I seriously have high expectation about this book. It is from a Filipino author. And knowing that having your book published here in my country is hard enough, Ms Chupeco had hers in a foreign land is kind of new to me and I admit, I felt proud for her. So I was excited when I was given a chance to read and review this book of hers. But what I read somehow disappoint me.


I thought this book is awesome. The blurb sure does sounds good. Not to mention the cover is enough to have you grabbing it to buy. So imagine my disappointment when I found out that those were just fronts.

At first it was all good. Tea raised her brother from the dead, something happened in that very first page. Which made me continue reading until I feel like it’s starting to get slow and I kind of like missing the point of the story anymore.

So Tea is a dark asha, a very rare kind of asha or witch, so she’s that badass if you put it like that. What I didn’t get is if she’s a rare witch and, according to the book, really powerful, why is she attending tea parties and working like a maid?? Like seriously? Also as I’m reading the book, the point of it is slowly fading. Until I don’t know what’s going on anymore. First she set out a journey to be an asha apprentice only to become a maid on an asha house for a while. Why? I know it says in the book that she needs to be tested if she’s really worth training or not. But still! She’s a rare and really powerful asha, isn’t that enough reason to train her?

After getting past on the 67% of reading I gave up. The book is getting really slow by this time and I don’t see the point of the story anymore. I don’t know what kind of path Tea is walking on now. I try finishing it, convincing myself that there’s gotta be more to this story. There’s got to be. But then ugh!

One thing that made me give up to this book is the kind of narration. I get that you need to describe the surrounding of the scene so your readers can have a good picture of it in their head. But the way things, places, and characters are described here are way too much. It’s like in every little thing, it’s being described. Every hua, the asha’s clothes, in every asha ever mentioned in this book is being explain so long I got bored that I didn’t even bother reading the whole paragraph. Not to mention the characters that when you read their descriptions it’s like reading their whole family tree and some parts of their lives. I mean what? Too much! Too many describing and less talking and getting on the point and it’s getting boring.

So I gave up. I didn’t like it. I tried though but this book is not working for me.

I didn't want this book to end. I loved the short chapters and the bits of information they gave. Well done.

The plot of this book sounded real promising. A girl raises her brother from the dead and then gets exiled? Sign me up! That's not what I got. Instead I got paragraphs of nothing. A lot of descriptions. Half the time I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know if it was the present or the past. K even skimmed some chapters. I did not connect with this book. I heard others who loved this and the world (which wasn't explained enough for me) but sadly it wasn't my cup of tea (haha because the main character was named Tea) . I rated it 2 stars because although I wasn't enjoying it I was interested to see if anything would happen (it never did) although there is a part at the end of the book that I saw coming.

Actual rating is 3.5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started The Bone Witch. And to be honest, it isn't necessarily the kind of book I'd pick up on my own based off the description alone. But, after hearing so many good things about it, I knew I had to give it a read. And I'm so glad I did!

The Bone Witch isn't quite like anything I've read. It seems to have a little bit of everything: romance, political intrigue, magic, monsters, and necromancy. And oddly enough, they all work together incredibly well. Rin Chupeco created a rich, beautiful world that both terrifies and delights.

I adored the characters in this book. Tea is a wonderful main character and I'm so intrigued with her. And the rest of the characters are all so fascinating too. Each one has their own unique personality and I love it.

This book does tend to move a bit slow at times. While for the most part I really enjoyed the story and world, there were times when I got a little bored. But overall, I thought this was a great book and I'm interested to see where the story goes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fantasy book set in a fantasy land with many asha's who all have different skills. Tea is one who has VERY different and rare skills. She is able to do things that a lot of asha's are not able to do. She is taken from her homeland to learn how to use her skills when she is just 14 years old. This is an early age for Tea but was a necessity. Tea had used her powers to unleash her brother from his grave. A power she did know she had, nor did she know how she did it.

This book was definitely a YA read. This was a fantasy land, with a lot of fantasy characters and fantasy words. Most of the time I was reading the book, I did not know exactly what the words meant. However, I was able to enjoy the book for the most part and able to finish it. At first, I was a little concerned but I did get into it and was able to finish it.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was outstanding. The world building is exquisite, with great detail to various cultures and regions. I became so immersed in this book, the characters' world became my own. I could feel the sand of the beach beneath my feet, smell the ocean on the air. The Bone Witch is one of those rare books that grips you immediately and holds you in its grasp long after that last page has been turned. I actually groaned with sadness when I realized there were no more pages and I would have to wait as long as a YEAR for another book. I didn't have a book HANGOVER - I had a homesickness for the world I had inhabited so deeply and the characters I'd come to know. The Bone Witch is a gem among books; it'll be read and reread, with more being discovered each time. Simply amazing.

