What do you think?
Rate this book
Boneset & Feathers
You don't know their fire is coming until it's too late. That's exactly the way the witchfinders like it. As an isolated enchantress, Odette knows this too well--she lost nearly her whole family to the last round of executions, barely escaping with her own life. All the magic she could conjure wasn't enough to protect her mother and sister, a burden that leaves a despondent Odette practically wishing she'd burned with the rest.
Now it's five years later, and as the last witch left from her village, Odette has exiled herself to the nearby woods where she's sworn off all magic, hoping instead for quiet and for safety. But no witch has ever been permitted a peaceful life.
It starts with crows tumbling out of the clouds and spectral voices on the wind that won't leave her alone. Then there are those midnight visits to the graveyard that she can't quite remember in the morning and the strange children following her everywhere she goes. Odette wants to forget magic, but her magic doesn't want to forget her. Meanwhile, the former friends she left behind in the village are cowering together, hiding from the ghostly birds they believe she's sent to torment them for abandoning her. But that's only the beginning of their problems, as Odette soon discovers their worst nightmare is about to come true--the witchfinders are returning. And this time, the decree is clear: to burn the witch that got away.
With the men drawing nearer to the village, Odette must face the whispers from the dead and confront her fear of her own growing power if she wants any chance of stopping the army of witchfinders determined to rid the countryside of magic once and for all.
Now it's five years later, and as the last witch left from her village, Odette has exiled herself to the nearby woods where she's sworn off all magic, hoping instead for quiet and for safety. But no witch has ever been permitted a peaceful life.
It starts with crows tumbling out of the clouds and spectral voices on the wind that won't leave her alone. Then there are those midnight visits to the graveyard that she can't quite remember in the morning and the strange children following her everywhere she goes. Odette wants to forget magic, but her magic doesn't want to forget her. Meanwhile, the former friends she left behind in the village are cowering together, hiding from the ghostly birds they believe she's sent to torment them for abandoning her. But that's only the beginning of their problems, as Odette soon discovers their worst nightmare is about to come true--the witchfinders are returning. And this time, the decree is clear: to burn the witch that got away.
With the men drawing nearer to the village, Odette must face the whispers from the dead and confront her fear of her own growing power if she wants any chance of stopping the army of witchfinders determined to rid the countryside of magic once and for all.
172 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2020
14 people are currently reading
1352 people want to read
About the author
Gwendolyn Kiste
126 books858 followersGwendolyn Kiste is the four-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Rust Maidens, Reluctant Immortals, The Haunting of Velkwood, Boneset & Feathers, and Pretty Marys All in a Row, among others. Her short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in outlets including Lit Hub, Nightmare, Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, Vastarien, Tor Nightfire, Titan Books, and The Dark. She's a Lambda Literary Award winner, and her fiction has also received the This Is Horror award for Novel of the Year as well as nominations for the Shirley Jackson, Premios Kelvin, Ignotus, and Dragon awards.
Originally from Ohio, she now resides on an abandoned horse farm outside of Pittsburgh with her husband, their excitable calico cat, and not nearly enough ghosts. Find her online at gwendolynkiste.com
Originally from Ohio, she now resides on an abandoned horse farm outside of Pittsburgh with her husband, their excitable calico cat, and not nearly enough ghosts. Find her online at gwendolynkiste.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 24, 2020
Review to follow...
October 2, 2020
Star review in the October 2020 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: lyrical, fluid style, social justice
Returning with her second novel after winning numerous awards for THE RUST MAIDENS, Kiste introduces readers to Odette, the last of the witches, living on the outskirts of a small town, who has banished herself to a magic-free life of isolation after the Witchfinders came from “The Capitol,” five years previously, violently burning every witch, except for Odette, who would not burn. When the birds start falling from the sky, Odette is forced to stop hiding, confront her extreme loss and trauma, reckon with her past, stop living in fear of the future, and seek out justice, no matter the cost. Using a style that moves fluidly back and forth through time and lyrical language to describe awful things, readers will hang on every word, cringe and cheer through the action, and passionately root for Odette, despite her obvious unreliability as a narrator, as they watch her grow into her true self.
Verdict: Kiste casts a spell with this original and suspenseful horror story, but it holds more than meets the eye. It is also an honest look at what it means to be a woman who doesn’t conform to societal stereotypes, once who bravely stands up to systematic oppression. Clearly influenced by Shirley Jackson, this novel will also appeal to readers who enjoyed THE POWER by Alderman, THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Henderson or WONDERLAND by Stage.
