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The Bone Wall
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Blue light ripples and crackles as the shield walls fracture. The remnants of a doomed civilization stand vigil outside, intent on plunder and slaves, desirous of untainted blood to strengthen their broken lives. With the poisons, came deformities and powers, enhanced senses and the ability to manipulate waves of energy—lightbenders and fire-wielders.
For those who thrived for generations within the walls, the broken world looms, strange and deadly, slowly dying. While the righteous pray for salvation, Rimma prepares for battle, fueled by rage and blinded by vengeance. Her twin, Angel, bound to her by unbreakable magic, seeks light in the darkness, hope in the future, and love in a broken world.
D. Wallace Peach’s fourth novel combines elements of fantasy and science-fiction into a character-driven adventure. The Bone Wall foretells of a dystopian world where a poisoned planet no longer sustains its inhabitants. Who survives when there isn’t enough for all? Who decides?
The Bone Wall begins three hundred years in a post-apocalyptic future. Precisely controlled communities with forgotten histories thrive beneath protective energy fields…until those fields begin to fail. What happens when the facades crumble and the past’s dark truth is unearthed?
Twins Rimma and Angel share this first person tale of a life unraveling and mending. Both are strong female protagonists who chose opposing paths when thrust in the broken and perilous world. The simplistic lines dividing good and evil blur, and beg the question: Can one survive without the other? What is the secret of their lives that even they can’t comprehend?
If grimdark tales of spiraling destruction and redemption crowd your bookshelf, this fantasy adventure desires a place among them.
The Bone Wall contains scenes which some readers might find triggering.
Blue light ripples and crackles as the shield walls fracture. The remnants of a doomed civilization stand vigil outside, intent on plunder and slaves, desirous of untainted blood to strengthen their broken lives. With the poisons, came deformities and powers, enhanced senses and the ability to manipulate waves of energy—lightbenders and fire-wielders.
For those who thrived for generations within the walls, the broken world looms, strange and deadly, slowly dying. While the righteous pray for salvation, Rimma prepares for battle, fueled by rage and blinded by vengeance. Her twin, Angel, bound to her by unbreakable magic, seeks light in the darkness, hope in the future, and love in a broken world.
D. Wallace Peach’s fourth novel combines elements of fantasy and science-fiction into a character-driven adventure. The Bone Wall foretells of a dystopian world where a poisoned planet no longer sustains its inhabitants. Who survives when there isn’t enough for all? Who decides?
The Bone Wall begins three hundred years in a post-apocalyptic future. Precisely controlled communities with forgotten histories thrive beneath protective energy fields…until those fields begin to fail. What happens when the facades crumble and the past’s dark truth is unearthed?
Twins Rimma and Angel share this first person tale of a life unraveling and mending. Both are strong female protagonists who chose opposing paths when thrust in the broken and perilous world. The simplistic lines dividing good and evil blur, and beg the question: Can one survive without the other? What is the secret of their lives that even they can’t comprehend?
If grimdark tales of spiraling destruction and redemption crowd your bookshelf, this fantasy adventure desires a place among them.
The Bone Wall contains scenes which some readers might find triggering.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2015
26 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
D. Wallace Peach
24 books176 followersI didn’t care for reading as a child – I preferred Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies reruns, Saturday morning cartoons and the Ed Sullivan show. Then one day, I opened a book titled The Hobbit.
Tolkien … literally changed my life.
I love to write. It’s a luxury I never expected I’d have time for – life got in the way. You know how that goes – kids, work, chores… sleep. I worked for 18 years in business where amassing coin was the all-consuming objective. It required huge amounts of time and mental energy. And for me personally, it was soul-slaying.
Then on September 11, 2001 two planes flew into the World Trade Center. I was working in Connecticut, about 2 hours from ground zero, and remember sitting in a conference room, watching the second tower fall.
That tragedy initiated a process of redefinition for me, an evaluation of what was vital and important. Life felt short and precarious, and I started to wonder if it was time to do something that actually mattered. I began to write.
Tolkien … literally changed my life.
I love to write. It’s a luxury I never expected I’d have time for – life got in the way. You know how that goes – kids, work, chores… sleep. I worked for 18 years in business where amassing coin was the all-consuming objective. It required huge amounts of time and mental energy. And for me personally, it was soul-slaying.
Then on September 11, 2001 two planes flew into the World Trade Center. I was working in Connecticut, about 2 hours from ground zero, and remember sitting in a conference room, watching the second tower fall.
That tragedy initiated a process of redefinition for me, an evaluation of what was vital and important. Life felt short and precarious, and I started to wonder if it was time to do something that actually mattered. I began to write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 18, 2025
‘The Bone Wall’ is not necessarily an easy read, but I have really enjoyed it. After all, a dystopian story is one of my favourite genres.
The two protagonists, Angel and Rimma, are twins. It seems that it is strange in this world that twins are almost not known. Even odder, only one can be seen, although both of them will change from one to the other – they seem to have magical powers.
In the distant time, the world had been normal, but catastrophe had struck. And now, the world was even worse, as the huge domes had begun to break too. There were different tribes now all around, and some of the people began their journeys to find different cities.
In this book there is much violence, killing and rape, and also quite a lot of f**king, in both good and bad situations. But nevertheless, this novel is long and very different – and it is definitely worth it.
Highly recommended for lovers of dystopian / speculative / fantasy.
The two protagonists, Angel and Rimma, are twins. It seems that it is strange in this world that twins are almost not known. Even odder, only one can be seen, although both of them will change from one to the other – they seem to have magical powers.
In the distant time, the world had been normal, but catastrophe had struck. And now, the world was even worse, as the huge domes had begun to break too. There were different tribes now all around, and some of the people began their journeys to find different cities.
In this book there is much violence, killing and rape, and also quite a lot of f**king, in both good and bad situations. But nevertheless, this novel is long and very different – and it is definitely worth it.
Highly recommended for lovers of dystopian / speculative / fantasy.
January 20, 2023
This book is magnificent. The plot, the characters, the language, the imagery, the allegories – all magnificent. I can’t fault it and I hope others will read it and see this for themselves.
The Bone Wall is set in the dystopian future of a world once ravaged by an apocalyptic war. The land and the people are still damaged by the lingering toxic effects, but several walled gardens were set up in the past as havens of new societies –“ to protect themselves from the People and the world they’d poisoned”. all of them encased by defensive domes that are beginning to fail, exposing the inhabitants to the wild and savage world beyond their walls.
In one of these domes, Heaven, we come across a young woman, Rimma, and her mirror-image twin, Angel. They know that they have been kept “antiseptic, untainted by the broken world, pure” and wonder what it must be like for those outside their walls. Sensing the failure of the dome, the different ‘tribes’ of people scraping by in a lawless life on the outside, gather and wait to ruthlessly hunt, kill and exploit the residents.
This is not a fairy story. It’s a credible and visceral account of a world that might be already awaiting us. There are clear indications that this broken world has been caused by man ignoring the damage being done by him and distancing himself from the consequences. “How could they deny the interdependence, the delicate balance tipped, believing themselves outside the whole”. Sound familiar?
