So many times have I picked up a fantasy novel promising to be a modern fairy tale, only to be disappointed almost an equal amount of times by what I've just read. Nevertheless the allure persists. I'm fascinated by all myths and fairy tales, all these delightful archetypes and variations, but so few modern authors manage to capture that particular blend of mundane and mystical that sets the fairy tale genre apart from, say, the urban fantasy (which is a genre I also very much enjoy!) It has a lot to do, I think, with a lack of depth in world building, where the fairy tale bits are merely a skin on the real world, a glamour easily seen through by the discerning reader, or even more jarringly, by an inelegant fusion of fantasy with modern sensibilities, usually in the form of clunky dialog/exposition. The ones that do succeed tend to be either Young Adult or novellas; nothing wrong with either of those forms or formats, but sometimes you just want a nice meaty, adult novel to sink your teeth into.

Here in A. G. Slatter's book of merfolk and witches, kelpies and shapeshifters, I finally feel like I'm holding something at once timeless and refreshingly of the now, perfectly blended to satisfy all my old-fashioned hungers and new. It likely helps that Ms Slatter has written several volumes of fairy tales and cites some of those here, each adding to the rich tapestry that makes this world of monsters and curses seem vibrant and real, as our heroine, Miren O'Malley, must find her way out of a marriage arranged for her by her scheming grandmother Aoife. And can I say how much I appreciate the inclusion of full, lively fairy tales within the narrative? There is nothing more annoying than books that reference fictional storybooks as being foundational texts for the protagonists but then never quote more than a paragraph or two: bonus disappointment when the text quoted is dishwater dull, as is definitely not the case here.

All The Murmuring Bones avoids all the pitfalls of its kindred, presenting us with a truly absorbing Gothic/fairy tale where Miren, the last of the pure-blooded O'Malleys (or at least the most pure-blooded of the last O'Malleys) is betrothed to a rich relative in order to restore the fortunes of the dilapidated Hob's Hallow, her ancestral home. There she was raised by her grandparents, Aoife and Oisin, who fought each other constantly, and their servants Maura and Malachi. Each loved her and taught her what they knew as best they could, but Oisin's death forces Aoife to gamble on one last desperate plan to uphold the O'Malley name.

Unfortunately for Aoife, Miren quickly sees right through the urbane facade of her intended to his violent, avaricious heart, and makes plans to escape. The discovery of hidden letters in Oisin's study will give her something to run to, even as she runs away from a life she never asked for.

Telling any more would be to spoil the many wonders of this story, but I can safely say that Miren is one of the most engaging, feminist heroines I've had the pleasure of reading in a long while. She doesn't shrink from the pleasures of sex or the necessities of violence and, more importantly, she stands in solidarity with other women and with anyone taken advantage of and mistreated by the societies and strictures they're trapped in. I spent a lot of time rooting for her as she furiously thought her way out of trouble, and as she dealt with the complicated emotions that necessarily arise from being part of her strange, some would say cursed, family. Best of all, she never had to do anything stupid in order to advance the plot: it's so, so great to be able to unreservedly root for a heroine who isn't perfect but who definitely feels real and not merely a vehicle for the author to get from point A to point B in her own narrative. Also great is the lack of tortured romance: she has a love interest but he's not the be-all and end-all of her existence, which adds to the refreshing factor of this book.

This was a really great, absorbing read, and I'm desperate to read more of Ms Slatter's work (she also writes as Angela Slatter, and I've loved some of the <a href="https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2019/09/17/wonderland-an-anthology-edited-by-marie-oregan-and-paul-kane/">short</a> <a href="https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2020/03/17/cursed-an-anthology-of-dark-fairy-tales-edited-by-marie-oregan-paul-kane/">stories</a> I've read of hers previously.) I'm hoping this is the book that shoots her to global and popular renown, as it deserves to.

All The Murmuring Bones by A. G. Slatter was published March 9, 2021 by Titan Books and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781789094343">Bookshop!</a> Want it now? For the Kindle version, <a href="https://amzn.to/3tg9md1">click here</a>.

This book sounded right up my street - gothic fairy tale with magic and mythical creatures? Yes please! Sadly though, after trudging my way through a solid 40% of the book, I had to admit defeat and declare it a "did not finish." I honestly absolutely hate having to give up on books and share negative reviews because book opinions are so subjective, but on this occasion it just really wasn't my cup of tea.

It started off painstakingly slow with a seriously heavy dose of O'Malley history which was interesting but then the story didn't really seem to pick up much from there.

I didn't find myself caring about any of the characters in the slightest and they felt quite two-dimensional to me. The story itself was so bleak and longwinded that I often had to re-read huge chunks of it because my mind kept wandering and the writing style felt very muddled too; it didn't feel like it flowed smoothly.

I really, really wanted to love this one and it's such a shame that it didn't deliver.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All the Murmuring Bones is a modern gothic-style fairytale with a dark and sinister atmosphere. There is a marvellous blend of fairytale, folklore and magic and you get the sense you are reading an old fairytale, immediately drawn into the wonderful atmosphere created by the author. The whimsical short stories sprinkled at various intervals throughout the story are genius and added to the folkloric feel. The author’s writing style is detailed and evocative, the world is beautifully described and I conjured up some lovely vivid images of the setting and dark ocean underworld. It’s a winding, twisty tale which is engaging and compelling. The plot is intricate and there is a wonderful mystery to solve.

