I was not able to finish this book it was so tough to get through because the story was so slow moving and too paced with little details I wanted this book to read through smooth so that way I could enjoy the story but this story made it hard to enjoy.

ARC copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I don't often say that a book needs to be shorter but in this case I think 100 pages would not have been missed. The concept was brilliant - geisha like witches with elemental powers. The peril of heartglasses and exchanging of the same. A full, rich world full of strange magic and dark creatires. Totally on board with all of that. There just didn't seem to be much actual story beyond the epic world building, and what story there was seemed a little done-before. Tea didn't have much agency. Not quite a special snowflake but heading in that direction without much personality to back it up. This was one of those books I read to the end because I loved the world not because I cared about the characters. A shame in that respect because there was some real brilliance here. I was even ok with a slower pace because the world was so richly imagined. Just give me a more dynamic MC and a less flat romance and I'll be happy. Would definitely author's next book though.

I only made it 30% but honestly that's all I can take. Boring characters doing boring things - the story is going absolutely no where and nothing makes much sense. The main character Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, but not even that was written in a way that was exciting enough to make me want to continue reading. Tea is basically every female protagonist in a YA novel who is the chosen-one-but-is-just-an-ordinary-girl. I really dislike that trope. Can we just not do that any more?

I felt like this book had so much potential. I really wanted it to be good - the cover is beautiful, the premise sounds amazing, but it just wasn't.

I admit that the cover and the synopsis drew me to this book. While I think it has potential to be a good series, the first installment left me wanting more...more plot, more clarification, more about the world since there is a map at the first of the book.

The story is told in two parts past and present. I think it would have been a smoother transition to have some type of date/note on the pages for either the past or present. As it is written now, the present is written in italics.

The book was great for about 1/3, then it slowed down in the middle and picked back up at the end. I would read the 2nd installment of this series based on the ending of book 1 and to give the story another chance to dazzle me.

**Received from NetGalley for my honest review.**

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco tells the story of Tea, a girl who discovers she is a witch and raises her brother from dead. Not specifically in that order.The Bone Witch Review

I saw the cover of The Bone Witch and felt like it was the beginning of a ‘love at first sight’ story between me and this book. Unfortunately, love at first sight is not a real thing outside Disney movies. Not even love between humans and books.

After Tea resurrects her brother, she must travel with an old witch to start her magic lessons, discover her true powers, join the fight against giant undead beasts and learn how to be a geisha. Not in that specific order, either.

This book had a lot of potential but I feel like I went through a lot of boring stuff and got very little rewards at the end. Should I say it wasn’t my cup of Tea? *

*I know I shouldn't, that's a terrible pun.

What_i_liked

It has necromancy! I love it when I get to see the dark side of magic. In this book there are dark witches that use dark magic to raise the dead and control demonic beasts. And that’s completely cool. Tea, the main witch, is what they call a ‘dark asha’ and she brings her deceased brother back to life, to the discomfort of her neighbors, who hate to live with an undead guy among them.

The narrator à la Name of the Wind. The story starts with a bard speaking with a seventeen year old witch named Tea, who has the reputation of being a powerful and dangerous dark asha. The bard wishes to know more about Tea’s past and she starts her tale. Then the story changes and the narrator is a little girl named Tea, who is just discovering that she has magic powers. So, just like in The Name of the Wind, the book is about a powerful and famous witch talking about her past and the events that put her where she is, while the ‘present’ plot progresses slowly while she speaks.

The world-building. I feel like this is a world I could revisit and just wander around it. I liked that it has its own traditions, customs, mythology and even some particular prejudices (and people who fight them). The story also uses magic in some unique ways, like pouring people’s hearts inside necklaces.

What_i_disliked

Special snowflake syndrome. Tea is a very special witch (for example, look at her name). She has the ability to use necromancy to raise the dead, something that a very small number of witches can do, and she happens to be really powerful (she’s just born with it). Tea is also humble, brave, kind-hearted and naive, all the things that a chosen one in a Young Adult novel always is. It is kind of tiring reading books with special snowflake protagonists that do well in everything and are loved by everyone.

