Hi people! How are you? I’m really happy to share with you another review! I have a lot of overdue reviews to write and I am feeling very productive just being here, so… yay! And if I’ll stop to procrastinate and go to the real review would be great, so… here we come!
Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Bones and Bourbon
Author: Dorian Graves
Publication Date: 23rd April 2018
Page count: 268
Half-huldra Retz Gallows is having an awful day. First, he wakes up in the middle of driving to who-knows-where with an angry unicorn head in his passenger seat. This is almost normal, thanks to a lifetime of sharing a body with Nalem, a bone-controlling spirit with a penchant for wicked schemes and body-stealing joyrides. It’s probably a bad idea to ask what else could go wrong.
Jarrod Gallows left home with plans to rescue his little brother from possession. Instead, he got saddled with a dead-end job as a paranormal investigator, a Faerie curse, and a daredevil boyfriend who might be from another world. At least he’s got a new job—except why is his brother Retz here and why does this sudden reunion feel more like a bane than a blessing?
This day’s going to get worse for the Gallows brothers before it gets better. To survive, they’ll have to escape the forces controlling them, as well as the wrath of carnivorous unicorns, otherworldly realms, and even their own parents. Only time will tell if they’ll make it out alive…or sober.
The cover was good and the synopsis sounded interesting so I couldn’t resist and I had to request it on NetGalley, and I am really really happy that I got approved because I loved this book and I will read the next ones.
First thing first, I loved the originality. This book is original in many ways, it’s original its folklore, for example, because the author wrote an urban-fantasy with characters that are not the typical vampire or were-animal, or fae or demon, but he chooses some others magical beings, like huldra, furaribi and akaname. Yes, we have some creatures that are more known, but mostly we have not so commonly known beings, and this thing was great!
And this book is original for its characters. Not only for their race, but just for who they are. Or sort of, anyway. The main character, Retz is quite a normal guy, if not for his being half huldra, and for the guest in his head: Nalem. This pair remembers me of Shins and Olgun, in a grittier way, and I loved it! I haven’t loved all of it, because sometime Nalem is too much, especially when we’re speaking about his relationship with Jarrod (Nalem, come on!) but it’s an interesting character and it’s quite the mysterious guy. There are so many answers to be had about his past and his motivations that I am hooked up and I really hope to read more book about him (and Retz and Jarrod).
Jarrod is another interesting character, and I liked him even if I really felt sorry for him during the reading. Also, he’s a transgender character and he’s quite well developed, as far as I can tell. He’s not a stereotype and I really liked it.
Jarrod and Retz are brothers and are the main characters, but we have a lot of secondary characters that are interesting and well developed. Some of them are quite interesting, like Nalem’s father (OMG! Nalem’s father is really something! And he made me laugh! I think he was my favorite!). Also… all Nalem’s family is quite peculiar. I’ll pay to witness one of their family reunions!
And we have carnivorous and really strong-headed unicorns. And yes… you have read it right… carnivorous unicorns.
The story is fast-paced, there aren’t a lot of plot twists, yes, but it’s a really good characters driven book, with interesting ideas, snarky dialogues, and dark humor. And there are so many unanswered questions that, in the end, you would want the next one ASAP. I appreciated the unconventional take on the mythology, the unconventional set of characters and the highly imaginative world that the author creates for us!
And that’s all for today! Did you read this book? Or are you planning to read it? Let me know!
Happy reading!
S.
I’ve not heard of this one but it looks like you had a great time.
Thanks for sharing.
Lynn 😀
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I really had a good time!! 🙂
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Awesome review ❤
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Thank you! 🙂
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Wonderful review! This sounds like a really great read – I love books that feature less typical magical creatures. And it has a diverse cast of characters too, that’s awesome.
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Thank you!! It was a great surprise, and I really liked the less typical magical creatures, it makea for a more interesting reading! 🙂
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I’m getting a bit of Supernatural vibe from this, but more fantasy, so sign me up! I love the sound of the characters and the worldbuilding sounds so intricate.
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Yes, there are some Supernatural vibes for sure in this one now that you point it! And I’m so happy that you are intrigued by it!! 🙂
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Oh man! I feel like urban fantasy has gotten so predictable, I’d love to read this book! Unfortunately, I only read series once they are all published… Looks like I’ll be waiting. Do you know how many books are expected?
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I love urban fantasy and I read a ton of them but yes, they usually are quite predictable, sadly, and this one was refreshing in his originality!
And I don’t know how many books there would be. To be honest I don’t even know if the author would go on with this series! 😦
But your “policy” to read just series that are all published is a really good idea! It would be impossible to me because I have no self-control, but it would be a smart thing to do!
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Hahaha. Sometimes, I regret my policy because I have to wait forever for awesome books (I’m looking at you, Brandon Sanderson!), but in the end it saves me a lot of heartache. I am not perfect about it… but I try!
What are some of your favorite urban fantasy series? I’d love to check out sometihng new!
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With Sanderson’s books it’s really a hard task! But it’s not as bad as it would be with Rothfuss. I loved his books, but we are waiting for the third one since forever and it hurts!!!
I love all the books by Ilona Andrews, I have read all of her series and, so far, loved them all. Also Charlie Davidson series by Darynda Jones, this one is really fun. And I loved the October Daye one, by Seanan McGuire, but they are all ongoing series. A couple of Ilona Andrews’ones are finished, but just two of them, I think.
One that is finished and that I loved, really really loved, is The Others by Anne Bishop. That’s one is a favorite of mine!!!!
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I’ve heard great things about Ilona Andrews. In fact, my mom is completely in love with her The Edge series. Which of the finished series would you recommend I start with?
Thanks for the tip about Anne Bishop! It’s so hard to figure out which series are done. I’ve requested the first book from the library. 😀
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I hope you would love the Bishop book! ❤ Let me know, please! 🙂
And for Ilona Andrews, wow! I think The Edge is quite a good series, and it's finished. Another one finished is The HIdden Legacy, that I loved, but it's more paranormal romance than Urban Fantasy.
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Thanks for the heads up. I’ll keep that in mind when I hunt down Andrew’s writing. Here goes nothing!
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This book sounds great! As soon as I saw the name, I wanted it. Ha ha!
I love the lesser known creatures that are used in it. Thanks for the review! 💖🍻
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The title got to me, too. And the cover! 🙂
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