make a habit of terrorizing and enslaving the townspeople. However, that doesn't stop Tom from instantly falling in love with her. With the help of a ghost, things are about to get shaken up in the town of Arcadia...
I read this novel in 2008, but recently picked up the Open Road Media eBook for the two bonus stories. The stories are both good, but aimed toward a younger readership than the novel. They share the theme of young people standing up for themselves and dealing with people who may hurt them. Both also have a skein of magic running through them, as both young people encounter a ghostly presence.
“Lost Lives”
A young boy has been bounced from relative to relative. He just wants to get along and be left alone, but his latest 'home' is with a bullying and resentful cousin. If he opens up to his aunt about the problem, he's sure, she'd just side with her own son. But a change may come, after he finds a strange item by the side of the road - and a girl's voice seems to speak to him through it.
This seems very much like either the beginning of a novel or an incident in the lives of characters who have been explored more deeply elsewhere. (Not sure if it is.) I liked it, though.
“Caretaking.”
A girl from a family of magical talents is irresistibly drawn to leap into a mall fountain - repository of thrown coins that hold wishes. Willy-nilly, she becomes the vehicle of one wish: a mother's desperate desire to see her murdered daughter one more time.
Sometimes, we cannot protect those close to us, even though we wish to - and this is something that must be accepted, even though difficult. The message gets slightly heavy-handed, but I still enjoyed the story. Again, I'd love to find out more about the characters.
I read this novel in 2008, but recently picked up the Open Road Media eBook for the two bonus stories. The stories are both good, but aimed toward a younger readership than the novel. They share the theme of young people standing up for themselves and dealing with people who may hurt them. Both also have a skein of magic running through them, as both young people encounter a ghostly presence.
“Lost Lives”
A young boy has been bounced from relative to relative. He just wants to get along and be left alone, but his latest 'home' is with a bullying and resentful cousin. If he opens up to his aunt about the problem, he's sure, she'd just side with her own son. But a change may come, after he finds a strange item by the side of the road - and a girl's voice seems to speak to him through it.
This seems very much like either the beginning of a novel or an incident in the lives of characters who have been explored more deeply elsewhere. (Not sure if it is.) I liked it, though.
“Caretaking.”
A girl from a family of magical talents is irresistibly drawn to leap into a mall fountain - repository of thrown coins that hold wishes. Willy-nilly, she becomes the vehicle of one wish: a mother's desperate desire to see her murdered daughter one more time.
Sometimes, we cannot protect those close to us, even though we wish to - and this is something that must be accepted, even though difficult. The message gets slightly heavy-handed, but I still enjoyed the story. Again, I'd love to find out more about the characters.
January 29, 2009
I first came across this book just browsing in a book superstore. I was feeling a little depressed at the time and this book seemed to strike a nerve for me. I bought it and did not want to put it down as I read it. It is now a "comfort read" for me. It encourages you to think about your personal ethics and to improve them. It makes you want to be a better person and as part of that, to treat others better.
I like the connection between Tom and Laura. They are in love, but they have no illusions that either of them is perfect. They learn each other's flaws, but look past those imperfections to see the best in each other. I also like Tom's determination to help/protect those who need it.
Not perfect, but well-written overall. I have lost count of the number of times that I have re-read this one.
I like the connection between Tom and Laura. They are in love, but they have no illusions that either of them is perfect. They learn each other's flaws, but look past those imperfections to see the best in each other. I also like Tom's determination to help/protect those who need it.
Not perfect, but well-written overall. I have lost count of the number of times that I have re-read this one.
November 2, 2016
After an incident where Tom Renfield had to reveal his abilities he finds himself moving to a new town to hide away who he is and his powers. Taking a job as a cab driver Tom finds himself picking up Laura Bolte and finding himself heading straight into the midst of a powerful magical ancient family in Chapel Hollow.
Laura and Tom finds themselves drawn together by supernatural forces that the pair doesn't understand so now Tom finds himself a part of the Bolte clan that has been terrorizing the small Oregon town of Arcadia. Laura and Tom find themselves trying to find a way to protect the innocent citizens.
Going into The Thread That Binds the Bones I had thought that this one was a young adult read but quickly found that I was mistaken on that. The main characters immediately are showering together and married and consummating the relationship within hours of meeting so I got off to a bit of a rocky start wondering what I'd gotten into with this one.
Once the magic starts being given depth in the story it did grab my interest piecing together how things worked since it did seem a bit unique. But unfortunately as much as I liked the magic in the story then other events happen that I didn't quite care for which then brought my opinion back down again.
In the end I wasn't a huge fan of this one, some good things but more than I wasn't enjoying so I decided on 2.5 stars. I would warn of a lot of things to anyone interested in reading this story. There's the instant connection involved straight away but for most the problem would lie in the terrible acts committed such as rape in the story.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Laura and Tom finds themselves drawn together by supernatural forces that the pair doesn't understand so now Tom finds himself a part of the Bolte clan that has been terrorizing the small Oregon town of Arcadia. Laura and Tom find themselves trying to find a way to protect the innocent citizens.