The witches are literally geisha. In some chapter I honestly felt like I was re-reading Memoirs of a Geisha. The protagonist, Tea, goes to dancing and singing lessons and attends parties to entertain guests. She also has to pour the drinks at those parties, wear elaborate kimonos (well, dresses called ‘huas’) and play musical instruments. This is supposedly part of her witch training because a witch must be well-versed in current affairs and politics. (And apparently the only way to achieve that is going to parties every night). Of course, apart from the art lessons witches also attend fighting lessons, and some of them even fight in the one fight on this book...They also learn how to draw runes to use magic but most geisha-witches only use their magic to put on makeup and enchant their hair accessories. I just couldn’t understand WHY THESE POWERFUL WITCHES HAD TO BECOME GEISHA? Where’s the connection between fighting with magical powers and entertaining guests with beautiful dances? I just didn’t get it.

This book is a set-up for the sequel. I could have accepted the geisha-esque witches if the rest of the book had more action and magic, and not just a girl going to the geisha school of witches. I spent MONTHS picking it and dropping it again because I felt like nothing ever happened. About 70% of the book is about Tea training to be a good entertainer and putting on beautiful dresses. And these dresses came with descriptions that also slowed the pace because they were so detailed! From the color and texture of the fabric, embroidered patterns and the accompanying hair combs and hair pins. Tea got to do magic a couple of times and that was really cool, but that would make me get my hopes up thinking “Here comes the fun!” only to be slapped in the face with more chapters of going to lessons and doing chores. Some characters felt like they were going to be important but never did anything so I’m guessing they will do things in the next book.

You-should-read-it-if

You are looking for a slow-paced and colorful magical story.
You like Memoirs of a Geisha.
You appreciate pretty clothes.
You don't mind waiting for the sequel to get to the action.
You want to read about geisha potentially fighting against giant monsters.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication: March 7th 2017

ARC provided by Sourcefire books via Netgally, but does not influence my review in any way.

I ravenously read the first 30% of this book. The world building the character development, and the lore were excellent. Bone Witches remind me of Necromancers from other fantasy novels.

Tea and her sisters all possess magical abilities, with Tea being one who can raise the dead. She finds this out after her brother Fox passes and she raises him at his funeral completely by accident. She is taken under the wing of a seasoned Necromancer to learn the ways.

Where it started to fall flat for me was the overly descriptive scenes, and that we never really got to any true adventure. This may be coming in the second novel.

I did enjoy it, and would definitely re-read it upon release.

For me this book has a great premise (great opening hook) and a beautiful cover, but started out weak. (I nearly gave up on it in the beginning.) Thankfully I felt like it got stronger as I went.

I liked the timeshifts between chapters at first and then just found them tiring. I would have either liked them to more infrequent and longer and really tell us more about Tea's life in the future or not have them at all. As is, they merely served as kind of unnecessary expository bridge like, "and then that things happened...the thing she never forgave me for..." *flashes back to chapter that describes that thing that happened* etc.

I also got very tied of some of the descriptions. Like I get that the huas reflect the wearer's personality. That was good to know since future Tea has dragons on hers, so we figure that will be important. But that's all I really needed to know about them--not paragraph after paragraph of descriptions of all of the clothes and hairpins...and daily lessons...and lists of kings of far off lands that really don't come into play in this story. I wanted all of that to be gone so we could get to the good stuff--Tea, her brother, her new sisters, magic, monsters, evil people--a lot faster.

I thought the book ultimately got to where it needed to be. I genuinely wanted to know what happened to make Tea banished, alone and so super pissed off. I genuinely was surprised by who was in that grave. I genuinely was interested in how things ended with her brother. I genuinely wanted to know what she was going to do next with all of those mystical creatures. Enough to read the next book though? Of that, I'm not sure.

