As soon as I heard this was a f/f retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, I wanted to read this book. I love mythology and this particular tale (and I love the musical Hadestown too).

This is not a long book but there are so many emotions packed into it! I cried a few times, and just, felt for them. Teagan and Cress' love is what makes this story. It's their love for each other that makes the possibility of them saving each other, and I love their love.

I also really liked Wystira, the world they live in, with its Goddess and witches, and more particularly, the life they lived, in a small house at the edge of the woods, with two cats, making potions and spells. Isn't that the dream life for you and your wife? (Honestly, I would love to read more about this world)

We also get some flashes of the past, Teagan and Cress' meeting, their wedding, or just their lives before the journey to the Shadow Realm and it just reaffirms of their love for each other.

And, as with myths and retelling, you spend the entire time wondering if this time it will all end well or if history will repeat itself. You can never know. But you hope.

Thank you to Netgalley and NYX Publishing for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

First: this cover is stunning and it was so hard to say no too. Let’s just say Teagan and Cressidae are living my dream, honestly. Being a witch? Living the cottage core lifestyle? Yeah, sign me up. That’s all I want.

This book was nice. I enjoyed it! I loved the concept and the characters. It was easy to follow along. It was a quick read. My only issue is the ending. It felt so abrupt. It was rushed, and very clumsy to me. I absolutely adored every else. The characters, the arc, the ideas and this concept. The idea of making Euridyce and Orpheus gay is peak of talent. I still think this was an excellent book, just a little too rushed for the end!

When I read that The Bone Way is inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, I was so excited. Sadly, the book fell a little short for me. Maybe it was the length, but there was a definite dearth in characterisation and I just couldn't get into the story like I wanted to. The love between the characters felt superficial and I just couldn't care less about what happened next. Everything was too convenient and things got resolved way too easily at the end (if you know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice you would expect a tragic story but not in this one. Unfortunately.)

Anyway, I'm not sure how I would rate this one. Reads more like a fairytale for kids.

** I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

While I definitely enjoyed this quick read featuring sapphic leads on a quest to save each other, The Bone Way fell short in many of the ways novellas typically do for me. I was expecting an Orpheus and Eurydice retelling, but beyond the "traveling to the underworld to bargain for a loved one's life" there is little in common. I think it was an interesting exploration of grief, especially in the way that the protagonist must traverse different areas of the Shadow Realm in order to reach her goal, each presenting a unique trial that targets her trauma and regrets. The final classically inspired challenge of not touching each other during their travels back to the living did not feel nearly as a suspenseful as it should have for several reason.
(1) Novellas tend to be a hit or miss with me because the short format makes it so difficult for me to form any sort of attachment to the characters or believe the often contrived and sudden wrap-up of the plot. This happened with The Bone Way. I picked it up specifically for the sapphic romance, and, while Cress and Teagan were undoubtedly cute together, I could not get interested in their relationship. It's hard to develop a complex dynamic like the one they have in such a short period, but the constant jumps in timeline and the relatively few interactions they have within the novella made it difficult for me to get emotionally attached.
(2) Underhill introduces so many fascinating concept, especially, as I mentioned before, regarding themes of loss and grief. Yet because the plot has to move along at a lightning pace to fit within the novella format, none of them get explored nearly enough.

While I did not fall in love with this novella, I would definitely still recommend this to others who are looking for more sapphic fantasy or a quick, easy read.

When Teagan finds herself slowly dying from an incurable poison, her wife Cressidae desperately journeys to the Shadow Realm to bargain with the Shadow Princess of legend. Now Teagan must follow after her to try and save both their lives, facing countless tests of her resolve along the way.

I’m a sucker for beautiful covers and as soon as I heard The Bone Way described as a sapphic reimagining of Orpheus and Eurydice, I just had to get my hands on it.

However, I was underwhelmed by the story itself.

Perhaps because the story is inspired by a classical hero’s journey, the plot is simple and the characters themselves are quite one-dimensional--especially the Shadow Princess.

