Pin Carpue is on his own in the world. His mother is dead and his father is missing after being labeled a suspect in a rash of murders. Pin ...
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Oct 25, 2011
"Lo primero que hay que advertir a todo aquel que se atreva a abrir las páginas de esta novela es que, como a su autor le gusta decir, esta historia “paracede” a El libro negro de los secretos, su obra anterior; es decir, los acontecimientos de ambas transcurren al mismo tiempo, pero con personajes distintos y en lugares diferentes. Aquí seguimos a Pin Carpue mientras trabaja como velador de difuntos; parte de su tarea consiste en comprobar que éstos están realmente muertos antes de ser ent
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Apr 07, 2011
Sesana
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Not that long ago, I read The Black Book of Secrets, and really liked it. This is a paraquel to it. Which means, essentially, that the stories were taking place roughly at the same time, in the same fictional country, and have some overlapping points that you'll only realize if you read both books, but otherwise can be read entirely independently. And I liked this one, too, every bit as much as The Black Book of Secrets. This one is set entirely in the fictional, Victorian London-esque city that
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Dec 30, 2010
Karissa
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This book looked right up my alley and when I saw it I had to pick it up. It is the second book in the Tales from the Sinister City series by Higgins. I actually hadn't read the first book, The Black Book of Secrets, and didn't realize this book was part of a series. The good thing is that you can still really enjoy The Bone Magician without having read the first book. Right now there are two more books in this series; The Eye Collector and The Lunatic's Curse. I really enjoyed this book, it had
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Jun 26, 2010
Stephanie
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The Bone Magician is E F Higgins’s paraquel (a portmanteau of ‘parallel’ and ‘sequel’) to the 2007 release The Black Book of Secrets. Aimed at the middle grade market, it’s an ambitious and beautifully written work that drips with enough atmosphere to sustain not only Mars, but a few other planets as well.
The setting is Urbs Umida, a squalid place full of Dickensian horrors—or at least for those unlucky enough to live on the wrong side of the aptly named River Foedus as, of course, t More...
The setting is Urbs Umida, a squalid place full of Dickensian horrors—or at least for those unlucky enough to live on the wrong side of the aptly named River Foedus as, of course, t More...
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Nov 27, 2009
Barbara
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A paraquel, or parallel story, in the same alternate world as 'The Black Book of Secrets' by the same author. After his beloved mother dies and his father is a murder suspect and disappears, Pin Carpue fends for himself by working for an undertaker as a ‘body watcher’, sitting all night with bodies making sure they are really dead before they’re buried. One night, after being partially drugged, the body he is watching sits up and talks as a ‘bone magician’ (waker of the dead) and his female
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Apr 15, 2010
CharlieH
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The Bone Magician is a very different book from most books. It starts out in a town named Urbs Umidia. Urbs Umidia is split into two sections, the North and the South. The North is full of rich people, who have all money, but don't work a day in their life. What happens if they run low on money? They secretly murder one of their neighbors and take their fortunes for themselves. In contrast, the South is full of poor beggars who live on pick-pocketing others. It is a place full of violence, b
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May 01, 2009
Jackie
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Alone in the world, Pin Carpue, must make his way after his mother's death and his father's flee from authorities. Pin's father is a suspect in his uncle's death. Pin is more educated than most on the south side of the River Foedus. His mother was a wealthy northsider who wanted a better life for Pin. But, with both parents gone, Pin finds employment in the local undertaker's business as a body-watcher. One night, as he sits over a newly-deceased body, three people sneak into the room. Before hi
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May 30, 2010
Tracy
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The more I thought about the ending of this book, the more ripped off I felt. From reading the multitude of comments that refer to the 'paraquel' status and the accompanying glowing reviews of the the 'other' story, The Black Book of Secrets, I gather that this is a good thing.
Well, maybe - IF I'd read anything in the book's description (I don't usually read reviews until afterward, too many people don't grasp the concept of what a spoiler is) that tells me something else is going More...
Well, maybe - IF I'd read anything in the book's description (I don't usually read reviews until afterward, too many people don't grasp the concept of what a spoiler is) that tells me something else is going More...