Lastly, a small quibble, but must all of the boys have K names? (Kance and Kalen and other K boy who does the memories thing?) I could keep them all straight, but it took extra attention on my part and that was sometimes annoying.

I am fascinated by the book’s cover.. really.. so mysterious.. so bewitching… mystifying..

I really like the sad love story of the heroine. I like her from the very start of her journey. I think I will like her at the end, even if it means she is in the wrong, even if it means she could die?

It was such a cliffhanger the last part, the current part of the story.. I knew it! I said to myself. At first I thought it was Kance — you know.., so obvious.. but then it hits me. It is Kalen! and poof! boy am I right!!

Now.. even though the book will be released in March, I am looking forward to the second book. I am really hoping…. that it will be by end of this year!

Unfortunately this was not for me I set myself a task to read new genre of books but couldn't get into to this sorry

The premise is novel, but the execution falls short. The asha training in particular, which is the majority if the book, felt very derivative of "Memoirs of a Geisha" with a dash of magic and martial arts thrown in, complete with the prestige for competitive dance roles and the rivalry with a fellow geisha/asha. Tea, much like Sayuri, becomes a remarkable prodigy whose talents nobody can deny, plus there's the somewhat cliche YA love triangle. More focus on the necromancy and its moral quandry, and Tea's character development with some conflicts rather than rattling off accomplishments, and less geisha training and love triangle, would have done much. It's an engaging enough read, and I would likely read the sequel, but it adds very little new to the YA fantasy genre.

Loved it. Fast and addictive read. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The mixing for dark and fantasy is perfect.

This is the first time I have read this author. I will actually give this 3.5 stars. I struggled a little with getting into the story and I felt the descriptions were fairly long in some parts. I did however think that the story was interesting and unlike anything I have read previously. The story definitely has potential and I see the definite talent the writer has for painting a picture while you are reading. I would read more from this author.

In some ways, The Bone Witch was Very Different — but in other ways, it felt somewhat typical... but with a twist. First sentence into this review, and I hope I'm making it clear that I have conflicted feelings about this book! So, let me state up front: I definitely liked this book, but I didn't love it.

The world building here is undoubtedly one of its best features. The magic system had some familiar aspects, but it also felt altogether different from any other. Societal norms, class, royalty — all of these were present and felt very true within their setting. It was easy to slide right into this book and follow Tea along her journey, because it all seemed natural. I loved the necromancy aspect of her magic. Though it was (obviously) shunned by the masses, I really enjoyed how comfortable she and her mentor were with death and dead beings!

The way the narrative was written, too, was a big perk for me. It starts out with someone interviewing Tea, so you read short sections from their perspective. And then the bulk of the story is what Tea is telling her interviewer. I LOVE this kind of storytelling mechanic, because you get little bits of foreshadowing. Plus, I like seeing what happened before, along with glimpses of what is happening Right Now. Definitely one of my favorite things about this book.

I suppose what has kept my rating closer to 3 stars here is just that much of the story felt like... almost... maintenance? If there had been more urgency or THINGS HAPPENING, maybe I wouldn't have felt this way. But, as it is, I think for the first half especially, the parts I liked most were the ones set in the Now.

All in all, this was an interesting book, and I'm curious to see what comes in the sequel. It's the kind of book I still want to recommend to basically everyone, because I think it's one that you just have to experience for yourself.

(Link in my blog will be live 3/6/2017)

Do you know that crushing feeling when you read the first book in a new series and reach the end and you realize that the second book isn’t even published yet, and that you’re going to have to wait? Yeah, that. And let me tell you it’s multiplied when the book you just read is an advance reader copy and that book isn’t even available for three months! On the other hand, you’ve got at least one more book coming to look forward to. That’s what I’ve been telling myself since I finished reading The Bone Witch in December – each month brings me closer to another book about Tea and her life.