I also have issues with the story’s pacing. I feel like the lengthy flashbacks disrupted the main storyline's momentum. Not to mention, the story’s conclusion wrapped up incredibly quickly with little explanation.

While I found some aspects of the worldbuilding intriguing--like the fusion of magic with technology--this wasn't explored much. I feel like there was a serious missed opportunity there--especially since Teagan is an inventor. I would have been cool to have seen Teagan put more of her creativity and ingenuity to use in order to overcome obstacles.

Overall, The Bone Way spins a cozy but milquetoast fairytale.

I was gifted a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Bone Way is a quick ready, at less than two hundred pages with a fast paced, simple plot. I read it in one sitting, and had fun! A Sapphic Eurydice and Orpheus retelling, this had a lot of potential but fell somewhat short for me. I loved the world building and wish it had been stretched out a bit longer and given more room to develop, especially with all the flashbacks and the potential subplots, I wish this would have been the first in a series or a much longer book. Would definitely be willing to read more from this author though

This short, gorgeous novella packs a punch and I'm so glad I was able to read it. In the land of Wystira (seriously, even such a beautiful name), we follow Teagan and Cressidae. Teagan wakes up one morning to find that her wife is missing. She knows immediately where she has gone: into the Shadow Realm to try and find a mythical princess and save Teagan from the poison sweeping through her body which will soon kill her. Teagan only has Cressidae's journal written from weeks of research and a traditional song to guide her:

"Past the Bone Way,
Where the dead rest hungry
Through the Sky of Lost Dreams
Where souls wander forevermore
Down the River of Sorrow,
Where water drowns the mind
Up the desolate Mountain,
Where monsters roam the halls
To the deathly palace
Where the Shadow Princess waits within."

This is clearly inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and you can tell. That myth holds a special place in my heart because it was the legend that got me interested in mythology so I was ecstatic to see a sapphic retelling. Rather than rely solely on the myth, Holly J. Underhill takes it as inspiration and makes it her own in his novella. We have what feels like a fully actualized land with magic, roles, education, infrastructure and its own stories and mythology behind it.

On top of these, we have a fierce set of characters. Teagan is the one we follow through the majority of the novella but Cressidae is present and her personality shines through. They are a touching couple and it is so refreshing to see such a bold display of sapphic love in a fantasy story. I *do* wish there was more to this but that's just because I enjoyed it so much. I'd be really interested in seeing what else Holly Underhill writes.

When Teagan’s wife decides to enter the shadow realm alone in an attempt to save Teagan’s life, she’s furious. But she goes after her anyway. Teagan goes through the realm, driven by her love for her wife and the stories of the princess who rules it who is said to make deals with the brave soles who make it to her. Teagan and Cressidae must face the horrors of their journey in order to make it out not only alive, but together.

This debut novella by Holly J Underhill was a delightful little read. I mean Greek retelling but make it gay and witchy? What’s not to love!?

I was instantly transported into the world of this book with its quick paced story. I loved that it started right in the action but had a few flashback scenes to allowed the story to bloom. The imagery throughout was SO nice and really brought it to life. I felt like I was going on the journey with Teagan and was truly rooting for her by the end. For a first publication, Underhill has produced a beautifully written piece. I’ll definitely be looking out for her future works.

Teagan and Cress’ love was so enthralling and lovely and soft. Underhill done an excellent job showing just how far these two characters were willing to go for each other. The strength of their love is something I hope to have one day (without the death defying journey and poisonous injury, of course). One quote from the first few pages is “As Teagan looked around, she saw a goddess of her own.” (in reference to Cress) I MELTED. And if the love story doesn’t draw you in, characters cats are like their children which was an adorable addition.

I wish there was a little more involvement of Teagan’s brilliant ideas as an inventor which had surfaced towards the end of the book. I feel it would have boosted the story just to see that side of her more while she struggled through the shadow realm and really done jsutice by her character. Hence why I deduced a star.