Sep 04, 2010
LilaBird
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So this book confused me. Or I guess you could say my reaction to it confused me. I listened to the audiobook and that may have been the problem. This book is basically the Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell for YA readers. It read the same way (minus the footnotes) and had many characters with different backstories and overlapping threads. I actually really liked it, but I think it was difficult to listen to. I really wish I would have read the paperback. I think I could have paid better
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Nov 28, 2009
Nathan
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Another excellent entry into the books of F.E. Higgins. This tale revolves around a boy named Pin whose mother has died and whose father fled after being accused of murder. Pin works watching corpses to make sure they are really dead before they are finally buried. One night he witnesses the bone magicians raise the dead for the grieving widower to make final amends and thus begins his intriguing journey in a city filled with a whole cast of unique and intriguing characters, both good and evil,
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Jul 07, 2009
Deb
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I give this book a 10. It is written in the first person and the second and is written very well. It has interesting characters and thoughts about humans and life. "I wonder if it is better to be in a beautiful house looking at an ugly one, or to be in an ugly house looking at a beautiful one." Pin is the main character. He works for an undertaker named Goddfrey Gaufridus, who one day when he was a teenager went into a coma. Luckily the undertaker was dishonest and sold him to the med
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Feb 15, 2010
Victoria
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This is called a "paraquel" to The Black Book of Secrets, which I may have also borrowed from the Bookmobile I hope. The quality is inconsistent. I was taken aback by the first chapter being current, the second chapter being a few hours older, and the 3rd chapter going back months in the life of Pin Carpue, a boy whose mother is dead and father is missing and largely believed to be guilty of murder. There's got to be a more graceful way to tell Pin's history! I believe this is the
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Feb 20, 2010
Sitti
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As interesting and different as my experience reading The Black Book of Secrets (to tell you the truth, I haven't met any Secret Pawnbrokers whilst my reading of other materials before, making the book interesting), I have to say that I've enjoyed reading The Bone Magician more.
The storyline has a much faster pace, more lovable characters (I've decided that Snoad is a much better antagonist than Ratchet) and the City along with the stinking Foedus makes up a much better place for a s More...
The storyline has a much faster pace, more lovable characters (I've decided that Snoad is a much better antagonist than Ratchet) and the City along with the stinking Foedus makes up a much better place for a s More...
Aug 22, 2008
Rian
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
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Dec 22, 2008
Nick
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Enjoyable, but the abrupt ending left me with too many questions. I think that by trying to tie it so closely to another book, as a "paraquel" taking place in a different place at the same time, the author was self-limited.
Also, the mystery of the Silver Apple Killer was a bit of a cheat, since the main character was close enough to see him at one point. He only noticed the killer's height, when in fact he should have been able to see his face. He was able to see another characte More...
Also, the mystery of the Silver Apple Killer was a bit of a cheat, since the main character was close enough to see him at one point. He only noticed the killer's height, when in fact he should have been able to see his face. He was able to see another characte More...
Mar 10, 2011
Vivian
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The Bone Magician is about a boy named Pin Carpue who watches corpses to make sure that they are really dead before they get burried.
This book is one of the few book that are really good. It had a complex plot. It also helped that the plot twisted at literally every chapter. The twisting of the plot made the book very entertaining to read.
I will look forward to Higgins' other books (The Eyeball Collector and The Black Book of Secrets).
This book is one of the few book that are really good. It had a complex plot. It also helped that the plot twisted at literally every chapter. The twisting of the plot made the book very entertaining to read.
I will look forward to Higgins' other books (The Eyeball Collector and The Black Book of Secrets).
Feb 06, 2010
Mailis
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It supposed to be scary at least promised by the reviews written inside the book, i didn't find it that disturbing, but lets be honest its children's book and i am a hint away from early middle-agedom...nevertheless its still a good read, and although a bit predictable sometimes still with twists that make you go a-ha in the end... i cant wait for the next installment where the stories from this and previous book come together...
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Jul 04, 2011
★ Jess
rated it:
Absolutely fantastic.
I cant believe i almost put it down and stopped reading after the first two chapters. It was very hard to get into, but once it picked up speed, it never let go.
For the first time since Harry Potter 7, I stayed up reading into the early hours of the morning to finish.
THE BONE MAGICIAN is brilliantly well written, with remarkable characters and a smart plot.
Originally, It seems like every plot line is random and loose, but then it all ties up cleve More...
I cant believe i almost put it down and stopped reading after the first two chapters. It was very hard to get into, but once it picked up speed, it never let go.
For the first time since Harry Potter 7, I stayed up reading into the early hours of the morning to finish.
THE BONE MAGICIAN is brilliantly well written, with remarkable characters and a smart plot.
Originally, It seems like every plot line is random and loose, but then it all ties up cleve More...
May 27, 2009
Piilani
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The author calls this a "paraquil" to the black book of secrets. Meaning it happens at the same time that the black book of secrets happened. The ending definately ties in with the first book but you have to wait until the last couple pages to actually understand the whole book. It also has several stories going on at once and then they all merge together.
Apr 19, 2011
Brooke
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Story of orphaned Pin living in a dark world on the wrong side of the river, trying to survive on his own and figure out what happened to his father. Pin survives in part by being befreinded by a "bone magician" (one who can raise and speak with the dead for a few moments) and his helper. Was a little bothered by the "herbal" use of one of the characters.
Dec 04, 2009
Brittany
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Even better than The Black Book of Secrets. This one tells the story of a young boy whose job it is to sit up with dead bodies overnight at the undertaker's to make sure they're really dead. He discovers a network of swindlers that he has to muster the courage to take on. Higgins adds to the mysteries of her series by the end, promising more to come.
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Jun 18, 2009
Miss Clark
rated it: 
It skips a lot between characters, very little is resolved. Far too much left undone. I think Higgins would make a good short story novelist, but I am unsure about full-length novels. By the by, Juno is addicted to her herbs and potions a bit - can't see that leading to anything good. Likely why she is so pale and translucent.
May 05, 2009
Katrina
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Though this was a decently good book, I didn't find it as good as The Black Book of Secrets.
The Bone Magician is a story about many characters with intertwining lives, yet the characters didn't grab me and hold on as I'd hoped they would.
There are interesting bits throughout the book, but overall it just seemed choppy and not as well put together.
This is the paraquel to Black Book of Secrets.
The Bone Magician is a story about many characters with intertwining lives, yet the characters didn't grab me and hold on as I'd hoped they would.
There are interesting bits throughout the book, but overall it just seemed choppy and not as well put together.
This is the paraquel to Black Book of Secrets.
Jun 11, 2010
Christi
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This story takes place at the same time as the events in F.E. Higgins other book The Dark Book of Secrets. The mood is very much like Charles Dickens following the young Pin Carpue as he tries to survive without any family in the rough and dirty city of Urbs Umida.
Mar 16, 2009
Heather
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Definitely dark and a bit gruesome, this book addresses what it is that makes a person or place truly ugly. I didn't like it as well, as "The Black Book of Secrets", but The Bone Magician made we want to re-read BBS to see the connections.
Mar 11, 2010
Deirdre
rated it:
A Paraquel to The Black Book of Secrets (i.e. the story is set at the same time, parallel to the first book, so not a sequel but a complimentary story set in the same world) this is the story of Pin Carpue, whose father ran away accused of killing his uncle and whose mother is dead. He works as an apprentice mortician. There's a killer in town and no-one knows who or why. Pin's father is held as a possible candidate for this murderer.
It's not a bad read but to me it lacked a certa More...
It's not a bad read but to me it lacked a certa More...
Mar 05, 2010
Amymc825
rated it:
a lot better than the black book of secrets, although now i need to reread black book to find out the secrets of some of the characters in the bone magician
Nov 24, 2009
A nice little story. Glad I found it.
I say little, because I just finished reading the Sword of Truth series, 700 to 900 pages per book.
I say little, because I just finished reading the Sword of Truth series, 700 to 900 pages per book.
Feb 14, 2011
Ragan
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By the same author as The Black Book of Secrets. Not as good as this other novel, but not bad.
Sep 01, 2009
Richuaby
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good book that gets your attention and you don't want the story to ever end its really griping