Going into The Thread That Binds the Bones I had thought that this one was a young adult read but quickly found that I was mistaken on that. The main characters immediately are showering together and married and consummating the relationship within hours of meeting so I got off to a bit of a rocky start wondering what I'd gotten into with this one.
Once the magic starts being given depth in the story it did grab my interest piecing together how things worked since it did seem a bit unique. But unfortunately as much as I liked the magic in the story then other events happen that I didn't quite care for which then brought my opinion back down again.
In the end I wasn't a huge fan of this one, some good things but more than I wasn't enjoying so I decided on 2.5 stars. I would warn of a lot of things to anyone interested in reading this story. There's the instant connection involved straight away but for most the problem would lie in the terrible acts committed such as rape in the story.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
January 5, 2019
While this book starts well enough and has a strong first 50 pages or so, the remainder of the book is so horribly flawed that no other rating will do. Perhaps if I was just rating it on entertainment value, it might have made two stars but considering in addition to its incredibly repetitive story line, the disturbing treatment it makes of its material, this has to go on my worst ever list.
The basic plot is this. There is a young man from a very troubled background who has a magical gift. He has been repressing this gift and lives a life of lonely isolation as a high school janitor. After a heroic act threatens to expose him, he flees to a quiet rural town with a dangerous secret, where he works as a taxi driver. This is the good part of the story. And then it all falls apart, turning into something that seems like the plot of a Josei Manga with some particularly uncomfortable topics.
Our young man will end up meeting a gorgeous fashion model. From this point on the protagonist turns into the single biggest Gary Stu I've ever encountered in fiction. He's literally the best at everything immediately and with basically no effort. He makes author insertion Gary Stu's like Harry Dresden seem nuanced by comparison. His magical abilities are literally called out in the text as limitless. Any problem, usually a magical problem, has a magical solution. There is no plot thread that magic can't both create and resolve, usually in a couple of pages. It's dull by about the third time it's presented, and turns the majority of the book into a pointless exercise in world building with no payoffs.
It turns out that our young gorgeous fashion model is from a coven of witches and warlocks that have been secretly tormenting the small town. Within about two hours of meeting the fashion model, the two are smitten with each other, married and minutes later are in bed having a passionate honeymoon.
Even the instant honeymoon wasn't enough to weird me out too much. OK, they are perfect for each other. Happens in stories all the time, however dumb love at first sight might be as a guide to real life. Surely an instant honeymoon isn't weirder than instant casual sex, right, and how many stories do we have where they meet each other and are in bed a few pages later? And it's not like things really went beyond the borders of taste, right? Well no... but this need to evaluate whether we're still in good taste becomes a repeated problem in this story, as we're soon embarked on a story of spirit possession, child kidnapping, violent pedophiles, and violent mental and physical rape.
And then things got really weird, and at some point I just found I couldn't keep rationalizing the text and apologizing for it.
I'm a dungeon master with about 35 years of experience. I try to run a somewhat serious game with an internally coherent setting, and it's forced me to spend some time contemplating what a society with the possibility of magic like that presented in 'The Thread That Binds the Bones' might be like. And one thing that was immediately clear is that magic is serious stuff, and when it is misused it's not a joking matter or something to be taken lightly. The author of this story seems to realize that, but then sort of handwaves away the seriousness of the crimes involved or the mentality of the people that would do things like that to other people. In my own homebrew world, forcing someone to do something against their will with magic is taken every bit as seriously as a violent rape, and the punishment is equally serious. "Eh, I'm sorry. I won't do it again." does not cut it, and the happily ever after ending of this story that wipes all slates clean just feels creepy, and the weird affection the heroine develops for her beyond dysfunctional family goes beyond forgiveness into just weird.
After reading this book, I felt more than a little bit slimy - like I need to get some pumice and scrub.
The basic plot is this. There is a young man from a very troubled background who has a magical gift. He has been repressing this gift and lives a life of lonely isolation as a high school janitor. After a heroic act threatens to expose him, he flees to a quiet rural town with a dangerous secret, where he works as a taxi driver. This is the good part of the story. And then it all falls apart, turning into something that seems like the plot of a Josei Manga with some particularly uncomfortable topics.
Our young man will end up meeting a gorgeous fashion model. From this point on the protagonist turns into the single biggest Gary Stu I've ever encountered in fiction. He's literally the best at everything immediately and with basically no effort. He makes author insertion Gary Stu's like Harry Dresden seem nuanced by comparison. His magical abilities are literally called out in the text as limitless. Any problem, usually a magical problem, has a magical solution. There is no plot thread that magic can't both create and resolve, usually in a couple of pages. It's dull by about the third time it's presented, and turns the majority of the book into a pointless exercise in world building with no payoffs.
It turns out that our young gorgeous fashion model is from a coven of witches and warlocks that have been secretly tormenting the small town. Within about two hours of meeting the fashion model, the two are smitten with each other, married and minutes later are in bed having a passionate honeymoon.