Set in a 19th Century Irish setting the first few chapters establishes the family dynamics and we learn about the history of the O’Malleys. The O’Malley’s are a family who were once influential and powerful, a family who were not afraid to make dark deals to ensure their family’s prosperity and the continuance of their family’s bloodline. These initial chapters explaining the family’s history are interesting and set the tone for the rest of the novel.

I enjoy reading a book where the lead protagonist goes on a journey and this didn’t disappoint. We follow Miren, the last true O’Malley, on her quest to find her long lost parents and escape the clutches of Aidan Fitzpatrick and her imminent forced marriage to him. Under cover of darkness, she leaves Hob’s Hallow on her journey to find Blackwater, a mysterious place ‘somewhere in the north’ that no one seems to have heard of and where she believes her parents now live. We come across some fearsome creatures and bone-chilling encounters along the way.

Although slow paced the story is beautifully constructed and the author takes the time to explore the world and unfurl the story piecemeal and it isn’t until the remaining few chapters that the real mystery is uncovered. There was enough going on to hold my interest and it didn’t feel drawn out. I loved the dark, brooding and unpredictable atmosphere which was not ‘too dark’ to be dispiriting.

The world building is wonderful and I enjoyed reading about all the sea and land dwelling creatures and spirits. The Kelpie in particular stole my heart and I loved that he became a part of the story joining forces with Miren at the end of her journey. There is an automaton called Delphine, who is unbelievably creepy and who in all likelihood has a trapped soul within her. Delphine plays a very minor part in the story and I was slightly disappointed as I was expecting her to play a more pivotal role.

There is a nice mix of characters both good and evil. In particular I enjoyed Miren’s character development she started off as an amiable almost submissive character, but as the story progresses there is a shift in her persona and we see a more ruthless and headstrong, bordering on violent side to her, and she becomes a strong young woman with purpose.

The ending is gratifying, all the pieces fitted together perfectly. A really enjoyable read and one I would recommend if you enjoy stories with a journey of self discovery and dark, twisty tales of witchcraft, mythological creatures and magic.

Thank you to the publisher for an early review copy via Netgalley and for inviting me on the blog tour.

[Review will be posted on 3/16/2021]

All the Murmuring Bones truly is a "spellbinding tale of dark family secrets, magic and witches, and creatures of myth and the sea; of strong women and the men who seek to control them." I adored this intensely feminist tale and watching fairy tales come to life in a way.

"Other families have stories of curses, cold lads and white ladies, but we have old gods, merfolk and monsters. I never doubted, when I was little, that these stories were true. Now, less a child, I'm not too sure."

The story of the O'Malleys is shrouded in mystery: to the public, to the reader, to our main character Miren. I absolutely adored how the book opens with a "fairytale narrator" feel, talking about the rumors and half truths; about a once prosperous family and estate have fallen into decay and dwindling numbers. There is a lot woven together in this tapestry of worldbuilding, half-truths and outright lies, which can make for a confusing reading experience at first.

"It's the name, you see, the name that carries value and no one's ever thought twice about making the non-O'Malley's feel bad about their lack."

In true Gothic fashion, All the Murmuring Bones deeply explores themes of purity and decay. The estate is in shambles as the O'Malley money dried up and their inexplainable luck wore out, and at the start of the book Miren and her grandmother are the only remaining O'Malleys in a once illustrious family.

"How many times can a line fold back on itself without bringing forth a monster?"

I know I mention this in my content warnings, but it bears mentioning here in the review: incest and blood purity are important to the plot and mentioned often. The incest is challenged/questioned by the narrative and Miren (not condoned in present but that's how it has Always Been in the past), but it is brought up frequently because the only True O'Malleys are the ones within the tight family tree - think of it along the lines of a monarchy family tree.

"There's an old woman, though, with plans and plots of long gestation; and there's the sea, which will have her die, come hell or high water; and there are secrets and lies which never stay buried forever."

Poor Miren is 18-years old and the fate of her family's legacy seems to be thrust at her feet. Once her grandfather passes away, her grandmother Aoife becomes determined to restore the family's past glory... by marriage and children. But the last thing she wants is to be married to a man, let alone the cruel one her grandmother has chosen. She wants her freedom and sets off on an adventure to reclaim some of her own past and set her own destiny, but things are never that easy.

"How can one run away when all the waters in the world are joined?"

I'll admit that I struggled quite a bit with the first quarter of the book: there is a lot of lore and information floated around, sometimes as fact but mere anecdotes, and I found myself rather confused about what was going on and the direction of the story. Once Miren sets off from Hob's Head the plot thankfully picks up and all those threads start coming together. Typical of Gothic fiction, All the Murmuring Bones has a slow start; however, for me I struggled not with the pacing but with how information is initially conveyed. This is very much a "Me Thing" and stylistic preference because I am a very analytical reader and like to understand things as I go.