Rimma and Angel are captured and taken to be sold in exchange for weapons. The accounts of their treatment and of those even less fortunate than them, are brutal but sadly not overblown. This kind of horror exists in our world, now, no matter how we try to ignore it or excuse it as something happening in another country that we don’t feel a particular affiliation to and therefore carries less importance.
The bone wall refers to the horrific mound of human remains that have formed over millennia outside the dome from people desperate to access it. It’s also a powerful metaphor for the self-deception and ‘righteous’ blindness that people build around themselves - refusing to see beyond to the truth. One of the characters says “If there were no walls, there wouldn’t be insides and outsides, no separation, no us and them”. Today, ‘righteousness’ is often used as a reason to exclude others – whether it’s political, ideological or religious.
The harsh conditions and prejudice experienced by the different groups really struck home to me, but this is a novel with heart and hope at its core. The characters are wonderfully drawn. All mankind is here from the worst of us to the best. Angel and Rimma are the chief protagonists, but I must confess that it is Priest who has stolen my heart.
This is a magnificent book.
The Bone Wall is set in the dystopian future of a world once ravaged by an apocalyptic war. The land and the people are still damaged by the lingering toxic effects, but several walled gardens were set up in the past as havens of new societies –“ to protect themselves from the People and the world they’d poisoned”. all of them encased by defensive domes that are beginning to fail, exposing the inhabitants to the wild and savage world beyond their walls.
In one of these domes, Heaven, we come across a young woman, Rimma, and her mirror-image twin, Angel. They know that they have been kept “antiseptic, untainted by the broken world, pure” and wonder what it must be like for those outside their walls. Sensing the failure of the dome, the different ‘tribes’ of people scraping by in a lawless life on the outside, gather and wait to ruthlessly hunt, kill and exploit the residents.
This is not a fairy story. It’s a credible and visceral account of a world that might be already awaiting us. There are clear indications that this broken world has been caused by man ignoring the damage being done by him and distancing himself from the consequences. “How could they deny the interdependence, the delicate balance tipped, believing themselves outside the whole”. Sound familiar?
Rimma and Angel are captured and taken to be sold in exchange for weapons. The accounts of their treatment and of those even less fortunate than them, are brutal but sadly not overblown. This kind of horror exists in our world, now, no matter how we try to ignore it or excuse it as something happening in another country that we don’t feel a particular affiliation to and therefore carries less importance.
The bone wall refers to the horrific mound of human remains that have formed over millennia outside the dome from people desperate to access it. It’s also a powerful metaphor for the self-deception and ‘righteous’ blindness that people build around themselves - refusing to see beyond to the truth. One of the characters says “If there were no walls, there wouldn’t be insides and outsides, no separation, no us and them”. Today, ‘righteousness’ is often used as a reason to exclude others – whether it’s political, ideological or religious.
The harsh conditions and prejudice experienced by the different groups really struck home to me, but this is a novel with heart and hope at its core. The characters are wonderfully drawn. All mankind is here from the worst of us to the best. Angel and Rimma are the chief protagonists, but I must confess that it is Priest who has stolen my heart.
This is a magnificent book.
July 1, 2018
Given I don’t read many fantasy or dystopian novels, I’m probably not the best person to cite comparative titles, but to me, this novel was a wonderful combination of A Handmaid’s Tale, The Hunger Games, and Game of Thrones. The tone is dark and gritty, the characters complex and dimensional, and the world-building so descriptively rich, I felt like I was watching it on a screen.
Peach is a talented writer. With her strong storytelling and vivid prose, I was completely immersed in Rimma’s and Angel’s world. Relatable thematic elements too, with Rimma’s penchant for darkness and Angel’s neverending hope. Highly recommend.
Peach is a talented writer. With her strong storytelling and vivid prose, I was completely immersed in Rimma’s and Angel’s world. Relatable thematic elements too, with Rimma’s penchant for darkness and Angel’s neverending hope. Highly recommend.
March 28, 2016
The Bone Wall is a great book, packed full of ideas played out in a unique fantasy setting. Twin sisters Rimma and Angel live in Heaven, an island of order shielded from the broken world around them by God's will. Or at least, that's what they were told. But when the shield fails the twins begin a harsh journey where they discover everything they've ever known was a lie, about the world and themselves.
In The Bone Wall, D. Wallace Peach has created a riveting story about fractured people in a fractured world. And what a brutal world it is, with different groups fighting amongst themselves to control what meagre resources remain just to survive. At first the story appears to be a simple case of good versus evil, but it soon morphs into something much more complex as the motivations behind each faction are revealed. This twisting of initial expectations is one of the reasons I loved this book. It is excellent fantasy world-building.
We view this all through the eyes of Angel and Rimma, twin sisters less mirror images of each other and more yin and yang, bound by love but very different in character as they become moulded by the world and their experiences within it. The two both fight against and complement each other as their polar personalities help them both flounder and survive as they are thrown from one set of circumstances to another. And then there is the central enigma of the two, how come to most people only one of them is visible at a time?
It's safe to say this is not a children's story. The world Wallace Peach has created is tough, almost Darwinian in nature and the author doesn't flinch from describing it in vivid, often graphic detail. The Bone Wall is to The Hobbit what Lord of the Flies is to Swiss Family Robinson, but in my view the book is all the better for it. It is also a very cleverly written, with many layers of meaning, especially around the central theme of the bone wall itself.
My only complaint is that there were times when the descriptive language was a little too evocative, bordering on flowery. It didn't put me off the story but I felt it at odds to the stripped down, brutal world portrayed. This is, however, just a matter of personal taste.
Overall D. Wallace Peach should be applauded for creating a great story in a unique world with compelling characters. If you like your fantasy with grit and are looking for something a little different, I highly recommend The Bone Wall.
In The Bone Wall, D. Wallace Peach has created a riveting story about fractured people in a fractured world. And what a brutal world it is, with different groups fighting amongst themselves to control what meagre resources remain just to survive. At first the story appears to be a simple case of good versus evil, but it soon morphs into something much more complex as the motivations behind each faction are revealed. This twisting of initial expectations is one of the reasons I loved this book. It is excellent fantasy world-building.
We view this all through the eyes of Angel and Rimma, twin sisters less mirror images of each other and more yin and yang, bound by love but very different in character as they become moulded by the world and their experiences within it. The two both fight against and complement each other as their polar personalities help them both flounder and survive as they are thrown from one set of circumstances to another. And then there is the central enigma of the two, how come to most people only one of them is visible at a time?
It's safe to say this is not a children's story. The world Wallace Peach has created is tough, almost Darwinian in nature and the author doesn't flinch from describing it in vivid, often graphic detail. The Bone Wall is to The Hobbit what Lord of the Flies is to Swiss Family Robinson, but in my view the book is all the better for it. It is also a very cleverly written, with many layers of meaning, especially around the central theme of the bone wall itself.
My only complaint is that there were times when the descriptive language was a little too evocative, bordering on flowery. It didn't put me off the story but I felt it at odds to the stripped down, brutal world portrayed. This is, however, just a matter of personal taste.
Overall D. Wallace Peach should be applauded for creating a great story in a unique world with compelling characters. If you like your fantasy with grit and are looking for something a little different, I highly recommend The Bone Wall.
February 17, 2017
This book came highly recommended by a couple of authors whose reviews I respect for their honesty and objectivity.