Even the instant honeymoon wasn't enough to weird me out too much. OK, they are perfect for each other. Happens in stories all the time, however dumb love at first sight might be as a guide to real life. Surely an instant honeymoon isn't weirder than instant casual sex, right, and how many stories do we have where they meet each other and are in bed a few pages later? And it's not like things really went beyond the borders of taste, right? Well no... but this need to evaluate whether we're still in good taste becomes a repeated problem in this story, as we're soon embarked on a story of spirit possession, child kidnapping, violent pedophiles, and violent mental and physical rape.
And then things got really weird, and at some point I just found I couldn't keep rationalizing the text and apologizing for it.
I'm a dungeon master with about 35 years of experience. I try to run a somewhat serious game with an internally coherent setting, and it's forced me to spend some time contemplating what a society with the possibility of magic like that presented in 'The Thread That Binds the Bones' might be like. And one thing that was immediately clear is that magic is serious stuff, and when it is misused it's not a joking matter or something to be taken lightly. The author of this story seems to realize that, but then sort of handwaves away the seriousness of the crimes involved or the mentality of the people that would do things like that to other people. In my own homebrew world, forcing someone to do something against their will with magic is taken every bit as seriously as a violent rape, and the punishment is equally serious. "Eh, I'm sorry. I won't do it again." does not cut it, and the happily ever after ending of this story that wipes all slates clean just feels creepy, and the weird affection the heroine develops for her beyond dysfunctional family goes beyond forgiveness into just weird.
After reading this book, I felt more than a little bit slimy - like I need to get some pumice and scrub.
August 10, 2008
One of the greatest books I know. I have owned this book twice, and would get it again if there were any copies to be had. But no one who has this book and 'gets' this book will ever let it go. If there is a unifying theme to the stories I especially love, it is that of Power, claiming it, using it and using it well. Almost every character in this book has issues with their power, or the lack of it. Even more interesting than the portrayal of Tom coming into his strength is the development of Carroll, who needs to learn the ethics of power.
October 27, 2021
3.5/5; 4 stars
I don’t even know how I heard about this book but I am glad I gave it a try. The magic system in this book was pretty interesting. I liked the characters and the world building and can see why it won awards for a first novel.
I don’t even know how I heard about this book but I am glad I gave it a try. The magic system in this book was pretty interesting. I liked the characters and the world building and can see why it won awards for a first novel.
July 16, 2015
I'm sure a lot of people would enjoy this. It's a light read and it's on the lighter end of the urban fantasy genre (flying, ghosts, rituals, and magical clothes, but no pointy hats or cryptids, and most "magic language" is translated in text). It's relatively self-contained.
That being said: this novel is very much a product of its time. Clothing, commerce, and the fashion industry are extremely dated, which isn't the end of the world--historical fiction is a legitimate genre.
I don't know if this is typical of urban fantasy of the late '80s and early '90s, but the characters don't seem particularly well fleshed out and the narrative was incredibly over-simplified. Strangers get married, but manage to communicate pretty well despite enormous cultural differences, mostly because one of them is a mind-reader who can converse with convenient ghosts. Most if not all major conflicts are resolved because the antagonists were misunderstood, or because they were taught by someone worse than themselves. (I have a really hard time feeling sympathetic to people who use backstory as an excuse to torture/kidnap/rape innocent bystanders.)
What might have been an intriguing story becomes surreal and horrific when a child rapist is forgiven. He isn't forgiven because he displayed remorse or because he was redeemed in some way; he just doesn't like being punished, and when all is said and done, he would prefer to go on raping the child. His forgiveness is directly tied to his magical skills being useful in the next chapter. It is, to me, both appalling and ridiculous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2015
I enjoyed this book quite a bit because of the unique magic and some very lovable characters.
But I was greatly troubled by some aspects of this story. Which is why I can't give it more than two stars. Don't read on if you haven't read the book as the rest of this contains spoilers.
But I was greatly troubled by some aspects of this story. Which is why I can't give it more than two stars. Don't read on if you haven't read the book as the rest of this contains spoilers.
July 22, 2012
The Thread That Binds the Bones is an unusual urban fantasy. It weaves a sense of the Appalachian extended families with modern times and genealogical magic & cursing. It tells the stories of those who fight to get away from family traditions and how one person can twist an entire generation.
Read IT!!! It is a hair slow in the first chapter but it is a juggernaut that cannot be stopped. It pursues the path of ethical right & wrong. Addressing slavery, power used for selfish purpose & the moral/ethical correction that outside viewpoints can bring to any insular group.
I cherish the memory of the scenes when the ghosts of family passed on come to call to explain exactly what THEY think of the modern generation's behaviors. It is a compelling read.
Notice: This is a hard book to find. I cherish my copy & it is one of the few that I will not lend out.. good hunting
Enjoy
Read IT!!! It is a hair slow in the first chapter but it is a juggernaut that cannot be stopped. It pursues the path of ethical right & wrong. Addressing slavery, power used for selfish purpose & the moral/ethical correction that outside viewpoints can bring to any insular group.