Three Words That Describe This Book: lyrical, fluid style, social justice
Returning with her second novel after winning numerous awards for THE RUST MAIDENS, Kiste introduces readers to Odette, the last of the witches, living on the outskirts of a small town, who has banished herself to a magic-free life of isolation after the Witchfinders came from “The Capitol,” five years previously, violently burning every witch, except for Odette, who would not burn. When the birds start falling from the sky, Odette is forced to stop hiding, confront her extreme loss and trauma, reckon with her past, stop living in fear of the future, and seek out justice, no matter the cost. Using a style that moves fluidly back and forth through time and lyrical language to describe awful things, readers will hang on every word, cringe and cheer through the action, and passionately root for Odette, despite her obvious unreliability as a narrator, as they watch her grow into her true self.
Verdict: Kiste casts a spell with this original and suspenseful horror story, but it holds more than meets the eye. It is also an honest look at what it means to be a woman who doesn’t conform to societal stereotypes, once who bravely stands up to systematic oppression. Clearly influenced by Shirley Jackson, this novel will also appeal to readers who enjoyed THE POWER by Alderman, THE YEAR OF THE WITCHING by Henderson or WONDERLAND by Stage.
Read
April 4, 2021This tale of witches and their horrible hunters reads like a dark fairytale. Review later . . .
August 24, 2020
Published on Sci Fi and Scary: https://www.scifiandscary.com/boneset...
“If you listen, you can almost hear them whispering, these witches the world forgot.” – Boneset & Feathers, Gwendolyn Kiste
After winning the 2018 Bram Stoker award for her debut novel, The Rust Maidens, Gwendolyn Kiste followed up by winning two more Stokers in 2019 for her shorter fiction. Now, readers will have a brand new novel from Kiste in Boneset & Feathers. Kiste enchants as she juxtaposes witches and power with vulnerability and community.
This is not a book that uses witches as caricature. There are no wart-noses, black pointed hats, or other overblown witch-y tropes. Instead we have Odette, a singular girl, the last of her kind in her town. Readers travel along with her as she comes of age both as a person and in her craft. The setting and Kiste’s lush writing work well together to evoke nature and its true power.
“The world was leaving us behind, but she and I never really minded. After all, there ought to be more than one way for a girl to live.” – Boneset & Feathers, Gwendolyn Kiste
To call this “just a witch story” would be to ignore the deeper themes laced throughout. Odette and others deal with issues most women today still navigate through. Underestimation, male privilege, and more are part of this tapestry. This is not to say that the book is “preachy”; it is organic, this is how the world is. Where do we get power? Who has power? How do we learn to BE in a world where odds are stacked against us?
As far as levels of horror go, it would be a mistake to assume that this coming of age story doesn’t deliver. At times ethereal and others visceral, avid horror readers and others will be pleased with everything from body horror, to magic and surreal situations.
Boneset & Feathers releases on November 3rd. Kiste is a versatile and engaging author making this book definitely one to check out. Recommended for fans of coming of age, witches, and more.
“If you listen, you can almost hear them whispering, these witches the world forgot.” – Boneset & Feathers, Gwendolyn Kiste
After winning the 2018 Bram Stoker award for her debut novel, The Rust Maidens, Gwendolyn Kiste followed up by winning two more Stokers in 2019 for her shorter fiction. Now, readers will have a brand new novel from Kiste in Boneset & Feathers. Kiste enchants as she juxtaposes witches and power with vulnerability and community.
This is not a book that uses witches as caricature. There are no wart-noses, black pointed hats, or other overblown witch-y tropes. Instead we have Odette, a singular girl, the last of her kind in her town. Readers travel along with her as she comes of age both as a person and in her craft. The setting and Kiste’s lush writing work well together to evoke nature and its true power.
“The world was leaving us behind, but she and I never really minded. After all, there ought to be more than one way for a girl to live.” – Boneset & Feathers, Gwendolyn Kiste
To call this “just a witch story” would be to ignore the deeper themes laced throughout. Odette and others deal with issues most women today still navigate through. Underestimation, male privilege, and more are part of this tapestry. This is not to say that the book is “preachy”; it is organic, this is how the world is. Where do we get power? Who has power? How do we learn to BE in a world where odds are stacked against us?
As far as levels of horror go, it would be a mistake to assume that this coming of age story doesn’t deliver. At times ethereal and others visceral, avid horror readers and others will be pleased with everything from body horror, to magic and surreal situations.
Boneset & Feathers releases on November 3rd. Kiste is a versatile and engaging author making this book definitely one to check out. Recommended for fans of coming of age, witches, and more.
December 29, 2022
So… I got this as an ARC via Netgalley quite a long time ago, but I was in a bit of a reading slump and never got around to it until now. I hadn’t even realized it was a novella, otherwise I would have maybe pushed through anyway to finish it in time, but alas.