It has taken me six weeks to read. I struggled to return to it and plough through yet more tedious prose.
While the story is basically interesting, the writing style makes Henry James and Joseph Conrad look action-packed.
Told from the perspective of twin girls, alternating between chapters, it was often quite difficult to discern a different voice between the two, despite them being portrayed as polar opposites.
And some of the story seemed plain confusing, in terms of chronology and what was happening.
There was too much narrative and even the dialogue frequently fell flat. In summary, despite a good concept, it was boring.
It has taken me six weeks to read. I struggled to return to it and plough through yet more tedious prose.
While the story is basically interesting, the writing style makes Henry James and Joseph Conrad look action-packed.
Told from the perspective of twin girls, alternating between chapters, it was often quite difficult to discern a different voice between the two, despite them being portrayed as polar opposites.
And some of the story seemed plain confusing, in terms of chronology and what was happening.
There was too much narrative and even the dialogue frequently fell flat. In summary, despite a good concept, it was boring.
June 23, 2016
I love dystopian fiction as well as fantasy and science-fiction books, but seldom do they come so beautifully wrapped up in the writing of an author of superb literary fiction, as was the case with The Bone Wall. The story is fast paced and compelling all the way, beginning with the identical twins Rimma and Angel, living in their enclosed world called Heaven, but soon, and heartbreakingly, their bubble literally bursts.
When I first started reading this book, I thought that the story took place in a fantasy realm, but as the story unfolded I realised that instead, it’s set in our own future. A disturbingly possible future too, if humanity doesn’t get to grips with changing our current trajectory. D Wallace Peach has a rare ability to make you think very deeply about reality, the psychology of terror, and the truth of human nature, while enjoying a fabulously woven tale. She has that rare power of few great novelists who can reach right into you with their words and touch your soul with sometimes unseen truths.
The action in this book, while sometimes necessarily graphic, had me punching the air a couple of times, so keen was I for these twins to survive in a crazy violent new world where they didn’t know the rules. I loved the characters, from some of the Biters, to the magical and powerful Priest. This is a fantastic story of human nature, and all the forms it can take under the right circumstances, but ultimately for me, it’s a story of hope. Hope that mankind really is more good than bad, and that one day we’ll all see that being one with each other is the only way, and that nobody ever wins when we battle ourselves. The most outstanding book I’ve read in a long while, and I recommend it to all humans. Even if it’s not your usual genre – read it.
When I first started reading this book, I thought that the story took place in a fantasy realm, but as the story unfolded I realised that instead, it’s set in our own future. A disturbingly possible future too, if humanity doesn’t get to grips with changing our current trajectory. D Wallace Peach has a rare ability to make you think very deeply about reality, the psychology of terror, and the truth of human nature, while enjoying a fabulously woven tale. She has that rare power of few great novelists who can reach right into you with their words and touch your soul with sometimes unseen truths.
The action in this book, while sometimes necessarily graphic, had me punching the air a couple of times, so keen was I for these twins to survive in a crazy violent new world where they didn’t know the rules. I loved the characters, from some of the Biters, to the magical and powerful Priest. This is a fantastic story of human nature, and all the forms it can take under the right circumstances, but ultimately for me, it’s a story of hope. Hope that mankind really is more good than bad, and that one day we’ll all see that being one with each other is the only way, and that nobody ever wins when we battle ourselves. The most outstanding book I’ve read in a long while, and I recommend it to all humans. Even if it’s not your usual genre – read it.
April 22, 2021
The Bone Wall is a post-apocalyptic fantasy sci-fi. I was hooked from the beginning because this story was so unique and creative. I also enjoyed the author’s writing style.
It’s the future, and mankind has survived a worldwide catastrophe. Rimma and Angel were 16-year-old twins who lived in an environmentally controlled paradise within a dome protected by a mighty force field. Their home was called Heaven, and this domed city shielded them from the broken world. Other domes existed housing similar civilizations. However, there were people living in the harsh conditions of the wrecked outside world. They were called biters and among them were the touched many of which had extraordinary powers, including the ability to create fire or bend light. Time and again, biters attacked and tried to breach the dome. Many would leap into the force field only to be disintegrated into bones that accumulated at the base of the dome, creating a bone wall.
The twins were taught that they, along with their community, were chosen by God to survive and thrive. They were not allowed contact with the outside world. Rimma questioned the laws of Heaven while Angel was innocent and naïve, accepting the teachings of the elders.
One day Rimma noticed that the shield protecting the dome was operating abnormally. It would turn off in certain areas and sparks would fly. She was shocked to find out that the elders knew that there were issues with the force field. She was told to have faith—that the shield would hold. Sometime later, the weakened shield fades. The biters seized the moment, invading Heaven, attacking and killing many, and taking others as slaves. The twins were suddenly thrown into a world of horror, cruelty, and bloodshed. They became molded by the broken world and their experiences within it.
The story is told in first-person point of view from the perspective of the twins. Rimma, the angry one bent on revenge for the lies she was told growing up and for the death of her father, and Angel the eternal optimist who hopes for peace, love, and harmony.
This is an intriguing and complex story. The writing is beautiful and vibrant, but at times, it was a bit flowery, and the story dragged a bit in the middle. I also had questions. What destroyed the world? I assumed it was a nuclear holocaust. Who built the dome? How was it powered? Why did it fail? There was no explanation given for any of this. Also, only one of the twins was visible at a time to most people, which was both creative and bizarre. However, these things did not deter me from enjoying this well written story with its unique world and compelling characters. I highly recommend this book to fans of post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy.
It’s the future, and mankind has survived a worldwide catastrophe. Rimma and Angel were 16-year-old twins who lived in an environmentally controlled paradise within a dome protected by a mighty force field. Their home was called Heaven, and this domed city shielded them from the broken world. Other domes existed housing similar civilizations. However, there were people living in the harsh conditions of the wrecked outside world. They were called biters and among them were the touched many of which had extraordinary powers, including the ability to create fire or bend light. Time and again, biters attacked and tried to breach the dome. Many would leap into the force field only to be disintegrated into bones that accumulated at the base of the dome, creating a bone wall.
The twins were taught that they, along with their community, were chosen by God to survive and thrive. They were not allowed contact with the outside world. Rimma questioned the laws of Heaven while Angel was innocent and naïve, accepting the teachings of the elders.
One day Rimma noticed that the shield protecting the dome was operating abnormally. It would turn off in certain areas and sparks would fly. She was shocked to find out that the elders knew that there were issues with the force field. She was told to have faith—that the shield would hold. Sometime later, the weakened shield fades. The biters seized the moment, invading Heaven, attacking and killing many, and taking others as slaves. The twins were suddenly thrown into a world of horror, cruelty, and bloodshed. They became molded by the broken world and their experiences within it.
The story is told in first-person point of view from the perspective of the twins. Rimma, the angry one bent on revenge for the lies she was told growing up and for the death of her father, and Angel the eternal optimist who hopes for peace, love, and harmony.
This is an intriguing and complex story. The writing is beautiful and vibrant, but at times, it was a bit flowery, and the story dragged a bit in the middle. I also had questions. What destroyed the world? I assumed it was a nuclear holocaust. Who built the dome? How was it powered? Why did it fail? There was no explanation given for any of this. Also, only one of the twins was visible at a time to most people, which was both creative and bizarre. However, these things did not deter me from enjoying this well written story with its unique world and compelling characters. I highly recommend this book to fans of post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy.
