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eggcatsreads 's review for:
Bone Rites
by Natalie Bayley
A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Aurora Metro for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This gothic historical fiction follows Dr. Kathryn Darkling's story as she evolves from simply a protective older sister, to the “Westminster Vampire” sentenced to death for the murder of several prominent war figures. Her story begins when her brother is injured as a child and loses a piece of his finger - and she discovers a form of magic in an old book entitled “Bone Rites,” which promises her the power of protecting him from any further harm using his bone.
Everything that occurs after this point in the story is up to the reader to speculate whether the magic is real, or if simply the delusions of her psyche from grief and trauma of the war.
Dr. Darkling continues her life after the discovery of the magic of the “Bone Rites,” and studies medicine to become a medical doctor. She even serves in the war as a nurse, and this is the catalyst to her becoming who she currently is in the prison. Despite believing only in science, a strong part of her still believes in the magic of the Bone Rites, and she practices it in secret during the war in an attempt to save her patients’ lives.
This story is told through dual timelines, one in her jail cell undergoing confession before her hanging, and one recounting her life up until this point to explain how she got here.
This book strikes me as extremely similar to Laura Purcell’s “The Poison Thread/The Corset” as not only is the story told through the perspective of the accused - at no point are you entirely sure which is real, and which is the delusion of the storyteller. Did this magic truly protect her brother growing up? Did the magic work to keep others safe? Is Dr. Darkling insane for her beliefs and subsequent murders? Or was there a legitimate belief to her delusions and she is fully sane the entire time? We are never entirely sure where the narrative takes us.
This novel is a great gothic historical fiction that tackles love, loss, grief, and trauma - and really makes you consider if the road to Hell being paved with good intentions is a justification for her actions.
This gothic historical fiction follows Dr. Kathryn Darkling's story as she evolves from simply a protective older sister, to the “Westminster Vampire” sentenced to death for the murder of several prominent war figures. Her story begins when her brother is injured as a child and loses a piece of his finger - and she discovers a form of magic in an old book entitled “Bone Rites,” which promises her the power of protecting him from any further harm using his bone.
Everything that occurs after this point in the story is up to the reader to speculate whether the magic is real, or if simply the delusions of her psyche from grief and trauma of the war.
Dr. Darkling continues her life after the discovery of the magic of the “Bone Rites,” and studies medicine to become a medical doctor. She even serves in the war as a nurse, and this is the catalyst to her becoming who she currently is in the prison. Despite believing only in science, a strong part of her still believes in the magic of the Bone Rites, and she practices it in secret during the war in an attempt to save her patients’ lives.
This story is told through dual timelines, one in her jail cell undergoing confession before her hanging, and one recounting her life up until this point to explain how she got here.
This book strikes me as extremely similar to Laura Purcell’s “The Poison Thread/The Corset” as not only is the story told through the perspective of the accused - at no point are you entirely sure which is real, and which is the delusion of the storyteller. Did this magic truly protect her brother growing up? Did the magic work to keep others safe? Is Dr. Darkling insane for her beliefs and subsequent murders? Or was there a legitimate belief to her delusions and she is fully sane the entire time? We are never entirely sure where the narrative takes us.
This novel is a great gothic historical fiction that tackles love, loss, grief, and trauma - and really makes you consider if the road to Hell being paved with good intentions is a justification for her actions.