YA Review: Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie

 

Bone Crier's Moon

by Kathryn Purdie

Published March 3rd 2020

 by Katherine Tegen Books

480 pages

Plot: Bone ​Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.
Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of women who use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die (2022, Goodreads.com). 

Review: Bone Crier’s Moon is a very unique story about women who have to ferry the dead to the right place at their time of death. This will keep them from attacking the living. But, in order to be part of this group (which you are raised to be since birth), you have to kill your soul mate. This is to show how devout you are to this faith/religion.  In order to find your soul mate, you have to lure him with a special song played with a special flute.  These women are called Bone Criers.  They also get powers from animal bones, and the stronger the animals they kill the stronger their abilities are.  Ailesse is the daughter of the matriarch, and it’s her turn to lure her true love and kill him.  

The other POV is Bastien.  His father was killed by a Bone Crier and he and his two friends are out for revenge.  Bastien finds Ailesse the night she plays her flute and he is ready to lure her in and kill her. But, things don’t go according to plan and Ailesse is captured rather than killed by Bastien.   The 3rd POV in the story is Sabine. She is Ailesse’s best friend and will do whatever she can to help her friend return home safely.  She has made it her mission to break the bond that Ailesse believes she has formed with Bastien.  As Ailesse and Bastien spend more time together both question whether or not their motives for killing the other is worth it.  

Overall, the story is interesting and unique.  It was a little confusing as to why your true love will die either way even if you don’t kill him (after about a year).  So, you technically didn’t HAVE to kill him.  You just couldn’t be a ferrier if you didn’t do it to show your loyalty - but then he’ll somehow die anyway?  That confused me.  There were some interesting twists in the last half of the book that will have you wanting to know what happens  next in book 2. The three character POV was a good way to tell the story.  I liked seeing the story unfold from these multiple perspectives.  The connection between Ailesse and Bastien was done well and was a good enemy to lovers trope.  

Rating: 3.5 hearts    

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