I really enjoyed The Bone Witch.  The story was very interesting, a girl who can use dark magic instead of light magic.  She can raise the dead, and she's got an attitude.  Tea our main character isn't porcelain doll to be put on display, she's powerful but lacks control.   I felt the writing was well done, but the book itself was flawed. The book is good for about the first half then it drags on for quite sometime where nothing happens. There is a weak attempt at a love triangle that doesn't really materialize, I think we'll see more of that in the next book. There is one really good plot twist, that I didn't see coming, and one I figured out early on. My biggest issue is the ending. The story builds up to some epic thing that is supposed to happen, but it never occurs. I huge pet peeve of mine is books that don't stand alone and close completely. I want to feel closure when I close a book, and be compelled to read the next book. I have to read the next book to find out what happens, I'm given no choice. I have no clue what happens next, and that irks me. There are a lot of loose ends that weren't wrapped up in this book and I hope that they are tied up in the next book.

Hello Fellow Readers,

I've been dying for some good fantasy lately and boy did I find some. The Bone Witch was such a great interesting read and Chupeco did such a great job with her story. The back and forth from present to past was awesome and really made you keep reading to find out what the hell happened and what was going on. The main character Tea, was such a great character. She had a depth and attitude to her that delighted me to now end. The descriptions of the magic and the world Chupeco created was great and one way she draws you into the story. I really love her descriptions of the Hua's and the heart pendants and what it means.

There was a couple of things I had a problem with, one was the names and locations in the story. I was so confused on keeping track and who was from where that I had to constantly keep backtracking to read over some things. This made the book longer to read than I liked. The ending had me so interested to see what the hell happened and what made Tea become how she is. I really can't wait to read the second story to figure things out. I can only hope it gets better and clears up some of my questions.

Great fantasy read, a nice change of pace for me.

I adore this book ! I have been really getting into high fantasy and witchcraft! The world-building was A plus. I felt I was being Tea, following behind her footsteps as she grows to control her powers. I felt the first part was a bit dull and boring for me, however once you get pass the first few chapters, it really picks up and becomes a fantastic read.I did get lost in the alternating timelapses, however, that did not ruin the book for me. As I said before I love love anything that has to do with fantasy, magic and witches.I thought it was really neat how everyone wore necklaces around their necks, how each one was different. I think the bone witch was gripping, intriguing and authentic. I just became immense in the Asha world. -- Thank you Netgallery for letting me review.

In the world of this novel, some people are born with/develop magical gifts. Tea’s sisters have some affinity for some magic but not enough for them to become “asha,” geisha-like women who are trained in various runes and entertain using them or heal or even work as bodyguards or do other defense. In Tea’s case, she only realizes she has an unusual gift when she raises her brother from the dead after he is brought home from battling the monsters that regularly cause problems throughout the lands ruled by various kings, an empress and other leaders.

“Bone witches” are feared and mistrusted, and Tea is quickly taken away for training by another bone witch, one of few still left. She has to navigate a new world, where she eventually goes into training as an asha but is watched closely by everyone around her, who are waiting to see what she will do next with her gift of raising the dead, and how it may hurt or help individuals or different countries. At times she wants to be accepted; she wants to spend time with a prince whom she can’t help liking; she wants to be left alone. In some ways she would like a normal life, but she has to admit that she likes the feel of working the Dark magic. But her future is uncertain, given what she observes, and she may very well have to turn expectations and plans of powerful people on their heads.

The world of the novel is set in a time that would be centuries ago, with little in the way of technology, and much of it is set in the land of Ankyo, where the asha get their training. It’s a place that’s much like old Japan, with simple buildings and sliding doors, and the asha are like geisha. They learn singing, dance, hospitality, history, flower-arranging, and then martial arts and defense and other skills, all of which draw on their particular magical talents. They both entertain and defend the kingdoms from daeva, “gigantic demonic beasts” that can be killed temporarily but return every decade. There are lands that have touches of Russian, Middle Eastern and other cultures, in addition to Japanese. So it all feels familiar but put together in a new way.

This book lays the groundwork for Tea’s story and sets up for a second book where she will try to do things differently. I’ll be curious to see where the story goes. It’s fascinating and atmospheric and Tea is a character to root for, even as the reader may not know what she’s going to end up doing.

I just couldn't get into it so I can't really review.

The Bone Witch is a magical tale beautifully steeped in culture with stunning descriptions. Rin Chupeco’s built a world with hills worth climbing and valleys that invite you to linger while traveling through.



This is a dark fantasy like no other; a coming of age story with more than a hint of destiny lingering in the air. Chupeco’s created a land of dark mysticism and beautiful complicated relationships that takes witchery and the paranormal to a whole other place where choices are never easy and the future has yet to be written. Her writing choices evoke images of the oral history keepers and provokes questions about not only the objectivity of her narrator but the struggle to understand the motives of the one sharing their story.

The Bone Witch captures your attention with an opening scene that invokes a visceral reaction and peaks your curiosity. Tea is simultaneously coquettish and cavalier as she shares her story. You’ll quickly find yourself fully invested in the complicated hierarchy of this society and intrigued to discover how not only Tea fits in but what could she possibly have done to end up exiled on a desolate beach surrounded by sand and bones…

You’ll hold your breath as her story unfolds and you gain insight into her growth, her relationships with those around her, and the stark choices Tea’s eventually driven to make. As she comes into her own, her startling fierceness will have you rooting even as you wish she’d be more cautious and have greater care as she learns to navigate a world drowning in intrigue and machinations that carry often fatal consequences.

