By These Ten Bones

Apr 28, 2013 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, pnr-uf, fantasy-scifi

For romance, 3 stars. For horror, 5 stars. This is a spine-chilling romance for young adults, set in the highlands of Scotland in the Middle Ages. It's told in third person:

"Your shadow," Maddie stammered, pointing to the ground behind him. "It moved. Moved by itself. I saw it."

In this book, werewolves are malevolent shadowy parasites that manifest into something even more dreadful under a full moon. Not sexy. Some of the superstitious villagers are also malevolent (at times), lending historic...more For romance, 3 stars. For horror, 5 stars. This is a spine-chilling romance for young adults, set in the highlands of Scotland in the Middle Ages. It's told in third person:

"Your shadow," Maddie stammered, pointing to the ground behind him. "It moved. Moved by itself. I saw it."

In this book, werewolves are malevolent shadowy parasites that manifest into something even more dreadful under a full moon. Not sexy. Some of the superstitious villagers are also malevolent (at times), lending historical authenticity.

By These Ten Bones is certainly a horror story, but also a romance -- albeit a "clean" one. A relationship develops between an unwilling werewolf (Paul, a traveling wood carver) and a local villager, Maddie. Paul forms a bond with Maddie quickly, and will only talk to her, allowing other villagers to (initially) think him "touched" or at least mute. In the end, they are willing to die for each other, even though Maddie freaks when she first discovers Paul's parasitic alter ego:

"You spineless slug, you mound of mud, come here!" he shrieked.

Maddie blinked. A black shadow seemed to lie across his face. His eyes gleamed out through it, brilliantly green. She stooped and lifted the lantern to shine it full on him, but the shadow on his face didn't move.

"Blood," purred the shadow in a thick voice. "Salty, sweaty blood."

Maddie is courageous, yet not reckless. She wrestles with her fears and with her conscience, turning often to Father Mac for help. She wants to do right by others, but is sometimes unable to influence her stubborn, wrongheaded Scottish clansmen (thinking of Lady Mary and Ned the Traveler). She tries to find an easier, less painful solution to various problems, but does what must, and heeds the "second sight" she inherited from Grandmother.

Dunkle contrasts scripture with superstitions about birth defects, witchcraft, the Loch Ness Monster / The Water Horse, etc. She portrays the local priest, Father Mac, in a benign light, and features a small role for angels, especially one archangel. Having read Dunkle's wonderful YA fantasy, The Hollow Kingdom, I was surprised at the strong Catholic basis for this book, but it fit the plot and the setting beautifully.

The secondary characters are layered and interesting. None of them are cardboard cut-outs. Even the dreadful Black Ewan is not totally loathsome. Neither is Ned, Paul's sotted "keeper" of sorts. Lady Mary is an educated, lonely, and somewhat self-centered healer, an ultimately sympathetic figure with an interesting past. Kudos to Dunkle for creating textured characters, including the giant, Old Angus.

Father Mac, the priest, and Fair Sarah, Maddie's mother, are the most lovable secondary characters. With so many gothic goings-on, I needed their upbeat contributions.

Descriptive and fast-paced, with an abrupt ending. I wanted an epilogue.(less)

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May 13, 2009 Abigail rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Readers Interested in Werewolf Stories...

Shelves: childrens-fantasy, childrens-fiction, vampires-werewolves, p-l

Review Temporarily Removed.

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Mar 09, 2012 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Dark fantasy, werewolf fiction readers

Shelves: owned-copy, bbb-review, gothic-fiction, dark-fantasy, young-adult, read-in-february-2012, artisan-or-craftsperson, curse, werewolf, scottish, historical-fantasy, yearly-reading-challenge, 2012-sky-s-the-limit-club, all-things-winter-challenge

The story was not as intricate as I would have liked, but the gothic atmosphere was appealing, and I liked Maddie and Carver/Paul's characters. I also liked the message about sacrificial love.

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.

Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.

