2.5 stars

I saw the cover and the synopsis that said f/f retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice and immediately wanted to read The Bone Way. I like that this is a novella, the story moves and wraps up smoothly. The worldbuilding, setting and the creatures were crafted smartly. Teagan and Cress's already established relationship was sweet, though I wish we'd gotten more of their interactions during the flashbacks. It did fall short for me. Nothing really stood out in particular, I found myself wanting the Shadow Princess to be given more depth, the worldbuilding to be explored more and the ending was underwhelming.

Thank you Nyx Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!

The Bone Way ended up being a bit disappointing. The cover art is amazing and the blurb was what sold me initially to pick this one up. I personally felt that the set up of the book was what threw it off the most. Maybe the flashbacks could've been combined to a chapter at the beginning to make the reader care more. In a full length novel it might have been okay. I did love the witchy vibes, but in the end I didn't care enough and the characters were a bit too flat for my tastes.
I almost feel like that this would've made a good comic or fairytale graphic novel instead of a novella.
I would try other works from the author in the future.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Nyx Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately drawn in when I saw the terms Greek retelling, LGBTQIA+ & SFF mentioned in the book description. Plus look at that cover. Honestly, it’s stunning!

First of all, even though it was a 3 star read, I really mostly had a good time with this book.
It showed some serious potential in terms of plot, the world and the characters. But in the end it all fell a little short for me. It might because it being a novella or just because of the choices the author took with the delivery of the story.

“But she hadn’t been raised to turn away from someone in need, no matter how afraid for herself she might be.”

In this book you follow Teagan on her quest to rescue her wife Cressidae. She went to the shadow realm, to find a way to save her spouse from a lethal poisoning. The story is loosely inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It’s centered around the journey through the shadow realm and the romance between Teagan and Cress.

“Teagan felt the magic all around her, the energy from spells that crackled through the noise, the scent of harmona in the air.”

I think the strongest part of this novel is it’s atmosphere. You felt really immersed in the struggles the protagonist faced in the different parts of the “Underworld”. Especially the mental toll they took on Teagan.
I also really liked the stark contrast between the happy, protected world the couple came from and the cruel shadow realm.

“The dead were always starving, waiting for those fool enough to get past them without protection.”

One of the things I struggled most with were the flashbacks. I felt like they didn’t add too much to the story. They also made the already low page count just feel too short. I feel like starting the novel with a prologue instead, would have made me invested from the start and made me care about the characters more.

I actually liked the characters but they lacked a bit of polish. I had the same problem with the romance. An already established relationship is an interesting concept for a romance story, but you still need time to get to care about the two lovers. There was a lot of telling and not too much showing of the affection between Teagan and Cress. Like I said earlier, if the relationship was established in the prologue the quest would have had more gravitas as well. The “throwing into action” kind of start to a story has to be done just right in my opinion. I had the exact problem with R.A. Salvatores “Homeland” aswell. I just didn’t care about what happened just yet.

I also felt like the writing seemed a little fanfiction-esque. But if you’re not bothered by a more juvenile writing style, you probably won’t have an issue with it. I sometimes felt it was too much.

I can still warmly recommend this if you like a quick atmospheric read and don’t expect a close retelling of the original material.

So this took me a while because I had to re-read it, due to not realizing that this was a retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice with a Sapphic twist, amongst others. I was actually going to just stop reading it because the story starts so bleakly, with Teagan (who is the Orpheus character, I think) right smack dap in the middle of her journey through this world's version of Hades, The Shadow Kingdom. I wasn't connecting the bleakness with the original, so I was constantly thinking of how sad and dreary everything was - even the flashbacks were bitter sweet.

Aside from picking apart what the story beats matched with the original groupings of the story (I found out there's a lot, but most people use Virgil's version in their retellings because it is so darn sad), I was constantly wanting to know more. There's so much world in this little novella that I wanted to keep finding out about, but because of the length of the book, it laser focused on Teagan and Cressidae. They're two powerful witches who were tragically separated after Cressidae disappears one day in the search to cure Teagan's terminal disease. We find out later that Teagan saved Cressidae's life, but was injured in the process. The injury was cursed, and Teagan as been dying ever since. Through their world's old stories, Cressidae thinks she found the cure and went questing after it but didn't tell Teagan who was more resigned to her fate.

It's a bit messy with the events of their past being told in flashbacks along with the current, terrible adventure. I would have liked to have been given some of that backstory closer to the beginning of the book, since most of the more relevant bits are explained near the middle of the book. It would have helped break up the utter helplessness that was prevalent in the beginning. What, with one lover dying and running after the other, whom we don't know the exact fate of until later? Whole lotta sadness to throw at people.

The Orpheus and Eurydice story often gets really good retellings like with Mulan Rouge, and Hadestown. I'd say this is a solid retelling and a pretty creative one at that. Cressidae has a ton of agency as Eurydice, but, she also has a little of Orpheus in her, too. Teagan has characteristics of both, as well (see what I mean, picking apart the story?). It's really interesting, and certainly deserves a larger page count. But alas, it is not to be, and instead you get a lot of story crammed into a small space with not enough room to breathe.

If you want a sapphic retelling of Eurydice and Orpheus. If you want a story that can be a bit creepy and really emotional. If you want a fantasy world with understandable and good world-building. if you want a quick read. If you want a great love story that defies death. Then this book is for you.
It's easy and quick to read. The characters are so great, even the villains, like you, understand them. I've read this book in one day, and now I just want to re-read it. It was the perfect book to end pride month.

I got an arc from NetGalley and Nyx Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you both for that!

And honestly? I enjoyed reading this story.

The story has a great premise and starts off in the heat of everything: Teagan’s wife missing. But I also like how the story explored Teagan’s past with Cress every so often in flashback chapters. That was a great touch to develop the characters. Each new part of the Shadow Realm brought wonder into the story. I also love the power in Teagan's words, and how Cress is a strong character that can stand on her own.

My only complaint was that a few parts feel like some details were missing, which made the story feel a bit rushed. And it slightly got a bit cliché toward the end. But those are minor.

I'm a sucker for fantasy worlds, and I really liked the different creatures and the journey through the Shadow Realm.

8/10. Would love to buy a paperback of this book for my shelves now.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

**2.5/5 stars**.

The Bone Way loosely retells the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It largely follows Teagan, who, for the majority of the novel, is travelling through what is known as the Shadow Realm to find her wife, Cressidae, who is there to make a deal with its ruler in order to save Teagan's life.

Honestly, I was really looking forward to reading this, but unfortunately it did kinda fall flat for me. I think the main issue I had was that it lacked development. I think part of this is down to the fact that it was a novella – while I have nothing against novellas, I feel that in this case the book was perhaps too short for the story it was trying to tell as there was a fair amount of journey-ing but not enough world building or character development.

Overall, the aesthetic was cool and I loved the concept of this but I did honestly expect a bit better. The writing style didn't particularly stand out for me and I didn't care too much about any of the characters, but this doesn't mean that there aren't elements other readers would enjoy, and I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it if they thought it sounded like their thing, considering it's a relatively short read.

Likely drawing inspiration from (several) mythological tales of people braving the land of the dead in order to save the life of the one they love, "The Bone Way" presents the journey of Teagan through the Shadow Realm as she seeks her lost wife, Cress. Said Shadow Realm is a relatively interesting melange of various elements, and I liked the way that the tale played out: it felt very much in keeping with those old myths, while still being its own thing.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4085550334
Blog: https://mgthacker22.wixsite.com/librarymouse/post/the-bone-way

I was very excited about this book. I love fantasy and as a member of the LGBT+ community, I love any book that can fit both my preferred genre and have representation. I loved the plot and I even really liked the characters.

But to me the execution of the idea just wasn’t very good. There were basically no descriptions in this book, and most of the writing is just action. If the author had taken more time to flesh out the descriptions- yes she hears the bones, but what do they sound like, yes there is a creature but what does it look like-I would have liked it a lot better.

If I wasn’t reviewing this book, I would’ve stopped reading at the end of chapter two. The writing style just didn’t allow me to enter a reading imagination theater.

Long story short: I loved the idea of it, but was really let down by the writing.

3.5/5 stars

A sapphic Orpheus and Eurydice retelling novella.

Teagan woke up one day that her wife, Cress, is missing. Cress has traveled to the Shadow Realm to bargain with the Shadow Princess - a being who bargains with those brave enough to seek her. Teagan determined to save Cress, follows her in the Shadow Realm. Both must face their past and the realm's horrors if they want to make it out alive.

Only 162 pages but The Bone Way managed to create an intriguing world, and the characters are likable. This is a straightforward read; there's a well-laid-out plot right from the beginning - go to the Shadow Realm, find Cress, bargain with the Shadow Princess, and go home.

The writing style was easy to follow and poetic at times. The backstory of the two protagonists, the world, and the Shadow Princess was interesting. It added depth to the characters which is remarkable as this is only a novella although the world was a bit underdeveloped due to it being short.

My only issue was the placement of the flashbacks. It made things a bit confusing because there was no indication that it was a flashback.

Overall, The Bone Way is a fast, easy, and enjoyable read I finished it in one sitting. I recommend it for fans of Greek myth retelling and those looking for a short read.

Thank you, Nyx Publishing and Netgalley for the galley. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

The Bone Way is a short and sweet novella, a retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice, but with a bit of a twist. It’s an easy read, one you can get through in a single sitting, but ultimately, it didn’t really stand out for me.
It doesn’t try to tell too expansive a story, and leaves you satisfied with what it has told.
In general, when I’m reading, I find myself struggling when a relationship is already established, but here I didn’t have that. I think it’s because what the book does well is give you enough of their backstory for you to root for them. And it probably also helps that you’re introduced to them in a moment where things aren’t all that peachey in their relationship.

Thank you to Netgalley and NYC publishing for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

That was ok. I don't think this book was really my cup of tea. Objectively it wasn't bad but I didn't exactly enjoy reading it. Its a very quick read but it was sort of just meh for me. The majority of the story takes place with the MCs internal monolog and flash backs and the story over all felt a bit anticlimactic. If you are into Greek retellings you might enjoy this but this was sorted for me

This sapphic retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice was a fun and pleasant read. The main characters were likeable and it was easy to cheer for their relationship, however the prose was quite basic. I often found the descriptions somewhat lacking and the dialogue was mismatched - sometimes it felt like it was being spoken by characters in a traditional fantasy, and other times it was Buffyspeak. Overall a good read, though one with nitpicks.

“Keep your thoughts close and your heart strong, for one false step could mean certain death”

Thank you to Netgalley and Nyx publishing for sending me an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book originally sold me. Sapphic fantasy adventure? Sold. I was all in, but I started reading and immediately deflated. The world-building was nearly non-existent and what did exist was told instead of shown. It was overly descriptive in the wrong areas but lacked detail in the important parts. The characters backstories were told through confusing, out of order flashbacks way too quickly and the plot lacked emotional depth.

I enjoyed the adorable thoughts the main character had towards her wife and hope the author focuses on character driven stories in the future.

The Bone Way would have made an AMAZING graphic novel, but I feel like it fell incredibly flat told in the current format.

The Bone Way is a short retelling of the story of Orpheus and Euridice. Teagan follows her wife Cress into the Shadow Realm to make a bargain with the Shadow Princess, a figure of legend. Along the way, she struggles with monsters and faces her past.

Despite being about 100 pages long, the book manages to create an interesting world and characters with depth. The book largely deals with loss and grief, so if that is not something you like this book is not for you. I enjoyed the relationship between Teagan and Cress. It seemed very real and relatable.

Overall, the book was quite enjoyable, however, no moments particularly stand out. I feel like if expanded on this could have been a very interesting longer book. Regardless, it is always nice to have a good short read. I will be recommending this to my friends who do not have the patience to read longer books.

“The Bone Way”, by Holly J. Underhill is a fantasy novella centering around Teagan and her wife, Cressidae. Teagan is suffering from a deadly poison that is slowly killing her. The only way the pair can save her is a dangerous path in the Shadow Realm. No one comes back from this trail alive. Upon noticing Cessidae’s absence from their home, Teagan follows her into the Shadow Realm to try and save her true love.

The Characters I didn’t ever get attached to. They didn’t feel unique, or special, or having any qualities that I thought made them interesting characters. There was nothing I specifically disliked about them, they just felt Mary Sue-ish. I also had trouble trying to place how old these characters were. They were married, but were written in a more YA voice, which isn’t an inherently bad thing, but it did confuse me.
The world, however, I wished the author explored a bit more because I think the set-up was intriguing, but by the end of the 180 pages, I felt unattached. It was whimsy though, and the world outside of the shadow realm I wish we could have explored more. The shadow realm was explained well atmosphere-wise and not setting-wise.
The writing style was simple, which I personally enjoyed and prefer. It was written uncomplicated, and I found no problem zipping through the novel at a fast speed. This is one of those books that reads easy.
The plot was laid out well from the beginning: Find Cress, get home. It’s a very loosely inspired off of the Eurydice and Orpheus myth, which my greek mythology heart loved. How well the plot will go over with others, I think really depends on your audience. If you want an easy book that you can just sit, read, and be done with, I think this is a good book. To consider. If you want a complicated fantasy, this isn’t the book.
I haven’t read many novellas, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think the author was trying to do multiple things that just couldn’t fit into a space of 180 pages. I really wanted there to be a focus, whether that was on the characters, plot, or world, but all were paid attention to equally, which made it feel like the skeleton of a book.

Overall, I gave this 3 stars. If you want something complicated with depth, I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you want something easy to read, maybe as an introduction to fantasy, I think this would be a good book to consider.

Eurydice and Orpheus, but with sapphic witches?? This is as good as it sounds.
A short book, very poetic, with a beautiful love story.

Thank you netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a review.

Being a big fan of all things sapphic I was keen to read this novella. Sadly, I can't say that the author's storytelling worked for me. I found the story & characters rather one-dimensional, which is sort of understandable given that this is a novella as opposed to full length novel but still, I was hoping to feel more of a connection. Maybe i would recommend this to those who aren't looking for a thought-provoking read but would rather read something relatively engaging and light.

A big thank you to netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Short review:
Teagan and her wife Cress are witches. They decided to go together to visit the shadow Princess in her realm to make a deal. But they had a quarrel and Cress went alone. Teagan decided to follow her and catch up with her. The first step was going through the bone way which ofcourse has alot of bones as in real bones.

"it was impossible to count how many had died here, lost in a forgotten kingdom. More souls for the shadow Princess' s collection."

Suddenly in the bone way, a skeleton started to move forward to Teagan. Teagan was all prepared to handle that situation. Walking through the bone way, Teagan gets flashbacks from the story her mother used to tell her about the shadow Princess. But her mom never told her everything. She made it through the bone way and knew that it was just the beginning of more dangerous encounters on every path. Once she made it to the realm, she was surprised with the view of it. It was beyond her expectations...

My opinion: It was a cute F/F story with a magical world building. It was amazing to see how the main characters wanted to sacrifice their lives for each other. This book is for anyone who wants to read something fast with witches vibe.

This is a saphic fantasy that also is an eurydice/orpheu retelling. We follow Teagen and Cress in her journey to bargain for Teagen life with the Shadow Princess. I’ve actually really liked this book, it’s sweet and the protagonists have that really unique soulmate relationship from eurydice and orpheu. The book was fast paced and I read it really quick, is comfortable to read, but it also doesn’t leave the surface in a lot of ways. I wanted to know more about the Shadow Princess and her story (it would make a great spin off) and, since their backstory is put in the middle of Teagen’s path, it was a bit confusing ‘cause it felt more like several little tales in the middle of the actual story then, in fact, part of the plot. But the story was very similiar to the original tale and I really liked the little references here and there that the original couple might have walked the same path. It’s a good book, comfortable and quick to read, it’s not extraordinary, but it’s worth reading