In her grief at his death, twelve-year-old Tea actually raises her brother from the grave, surprising and frightening her family. After the unintended feat comes grave illness for Tea until a bone witch, or necromancer, who will be Tea’s mentor, appears to heal her. Soon Tea, her brother, and Lady Mykaela set out from Tea’s village where bone witches are feared and persecuted and travel to the city of Ankyo, the capital of Kion where Asha, including the rare bone witches, are trained.

Told in chapters that alternate between a grown and outcast Tea and the story of her apprenticeship, The Bone Witch is a captivating tale. Though I first felt somewhat disoriented by the dual perspectives in the novel, once I had a handle on the complicated world, I just sunk into the story. I so look forward to reading the upcoming books in the series!

This would make a great classroom book to book talk or begin reading with the class and then allow the kids to read on their own. A great book for fans of Abhorsen by Garth Nix or the Earthsea books by Ursula K. LeGuin. Add this one to your To Read list!

The Bone Witch is a fascinating book. I’ve read many reviews saying people just couldn’t finish it because nothing happened. It is true that it isn’t an action packed story by any means. But it drew me in after a few chapters because I wanted to know more. The book rotates between two different time frames; current Tea telling her story to a bard and then her actual story of becoming an asha. So we meet current Tea right away in short snippets, but truly get to know her throughout her tale of becoming a bone witch.

As I said, this isn’t an action packed book. What makes this book shine is the writing and the storytelling. I wanted to keep reading to try and figure out Tea. Because there is something fundamentally different between the 17 year old that is talking with the bard and the young teenager that we meet in the story portion. What made her this way? Why does it seem that she is going against everything that she learned as a novice asha? It is intriguing.

There is certainly more to Tea’s story that isn’t covered in this book. I feel like we got part 1 and part 3, but haven’t really seen part 2 yet. It will be interesting to see how Chipeco continues this story. Will it pick up at the end of this book and just move forward? Or will it be similar to this one and we will get to learn about part 2?

Overall rating
I really enjoyed this book and plan to read the sequel. Be ready to enjoy the world building and continually wonder “why?”.
4 out of 5 stars (just barely)

I wanted to love this SO MUCH and yet here I am, taking a nap. It felt like there was 97% description and 3% plot. I am disgruntled. I adored the author's debut The Girl from the Well, but The Bone Witch was practically a nonevent for my brain. But at least the cover is beautiful.

The story is basically about Tea who is a witch. At the beginning I really really liked her!! She raises her brother from the dead, accidentally, when she's a kid and -- BOOM -- a bone witch comes to take her away and train her. Also her bro comes too, who is now a nice polite zombie, comes too. (His name is Fox which is, actually, adorable.) But then it's like the plot is finished???? The storyline just comes to this clattering halt as we watch Tea grow from 12 to 15 and learn to be a bone witch. She gets to learn how to dance and sing and wear nice clothes and be a servant. Not..that interesting. OCCASIONALLY she does black magic with monsters. But that's hardly ever. I honestly felt detached and uninterested.

The description felt way over the top. World building and description is great! But this was far too much. There was a long detailed paragraph of description for every outfit..tedious much?

I fully expected to be in love with it because monsters + witches + Chinese setting + epic fantasy = my favourite things. But the description and tedious world building overtook what teeny tiny bit of plot there was. And Tea turned out to be quiet the passive character despite having the awesome skill of raising dead people.

In Tea’s world, magic isn’t unusual or frightening – well, most of it. Some people are water witches, or witches that work with plants. But others are feared and known as Bone Witches, and they fight monsters. But they also have abilities that other witches could never have, and are incredibly powerful. Shockingly – and perhaps disappointingly, depending on who you ask – Tea is one of the latter.

First off, oh my goodness. That cover is everything. 10/10 for that part. Seriously, it’s gorgeous and I kind of want it just to have that book facing out on my shelf.

