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These Gilded Bones May Bloom
29 short stories. Three unique worlds.
One navigates battlefields of countryside and cobblestone.
Another ensnares lost souls and sweethearts.
And the last is tormented by deities better left forgotten.
Welcome to These Gilded Bones May Bloom, a collection of enemies and lovers, sprawling cities and hungry seas, stretching from the hidden magic of our own world to the far reaches of your wildest dreams and nightmares. Journey through the Ash Woods, a dangerous forest guarding the body of a long-dead soldier. Follow a thief as he steals into an extravagant garden party. Study the siren of Berkshire University, and the student hell-bent on setting her free.
Brought to life through sweeping prose and lush illustrations, lose yourself in tales where morally gray is king, fate doesn’t play fair, and “The End” isn’t always what it seems.
One navigates battlefields of countryside and cobblestone.
Another ensnares lost souls and sweethearts.
And the last is tormented by deities better left forgotten.
Welcome to These Gilded Bones May Bloom, a collection of enemies and lovers, sprawling cities and hungry seas, stretching from the hidden magic of our own world to the far reaches of your wildest dreams and nightmares. Journey through the Ash Woods, a dangerous forest guarding the body of a long-dead soldier. Follow a thief as he steals into an extravagant garden party. Study the siren of Berkshire University, and the student hell-bent on setting her free.
Brought to life through sweeping prose and lush illustrations, lose yourself in tales where morally gray is king, fate doesn’t play fair, and “The End” isn’t always what it seems.
350 pages, Hardcover
First published January 29, 2023
About the author
C.G. Honer
1 book13 followersCaitlan “C.G.” Honer resides in the evergreen, ever cloudy PNW. When she isn't dreaming up trauma for the characters in her head, she enjoys reading, walks with her dog, the occasional existential crisis, and spending way too much time on Netflix.
For writing updates, follow her on social media or watch the night skies for carrier dragons.
Website: cghonerwrites.com
Instagram/TikTok Handle: @cghonerwrites
For writing updates, follow her on social media or watch the night skies for carrier dragons.
Website: cghonerwrites.com
Instagram/TikTok Handle: @cghonerwrites
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 2, 2023
I received this book for free from Author, MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. You can also find this review + an ambience playlist themed around the book at The Reader and the Chef!
These Gilded Bones May Bloom left me with a whirlwind of emotions as we experience a wide variety of stories that made this into such an enchanting anthology. And there was a little bit of everything, from stories about falling in love and magic to betrayal, jealousy and slice of life. I’ve always loved reading anthologies, there is something charming about getting an entire story in a few pages, but at the same time hoping to see a book (or perhaps a series) based on them!
This book was divided into three sections, each with their own themes. The first section was called The Goddesses We Favor and my favorite story was the ABCs of Thievery, it was funny and cute. Absolutely loved the chemistry between the three friends and the mini love story between Adair and Oswin was the sweetest (I NEED at least a standalone fantasy of this ).
From the second section: The Magic We Fear, was one particular story that made me laugh, but left me with a big cliffhanger. It’s titled The Uninvited Ghost, and it was so good! It’s about Phillip, a guy that enjoys a quiet life whose favorite activities include reading, napping and binge watching mediocre shows with his cat. He also has lengthy conversations with the ghosts that lives in his apartment.
And last, but not least from the final section: The Deities We Forget, there was one titled The Call Her Beloved. It’s about a desperate queen that wanted to be loved and respected by her people. It was sad and unjust, it showed the ugly side of not meeting certain expectations.
These are just a few of the stories that you will find in These Gilded Bones May Bloom, but there are 26 more to read! I really enjoyed reading this book, it was highly entertaining and it comes with several topics/sceneries. If you are a fan of anthologies, you must check this one out!!
These Gilded Bones May Bloom left me with a whirlwind of emotions as we experience a wide variety of stories that made this into such an enchanting anthology. And there was a little bit of everything, from stories about falling in love and magic to betrayal, jealousy and slice of life. I’ve always loved reading anthologies, there is something charming about getting an entire story in a few pages, but at the same time hoping to see a book (or perhaps a series) based on them!
