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The Bone Witch

The Bone Witch, Book 1

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The Bone Witch

By: Rin Chupeco
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller, Will Damron
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About this listen

In the captivating start to a new, darkly lyrical fantasy series, Tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha - one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles and make a powerful choice.

©2017 Rin Chupeco (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Fantasy Magic Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Paranormal Science Fiction & Fantasy Fiction Necromancy Magic Users Witchcraft Scary
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“Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves how bitterness tastes.” Tea becomes a Bone Witch and goes with her mentor to learn all this entails. She is unwelcome amongst the other Asha. After all, raising the dead is a bit creepy and Tea is very powerful for one so young and untrained. Yet with her strong bond with her undead brother Fox, she manages to persevere. She has lessons in dance, singing, fighting, and healing. Tea is a good character and the book delivers great potential for a super trilogy. The audible version is okay - Tea's whining can get obnoxious when Emily is narrating and it's difficult to know who is speaking when Will takes over the narration indicating a future Tea. I liked the fact the book goes between the past and future (or present?) - makes the reader want to know what transpires to get to that future Tea. There is a bit of a love triangle hinted at. The first book definitely sets us up to want to know what happens- a Tea bent on revenge is coming . . ."The beast rages; it punctured the air with its spite." While I was reading this book I was reminded of other books - it's sort of a Memoirs of a Geisha meets Sabriel meets Shadow and Bone?

Interesting

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The Worldbuilding was amazing.
The system of magic was fantastic.

The author loved
To describe the characters clothes. Sometimes over the top.

The best pet of this was seeing the main character in the
Future. I’ll read the next to see how she got to be this way.

I loved the present and future perspective!

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After dedicating a whole 12 hours of my life, which I'll never get back, to listening to The Bone Witch audiobook, I embarked on a journey filled with as much confusion as a squirrel in a nut factory. The story introduces us to Tea, a young witch with a penchant for raising the dead, which is cool and all, but then there's this second character narrated by Will Damron. Now, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out who this mysterious person was. Was it Michaela, taking a stroll down memory lane, perhaps reminiscing about the good old days of necromancy and tea parties? Nope.

Turns out, it's future Tea. Yes, you heard that right. I spent half a day—half a day!—thinking I was tracking a complex tale of magic, only to find out I was just listening to Tea's future self having a monologue. It was like expecting a dramatic reveal in a magic show and then realising the magician just pulled out a rabbit because he lost his hat.

This revelation had me questioning not just my reality, but my life choices. Why didn't I just spend those hours learning something useful, like underwater basket weaving? At least then I'd have a basket to show for my confusion. Instead, I'm left scratching my head, wondering if I need to invest in a crystal ball just to follow along with a plot.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a book that will make you doubt your own understanding of time, narrative, and perhaps the very fabric of reality itself, The Bone Witch is your ticket. Just don't blame me if you finish the book and start questioning whether you're also a character from the future, narrating your past self's life choices. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go reevaluate my decision-making processes—right after I check if I'm actually my future self writing this review.

Time Warp: 12 Hours Lost in The Bone Witch

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it does start off slow but it's needed for the world building. the book is amazing in the world building, character development and story
it's a great listen, the narrator does a great job

amazing

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I really enjoyed all aspects of this book and look forward to the next two. the whole time it felt like a magical version of memories of a geisha and I couldn't adore it more.

magical memories of a geisha

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loved it was hooked after the first chapter!
an interesting story not what I had expected but loved it anyways

enjoyed it

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Love the storyline, but the performances were a bit eh. Like maybe a bit too dramatic? I like the audiobooks where someone is reading to you not trying to make it into some audio movie.

Recommend as the storyline honestly is so good and it’s been a while since I’ve read a well thought out story.

Amazing storyline

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Frustratingly, I can’t seem to listen to this without many of the sentences being clipped at the start, missing out on two to four words at the beginning of each paragraph, which is both incredibly distracting and frustrating. Seems like a great story and the narration is solid aside from this.

Glitched recording, good story

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good start, a bit slow, and a bit confusing at times, but I think mayb that's because it's on audible, but still able to keep up. I'm hooked enough to read the next one, I think the story is gonna get good. I love the bond that Tea & Fox have their family bond is strong. it's a interesting magic system and culture she has created. ready for book 2 😄

Tea & Fox

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take this with a grain of salt as i read a lot of fantasy and I have a strong aversion to certain tropes ie love triangles, village girl getting mind blown by big city, characters who exist to deliver lengthy exposition, heavy handed class allegories etc. This book has a great premise and I wanted to know where the story goes but the moment to moment story telling grated on me personally. the main character I think aimed for naive and curious but overshot and ended up sounding infantile. the voice actor sounded a bit too overwrought most of the time which I found distracting. but love the idea and would try another book by this author.

great premise, but the writing lost me

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