I got given acces to this title when I was new to netgalley and didn't know that the pdfs in the app expired so I never got to read it. This was also before I realised my kindle doesn't render PDF documents successfully and thus I am unable to read them on my kindle.

I don't understand why the NetGalley shelf app has an expirey date on the titles on there.

Thank you NetGalley and Aurora Metro for e-arc!
The summary and the premise of the story really dragged me in and I'm so excited that the book definitely lived up to the hype. The setting is really creative and well done! The perspective of the story is done really well as it almost feels like we are only learning what the characters want us to know or see how they want us to see something. I think if you love Genna Rose Nethercott, you would love this story as well. Kathryn is probably one of the better and very complicated protagonists that I've seen in a while. There is something about her that I absolutely love! She truly is a morally Grey character but it is so easy for you to root for her and want her to succeed.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The premise was a neat idea, I just did not enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. Thank you for providing me with an e arc of this book.

3,5⭐️

TW: Death, Violence, SA attempt, Addiction, War

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Aurora Metro for the ARC

“Bone Rites” by Natalie Bayley is a dark literary tale that deals with numerous topics such as grief, vengeance and obsession.
The book tells the story of Kathryn Darkling, the main character, through two different timelines.

The narrative begins in 1925 at the Holloway prison, two weeks before the set date for Kathryn’s execution.
Through her flashbacks and confession to the chaplain we follow her as she recounts how she became the "Westminster Vampire".

In general, I suggest this book to those who are interested in historical and gothic fiction with LGBTQIA+ representation.

The book, which opens in Holloway prison in 1925, follows the story of Kathryn, the protagonist who is awaiting execution just ten days away. The story is told from Kathryn's point of view through flashbacks as she recounts her life from 1905, when she was just twelve years old, to 1925. Kathryn was training to be a doctor before World War I when she became a nurse to deal with the victims of war. However, there was one victim who haunted her, and this led to a dark tale of obsessive love and a desire for revenge. The book is a gothic novel that spans the period that includes WWI, and it portrays the gradual loss of sanity that fueled Kathryn's actions. She was initially a caring person but with hints of a darker side that gradually led her to fall from grace. This well-constructed character is the highlight of the book, and her story makes for an addictive read. The book is a masterpiece with shocking scenes and an unexpected ending, which makes it an excellent read for anyone who loves dark tales of love, obsession, and vengeance.

Absolutely loved this book! It was captivating from start to finish. I loved the story of Kathryn, and how the story hooks you from the beginning. It’s unlike anything I have ever read. Dark and enthralling throughout. This is a story is unmissable for those that love thrillers and historical fiction.

Unfortunately this book was just not for me, but the premise is cool. I did not finish this book but I can see how it would work for others

An enjoyable, dark historical fiction book with lots of grisly detail to get your teeth into. I was confused when I saw reviews mentioning the Westminster Vampire - not realising this is purely a nickname and this isn't a fantasy novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Aurora Metro Books for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: violence, injury, gore, horror, murder, death, war, attempted rape

“Bone Rites” follows Kathryn Darkling, a woman who is only days away from being hanged for a terrible vengeance killing committed years before during World War I in 1925 at Holloway Prison. Waiting for a message from Scotland that might save her from execution, Kathryn is driven to talk to a chaplain about her life- starting with the first magic she ever did in 1905 after a grievous injury left her younger brother Freddie distraught. Using her brother’s finger bone, Kathryn consulted an old text named “Bone Rites” and swore he would never be harmed again as long as she wore that bone around her neck. In 1912, she fulfils her dream of training to study anatomy at an all-women's school underneath Elsie Inglis but she’s driven to extreme measures and terrible darkness to thrive in the male-dominated world of surgery while also falling in love with fellow student Jessica in an era filled with prejudice. After Freddie is killed in action in 1915 Kathryn begins to piece together a skeleton that she believes can bring him back to life at the urging of his spirit. She takes to the battlefields of World War I, where she serves as a medic to carry out this plan but soon Kathryn’s brutal obsession with bone magic drives her to destruction and murder.

This was an excellent example of an unreliable narrator combined with a nonlinear timeline while also balancing an incredibly morally grey main character. The gradual decline of Kathryn was written so brilliantly, you can see how she turns out like she does as more pieces of her story are revealed during her final time with a priest. I loved the combination of historical fiction (complete with real historical figures) and eerie Gothic elements, particularly the scenes where she justifies her behaviour to herself as she boils bones in a milk pan. One aspect I thought was beautifully written was the sibling relationship between Kathryn and Freddie from page one and how one small decision drove Kathryn to destroy not only her own life but others. I also enjoyed Kathryn's feelings for Jessica and how the author managed a relationship in an era to difficult for queer people. This was an excellent book and I can't wait to read more from this author.

A beautiful historical fiction piece, with an original storyline that flows across two timelines seamlessly. A truly brilliant main character with a captivating storyline with an absolutely riveting first line. Just wow. A perfect read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for honest review.

Bone Rites was an engaging, enjoyable read, with well written characters who pull you into their world. I would recommend!

“Paris had been merely an appetizer - London would be my main course. The place where the young, troubled doctor would transform into the dreaded West Minster Vampire.” 🦴🩸

Bone Rites was definitely interesting, I’ll give it that. I think the best approach to reading this would be to go in blind and without expectations. The storyline was great, but the pacing was so slow for the first 3/4 of the book. I did like the almost ambiguous ending though - where we never really know if Kathryn was psychotic or if she was actually encountering a spirit of some sort.

One thing to be aware of is that this is not a romance, even though the summary alluded to it being a major factor. It was very superficial in detail (and really almost known existent) even though it did drive some of Kathyrn’s actions.

Btw “Westminster Vampire” is a just a nickname, no actual vampires are present in this book.

All in all, this book was okay, just not my favorite!

Thank you NetGalley and Aurora Metro Books for this arc 💉

5.0 stars.

Thank you to Aurora Metro and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kathryn Darkling, imprisoned in Holloway, is facing death by hanging for her vengeance killing. Haunted by a spirit, she still hopes to perform the ancient black magic that will free her soul, or her struggle to punish the mighty will have been in vain.

Once I first saw the beautiful cover and read the summary of Bone Rites, my mind went straight to "The Corset" by Laura Purcell and I knew I had to request this story for the similar atmosphere.

That insane attention grabber of the first sentence, "I collected the first bone when I was twelve." Like okay Ms. Kathryn Darling, let me into your brain because something is brewing up there. The bluntness remined me of my previous read of "American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis. Usually reading dual timelines makes it a bit tricky keeping my focus, but this was done quite well to the point where I never got lost mentally.

The depiction of grief and how it translates for Kathryn is personally one I done think I've quite read before showing how different everyone handles it. The more her grief consumes her, the more she has the impulse to collect bones, especially during the war periods.

Who doesn't love a tortured, morally grey main character with that classic complicated toxic love for a friend? How much can we truly believe from Kathryns memory of events for the actual truth? Is she just mentally ill combined with the ptsd from war or is there a witchy force Influencing beyond her control? I definitely think I'll need to give this one another read through, as well as to buy a paperback copy for my library.

4.5/5


This book was nothing like I expected - in an amazing way!!

The 1st person POV was very well done and I was extremely engrossed in this story from the moment it started. The idea of doing magic to keep someone safe was interesting at first and the way the story progressed made my jaw drop. I read this so fast because I could not put this book down during my reading sessions and it was such an easy read as well.

I wasn't expecting this to take a historical aspect...I love historical fantasy so this layered with the killing was my cup of tea. As for the romance, I really wish that would have actually happened but I get the time period and the final confessions had me sooo sad.

The FMC's obsession and love with her brother was a little weird to me, but the ending was very freeing and I can also understand why she loves her brother as deeply as she does because of how they were raised.

I 100% recommend this book to anyone who wants a pre, during and post WW1 story set in Europe with a female killer who actually really isn't doing anything bad...

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Aurora Metro for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This gothic historical fiction follows Dr. Kathryn Darkling's story as she evolves from simply a protective older sister, to the “Westminster Vampire” sentenced to death for the murder of several prominent war figures. Her story begins when her brother is injured as a child and loses a piece of his finger - and she discovers a form of magic in an old book entitled “Bone Rites,” which promises her the power of protecting him from any further harm using his bone.

Everything that occurs after this point in the story is up to the reader to speculate whether the magic is real, or if simply the delusions of her psyche from grief and trauma of the war.

Dr. Darkling continues her life after the discovery of the magic of the “Bone Rites,” and studies medicine to become a medical doctor. She even serves in the war as a nurse, and this is the catalyst to her becoming who she currently is in the prison. Despite believing only in science, a strong part of her still believes in the magic of the Bone Rites, and she practices it in secret during the war in an attempt to save her patients’ lives.

This story is told through dual timelines, one in her jail cell undergoing confession before her hanging, and one recounting her life up until this point to explain how she got here.

This book strikes me as extremely similar to Laura Purcell’s “The Poison Thread/The Corset” as not only is the story told through the perspective of the accused - at no point are you entirely sure which is real, and which is the delusion of the storyteller. Did this magic truly protect her brother growing up? Did the magic work to keep others safe? Is Dr. Darkling insane for her beliefs and subsequent murders? Or was there a legitimate belief to her delusions and she is fully sane the entire time? We are never entirely sure where the narrative takes us.

This novel is a great gothic historical fiction that tackles love, loss, grief, and trauma - and really makes you consider if the road to Hell being paved with good intentions is a justification for her actions.