May 20, 2015
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2015/0...
Rating: 3.5/5
Premise:
Rimma lives in Heaven, as have many previous generations of God's descendants. Heaven is a garden where two thousand people live, covered by a shield which protects them and keeps the broken world outside. Everyone living in Heaven thoroughly believes in God and abides by His laws, because they are his descendants.
When the shield protecting the haven starts failing and ultimately extinguishes, the questions come. What will become of this population? Is the world outside really dead? How are they going to deal with the savages out there? And how was the shield created anyway? And why does no one seem to be able to distinguish between Rimma and her twin sister Angel, even their own mother?
Review:
The idea behind The Bone Wall is terrific, and not just the twin thing. I have always been a fan of secluded communities which have their own belief systems and are utterly convinced that everyone else is wrong and is the devil, trying to corrupt them. Finding out the harsh truths of the world along with the main character is something I thoroughly enjoy.
So when I read about Heaven and all its automatic prayers and set laws which no one questions, like not allowing a single person over 2000 to inhabit the garden, I was quickly enthralled.
I found this post-apocalyptic world quite ingenious. The garden people are physically normal, they are self-sufficient and have no contact with the outside nor have any desire to know what is out there, since they firmly believe they are God’s descendants, protected from the broken world and chosen to thrive while everyone and everything else deteriorates. Outside, we have the Biters - people who are usually physically deformed and have a gift, called the Touch. Generally speaking, they can bend light and control fire, though there are other more powerful ones who can do much more. I cannot tell more without spoiling the story, but I can say that the descriptions are beautiful at times, and at others very intense, and raw. It is a very powerful and shocking narrative.
Now, the negatives…
I have to admit I found it a bit hard to get into the book. There is a balance not easily achieved between providing just enough backstory without overwhelming the reader with a pile of spewed information. That balance is different for each reader and writer. In my case, I wish I could have known a bit more of the reality of Heaven before everything started changing. How is it like to live under a dome? Where does the water they need come from? How is the air breathable? How do they have lampposts, when everything else seems so basic and there is no technology whastoever? How does the shield even work?
Who are the people in Rimma's life? There's two thousand people there and we only know of her parents and romantic interest Max.
Speaking of two thousand people… I had trouble contemplating a dome which houses that many inhabitants plus everything needed to survive, especially since we kept ‘seeing’ the same landscapes. For example, we are told the women's quarters are in a 3 story house but not all of it is bedrooms. So in theory there's hundreds of women sleeping in each floor. I simply did not get a feeling of such immensity.
While I could understand why we were not provided with more backstory when I got to the end of the book, the fact is there was always this feeling of something lacking. And I did not feel as much progression in the character development in the beginning as I had wished. I remember thinking that Rimma got too cynic too quickly, for instance. And then there was the lack of emotion. Even though the book succeeds very well in showing instead of telling a lot of things, there were instances which I felt thoroughly lacking, namely when it comes to emotions. Example:
The pace was a bit off to me as well. This could be a great fantasy epic; several years develop during the course of the narrative, but time lapsed way too quickly at times – sometimes months from one chapter to the next. On the other hand, while the writing was lovely and extremely vivid quite often, it did feel a bit too flourished and that it dragged on at other times, causing me to drift off.
I thoroughly enjoyed the middle of the book, even with the pacing issues. I felt I was there with Angel and Rimma and there were other very engaging characters. I particularly enjoyed Shy, even though we didn't see that much of her.
There are many thought provoking things in the book and I appreciated the different ways of thinking and living - the descendants, biters and the two other groups we discover later on. The world broke, people changed and there are more ways than one to deal with it.
The language and magic concepts were quite unique and it was a pleasure to watch them develop. I was surprised on several occasions by the development of the story.
Ultimately what made me lower the rating is that I did not feel the sense of closure I had expected. During the course of the book, I kept hoping that certain things would be explained and when the end finally came it felt overly simplistic and rushed to me. I realize the symbolism behind it all is very powerful but, as I said in another review, for me to thoroughly enjoy a book things have to make absolute sense. And if I am kept in the dark for the entire book about why things happen the way they did or why the main character is this way and that, then I expect to be blown away in the end. That did not happen here.
Also, even though I understand it was necessary for the development of Rimma’s character, I found some violence a tad excessive, or maybe repetitive is a better word. It got a bit tiresome.
Read this book if you want to get to know a new fantasy world and characters. Even with all the flaws, I am sure it is one which will stay with me for a while, so I do recommend it.
Please feel free to check out the buddy read topic in Book Lair for this book.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the author for making this book available for free during a limited period of time.
Rating: 3.5/5
Premise:
Rimma lives in Heaven, as have many previous generations of God's descendants. Heaven is a garden where two thousand people live, covered by a shield which protects them and keeps the broken world outside. Everyone living in Heaven thoroughly believes in God and abides by His laws, because they are his descendants.
When the shield protecting the haven starts failing and ultimately extinguishes, the questions come. What will become of this population? Is the world outside really dead? How are they going to deal with the savages out there? And how was the shield created anyway? And why does no one seem to be able to distinguish between Rimma and her twin sister Angel, even their own mother?
Review:
The idea behind The Bone Wall is terrific, and not just the twin thing. I have always been a fan of secluded communities which have their own belief systems and are utterly convinced that everyone else is wrong and is the devil, trying to corrupt them. Finding out the harsh truths of the world along with the main character is something I thoroughly enjoy.
So when I read about Heaven and all its automatic prayers and set laws which no one questions, like not allowing a single person over 2000 to inhabit the garden, I was quickly enthralled.
I found this post-apocalyptic world quite ingenious. The garden people are physically normal, they are self-sufficient and have no contact with the outside nor have any desire to know what is out there, since they firmly believe they are God’s descendants, protected from the broken world and chosen to thrive while everyone and everything else deteriorates. Outside, we have the Biters - people who are usually physically deformed and have a gift, called the Touch. Generally speaking, they can bend light and control fire, though there are other more powerful ones who can do much more. I cannot tell more without spoiling the story, but I can say that the descriptions are beautiful at times, and at others very intense, and raw. It is a very powerful and shocking narrative.
Now, the negatives…
I have to admit I found it a bit hard to get into the book. There is a balance not easily achieved between providing just enough backstory without overwhelming the reader with a pile of spewed information. That balance is different for each reader and writer. In my case, I wish I could have known a bit more of the reality of Heaven before everything started changing. How is it like to live under a dome? Where does the water they need come from? How is the air breathable? How do they have lampposts, when everything else seems so basic and there is no technology whastoever? How does the shield even work?
Who are the people in Rimma's life? There's two thousand people there and we only know of her parents and romantic interest Max.
Speaking of two thousand people… I had trouble contemplating a dome which houses that many inhabitants plus everything needed to survive, especially since we kept ‘seeing’ the same landscapes. For example, we are told the women's quarters are in a 3 story house but not all of it is bedrooms. So in theory there's hundreds of women sleeping in each floor. I simply did not get a feeling of such immensity.