This book was divided into three sections, each with their own themes. The first section was called The Goddesses We Favor and my favorite story was the ABCs of Thievery, it was funny and cute. Absolutely loved the chemistry between the three friends and the mini love story between Adair and Oswin was the sweetest (I NEED at least a standalone fantasy of this ).
From the second section: The Magic We Fear, was one particular story that made me laugh, but left me with a big cliffhanger. It’s titled The Uninvited Ghost, and it was so good! It’s about Phillip, a guy that enjoys a quiet life whose favorite activities include reading, napping and binge watching mediocre shows with his cat. He also has lengthy conversations with the ghosts that lives in his apartment.
And last, but not least from the final section: The Deities We Forget, there was one titled The Call Her Beloved. It’s about a desperate queen that wanted to be loved and respected by her people. It was sad and unjust, it showed the ugly side of not meeting certain expectations.
These are just a few of the stories that you will find in These Gilded Bones May Bloom, but there are 26 more to read! I really enjoyed reading this book, it was highly entertaining and it comes with several topics/sceneries. If you are a fan of anthologies, you must check this one out!!
January 8, 2023
I received a free eARC from the author. This did not impact my review.
I was immediately enthralled by the beautifully crafted writing in this anthology, full of atmospheric settings and vivid characters. I am in awe of the various tones Honer pulls off and the range she shows as a writer across 29 short stories. I feel inspired to get back into writing after reading this book!
Of course there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but there was not a single story in the collection that I didn’t like! While many of the stories have an ambiguous ending open to interpretation, none of them felt incomplete, and every ending provoked an emotional reaction. That being said, I would looooooove to spend more time in these worlds with longer form writing.
The stories are collected into three sections, each set in a different world. Each story has a unique POV, and they span time periods, but there are clever connections between stories set in the same world. I was impressed by the range of POVs Honer imagined, from heroes to murderers, from gods to cities, and everyone in between. Even the most chilling stories told by deplorable narrators were fascinating to read.
Section 1, The Goddesses We Favor, takes place in a high fantasy world ruled by a pantheon of nine goddesses. My favorite from this section was “ABCs of Thievery” because it had a fun cast of characters and a cute love story!
Section 2, The Magic We Fear, is set in our world, but it is infused with magical realism and hauntings. Darker stories like “Dead Body, High Soul” and “Nights He Spent Watching” appeal to my paranormal and true crime obsession, while “Luck Like Sour Candy” is everything my enemies to lovers rom com loving heart needs.
Section 3, The Deities We Forget, takes place in a fantasy world full of dark magic and sirens. While most of the stories in this anthology are very short stories, “This Is How We Begin” is closer to novella-length.
It takes true talent to write an effective short story, let alone 29 of them. These fairy tales and ghost stories are going to stick around in my head for a long time!
Blog | Instagram
I was immediately enthralled by the beautifully crafted writing in this anthology, full of atmospheric settings and vivid characters. I am in awe of the various tones Honer pulls off and the range she shows as a writer across 29 short stories. I feel inspired to get back into writing after reading this book!
Of course there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but there was not a single story in the collection that I didn’t like! While many of the stories have an ambiguous ending open to interpretation, none of them felt incomplete, and every ending provoked an emotional reaction. That being said, I would looooooove to spend more time in these worlds with longer form writing.
The stories are collected into three sections, each set in a different world. Each story has a unique POV, and they span time periods, but there are clever connections between stories set in the same world. I was impressed by the range of POVs Honer imagined, from heroes to murderers, from gods to cities, and everyone in between. Even the most chilling stories told by deplorable narrators were fascinating to read.
Section 1, The Goddesses We Favor, takes place in a high fantasy world ruled by a pantheon of nine goddesses. My favorite from this section was “ABCs of Thievery” because it had a fun cast of characters and a cute love story!
Section 2, The Magic We Fear, is set in our world, but it is infused with magical realism and hauntings. Darker stories like “Dead Body, High Soul” and “Nights He Spent Watching” appeal to my paranormal and true crime obsession, while “Luck Like Sour Candy” is everything my enemies to lovers rom com loving heart needs.
Section 3, The Deities We Forget, takes place in a fantasy world full of dark magic and sirens. While most of the stories in this anthology are very short stories, “This Is How We Begin” is closer to novella-length.