I really enjoyed Bone Rites, it was beautifully written, original, and kept me engaged throughout- I couldn't put the book down for the last 100 pages and while the ending nearly lost me, it was satisfying overall. I would definitely recommend it!

Bone Rites was a gothic thriller with intrigue, historical depth and a well-written past and present back-and-forth. I really enjoyed many aspects of this book, but I did have a problem connecting with our main character and I wasn’t a true fan of the heaviness of the post-war setting.

The thematic elements of this book were truly amazing – gothic setting, bone magic, and arcane knowledge. Our main character grew up with a brother that was her best friend, and she did everything she could to care for him. She found a book of “Bone Rites” in her family’s library and used a spell to keep her brother safe from all harm. *Spoiler ahead* As time passes, her brother enlists in the war despite being too young and she finds that he has passed away. She realizes that the “keepsake” that she used for the bone rite has been lost and is no longer in her possession, so she takes on the weight of responsibility for her brother’s death.

The guilt truly becomes our MC’s personality and she struggles through by throwing herself into work, then falling into addiction, grief, and tormenting herself with guilt and visions of her brother. I felt the book managed these heavy topics well; however, it was hard to continue to root for the MC as she gives up on the bone rite but then comes back and then gives it up and then returns to it. Even in the end, she finishes but then gives up at the same time? The book left me with the struggle of feeling sorry for the MC for not receiving the mental health care she needed AND trying to decide if she truly did find magic but then gave up on it. If there was meant to be no true magic, then I can see how the ending made sense in a quick happily-ever-after way, but I was hoping that the magical elements would reveal more to her in the end and show that what she fought for all those years could help her have resolution in her grief. Also, the priest seemed so important to the story, but then he just left without any resolution which seemed odd for being a fairly centralized character. The Jessica character also felt very cliché and I wished so much that Kathryn could have made at least one real friend in her journey.

The setting and elements were perfect for me, but the characters and plot felt a bit lacking.

3 stars

Thank you to Aurora Metro and NetGalley for an E-ARC copy of this book.

This book isn't at all what I expected but I enjoyed it immensely! I thought I was in for an escape/heist horror fantasy novel but what I got was a detailed character study.

Told between two timelines - one from Holloway Prison in 1925, where Kathryn Darkling is telling her story to a priest the week before she is to be hanged, and one following her from childhood to her arrest. She studies to become a doctor in Edinburgh, but never qualifies before serving as a nurse during the first world war. The horrors she sees there (along with the loss of her brother) stay with her throughout the rest of the book, as she lives in Paris and then London, putting together a skeleton that she believes will bring her brother back to life.

It's hard to decide whether Kathryn is the hero or the villain in this story or whether Freddie is real or her imagination, but I absolutely loved how the narrative had me constantly questioning it. At first I was truly believing in the paranormal aspects of the story, especially as she is the narrator and is convinced of this, but as we go on we see peeks of behaviour that had me questioning her grip on sanity.

I also love how the story dealt with the horrors of war, the grief caused from it, who is really responsible for this, does this make them truly bad or is it more grey, how women fit into society. Kathryn often believes herself to be making the best decisions for others and doesn't understand how some women (Jessica, Mrs Auburn, her other friends) choose to live differently, and I found the story explored this in interesting ways.

My only gripe is that I don't 100% know how I feel about the ending, it felt a little rushed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🦴💉⚕️🩸🦷

This gothic fiction novel pulled me in from the very first page. We are introduced to Kathryn Darkling AKA The Westminster Vampire who is in Holloway Prison due to be hanged in two weeks for her crimes. The duel timeline is between now and the events leading up to how she got into prison, as she tells her story to her Reverend.

The story was so compelling that it was tough to put down. The life of Kathryn from the moment she collected her first bone was a rollercoaster of events. She had to deal with loss, grief, and confusing feelings for her best friend. She had to go through an era of war where nightmares were real. She went through so much and there was such an anger in her, you could almost understand why she did everything she did.

I loved the way the book was written, with the then and now, it was easy to follow, and it made the story more interesting to see how she was coping with being in prison after everything she had seen and heard and did.

It isn't specifically mentioned, but Kathryn had relationships with both female/male partners. I believe she is bisexual but her heart was always with her first love.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the ebook. This review is left voluntarily.

Like a modern day Frankenstein, this title explores and blurs the lines of reality, grief and trauma.
As Dr. Darkling navigate life as a woman of science, she undergoes many losses which begin to challenge her understanding of the world and challenge her faith - even her faith in her own mind.
Giving us a unique vantage point of the impacts of WWI on England & France both during and afterwards, we see Dr. Darkling begin to invent and reinvent herself - struggling to balance her loyalty to loved one and her morals.

LGBTQ+ representation, including sapphic love in historical setting
Historical Fiction
Sci-fi/Fantasy