While I could understand why we were not provided with more backstory when I got to the end of the book, the fact is there was always this feeling of something lacking. And I did not feel as much progression in the character development in the beginning as I had wished. I remember thinking that Rimma got too cynic too quickly, for instance. And then there was the lack of emotion. Even though the book succeeds very well in showing instead of telling a lot of things, there were instances which I felt thoroughly lacking, namely when it comes to emotions. Example:
The pace was a bit off to me as well. This could be a great fantasy epic; several years develop during the course of the narrative, but time lapsed way too quickly at times – sometimes months from one chapter to the next. On the other hand, while the writing was lovely and extremely vivid quite often, it did feel a bit too flourished and that it dragged on at other times, causing me to drift off.
I thoroughly enjoyed the middle of the book, even with the pacing issues. I felt I was there with Angel and Rimma and there were other very engaging characters. I particularly enjoyed Shy, even though we didn't see that much of her.
There are many thought provoking things in the book and I appreciated the different ways of thinking and living - the descendants, biters and the two other groups we discover later on. The world broke, people changed and there are more ways than one to deal with it.
The language and magic concepts were quite unique and it was a pleasure to watch them develop. I was surprised on several occasions by the development of the story.
Ultimately what made me lower the rating is that I did not feel the sense of closure I had expected. During the course of the book, I kept hoping that certain things would be explained and when the end finally came it felt overly simplistic and rushed to me. I realize the symbolism behind it all is very powerful but, as I said in another review, for me to thoroughly enjoy a book things have to make absolute sense. And if I am kept in the dark for the entire book about why things happen the way they did or why the main character is this way and that, then I expect to be blown away in the end. That did not happen here.
Also, even though I understand it was necessary for the development of Rimma’s character, I found some violence a tad excessive, or maybe repetitive is a better word. It got a bit tiresome.
Read this book if you want to get to know a new fantasy world and characters. Even with all the flaws, I am sure it is one which will stay with me for a while, so I do recommend it.
Please feel free to check out the buddy read topic in Book Lair for this book.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the author for making this book available for free during a limited period of time.
June 7, 2015
"The Bone Wall" by D. Wallace Peach is a beautiful if somewhat grim piece of fantasy that makes no secret of its metaphoric and symbolic character. Heaven and Hell, good and evil are the forces in an apocalyptic world. The novel presents us with twin girls, Rimma and Angel who are quite different in character from each other. The book is refreshing in its stylistic approach, clear in its message and touching in its characterisation.There is swearing and darkness, there is goodness and hope, a fast pace and a literary quality in the writing.
Impressive.
Impressive.
January 31, 2022
D. Wallace Peach has outdone herself with a harrowing tale of war in the most sacred of lands- Heaven itself.
Rimma and her sister, Angel, are members of the chosen, picked to live and prosper in Heaven’s sanctuary. But when the electrical field begins to crackle and fade, they are tumbled into a land of poverty and desperation. One where the strongest survive and the sisters’ beliefs are challenged in ways they could never have envisioned.
When Rimma witnesses the senseless murder of her father by people known as Biters, it sets in motion a rage that burns in her soul. Angel’s sweet nature is the only thing keeping her under control. They begin to train for the day the Bone Wall protecting their home falls and they are forced to fight or die by the sword. Rimma, worried about her sister’s innocence, draws an oath from Angel.
“You must swear to let me bear all the burdens of our life in the broken world. You must swear to let me endure every suffering and evil that befalls us, allow me to be as vile and vicious and heartless as I need to be to keep you safe.”
Peach, D. Wallace. The Bone Wall: A Post-Apocalyptic Search for Truth (p. 53). D. Wallace Peach. Kindle Edition.
As broken as Rimma is, I connected most with her. She sinks into a dark hole after being violently beaten and raped, yet even as retribution lights a fire in her soul, the killings are done with good intent- to protect those she cares for. And though she is banished for the crime, she can’t quite give up the internal hope for a better life for her sister.
The author raises moral questions of right and wrong in this heartbreaking novel I won’t soon forget. How can a society decide who shall prosper and who will flounder?
I’ll leave you with this:
“All our efforts to protect our future, to bear and raise children, to rebuild a broken world…only to witness thousands more die. Are we so damaged we’re irreparable?”
The Bone Wall: A Post-Apocalyptic Search for Truth (p. 274). D. Wallace Peach. Kindle Edition
Rimma and her sister, Angel, are members of the chosen, picked to live and prosper in Heaven’s sanctuary. But when the electrical field begins to crackle and fade, they are tumbled into a land of poverty and desperation. One where the strongest survive and the sisters’ beliefs are challenged in ways they could never have envisioned.
When Rimma witnesses the senseless murder of her father by people known as Biters, it sets in motion a rage that burns in her soul. Angel’s sweet nature is the only thing keeping her under control. They begin to train for the day the Bone Wall protecting their home falls and they are forced to fight or die by the sword. Rimma, worried about her sister’s innocence, draws an oath from Angel.
“You must swear to let me bear all the burdens of our life in the broken world. You must swear to let me endure every suffering and evil that befalls us, allow me to be as vile and vicious and heartless as I need to be to keep you safe.”
Peach, D. Wallace. The Bone Wall: A Post-Apocalyptic Search for Truth (p. 53). D. Wallace Peach. Kindle Edition.
As broken as Rimma is, I connected most with her. She sinks into a dark hole after being violently beaten and raped, yet even as retribution lights a fire in her soul, the killings are done with good intent- to protect those she cares for. And though she is banished for the crime, she can’t quite give up the internal hope for a better life for her sister.
The author raises moral questions of right and wrong in this heartbreaking novel I won’t soon forget. How can a society decide who shall prosper and who will flounder?
I’ll leave you with this:
“All our efforts to protect our future, to bear and raise children, to rebuild a broken world…only to witness thousands more die. Are we so damaged we’re irreparable?”
The Bone Wall: A Post-Apocalyptic Search for Truth (p. 274). D. Wallace Peach. Kindle Edition
August 10, 2022
The Bone Wall is a dystopian fantasy novel about twin sisters, Rimma and Angel. Somehow, the two women are bound by some sort of magical means. Interestingly, when they are together, only one is visible at a time.
When the walls of heaven fail, they find themselves thrust into a perilous world torn apart by two warring factions that will stop at nothing to gain control of the planet. Now, the sisters must survive amongst the warring factions, but they must also withstand a rapidly decaying planet. This book is about a broken world.
Angel typically takes the path of peaceful conflict resolution. She always looks for the good in everyone in any situation. Meanwhile, Rimma would rather act first and ask questions later. For Rimma, life is about seeking revenge. Together, they must keep each other safe.
D. Wallace Peach writes in beautiful, almost poetic prose that takes my breath away. Several themes come to mind: how light and shadow exist together, along with good and evil—one can’t exist without the other. The theme of religious righteousness also threads its way through the novel.
This is a complex novel with a message that resonates in today’s world.
The author’s note states: “… What if we continue to poison our land, water, and air in the name of progress and profit? What if we continue to blast our way through conflicts on a global and personal scale? What if we abandon compassion, no longer our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers? What becomes of us when righteousness is blind?”
A fan of Peach’s work, this novel has found its way into my heart. Beware… it is dark and gritty—just like true life! This book will ask you to reexamine your own preconceived beliefs. What if…?