This book will be published tomorrow (June 26th) and I would really recommend you give it a shot so you can experience this wonderful tale. Do it for the gays, people!

This arc was provided by Nyx Publishing, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

TW: death of a parent (in the past), terminal (fantasy) illness, mention of (fantasy) incarceration, and harm to (fantasy) animals.

3.5

I don't need to know much about a book to add it to my tbr. You tell me it's a sapphic retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and I'm there.

The Bone Way is a novella about Teagan and Cress who venture into the Shadow world to save each other. And that is all you need to know!

The writing has a fairytale-esque feeling to it and I genuinely wanted the best for them. It's also beautiful to read about a supportive and loving relationship; they aren't perfect by any means but the love is true.

Since it's a short read, I don't want to give too much away. Please know that this was an entertaining and heartbreaking story, and I highly recommend it!

Now I'm just going to sit here and wait to find someone who would go to the underworld for me. Real-life could never!

~I received and eARC of this book through net galley in exchange for an honest review.~

3.5⭐️(rounded up)

This novella is a sapphic reimagining of Eurydice and Orpheus. It follows the main character, Teagan, who goes after her wife Cressidea that left for the Shadow Realm. Teagan is suffering from a mortal wound she received from a fantasy creature, and Cress has gone into the Shadow Realm to try and save her by making a deal with the princess. The only problem is that no one ever returns from the Shadow Realm, and so Teagan goes after her in an attempt to save her wife.

I really enjoyed this book as I loved the relationship between Teagan and Cressidea, who are both incredibly stubborn, and I really loved the concept of the Shadow Realm! I also really enjoyed Holly J. Underhill’s writing style and the switch between flashbacks and present time. I think the flashbacks really helped to understand the characters more considering there was a limited number of pages in the book.

Although I do like that this was a short novella, I felt like I couldn’t really connect to the characters as much as I would have liked to. Therefore, I do think this would have been nice as a full book as it would have been interesting to explore the world building and characters further.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for a quick and light fantasy read without the commitment to a 600-page book or a full series.

CONTENT WARNINGS for the book: death, grief, violence

If you're planning on reading a quick and easy fantasy book: this one is for you.

This book is about Teagan, who follows her wife into the Shadow Realm. By doing so, she has to travel through multiple 'worlds' to find her again, facing challenges and monsters throughout the quest.
This is mainly what you should expect when starting the book, rather than a lot of action, fighting-wise.

Personally, I liked exactly that. Fantasy books usually go into depth about fighting and wars, while this book took you through what the world had to offer instead. This gave the novel a bit more of a soft fantasy feeling, to be enjoyed when you don't feel like getting into long backstories and tedious world-building. I've seen other reviewers criticize this aspect, but I felt it was more in-style this way. This book is not supposed to be worked out to the tiniest details, as it would make the book too intricate and confusing.

Then, onto what I liked less. The Shadow Princess is set into the story as an important character, who will change the fate of the main characters. I expected her to be more present in the story than she was made out to be, and I would have loved to see more of her. If this book had been longer, a second(/third, for Cressidae) point of view would have been amazing, since she seems like an intriguing character. I would have liked to hear more about her backstory and realm.

The ending also seemed a bit rushed and easily resolved. I'm not going to go into detail, but, again, this novel would have been better had it been longer. Overall, I enjoyed it, and I would recommend it if you're new to the fantasy scene, getting back into it, or are just looking for something to read and not have to pay too much attention to the plot. 4/5.

When I saw the words "sapphic Orpheus and Eurydice retelling" and this beautiful cover, I really got my hopes up. This was super disappointing, unfortunately. There was no world building at all, no atmosphere, very little discription given of the creatures in the story. I wasn't really able to connect with the characters either, they felt very flat to me. The main problem the characters faced was resolved within a matter of a few sentences by the villain going "ugh fine", then showing up at the end just to go "ugh fine" again. This one just didn't work out. Since this is the author's debut novel(la), I think I'd be willing to give their future works a try. (rtc on instagram soon)

This was a short, but very nice sapphic Orpheus and Eurydice retelling that has a lot of room to grow and improve. It felt more like a sequel to something and all the flashbacks could've easily been at the start of the book and the whole structure would then be different and perhaps a little better. It was pretty fast paced and easy to read, but the whole time something was missing. The way we got to know Teagan and Cressidae is through the flashbacks and the present day Cress isn't around until the later part of the book.

