Hi readers! Before you dive in, I'm adding the detailed content warnings here so that those interested can check them out before reading. If any of these will trigger you, please take care and save this book for another time.

- Heavy discussion of and explicit on-page depiction of spousal abuse and domestic violence (please note that TSTB features the POV of both the victim and the abuser—those readers who would struggle with the juxtaposition of these two internal monologues should take special care)
- Features a POV character with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Discussion of self-medication with alcohol
- Features a POV character who experienced past childhood sexual abuse by a relative
- Graphic sexual intercourse (all scenes take place between consenting adults)
- Gore
- Desecration of a corpse
- One scene of experimentation on an unwilling prisoner ending in their death, off-page descriptions of this happening multiple times
- Battlefield descriptions (off-page, in the context of PTSD flashbacks), discussion of conscription of soldiers
- Very brief mention of rape and child abuse in the context of war, occurring off-page
- Explicit drug use

I’m throwing in the towel on this one. I made it through 57% of it and I’m kind of bored with it. I kept hoping it would get better but it didn’t. The pace is slow and the characters are bland. The romance is blah. However, I loved the Rasputin vibes and the great queer rep. I might skim the rest just to see what happens. I think it will probably hit the sweet spot for a lot of readers, I’m just not one of them.

2.5 stars rounded up.

This one is hard for me, as I did like parts of this book and think it's very well written, but overall found it difficult to get through. Honestly, I think this is more of a "this book is not for me" rather than "this book is poorly written".

First, I would highly suggest checking out the content warnings on the author's website before getting into this title. I didn't as I don't have many things that bug me when reading, but there were a couple of things that took me by surprise. Samotin does have an author's note at the beginning of this title encouraging readers to check content warnings. (Content Warnings I would include: Spousal Abuse/domestic violence, Abuse, death, dismemberment, sexual assault, rape [implied/mentioned], descriptions of PTSD, heavy depictions of gore, desecration of a corpse/corpses, explicit sexual content, explicit drug use, alcoholism/self-medication with alcohol, human experimentation [on page and mentioned]).

I think the piece that I found hardest to get through was readying from Alexey's POV. For two thirds of the book, we read from a point of view of people that have been heavily traumatized by this character, and I just straight up did not enjoy reading from his point of view, it made me put the book down multiple times and take breaks because I found it really hard to read from the point of view of someone who is an abuser that tries to validate what they're doing in their own head.

SPOILERS:
One random thing that really bugged me is that it's implied/mentioned that Dimitri's court is angry at him for not shooting at Alexey during a battle when he had the chance, but it's also mentioned multiple times that they already knew that Alexey was immortal - so wouldn't it have not mattered? Very little issue in the scheme of things, but I found it very odd when I read it, and it took me out of the story for a bit while I puzzled it over.

At the very end of the story, Vasily and Dimitri make a decision that I think was very out of character for them, though mostly Vasily, in order to set up the possibility of a sequel.

Plot wise, I did enjoy the flow of the story and thought it was generally well thought out. Characters all had their own little quirks, and the writing itself was very beautiful. Honestly, the thing I liked the most is how Samotin normalized queer relationships in their world, instead of having homophobia be another thing our main characters had to contend with.

Overall, I would probably recommend this to people who are looking for a heavier political fantasy, but it definitely won't be for everyone.

Thanks for the eARC.

I would say that before you dive into this one check out the trigger warnings. Because they are a doozy. That being said I have to say that this book was not good. We get a POV of the abuser and that was just strange to try and read those. The book is also incredibly slow and the pacing is a tad off. The story itself was kind meh. And I do not think I would try this author again.

The ARC features an author’s note at the beginning with content warnings that I assume will be in the fully released version of the novel. Here are my content warnings: gore (medical & murder), intimate partner violence & spousal abuse, child abuse (sexual), PTSD, grooming

One additional note I’d like to make is that, initially, I thought I had accidentally picked up a sequel – however, that’s not the case. This is a stand alone (as of now) book. Events that happen “before” the main plot do come up a lot, but their slow introduction is purposeful in building the story. So, don’t get confused like I did!

The Sins on Their Bones has several strong points. I’m a folklore/mythology nerd, so the Jewish folklore core to the story immediately hooked me. I also appreciated the bibliography of resources the author includes at the end of the book. The structure moves from the limited view of three characters: Dmitri, Alexey, and Vasily. Each character has a distinctive voice, and each shift is clearly labeled. The transition between each character was smooth. I also appreciated the normality and variety of queer folx.

My main criticism of the book is the inclusion of Alexey’s POV, which I felt was too sympathetic to an abuser, namely with how much he “loves” Dmitri to the point that it’s his one weakness. An abuser of Alexey’s ilk is, in my opinion, incapable of true love. Others may disagree, but it sat poorly with me. I also thought the novel’s pacing could have been tightened, without any substance lost, with fewer sex scenes and quicker moving Vasily into Alexey’s court. Again, others may disagree that the pace needed changing, but I found it a little slow at times.

All that said, I think many will enjoy this book, and if a sequel comes out, I would be interested in reading it. The Jewish folklore and abundant queer inclusion woven into the worldbuilding, as well as its ability to balance dark themes, I found appealing.

Did this book emotionally destroy me? Yes, yes it did.

The Sins of Their Bones is a lush tale inspired by Jewish folklore, that broke my heart then stitched it back together.

This tale is one that explores dark themes, including abuse and how love, friendship and the families we make can help us heal. The path may not always be linear, it may be messy and painful. But even in grief and trauma moments of joy can be found.

The characters and the relationships between them are wonderfully crafted and feel so real that your heart will ache with them. The world fells real and lived in. I hear there's going to be a sequel and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Leaving five stars, but I haven't read. A kindle version is not available, and I hate reading on my phone. The premise sounds amazing, though.

I'm not fine, thanks so much for asking! These emotionally destroyed men have emotionally destroyed me!

This book is so utterly enchanting with such a beautiful world, inspired by Jewish mysticism, teetering on the edge of darkness. It digs into the emotional torture that comes from abuse and fraught politics, but does so in a way that is so deeply loving. It makes space for the acute suffering that is truthful to reality, but also welcomes the support that comes from those that care.

Everything about this book is dark, sexy, and just so damn GOOD. I wanted to inhale it whole.

A lush fantasy reimagining of 19th Century Eastern Europe inspired by Jewish folklore and mysticism. Dark, sexy, cleverly plotted and lushly written.

Super grateful to Laura for giving me an advance copy of the book, and PRH Canada for the digital ARC!

Where do I even start?? TSOTB is the dark, gorgeous, dramatic, heartfelt romantic fantasy of my dreams. Laura did such an incredible job immersing the reader in the heads of three POV characters to weave a complicated story of hurt, healing, and hope. I heavily empathized with Dimitri in particular, whose journey of healing as a domestic abuse survivor rang so true, especially where that path was nonlinear. Alexey, our villain, is perfectly hatable yet fascinating in the way all good villains should be. And I just adored Vasily. I want only good things for Vasily.

I can't wait for the sequel!