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A review by jozi_girl
All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter
3.0
3.5 stars
This was a slow burn fantasy interspersed with may little folktales that hinted at the story direction. I must say the folktales were my favourite part.
The story also had a subtle gothic feel to it and to be honest I think had this been ramped up a bit it would have pushed my rating to a full 4 stars. I am not a fan of the horror/gothic genre, but the elements presented in this story were perfectly setup for my taste.
I also think there were many distinct plot lines that could have been explored more, so the fact that they were all squashed into one story felt like a lost opportunity to create a richer story.
We have a family that for generations ruled the sea. With seemingly boundless money and business savvy the O’Malleys were a powerhouse of commerce. But they were fiercely protective of their privacy, preferring to marry within the extended family than bring in outsiders. Because there are dark secrets kept hidden.
Each generation must sacrifice a child to the Mer folk that eagerly wait with sharp teeth to devour the soft morsels brought their way. But a break in this tradition has the family fortune dwindling and Miren is the last of the O’Malley line that can produce a child to restore the family to its former glory.
Full of old tales, a desperate journey to escape, witch magic and kelpies, this was a pleasure to read.
The author spent more time on creating the right atmosphere and developing the main character than the fantasy element so if you are not a big fan of fantasy then I think this is a great book to dig into.
This was a slow burn fantasy interspersed with may little folktales that hinted at the story direction. I must say the folktales were my favourite part.
The story also had a subtle gothic feel to it and to be honest I think had this been ramped up a bit it would have pushed my rating to a full 4 stars. I am not a fan of the horror/gothic genre, but the elements presented in this story were perfectly setup for my taste.
I also think there were many distinct plot lines that could have been explored more, so the fact that they were all squashed into one story felt like a lost opportunity to create a richer story.
We have a family that for generations ruled the sea. With seemingly boundless money and business savvy the O’Malleys were a powerhouse of commerce. But they were fiercely protective of their privacy, preferring to marry within the extended family than bring in outsiders. Because there are dark secrets kept hidden.
Each generation must sacrifice a child to the Mer folk that eagerly wait with sharp teeth to devour the soft morsels brought their way. But a break in this tradition has the family fortune dwindling and Miren is the last of the O’Malley line that can produce a child to restore the family to its former glory.
Full of old tales, a desperate journey to escape, witch magic and kelpies, this was a pleasure to read.
The author spent more time on creating the right atmosphere and developing the main character than the fantasy element so if you are not a big fan of fantasy then I think this is a great book to dig into.