Bone of My Bone by Johanna Van Veen ~ a Review

by MK French

In 1635 Bavaria, Sister Ursula and a peasant named Elsebeth escape soldiers and war by fleeing into the forest. They find the gilded skull of a saint with a dying man, and know that reuniting it with its body can grant a wish. Ursula and Elsebeth search the countryside, but they're not the only ones. A necromancer is drawn to the relic's power, and the saint herself is whispering at night. And as the lines between blessing and curse blur, the women must face a harrowing truth: the magic they seek comes at a cost.

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May 2026; Poisoned Pen Press; 978-1615957323
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); dark fantasy 

Both Ursula and Elsebeth have secrets regarding their past before they met on the road, which start coming to light in time. Elsebeth lost her faith in people and God, but managed to save Ursula from the worst that mercenary forces could do to her. Ursula sees most things as the hand of God in her life, and reuniting the relic with its body will allow her to ensure the safety of her order members. It's selfless and selfish at once, as helping her sisters and looking after their souls will ease her guilt and anxiety. At the same time, the necromancer is tracking down the skull, leaving bodies and death in his wake for funsies. He's a creepy and unsettling villain, and the women have no idea he's even coming as they follow the embroidered map that came with the skull.

We get the story through Elsebeth, Ursula, and the mercenary Otto. The Bavarian countryside is full of death, whether from diseases, war, various undead, and the necromancer's actions. He doesn't care about others or what they want, and people are just tools for his ultimate aim. We discover the truth about the skull and why he wants it, and the final third of the novel intensifies the question of faith, love, and the lengths people will go for the ones they love. It's a fascinating story in a period of time I don't read much about. 

Buy Bone of My Bone at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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