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lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
This tale of bargains with the mer folk has a decidedly fairy-tale-esque air, with strange secrets and dramatic secrets, magical creatures and simpler magicks to help the crops grow -- all told through the eyes of a young woman who wants to escape an evil arranged marriage and finally be free of her family's dark history. I loved the mood of the story.
raptorq's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Incest, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
camilleisreading24's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I bought this book a couple of years ago and then it languished on my Kindle. I ended up reading The Path of Thorns first, which is another standalone fantasy gothic set in the same universe as this. And that may have been the correct reading pathway because I was able to see the germination of ideas that were expanded upon in Path of Thorns.
In both novels, Slatter weaves fairytales into the narrative. They are dark stories, built on sorrow and sacrifice and monstrosity. The importance of family ties and the way that families build their histories around stories and myth to the detriment of their descendants, is a strong thematic tie between these two books. I loved spending more time in the world of Sourdough, especially since Path of Thorns mainly takes place at Morwood, whereas in this story, Miren travels across a broad swath of the world. These books are what would happen if someone put the works of Angela Carter, the Brothers Grimm, Premee Mohamed, and T. Kingfisher into a blender, but that analogy falls short because there is an added quality -- an A.G. Slatter-ness -- that is ineffable. I was surprised to see that the mermaids (or Mer, as they are called) are not a bigger part of this story. I was definitely expecting something more mermaid-forward (like a Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant) so I am glad I came to this one now, instead of right after purchasing it.
Miren is a great character and like Asher, I was rooting for her. There are three distinct acts to this story -- first, Miren's terrible arranged marriage and how she discovers the truth of her parents' disappearance; second, Miren's quest to escape her family's curse, and third, a murder mystery. I sank into this universe like a cozy armchair and although the pacing was a little slower than Path of Thorns, I savored my time with this book.
If you like gothic fantasy with horror elements, set in a world that is simultaneously magical and mundane (I'm talking about the mundanity and basicness of evil characters everywhere), you need to read this.
In both novels, Slatter weaves fairytales into the narrative. They are dark stories, built on sorrow and sacrifice and monstrosity. The importance of family ties and the way that families build their histories around stories and myth to the detriment of their descendants, is a strong thematic tie between these two books. I loved spending more time in the world of Sourdough, especially since Path of Thorns mainly takes place at Morwood, whereas in this story, Miren travels across a broad swath of the world. These books are what would happen if someone put the works of Angela Carter, the Brothers Grimm, Premee Mohamed, and T. Kingfisher into a blender, but that analogy falls short because there is an added quality -- an A.G. Slatter-ness -- that is ineffable. I was surprised to see that the mermaids (or Mer, as they are called) are not a bigger part of this story. I was definitely expecting something more mermaid-forward (like a Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant) so I am glad I came to this one now, instead of right after purchasing it.
Miren is a great character and like Asher, I was rooting for her. There are three distinct acts to this story -- first, Miren's terrible arranged marriage and how she discovers the truth of her parents' disappearance; second, Miren's quest to escape her family's curse, and third, a murder mystery. I sank into this universe like a cozy armchair and although the pacing was a little slower than Path of Thorns, I savored my time with this book.
If you like gothic fantasy with horror elements, set in a world that is simultaneously magical and mundane (I'm talking about the mundanity and basicness of evil characters everywhere), you need to read this.
kezemu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
queenofthenuts's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting
The book was ok. It was not what I expected after reading the synopsis. I really thought it was going to be more drama. Maybe I'm missing something, who knows. But it was ok.
The book was ok. It was not what I expected after reading the synopsis. I really thought it was going to be more drama. Maybe I'm missing something, who knows. But it was ok.
motherhorror's review against another edition
4.0
The folklore of All the Murmuring Bones drives the characters forward, shapes their choices, and ultimately determines their fates. Slatter weaves together a tale of family, power, and the struggle to escape from the chains of the past Miren is a young woman with a strong desire for freedom but suffers under the weight of her family's legacy. Told in three parts, readers are with Miren as she discovers the truth of long-buried family secrets and the plan for her life.
The second part is a quest/journey to find her parents and take control of her own destiny. She meets a variety of colorful characters along the way.
The last act unfolds like a murder mystery.
Miren is unpredictable and capable. I've come to expect this from Slatter's books--this is my third.
If I was forced to rank Slatter's books, it would go like this:
The Path of Thorns (audiobook recommended)
The Brian Book of the Dead (a close second-audiobook recommended)
All the Murmuring Bones (audiobook *not* recommended)
I am a HUGE A. G. Slatter fan.
The second part is a quest/journey to find her parents and take control of her own destiny. She meets a variety of colorful characters along the way.
The last act unfolds like a murder mystery.
Miren is unpredictable and capable. I've come to expect this from Slatter's books--this is my third.
If I was forced to rank Slatter's books, it would go like this:
The Path of Thorns (audiobook recommended)
The Brian Book of the Dead (a close second-audiobook recommended)
All the Murmuring Bones (audiobook *not* recommended)
I am a HUGE A. G. Slatter fan.
mariahaskins's review against another edition
5.0
All the Murmuring Bones is a rich and lush page-turner, twining together strands of gothic mystery, fantasy, horror, and fairytale. If you’re already a fan of Slatter’s work, this is obviously a must-read. And if you’ve never encountered her work before, then this book is a perfect entryway into her magical, mesmerizing universe. loved this book. It's an intricately woven, hauntingly beautiful, gothic tale by one of the best storytellers in the business, where you’ll encounter mer-folk, witches, sea witches, a singing automaton, a kelpie, a strange, black lake, devious men, dangerous women, and a lot more besides.
It’s a tale infused with dark fantasy and horror, and it has the darkness and depth of old-school fairytales, the kind of tales where magic is a natural part of the world, where terrible things might happen to good and bad people alike, and where bargains with magical creatures often come at a very high price. All the Murmuring Bones is also a compelling mystery novel where we follow Miren O’Malley’s quest to unravel the mystery of her parents’ disappearance years ago, and to uncover the truth of how the now benighted O’Malley’s once gained their outrageous fortune.
It’s a tale infused with dark fantasy and horror, and it has the darkness and depth of old-school fairytales, the kind of tales where magic is a natural part of the world, where terrible things might happen to good and bad people alike, and where bargains with magical creatures often come at a very high price. All the Murmuring Bones is also a compelling mystery novel where we follow Miren O’Malley’s quest to unravel the mystery of her parents’ disappearance years ago, and to uncover the truth of how the now benighted O’Malley’s once gained their outrageous fortune.
librarino's review against another edition
3.0
After reading the summary for this book I was very excited to read it. But over halfway through this book I was bored. The last quarter of the book is where all the action is. I enjoyed it in the end but if I hadn't been listening to it on audio book I don't know if I would've gotten through it.