It takes true talent to write an effective short story, let alone 29 of them. These fairy tales and ghost stories are going to stick around in my head for a long time!
Blog | Instagram
January 5, 2023
These Gilded Bones May Bloom is an anthology filled with 29 short stories, focusing on a variety of topics; the reader is bound to find a favourite.
The book is divided into three sections: The Goddesses We Favour, The Magic We Fear and The Deities We Forget.
In the first section, my favourite was ABCs of Thievery, I'd love to see more of these characters. They need their own story. The Uninvited Ghost is my favourite from the second section; Honer highlights how we miss something until it's no longer there but she lightens the mood with some humour. This is How We Begin was the story I enjoyed the most in the third section, with several chapters and the mythical sirens, I'm sure I was snared by a siren's song.
There is a thread woven throughout the three sections that connect each story and I found it creative and intriguing. The stories might not connect on the same level, but it's brilliant when you recognise a name in another story. The author's note is a joy to read and it put a smile on my face. Mature themes and content warnings are included at the start of some stories and I found it helpful. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys novellas, the length of these short stories are quick paced and perfect for a palate cleanser between reads. With 29 short stories comes 29 lessons, experiences and adventures.
Thank you MTMC Tours and the author for the digital gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book is divided into three sections: The Goddesses We Favour, The Magic We Fear and The Deities We Forget.
In the first section, my favourite was ABCs of Thievery, I'd love to see more of these characters. They need their own story. The Uninvited Ghost is my favourite from the second section; Honer highlights how we miss something until it's no longer there but she lightens the mood with some humour. This is How We Begin was the story I enjoyed the most in the third section, with several chapters and the mythical sirens, I'm sure I was snared by a siren's song.
There is a thread woven throughout the three sections that connect each story and I found it creative and intriguing. The stories might not connect on the same level, but it's brilliant when you recognise a name in another story. The author's note is a joy to read and it put a smile on my face. Mature themes and content warnings are included at the start of some stories and I found it helpful. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys novellas, the length of these short stories are quick paced and perfect for a palate cleanser between reads. With 29 short stories comes 29 lessons, experiences and adventures.
Thank you MTMC Tours and the author for the digital gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2023
I received this book for free from the author and MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This book left me wanting SO much more. Reading a short story anthology was a nice change of pace to start off the new year, but so many out of the 29(!!) stories made me want full novels to dive into so many of the worlds and characters introduced.
The anthology is broken up into three sections, each with its own somewhat unifying theme. Section I: The Goddesses We Favor is my favorite, closely followed by Section III: The Deities We Forgot. Both sections deal with goddesses and gods, the powers they have and bestow upon humanity, and the consequences, both positive and negative, of everyone's actions. The atmosphere in both sections is ethereal and often foreboding and I really, really enjoyed it. Section II: The Magic We Fear, was also excellent, but the more modern vibes weren't always my favorite. I loved having to keep my eyes open for details on how everything connected across stories and sections - Honer has done an AMAZING job building up a rich background to take any of the stories to the next level in the future.
These Gilded Bones May Bloom is well-written, haunting, and absolutely worth a read when it comes out later this month!
This book left me wanting SO much more. Reading a short story anthology was a nice change of pace to start off the new year, but so many out of the 29(!!) stories made me want full novels to dive into so many of the worlds and characters introduced.
The anthology is broken up into three sections, each with its own somewhat unifying theme. Section I: The Goddesses We Favor is my favorite, closely followed by Section III: The Deities We Forgot. Both sections deal with goddesses and gods, the powers they have and bestow upon humanity, and the consequences, both positive and negative, of everyone's actions. The atmosphere in both sections is ethereal and often foreboding and I really, really enjoyed it. Section II: The Magic We Fear, was also excellent, but the more modern vibes weren't always my favorite. I loved having to keep my eyes open for details on how everything connected across stories and sections - Honer has done an AMAZING job building up a rich background to take any of the stories to the next level in the future.
These Gilded Bones May Bloom is well-written, haunting, and absolutely worth a read when it comes out later this month!
September 3, 2023
Absolutely stunning anthology! I bought this book at Books Gowns and Crowns and was immediately hooked by the gorgeous cover! Not only are all the stories beautifully written, but the full color artwork inside took my breath away every time I stumbled across a new piece! I LOVED this book!
January 14, 2024
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! SO MANY EMOTIONS SO MANY STORIES I AM IN LOVE.
July 2, 2023
The writing in this book is PURE MAGIC. Prepare to have your heart ripped in stories like This is How We End and Shades of Us. OH and ABC's of Thievery is just *chef's kiss*. Let alone the fact that this is one of the prettiest books I have ever seen from the dust jacket to the undercover, to the gorgeous art and details spread through the pages inside. Beyond beautiful. Just do yourself a favor and buy it.
(Also can’t forget Nights He Spent Watching 😵💫, Luck Like Sour Candy 🍀, and To Brave the Sea ❤️)
(Also can’t forget Nights He Spent Watching 😵💫, Luck Like Sour Candy 🍀, and To Brave the Sea ❤️)
July 10, 2023
These Golded Bones May Bloom is my first anthology! I was drawn to this book by the beautidul cover and the artwork featured inside by various artists.
C.G. Honer crafted three remarkable worlds and stories separated into three sections, which really helped me forget I was reading an anthology. Section 1: The Goddess We Favor introduced a world rich with several goddesses. These were my favorite stories. I loved the nods to other characters spread over the chapters and found myself getting really giddy as I was able to connect pieces together.
Section 2: The Magic We Fear featured all modern day locations in various times. I didn't enjoy the settings in this section as much, but each story felt like a good lesson to learn or reflect upon. 85th and Lexington was my favorite in this section. I absolutely loved the concept of a taxi cab taking you to where you need to go rather than where you want to go. Life is hard and sometimes you need to face the unkown or what's scary in order to heal and move forward.
Section 3: The Deities We Forget was packed with a lot of mysery and intrigue. In this new world, there are forgotten old gods called The Hidden Ones. I wanted to learn so much more about them. What are their names? Why were they forgotten? Where did they come from? Each story built upon their power and evil sway they held over the people who were trying to do the best they could, but often resorting to making deals with the Hiden Ones. The world feels quite twisted for the people and creatures that lurk about. My favorite character was Roisin. She's feisty and sassy and a killer. I would love to read a book all about her bounties and adventures!
Much praise to C.G. Honer for beautifully crafting short stories and entrapping the reader in diverse worlds full of love, loss, and adventure!
C.G. Honer crafted three remarkable worlds and stories separated into three sections, which really helped me forget I was reading an anthology. Section 1: The Goddess We Favor introduced a world rich with several goddesses. These were my favorite stories. I loved the nods to other characters spread over the chapters and found myself getting really giddy as I was able to connect pieces together.
Section 2: The Magic We Fear featured all modern day locations in various times. I didn't enjoy the settings in this section as much, but each story felt like a good lesson to learn or reflect upon. 85th and Lexington was my favorite in this section. I absolutely loved the concept of a taxi cab taking you to where you need to go rather than where you want to go. Life is hard and sometimes you need to face the unkown or what's scary in order to heal and move forward.
Section 3: The Deities We Forget was packed with a lot of mysery and intrigue. In this new world, there are forgotten old gods called The Hidden Ones. I wanted to learn so much more about them. What are their names? Why were they forgotten? Where did they come from? Each story built upon their power and evil sway they held over the people who were trying to do the best they could, but often resorting to making deals with the Hiden Ones. The world feels quite twisted for the people and creatures that lurk about. My favorite character was Roisin. She's feisty and sassy and a killer. I would love to read a book all about her bounties and adventures!
Much praise to C.G. Honer for beautifully crafting short stories and entrapping the reader in diverse worlds full of love, loss, and adventure!
March 17, 2026
I adored this book! I would give it a 4.5/5 if I could. This was my first time reading a short story anthology, and I adored it. These short stories were beautiful, thoughtful, and creative. I wish this book had been in my local library, but it was 1000% worth getting it from out of system! There are a few stories that I would gladly reread. I loved the interesting perspective from the story "The Way Cities Breathe" and the use of all POV types. Every story was a breath of fresh air. My top story from the section "The Goddesses We Favor" was "Life Cycle of Forests." I adored the chill from "Dead Body, High Soul." I could devour an entire book centered around the story of Roisin in "Glamourous Facades."
