I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would, but it was an interesting read. It was giving The Graveyard Book but I also DNFed that one so I’m not 100% sure, lol.

A story of a kid who tries his hardest to capture monsters after his mother dies, while also trying to live a “normal” life. It’s a story that touches on grief, loneliness, and homelessness. It was also giving Fullmetal Alchemist vibes (for the anime fans) except more hopeful, which, well, idk how to feel about that. Personally, it makes it feel like anyone can have control over certain things in life and yes, I know, it's fantasy, *but still*

I was curious about that ending tho since I did really enjoy the adventures and how the creatures were described (while darker than I expected, these moments were some of my favorites in the book!)

Marius Grey is a twelve year old monster hunter. He only has one goal: gain enough mystic coins to bring his mother back from the dead.

This was a fun middle grade read. Fans of monsters/the supernatural will enjoy Marius's adventures, deals made, and the description of the battles with each monster.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

This book is like the Adams Family, but slightly darker. A monster hunter and zombie-mermaid join forces before something terrible happens. If that doesn't catch a readers eye, I'm not sure what will. This book is fantastic for the spooky season, or for young readers looking to get into horror.

The world building here is pretty ingenious. It's a sort of magical realism. The setting is our own world just with magical elements. A sort of magical shadow culture that the uninitiated can't perceive. So there is no need to waste time with huge amounts of culture and history, just a little bit of lore. The main thing that needs explaining is Monster Hunting and that is naturally integrated into the plot. While we don't understand everything Marius does in the moment we get explanation soon enough. It's action oriented and his time constraints drive the plot forward. The characters aren't especially deep but that's not uncommon for a middle grade novel. Especially in a book that, as with this one, feels primed for a sequel. The Louisiana setting is strong and the monsters are used to full effect. Especially impressive is the use of lesser known monsters - things like boo hags and rougarous. It has scary moments but isn't a total fright fest so it shouldn't be too much for young readers.

Brick Dust and Bones is a fun middle grade fantasy romp following a young boy on a mission to save his mom from her deal with a demon . Marius Grey is a lot of things, an orphan, a cemetery caretaker, and a monster hunter. But there are shades of grey in the world of magic and monsters, and not every strange creature is what it seems.

Marius is a stubborn, headstrong boy with a big heart. He is a joy to root for, even as I worry about him making dangerous choices to meet his goals. The magic system of trading in monsters for magic money is also very interesting, as well as the mix of magic and mundane that covers the whole world. A great read for any lover of middle grade fantasy!

For some reason, I was expecting the ending to be sad. Like, he couldn't fulfill his wish even after trying so hard.

I forgot that this was a children's book! Lol!

YA has spoiled me...

Ending apart, this is a good book to read if you are into spells and magic!


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Marius Grey is a graveyard boy, and he has taken over responsibility of the ghosts and the graveyard since his mother died. But on the side, he hunts monsters.

I really enjoyed this middle grade adventure. It was equal parts spooky and sweet. The monster hunting parts were exciting, and I liked Marius’ community of ghosts and friends. If I had one complaint it would be that the ending was a little abrupt, but I think it might have been setting up for a sequel. If you loved The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman this might be a great pick for you!

3.5 stars

This was delightful and well-written. It wasn't really spooky (which was a concern of mine, I'm not a fan of spooky books), but had just the right amount of suspense to keep me reading. The final boss (if you will) was pretty darn grisly.

The setting of this book was what really made it shine. The characters, culture, and places that appeared here were rich and realistic, and while Marius' money-making quest was engaging on its own, I just know that all that well-researched worldbuilding on the author's part is made the story really great.

I would have based my entire middle school identity around this book. It had a lot of gore but the best parts were the world as a whole and the family dynamics.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Short and full of mystery and adventure!

Brick Dust and Bones follows Marius on a grave quest as both a monster hunter and a son. This book begins world building immediately and there's no better town for monsters, ghosts, and mayhem than New Orleans. Marius was a beautifully built character and unexpectedly kind.

I cannot wait for more from this series!

This is a truly excellent book. Monsters of all kinds: great, terrible, and legendary abound here. Unexpected friends and a nice twisty ending, that still leaves us some questions. I loved this fantastic story- especially the setting, New Orleans is the only place where these tales could all come together! I seldom say this, but the characters really led this story. They’re not worn out tropes, they’re unexpected and unique. I can only hope to read more from this author. Bravo! Well done.

I think this is an interesting concept. I enjoyed the idea of Marius hunting monsters for a bigger goal. I also liked how while he knew he had a goal in mind he was not willing to compromise his standards to achieve what he wanted to. His compassion and relatability really shine in this book. I don’t know that I was swept away by this book like I wanted to be, but I truly appreciated pieces of this story. I do think that those who enjoy mythical monsters will enjoy this book and I look forward to recommending it.
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel and Friends, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

3 stars. nothing was bad about the book, it’s just not my cup of tea. i think that if i was younger i would really enjoy the book. i am 23.

Brick Dust and Bones is a middle-grade novel steeped in the lore which surrounds the Louisiana bayou.

For fans of Grounded for All Eternity and Cemetery Boys, readers will find themselves engrossed by the world Fournet has built, yet shares so casually, as if monster hunting, deals with demons, and grave-hopping is an everyday occurrence. Of course, for Marius Gray, it is.

The story itself is well-plotted and paced featuring monster hunting investigations punctuated with action sequences against an overarching narrative.

Despite being the sole graveyard keeper of Graystone Cemetery and constantly caring for both the graves and ghosts, and his best friend– a mermaid named Rhiannon– Marius is a solitary character which matches with his loner status in other aspects of his life as well as his mourning the loss of his parents. In terms of main characters, they are interesting, but not necessarily compelling.

That being said, we meet quite the background cast throughout the novel, and despite my interest in Marius’ quest to keep his mother’s ghost around, I found myself more interested in these background characters such as the restaurant owner who opened her doors to spirits and humans alike, or this idea of mystic coins only used by those who deal in magic. This is due to the fact that, as stated, the New Orleans history and folklore is rich, the monsters are scary, and it’s written in such a way that I feel like a local as opposed to a tourist.

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced read featuring a world ripe with magic and just a touch of darkness.

I really enjoyed the vivid world building in Brick Dust and Bones. I love when fantasy stories feel like they could be set in the real world. I loved that this story was set in New Orleans. I feel like as a city it is often portrayed as character in itself and Fount brought that to life.

Rhiannon was my favorite character! Nothing better than a loyal best friend who is also a pretty scary mermaid!


I think this book would be great for fans of Wednesday or Goosbumps!

A twelve year old cemetery boy who is also secretly a monster hunter, must find a way to save the ghost of his dead mother with the help of his best friend, a flesh-eating mermaid. A magical and fun adventure, filled with friendship, action, and spookiness! Marius Grey is a monster hunter, he’s been hunting monsters in order to save up to buy a spell that could save his mother and bring her back from the dead. He is only twelve years old and he also has a job as a Cemetery Boy, looking after the ghosts in his family’s graveyard. Yet Marius has to spend time between his normal job and his monster hunting job. Can he find a way to buy the spell he needs before the clock runs out? And how much danger will he put himself in fighting meaner and more difficult monsters and demons in order to make the money he needs while avoiding meddling teachers? This was such a fun read and I think it’s a great book for any fans of spooky adventures! Marius was a great protagonist and I adored how hard he worked and his kindness to his best friend and their friendship was just the sweetest! I would love to see more books and to have this be a series, I think it would make a great one!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Brick Dust and Bones by M. R. Fournet is a very different tale of a twelve-year old monster hunter and cemetary boy. While responsible for the ghosts in his families cemetary, Marcus also is trying to raise money as a bounty hunter to return his mother from the dead. This is not your usual tale of monster hunting and I think it would be of great interest to middle grade readers wanting a different story than the usual.

I lost interest in this book by the time I reached chapter 10. I mean, the beginning was full of promise with some exciting ghost trapping stuff. Then everything turned into sort of like nothing short of the ordinary. Sure there were some odd things that happened, but nothing memorable. Losing interest in something like this might mean that it simply is not for me. I hope it does well for others.

Marius and his flesh-eating mermaid friend, Rhia, monster hunt to earn Mystic coins to bring Marius' mother back from the dead. Time is running out as she has been gone for almost 2 years. Set in New Orleans, the imagery and ambience feel like New Orleans and the swamps and bayous of Lousiana. The culture with food, toruist attactions, and magic underlie the plot to cement the world building like the bricks used in the masoleums. Marius is a Cemetary Boy, one who tends the cememtarys and the ghosts of New Orleans, but monster hunting - boogeymen, poltergeists, candy ladies, and more - is meant for one as young as Marius. His grief at the loss of his mother and his determination to try and bring her back from the dead are palpable in every scene and decision he makes. Give to fans of City of the Dead by V. E. Schwab and The Clackity by Lora Senf. A fun, atmospheric read.