"Like so many men, he takes good fortune for granted and only questions it when it is gone."

Power, control, and authority are central themes explored in the book. For Miren and the female members of her family it is a lack of that power and autonomy over their own lives; but interestingly there was a time in the family's past where women held the authority. (I do wish that had been explored a bit more, now that I think of it!) The book is intensely feminist and highlights the "invisible" work women put into running the home (and world) yet are taken for granted. It is no coincidence that the ones who have the actual power are women, but men claim the control.

"You claim what you can endure from your once-life and burn the rest."

While I didn't necessarily fall in love with any of the characters, there are some warm moments and I appreciate Miren's development in how she reclaims things from her past that mean something and discard the rest. About processing and moving beyond trauma, and her case generational trauma.

"The water smells awful, not like the sea off Hob's Head, which is clean and salty. This is contaminated by humanity; a greasy sheen lies across the brownish, brackish liquid."

The book is pretty atmospheric in tone and does an excellent job of painting a picture for the reader. There are more monsters than of the human (male) and merfolk variety, though. On Miren's travels she encounters some haunting creatures that made my skin crawl. The book itself isn't necessarily horrific, but it has its moments of fright.

Overall I really enjoyed All the Murmuring Bones and once it really got going I had a difficulty putting it down. If this book sounds interesting to you and you give it a try but struggle a little with the start, try to give the book until 30% before DNFing it.

Content warnings: absent and emotionally distant parents, abuse, body horror, captivity, death, gore, incest, loss of a loved one, murder, obsession with blood purity, sacrifice, sexism, suicidal thoughts, violence

ARC provided by the publisher for my honest review. This has not affected my opinion of the book nor the content of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and are subject to change upon final publication.

'Stories are history, whether they're true or not'.

All the Murmuring Bones is the story of Miren O'Malley. The last surviving member of an ancient, and formerly rich and powerful, family, she has to discover and confront the sources of that wealth - the bargains and crimes that supported it, and the failures that have led to its erosion - if she is to survive and prosper.

The history of Miren's family is not known directly. Rather it's encoded in their ancient and rambling house - Hob's Hollow - and in a handwritten book of fairy tales - of the dark and dangerous, rather than twee, sort ('Other families have stories of curses, cold lads and white ladies, but we have old gods, merfolk and monsters'). Many of these are given at appropriate points in the book, Miren calling them up for support in dark moments or interrogating them to try and understand what is going on. She's hampered in that by not knowing her own immediate history either (except that her parents are dead, and that she has been brought up by her grandmother Aoife and grandfather Óisín) so this book is also a story of discovery for her.

As the story opens, and after a scene setting introduction, we see Miren and Aoife coping with the aftermath of Malachi's death and the likely final collapse of the family fortunes when death duties have to be paid to Bethany Lawrence, the Queen of Thieves, whose word is now law in the nearby town of Breakwater. It's clear at this point that All the Murmuring Bones isn't taking place, quite, in our world. The geography is vague and this is a society not of nations but of scattered communities, little towns and villages and isolated demesnes like Hob's Hollow. The atmosphere is pre industrial, perhaps mid 18th century in development. It resembles, in other words, in social terms the typical fairy story and as in a fairy story, magic and monsters are also accepted and expected (watch out for corpsewights on the marshes) though it seems efforts are afoot on the part of the Church to suppress both. The O'Malley family's relationship with the Church is therefore strained: their power and wealth came from some sort of bargain with the powers of the sea, and in the years of their pomp they scorned the 'god-hounds' as they scorned any other authority.

Miren has been brought up to inherit the O'Malley trade of shipping, and Óisín has taught her all he can, even though the family fortunes are waning and they have only two vessels remaining. Following Óisín's death, however, Miren faces a future where - at the mercy of Aoife's plotting - she is very much subject to other powers, with debts called in on all sides. These include debts which the family has neglected to pay to the sea powers, and debts in money to creepy Cousin Aidan. With hints in the book of a formerly matriarchal family now ruled by its men, Miren seems to be powerless, friendless and unprotected in a very cold world.

It's difficult to convey just how rich Slatter's worldbuilding is in this book. The reality of Miren's plight is heightened by the fantastical background, featuring a sinister midnight assassins' market, a dazzling town theatre and a troupe of travelling actors. Everywhere are references to events, stories, places and people (such as Bethany Lawrence) which do not feature in the main narrative but which are equally, well developed, well rounded features of this world about whom stories could be told. Miren herself is a rich and complex character, who spends much of her time trying to understand - to understand others, including her grandmother and deceased parents, and her cousin, to understand the wider world and her family's precarious situation, and to understand herself.

Fleeing what seems an intolerable situation, heading for a mysterious house called "Blackwater" based on a reference in an old letter which Óisín had kept hidden, Merin fears both danger pursuing her and an unknown countryside ahead. That countryside contains both everyday and supernatural risks, both of which she approaches with the cool head and courage of a fairytale hero. The story is, though, brutally realistic about the risks she will face, Slatter pitching the tone in just the right place between the out and out fantastic and the mundane - and giving Merin very human reactions (for instance, when has to decide to take a life) rather than too much fairytale self-assurance.

I won't say precisely exactly what awaits Merin when she reaches Blackwater, another house that both echoes and contradicts Hob's Hollow, or what she was seeking there. Either would be too spoilery. But the climax of the book does recapitulate - indeed take to a new level - the themes of the earlier part: the intrusion of patriarchy, the basic reality of magic at different levels and the need to take account of it while retaining one's integrity, the importance of family (whether that's birth or found family).

This is an extraordinary, engaging story from Angela Slatter. At times it feels like a peep behind the curtain in a world of magic and fantasy, at others a deeply empathetic coming of age story for a young woman who may begin with some illusions but soon has to put them aside. Really, it's both those things, and so much more. I love to see a fantasy like this which isn't about the fate of the world, the rise and fall of emperors and armies, but which focusses on believable people who - even in a fantastic world - suffer from the same dilemmas, temptations and frailties as anyone else.

I would, as you may have guessed, strongly recommend All the Murmuring Bones as the answer to your dark gothic twisted fairytale needs (and don't we all have those right now?)

"Other families might have stories of curses, cold lads and white ladies, but we have old gods, merfolk and monsters. I never doubted, when I was little, that these stories were true."

We begin this story with the end of a long family lineage. Miren is the last generation of her kind and she doesn't even know what her kind IS. The story unfolds in a fascinating, fairy-tale like world that gradually reveals its secrets and each one is bigger than the last.

This was new. Fresh. It made me feel like I was being swept away in the story and I don't know if the right book just ended up in the right hands, but I had the urge to immediately re-read the whole thing.

The characters were fascinating; it felt like they could pop right off the page. The mystery of the thing is what kept me hooked, though. You know what the protagonist knows and the author used this to the best of her advantage and I really enjoyed being pulled along for the ride.

Escapism at its best, y'all. Check it out!

The book tells the story of an O’Malley family. The family made a deal with a mermaid a long time ago to ensure their prosperity, and in return, they always gave one child to see. But for many years there were no spare children, and so only three O’Malley’s remained. The book begins with Aoife, the last true O’Malley, who in an attempt to restore her family’s fortune, decides to wed her granddaughter, Miren, to Aidan, a relative of O’Malley. But Miren doesn’t want to marry.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the world-building and the history and stories of the O’Malley family that are intertwined during the book. I really liked how the magical creatures were present in the human world – kelpies, mers and ghosts were present in the story without making the world seem magical. Most of all though, I loved the characters. Aoife was a cruel woman with a lot of ambitions and stubbornness, but I really liked her character. Miren had an awful life, but she was clever, and she was a strong female character who, despite a lot of setbacks, decides to have her freedom.

What is more, I really enjoyed discovering the secrets of each O’Malley family member as the story progressed. I really liked the writing in this book, and how all the secrets unravel and were connected to each other. I felt that the book could be a bit longer, and I felt as if though some scenes were unnecessary for the plot so they wouldn’t seem like they had no aim. And there is a couple of characters I would like to know more about.

All the Murmuring Bones is a dark and mysterious book with elements of magic, and I really recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a truly intriguing fantasy! While reading like a historical fiction, All the Murmuring Bones also adds in so many fantastic elements that keep you guessing throughout the whole book.

Miren O'Malley has grown up hearing of her family legacy - once the most powerful family in Breakwater, the O'Malley's have diminished in both family members and fortune. The legends of how that fortune was obtained is dark, and some members of the family have gone to extremes to reclaim that prosperity. While Miren has grown up hearing the history, it's hard to determine what is myth, and what could possibly be real. Abandoned by her parents at a young age, she has no one to turn to but her grandmother. When she passes, Miren is left the remaining estate, Hob's Hollow. On the brink of being married off to a bully of a cousin, so he can claim Hob's Hollow for his own, Miren escapes in search of her parents. But there are dangers that lurk in every shadow, all looking to settle a debt the O'Malley's have left unpaid... While Miren encounters many creatures, both good and bad along the way, the real journey lies in what she discovers in herself.

There were so many reasons to love Miren as a character. She was independent, and wanted nothing more than to live at Hob's Hollow alone for the rest of her days; she was resourceful, and not afraid to get her hands dirty in order to survive; and she was fearless! The beings and creatures she met on her travels did nothing to sway her from finding her parents. Old relationships were healed, and new relationships blossomed, but I loved how many myths and creatures were placed throughout the story. I couldn't decide whether the Mer were a threat or not, but the ending definitely help clear that up. I definitely enjoyed this one, and will be looking for more from this author! 4.5 stars

For years and years, the O’Malleys prospered and were the most powerful family for miles. They owned many ships and traded far and wide; they were known for their abundance of high-quality silver. They built a mansion, called Hob’s Hallow, next to the cliffs at Hob’s Head, with a tower at the center and wings added later. The family was large and for years had many branches, but they mostly intermarried to keep the bloodline as “pure” as possible.

But now, Miren O’Malley is the only (mostly) “true” O’Malley of her generation. Her parents dead since she was a girl, she’s been raised by her grandparents at Hob’s Hallow, the treasure and ships long gone. While there is nothing left of the fortunes the family was known for, Miren’s grandparents still hold on to their fierce pride in the family name.

When her grandfather dies, Miren’s grandmother is determined to marry her off to a wealthy cousin to restore the family glory. But Miren wants nothing to do with the man who would hurt and use her, and she finds a way to escape from his clutches. Thanks to secret letters she finds in her late grandfather’s desk, she sets off on a last-ditch journey to find freedom and family. The journey itself is often dangerous, and even when she finds what she thought she was looking for, not everything is as it seems. Miren at last learns the full truth about the O’Malleys and can make decisions for herself and right old wrongs.

All the Murmuring Bones is a richly layered story filled with fabulous tales Miren has been told all her life. It’s dark and gothic and populated by strong women who can work just a little magic and one or two who can work a great deal; powerful men who always seek to have their way but who, to their detriment, underestimate the women; mythical creatures like mer, ghosts, rusalki, kelpies, werewolves, and an enchanting clockwork singer. Danger and peril are the norm, the backdrop mostly darkness, but there are moments of sweetness and beauty, bright rays of light breaking through. Miren grows and comes into her own and becomes a force to be reckoned with. It’s thoroughly rewarding to go along on her journey with her.

I fell into the magical world of the story and still find myself ruminating on it, as if in finishing the book I’ve emerged from the depths of the dark water but haven’t quite dried off yet. Bits of seaweed and water cling to me.

Such a satisfyingly atmospheric novel with a finely crafted plot.

Miren is an eighteen year old young woman who is among the very last of her name. Her estate and family stand upon the brink of ruin, yet the family’s latest matriarch seems determined to restore them to former glory, no matter the consequences.

Secrets are unraveled and blood is spilled, with Miren at the center of it all.

The writing is ponderous and speculative, felt more poignantly in the beginning chapters before hitting its stride. Readers will find the cadence to be similar to Novik’s ‘A Deadly Education’, with the narrator telling the story in an almost detached reflection. As such, we are shown her character through her actions rather than explicit thoughts, and dialogue was decidedly minimal.

The pacing was well wrought, in line with Miren’s own personal developments and her discoveries, so I’d have to disagree with others saying that it was slow.

My biggest nitpick is that while we are told our heroine is learned and capable, there were a few points halfway through where she displayed competence in things that weren't foreshadowed, so it was sometimes jarring.

All of the otherworldly creatures and beings in this book were all suited to their darker, more dangerous adaptations. While their portrayal was almost always compelling, there was a slight disconnect with them and the human society around them. A tweak I would have made would have been to have more mentions of precautions that people take to avoid danger, more tidbits in the worldbuilding that accounted for these terrifying neighbors.

Overall this book was a wonderful read. Deliciously gothic with compelling, questionable people.

A gothic fairy tale, a story of family secrets, a young woman’s journey to escape her present to understand her past and discover her future. Miren is the last of the O’Malleys, a family that once prospered but has fallen on hard times. To regain their fortune, they will have to produce enough children to sacrifice a child to the Mer and Miren is the only one who can provide the sacrificial child. Her grandmother wants to force Miren to marry a cousin to continue the family tradition that died out years ago, as generations that only produced one child did not have a spare child to offer. Miren escapes to try and find her parents, who deserted her when she was only three years old. On this journey she finds friends and enemies, ghosts and magical creatures, and answers to questions.

One of my favorite parts was the short stories Miren read from the family book, which seem to have kernels of truth while seeming to be more like fairy tales. And seeing Miren get out of her grandmother’s trap to find her own way in life.
Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an e-Arc of All the Murmuring Bones; this is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The once-grand O’Malley family could no longer fulfill their end of their dark bargain with the sea, and have fallen into ruin. Now the last “true” O’Malley, Miren, must reckon with her family’s legacy as her grandmother schemes to restore the O’Malley’s glory and old secrets begin to unravel.

Something that really sold me on this book as I was reading, something that is vital for any dark fairytale story, is the atmosphere and setting. This story is set in a world vaguely inspired by late 19th century Ireland (or around that time period I would guess) except there’s witchcraft and otherworldly creatures, such as merfolk and ghosts, and as an Irish person, I’ll admit I was a little bit wary at first. But apart from one or two turns of phrase which seemed a little unnatural, and the name Oisín being spelled as Óisín, I think this book absolutely nailed it. The first part of this book, which feels like your more traditional gothic tale, spooky mansion and all, is full of very Irish-like dialogue which helps set the atmosphere almost as well as the descriptive writing. It paints a very clear and grim picture of the ruined state of the O’Malley family and I could almost feel the sea air and hear the waves as they crashed against the rocks near the crumbling O’Malley House.

As the book continues the fairytale aspects become much stronger and I loved it. Some fairy tales are told within the story, as Miren reads them or recounts them to others, and some chapters themselves are almost like fairy tales within the larger story, as Miren encounters different challenges (and otherworldly creatures) on her journey. While I didn’t recognise any of these tales as retellings of specific Irish folk tales, it doesn’t matter because they capture the spirit of Irish folklore perfectly in how creepy and grim they are, and also in how satisfying it is to see the protagonist use their wits to overcome them. While I did really enjoy the earlier, more descriptive parts, I wish they had somehow been better integrated with the later parts of this book where magical elements make for more action. I really loved that the book went this direction, but it felt a bit like a shift in direction rather than a continuation of its course. Still, I loved following Miren on her journey, loved how smart and resourceful she was, and I loved that element of grey morality as she can’t often afford to be nice if she wants to survive. It really hammered in the dark fairytale atmosphere and also kept me on my toes. I’ll really enjoyed this and I’ll definitely be recommending this book!

“There’s just a single daughter left of the household, whose surname isn’t even really O’Malley… [s]he’s eighteen, this girl, a woman really, raised mostly in isolation… no fortune, and no prospects of which to speak. There’s an old woman, though, with plans and plots of long gestation; and there’s the sea, which will have her due, come hell or high water; and there are secrets and lies which never stay buried.”

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am a sucker for books that re-tell myths, folklore, and fairy tales for modern audiences, so I was immediately drawn to this book by its description: a dark gothic fairy tale for fans of Katherine Arden.

All the Murmuring Bones introduces the reader to the O’Malleys, a family whose history goes beyond local memory. Once powerful, their standing has faded; their mansion is decaying, their gardens are returning to the wild, their trading ships are sinking, and the number of “true” O’Malleys is dwindling. After her grandfather’s death, eighteen-year-old Miren O’Malley becomes a pawn in her grandmother’s schemes to restore the family to its original glory.

All the Murmuring Bones tracks Miren as she maneuvers her way through her family’s dark history and begins to uncover its deepest held secrets. Along the way, she encounters all sorts of mythical sea creatures, including merfolk, kelpies, selkies, and rusalka.

One of this book’s greatest strengths is its inclusion of folklore and fairy tales. In addition to Miren’s interactions with the creatures of myth and lore, the author includes mini-fairy tales within the book. Some of these tales are important to the plot; some are not. However, every single one is haunting and beautiful. It is clear the author loves fairy tales and has crafted a book for readers who feel similarly.

I also highly recommend this book for readers looking for strong, self-sufficient, female characters. Miren knows she is capable and knows what she wants. She is consistently underestimated, but consciously uses this bias to her advantage.

Though overall I enjoyed this book, it did fall a bit flat for me. I was so invested in the beginning; I loved Miren’s strength and her encounters with sea creatures. I wanted to know more about her family. However, I lost interest in the last third of the book – the author ties all the loose threads together and exposes the family secrets, but I felt disconnected from the story as she did. I’m not 100% why this happened, but it might be due to the narration. Much of the story is told in a lofty, almost bird-eye view of the events. This is partially because much of the narration occurs through Miren’s thoughts and feelings, as opposed to dialogue.

I give All the Murmuring Bones 4 stars and recommend it to anyone who loves dark fairy tales and strong female leads!

When I initially began my reading of All the Murmuring Bones I will admit I didn't think I would like it. But once the plot picked up I was actually incapable of putting it down.

As I already mentioned the book starts out a bit slow, and initially feels hard to get into. There's a lot of information and set up for the story happening so it might be tempting to give it up, DON'T. Stick with it and trust me it's worth it ( and important). Around 20% into the book the plot really starts to develop and the story begins to take off and it's genuinely SO GOOD. You really begin to understand the main character and get to know her. The author is wonderfully able to write her in such a way that through her the reader is able to figure things out in the story without it ever feeling like an info-dump or like you're being dictated to what was happening and why. The world building was exquisite and the mythology & folklore beautifully woven into the story is so believable and wonderfully done.

I think its needless to say this is definitely a new favorite of mine. If you're even remotely interested in this book ( and even if you're not) I highly recommend and encourage you to read All The Murmuring Bones. You won't regret it.

All the Murmuring Bones follows a girl’s journey to restore glory to her once powerful family. It is a darker fairytale that was a great read, although it featured less of the mer than I originally thought. For future readers, it is best to go into this novel with lower expectations as it is not a bad novel in any way, but it makes the reading more of a pleasant surprise and enhances the overall experience. This novel was nothing like I expected it to be, but I reset my expectations and found that it was a very entertaining tale.

We begin this novel with an introduction into the O’Malley family. Miren O’Malley at 18-years-old finds herself to be the last O’Malley daughter. Her family’s prosperity was based on a deal with the Mer (mermaids/sirens/merfolk) where the O’Malleys had safe passage on their ships in exchange for a child each generation. When the O’Malleys did not keep up their end of the bargain, their family started faltering. Our story begins with the death of Miren’s grandfather where the story opens with his funeral and the backstory of the O’Malleys is given. These first few chapters are a little dry as they are a lot of detail to set the scene for the characters and to give some backstory to the events that will occur in the story. To me, I would have preferred the backstory mixed in with more plot to not make it so detail driven so early on in the writing. It was well-written, but it wasn’t very captivating to me as a reader and I found myself having to push forward with the hope of more “action” later on. Luckily, the story did get better and I found myself much more enthralled once the events got going.

To restore the O’Malleys back to the previous glory, Miren’s grandmother, Aoife, decides that Miren needs to marry a distant cousin named Aiden Fitzpatrick, a controlling man who wants to be the dominant presence in Miren’s life. Deciding that this life is not for her after the death of her grandmother, she chooses to go on a journey to search for her parents, who are presumed dead. The story follows Miren on this journey with tales of celtic folklore, witchcraft, and mythical sea creatures, such as the kelpie. When the story is being set up in the first few chapters, Miren seems more subdued and submissive, but she finds her voice along the way and becomes more independent. The writing did a great job to explore her growth and presented an interesting story about our character finding herself after being initially told her life would be one way.

The writing was beautifully written as the darker, more gothic world, was set-up well in the beginning and I could easily picture each scene, even the mansion, both the darker and lighter descriptions of it. Miren’s journey and the short stories interspersed throughout the chapters were fantastically done as they were very descriptive. The story overall flowed well to follow Miren, but there were parts that were slower and more disjointed than others that seemed to not transition as well as other parts of the story. The novel is more complex than some other fantasy-type stories, but the revealing of the secrets is well-done and would not work in a simpler written work. There are a lot of supernatural and mythical beings interspersed throughout the story, such as the Mer, kelpies, wights, and ghosts, among other beings.

Overall, Miren is a well-written character that the reader wants to root for as you want nothing, but happiness for her. She has her flaws, but she is trying to learn from them, which was very relatable. She is an O’Malley and there are certain obligations that come with the name. For those who have their own family legacy, or are just familiar with the pressure that come with it, then it is fully relatable why she feels a certain way and makes certain decisions along the way to find herself outside of her name. Again, this story is not the one I was expecting to read, but I am glad I went into it with an open-mind as the writing was beautifully done and I enjoyed Miren’s journey and all the twists and turns along the way!

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Titan Books, for an ARC to read and enjoy. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

https://lynns-books.com/2021/03/09/all-the-murmuring-bones-by-ag-slatter/
4 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : A dark fairytale, beautifully written

Before I really get into this review I would say this one thing : keep your expectations in control before you pick this one up. As mentioned above, this is a dark fairytale, a world where creatures exist and bargains can be struck. It’s beautifully written and maybe even a little purple in places which I realise won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. As it happens, I enjoyed the writing very much, I loved the fairytale elements and I was interested in the O’Malleys and their dire family history. However, fast paced this isn’t, It can be a little predictable in places although then by way of contrast can be equally surprising in others, and if you’re expecting a story that takes you into the realm of the merfolk then you might want to adjust your expectations. Merfolk exist here, and we catch glimpses of them, particularly as they have a keen interest in the main character, but they’re more an aside or driver of plot than a central focus.

I won’t overly dwell on the plot. The story revolves around Miren and her struggles to break free of others expectations. The O’Malley’s have long held wealth and power, it is believed that long ago they struck a deal which helped them to succeed where others could not. Their seafaring exploits remained untouched by stormy waters and their coffers overflowed. The family prospered. But, all was not as blissful as it seemed on the surface as these concessions must ultimately be paid for. Eventually, one of the O’Malley’s was going to rebel at the price to be paid and slowly but surely their success would gradually drain away.

Miren is the last in line of the ‘O’Malleys and her grandmother has big plans for her to restore their fortunes. Whether or not these plans are agreeable to Miren is of no consequence whatsoever – except of course, Miren doesn’t like the plans and doesn’t intend to be the sacrificial lamb.

What I really enjoyed here. The darkness. This is not a Disney fairytale by any stroke of the imagination. The O’Malley’s are a cruel family mostly. The deal they struck has definitely not brought out the best in them. Arrogant, selfish, cold and calculating this is a family where ‘every man and woman for themselves’ could conceivably be their motto. Miren herself can come across as single minded and quite ruthless when the need arises and I admit that it can take a little while to warm to her and yet I did get on board with her plan to escape.

I think the author has written a story that is incredibly evocative. This is a world of vivid storms and unexplained things, kelpies, merfolk and witchcraft to name but a few. There are ghosts and poppets, wise women and intent and, in the way of all fairytales an eventual resolution of sorts.

We find ourselves with not one, but two gothic style mansions. One on the edge of the sea with secret caves, forgotten gardens and a crumbling interior. The other secreted behind a thick hedge that hides a sleepy little village within its borders and a dark secret in it’s cellar. I enjoyed both settings although I was a little thrown at first when we seemed to go from the frying pan into the fire. But I won’t say more about that at this point.

In terms of characters. Miren is really the main focus. Obviously there are peripheral characters but Miren really does take centre stage. Is this a character that you will love? She is undoubtedly painted in various shades of grey and she takes some surprising action on occasion. Be warned, if you’re expecting a tale of women helping each other out you won’t necessarily find it here. Miren has to fend for herself, although she does make a few friendships here and there, and a good portion of the other characters are very much self serving individuals – and that includes both male and female.

In terms of criticisms. I felt that this got off to a really good start and I was immediately intrigued by the O’Malleys and their history. The house is a place of secrets and lies and murmuring skeletons in closets. At this point the tale does move very quickly. I would say that the pace slows a little in the middle whilst Miren seems to enjoy a brief respite from family pressure and then the pace picks up again towards the end. I would also reinforce that a lot of the characters here are not pleasant but for me, this reinforces the fairytale feel of it all.

Overall I enjoyed this. I loved the inclusion of all the short stories that helped to reinforce the sense of ‘fairytale’, the writing was lovely and it was wonderfully dark.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

although this book started out slow, it eventually took me in and captivated me until the end. shocking, unconventional, and, at times, horrifying, ALL THE MURMURING BONES is a truly unique piece of literature. miren's journey was a long and lonely one, but it was made worth it when she broke free of the o'malley - and the elliot - cycle. thank you to netgalley for this ARC

3.5 stars
All the Murmuring Bones is a story of resilience and reclamation swathed in an eerie, gothic shroud. The novel draws up the weight of history, of story, of other people’s wants and follies and decisions, and Miren’s tale is about fighting for one’s freedom against these forces.
It has a slow start. Miren is a ghost of a character at first, but a quarter of the way through the book she shakes off the dust of a generations-long slumber and the plot picks up. I followed the story with interest, but I can’t say that it ever gripped me. The structure wasn’t particularly satisfying and the ending didn’t elicit much excitement from me because of this. Unfortunately, there were also subtle moments of fatphobia throughout that made me uncomfortable, and I’m not sure the novel succeeded in undermining the classism of the O’Malley’s, though it seemed to be trying.
With a lukewarm plot and a one-dimensional vision of freedom, what held my attention? Well, the atmosphere. While reading this, I pictured many of the places I visited in Scotland. In addition to the strong folktale elements, the feel of the landscape was grey, green, and damp, full of streams and cliffs and salt water and crumbling stone. I loved the haphazard inclusion of many different mythical creatures, the folk magic, the strange Victorian and sometimes almost steampunk glimpses we were given into the wider world. And it was satisfying to see, over and over again, how Miren could defy the expectations of the men around her.
I enjoyed and appreciated this book, though I had some criticisms. And it certainly wet my appetite for more mermaid books!
Thank you for the ARC.
Note: review will go up on my Bookstagram on pub day

Happy Publication Day Eve!

All the Murmuring Bones caught my eye with its unique fantasy meets gothic novel premise. While the world building and fantastical elements are vivid and well-written, I found the story to be a bit light on depth, despite all the tremendous lore. Undead, drowned souls plague the marshes, bloodthirsty merpeople stalk the shorelines, and witches use their magic to bring good fortune to crop yields and pocket books alike. Despite this rich tapestry to build off of, I never really felt any connection or investment to the cast of characters.

The protagonist Miren O’Malley is the last living member of an ancient family, with a rich and complex connection to the sea. Her family’s estate has fallen on hard times, and we meet Miren at a critical crossroads in her life, hovering on the edge of adulthood and looking for a way to save or break free of her family’s legacy. Despite this interesting set-up, I found Miren to be rather one-dimensional. She was cold and inexplicably callous, treating nearly everyone she met as disposable, with little explanation. I have no problem with stoic characters- but there still has to be some hook or understand of their worldview that draws the reader in. All the Murmuring Bones never captured that magic for me, I was interested in some aspects of the journey, but was ultimately disinterested in the destination.

Despite these negative aspects- the novel did succeed at building an effective gothic atmosphere as the story progressed. What started as a rather clear cut fantasy story, eventually delved in a dark, murderous direction and the book was all the better for it. While some of the gothic mystery story beats felt a little predictable, it was so atmospheric that I was willing to look past the predictability.

All in all, I would love to read another novel set in this same universe, I just wasn’t entirely sold on Miren O’Malley’s story.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This gothic fairytale set itself up with a big task which, for the most part, paid off. Filled with a rich lore and history, ALL THE MURMURING BONES follows Miren, the last descendant of the O’Malley family, as she is forced into a marriage to restore her family’s former glory. When she discovers her betrothed’s dark intentions, she runs away to find the parents who abandoned her as a child.

Miren was my favourite kind of vicious female protagonist, and her cutthroat tendencies never stopped her from being a sympathetic and relatable character. Her journey was filled with obstacles and tales that were in equal parts charming and horrifying—the perfect gothic vibe—and I was greeted by a new twist at every corner. However, I found that this meant the story changed track one too many times for me. In places, it disrupted the flow when a particularly action-packed scene would suddenly be interrupted by a plot twist that resulted in the pace slowing down considerably. When finally, all of the various elements of the story culminated in the climax, the blow felt lessened somehow by the fact that the story changed track so often that I had lost sight of the crux of the plot. Nevertheless, I appreciated that the story tried to do too much rather than too little, as it meant that I was never bored whilst reading. ALL THE MURMURING BONES was a thoroughly entertaining read overall, and one I would recommend to any fans of fantasy or gothic novels.