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These Savage Bones
Mexico, 1875. Twenty-three-year old Esperanza de la Rosa knows more about steam engines and electromagnetics than a proper lady should. Fiercely independent, she’s more interested in science and superstition than finding a suitable husband.
When Esperanza’s uncle is murdered during the Day of the Dead, her world is shaken. To catch the killer, she must accept the help of the last person she wants to see—her ex-fiancé Alejandro Valladares, a gentleman turned bounty hunter with a troubled past.
Thrust into a tangled web of secrets and lies that threaten to destroy everything she thought she knew, Esperanza must uncover the truth in order to bring her uncle’s murderer to justice or her failure will haunt her forever.
THESE SAVAGE BONES is a Young Adult novella.
When Esperanza’s uncle is murdered during the Day of the Dead, her world is shaken. To catch the killer, she must accept the help of the last person she wants to see—her ex-fiancé Alejandro Valladares, a gentleman turned bounty hunter with a troubled past.
Thrust into a tangled web of secrets and lies that threaten to destroy everything she thought she knew, Esperanza must uncover the truth in order to bring her uncle’s murderer to justice or her failure will haunt her forever.
THESE SAVAGE BONES is a Young Adult novella.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
103 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2016
1 person is currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 26, 2016
* 4.5 / 5 stars *
If you love fast-paced, feel-good stories with a lot of suspense, unique settings, and a dash of romance, you are going to absolutely adore this debut novella from Kaitlin Hillerich.
I was lucky enough to serve as a beta-reader for Kaitlin, and I was blown away by how fun and thrilling this story was–not to mention the incredible setting. You get a well-developed peak into 19th century Mexico without the world-building ever overwhelming the story. Rather, it adds to it, building up the air of mystery and intrigue surrounding the plot.
I whipped through this novella in a single afternoon sitting, not because it's a novella (and not a full-length novel, that is) but because the murder mystery was just that gripping. The twists and turns were near constant, and the fun soap-opera feel will leave you feeling giddy and breathless.
This is definitely a recommended read. I can't wait to read what Kaitlin publishes next!
If you love fast-paced, feel-good stories with a lot of suspense, unique settings, and a dash of romance, you are going to absolutely adore this debut novella from Kaitlin Hillerich.
I was lucky enough to serve as a beta-reader for Kaitlin, and I was blown away by how fun and thrilling this story was–not to mention the incredible setting. You get a well-developed peak into 19th century Mexico without the world-building ever overwhelming the story. Rather, it adds to it, building up the air of mystery and intrigue surrounding the plot.
I whipped through this novella in a single afternoon sitting, not because it's a novella (and not a full-length novel, that is) but because the murder mystery was just that gripping. The twists and turns were near constant, and the fun soap-opera feel will leave you feeling giddy and breathless.
This is definitely a recommended read. I can't wait to read what Kaitlin publishes next!
May 6, 2019
A really good story!
The problem with committing to a eprelentless quest for truth and justice is that sometimes you get exactly what you wanted.
When the ssudden, tragic loss of her beloved uncle unleashes a chain of events in Esperanza’s life that she could never have foreseen, she is confronted by a web of lies that challenges everything she thinks she knows.
Esperanza is smart, fiercely independent, and headstrong, a young woman way ahead of her time and society in Mexico, 1875. Her spirit and loyalty are admirable, yet they can also be seen to cloud her judgement and cause her to overlook things in her life which she has always taken at face value.
This story leaves the reader considering not only the unintended consequences of the characters’ actions, but also the difficulty of what to do with the calaveras that tumble fromthe family closet once the door is opened.
A blend of mystery, historical fiction, and a bit of romance, ‘These Savage Bones’ is an interesting and thought-provoking tale that can be enjoyed in a couple of hours.
The problem with committing to a eprelentless quest for truth and justice is that sometimes you get exactly what you wanted.
When the ssudden, tragic loss of her beloved uncle unleashes a chain of events in Esperanza’s life that she could never have foreseen, she is confronted by a web of lies that challenges everything she thinks she knows.
Esperanza is smart, fiercely independent, and headstrong, a young woman way ahead of her time and society in Mexico, 1875. Her spirit and loyalty are admirable, yet they can also be seen to cloud her judgement and cause her to overlook things in her life which she has always taken at face value.
This story leaves the reader considering not only the unintended consequences of the characters’ actions, but also the difficulty of what to do with the calaveras that tumble fromthe family closet once the door is opened.
A blend of mystery, historical fiction, and a bit of romance, ‘These Savage Bones’ is an interesting and thought-provoking tale that can be enjoyed in a couple of hours.
August 3, 2018
Un goût de trop peu! En même temps avec une novella il fallait s’y attendre!
J’ai toujours un peu peur quand je lis de l’auto-édition parce que souvent, l’absence de travail éditorial se ressent. Mais pas là. J’ai beaucoup aimé la plume de l’auteure, l’intrigue et les personnages sont bien travaillés, les dialogues sont réussis.
J’espère avoir l’occasion de lire d’autres œuvres de l’auteure et je pense que cette nouvelle mérite d’être lue!
(Et franchement, la couverture est magnifique et tellement adaptée à l’ambiance!)
J’ai toujours un peu peur quand je lis de l’auto-édition parce que souvent, l’absence de travail éditorial se ressent. Mais pas là. J’ai beaucoup aimé la plume de l’auteure, l’intrigue et les personnages sont bien travaillés, les dialogues sont réussis.
J’espère avoir l’occasion de lire d’autres œuvres de l’auteure et je pense que cette nouvelle mérite d’être lue!
(Et franchement, la couverture est magnifique et tellement adaptée à l’ambiance!)
March 17, 2018
Wish this was longer and fleshed out, cause I really enjoyed it.
February 23, 2018
A bit melodramatic. So many comma splices in the dialogue, and the confession speeches were unrealistic. And for being so clever, Esperanza was pretty stupid in the part where she confronted her father near the end.
Yet I love the setting, and the characters were well written. The mystery is actually easy for me to follow (unlike a lot of plots involving deception). Overall, a compelling story, especially considering that short fiction like this has to do all things a novel does--get the reader to care about a character, fit a whole character arc--in much less space.
Yet I love the setting, and the characters were well written. The mystery is actually easy for me to follow (unlike a lot of plots involving deception). Overall, a compelling story, especially considering that short fiction like this has to do all things a novel does--get the reader to care about a character, fit a whole character arc--in much less space.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews