Bone Rites

"I collected the first bone when I was twelve. This fact was not mentioned in court... Such a tiny little bone, more like a tooth. I only kept it to keep him safe."Kathryn Darkling, imprisoned in Holloway, is facing death by hanging for her vengeance killing. Haunted by a spirit, she still hopes to perform the ancient black magic that will free her soul, or her struggle to punish the mighty will have been in vain. Will the love of her life come to her aid?Or can she find a way to escape her fate?Winner of The Virginia Prize for Fiction, Bone Rites is a dark, literary tale of love, loss and one woman’s obsessive fight for justice and redemption within a ruthless world.5/5 stars *Possible spoilers below* I LOVED this book. I loved the style, the writing, the Gothic horror, the protagonist, everything about it. Bone Rites is told through the eyes of a British noblewoman, Kathryn Darkling. Kathryn is a morally complex protagonist with a bit of a ghost problem. She wants to do everything possible to save her brother, especially because she considers herself responsible for his death. I loved the “deathbed confession” style of writing in this book. I’ve always loved the unreliable narrator types, and Kathryn is a perfect example. Check this book out if you’re a fan of Gothic/magic/historical fantasy. Thank you again to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book.

About the Author

Natalie Bayley is author  of Bone Rites, Lolita's Daughter, The Secret Life of Grandmothers, The Witch Who Saved Paris and The Lady Lyttle Murder Mystery series. Her dark thriller Bone Rites was selected for the 2019 Blue Pencil long list, went on to be shortlisted for the 2021 Blue Pencil First Novel Award and was long listed for the 2021 Caledonia prize before becoming the Winner of the Virginia Prize for Fiction. Natalie lives in NSW, Australia and enjoys ocean swimming and whispering to cats.

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