The Bone Houses was a reread of mine for two main reasons. One, I originally read it before I started my blog, so my written review for it is a mere five or six lines in an old diary. Two, I knew I needed to read it again to fully express how wonderful this book is. Not only has Emily Lloyd Jones written a magnificent dark fantasy akin to a folklore fairytale, but the messages and themes within The Bone Houses are worth reading time and time again.

The Bone Houses is a dark fantasy, containing the undead, ancient magic, and lush forests surrounding this little settlement – all similar elements of other such tales, such as Erin A. Craig’s Small Favors, Susan Dennard’s The Luminaries, and William Ritter’s Jackaby. The undead could make this a paranormal fantasy, just as the ancient magic gives it a magical realism flare and the overall vibe of the book leans towards a fairytale or folklore. What I’m trying to say is that this book can work as all of those things, and it does a fantastic job doing so. We all know I love dark fantasy, especially when there are deeper themes involved than the simple genre staples.

The landscape and tone work seamlessly with each other, painting this picture of a poor community ravaged by this magical threat that diminishes their career endeavours, saps their funds from them, and puts the people in such a sombre and desperate mood. I mean, I don’t blame them when their dearly departed they buried a week ago sprout out of the ground and try to kill them. The town’s one true hope is Ryn, the daughter of a gravedigger, and the girl who has learnt so much about death she struggles to know if she’s even lived. Ryn is a wonderful character, and her relationship with Ellis and her siblings showcases the true depths of her heart and her strength. There is that strong female character vibe popular in many teen fantasy reads, but I don’t mind that with Ryn. If anything, I think it is a title well deserved.

There are so many lessons to be learnt, for both the young and the old, within the pages of The Bone Houses regarding death and its impact on us. There are a few passages and passing words that really hit home with me, and remember constantly thinking about this book and these messages and lessons about death before my reread. The way these messages flow makes it all the more impactful as the musicality and poetry of the prose softens the harsh edges of such a topic and makes it more palatable for those fearful or hesitant to understand.

I do have a few gripes with The Bone Houses, namely the missed opportunity to really talk more about the population, the people and their lives. There is a keen focus of death and a theme due to the nature of the undead and the ancient power in the forest, but I always feel life and death go hand in hand. A little more detail about the lives of the people and the observations regarding such people would have ticked the few empty boxes I have with The Bone Houses.

If you haven’t read The Bone Houses, I implore you to do so. The Bone Houses is unforgettable, a lush, beautifully haunting read that will leave you feeling awestruck, your mind opened to the possibilities and eventualities of life, and forever changed for the better.