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Nov 18, 2012 Lyra Dimagiba rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love the book! I mean, seriously! It's great!
The plot, the twist, the love story... everything is great and well-written! When I finished reading the book, I was like... "That's it? I want more!".
I also found the characters that I despised at first, turned out to be really good natured people.
The only thing that I think the story lacked was a little more of romance. I mean, I'd really like to read a scene where the two of them would kiss... even at the ending, that would be fine. I just wan...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Maddie lives in a small village in Scotland, where the people call themselves Christians but older traditions still have a strong hold. At the market, she meets a silent boy who carves wood. She's instantly drawn to him. And that's before he ever talks to her. Then an evil presence raids the village and Carver is hurt.

Clare B. Dunkle's language is simple and direct, most of the time. She becomes more romantic when describing environments, but never reaches purple. Her choice of diction is well-s...more

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May 29, 2011 Yune rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dunkle has a gift for tackling darker themes in folklore while still keeping a thread of sweetness permeating her stories. I overcame my initial flinch away from things Scottish (I blame the sighting of too many lurid Highlander romance titles) and settled into a simple yet lush tale of Maddie, the weaver's daughter who's the only person that a traveling wood-carver will talk to. And so she learns his secret...

I loved the evocation of a medieval Scottish village, where men have to work the field...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Kyleigh rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I first saw this book I was pulled in by the cover. It was so dark and the way the woman’s head is thrown back in ecstasy was just gripping. I immediately picked it up, read the synopsis, decided I HAD to have it, and promptly bought it. I am so glad I did. It has to be the best paranormal related book I have read since Sunshine by Robin McKinley. I immediately fell in love. I’d even go as far as to say that this is my favorite werewolf book, hands down.

This book was rich with historical c...more When I first saw this book I was pulled in by the cover. It was so dark and the way the woman’s head is thrown back in ecstasy was just gripping. I immediately picked it up, read the synopsis, decided I HAD to have it, and promptly bought it. I am so glad I did. It has to be the best paranormal related book I have read since Sunshine by Robin McKinley. I immediately fell in love. I’d even go as far as to say that this is my favorite werewolf book, hands down.

This book was rich with historical content. From what I gathered this either takes place in Ireland or Scotland. The disdain towards Englishmen and reference to “the continent” leads me to think this takes place somewhere in the British Isles. The author didn’t spell it out, rather she let us envision our own primitive world where monsters stalk the night. Dunkle weaves a world full of evil spirits and old superstitions that will leave you afraid of the dark. The author does a fantastic job of making you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. The practices of the villagers, their lives, their beliefs, was all wonderfully written and full of true understanding. She didn’t just decide to set her story back in post Anglo-Saxon England. You can tell that a lot of research and true knowledge went into writing this book. I loved the book all the more for it.

Maddie is the daughter of the village weaver. She lives a simple life and is content with it. When Travelers come to her village she is immediately drawn to the silent forlorn young man who accompanies them. An extremely talented carver, the young man and his companion sell his wares to the villagers. He speaks to no one and is content to carve his pieces in solitude. However, Maddie can’t help be fascinated by his brilliant green eyes. When his drunken companion gets himself locked up and forced to help bring in the villages harvest, he finds himself with no where else to go. On the night of the full moon Maddie hears a creature outside her door. In the morning the young carver is found by the loch, mauled by a great beast. Maddie’s family takes him in and helps him recover. He gradually starts to open up and talk to Maddie. But the boy has his own secrets he is unwilling to tell. The boy with no name is afraid to make friends, to share his past, and to fall in love. A great fear haunts him that he will hurt the ones he cares for, and the looming threat of the full moon doesn’t go away.

This story was truly beautifully told. The growing bond between Maddie and Carver (as the villagers come to call him) was wonderfully done. Their relationship is built on trust, not lust. They confide in each other, and Maddie is there for Carver when no one else is. Her loyalty and her determination to stay by Carver, no matter what happens and what he turns into, is truly inspiring. They truly love each other and Carver is determined to keep her safe from harm, even if that means keeping her away from him. Maddie is willing to sacrifice everything for Carver in order to keep her village safe and give Carver a life free from fear. What was really surprising for me was that they didn’t even have a physical relationship. Nothing happened beyond holding hands. That just made it all the more perfect in my eyes. Of course I wanted SOMETHING to happen, but in the end it was fine without. The two of them don’t need to share an intimate relationship to show that they’d do anything for each other.