I cherish the memory of the scenes when the ghosts of family passed on come to call to explain exactly what THEY think of the modern generation's behaviors. It is a compelling read.
Notice: This is a hard book to find. I cherish my copy & it is one of the few that I will not lend out.. good hunting
Enjoy
September 11, 2009
Tom runs from his job as a school janitor when he becomes a bit too famous for his own taste after saving some teens from their attempt to commit suicide. Normally this might not be a bad thing, but he saves them using magic and someone sees it and that’s too much notoriety. Tom moves on to another town and gets a job driving a cab. This town seems pretty nice, but he finds its inhabitants to be somewhat distant. He puts it down to a small town’s distaste for outsiders until Laura shows up and commandeers him and his cab. Laura is a member of the infamous Bolte family – a magic wielding family that has protected and terrorized the townspeople for hundreds of years. The most recent generation of Boltes has been worse than any prior – in addition to wreaking havoc in town, they also steal people away to be their fetches, or slaves.
As Tom drives Laura home to her family, he becomes intrigued by her, and realizes that somehow they are alike – they both have these powers. He elects to accompany her, and when they attend the wedding of her cousin, Michael, they are likewise selected to become a couple by the powers that be. So, even though they’ve only known one another for a day, they marry. One of the presences (a ghost of an ancestor) asks to root in Tom, so that it may teach him how to use his powers.
Soon everything starts changing for the Bolte family, beginning with Tom’s entrance into it. There are other unions and dissolutions, and at last they begin to discover what caused the souring within the family and what has so warped this current generation. But when they find the cause, it almost destroys them.
A LOT happens in this book in a short amount of time. At the end you’re sort of left wondering, wow, ok, what happens next? It doesn’t cover a lot of time, but something new sort of attacks you on every single page. Definitely intriguing, and sadly short. Interesting ideas of magic as being nets, and people being bound together by invisible threads that develop as their relationships grow. Maybe not the tightest story I’ve ever read, but intriguing nonetheless.
As Tom drives Laura home to her family, he becomes intrigued by her, and realizes that somehow they are alike – they both have these powers. He elects to accompany her, and when they attend the wedding of her cousin, Michael, they are likewise selected to become a couple by the powers that be. So, even though they’ve only known one another for a day, they marry. One of the presences (a ghost of an ancestor) asks to root in Tom, so that it may teach him how to use his powers.
Soon everything starts changing for the Bolte family, beginning with Tom’s entrance into it. There are other unions and dissolutions, and at last they begin to discover what caused the souring within the family and what has so warped this current generation. But when they find the cause, it almost destroys them.
A LOT happens in this book in a short amount of time. At the end you’re sort of left wondering, wow, ok, what happens next? It doesn’t cover a lot of time, but something new sort of attacks you on every single page. Definitely intriguing, and sadly short. Interesting ideas of magic as being nets, and people being bound together by invisible threads that develop as their relationships grow. Maybe not the tightest story I’ve ever read, but intriguing nonetheless.
April 28, 2018
DNF @ 51%
I liked the beginning a lot but then things in the book did not add up for me.
The characers are black and white. Either you're good and everything is dandy and 100% trustful or you're a baddie and everything he does is out of wack. And when the baddie promises to be good from then on, then he's 100% trustful too and even be friends with him (given that said baddie is your rapist!). This book is too naive. Does the author really believe this type of forgiving bullshit? And, the magic systems feels like middle schoolers playing make believe...along with a lot of side characters and tangents that I really could care less. But, the my biggest problem is that the setting and characterizations are just not very believable even with my suspension of disbelief hat on. I feel that the authors wrote her characters and actions without being in their shoes (exampe of the character forgiving and being friendly to a rapist who raped her for 3 years) but rather just because she "wants" that to happen because of the story.
July 15, 2015
One of the books that left me thinking a lot about the plot and all the subplots in this strange fantasy tale about an apparently ordinary man who stumbles into the magical family which rules the village Chapel Hollow. There are still things not explained or fully described in this book, but this is exaclty what I liked about it - it leaves everybody space to invent your own explanations and theories about that happened and why. A real treat - get your copy!!!
February 27, 2008
As is typical of Hoffman's work, the characters in this novel really sparkle, and are ultimately what "made" the book for me. The plot is exciting and intriguing, as well, but I felt that the end was wrapped up just a little too quickly; I wanted one more chapter of denouement or something.
December 30, 2022
re-read 10/8/2005
re-read 6/20/2008
re-read was in 2010... 10/28/2010
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK -- I have the Bober cover, the Fricke cover and Common Threads
re-read 6/20/2008
re-read was in 2010... 10/28/2010
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK -- I have the Bober cover, the Fricke cover and Common Threads
April 22, 2012
The book is structurally very similar to other Hoffman novels I've read: a powerful, out-of-balance family is put to rights by an outsider or inside-outsider with the assistance of an unlikely metaphysical ally. But both The Silent Strength of Stones and A Fistful of Sky were more finely crafted, and therefore it would be tempting to recommend skipping to those in lieu of starting here.