I loved the legend of the Shadow Princess and the new things the author added to make this retelling unique and fresh, but it all felt a little underdeveloped. If there were less flashbacks or some of them were moved to the beginning of the book, I feel like this would've been much better. The worldbuilding was also simple, with no real details. I would also like to know more about Teagan and Cressidae's powers.

After being bit by creature from the Shadow Realm, only a deal with the Shadow Princess can save her life. Following her wife Cressidae into the kingdom of the dead, Teagan must risk her own safety on a quest to save her life. And her wife.

This is a queer retelling of one of my favorite myths and was a highly anticipated 2021 read for me. It didn’t quite live up to expectations. The plot was incredibly undeveloped and felt more inspired by Orpheus and Eurydice than a retelling. I feel very strongly that retellings shouldn’t mention what they’re retelling, and this broke that rule, so I wasn’t a fan of that, and it felt unnecessary.

Cressidae and Teagan had a lot of potential but felt very two-dimensional with the amount of time given to develop them. The Shadow Princess also felt underdeveloped, like her backstory had holes that explained her motives and actions. Had this been a full novel, with world building and backstories, I think this could have been much better.

Overall, a really interesting story, just didn’t live up to expectations.

This one made my heart happy. A happy ending WLW retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice, what more could you possibly want in a novella? The writing style was a little choppy and repetitive at times but the overall plot, the setting and the characters made it a wonderful read. I would have loved to see this as a full novel with more focus on world building and the history between the two main characters because there’s so much potential there and I feel like we were only shown little glimpses.

This novella follows Teagan's journey into the Shadow Realm. Teagan is slowly dying from a wound inflicted by a fantasy creature, she was supposed to go on this journey with her wife, Cressidae, but Cress decided to leave before Teagan to save her on her own.

I really liked this novella. It's a story about stubborn sapphics, love and grief.

I loved the romance, I mean who woudn't love wholesome married lesbians, Teagan and Cressidae were so cute and badass. I'm usually not a fan of established relationship so I liked seeing more of their relationship with the flashbacks.

This is pitched as a Orpheus and Eurydice retelling but it's not. The story is loosely inspired by it but it's not a retelling so I wouldn't recommend picking it up if you're looking for an actual retelling of the myth. I still enjoyed the plot even tho it wasn't at all what I was expecting.

The writing style was captivating and the mix of present day events and flashbacks was well balanced. However I wish the world-building could have been more fleshed out.

The only thing I really didn't like was the ending, the final confrontation was underwhelming and everything was solved too quickly.


Thank you to NETGALLEY for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

-4 stars-

I was able to sit down and read this novella in one sitting which is really rare for me as a reader. This book is very fast-paced and engaging. The short length of the book did cause a couple of points to be lacking in more detail than I would have liked but other than that, I feel like it was very well done. I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone trying to get out of a reading slump or looking for something short and fast-paced. This was very refreshing to read in the YA fantasy genre.

The setting of this takes place in a very whimsical, cottage-core town with witches and cats that then transitions into this dark, creepy atmosphere of the Shadow Princess’s realm. I was able to get a vivid picture of the different settings without the typical fantasy cliche of heavy world-building and lengthy descriptive paragraphs. This resulted in a very refreshing experience as a frequent YA fantasy reader.