Maddie’s complete willingness to face evil itself in order to save the man she loves truly sets her apart from other heroines. Other YA werewolf books simply don’t compare. The depth of true love, and the true horror of the beast that Carver turns into is nothing like the watered down version of werewolves that is rampant throughout most novels these days. Werewolves are terrifying beasts that will kill anything in their path and tear them apart limb from limb. I loved the more classic take on werewolves. It was reminiscent of The Wolfman and An American Werewolf in London. You just can’t beat the classics.

If you couldn’t tell, I absolutely loved this book. I can’t even fully express how awesome it was. In comparison to other YA werewolf books out there, By These Ten Bones blows them all out of the water. It was fabulous, plain and simple. It might not be to some peoples tastes. If you’re looking for a wild paranormal romance, you’re not going to get it. However, if you’re looking for a story with both true love and a terrifying portrayal of what goes bump in the night you’ll definitely get it. Loved it. (less)

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Mar 01, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-100-book-challenge, 2011-release, books-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews

3.5 stars

When a mysterious mute, wood carver visits Maddie's village, she can't help but be drawn to him. Getting his attention is going to be harder than Maddie realizes. After her village has given up on him and deemed him an idiot, Maddie can't help herself and she wants to know more about him. Not one for words, this piercing green eyed, angst stranger isn't willing to give away his secrets. After a turn of events and an attack from an evil shadow like creature, Carver, as Maddie calls him,...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Kiirsi Hellewell rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

For the majority of this book, I wasn't sure I liked it. I didn't even know if I wanted to finish reading it.

I picked it up because I really loved Clare Dunkle's "Hollow Kingdom" trilogy. But this book was very different in style, tone, setting...everything. The inhabitants and setting of a tiny, mud-covered Scottish hamlet in the dark or middle ages were so realistically drawn that it was almost gross...the foul smells, the animals nearly sleeping in the beds, nobody ever washing. I know that's...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Marisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

This is the third book I've read by Clare B. Dunkle, and I've really enjoyed them all. What's more, they've all been really, incredibly different books. The Sky Inside is a dystopian future scifi about a boy who leaves his domed world to find the truth. The House of Dead Maids is a seriously freaky prequel to Wuthering Heights that explains how Heathcliff is adopted by Catherine's dad. And this book is a werewolve-ish (he's like no other werewolf I've read about) romance-ish story set in probabl...more

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first book I have read by Dunkle. Her Hollow Kingdom series is supposed to be really popular, but not wanting to start a new series I thought I would check out this stand alone book first. It was an okay book, but nothing spectacular.

Maddie lives in a small Scottish town. When a Traveler, Ned, shows up with a mute boy who is a woodcarver strange things start to happen. The mute boy (who ends up not being all that mute) Paul is found with his chest shredded and following that other ba...more This is the first book I have read by Dunkle. Her Hollow Kingdom series is supposed to be really popular, but not wanting to start a new series I thought I would check out this stand alone book first. It was an okay book, but nothing spectacular.

Maddie lives in a small Scottish town. When a Traveler, Ned, shows up with a mute boy who is a woodcarver strange things start to happen. The mute boy (who ends up not being all that mute) Paul is found with his chest shredded and following that other bad things start happening in town. Paul has secrets and Maddie wants to learn them; she hopes they might help explain the horrible nightmares she's been having and solve the mystery of what's plaguing their small town.

This book was part fantasy, part horror story. It takes place in this sleepy Scottish town in a time where people still have strong beliefs in things that go bump in the night. The mood of the book is mysterious and vague like a foggy Scottish bog. Unfortunately this vagueness permeates all parts of the book including the characters. I had trouble liking any of the characters or really engaging with them. The plot itself is fairly predictable and not really all that scary; the story line didn't build much suspense or momentum as it went on.

Dunkle's take on werewolves is very interesting and different from anything else I have read out there; but the mythos behind the werewolf is another thing handled in a vague and unsatifying way. Dunkle does do a good job of creating a mysterious atmosphere and really makes the reader visualize the setting well.

The writing style was a bit in consistent. At points Dunkle described things with great care (like the surroundings and the people's clothing) and at other points things were glossed over quickly leaving the reader to struggle to form a visual image of what was being described.