Rin Chupeco’s storytelling is immediately rich and her characters’ voices engrossing. Her protagonist and narrator are each written with such distinctive voices that navigating a tale told in shifts between the present and the past is an immersive pleasure. Her use of the unexpected is striking and her character development masterful. Tea is on a journey of self-discovery fraught with (mis)adventure, mystery, and guided by fate’s heavy hand. This is a dark fairy tale epic and unpredictable in nature, full of suspense and intrigue. The Bone Witch not only creates a world worth (re)reading about; Chupeco fulfills her own prediction, its strength lies in exceeding all expectation.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Bone Witch didn’t disappoint in any way. This is a land like no other I’ve read about – and can I say it being a very non-western world makes me gleeful. I’m excited to see where this series leads; so much so I’m headed out to buy the hardback and harass my favorite independent bookstore about inviting this author out for a book signing.

While this book reminded me of other fantasy sagas like "Shadow and Bone" it had its own unique world with a great main character. I loved digging into this story and can't wait for the next book.

I’ve been mad crushing on this book cover alone! Its freaking gorgeous!!! Its eye catching with its somber but intricate design. Delicate but powerful in its simplistic imagery. It fit the Bone Witch perfectly.

The story of Tea was a thrill ride, full of magic, danger, adventure and discovery. It was beautiful in its own right, with its simple love and tragic end. I won’t spoil it because it deserves a read but just be warned this is not a black and white world. There are many points of view and many different twists and turns that shape the path of this story.

I loved the world building, the writing style was exceptional and intriguing. I literally felt my heart race right alongside Tea and the time lapse of the storytelling had me reading this in one sitting. I was blown away by the picture the author painted.

And it was easy to find myself emotionally attached to not only Tea, but quiet Fox, endearing Likh, and brooding and stoic Kalen. I did not expect that big reveal to leave me so heartbroken but I am and the cliffhanger ending has left me reeling!

As awesome as I found the overall story, I did find parts of the journey weighed down by too much daunting information and detail. That being said I still got sucked into the story and I loved it. Can’t wait to see what is in store for Tea and her daevas in the next installment. I’m hoping for a major surprise twist that can turn this back around for me *fingers crossed* I can't handle a bad ending!!! I need a happy/hopeful ending! Pleeeaassee!!!

Great power needs control, and Tea, a young bone witch, must develop strength in order to control the huge gift she has. In this make-believe kingdom, author Rin Chupeco has created a mystic book and I will be looking for the next volume. Recommended reading.

I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Tea’s beloved brother Fox dies, killed by a demon like creature called a daeva, she discovers she’s a bone witch when she literally raises him from the dead. Now Tea has to learn how to be a proper asha (witch) and learn about her new skills which involve singing, dancing, runes and even necromancy.

I really, really enjoyed this book. It’s really unique and I don’t think I have read anything much like it before. I really love that Tea was so young when we meet her and start following her journey. She’s only thirteen so as a reader, we really get to see her develop into a scared young girl into a confident young woman. Saying that, she is still only 15 when the book ends so there’s still a long way to go which is exciting.

I loved the world and the world building. There was a lot of kingdoms, eight to be exact, and we do learn gradually about most of them and the rulers, as well as the Faceless - rebels who can use dark magic, much like the magic Tea has, to do terrible things. I found the world itself to be very multi-cultrured in how its described and the different people and where they all come from.

I thought the back and forth between each chapter was very interesting as we are seeing Tea starting out and then an older Tea who has done something wrong, been cast out but is obviously still extremely strong. So even though we see her struggle, we know she gets there in the to become one of the best asha’s ever.

I loved her relationship between her brother Fox. i had a total crush on him - I loved that he was able to take part in some of her lessons and the link they had. There was a lovely closeness between them that was also a nice teasing relationship the way you’d expect a brother to be with his little sister.

Tea’s constant references to her ‘dead love; got a bit annoying in the future parts of the book. While I understood her fury, I felt like we as readers didn’t need the constant reminder and learning more about Tea she would be doing what she was doing for more than just revenge. I also wasn’t surprised at the little twist when it came to that love - I was actually expecting it.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series, as it left off at a point where a lot of stuff was about to go down and i can’t wait to read all about it. This definitely has a lot of potential for a strong, unique YA fantasy series with a cast of great characters. Definitely worth a read!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review. I tried reading this book two times and I just couldn't read it. There's nothing going on. World building is good but it doesn't need to be all upfront. I prefer it to spread out throughout the book instead. I like happenings to occur. I need actions. Why synopsis misleads so bad.

2.5 Stars I had very high hopes for this book as the concept was new and different. I found that the author introduced way to many characters yet only developed a fraction of them. There were way too many story lines started and honestly, none of them really progressed. I feel like I read 400 pages of babble. Very disappointed. Usually, even if I am not a huge fan of the book, the cliff hanger at the end is enough to make me want to read the next book. I always need to know what happens next. This book didn't even do that for me.