Furthermore, I was absolutely enamored by the connections between stories and enjoyed finding those little secrets between. I would recommend this for anyone!
Furthermore, I was absolutely enamored by the connections between stories and enjoyed finding those little secrets between. I would recommend this for anyone!
June 17, 2023
This beautifully illustrated anthology is a collection of interwoven stories from different worlds featuring goddesses, criminals, love, heartbreak, betrayal, and sirens to name a few. There’s fantasy and modernism spread throughout!
Each story is easily digestible, though I kept wanting to read on to the next one. I was taken aback by how much I LOVED this *and* it’s a debut book. There’s so much to unpack here and I wish I had more to read from some of these characters.
My final remark is to please please keep writing more stories!
Each story is easily digestible, though I kept wanting to read on to the next one. I was taken aback by how much I LOVED this *and* it’s a debut book. There’s so much to unpack here and I wish I had more to read from some of these characters.
My final remark is to please please keep writing more stories!
January 4, 2023
These Gilded Bones May Bloom is a collection of 29 short stories in three different worlds. Each world is sectioned off, filled with a variety of inter-connected stories. This left me with a whirlwind of emotions.
There is something for everyone, whether enemies to lovers is your thing, or maybe second chances. There are quite a few short stories with little to no romance in them as well.
You can read my full review, plus others like it, at Bookswithachance.com, plus download a fun word search created specifically for These Gilded Bones May Bloom!
There is something for everyone, whether enemies to lovers is your thing, or maybe second chances. There are quite a few short stories with little to no romance in them as well.
You can read my full review, plus others like it, at Bookswithachance.com, plus download a fun word search created specifically for These Gilded Bones May Bloom!
July 10, 2024
Didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I love how every story has its own charm. Some of my favorites that I wish has its own book:
Romantic Entrapments
Life Cycle of Forests
ABCs of Thievery
The Uninvited Ghost
85th and Lexington
Luck Like Sour Candy
Glamorous Façades
A Rose by any other name
This Is How We Begin
Romantic Entrapments
Life Cycle of Forests
ABCs of Thievery
The Uninvited Ghost
85th and Lexington
Luck Like Sour Candy
Glamorous Façades
A Rose by any other name
This Is How We Begin
August 2, 2024
It is a good book.
I’m not one for short stories, let alone a collection of them. But it was well written and I fell in love with EVERY ONE of the characters. It was absolutely heart wrenching after every story, I almost didn’t finish because of that.
But it was really good, I just wish I had more time with all the characters.
I’m not one for short stories, let alone a collection of them. But it was well written and I fell in love with EVERY ONE of the characters. It was absolutely heart wrenching after every story, I almost didn’t finish because of that.
But it was really good, I just wish I had more time with all the characters.
April 4, 2023
This has a little bit of everything for everybody. I enjoyed all the stories. I liked seeing characters from one story show up in other's. I would love to explore these worlds further. Fingers crossed we get to.
May 5, 2023
OH MY GOD I LOVE READING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE BOOKS!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!!!!!!!!!
February 17, 2024
I can’t tell you how good this book is. Bro I’m not even typically a reader so this was a nice way to feel like I could read a whole story and then put it down and not feel like I had 800+ more pages in 2 more books hanging over my head. I would say don’t read it if you don’t want to be frequently angry, surprised, upset, and traumatized by things characters said and did. Don’t read it in public places because people might see you blushing and then embarrassingly trying to cover your dumb face bc Carmichael’s crush walked into the room and you could cut the tension with a literal knife as the boys try to cover up their schemes. But if you want to chase adventurers and fools as they find magic, evil, good, love, light, betrayal, mistakes, hauntings, passion, and uprisings, you should probably add this one to the library. I will also say all the art is super fun, unique, and makes the stories even more exciting. I also just love to see independent artists working together to create something even more beautiful. Loved this book, (once again sans all the bad feelings I absorbed from characters I liked too much and found far too relatable). 100% recommend to readers and non readers alike, and it’s absolutely gorgeous on top of that so really I can’t see any reason you wouldn’t grab yourself one of these bad boys.
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