It is a short book and is very appropriate for the young adult crowd in terms of content. Overall, I thought it was an okay read. It is definitely nothing special though considering all the material available in this genre now. This book didn't really make me want to read anymore of Dunkle's writings. People who are interested in werewolves and a brooding atmosphere would be better off checking out Shiver or Blood and Chocolate.(less)

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Jun 06, 2010 Karin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: werewolves, young-adult-fiction, romance, dark, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This werewolf tale tells the story of Paul who was bitten by and becomes a werewolf, and Maddie, the girl who learns his secret and loves him enough to try and cure him.

This is a rather spare tale, with a lot of characters who act in ways that aren’t always explained. For instance, Paul’s traveling companion is pressed into work by one of the townsmen – he’s literally chained up and forced to assist with the harvest. The explanation given is that the townsman is sick of seeing him laze about wh...more This werewolf tale tells the story of Paul who was bitten by and becomes a werewolf, and Maddie, the girl who learns his secret and loves him enough to try and cure him.

This is a rather spare tale, with a lot of characters who act in ways that aren’t always explained. For instance, Paul’s traveling companion is pressed into work by one of the townsmen – he’s literally chained up and forced to assist with the harvest. The explanation given is that the townsman is sick of seeing him laze about when there is so much work that needs to be done. It just seems odd. Becoming a part of this world was kind of a stretch. It’s obviously small and rural and seems to be taking place in the distant past, but it doesn’t seem very real. I’m willing to go out on a limb and believe in the werewolves for the sake of the story, but even the more realistic elements seem sketchy.

There are some haunting and scary moments where Maddie sees the shadow of the beast that is part of Paul. The description of the werewolf being something else entirely, and not particularly wolfy, or even something that’s integrated with Paul’s nature is interesting and could be more thoroughly explored. Other werewolf tales talk about the beast taking over, but it seems like the beast is fully a part of the person, whereas in Paul’s case it’s like he’s been possessed by some kind of demon that just wants to hurt everyone that he loves. It seems like in every werewolf tale that changing is a curse and it automatically makes one an outcast. The werewolf, or the demon that takes over Paul, will destroy everyone and everything in its path if it is loosed.

One thing that this story posits that I’ve never heard before is that there is a cure for the werewolf. Someone must willingly go to the wolf when he is changed and let it take them. Only that willingness and self-sacrifice will destroy the creature/beast/demon. And they can’t run from the wolf either. Brave Maddie does this, and wonder of wonders is not harmed. The beast leaves Paul and they both return to the village and a few pages later, presumably live happily ever after – especially as Paul has already killed the difficult townsman when he was a werewolf the time before.

“By these ten bones” is a promise Paul makes to Maddie – to return. He swears by the bones in his fingers. And these same bones are the claws of the shadow of the beast that Maddie sees trailing her around town.

I don’t think this is Clare B. Dunkle’s best work. I enjoyed her Hollow Kingdom books much more. This is somewhat darker, and there’s less humor. It reads a bit like a folktale, and of course it’s somewhat folklore-y with its werewolves. It might have been more successful as either a longer or a shorter piece.(less)

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Mar 02, 2011 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, 2011-ya-hist-fic-challenge

Maddie lives in a small town in the Scottish Highlands during the Middle Ages. It is very rare for strangers to visit the town; a couple of times a year, traveling merchants might come by with their wares. One such group of travelers includes a mysterious young man who is extremely talented at woodcarving. Maddie is immediately drawn to the stranger, and he to her. But then strange things begin to happen in the village. The young carver is attacked, and Maddie thinks she saw and heard the monste...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-100-book-challenge, books-i-own, mundie-moms-review

3.5 stars

When a mysterious mute, wood carver visits Maddie's village, she can't help but be drawn to him. Getting his attention is going to be harder than Maddie realizes. After her village has given up on him and deemed him an idiot, Maddie can't help herself and she wants to know more about him. Not one for words, this piercing green eyed, angst stranger isn't willing to give away his secrets. After a turn of events and an attack from an evil shadow like creature, Carver, as Maddie calls him,...more 3.5 stars

When a mysterious mute, wood carver visits Maddie's village, she can't help but be drawn to him. Getting his attention is going to be harder than Maddie realizes. After her village has given up on him and deemed him an idiot, Maddie can't help herself and she wants to know more about him. Not one for words, this piercing green eyed, angst stranger isn't willing to give away his secrets. After a turn of events and an attack from an evil shadow like creature, Carver, as Maddie calls him, ends up being taking care of by her mother. During his recovery Carver begins to slowly open up to Maddie about what he is, and the danger she and her village are in.

