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The Bone Houses

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The Bone Houses

By: Emily Lloyd-Jones
Narrated by: Moira Quirk
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About this listen

 Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Sky in the Deep in this bewitching historical horror novel, perfect for fans of Holly Black and V.E. Schwab.
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 into the heart of the mountains, where they will have to face both the curse and the deeply-buried truths about themselves. Equal parts classic horror novel and original fairy tale, The Bone Houses will have you spellbound from the very first page.
An instant IndieBound bestseller! Fantasy Historical Fiction Horror Literature & Fiction Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Paranormal Paranormal Romance Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy Scary Fiction

Critic reviews

Praise for The Bone Houses:
"A dark, mesmerizing fairytale reminiscent of the Grimm Brothers, the Brontes, and Neil Gaiman in turn. The Bone Houses is a haunting and hypnotic novel that I drank deeply and savored. Emily Lloyd-Jones is an author who should be on everyone's radar."—Mackenzi Lee, NYT bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
* "With ghostly prose... filled with breathless moments and occasional humor... this melancholic horror novel digs its way into the heart."—Booklist (starred review)
* "...both exciting and imaginative. Inspired by Welsh mythology, this stand-alone novel is both a classic quest saga and a page-turning horror story....A required purchase for collections serving young adults, this fine novel will especially appeal to those who enjoy fantasy with more than a touch of terror."—VOYA (starred review)
"...a new and magical journey, filled with the best parts of a fairy tale. Monsters, curses, love--both slow-burn and familial--beautiful descriptions of an eerie mythical Welsh setting, and a streak of humor make this stand-alone novel a must-read."—SLJ
"[Emily] Lloyd-Jones (The Hearts We Sold) creates an evocative world of magic...and plays with the conventions of fairy tales and horror.... The story serves as a meditation on the complicated relationship between the living and the dead, combining fear, humor and enchantment in equal measure..."—Publishers Weekly
"Emily Lloyd-Jones has crafted a world of myth and magic, legend and lore, fantasy and fairy tale that has a quality of timelessness about it....readers who enjoy fantasy, adventure, horror, and/or folklore will certainly enjoy this novel with its engaging characters and unusual premise."—SLC
"Readers...who prefer their fairy tales touched with darkness, will find satisfaction here."—BCCB
"This Welsh-inspired story is haunting and compelling...A stand-alone dark fantasy that readers will want to sink their teeth into..."—Kirkus Reviews
"[A] gorgeously eerie, lushly written fairytale..."—Book Riot
"Centered around a truly epic journey, with a satisfying ending and slow-burn love story complicated by the walking dead, The Bone Houses is a horror-drenched fairytale. Emily Lloyd-Jones spins wit, longing, and loss into something just as magical as the creatures that haunt the night in Ryn and Ellis's world, and the result is a careful, beautiful examination on the impression love leaves behind."—Sarah Henning, author of Sea Witch and Sea Witch Rising
All stars
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It was slow to start and I almost lost interest, but I am glad I stuck with it. Really enjoyable story, fantastic imagery and great main characters.

Great story!

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A nice standalone novel that I really quite enjoyed. Liked the mystery and interactions between characters. If you're unsure, I would go ahead and read it

Great read

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I found The Bone Houses after searching for books read by Moira Quirk and I’m really glad I stumbled upon this gem of a story.

The characters are engaging (I especially loved the bone goat) and I loved the folklore and adventure woven in to the story.

Give this a try, you won’t regret it 😊

Wonderful

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A wonderfully narrated book, with both depth and humour. I really enjoyed it, and it made me feel like I was being told a lovely, spooky fairytale by a warm fire.

Wonderful story and narration

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This is an amazing audiobook. Love love love it. This needs to be read by everyone.

Amazing

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