When the walls of heaven fail, they find themselves thrust into a perilous world torn apart by two warring factions that will stop at nothing to gain control of the planet. Now, the sisters must survive amongst the warring factions, but they must also withstand a rapidly decaying planet. This book is about a broken world.
Angel typically takes the path of peaceful conflict resolution. She always looks for the good in everyone in any situation. Meanwhile, Rimma would rather act first and ask questions later. For Rimma, life is about seeking revenge. Together, they must keep each other safe.
D. Wallace Peach writes in beautiful, almost poetic prose that takes my breath away. Several themes come to mind: how light and shadow exist together, along with good and evil—one can’t exist without the other. The theme of religious righteousness also threads its way through the novel.
This is a complex novel with a message that resonates in today’s world.
The author’s note states: “… What if we continue to poison our land, water, and air in the name of progress and profit? What if we continue to blast our way through conflicts on a global and personal scale? What if we abandon compassion, no longer our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers? What becomes of us when righteousness is blind?”
A fan of Peach’s work, this novel has found its way into my heart. Beware… it is dark and gritty—just like true life! This book will ask you to reexamine your own preconceived beliefs. What if…?
July 25, 2019
Bone wall is a unique book. I love dystopian literature, but I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book quite like this. This dystopian takes place in a fantasy world. People believed to be decedents of God live in domed worlds, sheltered from those outside. They bide by Gods words and rules without question, that is until their utopia is about to crumble from wear and tear. The 2,000 people of Heaven are about to experience the world outside the Bone Wall.
Twins Rimma and Angel are of the Heaven people and while they are still innocent of the world outside they know Heaven’s time is up and try to prepare for that which is unknown. At times it seems they are bonded in a unique way when they are together often people only see one of them at a time, this often gives the twins frustrations in wanting to be seen. Rimma is the more adventurous twin ready to fight and battle. Angel is more fragile and innocent wanting to do things in a peaceful manor and seeing the good in everyone.
This was a fun and entertaining story, although the prose was so purple and detailed at points I forgot what the main point was and had to reread often. Some of the book was a bit confusing and I wasn’t really sure what had happened or what was going on which also made this a slow read for me.
Overall this was a fun, unique book with poetically written prose.
Twins Rimma and Angel are of the Heaven people and while they are still innocent of the world outside they know Heaven’s time is up and try to prepare for that which is unknown. At times it seems they are bonded in a unique way when they are together often people only see one of them at a time, this often gives the twins frustrations in wanting to be seen. Rimma is the more adventurous twin ready to fight and battle. Angel is more fragile and innocent wanting to do things in a peaceful manor and seeing the good in everyone.
This was a fun and entertaining story, although the prose was so purple and detailed at points I forgot what the main point was and had to reread often. Some of the book was a bit confusing and I wasn’t really sure what had happened or what was going on which also made this a slow read for me.
Overall this was a fun, unique book with poetically written prose.
August 18, 2019
D. Wallace Peach bills The Bone Wall as a post-apocalyptic fantasy – “a work of fantasy in a world without vision or concern for consequence”. It’s a coming of age story and deals with innocence lost in a particularly abrupt and violent fashion when their protective enclave, protected by shield known as the Bone Wall, falls. It’s told from the POV of twin sisters, one dark, one righteous, bound to each other by powerful magic, who relate their adventures in the broken world and with its denizens. Predictably, the sisters seek to endow their world with a vision for the future and the ending does reflect some hope that things might change for the better.
Peach’s writing is often beautiful and even lyrical in places, but given the complexity of the world she’s created, sometimes the prose is not straightforward enough, leading to some confusion. She attempts to describe the philosophy, or lack thereof, that lead to the breaking of the world, sometimes to the story’s detriment. This leads to problems with the pacing, when I, the reader, want the story to move quickly but the author refuses to cooperate. But all in all, it’s a good read, and I will probably seek out some of the author’s other works in the future.
Peach’s writing is often beautiful and even lyrical in places, but given the complexity of the world she’s created, sometimes the prose is not straightforward enough, leading to some confusion. She attempts to describe the philosophy, or lack thereof, that lead to the breaking of the world, sometimes to the story’s detriment. This leads to problems with the pacing, when I, the reader, want the story to move quickly but the author refuses to cooperate. But all in all, it’s a good read, and I will probably seek out some of the author’s other works in the future.
April 18, 2023
Excellent fantasy world-building by Wallace Peach I was instantly drawn into the complex world of twins Rimma and Angel who when the shield surrounding their home called Heaven exploded were thrust into an unknown world that was brutal and bloody...Rimma and Angel are like ying and yang total opposites Rimma is impetuous with no filter and Angel is the peacemaker...As the story progresses they come across communities like the Biters who treat women as little more than slaves to their whims or to sell... when they escape the Biters they come across communities who accept no one who isn't bodily perfect plus all the communities are at odds with each other... every character is fully rounded and every changing situation is perfectly depicted Wallace Peach is a master of fantasy writing. ..I read this tale enthralled at every word however I also as I continued to read started to realise that there was an underlying likeness to the world we live in I don't know if this was the author's intent but it left me with a sense of foreboding if we don't change...A fabulous read...
July 23, 2019
Given that I’m not a big fan of anything fantasy/supernatural/dystopian, I started reading this book with pretty low expectations. That said, it took me a while to get into the book and I found it confusing at times which made it drag a bit. I liked the characters, although, sometimes it almost felt as if they were one person (maybe that’s a twin thing, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing). Overall, it was a long read, but an okay read. I wasn’t in love with this book, but that’s probably more on a personal level since I don’t typically enjoy or read this genre. I’m giving this book 3 stars mostly because the writing was of good quality and unlike other reviewers, I love the cover.
September 2, 2019
D. Wallace Peach’s novel, The Bone Wall, is a fantasy/dystopian metaphor revealing humanity at its very worst in a post-apocalyptic broken world. The story is told from the POV of twin sisters, one dark (Rimma) and one righteous (Angel) who are bound to each other by magic. At times I found the pace of the story slow, but kept on reading. There were parts that left me confused by interjecting a paragraph of prose within the dialogue leaving me to look back and reread to follow the conversation. Other times the story moved along at a faster pace. All in all, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
September 20, 2016
The Bone Wall follows the story of two twins, entwined in a failing world that neither is prepared for. When the world almost destroyed itself over 300 years ago, it managed to seal in some of the planet's inhabitants while condemning the rest to live outside the protective shell, in a world that was barely life at all. Now that shell is failing and the inhabitants within must figure out what that means to them. What follows is a savage fight to save a dystopian world that will never be the same.
This is D. Wallace Peach's fourth novel. Not only is it a page-turner, but it challenges our notions of humanity, fairness, and equity in a world where none of those can truly exist.
This is D. Wallace Peach's fourth novel. Not only is it a page-turner, but it challenges our notions of humanity, fairness, and equity in a world where none of those can truly exist.
March 1, 2015
REVIEW OF ‘THE BONE WALL’ BY D. WALLACE PEACH
It’s the future, and mankind’s survivors are recovering from a cataclysmic decimation, presumably as the result of nuclear holocaust. The high-tech refuges of Sanctuary, Heaven and Paradise, among others, are bubbles of order in an otherwise desolate and savage world of roaming tribes of ‘Biters’ – humanity tainted by the toxic aftermath. When the refuges fail, twins Rimma and Angel are thrust from their Garden of Eden into a broken world of chaos and bloodshed.