It’s a dark story about witches and witchhunters, and I haven’t read many books like that so that was nice. I was already into it from page one, and it was very easy to just keep on reading as the end of every chapter made you want to read the next one.
It’s not perfect. The characters themselves are a bit shallow and not that developed, and the situations they fall into repeat themselves sometimes (even by characters making the same mistakes over and over). As it’s a novella it’s not as notable, but I’ve read other novellas where I already felt much more with fewer pages. But it is a genuinely scary story, even just as a social commentary and not necessarily just the gruesome acts in it.
I really enjoyed it, and would definitely read more from this author!
It’s a dark story about witches and witchhunters, and I haven’t read many books like that so that was nice. I was already into it from page one, and it was very easy to just keep on reading as the end of every chapter made you want to read the next one.
It’s not perfect. The characters themselves are a bit shallow and not that developed, and the situations they fall into repeat themselves sometimes (even by characters making the same mistakes over and over). As it’s a novella it’s not as notable, but I’ve read other novellas where I already felt much more with fewer pages. But it is a genuinely scary story, even just as a social commentary and not necessarily just the gruesome acts in it.
I really enjoyed it, and would definitely read more from this author!
September 9, 2020
Boneset & Feathers is the newest novel from Gwendolyn Kiste! This one is a little different from her other books as it feels much more like fantasy with some horror tones.
My favorite thing about this book was the forest, and I wish we would have had more time there. It was such an interesting environment, and provided good spooky elements. I would love to see this pop up in future stories. I was also intrigued by the birds, and I appreciate how Gwendolyn Kiste incorporates them into her stories.
Sometimes the story felt repetitive, and there wasn't much tension / suspense. I have to say that I struggled with this one, and couldn't really connect to the characters. However, there's a lot here that many readers will enjoy, especially if you like fantasy that dips into horror. Boneset & Feathers will be out on 11/3!
CW - misogyny, animal death
My favorite thing about this book was the forest, and I wish we would have had more time there. It was such an interesting environment, and provided good spooky elements. I would love to see this pop up in future stories. I was also intrigued by the birds, and I appreciate how Gwendolyn Kiste incorporates them into her stories.
Sometimes the story felt repetitive, and there wasn't much tension / suspense. I have to say that I struggled with this one, and couldn't really connect to the characters. However, there's a lot here that many readers will enjoy, especially if you like fantasy that dips into horror. Boneset & Feathers will be out on 11/3!
CW - misogyny, animal death
November 16, 2020
Kiste's latest novel invites us into a world of fantasy, witchcraft, and darkness in the form of shadows, dug up ghosts, and of course the witchfinders -- men who are all too happy to watch a woman's body burn. Lush language and a main character (Odette) who is struggling to free herself from the fire hiding beneath her skin guide us through the novel. Kiste's writing is so easy to fall into; it makes it hard to put the book down. While the setting and premise lure us into a world of dark fantasy, the real horror lies with these men who are hungry to prove themselves by taking power of women's bodies and burning them to dust. Odette's fight for her identity, her freedom, and for a world where women can be themselves without fear of death will capture readers whole -- and through the inky shadows threatening to consume the earth, Kiste offers the most powerful element of all -- hope.
August 22, 2022
Odette trata de vivir alejada de la magia después de que los cazadores de brujas acabaran con su família cinco años atrás, pero hay cosas que son inevitables.
Una novela que nos muestra la rabia y la impotencia de la protagonista al enfrentarse a una condición que ella no ha elegido. Una historia de crecimiento personal donde Odette deberá enfrentarse a todo aquello que teme e intentar sobrevivir.
La trama no guarda muchas sorpresas, pero la fuerza de esta reside en la historia que cuenta. La lucha de las brujas por sobrevivir en un mundo dónde los hombres les dan caza, una historia que transcurre en la época medieval y que bien es mucho más cercana de lo que podría parecer.
Plumas y Conuelda es una novela que nos hará sentir rabia e impotencia mientras acompañamos a Odette en busca de su camino que guarda en su interior una crítica a la sociedad patriarcal en que vivimos.
Una novela que nos muestra la rabia y la impotencia de la protagonista al enfrentarse a una condición que ella no ha elegido. Una historia de crecimiento personal donde Odette deberá enfrentarse a todo aquello que teme e intentar sobrevivir.
La trama no guarda muchas sorpresas, pero la fuerza de esta reside en la historia que cuenta. La lucha de las brujas por sobrevivir en un mundo dónde los hombres les dan caza, una historia que transcurre en la época medieval y que bien es mucho más cercana de lo que podría parecer.