Its exploratory pace, as the protagonists struggle to understand themselves, each other, and what, exactly, is wrong with Chapel Hollow, may frustrate an unprepared reader.
A strange comment late in the book about regular, premium, and unleaded gasoline pulled me right out of the story to wonder what year it was set in (for the most part, it avoids dating itself like this). It was especially strange because it was unnecessary to the story.
Its exploratory pace, as the protagonists struggle to understand themselves, each other, and what, exactly, is wrong with Chapel Hollow, may frustrate an unprepared reader.
A strange comment late in the book about regular, premium, and unleaded gasoline pulled me right out of the story to wonder what year it was set in (for the most part, it avoids dating itself like this). It was especially strange because it was unnecessary to the story.
January 3, 2021
Loved it! I am a huge fan of this author. As usual, there are quite some psychological issues that lie at the heart of the story. I was slightly disappointed that Tom was taking center stage so much during the first three quarters of the book. Laura only starts using her magic more at the end and is in need of help a lot in the beginning. With Tom being new to the whole magic thing, this seems a bit off.
Second review:
I gave this 5 stars the first time around, but I think that is a bit too much. I like the psychology that Hoffman puts in her work, but everything does come very easy to Tom, with him hopping around everywhere and saving everyone. I find his character to be a bit bland, he's just a decent person with a backstory.
Second review:
I gave this 5 stars the first time around, but I think that is a bit too much. I like the psychology that Hoffman puts in her work, but everything does come very easy to Tom, with him hopping around everywhere and saving everyone. I find his character to be a bit bland, he's just a decent person with a backstory.
July 6, 2014
Love, love, LOVE her books - and this is the one to start with! This is the first NKH book I read (when it was first published, more than 20 years ago!) & I have since followed her & purchased everything she's written as it's become available - she creates worlds that are amazing, characters that are compelling, & stories that draw you into something astonishing. Every book of hers I finish has me waiting for the next, whether they are connected or freestanding novels. This is where it begins...
December 30, 2022
yes, I have 4, ( 4! ) editions of this, Nina's first true novel.
The US paperback with the Richard Bober cover (with the model who could be Alexandra Vandermoot from Highlander), this UK/OZ edition with the Una Fricke cover that makes me think she should to a special cover-edition for My Sweet Audrina, the "collected" edition from Common Threads and the (YAY!) new e-book edition... I adore Nina Kiriki Hoffman
The US paperback with the Richard Bober cover (with the model who could be Alexandra Vandermoot from Highlander), this UK/OZ edition with the Una Fricke cover that makes me think she should to a special cover-edition for My Sweet Audrina, the "collected" edition from Common Threads and the (YAY!) new e-book edition... I adore Nina Kiriki Hoffman
December 23, 2020
In my memory (it's been 25 years since I initially read this book) this is one of the finest examples of how best to merge fantasy and horror and come up with a literary masterpiece.
I had a couple days free with nothing on my TBR pile and awaiting Christmas presents (hopefully books) so decided to re-read this book.
Our hero is Tom, he's a drifter who has secrets and also has powers.
He meets Laura who is the rebellious daughter of an ancient family with great powers and dark intentions.
They marry after only knowing each other a few hours and Tom gets pulled into a web of power, deceit, ancient rituals and more.
It's an urban fantasy classic.
This was always a five star read in my memory but after re-reading it I would modify that and say it's a strong high four star book (it does have some flaws) but I would recommend it to most anyone.
I had a couple days free with nothing on my TBR pile and awaiting Christmas presents (hopefully books) so decided to re-read this book.
Our hero is Tom, he's a drifter who has secrets and also has powers.
He meets Laura who is the rebellious daughter of an ancient family with great powers and dark intentions.
They marry after only knowing each other a few hours and Tom gets pulled into a web of power, deceit, ancient rituals and more.
It's an urban fantasy classic.
This was always a five star read in my memory but after re-reading it I would modify that and say it's a strong high four star book (it does have some flaws) but I would recommend it to most anyone.
September 3, 2019
An darkly magical story about a young man lost in the world with powers he suppresses because they confuse & frighten him. When fate puts him together with a young woman from a magical family who is returning to the home she thought she'd escaped, both their powers become stronger just in time to save her family and the town of non-magical humans that have been increasingly terrorized by them. Hard to put down or forget but might leave you breathless because of it's fast pace. A lot of action and complicated interactions take place in just a few days.
November 16, 2024
I don't necessarily think this is a good book. however, I respect it immensely for committing fully to something deeply strange and creepy while also sort of pretending to not do that in a way that I think ends up highlighting how fucked up the plot is
August 5, 2020
The Thread That Binds the Bones is a pretty hard novel to find. (It is slightly easier to find related novel The Silent Strength of Stones and so far, Spirits That Walk in Shadows has not made an appearance at the local used book store.) I had originally sought this book out because I had read and liked The Silent Strength of Stones and from there started looking for the Matt Black books and reading her short stories. (I also eventually discovered the LaZelle Family books when they came out, which I also enjoyed.)
Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s books don’t really fall into the niche of “urban fantasy” because there’s generally a lack of the kind of action/adventure that typifies what I think of as “urban fantasy.” Hoffman tends to explore bizarre magical transformations, dysfunctional families and relationships. Good and evil has shades of gray, and killing is not generally the best way to dispose of the bad guy (if one is even present).
In The Thread That Binds the Bones two people are drawn together and end up dealing with an extremely dysfunctional community of magic users. (Said families are representatives of an ethnic group that has been living in concealment for centuries.) One of the two people is a young woman named Laura who ran away from the community and became a model. Her main reason for having left is because she was the only one who didn’t have any power. (Her secondary reason is that her family is a bunch of jerks.) She is returning to attend a wedding. (And because there’s no point in hiding since her family can apparently find her.) The other is a young man named Tom who has a lot of uncontrolled magical ability, and ends up in the tiny town of Arcadia due to having quit his previous job after an unwanted incident concerning his powers.
Arcadia has a very strange relationship with the community of Chapel Hollow, which is where the magic users live. The magic users tend to prey on the townsfolk and the townsfolk try to stay out of the way of the magic users. (It is mentioned that at one time, the relationship between the two communities was once more friendly.) Tom is completely unaware of the situation when Laura turns up in town and needs a cab to get up to Chapel Hollow. They each discover that they have a lot in common, though Laura is at first disturbed by this and believes that Tom might be a particularly horrible practical joke.
From there, they somehow end up married, and Tom acquires advice and a teacher in the form of a ghost named Peregrine who decides that Tom is just the thing necessary to fix the extremely dysfunctional dynamics of Chapel Hollow. Of course in order to do this, he and Laura are going to have to discover and face down the main reason why almost everyone in the family is a dysfunctional monster, before that reason tears the family–and everything else–apart.
Hoffman is at her best when she is exploring the dynamics of family or interpersonal relationships. I do not always agree with the end result of some of her interactions but what she comes up with is generally believable on an emotional level. The pacing is a little slow but it also manages to be engaging, unpredictable and interesting enough to make the reader want to stick with the story and find out what happens next.
Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s books don’t really fall into the niche of “urban fantasy” because there’s generally a lack of the kind of action/adventure that typifies what I think of as “urban fantasy.” Hoffman tends to explore bizarre magical transformations, dysfunctional families and relationships. Good and evil has shades of gray, and killing is not generally the best way to dispose of the bad guy (if one is even present).
In The Thread That Binds the Bones two people are drawn together and end up dealing with an extremely dysfunctional community of magic users. (Said families are representatives of an ethnic group that has been living in concealment for centuries.) One of the two people is a young woman named Laura who ran away from the community and became a model. Her main reason for having left is because she was the only one who didn’t have any power. (Her secondary reason is that her family is a bunch of jerks.) She is returning to attend a wedding. (And because there’s no point in hiding since her family can apparently find her.) The other is a young man named Tom who has a lot of uncontrolled magical ability, and ends up in the tiny town of Arcadia due to having quit his previous job after an unwanted incident concerning his powers.
Arcadia has a very strange relationship with the community of Chapel Hollow, which is where the magic users live. The magic users tend to prey on the townsfolk and the townsfolk try to stay out of the way of the magic users. (It is mentioned that at one time, the relationship between the two communities was once more friendly.) Tom is completely unaware of the situation when Laura turns up in town and needs a cab to get up to Chapel Hollow. They each discover that they have a lot in common, though Laura is at first disturbed by this and believes that Tom might be a particularly horrible practical joke.
From there, they somehow end up married, and Tom acquires advice and a teacher in the form of a ghost named Peregrine who decides that Tom is just the thing necessary to fix the extremely dysfunctional dynamics of Chapel Hollow. Of course in order to do this, he and Laura are going to have to discover and face down the main reason why almost everyone in the family is a dysfunctional monster, before that reason tears the family–and everything else–apart.
Hoffman is at her best when she is exploring the dynamics of family or interpersonal relationships. I do not always agree with the end result of some of her interactions but what she comes up with is generally believable on an emotional level. The pacing is a little slow but it also manages to be engaging, unpredictable and interesting enough to make the reader want to stick with the story and find out what happens next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2017
3 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
A man who can talk to ghosts winds up in a small town where one isolated clan has strange powers of its own.
I've read only a few of Nina Kiriki Hoffman's books (including the sequel to this one) and stories, but I've liked their clear, evocative language, and their simple, unaffected characters. I opened The Thread That Binds the Bones with enthusiasm. I left the book with less.
The book starts well, with the same strong prose, the same engaging characters. Unfortunately, what Hoffman gains in simplicity, she loses in credibility. All her main characters are amiable and affable, and they solve all their disagreements with a friendly word or two. It's not credible, and it quickly becomes so flat as to be both facile and painful. There's a fair amount of repetition - of circumstance, philosophy, simplistic life lessons. Characters either gush or sulk (but only briefly). The big, bad, evildoer is readily (and quickly) redeemed, and accepted by all (including his victim), replaced by a diabolus ex machina who's only barely sketched in.
I found the book severely disappointing. It's not bad per se, but it's far from the elegant work that I expected from seeing Hoffman's other work. The approach is in some ways suitable to a YA audience, but frankly I think some of the life lessons provided aren't so wise. For staunch Hoffman fans only.
Received free copy of book in exchange for honest review.
A man who can talk to ghosts winds up in a small town where one isolated clan has strange powers of its own.
I've read only a few of Nina Kiriki Hoffman's books (including the sequel to this one) and stories, but I've liked their clear, evocative language, and their simple, unaffected characters. I opened The Thread That Binds the Bones with enthusiasm. I left the book with less.
The book starts well, with the same strong prose, the same engaging characters. Unfortunately, what Hoffman gains in simplicity, she loses in credibility. All her main characters are amiable and affable, and they solve all their disagreements with a friendly word or two. It's not credible, and it quickly becomes so flat as to be both facile and painful. There's a fair amount of repetition - of circumstance, philosophy, simplistic life lessons. Characters either gush or sulk (but only briefly). The big, bad, evildoer is readily (and quickly) redeemed, and accepted by all (including his victim), replaced by a diabolus ex machina who's only barely sketched in.
I found the book severely disappointing. It's not bad per se, but it's far from the elegant work that I expected from seeing Hoffman's other work. The approach is in some ways suitable to a YA audience, but frankly I think some of the life lessons provided aren't so wise. For staunch Hoffman fans only.
Received free copy of book in exchange for honest review.
May 12, 2019
I really wanted to fall in love with this book. I’m super into any story where the main character has latent powers that get discovered over time, but I’m SUPER NOT INTO CHILD RAPE. I mean, there’s probably a way it could have still been included and been okay (from a literary perspective, not a moral one), but I felt it was just done so poorly.
I understand that being turned into a powerless 9-year-old girl forces the child rapist (and overall bad guy) to experience vulnerability and see the errors of his ways, but the suddenness and completeness of this mental transformation feels completely unrealistic. He immediately realizes “Oh I was wrong, I wanna be good now” after like 2 minutes of being a child. However, even this unrealistic transformation would have been redeemable if not for the reactions of the other characters to this new reformed character.
His post-transformation relationship with the other characters is what really ruins the book for me.
His former victim of 3 years is mad at him for a few days and then seemingly completely gets over it. She even initiates physical contact with him.
Her adoptive “parents" are totally cool with these developments and do not try to separate them in the least. They accept this reformed character as a new man, and they never consider any sort of punishment for his past deeds.
I understand that being turned into a powerless 9-year-old girl forces the child rapist (and overall bad guy) to experience vulnerability and see the errors of his ways, but the suddenness and completeness of this mental transformation feels completely unrealistic. He immediately realizes “Oh I was wrong, I wanna be good now” after like 2 minutes of being a child. However, even this unrealistic transformation would have been redeemable if not for the reactions of the other characters to this new reformed character.
His post-transformation relationship with the other characters is what really ruins the book for me.
His former victim of 3 years is mad at him for a few days and then seemingly completely gets over it. She even initiates physical contact with him.
Her adoptive “parents" are totally cool with these developments and do not try to separate them in the least. They accept this reformed character as a new man, and they never consider any sort of punishment for his past deeds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2016
Dammit that was so good and I wanted more. It ended far too quickly. T_T
There were a lot of elements of this book I enjoyed.
I know its a bit weird but the kinda ugly 80s style book cover was what attracted me first. I knew twas gonna be ma jam. And it wiz. I love that 80s/90s vibe its got the nostalgic feels to it.
Anyhoo right from the beginning with the spooky vibes surrounding Tom in the places he stayed and the way he met Laura it captivated me. The magic the family the disorienting speed of it all. I felt happily dizzy.
All the main characters I loved. Especially Trixie and Maggie.
And the author has a very good way of transforming a character considered monstrous to someone worth pitying.
My favourite theme has to be redemption. Any book with redemption and a change of heart, you give me it I'm a big marshmallow of a goner.
The end *fight scene* was something slightly predicable but the conclusion was disappointing because it wrapped up far too quickly without exploring deeper the connections and reasons for the evil. I just wanted MORE.
There were a lot of elements of this book I enjoyed.
I know its a bit weird but the kinda ugly 80s style book cover was what attracted me first. I knew twas gonna be ma jam. And it wiz. I love that 80s/90s vibe its got the nostalgic feels to it.
Anyhoo right from the beginning with the spooky vibes surrounding Tom in the places he stayed and the way he met Laura it captivated me. The magic the family the disorienting speed of it all. I felt happily dizzy.
All the main characters I loved. Especially Trixie and Maggie.
And the author has a very good way of transforming a character considered monstrous to someone worth pitying.
My favourite theme has to be redemption. Any book with redemption and a change of heart, you give me it I'm a big marshmallow of a goner.