Maddie and Carver aren't in-depth characters, but with the story reading more like a folklore, I felt I got to know them enough to understand them and the choices they make. Both are similar, as both are like outsiders to those around them. Maddie is one of the few younger people who live in small remote village and Carver has a dark secret that keeps him from getting close to anyone. It wasn't hard to see why these two felt drawn to each other. I liked seeing how the two of them became closer and learned to trust each other. I also like that the werewolf isn't like traditional wolves, but is more of shadow creature that lurks in the darkest places of the night during the full moon, which makes this creature dark and erie.

What I enjoyed most about Clare Dunkle's By These Ten Books is the unique werewolf mythology and it's beautiful setting. Set in medieval Scotland among it's highlands gives an air of mystery and intrigue to the book. Truthfully, the setting and lore are what made me want to read the book, and kept my interest through out the story. These key elements play just as big of a role in the story as the characters do, and really set the tone for the book.

I enjoyed this fascinating spin on werewolf mythology and I recommend picking it up. It's a good read. You can read our interview with Clare here(less)

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Feb 18, 2011 nancy (The Ravenous Reader) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I was given the opportunity to read BY THESE TEN BONES by Clare B. Dunkle I jumped at the chance. It was not the first novel that I have read by this author so I was intrigued.

This story centers on Maddie, a curious young girl who lives in a small Scottish village that one day is visited by a traveler and his mute companion, Paul. It is not long before a dark shadow falls about the village and bad things begin to happen. Paul is gravely injured by a creature one night and while he is on the...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Beth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, 2-star-incites-mehness

This book has been recommended to me by so many people who loved the heck out of it. I finally broke down and took it out of the library. I was less then impressed. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. Maybe it had been hyped too much and thus my expectations were far too high.

I loved the idea of the plot (Scotland and werewolves? Yes, please!) I thought the dark atmosphere and tension and sense of unease was portrayed really well. This book did a creep me out a few times (the head, any...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: youngadult, romance-y, own-it, paranormal-fantasy

Why I read this: I've loved the two novels I've read by Clare and had to give this one a shot.

Plot: Set back in history, Maddie lives in a time where women are burned or hung for being witches, where people still believe magic is a live. When a traveler comes to town, she falls in love for the first time, but there's a secret surrounding his appearance, involving the death of a few villagers. Maddie will have to decide how much she will risk for love.

There were some scenes in the novel that are...more

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Jun 07, 2011 Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, young-adult, werewolves

Reviewed by Lori @ Romancing the Darkside:
http://romancingthedarkside.blogspot....

Not your usual young adult paranormal romance!

Set in the Highlands of Medieval Scottland, Maddie is the young daughter of weaver in a small village. She lives a quiet but happy life in her tight knit community and hopes to one day get married and start a family of her own. While out in the town one day, Maddie encounters a good looking young man who happens to be a very talented carver. Although their encounter is...more Reviewed by Lori @ Romancing the Darkside:
http://romancingthedarkside.blogspot....

Not your usual young adult paranormal romance!

Set in the Highlands of Medieval Scottland, Maddie is the young daughter of weaver in a small village. She lives a quiet but happy life in her tight knit community and hopes to one day get married and start a family of her own. While out in the town one day, Maddie encounters a good looking young man who happens to be a very talented carver. Although their encounter is brief, Maddie finds the young man fascinating and can't wait to learn more about him.

Soon after, the young carver is brutally attacked by a savage beast that leaves him on the verge of death and the superstitious villagers terrorized. He's taken in by Maddie's family and while nursing him back to health Maddie gains the young man's trust and affection. It is here he reveals he can speak, his name is Paul and he has a dark and terrible secret he confides in Maddie. Realizing she has developed feelings for Paul, Maddie is torn between following her heart or protecting her people.