Plumas y Conuelda es una novela que nos hará sentir rabia e impotencia mientras acompañamos a Odette en busca de su camino que guarda en su interior una crítica a la sociedad patriarcal en que vivimos.
July 8, 2022
La reseña completa en http://inthenevernever.blogspot.com/2...
«Soy la bruja que tiene que esperar. La que tiene que ver morir a todas las demás primero».
¿Qué ocurriría si toda tu familia fuese aniquilada a manos de los cazadores de brujas? ¿Qué pasaría si lograses sobrevivir a la matanza únicamente para terminar sola y aislada en el bosque? ¿Y si renunciaste a tus poderes buscando tranquilidad y sosiego pero la magia se niega a renunciar a ti? Hoy quiero recomendarles Plumas y consuelda, de Gwendolyn Kiste, una novela llena de brujas y crueldad. De magia y también de odio. Si les gustó Las Doncellas de Óxido la nueva novela de su autora también les sorprenderá.
«Soy la bruja que tiene que esperar. La que tiene que ver morir a todas las demás primero».
¿Qué ocurriría si toda tu familia fuese aniquilada a manos de los cazadores de brujas? ¿Qué pasaría si lograses sobrevivir a la matanza únicamente para terminar sola y aislada en el bosque? ¿Y si renunciaste a tus poderes buscando tranquilidad y sosiego pero la magia se niega a renunciar a ti? Hoy quiero recomendarles Plumas y consuelda, de Gwendolyn Kiste, una novela llena de brujas y crueldad. De magia y también de odio. Si les gustó Las Doncellas de Óxido la nueva novela de su autora también les sorprenderá.
June 24, 2022
3,75 / 5
Odette combate un horror cada día. El horror de los recuerdos. El horror de ver a su familia quemada por los cazadores de crujas. Años después, Odette sigue viviendo en el mismo pueblo, pero alejada de todo en medio del bosque, renunciando a la magia y buscando la tranquilidad. Sin embargo, a ninguna bruja se le ha permitido nunca vivir tranquila. Odette quiere olvidar su vida anterior, pero ella no la quiere olvidar. Los cazadores de brujas están de vuelta y el mismo bosque le advierte de ello.
Gwendolyn Kiste nos lleva a un escenario medieval de brujería clásica, donde la magia y los cazadores de brujas campan a sus anchas con todo su poder. Más casi como novela de ficción histórica trasladada al Salem de 1692 que como novela fantástica, Plumas y consuelda nos muestra la verdadera pesadilla encarnada en los propios hombres que se sienten poderosos y felices por ver arder el cuerpo de una mujer por que pueden hacerlo. Sin embargo, la historia de Odette no deja en ningún momento de ser un coming-of-age, una especie de cuento medieval de crecimiento personal en un mundo donde todas las probabilidades de supervivencia parecen estar en su contra.
El camino de Odette en busca de su propia identidad y libertad es por supuesto el núcleo de Plumas y Consuelda, surcado y trazado siempre por la prosa cruda de Gwendolyn Kiste que conocimos en Las doncellas de óxido, transmitiendo con cada frase un dolor que lleva adherido a su piel. Con un alarde de documentación en el tema brujeril, sin grandes trucos ni giros de trama, Kiste es capaz de tejer los hilos emocionales que componen a Odette y construir un sólido camino de empoderamiento femenino sin llegar a ser nunca algo aleccionador ni moralista. Un camino repleto de subestimación y privilegio masculino. Un viaje del que Odette sabe su precio.
Reseña en el blog: https://boywithletters.blogspot.com/2...
Odette combate un horror cada día. El horror de los recuerdos. El horror de ver a su familia quemada por los cazadores de crujas. Años después, Odette sigue viviendo en el mismo pueblo, pero alejada de todo en medio del bosque, renunciando a la magia y buscando la tranquilidad. Sin embargo, a ninguna bruja se le ha permitido nunca vivir tranquila. Odette quiere olvidar su vida anterior, pero ella no la quiere olvidar. Los cazadores de brujas están de vuelta y el mismo bosque le advierte de ello.
Gwendolyn Kiste nos lleva a un escenario medieval de brujería clásica, donde la magia y los cazadores de brujas campan a sus anchas con todo su poder. Más casi como novela de ficción histórica trasladada al Salem de 1692 que como novela fantástica, Plumas y consuelda nos muestra la verdadera pesadilla encarnada en los propios hombres que se sienten poderosos y felices por ver arder el cuerpo de una mujer por que pueden hacerlo. Sin embargo, la historia de Odette no deja en ningún momento de ser un coming-of-age, una especie de cuento medieval de crecimiento personal en un mundo donde todas las probabilidades de supervivencia parecen estar en su contra.
