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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
1.0
The King of Bones and Ashes by J.D. Horn is the first book in A Witches of New Orleans series. On Monday, August 29, 2005 the witches of the Chanticleer Coven tried to divert the storm without success. They are now preparing to evacuate. While waiting for her father, young Alice is drawn outside and sees Babau Jean (John the Bogey) in the water and he almost succeeds in grabbing her. While Alice got away from his clutches, Babau Jean is still with her. In the present day, Celestin Marin has passed away after being in a coma for the past eight years. Celestin was the head of their clan and the witches are looking forward to claiming his residual magic for themselves (in a disgusting ritual). Magic is fading from the world and has been for some time. Those who have relied on it are not coping well. Some are going mad, others are taking the “Dreaming Road”, and a few are managing to cope. Alice is finally being freed from the asylum where she was placed by her father. Her oldest brother, Luc is dead. No one believed when Alice told them Babau Jean forced Luc to kill himself. Witches have been disappearing from New Orleans and people are told they have taken the “Dreaming Road”. Alice’s mother supposedly took this path when Alice was a child. If this is the path the witches took, where are there bodies? They have not been found. There are dark forces at work in New Orleans. What will the witches do to keep their magic alive?
The King of Bones and Ashes is an odd book. I did like the setting of New Orleans and that it involved witches. There are numerous characters and the POV changes frequently. It can be difficult to keep the various people and their storylines straight. I found the book to be a convoluted and disjointed. I think the author tried to put too much into one book. I wish this book had just been about Alice (and her story). That alone would have been an intriguing story. Evangeline and Lisette (other main characters) should have had their own books. The book lacked focus and continuity. The writer was overly descriptive which led to a glacial pace (I fell asleep more than once). It was a struggle to finish this novel and to think this is the first book in the trilogy. I do not recommend this book for younger readers or those opposed to foul language, extreme violence, drugs and large quantities of alcohol. I am surprised that The King of Bones and Ashes is by the same author that wrote The Line.
The King of Bones and Ashes is an odd book. I did like the setting of New Orleans and that it involved witches. There are numerous characters and the POV changes frequently. It can be difficult to keep the various people and their storylines straight. I found the book to be a convoluted and disjointed. I think the author tried to put too much into one book. I wish this book had just been about Alice (and her story). That alone would have been an intriguing story. Evangeline and Lisette (other main characters) should have had their own books. The book lacked focus and continuity. The writer was overly descriptive which led to a glacial pace (I fell asleep more than once). It was a struggle to finish this novel and to think this is the first book in the trilogy. I do not recommend this book for younger readers or those opposed to foul language, extreme violence, drugs and large quantities of alcohol. I am surprised that The King of Bones and Ashes is by the same author that wrote The Line.
nicolefellows78's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
corritos's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
elvenavari's review against another edition
DNF @ 20%.
Sadly, this one just did not catch my attention. I felt the prologue was overly long and confusing. I gave it the next couple of chapters in hopes things would sort themselves out...but they didn't.
Sadly, this one just did not catch my attention. I felt the prologue was overly long and confusing. I gave it the next couple of chapters in hopes things would sort themselves out...but they didn't.
arkanabooks's review against another edition
3.0
This had just enough spook, fantasy, and southern gothic ambiance to enrapture me. The switching perpective was interesting, and the main antagonist was creepy in all the right ways. I like how the author integrates Hurricane Katrina into the coven’s history.
georgemueller's review against another edition
3.0
This had just enough spook, fantasy, and southern gothic ambiance to enrapture me. The switching perpective was interesting, and the main antagonist was creepy in all the right ways. I like how the author integrates Hurricane Katrina into the coven’s history.
delilahblues's review against another edition
3.0
Meh
I enjoyed the imagery and the concept. I’ll probably keep reading for curiosities sake but it seemed to be missing something.
I enjoyed the imagery and the concept. I’ll probably keep reading for curiosities sake but it seemed to be missing something.
sirenpacific's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0