“The forest did not scare her; rather, she wanted to be like it: ageless and impervious, cruel and beautiful. Death could not touch it.” – 3.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: dead goats, maps, caring siblings, shovels, last names, threats, graves, old magic, adventures, curses and bone houses.

Seventeen-year-old Aderyn (“Ryn”) only cares about two things: her family, and her family’s graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meager existence as gravediggers in the remote village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to the fae. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don’t always stay dead.

The risen corpses are known as “bone houses,” and legend says that they’re the result of a decades-old curse. When Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker with a mysterious past, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with new ferocity. What is it that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they be stopped for good?

Together, Ellis and Ryn embark on a journey that will take them deep into the heart of the mountains, where they will have to face both the curse and the long-hidden truths about themselves.

This was a very typical YA fantasy stand alone with a strong heroine, and I’m not mad about it because that was exactly what I felt like reading! 

If I had to describe what “The Bone Houses” is about, I would say it’s mostly a book about family and death. You may think this would be a creepy book since the main character is a gravedigger and there are a lot of dead bodies just walking around, but it wasn’t. It was a fun read and full of magic and adventure!

I personally liked all the characters in this and I found them all lovable, but I especially loved the main characters Ryn and Ellis! I loved their dialogues and humor, but I also felt their grief and their pain. Also, there’s a slow burn (and subtle) romance between them, and you know me… I’m a sucker for romance. Ryn’s siblings were also a great addition to the story, and I loved how they were always there for their sister.

I thought it was entertaining and different, but it’s not a super memorable book. The message is beautiful though! Not the best book ever, but definitely not bad.