El camino de Odette en busca de su propia identidad y libertad es por supuesto el núcleo de Plumas y Consuelda, surcado y trazado siempre por la prosa cruda de Gwendolyn Kiste que conocimos en Las doncellas de óxido, transmitiendo con cada frase un dolor que lleva adherido a su piel. Con un alarde de documentación en el tema brujeril, sin grandes trucos ni giros de trama, Kiste es capaz de tejer los hilos emocionales que componen a Odette y construir un sólido camino de empoderamiento femenino sin llegar a ser nunca algo aleccionador ni moralista. Un camino repleto de subestimación y privilegio masculino. Un viaje del que Odette sabe su precio.
Reseña en el blog: https://boywithletters.blogspot.com/2...
October 22, 2020
“She knew how this would go. That while the witchfinders are more than happy to murder anyone, it’s easy to guess who they’ll choose first: a mother, a sister, a daughter. Something about a woman’s burning body enlivens these men. How much sweeter our melting flesh must smell to them, like clumps of sugar crystallizing in a kettle.”
The last time the witchfinders visited Odette’s village, they stole everything from her. Her parents are dead, her sister has fled, her friends have abandoned her, and she’s become a pariah. She escaped the witchfinder’s pyres, but not only has she vowed not to ever use magic again, she’s faced with terrible things that want to harm her, and a lasting remnant from the witchfinders that makes getting close to others virtually impossible. When the village is plagued with a portent of doom, they blame Odette and the witchfinders come a calling.
If I had only one word to describe Boneset & Feathers, I���d chose the word lush. The fairytale world, the beautiful writing, the fascinated characters, and storyline are all lush. Odette makes a great protagonist. She’s grieving and good hearted. She reminds me of Snow White had she been a good witch and instead of woodland creatures and dwarves, she’d had an undead crow and a mysterious group of creepy kids. Instead of her beauty, her magic would be her most coveted and feared treasure.
Many of the story themes are particularly relevant now, such as the fear powerful women provoke, as well as the strength in sisterhood.
Kiste always brings something special to every story she writes. Boneset & Feathers is layered with such specialness. She consistently delivers a phenomenal reading experience. Her books and stories are always must reads for me. She is hands down the number one author I recommend to friends who want to read more horror.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author and Broken Eye Books for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
The last time the witchfinders visited Odette’s village, they stole everything from her. Her parents are dead, her sister has fled, her friends have abandoned her, and she’s become a pariah. She escaped the witchfinder’s pyres, but not only has she vowed not to ever use magic again, she’s faced with terrible things that want to harm her, and a lasting remnant from the witchfinders that makes getting close to others virtually impossible. When the village is plagued with a portent of doom, they blame Odette and the witchfinders come a calling.
If I had only one word to describe Boneset & Feathers, I���d chose the word lush. The fairytale world, the beautiful writing, the fascinated characters, and storyline are all lush. Odette makes a great protagonist. She’s grieving and good hearted. She reminds me of Snow White had she been a good witch and instead of woodland creatures and dwarves, she’d had an undead crow and a mysterious group of creepy kids. Instead of her beauty, her magic would be her most coveted and feared treasure.
Many of the story themes are particularly relevant now, such as the fear powerful women provoke, as well as the strength in sisterhood.
Kiste always brings something special to every story she writes. Boneset & Feathers is layered with such specialness. She consistently delivers a phenomenal reading experience. Her books and stories are always must reads for me. She is hands down the number one author I recommend to friends who want to read more horror.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author and Broken Eye Books for providing an Advance Reader Copy.
May 11, 2021
This is my first foray into Gwendolyn Kiste’s work and I absolutely adored her writing style! Kiste is one of those authors you see on bookstagram pretty much incessantly and now I get it. You should definitely check her out if you haven’t already.
Boneset and Feathers is kind of a horror-lite book with more fantasy elements. The main character has heart and power, but was well balanced in both. She uses her pain to strengthen herself and those around her which takes this story to some awesome places (which is kinda crazy considering it’s a little under 200 pages!). So what I’m saying here is that if you like stories about witches, power, struggle, and overcoming all matter of things, this book is calling your name. It’s 4 stars from me :)
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Broken Eye Books, and Gwendolyn Kiste for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Boneset and Feathers is kind of a horror-lite book with more fantasy elements. The main character has heart and power, but was well balanced in both. She uses her pain to strengthen herself and those around her which takes this story to some awesome places (which is kinda crazy considering it’s a little under 200 pages!). So what I’m saying here is that if you like stories about witches, power, struggle, and overcoming all matter of things, this book is calling your name. It’s 4 stars from me :)
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Broken Eye Books, and Gwendolyn Kiste for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2021
Oof.