Teagan is the main character and while I didn’t feel that her character was repetitive or something that I have read before, she didn’t feel necessarily notable either. Ultimately, I enjoyed her as a protagonist. I had a hard time grasping the personality of her wife, Cress, which made my interest in the novella lack because she is the main motivation for the main character going on this harrowing quest into the shadow realm. Because of this book’s length, the romance has already developed prior to when the book takes place which leaves the reader to form a connection while the main character already has it. While I did struggle with this slightly, it ultimately felt well-done thanks to the flashbacks that appeared throughout the book. Their relationship is ultimately very cute and exciting with how they are constantly fighting for each other.

Lastly, my main issue with this novella came from the antagonist, the Shadow Princess. This villain had no real motive and felt very sparatic in her decisions which I felt really took away from the strength of the plot. While learning her backstory gives some insight into her actions and behavior, her decisions regarding Teagan and Cress’s lives felt unmotivated and random.

In conclusion, I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for an introduction to YA fantasy who is maybe afraid of heavy worldbuilding or dislikes it. The romance was very cute and the story was very fast-paced. I feel like spots where this novella was lacking were due to its short length but that is made up for by how engaging it is.

Thank you to Netgalley and Nyx Publishing for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book so much. An F/F retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice? I was so ready for that.

Unfortunately, with a plot like that it's essential that the reader loves the couple and roots for Orpheus to succeed. I just never got to that point. I'm not sure if the flashback structure helped.

Replacing the underworld with a more fairytale take on it was an interesting twist but I wasn't invested in it either, I'm so sorry.

I do think that the editor or someone should have gently suggested that the book needed a bit more time in development.

I think also a big opportunity was missed to dig deep into the meaning and expression of grief. It felt very superficial on those topics. It was also very hard for me to accept that the characters' relationship was worth risking death and damnation to save, especially since they'd only been together a relatively short time.

I've chosen not to republish this review elsewhere because I don't like to be this negative in public, but I'm happy to do so if the publisher requests it. I hope the author continues writing and doesn't take this to heart as it is only just one person's opinion.

This is a very charming f/f story that mixes mythology and fairy tales to create a journey through both the underworld and through the main characters' hopes, fears, and issues. It's inspired by the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, but not a retelling by any means, set in an original world. The narrative style is plain and straightforward, but it still has room for some evocative descriptions of the underworld.

As I read this in ARC format, some of the following elements, which are what was to me the only real flaws in the story, may have since been changed. First, I found the narrative flow to be rather disjointed -- many chapters end with a flashback, flashforward, or excerpt from some in-world text, and these rarely are directly caused by something in the story itself. As an example, We don't see Teagan have something remind her of how she and Cress met and then lead into a two years earlier flashback; rather, she steps through a gate where she's about to fall a long distance, and then the narrative *interrupts* to have a lengthy flashback to two years earlier. I love a good non-linear story when the disjoint feeds into the narrative; here, I think I would have preferred fewer asides in the form of flashbacks, memory sections, or fairy tales, because they interrupted the flow instead of enhancing it. It also tended to worsen my other critique -- a lot of things about their feelings were things we were told instead of shown. For example: we were told about how close and loving their interactions were, but because their first meeting is shown in a flashback with limited page space, all their initial conversation and falling in love is ellipsed, and (because the book starts with them separated and Teagan trying to find and rescue her wife) the first time we see them having a conversation on page together they're snappish and angry at each other. The tl;dr is at the time I read it in the ARC, it just felt it needed a bit more developmental strengthening. It still was a sweet read, though!

I don't believe this book is meant to be YA, but the plain sentence structure, fairy tale scenario, and fade-to-black for the sex scenes all would make it a lovely read for a YA audience as well, probably great to give to the queer teens in your life.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Bone Way is a book I was incredibly excited to read, but I was sadly let down. The characters felt very two dimensional, I couldn’t really tell what their personalities were supposed to be like. The flashbacks confused me a lot, I still don’t really understand what happened with the shadow princess.

I didn’t feel any chemistry between our two main characters. I think this book could’ve been longer and started at a different point (maybe before cress went on her journey).

Thank you Netgalley and Nyx Publishing for providing me with an arc.