This story is unlike anything I've read in young adult paranormal romance. The author creates such a vivid and spooky tale you'll feel like you're sharing scary stories at a campfire! The setting of Medieval Scotland is perfect for the supernatural aspect of the story, this was a time where people where highly superstitious so their reactions to the events is very believable. The characters lack a little development but the storytelling is superb, you'll see the story unfold right before your eyes as if you were there. Despite being such a young heroine, Maddie is very determined and wise. Her innocence in matters of the heart is also very endearing. Paul is a great mystery for most of the book but I love his resilience in dealing with his secret and how he is willing to protect Maddie at all costs. Their relationship is very sweet and touching.

This is a great read for anyone who wants to try something new in the werewolf genre. Filled with suspense, a little romance and a unique plot, By These Ten Bones reads more like an old folk tale with a surrounding theme that never goes out of style, love. I will surely be reading more of this author's work.
(less)

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Apr 16, 2008 Kelly Aley rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was not a great follow-up to my Hollow Kingdom high I had been on. I guess I didn't really enjoy the world as much. It felt more thrown together than well crafted. I do recommend the Hollow Kingdom, and still think I would try another book from this author, but this wasn't my favorite.

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May 27, 2013 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

AHhhhh! This book was great. As my friend said, it is the only book that can handle werewolves without sounding stupid. The small town, and the presence of superstition was very ominous. In today's world you don't think about much about everyday superstitions, or they are just not acknowledged as much as they used to be. This book brought to life those forgotten superstitions. The love story between the main characters was really sweet. The sacrifice and love was very profound. I also thought it...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, reviews

Maddie is a young girl living in the Scottish highlands. Cut off from almost everything. So, it's no surprise when wood carver Paul comes to town that she is taken with him at first sight. But then things take a turn for the worse. Maddie doesn't know what to do, and she has a hard decision ahead. A way to push back the shadow and save the people she loves...

By These Ten Bones was a dark and chilling tale. I loved that it took place in Scotland. Also the lead characters Maddie and Paul were intr...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: love-the-cover, own, myth, paranormal, young-adult, 2012-read

Overall, it was an enjoyable story. Clare Dunkle really knows how to draw you into a story and world with very little words. That's a talent. But I felt something was missing and it's probably because this story is more for young girls. The ending is a little anti-climatic and it took me a second to realize it was over.

I enjoyed the different werewolf mythology that she went with. I also enjoyed her knowledge of the historical setting she told. Though, there was a bit too much of modern morality...more

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May 13, 2009 Krista the Krazy Kataloguer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-ya

What happens when you fall in love with a werewolf? Takes place in Scotland. Full of nice plot twists and a great heroine.

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Jun 11, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

By These Ten Bones is quite different than your ordinary werewolf tale. Here things go bump in the night and superstitions reign supreme.

When I read novels that have historical settings, I tend to expect a few things: accuracy, feeling like I have been transported to another time, etc. In this, By These Ten Bones succeeded beautifully. The novel takes place in Scotland. And from the every beginning, I felt like I had stepped into Maddie's world. Dunkle builds up this world so that you feel like...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Misty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-ya, cover-appeal, supernatural-paranormal, own, thanks-ksenia, read-in-2012, historical, sci_fi-fantasy, shifters, gift

I've read other things by Dunkle before (The Hollow Kingdom, The House of Dead Maids), and one of the things I really like about her is that she seems willing to confront the darker aspects, the things that make you uncomfortable. This is something I've come to associate with her, and I really do like it. But another thing I've come to associate with Dunkle is stories that come so closeto making me feel the need to push them into everybody's hands, but not quite making it. This was true of By Th...more I've read other things by Dunkle before (The Hollow Kingdom, The House of Dead Maids), and one of the things I really like about her is that she seems willing to confront the darker aspects, the things that make you uncomfortable. This is something I've come to associate with her, and I really do like it. But another thing I've come to associate with Dunkle is stories that come so close to making me feel the need to push them into everybody's hands, but not quite making it. This was true of By These Ten Bones. I think I wanted to love it more than I did, and I wanted to want to push it on everybody - but I didn't. This makes it sound like I didn't like it, or even that I was disappointed with it, neither of which is very accurate. I do want to push it on recommend it to some people, but not everybody. I just...it always felt like there was just some barrier we couldn't push through. The story and I were held back by something, something was missing and I don't know what it was. But I could feel it.