I want to be clear that this is getting two stars because while I don't think it's a good book, it's also not one that's offensive.
I think the premise for this book is fine (the hope that the plot could redeem it was honestly the only reason I finished it), but the actual writing is overwrought. The stakes were sky-high from the beginning, so when they went up as conflict rose throughout the book it started to feel melodramatic. The characters tended to the same extremes; the doyen witchfinder is cartoonishly evil and I had a really hard time taking him seriously as a character because of this. The author's writing could have used more liberal editing. I found myself mentally whittling down the sentences as I read. This could use a lot more polish.
Anyway, picturing the doyen witchfinder as this dude made the whole thing entertaining enough to finish, so that was a plus:
I want to be clear that this is getting two stars because while I don't think it's a good book, it's also not one that's offensive.
I think the premise for this book is fine (the hope that the plot could redeem it was honestly the only reason I finished it), but the actual writing is overwrought. The stakes were sky-high from the beginning, so when they went up as conflict rose throughout the book it started to feel melodramatic. The characters tended to the same extremes; the doyen witchfinder is cartoonishly evil and I had a really hard time taking him seriously as a character because of this. The author's writing could have used more liberal editing. I found myself mentally whittling down the sentences as I read. This could use a lot more polish.
Anyway, picturing the doyen witchfinder as this dude made the whole thing entertaining enough to finish, so that was a plus:
November 12, 2020
Review to come
July 7, 2021
Gwendolyn Kiste knows what it’s like to be a witch and I think that’s why she writes the character of Odette so well. This story is about magic, alienation, intrigue, and witch-hunting. It reads like a fantastical historical fiction novel, and the fear of being discovered is real.
Odette has always been a witch; it runs in her family. When she was a little girl, other little girls would ask her to teach them little spells and tricks for fun until their parents found out and forced them to avoid her and her home. As she grows up, Witchfinders run rampant through towns and cities alike, searching for witches (or more accurately, women with any intelligence) to dole out their perceived justice using Salem-style trials. Odette wants to forget her magic so she can live in peace in the woods alone and grow old without being pursued by the Witchfinders who are pure human evil, but her magic goes into her core and will not let her dissolve it.
The magic in this book is strong, but the tangible strength is Gwendolyn Kiste’s ability to convey the isolation and wariness that can accompany a witch, even in the real world. People often see herbalists and Wiccans as novelties, a ‘thing’ to pursue if interests are piqued or they need something they can’t get elsewhere. Once that interest is satiated, magical people are often shunned and pushed away like an embarrassing memory. The abandonment Odette feels from her town and her friends is a magnified version of what witches still feel today.
I recommend this book because it feels so genuine. You feel for Odette. You get a great sense of her magic, her fears, and her loneliness. It is authentic and paints an accurate picture of humanity on all sides, including when women don’t stand up to support other women for whatever reason. If you want to feel deeply and delve into the magical woods with Odette, pick up a copy of “Boneset & Feathers” today.
Odette has always been a witch; it runs in her family. When she was a little girl, other little girls would ask her to teach them little spells and tricks for fun until their parents found out and forced them to avoid her and her home. As she grows up, Witchfinders run rampant through towns and cities alike, searching for witches (or more accurately, women with any intelligence) to dole out their perceived justice using Salem-style trials. Odette wants to forget her magic so she can live in peace in the woods alone and grow old without being pursued by the Witchfinders who are pure human evil, but her magic goes into her core and will not let her dissolve it.
The magic in this book is strong, but the tangible strength is Gwendolyn Kiste’s ability to convey the isolation and wariness that can accompany a witch, even in the real world. People often see herbalists and Wiccans as novelties, a ‘thing’ to pursue if interests are piqued or they need something they can’t get elsewhere. Once that interest is satiated, magical people are often shunned and pushed away like an embarrassing memory. The abandonment Odette feels from her town and her friends is a magnified version of what witches still feel today.
I recommend this book because it feels so genuine. You feel for Odette. You get a great sense of her magic, her fears, and her loneliness. It is authentic and paints an accurate picture of humanity on all sides, including when women don’t stand up to support other women for whatever reason. If you want to feel deeply and delve into the magical woods with Odette, pick up a copy of “Boneset & Feathers” today.
April 27, 2024
I cannot believe this book has never been recommended to me!
A young witch from a line of witches who's mother was recently burned for witchcraft has just given directions to the next witch finder to her own village, thinking he was just a traveller in search of his family.
You see Odette was actually in the fire with her mother but this witch wouldn't burn. And she's a fantastic witch, with the power for such wicked revenges, gory and painful, and there's no way they will take her again. Nor her friends!