The end *fight scene* was something slightly predicable but the conclusion was disappointing because it wrapped up far too quickly without exploring deeper the connections and reasons for the evil. I just wanted MORE.
September 20, 2013
One of my favorite books. Very interesting magic. Interesting people, especially apparently ordinary Tom Renfield who stumbles on Chapel Hollow not knowing of the strange people who live there and their ways with magic. However, it turns out he has some magical talent of his own, and he's welcomed by the ghosts who live there, though the living residents are mostly more negatively inclined toward this outsider. Things have changed in the relations between the Hollow and the nearby town, in ways that the townspeople find difficult to live with. Tom is a breath of fresh air, and a needed antidote for some of what ails the area.
I wish I could find my copy, or another copy. I'm just glad the library still has a copy, though it's not in very good shape. I'm pretty sure I first read this in the '90s when it was new.
I wish I could find my copy, or another copy. I'm just glad the library still has a copy, though it's not in very good shape. I'm pretty sure I first read this in the '90s when it was new.
November 26, 2016
25.11.2016 - 4,5* - strašně se mi to líbí, i když je to ve své podstatě docela jednoduché. Pro tu ztřeštěnou originálnost a naivní chování postav, kdy se objeví pár klišé, které mi tak nějak nevadí, a pro tu kouzelnou atmosféru. :)
Teď, po druhém čtení, mi to začalo připomínat Ztracenou bránu od Carda. Nebo spíše naopak, Ztracená brána mi připomínala tohle, jelikož jsem tohle četla jako první a taky to jako první vyšlo. Jsou to dvě rozdílné knihy, ale atmosféra je lehce podobná, a obě se mi zatraceně líbily. :)
1.12.2015 - 4*
Je to jiné. Ale skvěle jiné. Má to šílenou atmosféru, některé situace, které kniha popisovala, byly prostě absurdní a byla to směska naivity a zlomyslnosti a zákeřnosti (v tomto poměru). Ale zatraceně se mi to líbilo. Nečekala bych, že s tím, kolik toho urbanka a fantasy už vyplivly, narazím na něco docela originálního a tak... well, kouzelného. .)
Teď, po druhém čtení, mi to začalo připomínat Ztracenou bránu od Carda. Nebo spíše naopak, Ztracená brána mi připomínala tohle, jelikož jsem tohle četla jako první a taky to jako první vyšlo. Jsou to dvě rozdílné knihy, ale atmosféra je lehce podobná, a obě se mi zatraceně líbily. :)
1.12.2015 - 4*
Je to jiné. Ale skvěle jiné. Má to šílenou atmosféru, některé situace, které kniha popisovala, byly prostě absurdní a byla to směska naivity a zlomyslnosti a zákeřnosti (v tomto poměru). Ale zatraceně se mi to líbilo. Nečekala bych, že s tím, kolik toho urbanka a fantasy už vyplivly, narazím na něco docela originálního a tak... well, kouzelného. .)
December 24, 2009
I read this book and immediately loaned it to my daughter. It's one of those fantasy books where everything goes right. The strong and kind protagonist meets each challenge that comes his way, learning as he goes, and fearlessly ups the ante again and again in his battle with evil. He even dies and comes back. Yes, he's Christ-like, but it's all in good fun and other characters in the book are well-developed enough to carry intriguing subplots that do not pale before the Ultimate Battle Between Good and Evil main plot, but delve as fearlessly as their protagonist into difficult moral issues such as our capacity for cruelty, corruption, and forgiveness. I picked this up because a friend loaned it to me, then didn't want to put it down. I want more of Hoffman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2012
Very nicely written--Hoffman's a stylist. The premise is pretty much Zenna Henderson's The People gone bad, which is intriguing. Very readable, but I felt it skimpy in parts. Not that I wanted an explanation or backstory for the Family, or why they have Clearly Symbolic Surnames, but that the baddy was such a shadowy figure until the end, and it seemed the other characters were overlooking the source of the problem (which was perhaps established too early, or I'm too quick at guessing). Also I didn't really feel afraid for the hero; his powers were so mutable and adaptable I felt sure they'd rise to the occasion every time.
I enjoyed it, and I'd read other books by her, but it did make me wonder if she was held back by wordcount limits or other considerations.
I enjoyed it, and I'd read other books by her, but it did make me wonder if she was held back by wordcount limits or other considerations.
September 25, 2021
I can't quite figure out why this book has a higher average rating than the same author's "A Fistful of Sky". I loved the latter, but felt like this book fell flat. Too much external conflict, not enough pondering what that would do to the characters' insides. If you get married after you've known someone for less than a day, are you really going to work well together immediately thereafter with only minor hitches?
***
Ten years later, I reread with no clue I'd read it before. This time around, I would have given it four stars (but I'm leaving my rating alone). I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and liked the characters, but the plot had no real arc.
***
Ten years later, I reread with no clue I'd read it before. This time around, I would have given it four stars (but I'm leaving my rating alone). I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and liked the characters, but the plot had no real arc.
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