Alright, this is the weirdest analogy ever (maybe only topped by my soup vs. Soup analogy), but say you were eating your favorite ice cream sundae, and it's delicious; it has scoops of rich chocolate and fragrant vanilla ice cream topped off with nuts and cherries and sprinkles and whatever the hell else you put on it. And you like it, it's good - but something's missing, and you can't figure out what until you get to the last bite and you realize you forgot the damn caramel sauce. It's still a really good sundae, but you know how much better it can be with the little addition of that salty-sweet caramel, and now you're disappointed.

That's sort of how this is. Or maybe it's not like that at all. (I mean, it's a book, not a sundae. And why do all of my analogies have food?) But something about this book left me feeling incomplete, and it wasn't big enough to really stand out, but rather left me with that subtle nagging feeling that something that would put it over the top, something that would make me love it instead of like it, was missing. And I really don't know how else to explain it.

Part of me feels like maybe it was just a by-product of the style. It's very folkloric, very sparse in style and even in plot, pared back and bare bones. It's told very simply and somewhat slowly, too, and maybe that's what left me with that nagging feeling - maybe I wanted something more lyrical, or something I could connect to more, emotionally? Either way, the style does work for the story and does help build something really atmospheric and foreboding. There's a good sense of place and tension, and I worried for the characters and how everything would turn out. I also feel like it's something I would read again, maybe even multiple times. But I don't think everyone will connect to it - I think it will be too spare, too simple, or too weird for some people to get past.

But for those who do, they'll find a really interesting tale of Otherness unlike most of the YA fare out there, and one that is worth their time. Even if there is an indefinable something missing...
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Jul 22, 2012 Sandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, 100-books-2012

The time and world of By These Ten Bones is one rift with superstition and folklore and the version of the werewolf told in this story is one that stems from original legend. That every full moon the man inflicted with the werewolf curse becomes a beast and hunts the ones he loves and unfortunately for our main character, Maddie, that’s her. Set in the medieval Scottish Highlands Maddie’s nameless, little village is visited by two travellers; one, a lazy drunk and the other an apparently mute wo...more

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Feb 06, 2011 E. Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Just when you thought you were sick of werewolves, I have for you a book that is unlike any other werewolf book you’ve seen. For one thing, the mythology is raw and old and steeped in the folklore of the Scottish highlands. The werewolf in Clare B. Dunkle‘s BY THESE TEN BONES is less a wolf and more of a shadow creature — a demon that takes over a man’s body on the night of the full moon. And, unfortunately for young Maddie, the weaver’s daughter, a young man with this affliction is in her villa...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Tori [Book Faery] rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, reviewed

See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com

BY THESE TEN BONES (BTTB) was an enjoyable read, though I admit that I had a few issues with the novel. If anything, it has more to do with the manuscript's age and what was accepted by agents and publishers back then. But first, let's focus on the good, shall we?

Clare knows how to make generally likable, strong heroines. She also knows how to weave an interesting plot and write vividly beautiful descriptions. I think that the...more

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May 12, 2008 Sarah "Mir" rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I never, NEVER ever want to see this book or author again.

Agh. It left a bad taste in my mouth, and I almost did not finish it. But I was less than ten pages away and I just decided to finish it for the sake of my 200 reading goal.

A friend recommended this book to me, but I really wish she hadn't.

This book is set in Scotland and is about werewolves. I did not think it would be so dark for a YA novel & I was shocked at how dark it was after reading it.

There was little, if any redeeming qu...more

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Dec 15, 2009 Mimi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teenagers

This is a very interesting book, because it is about a rather "hot" topic for books these days, but I didn't even know it was about that topic until half way through, and that topic is definitely treated differently in this book than many of the others I have read. No, I can't say what it is, or part will be ruined for you. I enjoyed reading this story. It is somewhat fantasy and somewhat historical, because it is set in ancient Scotland rather than an imaginary world.

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