I loved it. I wanted more!
I read this as part of my own WYTCHBOOKCLUB on Instagram, an informal monthly readalong with 1 monthly witchy book February to November
A young witch from a line of witches who's mother was recently burned for witchcraft has just given directions to the next witch finder to her own village, thinking he was just a traveller in search of his family.
You see Odette was actually in the fire with her mother but this witch wouldn't burn. And she's a fantastic witch, with the power for such wicked revenges, gory and painful, and there's no way they will take her again. Nor her friends!
I loved it. I wanted more!
I read this as part of my own WYTCHBOOKCLUB on Instagram, an informal monthly readalong with 1 monthly witchy book February to November
March 10, 2021
This author isn't out to redefine witch stories. She just took all the info available about witchery and made it into a dynamic, compelling story. There's no plot twist cheating. She just anchors her characters to the time period, the mood of heightened paranoia and witch lore. She didn't have to end it with a time loop or a case of mistaken identity. She just concluded the story with what it needed to come to an end. And it worked.
September 21, 2022
Wow. This story turned out to be quite the dark fairy tale, and I was hooked from beginning to end.
Odette lives in a village full of people who don't want her there because they're scared she's a witch. Yet, all she's done for five years is stay away from everyone and bury her magic so deep within, she can barely cast a single spell. But when the birds fall from the sky, everything changes and it won't be long before the witchfinders return...
I absolutely loved everything about this lovely but sad story. It's amazing and wondrous, poetic and even devastating.
The persecution of witches always hits me deeply.
I also love characters who are pure and kind, even when so much hatred surrounds them. Odette might be an outsider and labelled as dangerous, but it was never because of something she did. And even though the village shuns her, she never hurts them. In fact, she hurts herself more than anything. And all she wants is to be able to live her life in peace after she's lost everything. 😣
While the awful and callous patriarchy is familiar enough to fill me with rage, I found the way this world portrayed witches, witchfinders and magic totally fascinating. It's mysterious and so consuming I lost myself within the words of this lyrical book instantly, and couldn't put it down.
I LOVED this. So much.
I've read several stories written by Gwendolyn Kiste and have enjoyed all of them immensely. I can't wait to read more.
Odette lives in a village full of people who don't want her there because they're scared she's a witch. Yet, all she's done for five years is stay away from everyone and bury her magic so deep within, she can barely cast a single spell. But when the birds fall from the sky, everything changes and it won't be long before the witchfinders return...
I absolutely loved everything about this lovely but sad story. It's amazing and wondrous, poetic and even devastating.
The persecution of witches always hits me deeply.
I also love characters who are pure and kind, even when so much hatred surrounds them. Odette might be an outsider and labelled as dangerous, but it was never because of something she did. And even though the village shuns her, she never hurts them. In fact, she hurts herself more than anything. And all she wants is to be able to live her life in peace after she's lost everything. 😣
While the awful and callous patriarchy is familiar enough to fill me with rage, I found the way this world portrayed witches, witchfinders and magic totally fascinating. It's mysterious and so consuming I lost myself within the words of this lyrical book instantly, and couldn't put it down.
I LOVED this. So much.
I've read several stories written by Gwendolyn Kiste and have enjoyed all of them immensely. I can't wait to read more.
January 31, 2024
It’s about a witch that survived an execution attempt by misogynistic Witchhunters. She’s rightly traumatized and unsurprisingly has a hard time connecting with her community afterward.
It has all the elements and themes of a book that I should love, but despite being well executed, the story and character development all fell into place pretty much exactly as you’d expect (with the exception of one big twist that kind of comes out of nowhere).
It was a fine read there was nothing about it that I didn’t like outright. But it also felt a bit repetitive and contrived. It felt as if we were shuttled between characters interaction to character interaction, effectively sacrificing any sense of danger, escalation, or tension.
The Witchhunters are sadly one dimensional and are just bunch of dudes that effectively control some undefined centralized power in this low fantasy medieval world. It’s a novella, so you can’t expect too much world building, but I wish they were a bit more defined or remotely nuanced.
Also, every spell took EVERYTHING out of the main character, yet she was continually able to cast spells regularly as soon as the plot called for it, which was constantly. It’s best to not create rules for magic and then disregard them.
I liked it enough, but considering how much I’ve LOVED Kiste’s other work, it fell short by comparison.
It has all the elements and themes of a book that I should love, but despite being well executed, the story and character development all fell into place pretty much exactly as you’d expect (with the exception of one big twist that kind of comes out of nowhere).
It was a fine read there was nothing about it that I didn’t like outright. But it also felt a bit repetitive and contrived. It felt as if we were shuttled between characters interaction to character interaction, effectively sacrificing any sense of danger, escalation, or tension.
The Witchhunters are sadly one dimensional and are just bunch of dudes that effectively control some undefined centralized power in this low fantasy medieval world. It’s a novella, so you can’t expect too much world building, but I wish they were a bit more defined or remotely nuanced.
Also, every spell took EVERYTHING out of the main character, yet she was continually able to cast spells regularly as soon as the plot called for it, which was constantly. It’s best to not create rules for magic and then disregard them.
I liked it enough, but considering how much I’ve LOVED Kiste’s other work, it fell short by comparison.
November 10, 2022
Not as good as the Rust Maidens, but Kiste's style is just really good. I actually have to focus on it so it takes longer to read her books than another book of similar length, but it's also really easy to focus on because she just writes so interestingly.
The story was good. Same feminist sort of theme as Rust Maidens, but in a more familiar setting.
The story was good. Same feminist sort of theme as Rust Maidens, but in a more familiar setting.
November 3, 2020
The book reads like a grim, dark fairy tale, and called to mind the atmosphere of the film Sleepy Hollow (1999), but make no mistake — there’s no room for whimsy or Burtonesque fanciful humor here. These are dangerous times for the protagonist, and have been for too long. She guards her secrets, and her sorrows run extremely deep. Kiste infuses this story with several unique elements that I won’t spoil — when you get to them, you’ll know and I hope you will marvel at them as much as I did.
By the time you hurtle toward the epic conclusion, you will be wowed and left wanting more from this master storyteller and weaver of magic tales. Buy all of Gwendolyn Kiste’s books if you haven’t already. As well, award jurors and influencers should take note, because this book deserves to take home all of the prizes.
By the time you hurtle toward the epic conclusion, you will be wowed and left wanting more from this master storyteller and weaver of magic tales. Buy all of Gwendolyn Kiste’s books if you haven’t already. As well, award jurors and influencers should take note, because this book deserves to take home all of the prizes.
November 15, 2020
Another brilliant work from Gwendolyn Kiste. Odette is one of the last survivors of a mass witch burning. Unlike her sister, she did not run from the flames, but faced them, lived through them, and somehow took them inside her.
After five years of being shunned by her neighbors, living on the outskirts of the village, and facing bizarre physical night terrors, the Witchfinders have returned. In order to save her friend, her village, and herself, she may have to take up the magic she laid aside all those years ago -- one thing more terrifying then the men who want to burn her.
Ms. Kiste has become one of the authors whose books I will automatically purchase, whose material cuts the line of my To Be Read pile. Boneset and Feathers is another example of why this is so.
After five years of being shunned by her neighbors, living on the outskirts of the village, and facing bizarre physical night terrors, the Witchfinders have returned. In order to save her friend, her village, and herself, she may have to take up the magic she laid aside all those years ago -- one thing more terrifying then the men who want to burn her.
Ms. Kiste has become one of the authors whose books I will automatically purchase, whose material cuts the line of my To Be Read pile. Boneset and Feathers is another example of why this is so.
September 12, 2022
A fantastic and unique tale from one of the best horror authors writing today. I loved the setting, something that isn't explored enough in today's fiction. And the characters are wonderfully realised, as I've come to expect from Kiste. She has a terrific narrative voice, no matter the subject matter. If you aren't reading Gwendolyn Kiste, you're missing out.
May 25, 2022
Une lecture agréable soutenue par la plume de Gwendolyn Kiste que j'affectionne toute particulièrement pour sa poésie et sa justesse.
Malheureusement, après la claque que fut Filles de Rouille, difficile de trouver un rival de taille. Plumes et Ciguë est une bonne histoire de sorcière, mais pas à la hauteur de mes attentes au niveau de l'intrigue et des personnages.
Malheureusement, après la claque que fut Filles de Rouille, difficile de trouver un rival de taille. Plumes et Ciguë est une bonne histoire de sorcière, mais pas à la hauteur de mes attentes au niveau de l'intrigue et des personnages.
May 3, 2021
She's done it again!
June 18, 2023
4.25/5
dnf
February 6, 2022Stopping on page 88. It’s just not the right time for me to read this.
August 28, 2022
Brujas, fantasmas, pájaros, bosques oscuros, cazadores de brujas…este es el cuento oscuro de Odette, una poderosa bruja que se auto descubrirá a si misma y ayudará y será ayudada por todas las mujeres que la rodean. La prosa de Gwendolyn es como la dulce melodía de un ruiseñor. Es una de las escritoras más llamativas de la actual literatura de terror.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews