This review may contain spoilers.
The beast raged; it punctured the air with its spite. But the girl was fiercer.
Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living—and of the human.
Great power comes at a price, forcing Tea to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch. There, Tea puts all of her energy into becoming an asha, learning to control her elemental magic and those beasts who will submit by no other force. And Tea must be strong—stronger than she even believes possible. Because war is brewing in the eight kingdoms, war that will threaten the sovereignty of her homeland…and threaten the very survival of those she loves.
When I started reading The Bone Witch, I noticed right away that the writing was beautiful and fairytale-esque.
“Do not seek what is not yours to take, for the world will suffer.“
What I liked most about this novel is that at times there’s a story-telling-fairytale-esque narration, and then the story will continue on in Tea’s point of view when that happened. Another thing that I liked about this story is that at each chapter ending, we get a second point of view, from the present, from a character we haven’t yet met via Tea. We only know of this character’s view because they’re the one who sought out Tea and thus tell us of the now in the story. With this character’s view on things, not only do they give us a sense of what goes on, I found that these chapter endings are also what introduces the next chapter.
“Then perhaps we should carve a world one day where the strength lies in who you are, rather than in what they expect you to be.“
Tea is an exceptionally strong witch for her time. She’s proven this through raising her dead brother when she was only 12 years old. Yet, when Tea is taken under another witch’s wing and brought to something akin to a safe-haven the mistress of the house highly doubts Tea’s abilities. Until an incident that happens that not only proves that Tea is undoubtedly the strongest witch of their time, but propels Tea’s training to start ASAP.
“Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves how bitterness tastes.”
I actually really enjoyed the way the history of this world was told. The history was told in a different, more creative way. Some books just put their stories histories out there — there’s nothing wrong with that. However, the way that The Bone Witch achieved telling the history of this story’s world is one of the more creative ways that I’ve read in a long time. I actually enjoyed reading about the worlds’ history since it was done in such a uniquely way.
There are so many unique things about this story, the world that makes up The Bone Witch. Tea herself, and a few other characters. I’ll definitely be reading the next book.
I ended up giving The Bone Witch, 4 of 5 stars on Goodreads.
Have you read The Bone Witch? What was your favourite thing about the story?
Happy Reading!
Adele
Adele Is Reading 
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