The beginning chapters really captivated me, particularly because the introduction is not from the main character’s point of view. Rather, it is from that of a bard, traveling to find things to sing about. And that in itself was so different that I had to know more. I started it one morning and had trouble moving from my spot to do anything else, but I was rather disappointed with some of the novel.

On the whole, it was very slow, and felt like world building plus a lot of little things that were given more time than they needed. It was hard to find the plot, and really just feels like a set-up for the rest of the series. I truly hope that the others get better. Also, I hope that the technical words for things either are reduced or are better explained, because there were so many that I couldn’t keep up. I also am not a fan of books that have both the ‘chosen one/special snowflake’ trope as well as the love triangle one. It’s just too much, and too common.

On the other hand, the concept of the heartsglass was so cool that now I want them to be real, and I’m desperate to know what Chupeco does with them.

I struggled greatly with the female POV, particularly after the first couple of chapters. It became so complicated that I could not keep up, and it felt like an information dump with the excuse that the character is being trained. Sometimes the same level of information can be introduced but without large paragraphs and all of the information coming at once. Some of the comments she makes are also quite odd, and don’t seem to fit. I don’t know if that’s a character trait or not, so it threw me off. In contract, I deeply loved the bard’s POV, which had much more imagery and shorter scenes, shorter dialogue.

Some of the sentences and descriptions were difficult to follow, so I sometimes skipped over the things that didn’t make sense and hoped they would be better explained later on. A fair number of the things that I felt unsure about, however, were not important to the plot, which I really enjoyed. The concept of different types of witches, in general, is interesting. But these are particularly curious, and I feel like any reader would want to know more about them.

This is an incredibly ambitious novel. On the one hand, the world building is extensive and unique and amazingly detailed. On the other hand it left me a bit confused. It clearly takes elements from a number of cultures to the point that I would get disoriented. First I thought it was Japanese influenced, then Indian, at one point I thought it was Russian. I get that it is a fantasy world, but it felt a bit like the author put most of Asia in a blender and hit puree.

My only other quibble is that this book feels like the world's longest prologue. I enjoyed it, but just when things finally started to happen it suddenly ends. Not exactly a cliffhanger, but not quite not one either.

Looking forward to the next one.

I know, you're not supposed to judge the book by its cover but in this case, the book cover drew me in and after reading the book description, I just had to request an ARC. Luckily, I got approved.

316 pages is quite frankly, long for world-building and introducing characters. But I get it that this is a Fantasy series. A lot of other early reviewers didn't enjoy the book because of it and I agree that nothing much happens, however, I believe that it is essential to read this book prior to moving on to reading the next books in the series as this book explains quite a lot in terms of the Asha traditions, hierarchy, and the world itself.

It is definitely very reminiscent of Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden in the sense that they have practically the same types of classes/training (as far as I can remember) and the same type of "job" description (i.e. Entertaining nobles with their singing, dancing, conversational prowess and skills at playing various musical instruments). The author's spin to this is the addition of the Asha's abilities for martial arts as well as their ability to wield and control magical elements using runic symbols, which is pretty cool. To make things a bit more interesting, she adds a category of Ashas called Dark Asha or Bone Witches because their power comes from the dark and they have control over death and their primary magical job is to resurrect and kill the various daevas before these daevas could wreak havoc on the towns and kill a lot of innocent people.

The entire book chronicles the slow journey of Tea from ordinary village girl to Dark Asha with very detailed description on clothing which for some reason, I still could not imagine how they were worn as there were a lot of wraps and layers, not to mention the hundreds of bejeweled hair pins an Asha wears on a daily basis. Based on the description, it didn't sound anything like the kimonos as described by Arthur Golden in Memoirs of a Geisha but then again, I could be wrong as it has been such a long time since I read that book.

Overall, I think fans of Memoirs of a Geisha who also appreciate magical fantasy will enjoy this book and by the end of it, I'm beginning to understand the workings of Tea's mind and therefore, I can't wait to read what happens in book 2.