Among the ‘Biters’ are the Touched, many with extraordinary powers including the ability to create fire or bend light. Strangely, only the Touched are able to discern Rimma and Angel as separate entities: separately, each is perceived; together, only one or the other is visible.
The story follows Rimma’s and Angel’s assimilation into this broken world, and the different paths they attempt to follow: Rimma is wilful and fiery, spurning love and opportunity and choosing instead a path of revenge and violence; Angel is gentle and good, preferring peace and reconciliation. Ultimately each is a millstone around her twin sisters’ neck. Their actions have repercussions as the courses they follow direct their fate, and the fates of the communities they settle in, culminating in the explosive final chapter.
This is not a story for the faint-hearted: although it’s a fantasy of sorts, no pretty fairy is there to wave a magic wand and rescue the protagonists from impossible situations. There are no trite, comfortable answers to some of the dilemmas the author presents. Ms Peach portrays a frightening and very believable world, peopled with strong, well-imagined characters. Her descriptions are vivid without being wordy, and her writing is precise, skilful and fluid, and well deserving of the highest commendation.
This is an honest assessment of a purchased copy of ‘The Bone Wall’.
It’s the future, and mankind’s survivors are recovering from a cataclysmic decimation, presumably as the result of nuclear holocaust. The high-tech refuges of Sanctuary, Heaven and Paradise, among others, are bubbles of order in an otherwise desolate and savage world of roaming tribes of ‘Biters’ – humanity tainted by the toxic aftermath. When the refuges fail, twins Rimma and Angel are thrust from their Garden of Eden into a broken world of chaos and bloodshed.
Among the ‘Biters’ are the Touched, many with extraordinary powers including the ability to create fire or bend light. Strangely, only the Touched are able to discern Rimma and Angel as separate entities: separately, each is perceived; together, only one or the other is visible.
The story follows Rimma’s and Angel’s assimilation into this broken world, and the different paths they attempt to follow: Rimma is wilful and fiery, spurning love and opportunity and choosing instead a path of revenge and violence; Angel is gentle and good, preferring peace and reconciliation. Ultimately each is a millstone around her twin sisters’ neck. Their actions have repercussions as the courses they follow direct their fate, and the fates of the communities they settle in, culminating in the explosive final chapter.
This is not a story for the faint-hearted: although it’s a fantasy of sorts, no pretty fairy is there to wave a magic wand and rescue the protagonists from impossible situations. There are no trite, comfortable answers to some of the dilemmas the author presents. Ms Peach portrays a frightening and very believable world, peopled with strong, well-imagined characters. Her descriptions are vivid without being wordy, and her writing is precise, skilful and fluid, and well deserving of the highest commendation.
This is an honest assessment of a purchased copy of ‘The Bone Wall’.
May 24, 2016
The Bone Wall is a dystopian saga - twin sisters are cast into a harsh wasted world when the energy field that protected their utopian-like community unexpectedly fails.
The sisters, Angel and Rimma, are almost identical, so much so that people can't tell them apart until they speak. And at the same time, the novel itself is told alternating from Angel and Rimma's points of view. Thus we get to see this vast world through the eyes of two very different women as they struggle to escape a tribe of savages.
The world they live in is frighteningly similar to our own. The rich live in domes that support a lavish lifestyle. They are oblivious to the suffering of the cannibals who live beyond the energy shield that protects them. But as their wall fails and they come face to face with the enemy, they learn that many of their fears are simply myths. Angel and Rimma must become savage themselves, or die in the attempt.
This is a unique books with lofty aims. It shoots for the stars and poises itself among allegorical giants such as Dante - with names like Angel and communities called Heaven, we know that we are looking at ourselves as much as we are getting a peek into a fantasy world. The writing exudes a sense of importance and meaning. Some people will like it, others will be turned off. I would say that this is definitely for older readers, not just because of the subject matter (threat of rape hangs over the book almost constantly) but because of the high writing style. At the same time, it has that R rated Mad Max vibe to it that will appeal to many. Imagine that characters from a utopian society were suddenly tossed into Fury Road. It's different, sometimes engaging, and I would recommend it to readers looking for something new.
The sisters, Angel and Rimma, are almost identical, so much so that people can't tell them apart until they speak. And at the same time, the novel itself is told alternating from Angel and Rimma's points of view. Thus we get to see this vast world through the eyes of two very different women as they struggle to escape a tribe of savages.
The world they live in is frighteningly similar to our own. The rich live in domes that support a lavish lifestyle. They are oblivious to the suffering of the cannibals who live beyond the energy shield that protects them. But as their wall fails and they come face to face with the enemy, they learn that many of their fears are simply myths. Angel and Rimma must become savage themselves, or die in the attempt.
This is a unique books with lofty aims. It shoots for the stars and poises itself among allegorical giants such as Dante - with names like Angel and communities called Heaven, we know that we are looking at ourselves as much as we are getting a peek into a fantasy world. The writing exudes a sense of importance and meaning. Some people will like it, others will be turned off. I would say that this is definitely for older readers, not just because of the subject matter (threat of rape hangs over the book almost constantly) but because of the high writing style. At the same time, it has that R rated Mad Max vibe to it that will appeal to many. Imagine that characters from a utopian society were suddenly tossed into Fury Road. It's different, sometimes engaging, and I would recommend it to readers looking for something new.
October 26, 2023
“The Bone Wall” is a beautifully written post-apocalyptic story with some painful insight into human nature. When twins Rimma and Angel’s perfectly controlled world breaks down, they are introduced into the reality of the people who were left to deal with what their ancestors had done. The girls are complete opposites, with Rimma rebelling and fighting and Angel wanting to follow the rules. They are enslaved and learn the hard way about the people they have called Biters. Some of these Biters have unique gifts that can cause pain or comfort. I loved the contrast between where they lived behind a force field, Heaven, and what the real world that was left behind had to deal with to survive. There was a cruel harshness in a world that had little hope besides being able to have a healthy baby. The relationship and devotion of the sisters was my favorite part, and the story was told through the girl’s first-person experience. Angel was the light between the girls while Rimma dwelled in the darkness, but they found their comfort together. The scary thing about this story is it isn’t so hard to believe it happening. We could very well destroy our world, and then a select few can escape the immediate consequences and continue in their comforts while the masses suffer. It was a deeply disturbing scenario, especially thinking about the bone wall, but it still offered just a tiny bit of hope. I can highly recommend this story.
April 8, 2016
The Bone Wall written by D. Wallace Peach
The Bone Wall is haunting story of an apocalyptic world 300 years in the future. The story alternates between twins - Rimma and Angel - born in one of the selected places. Their self-sustaining world encapsulated in a bubble within the larger broken world, with no connection to the outside except the fear of it imprinted on the 2000 inhabitants of Heaven and the threat to be expelled if the laws of Heaven are broken.
When the bubble breaks, the twins have to learn to cope with the savage world outside, and the deception they grew up on the inside.
D. Wallace Peach writes in savage, gritty, beautiful prose that can make you cringe and shiver and forget to exhale. As hard as it is to read about the human condition, it’s enlightening to comprehend that evil and good are companions walking hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other, depending on whose side you tangle with. One phrase of Peach hunts me now after I put down the book regretting that I have to leave that fantasy world which I wouldn’t want to be part off. – “Do you comprehend that righteousness is nothing more than cruelty when divorced from love.”
The Bone Wall is haunting story of an apocalyptic world 300 years in the future. The story alternates between twins - Rimma and Angel - born in one of the selected places. Their self-sustaining world encapsulated in a bubble within the larger broken world, with no connection to the outside except the fear of it imprinted on the 2000 inhabitants of Heaven and the threat to be expelled if the laws of Heaven are broken.
When the bubble breaks, the twins have to learn to cope with the savage world outside, and the deception they grew up on the inside.
D. Wallace Peach writes in savage, gritty, beautiful prose that can make you cringe and shiver and forget to exhale. As hard as it is to read about the human condition, it’s enlightening to comprehend that evil and good are companions walking hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other, depending on whose side you tangle with. One phrase of Peach hunts me now after I put down the book regretting that I have to leave that fantasy world which I wouldn’t want to be part off. – “Do you comprehend that righteousness is nothing more than cruelty when divorced from love.”
May 24, 2016
I really enjoyed the Bone Wall, much more than I initially expected to. I think my expectations were actually low because of the cover, which is included in the pdf download and is not a high quality piece of art. I was expecting a badly edited, poorly written book as a result. Within a page I was corrected. The author voice is clear and vivid, drawing beautiful, distressing pictures with aplomb. I found the pervasive violence, both sexual and general to be handled delicately and with dignity, which is a hard line to walk in writing. The characters were well developed, I was especially impressed by the amount of personality The Bone Wall gave even its very minor characters, due to the excellent descriptive writing. The plot was fairly linear, with few real surprises beyond the premise itself, but the story was good enough to easily hold my attention. I finished the book in two sittings. All in all, I thought the Bone Wall was a poignant, brutal look at a dystopian future with some interesting quirks and a fantastic author voice. I would read more from this writer, but I wouldn't want to have the paperback on my shelf due to the cover.
September 24, 2015
I first want to say thank you to First Reads, I won this book and the author was awesome enough to send a note and autograph the book, which I always get super excited about. This is a really gritty take on a post-apocalyptic world in which everyone is just trying to scratch out a living and survive. I liked how this was so different from any other book that I had read. Rimma is one of the main protagonists and is an incredibly strong character who doesn't take anyone's bs, she is brave and strong and horrendously reckless but I feel like these are some of the attributes you would need to survive in a world that has been broken. Angel is her twin sister and is the complete opposite, in light and goodness, but also a strength of her own that I feel would also be needed to survive. The author uses a lot of graphic language and scenes that can cause a visceral gut reaction when reading. If you are easily offended probably not the best read. The twist at the end with the sisters was good as well and shows hope and that people can survive even when they don't think they can.
September 29, 2016
D. Wallace Peach provides her readers with a stunning vision of a Dystopian future.
We see the story unfold around the twin sisters Rimma and Angel two very different entities yet strangely the same. The two are thrust from a beauteous heaven into a world of bloodshed and ofttimes horror, viewed by each other from very different perspectives.
Although gritty in places, very for some, the author’s beautiful writing style and captivating descriptions reel her readers in and never let's go. This book is quite literally a page turner in the true sense of the word.
As with the lead characters themselves, the story contains split possibilities, no bad thing as no one likes predictability, but never once does the underlying message of promise and hope get lost. It will leave you thinking well after you put it away.
For any fan of fantasy, dark fantasy or even Sci-fi, I could not recommend this story highly enough. A true genre spanner its appeal should be long lasting. I shall definitely be visiting more of D. Wallace Peach’s work.
We see the story unfold around the twin sisters Rimma and Angel two very different entities yet strangely the same. The two are thrust from a beauteous heaven into a world of bloodshed and ofttimes horror, viewed by each other from very different perspectives.
Although gritty in places, very for some, the author’s beautiful writing style and captivating descriptions reel her readers in and never let's go. This book is quite literally a page turner in the true sense of the word.
As with the lead characters themselves, the story contains split possibilities, no bad thing as no one likes predictability, but never once does the underlying message of promise and hope get lost. It will leave you thinking well after you put it away.
For any fan of fantasy, dark fantasy or even Sci-fi, I could not recommend this story highly enough. A true genre spanner its appeal should be long lasting. I shall definitely be visiting more of D. Wallace Peach’s work.
April 10, 2015
I love gaming and I also have a love for great fantasy stories. In this book there are elements magic, mythical beasts and wonderfully imaginative kingdoms all of which are set in world where you can’t trust anyone. The thing I like about this story is that even with the elements based in the future, I still feel like it could all be possible. We meet Rimma, the strong willed twin bent on revenge; and Angel, the sweet, soft twin looking to find peace and reconciliation. As these girls makes a choice in life the other twin’s life is impacted in some way. If you like to read fantasy, you should check this book out. I enjoyed this book very much. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
May 24, 2016
The world, torn apart by greed and suffering, needs to find a way to heal. A young girl who sets out to save her sister is lost under the burden she takes on and it is set to destroy her. It seems that it may be her that needs protecting.
This book gripped my attention in the first chapter and refused to let go. The world the author creates is a fascinating look at segregation and the impact that comes from it being thrown back together.
Overall this was a great read. The author’s style and ideas are fantastic and I will definitely be looking for other books by her.
This book gripped my attention in the first chapter and refused to let go. The world the author creates is a fascinating look at segregation and the impact that comes from it being thrown back together.
Overall this was a great read. The author’s style and ideas are fantastic and I will definitely be looking for other books by her.
April 26, 2015
I have read two of D Wallace Peach's books, The Melding of Aeris and Myths of the Mirror, and loved them. However, I wasn't as pleased with The Bone Wall. It's a metaphor for Heaven and Hell in a post-apocalyptic world and twin girls, Rimma and Angel, who represent evil and good. I found the pace of the story very slow and somewhat predictable, even the ending was unsurprising. I think it just wasn't my cup of tea and that others may enjoy it more than I did.
May 24, 2016
A well written, poorly structured book.
It felt like the author was so taken with the clever writing of smooth flowing words that the idea of telling a good story was lost, or at least, relegated to insignificance.
Essentially, the book suffered from a lack of authentic feeling and failed to convince me of an alternate reality which is unfortunate because the basic story line should have been both intriguing and exciting.
It felt like the author was so taken with the clever writing of smooth flowing words that the idea of telling a good story was lost, or at least, relegated to insignificance.
Essentially, the book suffered from a lack of authentic feeling and failed to convince me of an alternate reality which is unfortunate because the basic story line should have been both intriguing and exciting.
May 24, 2016
I have read two of D Wallace Peach's books, The Melding of Aeris and Myths of the Mirror, and loved them. However, I wasn't as pleased with The Bone Wall. It's a metaphor for Heaven and Hell in a post-apocalyptic world and twin girls, Rimma and Angel, who represent evil and good. I found the pace of the story very slow and somewhat predictable, even the ending was unsurprising. I think it just wasn't my cup of tea and that others may enjoy it more than I did.
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